Save #Dolphins and #Whales – Join #opKillingBay #opSeaWorld TweetStorm 12/19/14

Tags

#animalrights, #anonymous, #dolphin, #Dolphinslaughter in #Taiji #Japan must stop, #opfunkill, #opkillingbay, #opseaworld, #opseaworld tweetstorm dec 19, #savedolphins, #savewhales, #sealife, #seaworld, #taiji, #TwStorm, #whale, Earth karma, greed, inhumanity, Japan, orca whales, profit, releasing karma, taiji killer bay, The Earth Shifter, torture, USA

Save #Dolphins and #Whales!  #opKillingBay #taiji #anonymous #opfunkill #humangreed #profit

SOME HUMANS THINK KILLING AND TORTURING THE PEACEFUL AND EVOLVED BEINGS LIKE DOLPHINS AND WHALES IS FUN!

Last year, I did an expose on the brutal and inhumane annual slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan:

Save Our Dolphins! Help Stop Mass Dolphin Slaughter in Japan!

(See more material on Animals and Environment page!)

This year they are doing it again! One of the biggest buyers of captive dolphins and whales is #Seaworld.

For every dolphin captured and sold into slavery in Japan’s Taiji #killingbay SEVEN ARE SLAUGHTERED, often with horrible cruelty! Read my above post for more!

The horrible cruelty and greed of these humans add to the already very heavy KARMA of our planet!

I’ll be talking about karma, how it works and how it can be lightened and reversed in the upcoming interview with the Cat’s Eye On the Future show on the Time Monk Radio. Links will be posted on my blog in a couple of days.

Say NO – make them accountable, make them listen! Join TweetStorm!

You can also sign petitions and write to Seaworld, Japan PM and your congressman, as well as various international organizations. Some of the links are available in my above-referenced post.

facebook.com/events/423427701147730/ … join the event #OpSeaWorld TweetStorm

#OpKillingBay @hot_poppy2412 · 1h1 hour ago

Taiji killers are pushing these poor wild dolphins fast. Certain death or Captivity awaits #OpKillingBay

#OpKillingBay @hot_poppy2412 · 2h2 hours ago

TweetStorm #OpSeaWorld 19th December. #Anonymous

#OpKillingBay @hot_poppy2412 · 2h2 hours ago

Bad news, the #taiji bastards are driving a pod. #OpKillingBay

#OpSeaWorld @OpSeaWorld_ · 4h4 hours ago

“The animals’ welfare is only a factor 4 #SeaWorld in as much as they are maximizing their #Profit” Naomi Rose, marine biologist #OpSeaWorld

#OpSeaWorld @OpSeaWorld_ · 4h4 hours ago

#SeaWorld CEO “Our killer whales, our killer whale program, and all of our animals are emblematic of the whole brand” #OpSeaWorld #REALMONEY

#OpKillingBay @hot_poppy2412 · 3h3 hours ago

the killers go out to kill dolphins…Shame of it! Japan take a look at yourself #OpKillingBay

#OpSeaWorld @OpSeaWorld_ · 5h5 hours ago

#SeaWorld can breed enough whales to seed another parks and has big expansion ambitions. #OpSeaWorld

#OpSeaWorld @OpSeaWorld_ · 4h4 hours ago

“The animals’ welfare is only a factor 4 #SeaWorld in as much as they are maximizing their #Profit” Naomi Rose, marine biologist #OpSeaWorld

#OpSeaWorld @OpSeaWorld_ · 4h4 hours ago

Atchison insists that whales at #SeaWorld enjoy “great lives, full lives” Meanwhile Valium & Xanax are given to the orcas. #OpSeaWorld

#OpSeaWorld @OpSeaWorld_ · 4h4 hours ago

#SeaWorld “They are making a great deal of money off the performances of these animals.” quote Naomi Rose, marine biologist #OpSeaWorld

#OpSeaWorld @OpSeaWorld_ · 4h4 hours ago

Are YOU aware of the torture that #SeaWorld calls “entertainment”? VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/113804974  #OpSeaWorld #JoinUs on 19th DEC #TwStorm

Vimeo

Play

Make it count!

Reblogs, Tweets, FB, G+, etc., are appreciated!

 Related: This must stop! U.S. Navy wargames to kill hundreds of whales, dolphins

A note from Lada: 

Examples of mass slaughter of dolphins and whales are found in Norway, Denmark and S. America (Peru primarily), but not on the same scale. My original ‘Save our dolphins’ article, the link to which you can find above, contains lots of links to petitions to sign, EU and world officials’ info, etc.

However, the above examples are peanuts compared to the biggest offenders – the infamous #Taiji #Japan and #Seaworld. What they do amounts to mass genocide and mass torture, uncomparable to others in scale – that’s why we do tweet storms and petitions, etc. They kill thousands every year! If Taiji is stopped and if Sea World is stopped too, they may have to close down the shop and hopefully we can save the majority of dolphins and whales, or at least many.

Japan’s Taiji dolphin-killing-machine is also known for its especial cruelty. The story someone told me is terrible. One of their practices is (I can hardly write it)… to catch a baby dolphin, cut off one of its fins and throw it back into water. So, when the rest of the family swims to the crying baby, refusing to leave it and trying to protect it, the killers take their sweet time slaughtering them one by one. And as I said, every dolphin sold into slavery to one of these wonderful European aquaria means 7 killed dolphins and countless babies left without mothers, or mutilated, with their fins cut off.

Please help us stop this!

Original article: Save Our Dolphins! Help Stop Mass Dolphin Slaughter in Japan!

Also, please make sure to read my newest article:

Earth Karma, Human Consciousness and Dolphins

The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: A Walk Through Manhattan

Tags

Author Lada Ray, Greenwich Village, Hell's Kitchen, iPhone, Lake Baikal, Manhattan, Moscow, New York City, photography, Russia, Siberia, The Earth Shifter, The Earth Shifter excerpt

You may have read my post about Sacred Lake Baikal, Siberia. This is post two in The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting series. Last Thanksgiving we took a fabulous walk around Manhattan, NY, visiting The Village and Hell’s Kitchen, where part of The Earth Shifter action takes place. It is the location of Red’s Underworld Club with the secret entrance into the real, honest-to-goodness Underworld. ;) While depicting Underworld Club I drew on my real Manhattan experiences and observations.

