The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas reveals Jesus’ words on the Kingdom of God. You could say that it’s God’s “Back to the Future,” or perhaps God’s Return of the Beginning.

Jesus says: “You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death.”

The Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of thirteen ancient codices containing over fifty texts, was discovered in upper Egypt in 1945. This  important discovery includes a large number of primary Gnostic scriptures – texts once thought to have been entirely destroyed during the early Christian struggle to define “orthodoxy” – scriptures such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Truth. The leather-bound codices found at Nag Hammadi in 1945.

The discovery and translation of the Nag Hammadi library, completed in the 1970s, has provided impetus to a major re-evaluation of early Christian history, and “newly-found” insights into what Jesus thought and taught – particularly about the Kingdom of God. The text provides truth for those of all faiths. Many who meditate on Jesus’ words here begin to get a clearer understanding of what he was and is saying.

Many scholars have pointed to Thomas as the twin of Jesus. In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus comments on the roles of James the Just and Mary Magdalene.

Three (3) other insights from the Gospel of Thomas include:

- Jesus said, “Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all. [And after they have reigned they will rest.]”

- The disciples said to Jesus, “We know that you are going to leave us. Who will be our leader?” Jesus said to them, “No matter where you are you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.”

- Jesus said, “Look, I will guide her (Mary) to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

*****

To gain insights, read the full text of the Gospel of Thomas on our blog at:

http://7bends.com/blog/2010/07/the-kingdom-of-god-is-a-return-of-the-beginning/

Enjoy!

Here/hear is what five top astrologers have to say about the rare Total Solar Eclipse and New Moon which both happen this Sunday, following the line up of five planets that occurred on June 13, 2010 …

From your vantage point on Earth, what do you see and hear?

**In the Earth-Keepers newsletter, James Tyberonn explains:

“When a Total Solar Eclipse occurs on a New Moon, a very special energy of transformation occurs. On July 11, 2010 this will take place.

Are you ready? Take time for this day, and utilize its extraordinary potentials for the positive. Keep your energy intact, and do not allow emotions to fray, and indeed the temptation to become anxious or over react will be there.

The July 11 Total Solar Eclipse is a New Moon with an extremely tremendous impact. The Sun that gives us life and lights our path is joined briefly with the dark and mysterious qualities of the Moon. The Moon blocks the light of the Sun. In this moment of perceived darkness, spirituality and the psyche combine anew, beginning another cycle in the spiral of our personal development. Great openings and great closures can occur – great advancement or untoward downward spiral. It is up to you. This Eclipse is extremely meaningful. Don’t ignore it.”

**Astrologer Pat Paquette writes:

“The cardinal T-square between Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Jupiter continues to get closer, but as of the eclipse, Saturn remains in the final degree of mutable Virgo, so technically it’s not a cardinal  T-square. I’m not sure how much of a distinction this is, but I’ve theorized that Saturn in Virgo has been a stabilizing influence — an advantage we’ll lose once the lord of time re-enters cardinal Libra on July 21. That’s when the T-square will be at peak power.

That said, events don’t necessarily happen when planetary alignments are exact. There can be lags of days, weeks, or months, and sometimes events happen in advance of the planetary marker. That certainly was the case in 1989, the last time we had anything resembling this year’s cardinal build-up. With Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all in Capricorn, cardinal energies dominated the skies for much of that year.

I went back and looked at several charts for events in 1989, including the Exxon Valdez spill, Hurricane Hugo, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Loma Prieta earthquake, the protests in Tiananmen Square, and the collapse of the Hydro-Québec power grid due to a geomagnetic storm. None of these events occurred when the planets were in exact alignment, although some of them were pretty close. In some cases, key planets were on the Ascendant at the moment of the event.

What this tells us is that the changes could come at any moment. We know we’re in the hot zone, and so nothing that happens in the next two months should surprise us, no matter how unprecedented, extraordinary, or totally outside of human experience to date. We asked to come along on this journey, but we can’t control what happens once we’re on the trail.”

**Astrologer Gary Caton has these observations about the July 11th eclipse and their connection with time and light:

“As if there weren’t enough juice flowing through the cardinal signs — with four of the five outer planets currently transiting near the solstice and equinoctial points — we now begin a period where the Cancer archetype will be forced open, ejecting its inner contents and forcing all the world to become aware of the loss. This is because an eclipse is essentially a rip in the fabric of time, and the South Node (now in Cancer) suggests a loss.

To appreciate the power of an eclipse, it is useful to understand that time here on Earth is fractal. It is measured by the constant repetition of the primal alternations of darkness and light. This rhythm of dark/light is ingrained into our bodies and psyches.

When there is a disruption of this pattern, via an eclipse, the natural flow of the dark/light fractal is stopped in its tracks. There is darkness where there should be light. It is as if the Laws of our Universe are temporarily inverted. The world is stood on its head, specifically in terms of the archetype within which the eclipse is operating.

An eclipse occurs when there is a lunation near the lunar nodes — the place where the Moon crosses the path of the Sun or ecliptic. Astrologically, the lunar nodes have been called the head and tail of the dragon, for in myth it was a demonic serpent swallowing the heavenly orb. The North Node represents the head of the dragon, therefore something being taken in or ingested. The South Node or tail of the dragon represents something being released.

The South Node is now in the sign of Cancer. As a Cancer nation, it is hard not to remember the exodus of American celebrities and dignitaries that surrounded last summer’s solar eclipse at 29° Cancer. A partial list includes: Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, David Carradine, Karl Malden, Steve McNair, Walter Cronkite, Les Paul, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. We lost Ted Kennedy on the day that Venus crossed the eclipse degree. It is almost as if a door was opened to the “other side” through which these souls were bound to exit. It should be noted that the release doesn’t always have to be destructive. (It can signal transformation, rather than death.)

When wondering what the coming eclipse will release, it is important to remember that eclipses happen in families or series; a new member emerges about every 18 years. This is the Saros cycle, first discovered by Babylonian astronomer/astrologers more than two millennium ago.

Solar eclipses with very similar characteristics repeat every 18 years, 11 days, 8 hours; these eclipses are then part of the same family or Saros series. Any two eclipses separated by one Saros (6,585.3 days) share very similar geometries. They occur at the same node with the Moon, at nearly the same distance from Earth, and at the same time of year.

The current eclipse belongs to Saros Series 146, the last two of which occurred in June 1992 and 1974. This series is made up of a total of 76 eclipses; the current July 11, 2010 eclipse is number 27 in the series. The family began on September 19, 1541. The first total eclipse in the series took place on May 29, 1938. The eclipse of June 30, 1992 was the longest total eclipse of the series and lasted 5 minutes and 21 seconds with a magnitude 1.0592. The July 11, 2010 eclipse is the 2nd longest of the series, lasting 5 minutes and 20 seconds with a magnitude 1.0580.

When we look at the birth chart for this series, we see a very powerful conjunction of Mars with Uranus in late Leo near the Persian Royal star Regulus. Certainly this series has recently seen its share of sudden dramatic reversals in fame and/or power, including Hitler in 1938, Elvis in 1956, Nixon in 1974, and the British Royal Family in 1992.”

**Astrologer Rob Tillett makes these observations about the Cardinal Climax – a once-in-a-lifetime development between 2009 and 2012 – that he says will “retune the collective unconscious, redirecting social imperatives.”

The Cardinal Climax phase that is forming in the heavens, climaxing this year on July 31, 2010, is a rare occurrence indeed – one which will have powerful effects upon the world and those who dwell therein. It makes intense contacts with the US chart, the UK chart, the EC (European Community, now the European Union) chart, the Federal Reserve chart and the UN chart — not to mention the Australia chart.

The FIFA World Cup in South Africa has been positioned right across the eclipse cycle (June 11 – July 11), with the last day of the contest being on the day of the Solar Eclipse.

Let’s look at these aspects individually. The most immediately striking thing is the conjunction of the Moon with Pluto, with the Sun conjunct Mercury in opposition at the time of the eclipse. In addition to the stress inherent in the Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse, the conjunction of the Moon and Pluto awakens very powerful, strong-willed emotions and intense feelings.

The Sun in opposition gives difficulties with obstacles from those whose egos are threatened by situations in which power and control are paramount. Political disputes and social revolutions threaten danger and destruction. The common people (the Moon, Saturn) will be inclined to overthrow or resist their rulers (Sun, Jupiter) who will seek to control and repress them, even while offering blandishments and concessions.

Saturn is rising in Virgo, so the military will be ready to take control in trouble spots. These are likely to be in Europe, where tinder-boxes are crackling, thanks to the financial crisis. The eclipse angles are exactly superimposed upon the chart of the European Community, so Saturn (restriction, control, sorrow, karma, the past, the masses) is rising exactly conjunct the EC ascendant.

This chart is very heavily stressed in weeks ahead by the Solar Eclipse and then the Cardinal Climax. Greece’s chart too is heavily stressed by the eclipses and the 1974 chart also has Moon conjunct Pluto. This is not to say that other areas will not be affected. For example, Thailand is already more than crackling with political violence, and its significant that the eclipse Moon and Pluto fall exactly upon the ascendant of King Phumiphon Adunyadet (who is currently very ill in hospital), while eclipse Mars (violence) is exactly square his natal Saturn (common people) and eclipse Saturn is exactly opposed to his natal Uranus (disruption;catastrophe). Astrologically, the chart of the ruler always indicates developments in the nation, when activated. The Solar Eclipse also violently activates his chart, but enough of that.

Each of us will experience these stresses according to where the eclipse falls in our own charts, but stresses they will be! The Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) will be most affected, especially if you were born early in the sign. There are a number of other notable aspects, the most intense being the opposition of Mercury and Pluto, so it may be we are so intent on exerting the force of our own thoughts that we refuse to listen, or that others attempt to manipulate our ideas to their advantage.

It just isn’t the best time for easy exchanges or free thinking. Information may be withheld as a form of paranoia or protection, or the wrong information is deliberately given in an effort to mislead. Jupiter and Saturn are the Great Chronocrators, or Time Lords, and their major aspects always mark important developments, with the opposition being the most cathartic.

The T-square of Sun/Mercury to Jupiter and Uranus opposing Saturn announces a major shift of social priorities, probably in a direction that has been unexpected by most. Traditional values are threatened or even overthrown in the chaos, which comes about through forces over which we have no personal control. Normal schedules or plans may be disrupted by the weather, war, or other forces in the environment. The good side is that we will be forced to create unorthodox responses that may prove valuable in the long term. We may also feel that we are asserting our freedom or independence in so doing.

We have to make choices here, and the sheer volume of information may become overwhelming. Don’t get swamped in the details, but be sure to check that the info on which you base your decision is accurate.”

** And finally, Jude Cowell on his Stars Over Washington blog adds:

“On July 11, 2010 there’s the Solar Eclipse with Scorpio (big business; betrayals and spying) rising with the midpoint of Saturn and Pluto, two of the main actors on 9/11/01 during their opposition.

Saturn/Pluto = ASC: concentration upon important matters; assessments of how to work with those in power; an environment that gives an impression of silent power or continuing influence; being placed in cumbersome or difficult circumstances; separation; melancholy; mourning or bereavement.

There is also 8th house involvement (Shared Resources, Debt, Credit, Insurance, Transformation, Death, the Occult) which relates to the Fixed Star Castor which is being triggered by the July 11, 2010 Solar Eclipse @ 19Can24, plus, ‘20Can/Cap are crisis or critical degrees.

