Spirited Woman Blogger Team

Nature & Technology Blend Together in Singapore

It's just amazing, how many ideas and inspirations people create today for going green - exploring new design spaces which combine enjoyment, education in a sustainable man-made environment.

In Singapore at Gardens by The Bay, Project Directory Dr. Kiat Tan is on the leading edge of inspiration and science fiction where his gardens and technology are blending together to take going green to new heights. His creation, termed "Super Trees," are beautiful steel trees 40 meters tall - home to thousands of plants creating a living architectural marvel.

Dr. Tan, refers to them as the "hook" that will draw people in, people who never look at gardens will come and enjoy this space and connect with nature through the work of a group of dedicated engineers, horticulturists, architects, and landscape designers, who have turned their inspired vision into reality right in the heart of Singapore. Enjoy this marvel on video!

Thrive: What On Earth Will It Take?

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Life just shouldn't be this hard..." When we look around at the awe inspiring beauty and intricacies of the balance in nature we intuitively know that to Thrive is the natural order of things. But it's not the reality that we experience day-to-day. Why is that? What is keeping us from Thriving?

Foster Gamble set out on a journey 25 years ago to answer the question, "is it even possible for humans to thrive?" He has brought together his questions and the surprising answers he has found from all of the great minds he encountered along his quest. The result is a compelling documentary that brings together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism and offers real solutions that empower people to take bold steps. The documentary THRIVE: What on Earth Will it Take? will be released globally on the Internet on 11-11-11.

The documentary includes interviews with : Duane Elgin, Nassim Haramein, Steven Greer, Jack Kasher, Daniel Sheehan, Adam Trombly, Brian O'Leary, Vandana Shiva, John Gatto, John Robbins, Deepak Chopra, David Icke, Catherine Austin Fitts, G. Edward Griffin, Bill Still, John Perkins, Paul Hawken, Aqeela Sherrills, Evon Peter, Angel Kyodo Williams, Elisabet Sahtouris, Amy Goodman, and Barbara Marx Hubbard.

BZ Riger www.artofallowingmindset.com
Click here for more of BZ's posts.

Answer The Call to Wake-Up & See Life With New Eyes

There is so much changing, a lot of it feels chaotic and frightening to people. I've gone through my share of chaotic changes this summer like loosing my housing and various other material world shake-ups. Through it all I have come to realize that I have not lost anything. I've, in fact, expanded my experience and the joy I receive simply by moving through my day, whatever it brings, and connecting with people and the natural world around me.

We may perceive the fast changes raining down on us as chaotic, stressful, unnerving... but there is a something larger occurring. I believe the "landmass" of humanity's foundation is shifting and realigning and taking a new shape. We are being called to "awaken" from our eons of slumber -  what we call "reality" and to reconnect with the innate wisdom within each of us. The old ways are crumbling and despite some appearances we will not be left with ruin but with something we have never really experienced before. Living from the heart, experiencing true happiness in a world that works for everyone.

I created a video to help people answer the call to awaken from the nightmare of duality. See if it resonates with your inner-knowing, and makes the light shine a little brighter. If you feel a resonance share it with a friend and leave a comment with your thoughts and what is coming up for you in this time of change. I'm glad to be back with the wonderful Spirited Woman Blogger Team and moving through this fast-paced journey we are on with all of you.

Love and Light, BZ

BZ Riger www.artofallowingmindset.com
Click here for more of BZ's posts.

Women 2 Drive: The Rain Starts With a Drop

One of my favorite things to do is to sit on the couch near an open window when it has been hot and dry and no rain for everrr and to feel that cool breeze just hinting and the rustle of the leaves and the sky going a silvery green as the change in weather sweeps in. Those first few drops of rain bring such a feeling of hope and joy and freedom - the kiss of life affirming rain upon the air and the promise of change.

To reflect upon the above metaphor - in Saudi Arabia, Manal al-Sharif is one of hundreds of women who are taking small steps to be part of this promise of change. As their saying goes, "The rain starts with a drop" and they are doing it by taking the wheel in life as they literally get behind the wheel and begin to drive in their country for the very first time. They have organized their Women 2 Drive on their Facebook page and began getting behind the wheel on June 17th. In the Law of Attraction the number 17 has significance because as you hold a thought and focus your energy for 17 seconds you start to move in the direction of that thought. The women of Saudi Arabia have begun to move in the direction of freedom.

To watch a CNN video about their story click here.

BZ Riger www.artofallowingmindset.com, www.internetradiowithjuice.com
Click here for more of BZ's posts.

Spirited Kid, Lizzie Marie Cooks Up Good Things in Life

All girls dream of riding and hanging out with horses, and when Lizzie Marie at age six, told her parents she wanted lessons and wanted to pay for them herself... well, that's when she started cooking up good things in life.

It has been a fun and expansive road, now at the age of 11 she is a spirited entrepreneur with her own blog, Lizzie Marie Cuisine and has a number of projects in the works to bring her passion and inspiration for eating healthy and making it yourself to kids all over the world.

I love this story for many reasons because I think it is a wonderful illustration for parents to support their kids in pursuing their passions. Not holding them back or off because you think they are too young.

It's also a reminder to kids - from 6 to 96 - that by pursuing your ideas, inspiration, and passions, you will open up whole new vistas to explore in your life. What are your nudges? Start cooking up good things in life.

Here is a wonderful video on Lizzie: http://cnn.com/video/?/video/business/2011/06/14/nr.lizzie.marie.cnn.

BZ Riger www.artofallowingmindset.com, www.internetradiowithjuice.com
Click here for more of BZ's posts.