It was dusking, still I couldn’t resist taking some pics with my iPhone since the setting was so right. Judge for yourself!

We are walking towards Hell’s Kitchen. Only in Manhattan! A weird, narrow “wedge” building next to Madison Park. This building is usually referred to as the “Flat Iron” and I think it goes so well with Red’s theme.

More Madison Park area:

I thought this was sooooo Red! This building and the amazing colors as they came out on my iPhone camera reminded me of Red’s Underworld castle as I imagined it.

In reality, this is a church…

A very progressive church. The sign says: “Organ Meditation,” which to me is also soooo Red.

We are walking through Greenwich Village, which we call simply “the Village.”

This could be Red’s motorcycle. ;)

A Village shop.

I love the detail on the Village buildings.

There are so many hidden gems here, which are easy to overlook, but if you have a keen eye, you are in for a treat. Illuminated with the surreal light of the dusk, these pictures remind me of Red’s Underworld castle and garden.

Red is one of the coolest characters in the book, and this is her world!

By the way, I structured the book in such a way that Red’s real identity remains an enigma till almost the very end. I dare you to guess what she really is while reading the book! But no spoilers, please!

Ah, finally, Hell’s Kitchen!

These sentinel-like iron guards also remind me of Red’s Underworld Night Club.

Hell’s Kitchen is nothing like it used to be!

From The Earth Shifter:

On Friday, Kei met Red at the corner of 47^th Street and 9^th Avenue. She wore skinny jeans, high heels, and a sleeveless black tunic with sequined accents, which highlighted her dark hair and eyes, and made her look positively ravishing.

“We are going to an underground night club, fittingly called Underworld,” she explained. Kei didn’t care whether they were going to Underworld, or to the end of the world. He was ready to follow her anywhere.

The Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan was once where prostitutes, drug addicts and other rather unsavory characters found refuge because it was cheap. Now of course, the entire Manhattan was so gentrified that even here you wouldn’t find a shoe-box-sized apartment for less than $3,500 a month.

It was only 6:30 p.m. and still early by the nightclub goers’ etiquette. Red knocked three times on a nondescript, metal door painted dark brown, which was buried in a walk-down. At eye level, the door had a small window with jail-like grates. There was movement behind the door and the non-smiling face of a burly dude, who belonged in a Pro Wrestling rink, appeared behind the grates.

“We are cl…,” he started. Suddenly, his expression changed and he hurriedly opened the door, muttering apologetically, “Yes, of course, come in, come in—welcome, my Lady.”

“Thank you, Heraldo,” Red replied regally, making her way past the huge bouncer. Kei followed, throwing cautious glances at the towering mountain of muscle guarding the door.

“I am actually not of age…yet,” admitted Kei when they were safely out of the bouncer’s earshot.

“Not to worry,” said Red, smiling. “It’s covered.”

At this hour, the bar was still dark with only a couple of people sitting in high chairs with drinks in their hands. There was no one else—not even a bartender—around. The whole place gave out the air of forlornness typical of nightclubs before patrons pile in and the show begins.

“Light, please,” said Red into thin air, making herself comfortable at a tiny table for two, located not too far from the dance floor.

The moment she finished her sentence, the candles set in whimsical cast iron candle holders burst into flame around them, giving the space an immediate feeling of mystery and magic.

“My Lady, what an honor to serve you!” A slick waiter, dressed all in black with white gloves, materialized in front of them with a bow. “What can I offer my beautiful queen and her handsome prince?”

“You are such a joker, Emmanuel,” murmured Red. “The usual—for two.”

“Of course, my Lady.” He melted into darkness, as if he never existed.

“Wow,” said Kei. “What is this place? They haven’t even asked for my ID, and they treat you like a queen…”

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah, it’s great, but how is that possible? You are no more than twenty, right?”

“Something like that,” said Red, smiling serenely.

“Then, how come they know you so well here? Are you a celebrity of some sort? Should I know you? Of course,” Kei continued his monologue, “of course, how silly of me! You must be a celebrity—just look at you! You are so beautiful. I am just surprised I can’t remember you from a movie or a magazine.”

“Let’s eat, shall we,” replied Red with a mysterious smile, as a whole procession of servers, directed by Emmanuel, brought out their dinner.

Somehow, the table they sat at started expanding to accommodate all the dishes being laid out before their eyes. Kei closed his eyes, and rubbed them vigorously. When he opened them again, everything seemed back to normal.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel was describing the bounty on the table. “Exquisite eggplant caviar—goes wonderfully with the Russian pancakes; fresh vegetarian pate—just in from our French suppliers; artichoke and olive salad; assorted cheeses from Holland, France and Greece; guacamole and rainbow-hummus platter, created by our chef especially for you; Middleastern salad; jasmine basmati rice with pine nuts, and of course…,” with these words Emmanuel conjured a large carafe filled with dark red liquid, solemnly placing it on the table. “Fresh from the vines of Tuscany, just as you like it, my Lady.”

Kei’s eyes widened. Having grown up in a Chinese family, he never tried wine before. At sixteen, he still had much to learn about the world around him.

“Very nice, Emmanuel, you’ve outdone yourself,” said Red approvingly.

The waiter and the servers bowed and vanished into the darkness.

“Let’s begin, shall we?” said Red. “I am starving.”

“Wow, this is quite a spread,” commented Kei. “Wine, my Lady?” He tried to sound mature while picking up the carafe to pour some wine into Red’s goblet.

“Yes, please,” she said with the same smile, pushing her goblet closer to Kei. She had to reach all the way to the middle of the table to do so, and again, Kei got a distinct feeling that the table was actually much larger than it visually appeared.

He chased the thought away, preparing to pour the beautiful dark liquid into Red’s goblet, and hoping—praying—that he’d be able to handle the wine.

