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	<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog</link>
	<description>Daily inspiration and ruminations</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:51:45 +0000</pubDate>
	
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
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			<item>
		<title>Honor</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/honor</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/honor#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:51:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2299</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prayer circles have several interpretations across different religions. The most common definition of a prayer circle is where participants simply join hands in a literal circle of prayer, often as part of a vigil. Muslims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca will form concentric circles around the Kaaba in prayer, and these too are commonly referred to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-105" title="icon_33" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/icon_33.jpg" alt="icon_33" width="120" height="120" />Prayer circles have several interpretations across different religions. The most common definition of a prayer circle is where participants simply join hands in a literal circle of prayer, often as part of a vigil. Muslims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca will form concentric circles around the Kaaba in prayer, and these too are commonly referred to as prayer circles.</p>
<p>A more modern definition of the prayer circle has recently been coined, referring to a growing number of online communities where people visit certain websites in order to share their thoughts and prayers with other like minded worshippers, usually within specially designated message board areas.</p>
<p>With the internet&#8217;s rapid growth among all sectors of society, many faith-based peoples have found a niche on the internet where they can share their prayers, thoughts and wishes with one another. It&#8217;s not known who was the first to set up an online prayer circle, but today there are hundreds.</p>
<p>An online prayer circle is often a vigil set up by a participant in honor of someone close to that participant. Larger online prayer circles are also formed in honor and remembrance of the victims of notable disasters or tragedies. Though religious in tone, online prayer circles are by and large non-denominational.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2301" title="79_prayercircle" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/79_prayercircle.jpg" alt="79_prayercircle" /></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Delving</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/delving</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/delving#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:12:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Earth]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Nature]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Species]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2294</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Black Oystercatcher is a conspicuous black bird found on the shoreline of western North America. It ranges from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the coast of the Baja California peninsula. It is a large, noisy bird with a massive long orange or red bill used for smashing or prying open mollusks.
It is restricted [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-107" title="icon_32" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/icon_32.jpg" alt="icon_32" width="120" height="120" />The Black Oystercatcher is a conspicuous black bird found on the shoreline of western North America. It ranges from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the coast of the Baja California peninsula. It is a large, noisy bird with a massive long orange or red bill used for smashing or prying open mollusks.</p>
<p>It is restricted in its range, never straying far from shores, in particular favoring rocky shorelines. It has been suggested that this bird is seen mostly on coastal stretches which have some quieter embayments, such as jetty protected areas. It forages in the intertidal zone, feeding on marine invertebrates, particularly mollusks such as mussels, limpets and chitons. It hunts through the intertidal area, searching for food visually, often so close to the water&#8217;s edge it has to fly up to avoid crashing surf.</p>
<p>The diet of oystercatchers varies with location. Species occurring inland feed upon earthworms and insect larvae. The diet of coastal oystercatchers is more varied, although dependent upon coast type; on estuaries bivalves, gastropods and polychaet worms are the most important part of the diet, where rocky shore oystercatchers prey upon limpets, mussels, gastropos and chitons. Other prey items include echinoderms, fish, and crabs.</p>
<p>The Black Oystercatcher is a territorial bird during the nesting season, defending a foraging and nesting area in one territory. Some pairs have been recorded staying together for many years. Nests are small bowls or depressions close to the shore in which small pebbles and shell fragments are tossed in with a sideward or backard flick of the bill.</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Longevity</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/longevity</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/longevity#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Cultivation]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Nature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2290</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Strawflower is a warm-weather annual with daisy-like flower heads in yellow, pink, bronze, cream, purple or white. From late spring until fall, strawflower bears flowers on the ends of the branches. What look like ray flowers or petals are actually modified leaves surrounding the central corolla. The bracts are papery with a straw-like crackly texture, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-109" title="icon_31" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/icon_31.jpg" alt="icon_31" width="120" height="120" />Strawflower is a warm-weather annual with daisy-like flower heads in yellow, pink, bronze, cream, purple or white. From late spring until fall, strawflower bears flowers on the ends of the branches. What look like ray flowers or petals are actually modified leaves surrounding the central corolla. The bracts are papery with a straw-like crackly texture, hence the common name.</p>
