Canon recently announced the finalists in its Keepers Competition. We love Little Puppy, Big Kiss in the Once in a Lifetime category. Visit this link and register to vote! By voting and answering one simple question you go into the draw to win a PowerShot SX210 IS, so you can capture Keepers of your own.

A girlfriend of mine pleasantly surprised me with an unexpected visit last week. She was on her way to Mexico for a conference and during a layover found out it had been cancelled due to swine flu. She rerouted her trip to the next warmest place, LA.

Shes a psychologist, considers herself a hardcore scientist with “complete faith in mainstream science. If it hasnt been proven, it isnt true.” Need I mention shes also an atheist? Im none of those things. I enjoy an easy-to-digest book on quantum physics as much as the next layman, but Im as skeptical of science as she is of spirituality. And I believe in a power greater than myself-a source of love. I call that God.

Nevertheless, my gorgeous friend and I do share plenty of common ground. For one, weve both been vegetarians for twenty years. She told me that one day she knew in her twelve year-old little heart it wasnt right to eat animals and stopped. We also share a yen for hot weather, sunshine and swimming pools, so we hopped in the car and headed to Palm Springs. As the warm desert air breezed through the open windows and Kansas panted in the back seat, we got on the topic of spirituality, namely how “unspiritual” she is. I told her it didnt matter whether she was spiritual or not. It only mattered if she felt something was missing.

She confided that one of her favorite childhood past times was trying to communicate with animals-squirrels, cats, dogs, and birds-but they never communicated back. I suggested that she can never really know they werent communicating. We laughed at the idea that perhaps it was the animals that told her not to eat them. I said, “To me, the definition of spirituality is really simple. Its oneness.” She thought about it and replied, “Thats an interesting way of defining it.” I said, “And you exemplify that. I think youre much more “spiritual” than you think.” She said, “Well, I do view the world as one interconnected organism.” Spoken like a true scientist.

Truth is true. As I understand it, all minds are joined. As she sees it, the world is an interconnected organism. The only thing true is that we are one. Nowhere does my energy end and yours begins. Einstein said separation is an “optical delusion of consciousness.” Well, here, Ill just find his whole quote.

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.”

Everything is moving towards oneness though it may not always appear that way. This is true in our own lives as well as in the collective consciousness. There could be no Obama without Bush. Oneness doesnt require that we perceive it in order for it to be true. As Einstein said, its very difficult to be aware of it. But this doesnt mean it isnt happening or that its a free pass to sit around. On the contrary, we all have a unique and active role in the unfolding of that creation. Each of us has a special part to play in the “task” of healing. In fact thats kind of what I was trying to say in the previous post.

My friend arrived at the understanding of connectedness through science. I came to it through more spiritual means of study. Someone else may learn it through worldly travel and another through volunteer work. Or golf. It doesnt matter. We will all end up in the same place. My friend and I were brought together by the swine flu, and even that-swine flu-can be a means for shaking the sleep of separation from our eyes. Anything can be used to help us understand our oneness if we choose to see it that way.

We must change our worldview, as Einstein said, not only for the healing of the world but also for our “inner security.” The cruelty inflicted on a pig in a cage kills us as well. The child neglected by his or her parents and let down by a broken foster care system hurts us too. The question then isnt how you reach that conclusion. The more important question is how you begin to experience everyone and everything as yourself. For quantum physics attests they are literally a part of you, only your “optical delusion” blocks that awareness. The answer lies in widening your circle of compassion. Within that is the liberation we all seek and the knowingness that there really is only one of us here.

Widening the Circle by Cynthia Morgan

An accredited and sought-after Los Angeles-based board certified hypnotherapist, Cynthia Morgan is known as a spiritual teacher by her extensive clientele. Not only has Morgan improved the lives of her clients, but her unique philosophy that “we dont need to do anything to heal-rather we need to undo the thoughts that stand in the way of healing” applies to issues with weight, addictions, illness, pain, phobias, depression, and whatever else one deems as a “problem”. Her philosophy and techniques have proven to be highly successful, establishing her as true leader in her field.

Find out more about Cynthia here: www.cynthiamorgan.us
Read Cynthias blog here: www.theoverwoman.com

Are there any conservation efforts focused on animal species endemic to islands likely to be submerged by rising sea levels? — H. Wyeth, Anahola, HI

Islands are indeed likely to be the areas hardest hit by our warming climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of leading climate scientists from around the world convened by the United Nations to assess the ongoing risk of global warming, predicts a global average sea level rise of between 3.5 and 34.6 inches over the next century. And the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), a coalition of 42 small island and low-lying coastal countries that have banded together to lobby United Nations policymakers, reports that warming-induced sea level rises could threaten the very existence of some island nations including the Maldives, Kiribati and parts of the Bahamas.

