The New Resistance - Mental Transcendence

The "leakage" of secrets about the NSA surveillance program does more to instill fear than just simply spying unnoticed. Now we all know they're watching... and they they've been watching... and that affects our behavior more than if we were to be unaware. These current systems don't make much sense to the typical human because you are in your nature prone to cooperation, love, and kindness. The separation we feel from one another and our planet has been orchestrated to create the emotional vibrations of fear, chaos and discontent. To break out of the system, all one need do is choose love and act accordingly. Don't feed the monster what it wants. Love the Monster and see how long it takes for him/her to start sniffing at your plate with curiosity.

We were inspired to write this post after reading "8 Reasons Young Americans Don't Fight Back: How the US Crushed Youth Resistance"

We are actually entering a new paradigm where people are getting that resistance comes primarily in the form of individual sovereignty. This is a mental game wherein we choose our mental state regardless of what goes on outside of us.

Can a youth movement truly face down the brutality of this evolving police state? Not likely. But we can refuse to cower in fear, we can refuse to lash out in anger, we can refuse to exhibit anything other than compassion and acceptance for the free will zone we live in. 

This time is wild and is the result of a population being taken advantage of. But so it is. Anyone can do anything they want to in this world and now the lightworkers will take to their vocation to spread the word. There is no need for hope. There is only need for trust in our divinity and an acknowledgement that our minds are our own...our consciousness is sacred and must be cherished and that we can determine our fate by taking care of our mindsets.

Personal Note from Farrah:

My friend on facebook posted this and it really stuck out in my mind. Scrolling through my amazing positive friends, I get to see all these images and quotes and words that inspire me, and it's proving a spiritual tenet true: I create my reality. Even though there is a lot of darkness in this world, I know that there is also enough light to shine into the deepest corners. And seeing the positive efforts and posts by my friends and associates is often enough to lighten my mood. I love to be a deliberate creator and I love this life! We are at the origin of a new paradigm - and not just spiritually. We are being literally watched by governments and hackers, we are integrating technology and connectivity into all aspects of life and our science is finally awakening to the reality that we have not yet answered any of the BIG QUESTIONS. I am so grateful to be alive in this time and to have the safety and support I need to live this way... I can shine my light in those places where it is needed and the ways of the earth as they are now, can change.

Karma Crew #3 - Liberty in North Korea

Karma Crew #3 - we proudly present for your consideration the kind folks of Torrance-based Liberty in North Korea.

There is much to be said about the work this great organization is doing but first let's start off with a shameless plug:

If you are in the Los Angeles area and want to learn first hand about the situation in North Korea as well as what LiNK is doing to help, attend our FREE event on SATURDAY, APRIL 5th at 7:00! The event is FREEEE and open to the public. Hosted by Karma Collective and Siesta Yoga, we will be using the sacred space at 1825 North Western Ave, Los Feliz 90027. The location is within walking distance of the Metro Red Line, buses and there is parking in the back! Shoes must be removed in the sacred space and there may even be some tasty snacks!

We will be collecting donations in person and online so please be generous! 100% of funds collected go directly to helping North Koreans. 

What we love about Liberty in North Korea is that they are entirely focused on creating real solutions for the people of North Korea, using the work that they themselves are doing. The people of North Korea are slowly breaking free from their paradigm of total control. They are creating private markets to improve their personal economies, escaped refugees are sending in money by the millions and new technology like usb drives, dvds, radios and cell phones are seeping into their society to break down the barriers that have been put up between North Koreans and the outside world.

This kind of action is enabling North Koreans to be more active in determining their path to the future. Liberty in North Korea comes in to help the People find permanent settling places once they have escaped the borders of their tyrannical home. LiNK also educates the public so that we can help the people of North Korea in our own ways.

In honor of their efforts, we have decided to sponsor a "Rescue Team" - a fundraising team effort to raise the $2,500 needed to resettle a refugee. You read that correctly - less than three thousand dollars can permanently change the life of a North Korean person and in helping that one person, we provide yet another anchor of change for country, and the freedom efforts get that much stronger as a new person can now send money or technology or even just share their story with others who can help.