“It’s actually not wine—it’s grape juice, from the best vines of Tuscany,” she explained in response to his unspoken fears.

“Oh…” Kei’s hand twitched and he spilled a drop of dark red liquid. The drop kept expanding, forming a blood-red stain on the snow-white tablecloth.

Red glanced at the drop, and then back at Kei. “I’m really not much of a drinker, and you are not of age yet.”

“Right,” said Kei, inadvertent relief spreading through his veins. He confidently poured the juice into goblets. No more spillage.

In the near future, I am planning posts about other Earh Shifter settings, including Moscow (Tverskaya and Moscow University), Princeton, NJ, Battery Park City and New York Chinatown. I’ll be filming Chinese New Year in Chinatown and will post it both here and on my Youtube channel. Stay tuned!

Read other great posts:

THE EARTH SHIFTER characters/setting/excerpts galore

The Earth Shifter Mystical Setting: Lake Baikal, Siberia

Excerpt 1

There is still time to enter THE EARTH SHIFTER Giveaway! Drawing for kindle formatting/editing/Accidental Spy Adventures ebooks is next Saturday 1/26! Don’t miss it!

Win ARCHOS Tablet     

Win Kindle formatting/Manuscript editing/3sets of Accidental Spy ebooks

Predictions 2012 Update: US Presidential Elections

Tags

Angela Merkel, Assad of Syria, Barack Obama, Confusion and Contested votes during US elections 2012, Contested US Elections 2000, Eurozone, France, George W. Bush, German Elections 2013, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, Green Party USA, Hurricane Sandy aftermath, International relations, Libertarian Party USA, Mercury Retrograde, Middle East, Mitt Romney, Occupy Wall Street, Russia, Sarkozy, Third parties in the USA, US Economy, US Presidential Elections 2012, USA, Vladimir Putin, World Trends Predictions by Lada Ray, Year 2012 Predictions

US Presidential Elections are on November 6, 2012. On January 11, I posted my original predictions for 2012, including the so-called Year of Elections, namely my predictions for USA, Russia, and France.

Here’s what I said regarding US Presidential Elections: 

“Republicans will pick Romney, who is perceived as the man of the middle, and therefore, appears a safe bet. And Romney will NOT beat Obama. In short, USA will remain sharply divided along partisan lines. Obama will narrowly win another 4-year term.

Meanwhile, various protests will continue and intensify. Emergence of a third party is very possible, fueled with disillusionment with the establishment and election results.”

Read my original Year 2012 Predictions

As usual, I want to remind everyone that I am a ‘political atheist’ and do not participate in any political party. My predictions and analysis are based on logic, facts, intuition, my knowledge of world cultures and geopolitical trends, long-time experience as financial consultant and investor, and Chinese Theory of Long Cycles.

More about me in ‘About.’

So far: Russia and France voted exactly as I originally predicted on 1/11/12, GOP nominated Romney, and there are clearly 3rd parties emerging in the USA. Two Third Party Presidential debates are being hosted by Larry King and aired by RT America. First debate took place several days ago between 4 alternative party candidates, incl., Green, Constitutional and Libertarian, and is available on Youtube; second debate on foreign policy will air and be posted on Youtube on 10/30. Very educational, by the way, and a great illustration of what’s going on beyond mainstream media. I urge everyone to watch! Check back in a day or two, I might most the Youtube links to both right here, or go to Youtube and do a search. If your cable carries RT America or RT, you can see it on TV.

Watch: First Third Party Presidential Debate 

Upcoming US Presidential Elections: no change from the original 1/11/12 prediction! Obama wins narrowly, with less than 5%, possibly, less than 3% advantage.

It is interesting to note that, while in the USA the vote will be very close, abroad it’s not even a contest between the two candidates. Based on polls from over 20 countries, Romney gets more support only in Pakistan, which is attributed to the Pakistanis’ irritation with deadly drone strikes, not so much to their preference of a specific candidate. Most countries have Romney in single digits, with Western Europe, especially France, favoring Obama by the widest margin.

My prediction: while Obama is far from ideal, no world leader (except, perhaps Israel’s Netanyahu) wants Romney as US President, in fact he scares everyone with his bellicose posturing. Foreign perception is that his rhetoric, lack of reason and restraint (as well as lack of understanding and knowledge of international affairs) would make his presidency into Bush 2.0. By the way, this is also the perception of much of the international investment community – and international investment community is seldom wrong.

It is naive to think that American elections happen in a vacuum. In our globalized and interconnected world, it should not be underestimated how much influence other countries and global community hold over any country’s policy and elections. In fact, I noticed that global opinion (don’t confuse that with the US media propaganda) is the most accurate barometer of presidential election results in any country. For example, international community at large (excluding USA and UK) wanted Russia’s Putin to win (of course, there really was no contest anyway). In France, both the country’s and international perception were against Sarkozy, and sure enough – he lost.

Other interesting cases include Italy’s Berlusconi resignation from his post as Prime Minister (in part due to international pressure), and Hugo Chavez winning recent Venezuelan elections despite his cancer, absence from the political scene, and despite having to compete against a young, strong and very charismatic right-wing candidate. Chavez managed to generate a very broad international support – that’s the secret of his success! Assad of Syria is another prominent example of foreign influence. By the way, I received questions from my readers regarding the future of Assad, as well as the situation in the Middle East at large and I intend to cover it soon in one of the future articles.

P.S. For those who pay attention to astrology: From the astrological perspective, US Elections 2012 are taking place during the start of Mercury Retrograde, infamous among astrologers for introducing confusion, delays and misunderstandings, as well as mistakes in documents and broken machinery/electronics. A friend-astrologer of mine who read my article, just reminded me that the last time the US Elections happened during Mercury Retrograde, in 2000, the confusion resulted in the Supreme Court choosing the winner, George Bush, with controversy continuing to this day. US Presidential Elections on November 6, 2012, may be just as confusing and messy (if not more so), with possible mistakes, lost or contested results. Double check everything while voting.