Basically, 8th house crises are indicated yet the Solar Eclipse itself describes problems that at first seem worse, then clear with good outcomes… so don’t panic. The July 11 Eclipse is in the same Series (12S) as America’s Pre-Natal Eclipse Series (@ 00Pis34 in 1776, where Chiron transits now.)

That stock markets may be affected adversely by the July Solar Eclipse and by its herald, the June 26, 2010 Lunar Eclipse conjoining secretive Pluto in Saturn-ruled Capricorn, is a distinct possibility for Summer into Autumn 2010.

*****

Even NASA is getting into the picture. They have created a special website just for eclipses. “On Sunday, 2010 July 11, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses Earth’s southern Hemisphere. The path of the Moon’s umbral shadow crosses the South Pacific Ocean where it makes no landfall except for Mangaia (Cook Islands) and Easter Island (Isla de Pascua). The path of totality ends just after reaching southern Chile and Argentina. The Moon’s penumbral shadow produces a partial eclipse visible from a much larger region covering the South Pacific and southern South America.”

Refer to Genesis 1:1  and comments below.

Williamsburg area, Virginia – Busch Gardens is celebrating summer in a big way with a cool deal for families – free admission for kids 9 and younger. From June 21 through August 31 2010, Virginia residents can get a free child’s admission to Busch Gardens – a $51.95 value -with the purchase of an adult single-day admission ticket. This offer is available only online by visiting the Busch Gardens web site.

“We’re making summer fun more affordable for families,” said Park President John Reilly. “This kid’s free offer represents a significant savings for families with young children.”

Busch Gardens has more than 50 rides and attractions, including Sesame Street Forest of Fun and the Land of the Dragons that appeal to kids 9 and under. Families also can’t miss the all-new nighttime spectacular “IllumiNights: A Busch Gardens Encore.” The park comes to life during this nighttime summer celebration that combines the best live performances, music, special effects and fireworks.

Many other things to do this summer in Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown

We’re all young at heart! Known as the birthplace of American democracy, Virginia’s Historic Triangle is comprised of three cities: Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown.

During July and August 2010, the Historic Triangle certainly offers families a whole host of fun and educational activities – without paying an arm and a leg. Williamsburg itself is billed as a “town-sized living history museum” and tells inspirational tales of the United states’ journey “from colony to country.”

Close by, at Historic Jamestowne, first permanent English settlement in America, tells the story of  John Smith and Pocahontas.  And, at Yorktown, you can walk with your kids down the “Road to Revolution,” an outdoor walkway to the main museum building, where an introductory gallery presents the Declaration of Independence.

Here are some of the events happening during July and August that are fun for kids of all ages:

- July 4th Celebration -from 10 a.m. to 10.m. – What a perfect place to be for Independence Day! Enjoy historic events held all day in Colonial Williamsburg, including a salute to the 13 colonies, a garden party and plenty of fireworks.

The jammed-packed Fourth of July events in Williamsburg include:

•10 -10:30 am – Salute to the States – Market Square

•10:30 – 12 pm – Revolutionary City: Citizens at War – Historic Aream from Botetourt St. to the Capitol

•11 am – 11:10 am – The Times that Try Men’s Souls: A Patriot Speaks – Capitol, South Side

•12:30 – 12:45 – A Declaration of Independence – Duke of Gloucester Street (Capital Circle)

•1:30 – 2:30 pm – Planters and Patriots: Songs of the Revolution – DeWitt Wallace Museum

•3:30 pm – 4:30 pm – Planters and Patriots: Songs of the Revolution – DeWitt Wallace Museum

•8:15 – 9:15 pm – Music for the Fireworks – Market Square

•9:15 – 9:35 pm – Fourth of July Fireworks – Historic Area

In addition, on the July 4th weekend, don’t miss:

- Liberty Celebration at Yorktown Victory Center in Williamsburg, VA – Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4 – In the autumn of 1781, the American Continental army commanded by George Washington, with the assistance of a French army, defeated the British army of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, forcing the British to surrender.

- Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at Berkeley Plantation – Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4 – Families can participate in the Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at Berkeley Plantation, and wander through the mansion’s beautiful garden.

For more about 4th of July in Williamsburg, visit their visitors web site.

*****

Family events for the rest of the summer:

- Merchant Square Free Outdoor Concert Series – On Wednesday nights in July and August, beginning July 7 – with extra concerts on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, July 3. Starts at 7 p.m.

Locals bring blankets, chairs and dinner and set up for some easy listening in Merchants Square. Come early to get a good spot. (Tip: The movie, “Jaws,” will be playing on July 4.)

- The Virginia Shakespeare Festival - “As You Like It” – July 6 through August 1 – Expose your kids to the best of William, Shakespeare, that is!

Cousins Rosalind and Celia take off to the Forest of Arden, in search of the wrongfully banished Duke and his group of merry men. Rosalinds disguise as a boy may help keep them safe, but also will prove an interesting obstacle to wooing the handsome Orlando.

“As You Like It” is one of the Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, with songs galore and the famous “7 Ages of Man” speech to enliven the romantic escapades of not just one but four somewhat mis-matched couples.

The Shakespeare tradition in Williamsburg started way back in 1753 – when London’s Hallam Troupe put on a production of “The Merchant of Venice in Williamsburg.” The celebration of his writing continues today, thanks to the effort and hard work of William & Mary’s Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance.

The Festival generally includes three productions and a youth drama camp. Admission is: Adult $25; Student $15; Child (7-13) $10. It’s located at 601 Jamestown Road in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187. Call (757) 221-2666 for information and tickets.

- “Werowocomoco: Seat of Power” Special Exhibition at Jamestown Settlement – though November 15, 2010  - from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Werowocomoco was the principal residence of Powhatan, the paramount chief of more than 30 Indian tribes in Virginia’s coastal region at the time English colonists arrived in 1607. Archaeological excavations have revealed not only that the York River site was a uniquely important place during Powhatan’s time, but also that its role as a political and social center predated the Powhatan chiefdom.

More than 60 Werowocomoco artifacts spanning 10,000 years are shown for the first time in a museum setting. The six-month exhibit examines the relationship between material culture and political authority in the region from prehistoric times through the early 17th century and what the site means to descendent Virginia Indian communities today.

Location: Jamestown Settlement, 2110 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Admission Fee: $14; $6.50 (6-12 years old). Phone: (757) 253-4838 or Toll-Free: (888) 593-4682. Website: www.historyisfun.org.

- Free Summer Movies on Prince Georges Street - Join the fun every Sunday all summer long .  Historic, downtown Williamsburg’s Prince George Street is the site of the most fun your family will have this summer.

Box office hits, great classics, comedies and family entertainment films run throughout the summer. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and come enjoy a movie under the stars. Popcorn is only 25 cents.

To see a schedule of films, visit their web site. “Jaws” will be playing on July 4th.

- Crack the Code – runs through Monday, August 9, 2010 – in the Historic area of Williamsburg City – at 1 Visitor Center Drive – Learn about real secret codes and ciphers George Washington and other leaders used during the Revolution. Try your hand at “cracking the code” using the spy techniques you’ve learned. Geared for children ages 8 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Programs and exhibitions at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum are supported by the DeWitt Wallace Endowment Fund. Opens at 4:00 p.m. Their general reservation line is (800) HIS-TORY.  Their web site is: www.history.org.

- Listen, My Children: Legends, Myths and Fables for Families -in the Historic area of Williamsburg City – at 1 Visitor Center Drive.

Bring the entire family to hear fun and interesting stories that everyone will enjoy. “As the sun sets and the moon rises, storytellers will share their tales as young and old hear some of the same legends that entertained families of centuries past.”

“Listen My Children” is held through September 4, 2010 – on Monday, Friday and Saturday each week. (There is no program September 3.) Programs begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and children age six and over, and $7.50 for children under six. (All children must be accompanied by an adult.)

Their general reservation line is (800) HIS-TORY.  Their web site is: www.history.org.

- Colonial Downs Thoroughbred Racing Season – All kids love action, and animals! Treat the family to an exciting day at the races.  The 2010 Season runs through Wednesday, July 21, 2010 – from 1 to 5 p.m. – at the Colonial Downs Racetrack. Admission is only $2; kids 12 and under are free.

Enjoy pari-mutuel thoroughbred horse racing at Virginias only racetrack. Located at I-64, Exit 214 in historic New Kent, Colonial Downs features 10 races daily over the Secretariat Turf Course. Bet to win, place or show, or try an exacta, trifecta and even a ten cent superfecta. The first race on Saturday and Sunday is at 1 p.m.; first race on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is at 4 p.m.

- Star Party and Laser Light Shows – Saturday,  July 10, 2010 – from 7:30 p.m.  to 12:15 a.m. – Here’s a fantastic, light-filled, educational event at the Virginia Living Museum that’s out of this world.

Free observing begins at sunset in the VLM observatory. The planetarium program “Astronaut” is at 7:30 p.m, followed by the laser light concerts.

Laser light shows include: Laser Country (family) at 8:30 p.m., Laser U2 (rock) at 10 p.m., and Pink Floyds “Dark Side of the Moon” at 11:30p.m.  All shows are o9nly $6 each. The Museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., in nearby Newport News, Va. For information, call (757) 595-1900
or visit the Virginia Living Museum web site.

- T-Rex Day at the Virginia Living Museum – on Staurday, July 11, 2010 – also at the Virginia Living Museum, in Newport News, Virginia.

See real dinosaur and Ice Age specimens and parts from the museums collection, talk to staff paleontologists, dig for fossils and discover more about ancient life. Also, the Rainbow Puppets perform “The Really BIG Dinosaur Show” at 11 a.m. Cost: $15 adults, $12 children 3-12 years old.

For information, call (757) 595-1900 or visit the Virginia Living Museum web site.

- Bastille Day Concert - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 6 p.m. – at the Historic Freight Shed, Riverwalk Landing. This is a free event.

The Peninsula Concert Band will present a lively concert of French music to celebrate the area’s French connections and the 20th anniversary of Yorktowns sister-city relationship with Port-Vendres, France.  Call (757) 890-5313 for more information.

- Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel Visits Yorktown – a special program at Riverwalk Landing that runs from Thursday, July 15 through Sunday, July 18 – at 10 a.m. Visit the Riverwalk Landing piers in historic Yorktown and step aboard the Kalmar Nyckel, The Tall Ship of Delaware. This nostalgic ship will offer 3-hour sails (admission ticket required).

The Kalmar Nyckel serves as Delawares seagoing goodwill ambassador. Built by a group of committed citizens, the ship is a continuing witness to the courage and spirit of those individuals who undertook the mid-winter North Atlantic crossing in 1637-1638. This event is sponsored by the Yorktown Foundation Tall Ships Committee and York County. For tickets or more information, call (866) 659-7447 or 302-429-7447.

And, of course, families can’t forget Water Country USA, the largest water park in the Mid-Atlantic. It offers 43 acres of pools, children’s play areas, lazy rivers and water rides. Your family will have a blast at “Rock ‘n’ Roll Island,” featuring nearly 600 feet of body slides, a 700-foot lazy river and a 9,000-square-foot pool.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Island celebrates the music of the 1950s and ‘60s – the era that all of Water Country USA is themed after. Or take a “cruise” down Hubba Hubba Highway, Water Country USA’s radical river adventure. For guests who want to relax, the park has about 1,500 free lounge chairs and 16 private cabanas for rent. Check out their web site for more details, or call (800) 343-7946.