<p>Several species are grown as ornamental plants and for dried flowers. When cut young and dried, the open flowers and stalks preserve their color and shape for years. The genus name Helichrysum is derived from the Greek words helisso (to turn around) and chrysos (gold). Common names include immortelle and everlasting.</p>
<p>Helichrysum augustifolium is steam distilled to produce a yellow-reddish essential oil popular in fragrance for its unique scent, best described as warm, rich and buttery, with green notes of wood, spices and herb. Mentally, the oil is very supportive and comforting. It is believed by some to open the right side of the brain and improve creativity as well as increase dream activity.</p>
<p>The oil is antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. The literature and aromatherapy lists are full of anecdotal evidence of Helichrysum&#8217;s power when used on rashes or skin irritations. It acts by causing the blood to be reabsorbed into the tissue, alleviating the pain caused by pressure on the nerves.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Alliance</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/alliance</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/alliance#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:09:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Consciousness]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Truth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2284</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sahasrara is positioned above the head or at the top of it, and has 1000 petals which are arranged in 20 layers, each of them with 50 petals. It is the seventh primary chakra according to Hindu tradition, and symbolizes detachment from illusion, an essential element in obtaining supramental higher consciousness of the truth that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-111" title="icon_30" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/icon_30.jpg" alt="icon_30" width="120" height="120" />Sahasrara is positioned above the head or at the top of it, and has 1000 petals which are arranged in 20 layers, each of them with 50 petals. It is the seventh primary chakra according to Hindu tradition, and symbolizes detachment from illusion, an essential element in obtaining supramental higher consciousness of the truth that one is all and all is one.</p>
<p>Often referred to as the thousand petaled lotus, it is said to be the most subtle chakra in the system, relating to pure consciousness, and it is from this chakra that all the other chakras emanate. When a yogi is able to raise his or her kundalini or energy of consciousness up to this point, the state of Samadhi, or union with God, is experienced. It is often related to the pineal gland and the violet color.</p>
<p>There are several systems, such as some Tantric and Tibetan ones, that describe chakras in or connected closely above Sahasrara, but that are still part of it as a system. One system commonly described to be in it, sharing some of its petals, is Sri chakra.</p>
<p>In the West, it has been noted by many that Sahasrara expresses a similar archetypal idea to that of Kether or &#8220;crown&#8221; in the kabbalistic tree of life, which also rests at the head of the tree and represents pure consciousness and union with God.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2283" title="78_sahasrara" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/78_sahasrara.jpg" alt="78_sahasrara" /></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Being</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/being-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/being-2#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:08:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Existence]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Metaphysics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2278</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Essence is the attribute or set of attributes that make an object or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity. Essence is contrasted with accident, a property that the object or substance has contingently without which the substance can still retain its identity.
Essence has [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-116" title="icon_28" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/icon_28.jpg" alt="icon_28" width="120" height="120" />Essence is the attribute or set of attributes that make an object or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity. Essence is contrasted with accident, a property that the object or substance has contingently without which the substance can still retain its identity.</p>
<p>Essence has often served as a vehicle for doctrines that tend to individuate different forms of existence as well as different identity conditions for objects and properties. In this eminently logical meaning, the concept has given a strong theoretical and common sense basis to the whole family of logical theories.</p>
<p>In existentialist discourse, essence can refer to physical aspect or attribute, to the ongoing being of a person (the character or internally determined goals), or to the infinite inbound within the human (which can be lost, can atrophy, or can be developed into an equal part with the finite), depending upon the type of existentialist discourse.</p>
<p>In metaphysics, essence is often synonymous with the soul, and some existentialists argue that individuals gain their souls and spirits after they exist, and that they develop their souls and spirits during their lifetimes.</p>
<p>The English word &#8220;essence&#8221; comes from the Latin essentia, which was coined from the Latin esse, &#8220;to be&#8221; by ancient Roman scholars in order to translate the Ancient Greek phrase &#8220;to ti en einai&#8221; (literally, &#8220;what it is for a thing to be&#8221;), coined by Aristotle to denote a thing&#8217;s essence.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Potentiality</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/potentiality</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/potentiality#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:41:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Energy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Hinduism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Manifestation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2274</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A dakini is a tantric deity described as a female embodiment of enlightened energy. In the Tibetan language, dakini means she who traverses the sky or she who moves in space. Sometimes the term is translated poetically as sky dancer or sky walker.
