WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM?

We are well passed the information age with the collective consciousness readily available at our finger tips, ready to be tapped, clicked and downloaded. I would say knowledge is the phase in which we are all experiencing our most profound creative expressions and endeavours. While wisdom is something only time can tell for all the amazing changes, innovations and discoveries we are unearthing and attempting to implement right now.

The differences and relationship between information, knowledge and wisdom are of great personal interest to me because of the work I do. What does a healer, teacher, and mentor share to others? What do I have that you do not, which leads one to ask for guidance? In an never-ending quest of great humility these questions loom in the back of my consciousness consistently so that I can ensure I am providing a service that one may truly want and need.

And so I would like to share my summarized perspectives of what I think are the differences between information, knowledge and wisdom – and what the truths and realities of providing guidance is like.
Information – “Google It.”

As stated, we are well acquainted with the information age. When anyone is asked a question and has no idea what the answer may be it is our mantra to say, “Google it.” This is because majority of the information we are looking for (facts, definitions, locations, prices, contacts, etc.) are available on the internet. Something very accessible for many, many people in the world – who are all contributors to this library.

This has really shaped the way we view our own stock of information as we are less likely to give an answer if we are not sure it is verifiable by Google or the internet. And those that ask the questions are more likely to seek the answers themselves than turn to others individually. Information has become more free (of course there is hidden information as well but that’s a different discussion).

Loosely stated, information is then readily available to all and one does not have to be an expert to have access to this data bank. That is why as a teacher, healer and mentor providing guidance it is important to be humble to the answer,

“I do not know, let me get back to you” as well as the fact that the person you are guiding may have more information on your own topic than you. Though I work with crystals for healing, I do not have as much information readily available to me as a gemologist would. However, I am also able to have access to the same information a gemologist would, and perhaps do something different with that information.

This leads to the transformation of information into knowledge.

Knowledge – “What do you know?”

To me, when one takes information and puts it to creative use or transforms it – it becomes knowledge. It is the “knowing what to do with it” evolution. So using the crystal healing example: Crystals are piezoelectric (electric charge accumulates in response to applied mechanical stress), this is information.

Knowledge would be then taking this information and turning it to something useful, like a piezoelectric transducer (a device that coverts small amounts of energy from kind to another, i.e. light to electrical signals) that would be in ultrasound equipment which aids in the process of pregnancy. This is the beauty of taking information to its next evolutionary phase: knowledge.

Knowledge is power, as we have all heard. We respect experts who have the ability to share their knowledge with us, inspiring us to transform our information to creative pursuits as well. We cannot learn everything in this world in a life time, but we can definitely become very knowledgable in various fields and contribute back into the bank of information for others to build upon, thus benefiting the globe.

This is the evolutionary phase the earth is moving through right now, it is no longer surprising to see people using their acquired knowledge to help lift the awareness of others to their own power as well. We can see this in environmental, societal, animal, political, and economical changes inspired by individuals happening across the globe awakening others of their own desire to gain knowledge and not just information.

But sometimes the power we get from knowledge deceives us and others. Especially when we believe we have knowledge that is better or more important than someone else, or that someone else has all the answers because they have knowledge. Having recently attended the Spirit Plant Medicine Conference at UBC, a Peruvian shaman name Jhaimy Alvarez-Acosta shared a very important thought with me.

We all have deep knowing, and that as a shaman it is not what he knows that he shares with you, the offering is the facilitation of yourself discovering your own knowledge that is the greatest guidance. For there is not an idea that that has not already been thought of, and there isn’t advice that had not been uttered in the vast universe.

Who am I to tell you what you already know, that just has yet to be seen? All I can do is help you take the steps to look, listen and follow the guidance within with love, acceptance, courage and trust. What makes knowledge powerful is when a you discover your own deep vast well of knowledge within you that is always trying to speak and guide you; to follow this with trust.

When you accept that everyone has knowledge that is valuable and that at times you will share the same knowledge with many others you free yourself of the constricting view that you need to know it all or that you think you know it all. This causes separation and not the wholeness that a healer, teacher and mentor offers. All one can effectively do is share the story and journey of the knowledge discovery and the dreams to be built; the story of knowledge acquirement can be the guidance itself.

So then what is wisdom?

Wisdom – “The transcendence of knowledge.”

Wisdom to me is the transcendence of knowledge into an understanding that is not defined by space and time. This can only be developed through experience, humility, compassion and acceptance; you may need to experience something multiple times before it becomes wisdom.