Strasburg, VA – You are much greater than you ever dreamed. You are a soaring spirit – only constrained by a body if you choose to be. That’s what author and spiritual leader Wayne Dyer was illuminating in a November 2005 interview by Ray Hemachandra, Editor-In-Chief of New Age Retailer.

Wayne has this to say about how our spiritual life interacts with our physical body:

“An infant becomes a pre-toddler and then a toddler, and these stages are accompanied by things like crawling, walking, talking, getting larger, and so on. When we become adults, we still are developing.

Carl Jung said there are four archetypes adults go through, and these archetypes are reflected in the development of my work. The first archetype is the archetype of the athlete, reflecting the time in our adult life when our primary emphasis is on our body—what it looks like, how beautiful it is, how strong it is, and so on. We identify ourselves with our body. We are our body.

Growing adults next move to what Jung called the archetype of the warrior. We take our physical bodies out there to do what warriors do. What do warriors do? They are in competition with everyone else. They measure their success and their value on the basis of who they are better than, how much they get, and so on. So, this is the time in your adult life when your primary emphasis is on goal setting, on getting someplace else, and on defeating other people.

If you still are growing, you go through the archetype of the statesman or stateswoman. You stop asking, “What are my quotas?” and stop saying, “What is in it for me?” and, “How much can I get?” You begin to say, “What are your quotas?” and, “How may I serve?” Providing for others becomes much more important in your life than what you can get for yourself.

Finally, if you still are growing, you reach the highest archetype, the archetype of the spirit. This is the time when you finally realize what Jesus meant when he said, “You are in this world, but you are not of this world.” You are not here as a human being having a spiritual experience, but the reverse is true: All of us here are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Read more.

We are indeed “spiritual beings having a human experience.” So, any discussion of the changes happening across all levels and dimensions in 2010 – 2012  must begin with that reality of Spirit, and move from there.

*****

This article is second in a series on the many changes occurring on Earth during 2010 – 2012, and beyond. We’ll be exploring the spiritual, political and economic changes of our era.

As some of my favorites – Wayne Dyer, Anthony de Mello, Ram Dass, Paulo Coelho, Marianne Williamson, and Pema Chodron – and many other spiritual beings (just like you and me) have observed and experienced: Everything began with Spirit, and everything still begins there.

A few questions to ponder:

- Just how is our spiritual life interacting with our physical body as we experience the world moving faster all the time around us?

- How can we use our Spirit – our connection with Source – to provide guidance and strength as we weather the different types of storms that are surfacing now – in the world, in our minds, and in our heart?

*****

Do you know who you are? Like really know?

There’s an amazing woman named Kiesha Crowther, also known as “Little Grandmother,”  though as Crowther says with a smile,” I’m the youngest, blondest grandmother you’ll ever meet.”

Crowther looks like your neighbor woman next door. What comes out of her  mouth, what she sees, what she has gathered from Spirit about who she really is, and what we’re facing on Earth right now is at the same time both “out of this world” and “yeah, I sensed that all along.”

Little Grandmother  is the last living ancestor of her tribe’s Native American wisdom keepers. With a true humility, she speaks of what she sees regardless of the consequences because she feels called – like many she says alive  right now – to speak about the spiritual realities that are operating in what we see all around us – in both the chaos, and the beauty that exists amidst the chaos.

You are the strongest of your bloodline, an emissary for your ancestors

Little Grandmother says that each person that is alive right now on Earth elected to be here, and was selected to be here now because we are the strongest of our lineage. Each of our help – individually and in unison – is needed to help “turn the tide” against the destruction of the Earth, and each other – directing  it instead toward peace and working together for good. It is indeed up to us, and up to you.

What will you choose? How will you honor those before and after you by your choices over the coming few decisive years? For what and for whom will you stand up?

So much of what we see everywhere – including in the media and in political jargon and inaction – talks about who and what we are AGAINST.

Let’s instead start real dialogues about who and what we are FOR.

If you like, here’s an excellent (2010) video to watch in which you can witness firsthand what Little Grandmother – one of the wisdom keepers of the Earth – has to say. There are indeed “wisdom keepers” in every culture across the planet beginning to talk.

This video is Part 1 of a 2-part evening with Kiesha Crowther, “Little Grandmother”. It was recorded before a live audience at Santa Fe Soul, to help people make sense of the time between now and 2012.

2010 with Shaman, Kiesha Crowther (1 of 2) from Bob Keeton on Vimeo.

Summary of Insights: What’s Happening Spiritually in 2010

If you don’t have the time or inclination to watch the video, here is the “Cliff Notes” summary of the insights that Crowther is communicating:

From my notes, while watching Crowther’s video, in her words:

- It’s all about spirituality, remembering who you are. You come from somewhere much larger than you think.

- Study Nikola Tesla – who was born precisely at midnight on the night of July 9/morning of July 10, 1856 during a lightning storm. He knew far more than the government has let on. He knew the truth of how to change the weather. Government will not be able to contain this secret too much longer. What Tesla said,  we can do. (Learn more about Tesla here.)

- Also study Sir Issac Newton. His findings about distance, time and space were “overlooked” and “dismissed as nonsense.”  There are remains of various ancient cities across the Earth that are very similar to each other.

Ancient intelligence and technology

They are built using angles – down to one degree of each other. This is no mistake. Intelligence and technologies on Earth over 10,000 years ago helped to build these cities – with a purpose greater than this Earth.

- What is real is now coming to light. There can be no cover ups anymore.

- Around the world, wisdom keepers are saying that 2010 is the year we need to “get it”. The time has come for us to wake up to who we really are.

-  Religion is man made. We are all God. We are all connected. Stop letting others limit you. Stop taking what others say as reality. Create your world.
Dream your dreams. They will come true. Stop waiting. There is not time to wait.

- This wisdom must come forth now. We each are chosen to come. Because we are the strongest of the strong. We can remember and we will remember.

- 2010 will be the most amazing year that has ever been seen by humanity. You will see things happen that you’d never think is possible.

The spiral – the most sacred of all symbols – cuts across cultures and times

- The wisdom keepers are just normal people. In every culture, since prehistoric times on Earth, all wisdom keepers have gravitated toward the same symbol: the spiral, the most sacred of all symbols.

To the Celts, the spiral meant “All Universe – Eternity – Goddess.”  To the Romans, it meant “of the gods; the oneness of the soul.” To the Aborigines, it meant “all things that are glorious.” To the  Islamic, it meant ” those things of God which cannot be said.” In the Orient, it meant “the beginning of all life – where God come from.” In India, it meant “the one, female sexuality.

To Native Americans, it meant: “all energy, all consciousness. Great Spirit, the sacred ones, the journey of everything living.” In Africa, it meant “the womb, the great goddess and mother.”  To the Polynesians, it meant “immortality.” And, to the Mayans, it meant “the circle of life; all life.”

Why the spiral? People in each successive period on Earth have seen it. No one taught them about it. All cultures have seen the spiral  in different locations on Earth, across time. It is everywhere. You cannot miss it.

Spirals have been happening all last year (2009). These spirals are “opening something up.” Not since prehistoric times, has there been this much new energy and new life. (My note: This is truly a paradox, as we also see many living things dying right before us.)

- Science will try and explain what will happen in 2010 and tell the people what to believe. Watch for that. Science though, will be without an answer. Millions will see it. There will be no way to cover up something this large. Already – all over the world – many have seen large blue spiral lights in the sky. Google “blue spiral lights seen” for yourself. In late 2009, there was the greatest sighting so far in Norway.

Oh gracious me! Blue spiral lights in Norway

Residents in northern Norway were left stunned after the light show, which almost looked computer-generated, appeared in the skies above them. Read more.

- The Ancient Ones – your ancestors, our ancestors – are telling us that this is a  spectacular time to be alive. These spiral blue lights are one of the last things to come before the change of us and our Earth.

Light beings will come – from the mind into the heart. Someone has to help us awaken. These light beings love us very much, like parents do. They are coming to Earth to help us remember who we are and to share with us how we can create a world that’s much more fabulous.  We have only been living in a dream now.

- The discoveries made during 2010 will surpass your highest expectations.

- The Great Pyramids, Giza, the Dome of the Rock are all important. So too, in Ethiopia,  there is something much more valuable. In a small white church, a blind man is keeping guard over a box for humanity – the real Arc of the Covenant.

- There will be a “pouring out.”  Life will change more rapidly than ever before, as you begin to remember. The Earth is fat and ripened, ready to give up all of her secrets. Government cover ups will be exposed – the knowledge of higher intelligence. Psychic phenomena will be accepted. We’ll discover new ways of knowing, and healing our bodies.  Filthy waters will be cleaned. Child labor will be exposed and destroyed.

We’ve been living in a fog. We all have capabilities far bigger than we thought, including safe ways to produce enough energy for the entire planet.

There are amazing things happening

Life on Earth will be taken out of
of the hands of power, government, and organized religion, and placed in the hands of people who live from the heart. You are an integral part of this. Rise to the occasion. Your ancestors are counting on you, and assisting you.

*****

“There is a way which seems right unto man; the path thereof leads to death.” ~ Proverbs 16:25

*****

This article has been Part 2 in the series of articles exploring what people have to say about the many changes happening in 2010. The next article – on what’s happening on Earth politically – will follow soon.

To read the breaking 7Bends.com article – published on April 18, 2010 – about the rare “T” eight-planet line up which will happen in less than a week – on June 13, 2010 – and the coming total solar eclipse on July 10, 2010, click here.

FIRST IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ABOUT THE CHANGES YOU FEEL COMING in 2010 -

The Essential Questions

Globally, we ask: How is the consciousness of the world changing? How is the Earth itself changing? What’s going on with our political, economic and “tribe” structures?

These are the questions, it seems, we’re all grappling with in 2010.

And, of course, on top of these larger macro questions are the essential most-personal-of-all questions that each person on the planet wonders at one time or another, or perhaps constantly:

- Why Am I here? - How Am I involved with all of these changes taking place on Earth in the 21st century?

- What’s going on? – How are these changes affecting me, my family, my “tribe”?

- Who Am I? – What kind of power do I have to contribute to a better world?

A Better World: What Is Our Desired Outcome for the Future?

It has been said that what we visualize with our heart and “see” happening, will manifest. So, what do we desire for ourselves, and the Earth?

With disaster of all kinds across the globe, most everyone will agree that what we have ended up with is not what we wish. A planet at war? The Earth literally purging herself? People without food and water, being deluged by environmental threats? The literal raping of our planet’s resources?  The crumbling of economic structures? The unraveling of governments – in which the people “in power” most often don’t  have the best interests of the populace in mind, and increasingly, with their fortunes dwindling, do not have the means to solve the very real challenges we all face?

Let’s start, first, with just what kind of world we want to live in. How do you envision it?  (Silence.)

In my mind, briefly, I see a peaceful world where people get along, learn together, share, have time to enjoy each others’ company and the pursuits they love, and engage in work that benefits life. I see us all  living in a clean environment that supports our development, sharing food, water, and sustenance of all kinds, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  I see an Earth that is reaching out to other planets and life there, and exploring the limits of what is known. I see a people guided by love. This is just one dream – mine.

What’s yours? (We welcome you to leave comments below this article. Let’s all have a discussion.)

Let it be said, much is coming to light. It has to. It’s been a long time hidden, and it will be revealed. There is so much more than “meets the eye.” And, we will see it.