To join in the support of the People of North Korea, please generously donate to the Rescue Team page. It is simple and easy, and any denomination helps us reach our goal. Once $2,500 is raised, we are going to reset the clock and get to work on getting another NK citizen a new home.

We would love to see as many faces as possible at the event in April but what means most to me is rescuing a citizen and starting a new chapter for them. Please join the Rescue Team and donate what you can today. We can bring someone home and what a bigger impact can there be?

Join me in sharing this light and love for North Korea. They will change their country within our lifetime and we are so proud to contribute what we can to this most important of causes. 

RSVP to the Event on Facebook HERE!

LOVE~LIGHT~PROSPERITY~AID~COMPASSION~PEACE - let's be what we want to see.

and that's my new philosophy

Karma Crew #2 - Recreator! Re-Creating the Hemp Industry in America

Dear Reader,

We present for your enjoyment and education: Recreator - an LA organization determined to bring back the Hemp Industry in America. You guys know we support hemp and its proliferation in America hardcore, and we are so excited that this movement has a loud voice from young LA locals!

The big news with Recreator right now is their Kickstarter campaign. These guys are rocking it, with their initial goal met with more than two weeks left in the campaign! They've reached $25,000 and they're shooting for $50,000. They'll use the funds to employ artists, attend festival events as vendors, continue to outreach and advocate for Hemp and most excitingly, when they reach their stretch goal of $50,000, they'll expand their clothing line to include some warm weather gear and other new items!

What we love most about this organization is that it is run by young people looking out for the future of our country. I consider that to be true patriotism - using a natural solution and bringing that to our soil - "sowing the seeds" of change towards a sustainable, carbon neutral solution for many of the problems plaguing our society and the Earth in general.

They were inspired by Jack Herer, a writer and hemp legend. Justin, the group's PR whiz, says, "His omnivorous, sort of enthusiastic taunting to authority really captured the imagination of each one of us and got us thinking about what we could do with hemp, especially with young people who embrace cannabis as a lifestyle. It's beyond the "hippie" stigma and turning into something else…although I'm not sure what that is yet."

To us, it's clear that what "that" is right now is a near billion dollar industry built on great hemp products... that are made with hemp from China and Canada. Recreator's critical mission is to bring about a truly local "seed to stitch" process for American Hemp and bring more prosperity to our economy. The side effect of a Hemp economy is: reduced carbon in the atmosphere, more economical solutions for clothing, fuel, building materials, and the list goes on and on.



From our perspective, the Hemp movement is the most important movement of current times, perhaps for our whole generation. Its potential can change the trajectory of history and help us evolve our societies into ones that honor the sacred beauty and bounty of our mother Earth.

 While their main goal is to put Hemp into the forefront of American discourse, Recreator is more than just an advocate group. They have created an editorial short film, ACTAEON and have are developing a blog and community to be launched post-kickstarter-madness. There the guys will be curating local art, sharing hemp news and generating discussion about this amazing sustainable movement and the culture of hemp in general. It will be a great place to find out about the current status of the industry, learn about Hemp and connect with like minded hippies2.0.  

 KarmaCollective has backed Recreator and we encourage you to, as well. Though you can pledge anywhere from a dollar to your life savings, $40 gets you a great hemp shirt and smaller amounts will net you some awesome stickers!

 You never know who you can reach with a sticker. On a night out in early February, we saw an awesome "HEMP" sticker in the bathroom of a bar in Hollywood. Of course that went straight to instagram, tagged #hemp. The guys saw the post and hit us up. Ever since that fateful connection on social media, we knew we needed to share the work these guys are doing, big time.

 Welcome to the KarmaCrew, Recreator! We're super stoked to have you. NAMASTE!

BACK RECREATOR TODAY TO SUPPORT THE QUEST FOR AMERICAN HEMP. 
 +
Check out ACTAEON here! 

love&light to all! 

Earth Ships. 100% sustainable living off "the grid"

Earth Ships.

I have been dreaming of these and now my dream is to live in one or something similar.