Lets use and build upon the crystal example again. Through knowledge it is now an ultrasound machine. To me wisdom would be the consideration of using this scientific tool to share the true magnificence that is the quartz crystal that stems back thousands of years.

As this is a timeless understanding that can be recycled back into basic information for the next generation to have as a foundation to give new opportunities for knowledge to stem from this appreciation of the crystal. The essence of such knowledge are the possibilities laying dormant in the crystal that should be brought to light, versus just the developmental expansion of different types of ultrasound.

A more simple example would be knowing when to keep silent and simply listen, to not sway the discovery of another because you see it one way. Again as inspired by shaman Jhaimy, it is not about what you know (and whether the other person is aware of this knowing or not in themselves), it is about how you turn your knowledge into a wise expression that will help guide the other into their own wisdom. Not an easy task to do I can assure you, but it is the wise thing to do. 

Wisdom, often associated with growing old, is something one acquires at the end of a life to be passed on to the timeless future. It is the essences of life that we hold dear to us that we know to be true.

What better expression can we leave with others than the wisdom we have cultivated with deep reverence for life? This is where I strive to be with my guidance. Though I am young and ripe with vitality I challenge myself to be a great healer, teacher and mentor through nurtured wisdom, as I see this being the best I can offer to all who cross my path.

You have information readily available around you, knowledge deep within you wanting to guide you and help you, wisdom that is taking shape and form – become your own healer, teacher and mentor. I believe in you and am there to help you in this being.

http://thespiritscience.net/2015/11/12/whats-the-difference-between-information-knowledge-and-wisdom/

Things You NEED To Do When You're 30 That Will Make Your Life So Much Better When You're 50

For many of us, health issues are not things that we like to deal with. It's easy to forget about going to the doctor or checking in with yourself from time to time to make sure that everything is healthy and in working order.

Perhaps there's something you're dealing with right now that is causing you undue stress and anxiety.

The unfortunate part is that gaining back your health is much harder once the damage has been done.

We regularly get told that we need to exercise on a regular basis, stimulate our brains in challenging ways, and eat foods that are good for us, but more often than not we choose to indulge in instant gratification, saving the real consequences for later.

Only time will tell if the decisions we're making in the moment will affect us in a positive or negative way somewhere down the line. And it's almost always in hindsight that we realize the things we should have been doing all along.

After asking over 50 people questions about the things they'd wished they'd done differently in their younger years, their answers are ones that not only make sense, but are incredibly simple.

If you're nearing 30 years of age, here are 20 things you can start doing now to make sure your life is better at age 50:

1. Avoid smoking cigarettes, or stop if you currently do

The first one on the list likely comes as no surprise. "If you could see me now, I'm down on my poor, crackling knees begging you to at least consider stopping smoking," writes Quora user Cyndi Perlman Fink.

Not only will you save a ton of money, but you'll be much healthier because of it. Say no to cancer at age 50, stop smoking now.

2. Pay attention to the foods you're eating; stop eating junk food

"You can make a lot of money in 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s,…90s to buy the whole world when you are at age 50 or beyond," writes Quora user Sireesha Chilakamarri.

"But, you cannot buy your health. Give up on fast food right now at age 30."

3. Build (or repair) healthy relationships with parents, siblings, loved ones

"…Chances are you've come across ideas and changed in ways that mean you don't see eye to eye with them on many issues. But then – that's part of what a family can help with – to learn to get along with people you don't agree with on many issues," writes Quora user Robert Walker.

"I come from a family which is very argumentative. If you didn't understand the situation you might at times think we hate each other. But it isn't like that at all. Rather, we free to speak our minds because the family ties are so strong."

4. Avoid being in the sun without sun protection

"I was stupid. I didn't listen. Do you want wrinkles and thin skin from sun damage like I have and do you want bruises from just lightly touching the side of a box and having your skin peel off?

Go ahead, enjoy lying in the sun without sunblock," writes Quora user Cyndi Perlman Fink.

5. Exercise as often as you can

"Don't gain weight. Exercise. Keep your weight at a normal level that's good for your body," continues Cyndi Perlman Fink.

"Weight does all kinds of bad things for you body. I've been fat, I've been thin, thin is healthier."

6. Put away money in savings whenever you can, even if it's just small amounts here and there

"Save money. I know this is a boring, trite, and unsexy suggestion, but it's true," writes Quora user Cliff Gilley.