We feel it coming, we do, like a train rumbling a few miles out, but we’re not sure what it is.  We feel it’s inevitable. We hope it is not devastating, but we fear it really may be, if we don’t respond in some meaningful way. And, hardly anyone really talks about what they are feeling out loud.

Will it be some type of huge event?

A monumental awakening?

An extraordinary event of epic proportions?

Probably. All of these, and more. Get ready. Expect the unexpected. Assume your place.  Observe and keep moving forward, if you don’t yet know your place. Know that you are here for a reason. You are strong.  Join with other kindred souls.

Believe again (or for the first time) in your own power to contribute to the good of the world, and the good of the Universe.

The Gospel of Thomas, one of the “lost” (secret?) Gnostic gospels that did not make it into the official canon reads:

“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.”  -  Jesus

See also this web site about  The Gospel of  Thomas.

Perhaps my favorite author, Ralph Waldo Emerson, speaks of the same when he issues this corollary: “”What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

We are each part of creation, and the Earth is suffering. S0, we each have a role in creating her anew. The evolving state of the Earth and our own consciousness are innately linked. It’s up to us to make the tough changes inside ourselves that are necessary for transformation.

Many times, in history, when we get to key “jumping off places,” a new surge of  energy, a new path not seen, new forces at work for good – seem to appear. Not as any type of “rescue” per se, but as an open door (sometimes a side door) to move people forward.

And, indeed, it must be the people ourselves that move things forward. No government – or man-made religion – can and will do that for us. We must move forward – together – boldly.

It doesn’t take everyone at first for the change to begin to occur, only a group of committed people, somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of any given population. See what Gregg Braden has to say about the tipping point.  The goal is to get as many people in the world all focused on creating anew from within – to bring about a whole new experience, a whole new world – free, creative, and more alive than we can dream of. Loving changes inside mean loving actions “outside”.

So, break out of your apathy, if that’s where you are. Know yourself. Fill yourself, and give. “Motion and rest,” was the way that Jesus explained  it in another of the Gnostic Gospels. And the ancients, the wisdom-keepers, all of our ancestors,  knew it, too – what we will all see in 2010 and beyond. The circle of life in plain view.

*****

In Part 2 of this article series, we’ll explore what some divergent intelligent voices have to say about what the next two years – 2010 through 2012 – will hold on Earth – spiritually, politically, and economically. You’ll be surprised and amazed.

Increasingly, the weather in space is affecting Earth, due to what’s called “geomagnetic disturbances,” or space storms. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are happening quite often on the sun’s surface, the effects of which hits the Earth about four days later. So many satellites surround the Earth that from outer space, Earth looks like she has a ring around her. These satellites are especially vulnerable to the effects of CMEs.

Most of us have heard about the Northern Lights that occur in places like Alaska and Canada. These are effects of the sun’s activity on our electromagnetic field. So too, the sun’s activity can produce thunderstorms and lightning here on Earth where one can actually see the power of electricity in the eye of the storm. Not sure, but it seems we had such a storm in Virginia last night.

The latest telescopes being developed are able to “see” and monitor the sun’s surface in greater depth than ever before, and take unbelievable images.

These solar disturbances are nothing new. They have been tracked for more than 100 years on Earth. However, what’s different now is that our Earth is highly dependent on electricity and the Internet and satellites as never before. If they go out, so do many of our livelihoods.

As NASA observes: “Space weather has been recognized as a cause of technological problems since the invention of the telegraph in the 19th century. These events produce disturbances in electromagnetic fields on Earth that can induce extreme currents in wires, disrupting power lines and causing widespread blackouts.

These solar storms can interfere with communications between ground controllers, satellites and airplane pilots flying near Earth’s poles. Radio noise from the storm also can disrupt cell phone service.”

Lately, scientists are voicing their concerns about the far-reaching effects that space weather could have on our planet, our lives, and our economies.

*****

Earlier this week, on May 25, 2010, NASA issued a news release entitled “”Spacecraft Reveals Small Solar Events Have Large Scale Effects.”

It reads:

“NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, has allowed scientists for the first time to comprehensively view the dynamic nature of storms on the sun. Solar storms have been recognized as a cause of technological problems on Earth since the invention of the telegraph in the 19th century.

The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), one of three instruments aboard SDO, allowed scientists to discover that even minor solar events are never truly small scale. Shortly after AIA opened its doors on March 30, scientists observed a large eruptive prominence on the sun’s edge, followed by a filament eruption a third of the way across the star’s disk from the eruption.

“Even small events restructure large regions of the solar surface,” said Alan Title, AIA principal investigator at Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, Calif. “It’s been possible to recognize the size of these regions because of the combination of spatial, temporal and area coverage provided by AIA.”

The AIA instrument also has observed a number of very small flares that have generated magnetic instabilities and waves with clearly-observed effects over a substantial fraction of the solar surface. The instrument is capturing full-disk images in eight different temperature bands that span 10,000 to 36-million degrees Fahrenheit. This allows scientists to observe entire events that are very difficult to discern by looking in a single temperature band, at a slower rate, or over a more limited field of view.

The data from SDO is providing a torrent of new information and spectacular images to be studied and interpreted. Using AIA’s high-resolution and nearly continuous full-disk images of the sun, scientists have a better understanding of how even small events on our nearest star can significantly impact technological infrastructure on Earth.

Solar storms produce disturbances in electromagnetic fields that can induce large currents in wires, disrupting power lines and causing widespread blackouts. The storms can interfere with global positioning systems (GPS), cable television, and communications between ground controllers and satellites and airplane pilots flying near Earth’s poles. Radio noise from solar storms also can disrupt cell phone service.

Launched in February 2010, the spacecraft’s commissioning May 14 confirmed all three of its instruments successfully passed an on-orbit checkout, were calibrated and are collecting science data.

“We’re already at five million images and counting,” said Dean Pesnell, the SDO project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. “With data and images pouring in from SDO, solar scientists are poised to make discoveries that will rewrite the books on how changes in solar activity have a direct effect on Earth. The observatory is working great, and it’s just going to get better.”

More details on the SDO Spacecraft

Goddard built, operates and manages the SDO spacecraft for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. SDO is the first mission of NASA’s Living with a Star Program. The program’s goal is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to address those aspects of the sun-Earth system that directly affect our lives and society.”

Their “Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment” measures fluctuations in the sun’s radiant emissions. These emissions have a direct and powerful effect on Earth’s upper atmosphere -  heating it, puffing it up, and breaking apart atoms and molecules.

Researchers don’t know how fast the sun can vary at many of these wavelengths, so they expect to make discoveries about flare events. The principal investigator is Tom Woods of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. LASP built the instrument.

SDO Project Scientist Dean Pesnell of Goddard recently remarked: “These amazing images, which show our dynamic sun in a new level of detail, are only the beginning of SDO’s contribution to our understanding of the sun.”

SDO is the first mission of what’s called NASA’s “Living with a Star Program,” or LWS for short. It’s considered the “crown jewel”  in a fleet of NASA missions that study our sun and space environment. The goal of LWS is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to address those aspects of the connected sun-Earth system that directly affect our lives and society.

*****

The United Kingdom also has been doing research on how the sun affects the Earth recently. On April 14, 2010, a Scientific American article was published, entitled:  “Sun’s threat to power grids.”

It reads:

“Power grids could be devastated by a storm on the sun, astronomers warned today. Scientists have built a detailed model of the UK’s electricity network to check the effects of what they call “space weather.”

They found that the same storms that produce colourful northern lights produce electrical surges that can cause blackout and destroy transformers in power stations and the national grid.

Warnings of doom surfaced last year soon – after the 150th anniversary of the biggest flare ever seen on the sun – which brought down the telegraph system and caused spectacular aurorae – in 1859.

It’s our Vulnerability to Space Storms That’s Changed

Dr Jim Wild, a Lancaster researcher in the team, told Skymania News: “We need to look at what the consequences of a similar event of a similar event would be today. What has changed is our vulnerability.

“If the world’s transformers are destroyed, you can’t just buy new ones off the shelf. Lose electricity and you can’t purify water, can’t treat sewage, can’t pump oil, you can’t refrigerate anything, communications, satnav and the internet go – it is Armageddon-type stuff.”

The US National Academies has estimated that a space storm hitting the USA could cost 1-2 trillion dollars in the first year and the country would take four to ten years to recover.

*****

If you want to begin checking out space weather there are many good web sites out there. One I like is an independent web effort called the Propagation, Space Weather, and Sunspot Cycle Resource Center (HFRadio.org).

I’ve set my Twitter account to follow their tweets.

HFRadio.org and related websites are services paid for by Tomas David Hood, its founder. The site is supported through donations. On it, you can  find all of the latest pictures and space weather bulletins and warnings.

Here’s an example of a Space Weather Report from this week:

Current Sunspot and Geophysical Activity Report
Observations, Prognastications, Comments by NW7US (Tomas Hood)

Alert: Weak shock has been detected in the solar wind at 0202 UTC, 28 May 2010. Geomagnetic disturbance is due within 12 hours. This is the result of the arrival of one of several ICMEs (Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections) associated with CME eruptions on May 23 and 24. Minor geomagnetic storm conditions are possible in the next 24 to 48 hours.

****

Another great space weather site is called: Cosmicopia – an abundance of cosmic rays. Here is a link to their site.

Happy space watching!

Pasadena, CA – NASA has been busy. This past month, the agency has: 1) reported that the Earth’s axis has shifted; and 2) has announced that the 14th expedition of NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) will begin in the deep waters off Key Largo on May 10, 2010.

They also have one of the most popular sites on the web this week, as their satellite photos show the dramatic effects and spread of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Chile Earthquake Shifts Earth’s Axis 3 Inches, and Shortens Days

NASA scientists have determined that the massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile on February 27, 2010 has shortened our days and shifted the Earth’s axis.

Richard Gross, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), said his team had determined the Chile earthquake shorted the length of an Earth day by 1.26 microseconds. (A microsecond is one millionth of a second.)

In comparison, the 2004 earthquake in Sumatra which triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people was a magnitude 9.1 temblor. That event shortened the days by 6.8 microseconds according to the same computer models.

Researchers have said that all earthquakes affect the Earth’s axis. Dr. Benjamin Fong Chao, of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said “Any worldly event that involves the movement of mass affects the Earth’s rotation, from seasonal weather down to driving a car.”

JPL research scientist Richard Gross computed how Earth’s rotation should have changed as a result of the Feb. 27 quake. Using a complex model, he and fellow scientists came up with a preliminary calculation that the quake should have shortened the length of an Earth day by about 1.26 microseconds (a microsecond is one millionth of a second).

Perhaps more impressive is how much the quake shifted Earth’s axis. Gross calculates the quake should have moved Earth’s figure axis (the axis about which Earth’s mass is balanced) by 2.7 milliarcseconds (about 8 centimeters, or 3 inches). Earth’s figure axis is not the same as its north-south axis; they are offset by about 10 meters (about 33 feet).

By comparison, Gross said the same model estimated the 2004 magnitude 9.1 Sumatran earthquake should have shortened the length of day by 6.8 microseconds and shifted Earth’s axis by 2.32 milliarcseconds (about 7 centimeters, or 2.76 inches).