11/1 Update. This is from my comment (to read more click on ‘comments’):

“To our discussion about the Hurricane Sandy factor: I believe the hurricane will ultimately help Obama, like 9/11 helped Bush. The nation tends to rally behind the President in times of disaster, and the opposing party has no choice but to mute its rhetoric, because the alternative might backfire on that party. I know, this is pretty awful that we need a disaster to feel more united, but here it is.”

Update 11/2: Hurricane Sandy will also temporarily stimulate the economy and the stock market, once more postponing the inevitable recession/depression. Much will have to be rebuilt, and the government will again turn on its virtual printing presses, happily throwing money they don’t have left and right. But the key word here is “temporarily.” No nation in the history of the world could run on debt indefinitely, without having to eventually face the gruesome reality. USA is no exception.

Read my other articles/predictions regarding the elections in Russia, France and USA.

1. Russia Votes: Crash Course in Russian Politics

2. 2012 Predictions Update: Russian Elections

3. 2012 Predictions Update: French Elections and Eurozone

4. 2012 Predictions. Year of Elections: Russia, France – USA next!

I will be posting a follow up after the US elections, including my new predictions regarding the very important for the Eurozone, German Chancellor Elections 2013, and Angela Merkel‘s chances to be re-elected.

Many have asked me to expand my predictions and talk about the future of financial markets, economic outlook for various countries and continents, as well as the future of world peace. I will try to post more of my predictions going forward. Stay tuned!

Copyright 2012, Lada Ray

Check out GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), rip-roaring thrill ride from Moscow to St. Petersburg, based on true historic events: mystery, thriller, magic, hot romance, and continuing international adventure!

FIVE STARS

“Highly anticipated follow up adventure by novelist Lada Ray, Gold Train certainly delivers with dramatic thrills and spills. The action follows journalist Jade Snow as the sexy super sleuth goes international. Truth, justice and the American way… superman can take lessons from this reporter! Easily 5 stars all the way, highly recommend for all you politicos out there.” — Jasper Snieder

Paperback

Ebook

Paperback/ebook available in the USA and internationally!

All buy links: Book Store

More about Gold Train: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

For blurbs/excerpts/trailers – GOLD TRAIN and other books: LadaRay.com

A Cool America: The Catskills Nature

Tags

Catskill Mountains, frogs, geese, horses, nature, nature photography, New Age, New York, Rail Trail, Russian Orthodox Monastery, Tibetan Buddhism, Upstate NY, wild flowers, wild life habitat, Woodstock New York

I am continuing my series on America’s cool and off-beat spots.

I live in a beautiful part of New York State, the Catskill Mountains. Renowned for its skiing in the winter and hiking in the warmer seasons, it is also home to various colleges, artist and New Age communities, as well as monasteries and spiritual retreats.

If you are ever in the Catskills, don’t miss the famous Woodstock, seat of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival. Check out my post with great pics: Woodstock, NY

Definitely visit the Woodstock Buddhist Monastery. Read my post + lots of pics: Woodstock Tibetan Buddhist Monastery

There are many other fascinating places to visit in the Catskills, including the New Age town of New Paltz, Russian Orthodox Monastery and the Peace Village. I am planning some posts about those in the near future.

But today’s post is all about the nature of the Catskills.

Many New Yorkers buy secondary homes in the Catskills because of its gorgeous mountains and unspoiled nature. Overpopulation, overconstruction and incessant traffic are a problem in most of the USA.

But the Catskills remain one of the few relatively pristine corners of the country, still preserving the beauty and charm of a long by-gone era.

Stamford, New York, known as the Queen of the Catskills, is located in the heart of the area.

In the olden days, when a railroad ran through town, well-to-do New Yorkers would vacation at the local summer and winter resorts. Some built grand summer homes. However, with the advent of automobiles, the rail road became defunct, and as fewer people came to Stamford, the town lost its luster, falling on hard times. But in the past twenty years, as buying of secondary homes became popular again, New Yorkers flocked here once more to destress and be with nature.

The defunct railroad has been turned into a nature trail, presently running for miles and miles to the neighboring towns. Dubbed the rail trail, it is my favorite place to hike, do photography and meditate.

I hear that the long-term plan is to revive the defunct rail road and bring big city traffic and commerce back to town. It would be a pity. The rail trail is a way for humans to interact with nature in a peaceful and unobtrusive way, and without creating unnecessary disruption of wild life habitats.

My hope is that the unique natural ecological system that so many people, animals, birds and other creatures can enjoy now won’t be destroyed, as humans attempt to re-assert their dominion over the area.

In Stamford, beautiful nature starts right at my doorstep.

Wild flowers on the rail trail.

Colors of the rail trail.

As I walk, scents of various blooms are intoxicating.

The mighty Delaware River starts right here, in Stamford, as a tiny trickle. It runs through the entire town and along the rail trail.

A cute pink frog from the river, whom I met on the rail trail and who graciously agreed to a photo op.

My favorite pond and its inhabitants.

I was lucky enough to capture him in flight!

My friends, Mr. and Mrs. Goose.

The Catskill Mountains are lovely any time of the year.

Horses on the rail trail.

And more beautiful horses.

A Cool America: Woodstock Tibetan Buddhist Monastery

Tags

Buddha, Buddhism, Catskill Mountains, Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Karmapa, Holy Man, Kagyu, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, Karmapa, Mecca, Meditation, painting, photos, spirituality, tanghas, Tara, Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhist Art, Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, Tibetan statues, visiting Tibetan Buddhist monastery, WOODSTOCK, Woodstock New York

Woodstock, NY has a distinction of being a Mecca for artists, as well as heaven for holistic and spiritually oriented people. As such, it is home to the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery located on Meads Mountain Rd.

One day I am planning on traveling to Tibet, but until then, why not explore a cool piece of Tibet, located practically in my back yard.

The official name of the monastery is Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) and it is the North American seat of His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa. Founded in 1976, the monastery features the traditional teachings of the Kagyu lineage of the Tibetan Buddhism, who’d been teaching spirituality and mediatation since the 10th century. The Monastery is located in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, just above Woodstock.