"In your 30s, the average person has a lot of disposable income, some of which can almost always easily be set aside for use later in life.

Plus, building the habit of saving early means you'll continue it further down the line."

7. Practice being grateful for what you have

"…Happiness is what matters far more than worldly success," writes Quora user Robert Walker. "If you are content with what you have then you may be a bit less likely to end up a millionaire, but you will have a happier life.

And if you do become a wealthy person – is no reason why not, you'll be a more happy, fulfilled and productive wealthy person."

8. Try not to put off the goals you have for your life

"Want to buy a house? Have kids? Write a book? Get a second degree or advanced degree? Change your career? Learn to play a new musical instrument? Learn to cook gourmet meals? Try scuba diving? Run for public office? Start a business and be self-employed? Then start today," writes Quora user Bill Karwin.

"It's easy to put things off. 'I'll get to that someday.' But it's really true that time starts accelerating as you enter your 30's, and it keeps accelerating. The time that you'll get around to those dreams should be now."

9. Make sure you're getting a good night's sleep as often as possible

"Use stellar sleep hygiene," writes Quora user Nan Waldman.

"A dark room or sleep shades will block out light. No bright screens before bedtime. Go to sleep at the same time and wake up at the same time."

10. Make sure you're taking care of your teeth and mouth

"…Go to the freaking dentist already," writes Quora user Caroline Zelonka. "Get your little cavities fixed as they come up. Unlike many body health issues, dental problems only get worse — and things like crowns and implants are uncomfortable, time-consuming and expensive (like, close to five figures per tooth for an extraction, implant and crown).

If you have a good savings and income stream, the bills won't be the painful thing — but there's no getting around the pain and the time suck."

11. Place more value on experiences than you do material objects

You don't want to wake up one day with a garage full of useless things you've accumulated over the years.

If the saying is true, and we are the sum of our experiences, then your time is best spent seeking out experiences that leave you fulfilled, enlightened, and happy.

Your memories never lose their value. That new sports car definitely will.

12. Practice giving back to others in your community

"Give to others so you feel the goodness that service brings," writes Quora user Nan Waldman. "However you give, do it with your full heart, soul, and effort. Expect nothing in return."

13. Always be curious and willing to step out of your comfort zone to chase adventure

"Get out of the house and have an honest-to-God adventure right now," writes Quora user Mary Leek. "Make it as big as you can possibly manage, take lots of pictures, throw caution to the wind, take on the risk, grab the brass ring.

If possible, include someone you're close to – make a BIG memory. It has to be more than jumping out of an airplane – it needs to be measured in days, not hours or minutes. You'll still be smiling about it when you're old and creaky, I promise. I am."

14. Read as many books as you can!

How many 50-year-olds do you think wish they'd spent more time sitting on the couch watching television or playing video games?

Your brain naturally wants to grow; allow it to do so by giving it the media that it craves.

15. Travel to the ends of the Earth

"Traveling will change you like little else can. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you," writes Jeff Goins.

"It's about experiencing true risk and adventure so you don't have to live in fear for the rest of your life. And…inspiring others to step out of that fear, too."

16. Learn how to look inward with meditation

"The list of benefits is endless, it only costs you a small amount of time a day, the change in your life and the people you love will be amazing," writes Quora user Rens De Nobel.

"And compared to ten years ago, there are long lists of scientific studies to back it up."

17. Live your life without comparing it to others

"Trust me, the day your body starts to show the signs of wear & tear, you no longer see any fun in partying or trying to impress people around you," writes Quora user Satish Kumar Grandhi.

"You need to start your path of self discovery right now to become stronger by the time you are 50."

18. Maintain a journal or diary so you can remember your favorite moments in life

"You WILL forget more of your precious memories that you'll remember," writes Quora user Mark Crawley. "Your written records will entertain and endear in your future (wish I had).

Your computer should make this archiving all the easier to implement and retain / recall. Put files on memory sticks with photos. Your kids (or surviving spouse) may someday love you for it."

19. Look into buying a home

"Buy a house, it'll be nearly paid for by the time you're 50," writes Quora user Liz Read.

20. Fill your life with friends who are good for you, and then make sure you take care of them

"Choose people who make you feel like you already are your best self, who challenge you by their example, and who you genuinely enjoy," explains Nan Waldman.