Those low-lying nations that do manage to hang onto some land will contend with not only continuously rising seas and stronger more frequent storms, but also declines in the productivity of their agriculture and fisheries. Salt water intrusion will limit the amount of freshwater available for crops and in some cases undermine the integrity of the soil itself. And as coral reefs die off, the abundant marine life that once congregated around them will disappear.

As for wildlife, its unclear just how much certain endemic species will be affected by rising sea levels and other environmental hazards exacerbated by global warming. Clearly the biggest threat is habitat loss: Land forms that once sustained certain animals may no longer be above water or otherwise suitable for some species. Those fortunate enough to be on big continents may be able to move away from shore to neighboring areas that can provide the resources needed for survival. But animals on islands may be hard pressed to find places better to go to where they can keep on keeping on.

The IPCC lists a few examples among thousands of endemic island dwellers facing likely extinction unless we can get a handle on greenhouse gas emissions in short order: the Tuamotu sandpiper of Tuamotu Island, the Bristle-thighed Curlew of French Polynesia, the Manus fantail of Papua New Guinea, the lorikeet and rail of New Caledonia, the moorhen and Savaii of Samoa, the Santo Mountain starling on Espiritu Santo, penguins in the Galapagos, petrels in Bermuda and seabird colonies from the Kerguelen, Crozet and outer Hawaiian islands, among others. The IPCC adds that endemic flora may fare even worse, which will in turn drive more animal extinctions.

What can be done to stem this rising tide of endemic species loss? According to the IPCC, the establishment of terrestrial, marine or coastal reserves has been found to be a “useful management option.” Results from existing model reserves on islands across the Caribbean (including Dominica, Bonaire, the Grenadines and St. Lucia) have shown promise. Groups including Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Nature Conservancy and others, are working to create more such reserves in other biodiversity hotspots, including many non-threatened islands around the globe.

CONTACTS: IPCC, www.ipcc.ch; AOSIS, www.sidsnet.org/aosis; Conservation International, www.conservation.org; Wildlife Conservation Society, www.wcs.org; Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com.

It’s time to start wading through that wardrobe, gathering up your once-loved fashion items, donating them to an organization who gives to those who need it. 2010 is the year of compassionate fashion.

While you’re at it, take a moment to find an item you love. And I mean really love. Regardless of your attachment to it, make a choice to give it away. No strings attached. You’ll not only feel great for doing it, but the person (or charity) you gift it to will be grateful and maybe even love it more than you. Makes you feel warm inside, doesn’t it?

If you can’t beat the shopping bug in 2010, it’s a great idea to make a pact to only purchase goods that are good for you and the environment. No more inorganic anything. Buh-bye pesticide laden tees. See ya chemical-ridden jeans.

There’s another great fashion choice we can all make this year, and that’s making the choice to avoid buying any fashion item that’s made from animals. We’re even talking leather shoes and belts people. Jackets too.

There are hundreds of fab fashion pieces that have been designed without harming an animal (or human for that matter). Stella McCartney is just one designer who will only promote cruelty-free fashion. Cows and sheep won’t be the only ones to thank you for saving them, the planet will also benefit greatly from your choice to only wear kind fashion.

To find out how to get started on your new compassionate wardrobe for 2010, check out Peta’s Clothing Guide. Another great way to introduce some cruelty-free chic to your life is learning how to upcycle, or frequenting stores that make recycling animal-free fashion their mission.

If you have great ideas on how to incorporate compassion into fashion, we’d love to hear about them. Feel free to share your hints and tips in the comments section.

Photo courtesy Stella McCartney

I recently heard that for the first time three vegan books are in the top 100 books on Amazon. It made me want to share some of my favorite books with you.

Im often asked for book recommendations, and its one of my favorite things to do-match a book to a client or friend in need. Youll notice there’s no fiction on this list of beloved books, because I dont read fiction. Also, most of these books are over twenty years old because I dont read anything contemporary, except those books on veganism. More than not, the authors I read are dead.

Its unusual for me to be reading more than one book at a time (I couldn’t multi-task to save my life) but right now these six are on my nightstand, though I wouldn’t call some of them my favorites.

Eat to Live. Dr. Joel Furhman. Ive only just started to read books on veganism, though Ive been a vegan for three years and a strict vegetarian (no eggs, no milk, no ice cream) for over twenty. The problem is that because I post about veganism, people sort of expect me to know what Im talking about nutritionally, and truth be told, Im not that well-read on the subject.

I just know in my entire being thats in not right to eat animals, and therefore it cannot be healthy. Thats always been good enough for me. I don’t need to be proven that it is so. Lately, however, Ive been more interested in the nutritional benefits, which has always been secondary for me.

Eat to Live is a weight loss book but its really just the most sensible way to eat and be healthy. Dr. Mehmet Oz writes the forward. Check out Dr. Oz on this video that I recently posted.