The Monastery has a number of monks and it hosts meditations, discussions about spirituality and higher consciousness, retreats and other events.

Recently it welcomed  the Dalai Lama, as well as the Holy Man, Gyalwang Karmapa.

Monastery’s outer gate.

The inner gate.

The outside of the monastery.

Fu Dogs protecting the building.

Colorful Tibetan prayer flags are everywhere, surrounding the monastery with benevolent energy.

Tibetan symbols on top of the meditation building: 1. Wheel of life; 2. Stupa; 3. Victory banner; 4. Fruits of abundance; 5. Kalachakra.

Entrance into the mediation hall, painted with traditional Tibetan frescoes.

If you think this is beautiful, you aint seen nothin’ yet! The actual meditation hall is absolutely amazing. A WOW amazing! As someone who collects Asian art, I can totally attest to that! I was sooooo ready with my camera to snap those pics left and right. I was practically drooling! But… the very nice monks politely asked not to take any pictures inside the sacred space. Anyone is welcome to come in and meditate, but no photography is allowed in the meditation hall. So, I went in and sat on one of the pillows. I closed my eyes and meditated for a while. How I wanted to whip out my camera and snatch just a couple of pics of the magnificent Buddha statues towering at 25 feet, of beautiful thangkas and offerings! No one would see me do it, if I was really fast, would they?

But then, I thought of those monks and the trust they put in me, I thought of something intangible that I could distinctly feel in that room. What was it? The presence? Higher conscience?

As a result, my camera stayed in my pocket. I got up and went around the hall, taking in every statue, every piece of art and absorbing the atmosphere. After that, I exited the meditation hall, put my shoes back on and went outside without taking any pictures.

So sorry, no pics of the monastery’s most awesome room. But there are plenty of the rest. Enjoy :)

Inside the main building. Notice the floor? This beautiful design is called the mandala. It looks like a flower, specifically a lotus, and symbolizes harmony.

Ah yes, Thangkas… A thangka is a very special art form, particular to Tibet. They are painted by Tibetan Buddhist artists on canvas, using vibrant colors and oftentimes real gold paint. Nedless to say, because of that, they are awfully expensive.

The stroke is exquisitely fine; thangka’s design is usually very intricate, with lots of amazing images arranged in a very structured way around a main image of Buddha, Tara, Avalokiteshvara, or another diety.

The canvas is usually framed with silk brockade and can be hung on the wall, creating a striking senterpiece for any space. However, when not in use, thangka can be rolled up, like a scroll, thus taking up very little space. This to me symbolizes a very Buddhist notion of “traveling light through life.” I collect thangkas and can’t stop admiring the amazing artistry of their creators.

A very interesting fact about thangkas is that despite being truly unique masterpieces, the artists don’t usually sign their names on their creations. It is believed egoic and inapropriate, as all art and creation belongs to God.

Philosophical paintings by Karmapa:

Awakening from slumber.

Inquisitive mind – genuine wisdom.

Dance of illusion.

The thunder dragon.

Union of mind and wisdom.

Pics of the Dining Hall.

The monastery has an extensive shop where one can buy very high quality Tibetan insense (I shop exclusively there), as well as thangkas, Buddhist devotional items, statues, books and other art. It is pretty awesome. Here are some of the images:

The monastery has been conceived as a fully sustainable, green project. Caring for the Earth and all its beings is an integral part of the Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice.

Solar panels on the monastery roof.

The monastery is still under construction. They are looking for donations and additional funding.

If you are interested in donating, please visit their website: http://www.kagyu.org/

This is part 2 of my post: A Cool America: Woodstock, NY. Check out part one here!

A Cool America: Woodstock, NY

Tags

1969 Woodstock Music Festival, Ann Hood, Augusten Burroughs, Bob Dylan, Hudson River, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Max Yasgur, Nelson Rockefeller, New York, New York City, Shalom Auslander, United States, WOODSTOCK, Woodstock New York

Original photography by Author Lada Ray

In my life I had been to just about 30 countries, including some of the most picturesque, famous, as well as exotic and rarely visited locales. Some I remember with warmth, in others I’ll always I feel at home, even after years of absence, and there are a few I wouldn’t necessarily want to go back to. I am planning a series of posts about my various travels, with lots of pics (of course) and a fresh look at destinations both well-known and rarely traversed.

But for now… I’d lived in the USA for years. So, why not do a series on something closer to my present home: the genuinely cool places of America?

Today’s destination is the town of WOODSTOCK, NY, located not too far from my home in the Catskills. 

Woodstock, NY has forever been etched in the Americans’ genetic memory due to a certain event in 1969, which signaled a massive change in the mentality of this country towards the Vietnam War and which is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history.

500,000 music fans gathered between August 15 and August 18, 1969 on Max Yasgur‘s dairy farm for a weekend billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music.” Families came with children and often slept straight on the grass during this rainy and muddy weekend. There were food shortages and sanitation problems. But in 3 days, 32 acts were performed, making many participating musicians famous overnight. Artists included Joan Baez, Santana, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead and The Who, to name a few. Music performances alternated with anti-war discussions and meditations, as well as yoga, breathing and healthy living classes. Both the participants and attendees felt remarkably peaceful and inspired.

Initially, no more than 50,000 people were expected and the festival was supposed to happen on Woodstock property, not far from the town itself. Hence the name: Woodstock Festival. But after the locals rebelled against the “invasion” of the “Hippies” and when it became clear that the festival attendance would break all records, the venue was hastily moved to the extensive dairy farm owned by Max Yasgur, some 60 miles (100 kilometers) away.

New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller called festival organizer John Roberts and told him he was thinking of ordering 10,000 New York State National Guard troops to the festival. Roberts was successful in persuading Rockefeller not to do this. Meanwhile, New York’s Sullivan County declared a state of emergency.

I daresay all these authorities, who wouldn’t see the great thing if it hit them over the head, were worrying about the wrong people. Unfortunately, in this regard not much has changed since then.