An earth ship is an inexpensive, easy to build, 100% sustainable home. It has symbiotic systems that enable you to collect your own water, grow and raise your own food, and create electricity. The designs naturally moderate the temperature of the home, keeping it around 70* despite outside conditions. 

The most basic floorplan can be created for about $7000. It is constructed with recycled materials like old tires and glass bottles, earth, concrete, glass and a few other basic materials. It can be built by amateurs. They quote the most extravagant plans at around $70,000! 

Aerial view of one of the more complex designs.

I'M SO IN! 

Thanks to my friend Chelsea Pearson, I found these amazing structures via the Mind Unleashed's article here: "10 Reasons Why EarthShips are F'ing Awesome"

I also want to give a shout out to The Valhalla Movement. They champion "freedom culture" by sharing stories of people creating and designing their lives for themselves, not based on a consumption culture. They support and build EarthShips as well as creating greenhouse and educational projects. Freedom Culture is a concept I find beautiful, and something to integrate more into an ever-more-conscious lifestyle.

These walls are made of concrete and recycled bottles!

I get excited thinking about how EarthShips are ideal for a community! I would love to see a neighborhood of these structures. Maybe we can all band together and get it going. :)

Would you live in one? Does the recycled-materials-as-building-blocks intrigue you, or turn you off from seriously considering a home like this?

Hemp.

I feel very strongly about hemp. Sometimes my enthusiasm bubbles over and I start to feel like all we need to solve all of our challenges is hemp. I get dizzy with excitement and potential and then I take a step back and reorient myself, looking at the situation with a discerning eye.  Then I think to myself, "Yup, still feels like hemp is a major piece of the current earth puzzle."

In an America where we have conscious capitalism and widespread industrial hemp, we can create sustainable solutions for fashion, energy, construction and most preciously - food.

Check out this awesome, info-packed graphic from BurnandLearn. It gives an amazing visual overview of industrial hemp's uses and benefits.



Just by looking at the graphic, you can see what I'm saying. I would love to know the drawbacks of industrial Hemp. I'm sure it's not a perfect solution but so far I've literally never heard how hemp hurts the environment.

I just keep finding out more amazing facts about it! Farmed responsibly, hemp replenishes up to 60% of the nutrients in the soil after it is grown. It absorbs CO2 from the environment so when used/burned for fuel, it releases that which it used from the environment, keeping the overall release closer to neutral than fuel sources pulled from the ground. Gosh, we could all go on for hours about this.

Let's continue to expand the commercial use for hemp and to advocate for wider industrial authorization from the Federal government. VoteHemp has compiled an updated list of legislative action. So far, thirty two states have introduced pro-hemp legislation, and ten states have passed legislation clearing the way for legal industrial hemp production!

To immerse yourself in some hemp right now, support your local merchants! We are lucky in SoCal to have many likeminded people around us, and many of them have been working with hemp for years. It would be a beautiful thing to find a future where these businesses can create garments out of locally farmed hemp! Here are just a few local hemp merchants:

Vital Hemp - Hemp clothing boutique in Santa Monica

Natural High Lifestyle - Hemp clothing and lifestyle products in Santa Monica

The Recreator - Local advocacy group working to "recreate" the industrial hemp industry in the US. Follow this link to their Kickstarter campaign!

Lassen's Natural Food and Vitamins - Natural food, hemp oil products and vitamin shop located in Los Feliz

DIY for Conscious Cottage Industries

Below is a link for a video showing us how to make a wine bottle cutter. I am sharing it today to declare my intention to make one myself! This simple tool will enable me to recycle wine bottles into window-garden holders, candle holders, decorative lighting and more!

I watched the video on mute so I cannot comment on the audio, but the visual is clear and super explanatory!