"Nurture them. Laugh with them. Be silly too. Contribute to their survival and enjoyment of life. Take the time every week to be in touch."

http://www.higherperspectives.com/make-your-life-better-2118754507.html?c=ss

ALCOHOL IS WORSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH THAN PSYCHEDELICS

A study by the Research Council of Norway has concluded that psychedelics do not link to mental health problems or suicidal behavior.

A study of roughly 130,000 adult citizens in the United States found no “evidence that psychedelic use is an independent risk factor for mental health problems.”

Of the 135,095 randomly selected people, 19,299 of them had used either lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin or mescalin, and no links were found to “increased likelihood of past year serious psychological distress, mental health treatment, suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans and suicide attempt, depression and anxiety.”

Overall, the study concluded that “it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure.”

As information is allowed to run free through the internet, it has become openly apparent that many psychedelic drugs are not the danger the profit-driven media had portrayed them to be.  Often, they are one of the greatest medicines to overcome addiction.

There is, however, a direct link between alcohol abuse and suicide.  According to the US National Library of Medicine,

“Alcohol abuse may lead to suicidality through disinhibition, impulsiveness and impaired judgment, but it may also be used as a means to ease the distress associated with committing an act of suicide.”

Renowned author, Sam Harris, discusses the virtures of some specific pscyhedelic drugs.

http://thespiritscience.net/2015/10/04/this-study-found-that-alcohol-is-worse-for-mental-health-than-psychedelics/

Being one of the lucky people who overthinks practically everything can be both a blessing and a curse.  And there are dozens of us!  Okay, there are probably more like millions of people in the world who tend to overthink things.  And you might be one of us if you understand these five things:

*When we’re sorry, we’re really sorry – *We’re not ones to enjoy hurting other people’s feelings.  If we get in a fight with a friend or loved one, we’ll eventually break down the fight into each and every little detail so as to understand the battle from both sides.  We’re sorry and we hope you accept the apology, because we won’t forget about it anytime soon.

*We’re not as insecure and controlling as we come off – *We understand that you’ve got your own life and you’re probably out doing things that don’t allow you to be using your phone 24/7, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t fantasize about the million other possibilities of what you’re doing.  You could be cheating on us, or fighting for your life in an alleyway, we have no idea.  

*We’re indecisive – *Trying to figure out the perfect thing to say or write or post can be the hardest thing for us.  We will write something perfect, then re-write it, and then re-write it, simply because we keep finding things wrong with what we’re trying to say.  

*We enjoy getting out of our heads – *Finding a person who can drag us out of our heads even for a short time is a special thing for us.  Constant introspection and analysis can drive one mad (which says a lot about why we are the way we are).  If you can do this, we thank you.

*We can be a lot of fun at parties – *Letting go and partying from time to time is right up our alley, so long as it’s stimulating.  Living in the moment is a lot of fun until we wake up the next morning, head throbbing and stomach churning.  Then we’re back at it, trying to recollect what stupid thing we said to someone we were trying to impress last night.

http://expandedconsciousness.com/2016/03/13/5-things-youll-understand-if-you-overthink-things/

Man Noticed This Abandoned Hangar. What’s Inside Caught Him By Surprise

Urban explorer and photographer Ralph Mirebs found something very rare; a find unlike anything we’ve seen before. While venturing around Kazakhstan, Ralph came across an enormous abandoned building.

At first, the building looked similar to a large airport hangar but much larger. After breaking into it, he realized that this was a very special building with two of the most historical items in the world!

Scroll down to see these spectacular images for yourself.

The abandoned hangar is located at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Cosmodrome is miles away and still in operation today. Because the NASA Space Program was recently shut down, this is the only area that astronauts can make their way up to the International Space Station via Russian Soyuz space shuttles.

This hangar in particular is from a previous time when the Russians and the Americans were competing in a race for space exploration.

The hangar was erected in 1974 for the Buran Space Shuttle Program where technology and design would fuse to create some of the most incredible exploration vessels ever conceived. The Buran Shuttle Program was halted in 1988 but the hangar was operational until 1993 and was the home to three of the most advanced pieces of technology of their time.

The collapse of the Soviet Union caused the demise of this facility in 1993. Sadly, only one shuttle of three ever partook in a mission. The shuttle completed one unmanned orbit before it was grounded and destroyed in a different hangar that collapsed on top of it.

There are two shuttles from the Buran Space Program left and they sit in idle, turning into historic relics, within a forgotten and abandoned building located in Kazakhstan.