Although dakini figures also appear in Hinduism, they are particularly prevalent in Vajrayana [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-113" title="icon_29" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/icon_29.jpg" alt="icon_29" width="120" height="120" />A dakini is a tantric deity described as a female embodiment of enlightened energy. In the Tibetan language, dakini means she who traverses the sky or she who moves in space. Sometimes the term is translated poetically as sky dancer or sky walker.</p>
<p>Although dakini figures also appear in Hinduism, they are particularly prevalent in Vajrayana Buddhism where the dakini, usually of volatile or wrathful temperament, act as an inspirational thoughtform for spiritual practice. Dakinis are energetic beings in female form, evocative of the movement of energy in space. In this context, the sky or space indicates the insubstantiality of all phenomena, which is at the same time the pure potentiality for all possible manifestations.</p>
<p>In Hinduism, the dakini Chinnamasta is one of the ten Tantric goddesses and is associated with the concept of self sacrifice as well as the awakening of the kundalini or spiritual energy. She is considered both as a symbol of self control as well as an embodiment of sexual energy. She symbolizes both aspects of the Hindu Divine Mother, as a life giver and a life taker.</p>
<p>Due to her ferocious nature and her reputation of being dangerous to approach and worship, her individual worship is restricted to heroic, Tantric worship by Tantrikas, yogis and world renouncers. Chhinnamasta can be easily identified by her fearsome iconography. The self decapitated goddess is usually depicted standing on a copulating couple. She holds her own severed head in one hand and a scimitar in the other. Three jets of blood spurt out of her bleeding neck and are drunk by her severed head and two attendants.</p>
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			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/potentiality/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Exchange</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/exchange</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/exchange#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:18:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Control]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Function]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Organization]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2267</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The cortical homunculus is a pictorial representation of the anatomical divisions of the primary motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex. It presents the portion of the human brain directly responsible for the movement and exchange of sense and motor information of the rest of the body.
The resulting image is a disfigured human with disproportionately [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-131" title="icon_04" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/icon_04.jpg" alt="icon_04" width="120" height="120" />The cortical homunculus is a pictorial representation of the anatomical divisions of the primary motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex. It presents the portion of the human brain directly responsible for the movement and exchange of sense and motor information of the rest of the body.</p>
<p>The resulting image is a disfigured human with disproportionately huge hands, lips, and face in comparison to the rest of the body. Because of the fine motor skills and sense nerves found in these particular parts of the body they are represented as being larger on the homunculus. A part of the body with fewer sensory or motor connections to the brain is represented to appear smaller.</p>
<p>Dr. Wilder Penfield used a similar image to depict the body according to the areas of the motor cortex controlling it in voluntary movement. Sometimes thought to be the brain&#8217;s map of the body, the motor homunculus is really a map of the proportionate association of the cortex with body members. It also reflects kinesthetic proprioception, the body as felt in motion.</p>
<p>For example the thumb, which is used in thousands of complex activities, appears much larger than the thigh with its relatively simple movement. This develops over time and differs from one person to the next. The hand in the brain of an infant is different from the hand in the brain of a concert pianist. The difference is due to differences in the functional organization of associated areas of the brain, which is in turn influenced by the muscular anatomy of the effector muscles of the hand.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2268" title="77_homunculus" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/77_homunculus.jpg" alt="77_homunculus" /></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Height</title>
		<link>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/height</link>
		<comments>http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/height#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:57:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bird</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Morning Pages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Atmosphere]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Manifestation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/?p=2263</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Towering cumulus clouds, also known as cumulus congestus, are characteristic of unstable areas of the atmosphere which are undergoing thermal convection, or the movement of molecules within gases and fluids. They are often characterized by sharp outlines and significant vertical development.
Because cumulus congestus is produced by strong updrafts, it is typically taller than it is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-135" title="icon_06" src="http://www.cbirdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/icon_06.jpg" alt="icon_06" width="120" height="120" />Towering cumulus clouds, also known as cumulus congestus, are characteristic of unstable areas of the atmosphere which are undergoing thermal convection, or the movement of molecules within gases and fluids. They are often characterized by sharp outlines and significant vertical development.</p>
<p>Because cumulus congestus is produced by strong updrafts, it is typically taller than it is wide, and cloud tops can reach 20,000 feet or higher in the tropics. The cloud consists mainly of water droplets. At its top, the water droplets are transformed into ice crystals, but for cumulus congestus the content of ice crystals is small and freezing is in early stages, so cloud top still looks round and puffy.</p>
<p>A pillar of cloud was one of the manifestations of God of the Israelites in the Old Testament. According to Exodus, the pillar of cloud guided the Israelites by day during the Exodus from Egypt. The pillar of cloud is traditionally paired with the the manifestation of God by night as the pillar of fire, which provided light. With these two forms of God leading the way, the Israelites &#8220;could travel by day or night&#8221;.</p>
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