The town has long been a mecca for artists, musicians (like Bob Dylan), and writers, even before the music festival made the name “Woodstock” famous. The town has a separate Artists’ Cemetery. Film, and art festivals attract big names, and hundreds of musicians have come here to record. In April 2012, Woodstock hosted the Woodstock Writers Festival. Speakers inlcuded some of the notable names in literature: Ann Hood, Augusten Burroughs, Shalom Auslander, Kurt Anderson and Ned Leavitt.

The town is also home to the new Tibetan Buddhist Monastery.

Located between the foothills of the Catskills and Hudson River, Woodstock today blends music and the arts with robust holistic and spiritual communities. And yeah, Hippies are always welcome!

 

 

 

Read Part 2:  Cool America: Woodstock Tibetan Buddhist Monastery

My Beautiful Nature Walk

Tags

Amazon, Author Lada Ray, beauty, book giveaway, book reviews, Catskill Mountains, E-book, Gold Train, mystery thriller, nature photography, nature walk, New York, paperback, photography, Rail Trail, Soviet Union, Twitter, Upstate NY, YouTube

This post features original photography by author Lada Ray. 

First, a few quick announcements: Today, May 6, is the last day of the GOLD TRAIN  BLOG TOUR, and I want to thank all my gracious blog hosts and readers for a truly wonderful experience! I enjoyed all the interviews, reviews and new friendships very, very much!

Today is also the end of the GOLD TRAIN Giveaway on Lada Ray Blog. Giving away 2 Gold Train ebooks. This is the last chance to participate! Please check it out here! Two lucky winners will be announced at 8 p.m. tonight on this blog and on Twitter. I’ll also send both winners Twitter DMs with further instructions.

Finally, today is the last day to download GOLD TRAIN ebook on Amazon for $0.99 or the European equivalents. Tomorrow, the price will be $2.99 (reg. $3.99) – Mothers Day Sale. Buy ebook here.

GOLD TRAIN paperback is now on sale for only $9.99 till May 13 as Mothers Day Promotion. Regular price is $14.95. Buy GOLD TRAIN paperback here.

Happy reading and see you on pages of my books!

Now, without further ado, today’s post:

Sunday. Today, I was supposed to post my new piece, FACT AND FICTION IN GOLD TRAIN… but something in me rebelled against that. So I decided that I would do this very important article on May 12, as a follow up to the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour. Also, another follow up, THE COOL, THE ORIGINAL AND THE CONTROVERSIAL, will appear on this blog on 5/9.  See the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour Schedule.

But today… the sun is shining brightly, the air smells like honey and freshly cut grass. So, my husband and I decided to get our camera and embark on a lovely nature adventure instead. We are surrounded by some wonderful nature here, in the Western Catskills. And it’s actively awakening now. Spring comes late to the northern NY State, but finally it’s here! My goal is to capture on camera its joyful awakening!

In keeping with the GOLD TRAIN theme, we decided to take the Rail Trail, a defunct rail road turned walking nature trail, which connects many towns in our area.

I am inviting you to share our today’s nature walk! Enjoy the images I’ve captured along the way, including the giant fields of sunny dandelions, the beautiful horses, graceful geese, local farms and colorful chickens, and of course, the mountains.

This is just a primer. I will be doing a bigger post: Spring in the Catskills, and a YouTube video later. Stay tuned!

My Updates: Off-The-Grid Survivalist Training

Hello, everyone!

I’ve been MIA due to the internet problems in my area. I am currently at my Catskills (Upstate NY) residence, where Time Warner is the only high-speed internet game in town. Unfortunately, they gave me a defective modem, and so, I’ve been without access to the internet for over 2 weeks.

In addition, there was a wide-spread internet outage, all the way to Albany. The outage has been restored and today, I am sitting at a cafe in Oneonta, some 30 min. drive from my house, attempting to catch up on all my internet correspondence.

For a while, my access to the internet will be sporadic at best, as Time Warner is not promising a new modem until April 20.

As so much of my life and work is online, it is a MAJOR inconvenience and frustration, so I’ll try to get to Oneonta as much as possible to maintain my internet presence, but needless to say, some of my projects and plans are being delayed.

However frustrating, I guess, this is my opportunity to try out the new self-reliant, off-the-grid lifestyle, which, as this decade progresses, we may have to deal with more and more here, in the blessed US of A. Survivalist training anyone?

I want to remind everyone that the Catskills area was also hard hit with floods last August. My town of Stamford is the birthplace of the mighty Delaware River. Despite that, floods bypassed it, due to its elevated position and the new water main the town splurged on just one year prior. Here is to forward thinking!

When the floods hit, I was in Stamford and my husband was in New York City, where he works. Due to the road closures, he was unable to get back to me for over a week!

Below: a few images of my town and its gorgeous nature. As many of you know, I love photography and have taken lots of pics of the Catskills nature. Maybe one day, I’ll get around to posting them on my blog.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy my photos/videos of Stamford and its nature, accompanied by beautiful music, by visiting my Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay/videos Incidentally, here you can also view my book trailers.

Or view the videos directly:

Amazing Autumn Meditation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh8iU8OKFDI&feature=relmfu

Enchanted Autumn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpEGVHG0y5Y&feature=relmfu

So, we really lucked out with the flood, but some towns in the area had been devastated. A town only 6 miles away lost 16 homes; its Main Street still looks like a war zone, with houses torn, mountains of debris and uprooted trees. They did rebuild the supermarket and the local bar to their former glory. ;) I know local farmers who lost their entire crops. Some roads in and out of the Catskills have only reopened recently.

On a much happier note:

As soon as I get a chance, I’ll post what I promised some time ago, namely, my new blog about my trip to Woodstock, NY, seat of the legendary Woodstock Festival of 1969 and the Buddhist Monastery, also located in Woodstock. I did take some awesome pics and can’t wait to share them.

I am thinking about starting a new category on my blog, called “The Cool America” where I’ll do posts about my favorite US towns.

I will also continue posting about my various travels around the world, and of course, about Russia.