The facility was an incredibly advanced building with atmospheric pressure control systems in place to keep dust and debris outside of its thick walls. Those systems have been turned off and now nature is slowly reclaiming this incredibly massive place.

The shuttles are being covered with dust and bird droppings more and more every day. The ceramic tiles that wrap the shuttles are starting to fall off and shatter on the floor below. It’s only a matter of time before these two pieces of space exploration history are gone forever.

Surprisingly only a few windows have been broken out but there is not much damage at all from vandals, which is a very rare sight when it comes to almost anything abandoned these days. It’s a good thing that urban explorers live by the motto, “Leave only footprints, take only photographs.”

These two shuttles never made it to launch. One shuttle was actually a mock-up shuttle that was used to test fit everything that would be used to build the two fully functioning shuttles. Of those two shuttles, only one made it to launch for an un-manned orbit. It was grounded soon after and destroyed when the hangar it was being stored in collapsed.

The facility used to build these shuttles is absolutely massive. We can’t imagine how massive this would be standing on the floor looking up. Isn’t it strange that there is an abandoned relic, completely forgotten about, that contains vehicles our civilization used to travel through space?

The yellow platforms show the sheer size of this facility. They are on pneumatic rollers that can move around the shuttles and platforms in unison in order to work on them. You would think that all of this would be highly sought after and extremely valuable.

The paint is starting to peel and the walls are starting to rust now that the climate control systems are dead. It’s only a matter of time before this entire building crumbles to the ground, crushing two iconic pieces of history.

It looks as if the working shuttle was just about ready for its maiden voyage before it was grounded during the fall of the Soviet Union. With the Russian Space Program still in full effect, it surprises us that these can be left abandoned.

But what a sight to see. Can you imagine walking into an abandoned building not fully knowing what to expect when you enter? We think that two full space shuttles sitting completely lifeless would be quite a shock.

Some of the ceramic tiles have fallen off but for the most part these shuttles are in great shape. They’re just covered in years and years of dust and bird droppings.

This is the nose of the operational prototype shuttle while the shuttle sitting in the front of the building is the test mock-up shuttle.

They are still surrounded by the working platforms which are still in excellent condition. The paint has just started to peel which means the deterioration process has just been expedited.

This is the type of thing you would expect to see in a James Bond movie but never in real life.

Seeing it in this state is bittersweet and actually very beautiful. These images are somewhat surreal.

Imagine seeing this place in its heyday. Russian scientists and engineers racing to press into the future of space exploration to discover the unknown and make history! It must have been spectacular.

The holes on the front of the nose cone are actually thrusters that would be used to slightly steer the shuttle as it is in space. The ceramic tiles that cover the shuttle were used to protect the shell from the insane temperatures that the shuttle would be exposed to.

The small round opening on the side of the shuttle is the entry hatch leading the Russian astronauts into the cockpit.

From this facility, the shuttles would have been transported to the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome which is quite a few miles away. The Cosmodrome is still used today. In fact, American astronauts head to the International Space Station from this location.

At the time the computer power of this shuttle was less than that of the cell phone in your hand. You would have to be a seriously brave person to take on a challenge like that.

The cockpit of the shuttle has been stripped of some of its equipment but most of it is still there.

The amount of equipment that is systematically placed throughout the fuselage is impressive!

The best part is that it’s all still there and photographer Ralph Mirebs was able to capture it all.

It looks like someone had a party in here at one point. Our guess is it was a few employees who found out their most impressive project was just canned.

The hatch and pressure control systems look like they would turn right on and start working immediately.

There is so much to salvage here. This door leads into the back half of the fuselage where satellites or other space equipment would be stored and launched into the sky.

Inside you can see air tanks as well as the giant hatch above that would open allowing space astronauts to release their equipment into orbit.

Being sealed off from the elements outside, the interior is relatively dust free and in amazing shape.

Past the rear storage compartment is a huge equipment room.

The other shuttle contains a docking system for connecting with other space vehicles, and an airlock used for going for spacewalks.

Two completely forgotten space shuttles are sitting to rot and over time will be crushed by the building that once protected them. Hopefully this article spreads some attention and these shuttles are restored and placed in a museum.

Stumbling across some epic find when exploring abandoned or forgotten places is inspiring.

But what Ralph Mirebs found, makes this the most impressive urban exploration we’ve seen yet!

Source: Why Don’t You Try This