It is important to establish an independence from one-time "do it for me" products. It's not that there is anything wrong with those products of themselves, but having the ability and resolve to make things for oneself cultivates skill, connects you to the objects in your surroundings, saves money, and contributes to your magical energy field. Having objects that you've put your consciousness on brings a level of consciousness to the object and being surrounded by objects that have your creative energy on them can bring greater comfort, peace and higher vibrations to your living space. Everything around us is a spark of creativity, so bringing out your own inner spark and making it real is a powerful physical way to connect to your surroundings, the earth and the creative life force. There is a huge difference in seeing something someone else made and enjoying the crafter's aesthetic ability, but this is not creation, this is consumption. Using objects of others as an inspiration to build is creation and creation is a great habit to have.

We can all find areas where we are able to create and for me, these fun power tool arts and crafts projects are extremely satisfying and inspiring.

These projects also lend themselves to developing your own cottage industries. The concept of creating a small business based on wares created in the home is a romantic one that I greatly enjoy. It has a huge historical precedent and is enjoying a resurgence now as the internet has opened up communication. Via ecommerce, a tiny operation can reach anyone in the world, and often little niche products can experience demands far greater than the supply, creating a great value for a truly special item. So when considering making this glass cutter, I'm happily aware that I can cut glass bottles for my own projects, for others to use in their projects, and for projects I'm able to sell. I'll bet I can find a restaurant willing to let me take out their recycling or sell me their empty bottles for pennies on the dollar.

This project takes a power drill so there is a slight barrier to start it up, but I think a good drill is a pretty crucial component to any tool box. I'm going to borrow one from a relative until I can get my own. :)

I intend to build a glass bottle cutting system to enrich my life with indoor gardening containers, and to enrich the lives of others with the containers I can supply them, the candle holders and light fixtures I can make, and I look forward to joining the flow of creativity as I find new ways to utilize the tool I build and the results of its use.

And so it is.

KARMACOUPON # 1 !!

KarmaCompany - BEADRELIEF.com

Fellow Conscious Beings!

I present for your consideration and appreciation the first official KarmaCompany: BeadRelief!

Founded last year by Greg E and John G, this company is doing some serious good and making it seriously stylish. I came across their storefront at Montage Beverly Hills while exploring the neighborhood where I work. Greg was friendly, informative and we became instafriends. Getting to know these guys and their business has been a bright spot amongst the material worship and serious attitudes-a-plenty found in BH and I am stoked to share their message with you.

Bead Relief bracelets are chic, stackable, stretchy beaded bracelets. They are easy to wear, easy to mix and match and come in three sizes. A totally viable fashion option, these bracelets have added goodness: each design represents a charity or organization and a percentage of each purchase is donated directly to the charity it represents. 

I rock these every day - a rare treat for me because I have sensitive skin. These have never bothered me, even while doing yoga and sweating tons! (They can get in the way when doing deep arm binds though, so take them off before an intense asana practice.) 

We put together an exclusive KarmaCoup for you, so here's what you need to know. The bracelets are $6 each and typically 25% of ALL sales go directly to their charity partners.

However, for the Karma Conscious, the guys are generously donating 50% your purchases to charity! Just use the code 'goodkarma' on their website to DOUBLE the contribution.

Let me make it clear. Each time you spend $6, they'll donate $3. It's so generous, I can't wait to see what we can do with this opportunity to give and receive at the same time!

Learn more about Bead Relief's Charity Partners 

Time for an #awareness #armparty! 

Happy Shopping - Happy Giving - BeadRelief.org 

Find Their Website

Learn Their Story 

Shop The Online Store

Follow on Instagram

Like on Facebook

Valentine's Day

On today this amazing crazy full moon valentine's day, im taking time to honor and feel the deep love i receive from humanity and the earth and to reflect it back out at every particle i can reach. 

thank you to everyone who has ever smiled at any one or anything
thank you to those that love those that need it most 
thank you to the "angels" for their subtle and not so subtle guidance and presence. 

thank you to my family, my friends, my facebook community, my colleagues at work, anyone that has ever let theKarmaCollective into their thoughts and hearts - your energy is with me always and our force as a unit is releasing love into all of each other throughout all of time and space.

thank you x 7 Josh Kruse for being the rock I deserve, cherish, honor and respect

thank you to myself for all the love and support

thank you to the alignment of time and space to allow this love to flow through me and through those around me.