Gross said that even though the Chilean earthquake is much smaller than the Sumatran quake, it is predicted to have changed the position of the figure axis by a bit more for two reasons. First, unlike the 2004 Sumatran earthquake, which was located near the equator, the 2010 Chilean earthquake was located in Earth’s mid-latitudes, which makes it more effective in shifting Earth’s figure axis.

Second, the fault responsible for the 2010 Chiliean earthquake dips into Earth at a slightly steeper angle than does the fault responsible for the 2004 Sumatran earthquake. This makes the Chile fault more effective in moving Earth’s mass vertically and hence more effective in shifting Earth’s figure axis. Gross said the Chile predictions will likely change as data on the quake are further refined.

To see how NASA monitors space weather daily, click here.

*****

Next Undersea Exploration Mission Dates and Crew Announced

NASA will send two astronauts, a veteran undersea engineer and an experienced scientist into the ocean depths off Florida’s east coast this month to test exploration concepts and learn more about working in an unforgiving, treacherous environment. The 14th expedition of NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, or NEEMO, begins May 10.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut and veteran spacewalker Chris Hadfield will lead the NASA team on a 14-day undersea mission aboard the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory near Key Largo. Aquarius is owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and operated by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Joining Hadfield will be NASA astronaut and flight surgeon Thomas Marshburn, Lunar Electric Rover Deputy Project Manager Andrew Abercromby and Steve Chappell, a research scientist. Abercromby and Chappell work for Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering of Houston.

During NEEMO 14, the ocean floor will simulate aspects of another planet’s surface and a low-gravity environment. In October 2009, a team of aquanauts set the stage for NEEMO 14 by placing mockups near Aquarius of a lander, rover and small crane that simulates a robotic arm.

The NEEMO 14 crew will live aboard the underwater laboratory, venture out on simulated spacewalks, operate the crane and maneuver the vehicles much like explorers would in setting up a habitat on another planet. As the aquanauts interact with these developing technologies, they will provide information and feedback to NASA engineers.

The crew will simulate removing a mockup of the Lunar Electric Rover from the lander, retrieve small payloads from the lander and the ocean floor, and simulate the transfer of an incapacitated astronaut from the ocean floor to the deck of the craft. The rover and lander mockups are similar in size to vehicles NASA is considering for future planetary exploration.

The lander mockup is wider than a school bus is long and almost three times as high. It measures 45 feet wide and 28 feet high, including a 10-foot- high crane. The rover mockup is slightly larger than a full-size SUV, standing eight feet tall and 14 feet long.

While inside Aquarius, the crew will perform life science experiments focused on human behavior, performance and physiology. The mission also includes a study of autonomous crew work. There will be periods when there is limited communication between the crew and the mission control center, much like what could happen during missions to the moon or Mars.

The six-member crew of NEEMO 14 brings a wide range of experience to the mission. Hadfield conducted two spacewalks and operated the International Space Station’s robotic arm, known as Canadarm2, during the space shuttle’s STS-100 mission in April 2001. He also worked extensively with the shuttle’s robotic Canadarm on STS-74 in 1995. Marshburn, a flight surgeon, conducted three spacewalks on STS-127 in 2009.

Abercromby adds his extensive experience in planning and executing field test operations, or analogs, that simulate space environments, such as NEEMO and NASA’s Haughton Mars Project, Desert Research and Technology Studies and the Pavilion Lake Research Project. Chappell is an active member of Rocky Mountain Rescue based in Boulder, Colo., and earned a doctorate degree with a focus on human performance in reduced gravity. James Talacek and Nate Bender of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington are habitat technicians and will provide engineering support.

Click here for more information about NEEMO.

*****

NASA Photos From Space Show Effects of BP Oil Spill; Spill Reported to Be As Large as the State of Florida

A pair of instruments aboard NASA’s Terra spacecraft captured these satellite images of the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on May 1, 2010. The image, from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), shows the spill in the context of its proximity to the Gulf Coast. NASA is also capturing pictures of the oil spill using their the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), a high-resolution instrument aboard the NASA Terra spacecraft.

On April 20, 2010, an explosion destroyed the Deepwater Horizon oil platform operating in the Gulf of Mexico 80 kilometers (50 miles) offshore, resulting in substantial loss of life and releasing 5,000 barrels of oil per day into the water. The huge oil slick was being carried towards the Mississippi River Delta, and reached the Louisiana shore on Monday, May 3, 2010.

Fishing has been halted in the Gulf. The Alabama, Mississippi and Florida shores are also bracing for one of the most devastating environmental disaster in history.

The ASTER image is located at 29.0 degrees north latitude, 88.3 degrees west longitude and covers an area measuring 79.1 by 103.9 kilometers (49 by 64.4 miles), about 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of the mouth of the Mississippi River delta. No land is visible in the image.

The varying shades of white in the image reflect different thicknesses of oil (the whiter, the thicker the oil). The source of the oil spill is visible as the bright white area in the bottom center of the image. The thickest part of the spill extends vertically from it, appearing somewhat like the ash plume of an erupting volcano. The wispy patterns of the oil spill reflect the transport of the oil by waves and currents.

To see more NASA photos of the BP oil disaster, click here.

In and around the vicinity of Earth – It’s history in the making. Get out your telescope. Look to the skies. Astronomers, astrologers, and NASA are all heralding a unique alignment this Summer 2010, and some are saying that “bridges between worlds,” will be opened during this wherewhen, in one way and another.

What’s Happening?

- June 13, 2010: Planetary Alignment

- June 26, 2010: Partial Lunar Eclipse

- July 11, 2010: Total Solar Eclipse

- December 21, 2010: Total Lunar Eclipse

On June 13, 2010, this window will open as six of the largest planets in our solar system will begin their procession into a balanced alignment.  Along with the sun, their combined gravitational pull offers an enormous contribution to a phenomenal event.

The alignment of planets will appear from Earth like a straight line of six planets with the sun in the middle; Uranus, Jupiter and Mercury lined up on one side of the sun, while Venus, Mars and Saturn will be lined up on the opposite.  The Earth will thus be perpendicular to this alignment, forming a giant T-shape.”

Then, on Sunday, July 11, 2010, this window will close, with a total eclipse of the Sun – that will visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses Earth’s southern Hemisphere.”

As Above, so Below

Many life coaches are already seeing the effect of these planetary alignments on their clients on Earth. And many scientists are speaking about the effect on our planet and “societies” as a whole. There are a number of analogies which seem to be helpful.

Life strategist, Lorraine Cohen, on her web site, PowerFull Living, describes the changes occurring in the context of one of Harrison Ford’s most famous scenes:

“Things are not always what they seem. One scene that consistently stands out in my mind that has left the most vivid impression is in my favorite – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I’ve heard many people refer to the same scene because of it’s symbology and inspiration. Indie stands on the edge of the mountain looking across a crevice to the doorway to another mountain.

Indiana Jones must cross to the other side to find the Holy Grail so that he can save Sean Connery’s life. He must take a leap of faith. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and puts one foot out into nothingness and a wooden plank appears beneath his feet so that he can cross to the other side safely. WOW. What a powerful metaphor!”

On her web site, Lorrainne also speaks about visionary Gregg Braden, one of my favorite pioneers and authors. In his current speaking tour, Braden speaks about the reasons why the world feels in crisis.

Braden says that we’re at the end of a 5125 year cycle and the beginning of a new one.  He says that this is the fifth time in history Earth has experienced this phenomenon and an incredible time to be alive on the planet. As he writes: “The last time this happened many civilizations fell because of fear and greed while others flourished because of their resilience and vision.”

I agree with Cohen and Braden. We are indeed in the cusp. A whenwhere. The end of the Old World as we have known it no longer exists. We are between worlds. It’s up to us.

As Cohen remarks: “The changes we are being called to make within ourselves and as a world (can) usher in a bright new age of enlightened actions that embodies love, compassion, and service in both physical and spiritual form.”

Taking the Plunge

In your fear, in your refusal to move boldly into the unknown, will you dissolve like the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz? Or, will you embrace the new, and take the plunge?

Happy plunging!

For more about What’s Happening with the planetary alignment on June 13, 2010 and the total eclipse of the Sun on July 11, 2010,  view our more in-depth Galactic Communications blog article.

Park City, Utah – Many believe that earthquakes like the one in China 21 hours ago and the one off Mexico’s Baja California coast on April 5, aren’t the only upheavals that are occurring on Earth lately.

World famous psychologist and medical anthropologist Alberto Villoldo PhD, the founder of The Four Winds Society,  has much to say about what’s facing us as humans in the next several years.

Prophecies about our evolving planet and consciousness

Villoldo writes: “The Shamans of the Americas announce a time of upheaval, turmoil and opportunity that peaks on December 21, 2012. But the prophecy does more than predict the doom of humanity, it also offers great hope by presenting us with energy-based practices and processes that we can bring into our daily lives for manifesting opportunities during these times of great change.

A shift in consciousness

The prophecies foretell of a new human appearing on the planet – a person of wisdom and power who lives free of fear and resides in their eternal nature. This human is brought forth from within each of us through the nine great initiations of the medicine way, which come from the Laika, the ancient medicine men and women of the Andes and builders of Machu Picchu.”

The Hole at the Center of the Galaxy

Xibalba is the Mayan underworld, the “place of fear.” The prophets and day-keepers of the Yucatan described this as the dark rift in the Milky Way. This is the place of our beginning and of our return. An according to lore, the gates of Xibalba would open before the great planetary alignment that would occur on December 21, 2012.

Recently, I read an article entitled “Milky Way’s Giant Black Hole Awoke from Slumber 300 Years Ago” authored by scientists Robert Naeye and Rob Gutro of the Goddard Space Flight Center. It seems that the gigantic black hole at the center of our galaxy, with a mass that is more than 4 million times that of our sun, has awakened from a long sleep, and begun to emit huge outbursts of radiation.

Black holes in space are so dense that not even light can escape from them, as they gobble up anything and everything in their path. But it appears that they also play an important role in the birth and formation of galaxies, and seem to be at the center of many of our nearby constellations. How did ancient astronomers know that this was the source of beginnings and endings? And why did they refer to it as the “place of fear”?

Finding your star

One of the meditation practices of shamans-in-training consists of finding your “star”. To do this, you scan the night sky and find a distant sun that calls to you in some way. Then you sit quietly and gaze at the point of light, following instructions to direct your awareness along that beam of starlight back to its source. Even though it took millions of years for that light to reach the earth, the seers of old believed that the mind could travel instantaneously.

Just like in dreams when we are able to journey to distant lands, or even visit relatives and friends from the past, the shaman’s discipline allowed them to ride a beam of starlight to its source. Once you found your star, it would protect you and guide you throughout the rest of your days.

The lore of the shamans say that even as you can travel along a beam of light, then you can also travel along a beam of darkness, of the invisible starlight. We know that the black hole at the center of the galaxy has woken up from its long slumber and started to emit invisible radiation, massive outbursts of X-rays. Could the seers of old have made this fantastic journey to the center of the Milky Way, to the “place of fear”?

As I was musing about this, I asked myself if even consciousness would be trapped in the immense gravitational pull of a black hole. How close could you come to the edge of infinity?

The galactic center is 26,000 light years away. On December 21, 2012, our solar system will come into perfect alignment with the center of the galaxy, an event that occurs only every 26,000 years, and that the Maya and other indigenous peoples of the Americas prophesied would be a time of tremendous upheaval, the end of one way of life and the birth of a new one. They foresaw the journey back through Xibalba and through the time of fear that many are experiencing today. And they left us a message of hope.