Despite the inconvenience of the off-grid existence or, perhaps, because of it, I have not been wasting my time. I made some good progress with my upcoming books: DRAGON GATE, next Jade Snow Adventure set in Asia, and THE EARTH SHIFTER, new YA fantasy thriller. Both of these are shaping up into some pretty cool and gripping reads and I intend to start sharing excerpts soon. ;)

For up to date news on these and other projects, please check out my website: http://www.ladaray.com/

Other good news:

GOLD TRAIN paperback launch is looking good for April 25. There will a Blog Tour with some really awesome interviews and giveaways. Please make sure you stop by my blog stops, as we are planning lots of great things! I am also planning some very special new articles and posts on my own blog, as well as other publications.

Check out the preliminary BLOG TOUR schedule here: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

In addition to the interviews and giveaways, I am also planning some major promotions throughout April and May. Please stop by my blog and website  @ http://www.ladaray.com/ after April 15 for all the details.

I am also reading some interesting books by fellow indie authors and will be posting reviews as soon as I can.

Till then,

Cheers, as always, and stay tuned!

Lada Ray

Year 2012 Predictions

Tags

12/21/12, Alternative, Angela Merkel, astrology, Chinese Year of the Dragon, crisis, Democrats, E-Publishing, End of the World, EU, Euro Zone collapse, Europe, Feng Shui, finance, French Presidential Elections, future, Indie Publishing, Kindle, markets, Mayan Calendar, New Year of the Dragon, Obama, Prophecies, Putin, Republicans, Romney, Russian Elections, Sarkozy, Social Media, United Russia, US Elections, world disasters, Year 2012, Year 2012 Predictions, Year of the Elections

Year 2012 Predictions

by Author and Feng Shui Master, Lada Ray

Scroll down to the end for the US Presidential Election prediction

and 10/28 update! 

First, a quick announcement: I’ve been planning to write:

BOOK OF PREDICTIONS – AFTER 2012

for some time now, but it’s been on hold due to other priority projects. I hope to write and release it this year, depending on my schedule.

What qualifies me to predict the future? In the past decade, I taught a number of my proprietary Feng Shui courses and did lots of consultations, in addition to writing about Feng Shui and spirituality for various publications around the world. As part of my speaking and writing, I made predictions about certain events in society and our lives, as well as advised clients on various real estate and investment-related matters.

My various predictions usually came true. As a quick example, I sold my own real estate property in 2005 – at the top – and advised my clients to do the same. Those, who followed my advice, cashed in very nicely. To find out more about me, check out my bio.

My predictive methodology is complex and consists of several parts.

1. As a former financial consultant with Smith Barney (Citigroup,) I understand the market movements.
2. Having lived in various countries, under various social systems, including socialism and capitalism, and having observed and studied the geopolitical mechanisms that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, as well as those in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, I understand the driving forces in the world today.
3. I also draw on Western Astrology, which, together with other predictive methods, is a great tool.
4. Feng Shui, especially the Theory of Five Elements, along with Chinese Astrology,  is also helpful.
5. An important element in my predictions is the powerful Oriental System of Long Cycles, very little known, and even less understood today. Feng Shui, in its most profound and true manifestation, shares the same philosophy. I studied this system with revered Hong Kong Masters of Feng Shui. Since space in a blog post is limited, I intend to talk more about it in the upcoming BOOK OF PREDICTIONS.
6. Last, but not least: While I do not consider myself psychic, although some may beg to differ, in my predictions, I rely heavily on my intuition, which has never let me down.

Without further ado, let’s get to the core of the issue. The Year 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese system, and it also has been called the Year of Elections. So, what does this year hold in store for us all?

First, something that has been done to death (no pun intended) in books and film: Should we expect the End of the World on 12/21/12?

The short answer is – ABSOLUTELY NOT! The above date, when Earth forms a direct line with the Galactic Center, will be a non-event and will go absolutely unnoticed by most humans. Some may feel more emotional and high strung, but it could be because these people are feeling the nervousness of others around them. However, the world will keep spinning, and life on Earth will go on.

The long answer is more complex. There are very powerful, LONG TERM changes at work. Those of us who are currently involved with, say, Indie Publishing, or Social Media, and some other areas, are actually at the forefront of these changes.

Suffice it to say that humanity is going through a massive transformation of consciousness, which will last for the foreseeable future, and at times, may be painful and confusing.

But these changes are gradual, although some manifestations are visible in cataclysms and events of today. Examples include: Japanese tsunami and Fukushima disaster, Gulf of Mexico oils spill, the Occupy Movement, Egypt Revolution, US/Europe Economic Problems, The BRICS, Kindle and Indie Publishing Revolution and many others.

Please read more about these events and changes in my upcoming books: THE EARTH SHIFTER (a fantasy/thriller) and BOOK OF PREDICTIONS (non-fiction.)

For more about my books, please visit: LadaRay.com

What to expect in the YEAR OF THE DRAGON? How does it differ from the other years of the Chinese Zodiac?

Year of the Dragon is considered one of the most powerful years for business and innovation. It ushers in more Yang – aggressive, assertive – energy, than almost any other year in the 12-year Chinese Zodiac cycle. Therefore, this year we should expect new developments in various revolutionary and alternative technologies. By the way, fellow Indie authors, this could be the year for you!

In general, starting your business is considered especially auspicious during the Year of the Dragon. This year will also be good for anything alternative.

On the other hand, the Year of the Dragon could signify more turmoil in both social and political spheres, as well as in nature. Sorry to say, natural, as well as man-made disasters won’t subside.

Read more about the powerful Dragon in my tomorrow’s post, right here, on Lada Ray Blog!

2012 is called THE YEAR of ELECTIONS, with something like 40 countries going to the polls to elect new Heads of State. This includes the big three: Russia, USA and France.

My friends will tell you that I could talk for hours about geopolitics, but due to the confines of the blog space, I’ll be brief and discuss the big three. Also, just to mention, I am a ‘political atheist’ and do not participate in any political party. My analysis is based on logic, facts, intuition, Chinese Astrology and Theory of Long Cycles.

I will go with plus 2, minus 1.