2/14/2014 in the Age of Aquarius is about love for all - no matter who they are, what they have done, where they come from, who they know - everyone is worthy of knowing unconditional love.

We really can bring about love in the world on a scale that is bigger than before. We have the capacity to receive it now. We have the capacity to understand that our choices affect the entirety of creation, not just ourselves and our bubble of life. By reacting always with as much compassion we can find, we release our negative karma cycles and bring about a swing in a positive direction. Imagine where technology and humanity can go when we apply principles of love and compassion to all beings. We start from above the ground and ascend into the fabric of our multidimensional existence.

To the universes and all they contain, I say: I LOVE YOU. Happy Valentine's Day.

This page made me smile and tear up and I loved each photo - random acts of love and kindness will never get old. 

Urban Composting - How to accomplish composting in Los Angeles

I have begun a journey down a lifelong path. Everything has changed and I am so grateful to be committed to this new life. Spiritual journey? No.

I'm talking about composting.

This new frontier is foreign, a little scary and the road ahead is uncertain, barely paved by municipal infrastructure or private enterprise. It is exciting.

Assuming my audience is a tiny bit familiar with the concept, I'll leave the Composting 101 to EarthEasy (one of my new favorite sites!) and move right into a "How To in LA" portion.

Urban Composting has two sides. On one hand, if you have a balcony or a yard, you can compost on site and keep your pile outside in a container like this.  That one I linked is made out of recycled plastic so you score double environment points! This site here has an easy tutorial for a DIY plastic bin. If you're adventurous, try vermicomposting with this 5 tray system. The process uses worms to accelerate the process of composting! The little friends leave casings behind as they break down your food waste that are extremely beneficial for gardens and house plants.

On the other hand, if you are less inclined to have rotting food in your apartment, consider collecting your food waste and storing it in the freezer until drop off day, and physically bringing your compost materials to a drop off center that will compost it for you. This container is perfect for keeping your food waste neat amongst the other contents in your freezer, and should be compliant with LA's laws against transporting food waste in an open air container like a trash bag. In LA, we are still missing the infrastructure to drop off green food waste. The infrastructure to do urban composting needs to be built up and drop off points established. For now, I'm collecting my food waste. It's important to start somewhere, even if it's not glamorous! I'm researching where I can bring my green waste, saving up for my own composting bin, and in the meantime, the food waste lives in the freezer.

One solution available in select areas of LA is offered by a local organization called LA Compost. Their bike-powered pick up service, where they come to you and collect your food waste, saves you from the long-term composting process or taking trips to the drop off center.

Currently LA Compost is serving Whittier , Baldwin Park, Covina and West Covina. They are expanding into new areas in LA and I certainly look forward to the addition of my neighborhood. Currently they are really the only people in our area collecting food waste and their presence is much needed.

These Very Conscious People can be found online at: www.wastetofood.com and contacted directly by emailing info@wastetofood.com. They would love to speak with you to set up a pick up routine for you and offer their additional services, like free leaf removal from your yard!

No matter how you get there, the best part of composting is definitely the end result. The end product, called humus, can be used in gardens, lawns and potted plants. This rich soil additive is highly sought after and can be sold. It is often packaged like coffee and sold at farmers markets. Do we have any entrpreneurs in the building? Composting has potential for big conscious business. Is there one among us with some open outdoor space that would like to venture into this beautiful new world? We can easily pool our food waste to create a large pile worth mucho dinero! Let's create anew from what others consider waste and let's use our creation to enrich our plants, and our wallets.

Do you compost? Please take a moment to comment about your process and any successes or obstacles you've faced!

Mucho Love,
Farrah

Calling all compassionate souls! Earth Stewards! Light Bringers! Environmental Champions!

I want you to take your place within the Karma Collective.

We are a new network, a new way of being. A way of being so ancient, it seems like it never existed to our modern society.

In all that we do, we look to be gentle to our planet and to each other. We look for ways to provide value to one another, to lift up each other's souls...

We are a nation built on love, respect and empathy!