This is a time of birth, of beginnings, a moment in history fraught with opportunity. It is a time for courage, for purity, for integrity, and for holding forth our highest dreams and hopes. A time of the dawn of a new day.”

Read more about Alberto Villoldo’s spiritual journey into direct awareness, and his discovery that we are surrounded by a Luminous Energy Field (LEF) whose source is located in infinity. The LEF is a matrix that maintains the health and vibrancy of the physical body.

2012:  Shifting and Accelerating Currents

Linda Fitch is the Executive Director of The Four Winds Society and Dean of the Healing the Light Body School. Her latest project, Dying Consciously, is an online energy medicine hospice; bringing dignity back to all involved in the dying process.

Here is what Linda has to say about the upcoming changes in consciousness in 2012:

“Part of the legend of 2012 is that each month will become one lifetime and this acceleration will continue so that we experience a full lifetime each day. As this shifting continues it brings everything up to the surface for review. Any unresolved issue or lingering imprint comes to the surface for our attention.

It is easier now than ever to get caught in the undertow or mud the stirring up creates in our lives. It is key to remember to let the emotions pass through you and not cling to the residue the currents bring forward. The easiest way to work with what the current stirs up is to come back to ceremony.

Ceremony: The primary tool that lets you come back into balance

The shaman uses fire ceremony because it burns cleanly and quickly. In this time of shifting seasons and flow you may want to create a water ceremony. You could use a bowl of snow, river, ocean or faucet water. As you think about what the current has brought up for you, and the gift this offers you, then you can place your offering in the water.

You can add other items like essential oil or even floating candles. Eventually your offering could go to a larger body of water or your garden as a way to feed the seeds that are germinating. It is the honoring of the gift that then lets your river of life flow fresh again.

*****

The Four Winds Society, an international research and training organization, is preserving a thousand year old tradition of knowledge to achieve personal and planetary healing.  The company offers spiritual sojourns to Peru throughout the year. Their next one, entitled, “The Via Illuminata,” will be  June 14 to 25, and is led by founder Alberto Villoldo.

Contact information:

Email: fourwinds at thefourwinds.com

Address: The Four Winds Society
P.O. Box 680675
Park City, UT 84068-0675

Phone: in the United States:  (435) 647-5988 or (888) 437-4077

Visit the The Four Winds Society web site.

SPECIAL EVENTS

STARGAZING
Do you want to learn how to find the constellations or the North Star?  Do you want to take a long look at another planet and its moons?  How about viewing a Ring Nebula or a Double Star?  August’s event is tied to the annual Perseid meteor showers; because of that, we’ve added a rain date in hopes of getting one good night for stargazing!  This event is for all ages; please bring the entire family!  Bring a picnic chair, your binoculars or your own telescope, a flashlight, and dress for the nighttime temperatures.   The hosts will provide telescopes and instruction.  There is no pre-registration needed, but please be sure to check the cancellation line at 984-3030, Option 9, before heading to the park.  For ALL ages!  FREE!
DAY    TIME    SESSIONS        LOCATION
Sat.    5:00pm    January 9        Shenandoah County Park, Maurertown

ANNUAL WINTER ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
As the winter season gets going, please mark your calendar for this annual tradition.  Get your craft items ready to sell or just plan to attend and shop for those special birthday or anniversary gifts.  The show is set for Saturday,  March 6, 8:00am-3:00pm at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School.  Admission is FREE for the public.  If you’re interested in attending as a vendor, please contact SCPR for an application.  Tables are available for $20 or $35.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

SILLY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
(Ages 5-12 yrs.).  Do you like to make things and experiment?  Join us for the eight-week course in which we investigate and perform silly science experiments.  Even if science isn’t your thing, children will be sur to enjoy the many different approaches to science that will be presented.  Class will run on Mondays, January 4-March 8 (no class 1/18 or 2/15), 3:30-5:00pm at Central High School.  The cost is $30/child and the deadline to register is December 23.

COLORING FOR FUN
(Ages 2-4 yrs.).  Here’s a chance to do some great coloring while socializing with other children!  Each week will be a different coloring theme; all coloring sheets and crayons will be provided.  Coloring for Fun will be held on Mondays, January 4-March 1, 10:00-11:00am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $10/child and the deadline to register is December 30.

WATERCOLORING FOR FUN
(Ages 2-4 yrs.).  What can be more fun that watercoloring with your friends?  Bring your pre-schooler for some watercoloring fun while socializing with other pre-schoolers and their parents.  Each will will have a different theme, and all supplies will be provided.  Watercoloring for Fun will be held Wednesdays, January 6-March 3, 10:00-11:00am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $15/child and the deadline to register is December 30.

DANCING THROUGH THE WINTER
Rhythm, movement, music, and making dancing FUN!  This is a quality dance program in a positive and enthusiastic environment, which boosts self-confidence, positive peer interaction, fosters teamwork, and encourages children to be the best at whatever it is they choose to do.  At the end of the session, dancers will provide a dancing performance.  For ages 4-6 yrs., class will be held on Wednesdays, January 6-February 10, 5:00-5:45pm at the Edinburg School.  For ages 7-9 yrs., class will be held on Wednesdays, January 6-February 10, 6:00-6:45pm at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $40/child and the deadline to register is January 4.

ROCKIN’ ROBIN RECREATION
(Ages 5-12 yrs.).  Does your child need something to do after school?  Check out Rockin’ Robin Recreation as this class offers fun games and activities and gives your child a chance to socialize with all of their friends.  Please send a snack with your child.  This class will run on Tuesdays, January 19-February 9, 3:30-5:00pm.  Cost is $30/child and the deadline to register is January 18.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BABYSITTER’S TRAINING
(Ages 11-15 yrs.)  This course is fun and fast-paced with hands-on activities, exciting videos, role plays, and lively discussions.  You’ll gain the confidence to make smart decisions and stay safe in any babysitting situation.  You’ll learn how to supervise children and infants, perform basic child-care skills such as diapering and feeding, choose safe, age-appropriate games and toys, handle bedtime and discipline issues, identify safety hazards and prevent injuries, care for common injuries and emergencies such as choking, burns, cuts and bee stings.  You’ll receive a first-aid kit and handbook along with a certificate of completion.  Please register with the American Red Cross by calling 459-2913.  Class will be held on Saturday, January 9, 9:00am-5:00pm, and the ARC office in Woodstock.

LITTLE TYKES SOCCER
(Ages 3-6 yrs.)  All participants will learn the basics of how to kick, dribble, and shoot.  Kids will receive a kit to keep so they can train all year-round in their backyard.  Parents are encouraged to help out with their little all-star while our instructor provides class instruction to everyone.  This class will run on Saturdays, January 9-February 13, 8:30-9:30am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $35/child and the deadline to register is December 30.

LITTLE TYLES T-BALL
(Ages 3-6 yrs.)  All participants will learn the basics of how to catch, throw, and swing.  Kids will receive a kit to keep so they can train all year-round in their backyard.  Parents are encouraged to help out with their little hitter while our instructor provides class instruction to everyone.  This class will run on Saturdays, February 20-April 3, 8:30-9:30am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $35/child and the deadline to register is February 12.

ALL AGES PROGRAMS

INTERMEDIATE ROUND DANCING
(All Ages)  Location:  Edinburg School, Edinburg.  Round dancing sessions include learning the Waltz, 2-Step, and many more round dances.  Sessions:  Thursdays and Sundays, January 14 & 28, February 11 & 25, and March 11 & 25, 6:00-9:00pm.  The cost is $4/session.  Pay at the door.

SQUARE DANCING
(All Ages)  Location:  Edinburg School, Edinburg.  Join this group as a drop-in anytime for fun and fitness with basic line and square dancing.  Casual dress.  Sessions:  Sundays, January 10 & 24, February 14 & 28, and March 14 & 28, 6:00-7:00pm.  The cost is $3/session for adults and $1/session for children; all children must be accompanied by an adult.  Pay at the door.

OPEN GYM – BASKETBALL
Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation will hold an OPEN Gym for all basketball players every Wednesday evening from 8:00-10:00pm at the gym in Edinburg.  Cost will be $1 per person; starting January 6, the cost will be $2 per person.  Call for more info if needed.

THE ART OF BASKETRY
(Ages 16 and over)  Location:  944 Moose Road, Woodstock.  These successful basket classes are back for the winter months!  During the cold winter months, come inside where it’s warm and try your hand at basketmaking.  In January, you will make a Bushel Basket with handles to carry around all those books.  The basket will be 8” x 5”.  In February, you will make a You’ve Got Mail Basket to carry all of that mail and those magazines.  The basket will be 3” x 8” x 10” and will include a wire wall hanger to put anywhere in your house.  January’s class will run on January 21, 5:30-9:00pm and February’s class will run on February 18, same time.  The cost is $25/person and the deadline to register is the Wednesday before each class.

BEGINNING BANJO
(Ages 10+).  Learn to play the 3-Finger “Scruggs” and melodic style banjo.  This class will get students started on the chord shapes and right hand rolls needed for basic banjo.  There will also be an introduction to reading “tab” as a means of learning songs, and also the basics of picking out a song by ear.  Students will need to have a 5-string banjo and tuner.  Two classes will be held on Mondays, 7:00-8:00pm:  January 4-25 and February 1-22.  The cost is $80/person and the deadline to register is the Wednesday before each class.

NON-BEGINNER BANJO
(Ages 10+).  This class is for students that have already learned the basic rolls and chords and are ready to progress through some songs.  A purchase of a songbook in tab format is recommended.  Students need to have a 5-string banjo and tuner.  Two classes will be held on Mondays, 8:00-9:00pm:  January 4-25 and February 1-22.  The cost is $80/peson and the deadline to register is the Wednesday before each class.

FITNESS

ZUMBA
(Ages 13 and over.)  Zumba is a type of international dance that combines the fundamental elements of fitness with dancing fun.  Zumba utilizes the principles of fitness, burns calories, tones muscles, incorporates full range of motion, improves the cardiovascular system, utilizes balance, and improves coordination.  Come get fit while getting your groove on!  Classes will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, December 1-22, January 5-28, and February 2-25, 7:00-7:45pm at W.W. Robinson. Cost is $52/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee; the December class fee is $45.50 or $8 drop-in fee.

PILATES
(For ages 13 and over.)  Pilates is a form of exercise that uses concise controlled movements focusing on the body’s core to improve flexibility and posture.  The moves are smooth, slow, continuous, and focused on strength, stability, and alignment.  You will need a Pilates mat and lightweight exercise band.  Classes will run on Tuesdays, January 5-26 and February 2-23, 6:00-6:45pm, at W.W. Robinson.  Classes will also run on Thursdays, January 7-28 and February 4-25, same time and location.  The cost is $26/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee.

HATHA YOGA
(For ages 12 and over.)  De-stress and revitalize with yoga.  This class will teach you breathing, balancing, and relaxation techniques that stimulate the spine and nervous system, endocrine glands, and muscles of the physical body.  Yoga is a great way to end a stressful day and go home stress-free.  You can pay the full class fee or the drop-in fee each night.  Classes will run on Mondays, January 4-February 8, at either Sandy Hook ES or W.W. Robinson.  SHES’ class will run from 5:30-6:45pm and the WWRES’ class will run from 7:30-8:45pm.  The cost is $50 (full fee) or $10/class drop-in fee.  Please bring a mat or rag rug to class.

