@theungamer, thanks for that website. I had lunch with a friend yesterday and she mentioned the smelt fish policy leading to the CA fires. I didn't have an opportunity to fact check her over lunch, but I'm aware of her primary "news" sources, so her claim sounded fishy to me.
I loved seeing images of Chef Jose Andres (new Medal of Feedom awardee) serving meals in Pasadena today.
I wish these guys would stfu.
The LA fires are the result of humanity's anger. The fire element is the emotion of anger. This is negative karma. Everything is karma.
Many of us have been chanting the Divine soul song Love, Peace and Harmony since Friday to clear the blockages and bring rain until the fires end.
45's soul purpose is to transform the MAGA folliwers, and those of like mind, into seeing who he really is...The midterms will go Blue.
This all has had to pass in order to usher in the Golden Age. We have to go through these challenges here in the US to transform hearts.
Rather than focusing on the negatively, realize it's all part of a Greater Plan.
The truth will come out.
LA has been a place of light for humans for as long as they have lived there. The reason the film industry thrived there is due to the beautiful and constant sunlight that shines there providing the right conditions for filming. The industry has spread light with its films all over the world since the early 20th century. It will rebuild and remain a place of even greater radiance.
Also, it is interesting that the fires started the day the presidential certification went through. LA will not tolerate political interference with their work. I do not know how the relationship between the next president and the film industry will progress, but I pray he will leave Hollywood alone. I have already noticed, to my disappointment, that SNL has toned down its jokes to stay out of his way. I have no predictions about this development, though.
A friend of mine near the fires texted me today and gave me this update. Jeanne suggested I share it as it has some great messages for us all to consider:
Hello from dystopia. It seems like on the day that Donald Trump’s election was certified, LA decided to self emulate in protest. This has been one hell of a fire. We could watch the flames from our kitchen and hadn’t even better view from our roof garden. It’s dying down right now, but there’s tragedy all around. But in the midst of that, I had a beautiful experience. One night I went down to the ocean to watch the sunset through the smoke. There were hundreds of people standing quietly at the edge of the water, just watching the sun drop into the ocean. It was like an ancient and sacred ritual and at the end they applauded. It felt like a surrender to nature and an acknowledgment of its power. So beautiful. So I’ve sent you some pictures because all the other pictures of LA are too sad.
@light I find myself disagreeing with the idea that the fires are a result of humanity's anger. I feel like that is too simplistic and almost-victim blaming. It reminds me too much of hard-line religious folks saying that this is somehow punishment for LA, etc.
The reality is that "there but for the grace of God (or Spirit, or universe or whatever terminology resonates), go I" -- we are all going to be impacted by the changing climate, increasingly volatile weather events, etc., in some way or another in the coming years. These fires are a result of a long line of circumstances, mainly caused by climate change (increasing drought, increasing temperatures -- and possible arson that sparked them) and winds that lined up to be more fierce this year. I read an article today about a young climatologist who was tracking how the winds were shaping up and his warnings to the community most definitely saved lives:
I’m in Los Angeles and we’re all banding together to try to get through this. I’ve been fortunate to be in a safe area but close friends have lost homes and the entire experience is devastating. People are showing incredible kindness and generosity in helping and supporting the city and all affected. Please ask for armies of guardian angels for their loving support. The crisis is not over, but the people of LA are staying strong .
Yes, there is karma, because it was greed, and a profound disrespect of the earth that caused us to keep burning fossil fuels even when we have known the consequences. I would not ask the earth, who has been absorbing the impacts of our pollution for decades, to help us. I pray for humans to stop burning.
@frankie thank you for sharing what you were going through. I feel your strength through it all and we see how devastating it . We are sending armies of Angels to the city of Angels. May the angels surround the city, bring peace, and comfort to the people of Los Angeles, bring help, and supplies. And may this city be rebuilt with love from all.
@dannyboy thank you for this beautiful message and picture.
Thank you! Your prayers of support are deeply appreciated, beyond words
How beautiful...a sacred moment.
Surrender.
Acknowledgement.
This is how healing begins. When we bow in acknowledgment of our place in the order of things.
@light I agree that we are in tumultuous times and that it is necessary for our growth into a better era. I also know some about the Five Elements in Chinese medicine and can agree about the fire element influence here. I think I just bristled at the declaration that it is cause and effect - anger = devastating fires.
I think that, like many events on this earth, there are lots of factors at play, including proven, scientific causes for such events. I do find myself struggling, sometimes, with the metaphysical aspects of devastating events, large and small. There are times when I can feel the undercurrent of it, and others where I get really irritated at trying to explain things with some sort of spiritual reasoning. That is a me problem, though :) Perhaps others of you struggle with this as well? Part of our human experience, I think.
Well, there has been such an outpouring of generosity with clothing donations for the unhoused, that churches and charities can't distribute it all are asking people to donate to food banks and the Red Cross.
If anyone wishes to help, contact your local charity and see if you can donate KN95 masks, epi-pens and athma inhalers.
All those impacted by the fires will hold the pain of loss in their hearts for a lifetime. Have been taught that Fire represents cleansing but this quote is a better description:
“In spirituality, fire is widely considered a symbol of purification, transformation, passion, enlightenment, divine presence, and rebirth; it can represent both destructive and creative forces, signifying the ability to cleanse and renew, often associated with the idea of a burning away of negativity to reveal a deeper truth or new beginning.”
This is not intended to trivialize the profound grief and loss to all impacted by the fires, but perhaps show us how much good still exists in the world. A few people in my orbit have had their hearts softened seeing how much help has come from all directions. Many on this site have predicted an Age of Enlightenment. The City of Angels is leading the way.
@cc21 I agree. While metaphysics are interesting, the driving force for much of this is no significant progress on climate change. We are not doing enough. Alta dena residents are impoverished. There is no reason that this destruction is their "karma," and while it may feel comforting to some that people get what they deserve, that is not always the case and can come across as smug and self satisfied, therefore fanning more flames of unease, and that may be part of the reason KH was not elected. If the prayers of peace while covertly feeding ego are not working, we need to change approach.
The fire was always possible but the overbearing hot air is what spread the flames. Look at the personal and political trends of spouting hot air and fanning flames as well as oppression for personal gain.
@theungamer
It's very true what you say, that fire can cleanse while also destroying. I mentioned on the site a few months ago that my family experienced a house fire in November. Pretty much all of the contents are non-salvageable due to a combination of fire and soot damage and asbestos contamination. But the humans and pets survived, the structure of the house is intact, and we have a good insurance policy that is covering everything from temporary lodging to the rebuild of the interior. I recognize that many, many people in Los Angeles weren't so fortunate.
The fire (which I have come to see almost as a living entity) gave me a wake-up call, literally. To wake up from the ossified routine that I was trudging through and to live life. There is no time to waste to live a fulfilling life! it seems to be telling me. Burn off the old thinking and ways of being in the world and let your spirit show through brightly.
Another lesson has been to not hold on to possessions too tightly. What is enough to own to provide for a good life? I consider myself on the minimalist end of the spectrum, but I still had so many belongings that I never used or didn't want to comb through out of sheer inertia. (By the way, products with any plastic in them are considered categorically unsalvageable, since plastic is porous and absorbs smoke and soot permanently. As I purchase replacement items, I'm trying to be as conscious as possible of reducing my plastic consumption.)
I go through emotional ups and downs, where some days all the next steps of the rebuild seem manageable, just another project to oversee. And then I have others when I feel displaced, that here is one more burdensome responsibility to take on. But beneath those emotions is the fire/universe telling me to live my life more aware, more immediately.