Watch and Wonder in the Night Sky for the Full Lunar Eclipse

June 2011 is a very busy month with several important celestial events. There are three eclipses and the summer/winter solstice all taking place this month. The first eclipse took place on June 1st and the most powerful and interesting one takes place on June 15th. It is a full moon and a full lunar eclipse, in fact, it is the longest lunar eclipse in more than 11 years. The moon will be blocked from view for over 100 minutes, it is one of only three lunar eclipses in the last 100 years to have this long of an eclipse duration.

Take some time not only on the night of the 15th to look up into the sky and the wonders it holds but all this month. We are a part of our celestial neighborhood and it's a really good time to stop and notice what you see, sense, and feel when you look up into the night's sky. Since I live on Martha's Vineyard and will not be able to see directly this powerful lunar event I really enjoyed watching this video created to give me a view of the total lunar eclipse from many different perspectives. I can feel like I am watching it from earth, the sun, and the moon's surface.

Here is the direct video link: http://youtu.be/JhZ-bd7R9Yg.

BZ Riger www.artofallowingmindset.com, www.internetradiowithjuice.com
Click here for more of BZ's posts.

Sharing The Rediscovery of Wonder

He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. - Albert Einstein

When our eyes are open we can look around and see so many things that inspire us with wonder. For me spring was always a ritual of experiences. I used to have a business, Charlotte's Gardens where I grew over 180 different varieties of flowers. In my greenhouse I would start flat after flat of seeds with the hope I could nurture them into plants to provide color and fragrance in someone's home. The wonder always came when instead of walking into the greenhouse and seeing a vast expanse of black plastic six pack trays or flats with planting mix, I could instead tilt my head to the side and see this wondrous haze of green as all the seeds had begun to sprout and new life was unfurling.

Looking at life with my eyes open and "noticing," simply, "noticing" and discovering the wonder all around me is such a delicious way to live my life. And when I meet someone when I am walking the dogs or am working on a task with others and can share that experience it really is such a special connection.

Janet Echelman, is a Spirited Woman, artist, and someone who shares my joy in noticing and being part of experiencing something of wonder. She has combined the traditional and technology to create ethereal soft building sized sculptures that are sublime in their simplicity and use of wind, air, and the very essence of Being in the space they occupy.

Take a moment to watch her story, to experience some of her sculptures and to rediscover wonder. Then set the intention to move through your day and NOTICE and rediscover wonder in all the things around you.

View Janet's inspirational video on Ted, "Taking Imagination Seriously."

BZ Riger www.artofallowingmindset.com, www.internetradiowithjuice.com
Click here for more of BZ's posts.

Intimate Learning with Technology Fires the Imagination and Expands the Mind

You may think it is an oxymoron to be able to have an intimate learning experience when technology, videos, the internet... are involved. But you can. I remember when I took my training for being a certified business and life coach. The curriculum was intense and extensive - all done virtually. Hundreds of hours of study done over a telephone bridgeline with students from all over the world in class at the same time.

That was back in 2000, and the first thing that struck me was that it was such an intimate way to learn and to really connect with people and get to know them. I remember thinking this kind of learning should be mandatory in every learning establishment at every level for at least a few classes. Why? Because the class setting removed judgement and distractions often present in "regular" classroom settings. It was also possible to go back and experience the material on my own time at my own pace and I could dive into the other materials provided from anywhere with access to the internet.

I realize now what I experienced, though it was very powerful and effective, was in the "stone age" compared to all the new things technology is unfolding each day. One example of intimate learning and technology is Khan Academy started by Salman Khan who was trying to be a good cousin and help his younger cousins with their homework. Today it is an amazing virtual academy with over 2,100 videos and more than 2 million people engaged with all the things to learn and explore. Sal is the only person who "works" at the academy. The technology allows people to learn and explore things in their own way and pace and it fires the imagination and sparks the light of learning with others.

Inspiration, Imagination & Writing - Everything Flows From There

Books, blogs, proposals, love letters... these are all part of our lives. When we write something it gives our words and our ideas life. The purpose may be to engage or entertain with a book or a movie, to grow a business with a proposal or marketing, to share our feelings and deepen relationships with a letter...  When we let our inspiration and imagination flow through writing it colors everything we do in life.

When I was in high school at UNIS, I had a teacher who knew the power of writing and he used to give assignments that would blend many different subjects. It was a great way to show us that writing brought our ideas and our knowledge to life and could be tailored to the specific task we were working with and pull our audience in to help us be influential, effective, connecting us and moving ideas forward.

It seemed for a time the "system" had forgotten the power of writing and pushed only math and science thinking those were the really important things our school children should be focusing on. So I am always pleased to see when there our people and programs reaching out to kids of all ages to show fun creative ways of the power of writing. 826 Valencia in San Francisco, CA is one of these ideas that has turned into a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Doing it in an off-beat style started when they needed to have a "store" in the location they rented because it was zoned retail so they chose a pirate store as the backdrop for the mission to help teachers and kids grow their talent for writing and expressing themselves.

Take a minute to watch the video that shows kids creating a new book in the writing lab behind the pirate store in the flagship location for 826 Valencia.

Tune into Your "Consciousness" Antenna

There isn't a corner of the globe that is not experiencing unprecedented change, some we see reported on "main stream" media, some on blogs or social networking sites. The stories and inspired ideas that people are coming up with to spread this awakening freedom and to live life and connect with each other in heart-centered ways is so very exciting.

A group of Libyans have gotten together to do their part to help freedom sweep through their country and the planet. They have started an internet radio station that broadcasts in English to the world. The station is Tribute FM radio in Libya. The stations co-founder Aiman returned home to Libya to start up the radio station and with a growing group of volunteers the station is continually expanding the hours it broadcasts each day.

No matter whether you are in a war torn area or are struggling to just get through the workday - we all can make a difference and do it in our own unique way. It is essential to realize that. So tune into your "consciousness  antennas" and see what feels like a good way to make a difference today.