BELLY DANCING
(For ages 16 and over.)  Belly dance is one of the oldest, simplest, and most effective ways to achieve and maintain fitness.  Participants will learn the basic moves, while improving flexibility, posture, balance, and muscle tone.  This is a very low-impact workout, ideal for women of all age groups, shapes, and sizes.  No previous experience needed.  You can pay the full class fee for the drop-in fee each night.  Classes will run on Mondays, December 14-February 1 at Sandy Hook ES or on Tuesdays, December 15-February 2 at Peter Muhlenberg ES.  Both sessions run 7:00-8:00pm.  Cost is $42/class (full fee) or $8/class drop-in fee.

INTRODUCTION TO TAI CHI
(Ages 18 and over)  Are you looking for an exercise to not only build muscles, but also enhance your mind?  Well, we have the class for you.  Tai Chi is the original core fitness exercise system.  Traditional Yang Family is the most popular style in Chine (and the world).  The large, energetic, graceful and slow movements are derived from traditional Chinese Medical theory and martial arts.  This class will focus on the fundamentals of Tai Chi and the traditional barehand form.  This class will run on Mondays, January 4-February 22, 7:00-8:30pm at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $60/person and the deadline to register is December 30.

BUS TRIPS

NYC:  ON YOUR OWN!
(For ages 8 and over).  Join SCPR as we spend some time in the Big Apple!  Join us in New York City for an overnight on-your-own trip.  You can visit the museums, check out Central Park, see a Broadway matinee, shop until you drop, and enjoy some nightlife.  We will be departing the Woodstock Lowe’s parking lot at 6:00am on Saturday, April 24, 2010 and will arrive NYC at approx. 11:00am.  We’ll be staying in mid-town Manhattan within walking distance of most NYC landmarks.  We will depart NYC at 3:00pm on Sunday, arriving back in Woodstock at approx. 9:00pm.  Included is a continental breakfast on Sunday, your transportation, all taxes, and baggage fees.  NYC maps and city info. will be provided to you before the trip so that you can plan your free time.  When registering, please indicate your roommate’s name.  The cost of this trip is $215/person (single or double occupancy), $187/person (triple occupancy), or $172/person (quadruple occupancy), and the deadline to register is March 12, 2010.

LET’S GO SKIING AT WHITETAIL RESORT
(Ages 18 and over)  If you enjoy snow skiing and a lot of excitement, this bus trip is for you as we travel to Whitetail Resort in PA.  Whitetail has 21 trails designed for skiers of all abilities.  This would be a great Christmas gift or just a fun getaway.  We will be leaving the Lowe’s parking lot in Woodstock at 8:00am and departing from Whitetail at 9:30pm.  All meals will be on your own.  The price includes transportation, ski, and snowboard rentals.  There is a $10 fee if you wish to switch equipment after check-in.  Also, tubing is available for a separate fee; sessions vary, so check the resort’s website before we go.  This trip is set for Saturday, February 27; the cost is $118/person and the deadline to register is February 10.”

How to register

All registration can be done in-person at Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation, 508 Piccadilly Street, in Edinburg, VA 22824, via their online registration system , or people can mail or fax their registration forms.  Registration forms are available at the office or online. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, and 1:00- 5:00 pm. Their fax number is 540-984-8032.

Florida – Space shuttle Atlantis’ six astronauts are expected to arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida today for their prelaunch activities. Arrival in a Shuttle Training Aircraft is scheduled for about 12 p.m. EST and will be carried live on NASA TV and also can be found online.

The crew is scheduled to make a brief statement to media who are gathered at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility to cover the arrival before departing to their quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building.

Technicians on Launch Pad 39A completed pressurizing tanks inside Atlantis’ engine and steering jet systems, which are the main propulsion system and orbital maneuvering system, and the reaction control system early this morning.

Countdown officially begins tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. for Monday’s 2:28 p.m. launch.

Commander Charlie Hobaugh will lead the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Atlantis. Barry Wilmore will serve as the pilot. Mission Specialists are Robert Satcher, Michael Foreman, Randy Bresnik and Leland Melvin. Wilmore, Satcher and Bresnik will be making their first trips to space.

The mission will return station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth. STS-129 is slated to be the final space shuttle crew rotation flight to or from the space station.

STS-129 is the 31st shuttle mission to the station.

The liftoff date still depends on the successful launch on November 14 of the experimental Atlas V rocket from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. If the Atlas launch is delayed to November 15, the shuttle’s liftoff  “will move to no earlier than 2:02 pm on Nov. 17,”  NASA said in a statement.

Atlantis will deliver parts to the space station, including a spare gyroscope. In addition,  once it gets underway, the mission is set to include three spacewalks aimed at storing space hardware on the exterior of the orbiting outpost.

The 11-day space outing will be the fifth and last shuttle mission for 2009. There are just five more shuttle launches scheduled before the planned September 2010 retirement of the fleet.

France24.com reports that the White House “could decide to extend the program through 2011 to reduce U.S. reliance on Russia’s Soyuz craft for astronaut transport to the ISS while the Orion capsules are being built.”

To learn more, visit the International  Space Station web site.

(Pictured in the front row are Commander Charlie Hobaugh (left) and Pilot Barry Wilmore. On the back row (from left) are astronauts Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher and Randy Bresnik, all mission specialists. Image credit: NASA.)

Strasburg – With this article, we launch our new web feature, “Hot Sites.”

Daily, as editors of 7Bends.com and 7Bends of the Shenandoah Valley magazine, we come across websites that are of interest to our changing lives – from a practical, entertainment and/or technology perspective.  And, we also receive emails from our visitors suggesting web sites and/or events of note – that pertain to the Shenandoah Valley.

This week, for example, I ran across the “Virginia Green” web site. This is a statewide program that works to reduce the environmental impacts of Virginia’s tourism industry. A partnership between the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the program awards Virginia Green Certification to tourism-related business, such as hotels, restaurants and attractions – for taking voluntary actions to reduce harmful impacts on the environment.

The site also includes a digital “Virginia Green” Travel Guide, Green Travel Trips, Birding and Wildlife Trail information, A Map of Scenic Roads,  a list of eco-friendly events happening all year long across the state, as well as the Virginia eNewsletter.

Learn all about birds in Winchester this weekend

One of the eco-friendly events listed for the Shenandoah Valley just so happens to be this Saturday, November 7 in Winchester, VA.

It’s the Shenandoah Audubon’s Birding Festival, being held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m at the War Memorial Building in Jim Barnett Park – located at
1001 East Cork Street (take the Apple Blossom Mall exit off of I-81).

At this annual event, there will be demonstrations with live birds and talks about how to identify birds. Scouts can earn merit badges. Experts will be on-hand to answer all your birding questions, and basic birding and bird walks will be offered. Bird books and crafts – and top quality bird seed – also will be available for purchase.

Bird carving will be demonstrated and other conservation groups will have exhibits.

Admission is free and they’ll be many different fun activities for the children. Because the event is inside Winchester’s War Memorial building in Jim Barnett Park, it will be held rain or shine.

For more information, call (540) 667-6778, or visit the Northern Shenandoah Valley Audubon web site, which incidently, is another great local resource!

If you know of a hot web site in the Shenandoah Valley, drop us an email, and we may choose to feature it on 7Bends.com, the Event – News – Marketing – Communication Portal of the Shenandoah Valley.  Send to editor at 7Bends.com.

(NOTE: The wonderful Aztec bird photo comes from another great web site – Lucy Pringle’s site that shows all of the latest photos she’s taken of crop circles in the United Kingdom, including one right across from Stonehenge.)

Edinburg, VA – Question: What do all of these things have in common? Answer: They are all part of the schedule of exciting classes and events offered by Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation (SCRP) during October, November and December 2009.

Many of these Shenandoah Valley events are free. Some are for children; some for adults; and some for all ages. They include:

SPECIAL EVENTS

STARGAZING
Do you want to learn how to find the constellations or the North Star? How about viewing a Ring Nebula or a Double Star? Let’s join together for a good night of stargazing!

This event is free and for all ages; bring the entire family. Bring a picnic chair, your binoculars or your own telescope, a flashlight, and dress for the nighttime temperatures. The hosts will provide telescopes and instruction. There is no pre-registration needed, but please be sure to check the cancellation line at (540) 984-3030, Option 9, before heading to the park.

Time, Date and Location: Saturday, November 14 at 4:45 p.m. at Shenandoah County Park, in Maurertown , VA.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

SIGN AND SING
(Ages 3 and Under). This is a developmentally-appropriate music and movement program children with a parent or caregiver. A parent/caregiver and child learns the signs for “mommy,” “eat,” and you’ll know if he/she wants “more” juice and when he/she is “all done.” This research-proven program speeds language development in hearing children, eases frustration, and enhances long-term learning abilities. Price includes high-quality materials (Family Activity Guide, DVD glossary, and clip-on flashcards). This class will run on Thursdays, November 12 – December 17, 10:00 – 10:45am. The cost is $100/student.

CREATIVE MOVEMENT
(For ages 3-5 years). This class will combine movement experiences, body awareness activities, strength building and flexibility exercises, locomotor skills, parachute play, tumbling, and balancing in a fun, friendly class environment. Parents will have an active roll in class. This class will run on Thursdays, November 5 -December 3 (no class – 11/26), 4:30 – 5:15pm. Cost is $35/student.

ROCKIN’ ROBIN RECREATION
(For 3rd-5th graders). Does your child need something to do after school? Check out Rockin’ Robin Recreation as this class offers fun games and activities and gives your child a chance to socialize with all of their friends. Please send a snack with your child. This class will run on Tuesdays, November 3 – 24, 3:30- 5:00 pm. Cost is $30/child.

HOLIDAY KIDS CAKES
(For ages 8 and over.) Let’s get together and make a holiday cake! We will use a holiday theme using red, green, and white. Candy canes? Candles? A wreath perhaps? Get ready to make a decorated cake for your holiday party. You will need to bring a pre-baked sheet cake from home. Frostings will be provided. Class will run on Friday, December 4, 3:00 – 5:00 pm. The deadline to register is December 3. The cost is $15/student.

ALL AGES PROGRAMS

INTERMEDIATE ROUND DANCING
(All Ages) Location: Edinburg School, Edinburg. Round dancing sessions include learning the Waltz, 2-Step, and many more round dances. Sessions: Thursdays and Sundays, October 29, November 12 & 29, December 10 & 27, 6:00 – 9:00 pm. The cost is $4/session. Pay at the door.

SQUARE DANCING
(All Ages) Location: Edinburg School, Edinburg. Join this group as a drop-in anytime for fun and fitness with basic line and square dancing. Casual dress. Sessions: Sundays, November 15 & 22, December 6 & 20, 6:00-7:00pm. The cost is $3/session for adults and $1/session for children; all children must be accompanied by an adult. Pay at the door.

OPEN GYM – BASKETBALL
Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation will hold an Open Gym for all basketball players every Wednesday evening from 8:00-10:00pm at the gym in Edinburg.Cost will be $1 per person. Call for more information, if needed.

BASKETRY
(Ages 16 and over) Location: 944 Moose Road, Woodstock. These successful basket classes are back! For November, you will make a Rectangular Mail Basket to hold all of your important mail. This class will run on November 19, 5:30 – 9:00 pm. The cost is $25/person. The deadline to register November 18.