RUSSIA, Presidential Elections, March 4, 2012: Vladimir Putin will win easily enough, although, due to the crowded field and according to the Russian electoral rules, he may only get clear majority in the second round. Protests on part of the Communists and assorted opposition will continue, and electoral fraud will be alleged again, whether it took place, or not.

However, between now and March, Putin and the ruling United Russia Party will make all the right moves, and Putin will end up securing anywhere between 55 – 68% of the votes. 55% may be way too low. Low to mid 60s is probably the right percentage.

While Russians could afford to play around with the results of the Duma elections in 2011, they’ll treat Presidential Elections much more seriously. Putin means stability, and everyone will remember that. Russian social, economic, political, financial, police and army reforms will continue in a controlled fashion during Putin’s Presidency. I will try to discuss Russia’s future in detail in my BOOK OF PREDICTIONS.

There is one more, esoteric, reason for Putin’s win: He is a DRAGON, according to his Chinese Zodiac sign. 2012 will be much better for Putin, than 2011, as the power of the Dragon is fully behind him this year! ;)

USA, Presidential Elections, November 6, 2012: Republicans will pick Romney, who is perceived as the man of the middle, and therefore, appears a safe bet. And Romney will NOT beat Obama. Because, as one rapper said, speaking at Occupy Wall Street, “Obama is ten times the campaigner, as he is the President.” The rapper, whose name I won’t mention here, added, “And I mean it as a compliment, Mr. President!”

In short, USA will remain sharply divided along partisan lines. Obama will narrowly win another 4-year term.

Meanwhile, various protests will continue and intensify. Emergence of a third party is very possible, fueled with disillusionment with the establishment and election results.

What happens during Obama’s second term is another story altogether, and I’ll  discuss it later in my BOOK OF PREDICTIONS, as well.

Ah, yes, in case anyone’s wondering, Barack Obama’s Chinese Zodiac sign is the OX, considered along with the Dragon, one of the most powerful signs. Obama is in good company here, as the Ox is the sign of a world leader and can also be rather charismatic. He shares it, infamously, with Saddam Hussein. But also, with Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana and Jane Fonda. ;)

France, Presidential Elections, April 22-May 6, 2012: French President Nicolas Sarkozy, together with Angela Merkel of Germany (whose re-election is not until 2013, and I’ll talk about her chances on another occasion) will do everything in their power to reassure the Europeans and the markets in 2012, and will pull a rabbit out of the hat, if necessary. Watch for various announcements from the Eurozone, directed at flooding the system with cheap money, more bailouts, etc.

However, the Eurozone crisis will deepen, with more countries teetering on the brink of collapse, and French elections will happen at the most inopportune time for Sarkozy. Openly right wing and considered the only neo-con, able to win the election, he’s deeply disliked in his country, and will lose.

Again, in case anyone’s wondering, Sarkozy’s sign is the HORSE. Maybe, that’s why the long face. ;) Just kidding, all you, fabulous Horses, out there! The Horse is a very cool and fortunate sign!

Wishing you a terrific and auspicious Year of the Dragon! Please like and comment to let me know what you think about my predictions!

P.S. On 1/13/12, only two days after I posted my prediction about Sarkozy losing the French elections, S&P downgraded French debt, stripping it of it’s coveted AAA rating. France was downgraded along with 8 other Eurozone countries. This move, as analysts unanimously agree, spells disaster for Sarkozy in the upcoming elections. And it also signals that the Eurozone problems are bound to intensify this year.

Update 10/28/12:

Russia and France voted exactly as I originally predicted on 1/11/12, GOP nominated Romney, and there are clearly 3rd parties emerging in the USA. Two Third Party Presidential debates are being hosted by Larry King and aired by RT America (First debate took place several days ago and is available on Youtube; second – foreign policy – debate will air and be posted on Youtube on 10/30).

Upcoming US Presidential Elections: no change from the original 1/11/12 prediction! Obama wins narrowly, with less than 5%, possibly less than 3% advantage.

It is interesting to note that, while in the USA the vote will be very close, abroad it’s not even a contest. Based on multiple surveys and polls from over 20 countries, Romney gets more support only in Pakistan, which is attributed to the Pakistanis’ irritation with deadly drone strikes, not so much to their preference of a specific candidate. Most countries have Romney in single digits, with Western Europe, especially France, favoring Obama by the widest margin.

My prediction: while Obama is far from ideal, no world leader (except, perhaps Israel’s Netanyahu) wants Romney as US President, in fact he scares everyone with his bellicose posturing. Foreign perception is that his angry rhetoric, lack of reason and restraint would make his presidency into Bush 2.0. By the way, this is also perception of much of the international investment community – and international investment community is seldom wrong.

It is naive to think that American elections happen in a vacuum. In our globalized and interconnected world, it should not be underestimated how much influence other countries and global community hold over any country’s policy and elections. In fact, I noticed that global opinion is the most accurate barometer of presidential election results in any country. For example, the international community at large (excluding USA and UK) wanted Putin to win (of course, there was really no contest anyway). In France, both the country and international perception were against Sarkozy, and sure enough – he lost.

 

Read my follow up articles/predictions regarding the elections in Russia, France and USA.

1. Russia Votes: Crash Course in Russian Politics

2. 2012 Predictions Update: Russian Elections

3. 2012 Predictions Update: French Elections and Eurozone

4. 2012 Predictions. Year of Elections: Russia, France – USA next!

I will be posting a follow up after the US elections, including my new predictions regarding the very important for the Eurozone German Chancellor Election 2013, including Angela Merkel’s chances.

Many have asked me to expand my predictions and talk about the future of financial markets, economic outlook for various countries and continents, as well as the future of world peace. I will try to post more of my predictions going forward. Stay tuned!

Copyright 2012, Lada Ray

Check out GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), rip-roaring thrill ride from Moscow to St. Petersburg, based on true historic events. It’s mystery, thriller, magic, and hot romance…

Paperback

Ebook

Paperback/ebook available everywhere

All buy links: Book Store

More about Gold Train: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

For blurbs/excerpts/trailers – GOLD TRAIN and other books: LadaRay.com

Till next time,

Cheers!

Lada