Becoming Vegan. Brenda Davis. I found this book at my favorite used bookstore Jackson Street Booksellers in Omaha, NE. Very good info for vegan neophytes.

The Red Book. C.G. Jung. (Jung’s never never before published writings.) This is a behemoth. Its daunting. I read one page a week. Seriously. Thats all I can take.

The Shadow of Sirius. W. S. Merwin. Ahhhh, poetry. Recently won the Pulitzer Prize.

Existentialists and Mystics: Writings on Philosophy and Literature. Iris Murdoch. This has been sitting on my shelf for years (again, from Jackson St.) and Ive only just decided to tackle it. Did you see that film about her called Iris? I’m a sucker for fascinating, whip-smart women.

Hypnosis Questions and Answers. (Jackson St. again) Unless youre a hypnotherapist, you would find this dry and boring. Actually, I do. And I’m a hypnotherapist.

And Im always and forever reading A Course in Miracles, which is my spiritual path.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

(I’ve linked them all to Amazon, though you can be sure I get no kickback.)

VEGANISM (See those above as well.)

Eating Animals. Jonathan Safron Foer. Everyone seems to be reading this right now.

Diet for a New America. John Robbins. Classic. Of the Baskin-Robbins fame.

Skinny Bitch. Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. The language can be a bit vulgar sometimes. (Hence, the title.) But I don’t mind. They’re right on.

Quantum Wellness. Kathy Freston. She puts it nicer.

The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World. John Robbins and Dr. Dean Ornish. Enough said in the subtitle.

The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight-Loss and Long-term Health. T. Colin Campbell. For the dedicated reader.

PHILOSOPHY

The World as Will and Representation. Arthur Schopenhauer. My favorite philosopher. I read this book about fifteen years ago and FELL IN LOVE. i adore this man and wish I knew him. Too bad he died in 1860.

The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World’s Greatest Philosophers. Will Durant. Such an enjoyable read.

The Portable Nietzsche. Friedrich Nietzsche and Walter Kaufman. Nietzsche inspires me like no other.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Friedrich Nietzsche. I can’t believe someone wrote this. No wonder he lost his mind.

PSYCHOLOGY

Freud: The Man and the Cause. Ronald W. Clark. There are about five Freud fans left in the world and I am one of them. I will go down fighting that he was one of the most important persons to grace this world.

The Portable Jung. C.G. Jung and Joseph Campbell. Worthwhile.

Toxic Psychiatry. Peter Breggin. An education. Anyone on anti-depressants should read this book.

EASTERN THOUGHT

Autobiography of a Yogi. Paramahansa Yogananda. Classic spiritual literature. Completely transformational.

I am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Wow. Mind-expanding.

Gandhi An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Gandhi. Made me want to be a better human being.

Think on These Things. J. Krishnamurti. Absorbing and helpful.

SCIENCE

Holographic Universe. Michael Talbot. Very interesting stuff here. The whole is in the smallest part. I see things differently now.

Taking the Quantum Leap. Fred Alan Wolf. Physics for the non-physicist.

Tao of Physics. Fritjof Capra. Ditto.

METAPHYSICS/SPIRITUALITY/OTHER

Seth Speaks. (Any and all Seth books.) Jane Roberts. My first spiritual teacher. Nothing would ever be the same when I read this at fifteen years old.

Emmanuels Book: A Guide for Living Comfortably in the Cosmos. (And II, III) Pat Rodegast. Immensely enjoyable and comforting books. I come back to these again and again.

Living with Joy. (All of the “Earth-life Mastery Series” books. There are five others.) Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. The book I most recommend to clients. It’s probably the most self-helpish book on the list, but not. Easy reading and helpful exercises.

Many Lives, Many Masters. Brian L. Weiss. Second most recommended book to clients. Deals with hypnosis and reincarnation.

The Essential Edgar Cayce. Mark Thurston. How does one begin to describe Edgar Cayce? Except to say that he should be required reading.

The Story of Edgar Cayce: There is a River. Thomas Sugrue. An engaging life. He ushered in the idea of holistic medicine and what we consider “New Age.” There, I just described him.

Love, Medicine, and Miracles. Dr. Bernie Siegel. I recommend this to clients who are dealing with disease.

You Can Heal Your Life. Louise L. Hay. Just good commonsense to me.

The New Astrology. Suzanne White. My favorite astrology book.

Last Words: The Final Journals of William S. Burroughs. William S. Burroughs. Mystic, philosopher, revolutionary. I know he’s a little off-topic, but my list would be incomplete without him.

There you have it. I’m sure I will continually update this list.

Please let me know your favorite books. And if you read any of these, or have read them, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Reading is not only one of the most important things in life, it is also one of life’s great pleasures.

Happy Reading!

Book recommendations by Cynthia Morgan

1.