ROSES, ROSES, ROSES
(For all ages.) Have you always thought you might like to make roses for your decorated cakes? We will spend the entire evening learning the technique of making the classic and elegant Wilton Rose. You will need tips #12 and #104 as well as a Flower Nail. This class will run on November 3, 6:30 – 8:30 pm; the deadline to register is November 2. When registering, be sure to provide an email address so that the instructor can send more pre-class information. The cost is $15/student.

GARDEN FLOWERS
(For all ages.) Let’s grow a garden full of sugar flowers. This will be the perfect class for you if you love daisies, violets, apple blossoms, and daffodils. We will spend the entire evening learning to make these beautiful flowers. You will need tips #3 and #104 as well as a Flower Nail. This class will run on November 10, 6:30 – 8:30 pm; the deadline to register is November 9. When registering, be sure to provide an email address so that the instructor can send more pre-class information. The cost is $15/student.

FITNESS

ZUMBA
(Ages 13 and over.) Zumba is a type of international dance that combines the fundamental elements of fitness with dancing fun. Zumba utilizes the principles of fitness, burns calories, tones muscles, incorporates full range of motion, improves the cardiovascular system, utilizes balance, and improves coordination. Come get fit while getting your groove on! Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:00 – 7:45 pm, October 20 – November 19. Cost is $65/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee.

PILATES
(For ages 13 and over.) Pilates is a form of exercise that uses concise controlled movements focusing on the body’s core to improve flexibility and posture. The moves are smooth, slow, continuous, and focused on strength, stability, and alignment. You will need a Pilates mat and lightweight exercise band. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 – 6:45 pm, October 20 – November 19. Cost is $65/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee.

HATHA YOGA
(For ages 12 and over.) De-stress and revitalize with yoga. This class will teach you breathing, balancing, and relaxation techniques that stimulate the spine and nervous system, endocrine glands, and muscles of the physical body. Yoga is a great way to end a stressful day and go home stress-free. You can pay the full class fee or the drop-in fee each night. Two more sessions available: Mondays, November 9-December 14, 5:30 – 6:45 pm at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Mondays, November 9 – December 14, 7:15-8:30pm at W.W. Robinson Elementary School. The cost is $50 (full fee) or $10/night. The deadline to register is the Friday, November 6. Please bring a mat or rag rug to class.

BELLY DANCING
(For ages 16 and over.) Belly dance is one of the oldest, simplest, and most effective ways to achieve and maintain fitness. Participants will learn the basic moves, while improving flexibility, posture, balance, and muscle tone. This is a very low-impact workout, ideal for women of all age groups, shapes, and sizes. No previous experience needed. You can pay the full class fee for the drop-in fee each night. Two more sessions available: Mondays, November 2 – December 7, 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Tuesdays, November 3 – December 8, 7:00 – 8:00pm at the Edinburg School. The cost is $42 (full fee) or $8/night. The deadline to register is October 30.

BUS TRIPS

Plan ahead for Spring 2010, with this fantastic trip at a great price:

NYC: ON YOUR OWN!
(For ages 8 and over). Join SCPR as we spend some time in the Big Apple! Join us in New York City for an overnight on-your-own trip. You can visit the museums, check out Central Park, see a Broadway matinee, shop until you drop, and enjoy some nightlife. We will be departing the Woodstock Lowe’s parking lot at 6:00 am on Saturday, April 24, 2010 and will arrive NYC at approx. 11:00 am. We’ll be staying in mid-town Manhattan within walking distance of most NYC landmarks. We will depart NYC at 3:00 pm on Sunday, arriving back in Woodstock at approx. 9:00 pm.

The prices are per person and are based on double-occupancy; a continental breakfast on Sunday, your transportation, all taxes, and baggage fees are included. NYC maps and city information will be provided to you before the trip so that you can plan your free time. When registering, please indicate your roommate’s name and if you prefer twins or King bed. The cost of this trip is $215/person and the deadline to register is March 12, 2010.

How to register:

All registration can be done in-person at Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation, 508 Piccadilly Street, Edinburg, VA 22824, via the Shenandoah County Parks & Rec web site, or you can mail or fax your registration form. (Registration forms are available at the office or online. The SCPR office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m.- noon; and from 1 to 5 p.m.)

They say that Laliberte is the “first Canadian private space explorer” and that he used his voyage to “raise awareness about the need for safe drinking water all over the world.” Also onboard were Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka and American astronaut Michael Barratt. (Never heard anything from the major press or NASA about this beforehand…)

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, wearing a foam clown nose reminiscent of one of his productions, landed back on Earth – after a “working vacation” which set him back $35 million dollars. (It looks like money does have something to do with getting to go into space afterall.)

After launch on September 30, 2009, the space ship carrying the billionaire landed in Kazakhstan this morning, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

Laliberte’s journey was described by Cirque du Soleil, a popular show that merges acrobatics and music, as “the first social/artistic mission in space.” Among Cirque du Soleil’s most popular shows is Criss Angel: Believe. (The photo that accompanies this article is from Criss Angel.)

Cirque du Soliel has created a wonderful, imaginative web site.

Date Line: October 3, 2009

From the Universe, Earth, the USA, Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley – comes the Special Holiday Edition of 7Bends magazine – now in production.

Catch the Wave …  ride along with 7Bends and Friends

Experience the new-media difference in promoting your business, organization, web site, and/or special event in the Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia and DC areas.

7Bends of the Shenandoah Valley magazine and 7Bends.com, the web site, have experienced substantial growth since they were launched in May 2009. And, it’s thanks to people like you.

Indeed, it’s the people of the Valley, and beyond, that have grabbed hold of “the new magazine of the people.”

7Bends is a new-media channel that offers a growing number of communication platforms and vehicles that individuals, businesses, and groups can tap into to spread their own messages. 7Bends is both a public awareness information portal for our region, as well as a marketing network. We are committed to telling real stories of real people in the Shenandoah Valley, and surrounding areas, and letting people really know what’s going on.

7Bends is ready to share the “real estate” we’ve created in the magazine and on the web with people like you. We’re in the midst of selling ad space for the next issue which will celebrate the holidays.

*****

Support the 7Bends “power to the people” message and simultaneously grow your business and/or organization. Meet other like-minded people all over our area and the world – who you can assist (and vice versa.)

The Scoop:

What: “The Definitive Guide to Holidays in the Shenandoah Valley” – 52 pages – full color. Finished size: 9 X 11 inches. “Silk” cover and center-section.

When: Hits the street on November 23, 2009 – before Thanksgiving, perfectly timed for holiday shopping, events, and entertainment. (First printing; 15,000 copies)

Where: Holiday print edition will be delivered to high-traffic business locations and selected homes in the top seven (7) counties of Virginia (including Shenandoah, Frederick, Rockingham, Clarke, Warren, Loudoun, Fauquier, and Fairfax; and into parts of West Virginia and D.C.)

View a partial list of places in the 7Bends distribution area where people can pick up a copy of the magazine.

The articles (content) from the Holiday print edition will also appear on 7Bends.com.

Deadlines and Payment:
Reservations for Holiday issue will be taken through October 31, 2009. Half of payment is required to reserve your spot (“real estate”). All artwork is due by Nov. 3, 2009. Payment is accepted by cash, by check, or via credit card.

Ad Notes: All ads – print and web – are sold on first come, first serve basis. In some cases, ad space can be divided between multiple businesses (using a co-op arrangement).

Larger ads automatically come with a free web ad. Advertisers can choose the editorial section in which  they wish their ad to appear.  7Bends can also create basic web pages and sites for clients; help business owners distribute brochures, flyers, and door hangers;  and consult on web marketing and web traffic building activities.

7Bends of the Shenandoah Valley advertising is sold by local marketing reps – supported by autonomous sales teams in each community. Each rep receives a competitive commission on the ads they sell, whether in the magazine or on the web.

*****

Send an email to info at 7Bends:

- To inquire about becoming a 7Bends marketing rep in your local community; and/or

- To inquire about sizes and prices of ads still available for the 7Bends Holiday Issue (being published on Nov. 16, 2009).

(Photo: Preservation of Historic Winchester’s Annual Holiday House Tour on Dec. 5 and 6, 2009, will feature five splendid homes decorated for Christmas, including the Octagon House at 530 Amherst Street.)

Washington, D.C. — Astronomers declared NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope a fully rejuvenated observatory with the release yesterday (09/09/09) of observations from four of its six operating science instruments.

Topping the list of new views are colorful, multi-wavelength pictures of far-flung galaxies, a densely packed star cluster, an eerie “pillar of creation,” and a “butterfly” nebula.

View the Hubble web site site for photos, more information, and videos about the recommissioning process.

Hubble’s suite of new instruments allows it to study the universe across a wide swath of the light spectrum, from ultraviolet all the way to near-infrared. In addition, scientists released spectroscopic observations that slice across billions of light-years to probe the cosmic-web structure of the universe and map the distribution of elements that are fundamental to life as we know it.

“This marks a new beginning for Hubble,” said Ed Weiler, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The telescope was given an extreme makeover and now is significantly more powerful than ever, well-equipped to last into the next decade.”

The new instruments are more sensitive to light and, therefore, will improve Hubble’s observing efficiency significantly. It is able to complete observations in a fraction of the time that was needed with prior generations of Hubble instruments. The space observatory today is significantly more powerful than it ever has been.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the quality of the images from the new Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and repaired Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), and the spectra from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS),” said Keith Noll, leader of a team at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which planned the early release observations. “The targets we’ve selected to showcase the telescope reveal the great range of capabilities in our newly upgraded Hubble.”

These results are compelling evidence of the success of the STS-125 servicing mission in May, which has brought the space observatory to the apex of its scientific performance. Two new instruments, the WFC3 and COS, were installed, and two others, the ACS and STIS, were repaired at the circuit board level. Mission scientists also announced Wednesday that the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer was brought back into operation during the three months of calibration and testing.

“On this mission we wanted to replenish the ‘tool kit’ of Hubble instruments on which scientists around the world rely to carry out their cutting-edge research,” said David Leckrone, senior project scientist for Hubble at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. “Prior to this servicing mission, we had only three unique instrument channels still working, and today we have 13. I’m very proud to be able to say, ‘mission accomplished.’ ”

For the past three months, scientists and engineers at the Space Telescope Science Institute and Goddard have been focusing, testing, and calibrating the instruments. Hubble is one of the most complex space telescopes ever launched, and the Hubble servicing mission astronauts performed major surgery on the 19-year-old observatory’s multiple systems. This orbital verification phase was interrupted briefly July 23 to observe Jupiter in the aftermath of a collision with a suspected comet.

Hubble now enters a phase of full science observations. The demand for observing time will be intense. Observations will range from studying the population of Kuiper Belt objects at the fringe of our solar system to surveying the birth of planets around other stars and probing the composition and structure of extrasolar planet atmospheres.

There are ambitious plans to take the deepest-ever near-infrared portrait of the universe to reveal never-before-seen infant galaxies that existed when the universe was less than 500 million years old. Other planned observations will attempt to shed light on the behavior of dark energy, a repulsive force that is pushing the universe apart at an ever-faster rate.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. Goddard manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute conducts Hubble science operations. The institute is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. in Washington, and is an International Year of Astronomy 2009 program partner.

(Source of information: NASA; photo accredited to STScI)

CONTACTS

J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-5241
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov

Susan Hendrix
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-7745
susan.m.hendrix@nasa.gov

Ray Villard
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.
410-338-4514
villard@stsci.edu