Calling all social organizations that exist to benefit others!
Calling all businesses that consider more than just the bottom line when making decisions!
Calling all beautiful individuals that know human potential is barely tapped and ready to expand!

We want to know you, to share you, to explore you and to help realize the dream of a world living in peace and harmony with one another and our planet. It is possible because we are here and it is already our future because we intend it is so!

Join me. Comment below and I will reach out!

Founding Members will be honored, profiled, shared and their value made known to the internet at large! I want to give you the "VCP" (Very Conscious Person) badge of honor and shout your good deeds from the rooftops!

This beautiful movement is in its infancy and thus is the perfect opportunity for your business to be treated like the divine spark you are! Join me and let's give the world a shining example of our potential as humans!

LOVE ALL WAYS
farrah

Environmentally Safe Pest Control

My apartment is being fumigated today. A little gross, a little humiliating, but nothing can be done otherwise - the pests may live in the walls of my old brick apartment building, and who could blame them? I'm sure it's palatial and divine living quarters for bugs and mice and other little friends.

However happy the pests are to have made their empire near my dwelling... I'm not exactly jumping for joy. And so the exterminator that serves the building has been called. As I'm not the owner of the apartment, it's difficult to get someone to come out and perform the service independently and not only that, as a person of modest means, I don't have the extra cash to foot the bill for an out of pocket extermination. So I'm stuck with a traditional chemical-laden pest treatment. I'm not happy about it, except that it has inspired me to do some research and while I hope to never need fumigation again, I'm realistic with knowing that I live in Los Angeles, I probably will engage pest control services again. Any next time, it's going to be on my terms and without the harsh and harmful chemicals I'm subjecting myself (and my succulent, named Penelope Kruse) to. 

Not to focus on the negative, but the reasons to invest in non toxic pest control are clear and simple - traditional methods using common pesticides are as harmful as spraying poison on your walls. Pesticides have been linked to the emergence of cancer, reproductive health issues and neurological damage. Doubly disconcerting is the notion that a majority of pesticides aren't tested for their affect on developing neural systems like those of our children. (Spiegelman)

With that in mind, here are some resources for those of you that can afford to be more selective with the pest control you engage.

It turns out there are many alternatives to spraying harmful pesticides with abandon.

Here are some of your choices:
1. Natural Predators - a group of Lady bugs can be brought in to eat aphids - well suited for outdoor use
2. Boric Acid - a weak acid that can be spread as powder in affected areas
3. Plant Oil Based Pesticides - sprayed like chemical pesticides, these materials have plant-based, non toxic ingredients
4. Thermal Remediation - Specialists can safely heat a room to over 120 degrees to kill pests without introducing chemicals. This is typically used for bed bugs.
5. Diatomaceous Earth - A powdered form of fossilized algae with sharp edges that can break down insect exoskeletons and dehydrate the pests. Safe for use in gardens and even on pets' fur.

Companies In LA to try:

Koreatown: Green Termite and Pest Control
LA & Orange County: Greenleaf Organic Pest Control 
LA & Southern Cali: Hearts' Los Angeles Pest Control 

If you give these businesses your business, comment back and let's see who has a great experience with them!!

p.s. I wish I didn't have to kill any pests but I have to consider my living conditions. Pests carry disease and are super unpleasant to have around... what can we do but to keep them out of our living spaces? Of course it must be said that dilligence should be done to seal any cracks or openings, and all surfaces should be kept crumb free and clear of any food waste. I will be sure to double up on my efforts to keep the bugs away without having to kill them. This site is full of inventive and natural methods to keep pests at bay, often pre-empting the need to go on a killing spree! Anything that prevents violence, even if it is "just bugs" is a step in the right direction in my book.

Annie Spiegelman, Huffington Post. Article about Eco-Friendly Pest Control

love is your best friend 

smiling and always present

Earth is your Mother

original art found here 

Karma Credo

We are stewards of the Earth

Our actions are sacred and affect our entire universe. 

We are responsible for all that we do and all that we think.

We raise the vibration of humanity and of Earth herself 

We operate in this physical realm with 

Integrity 

Respect 

Kindness 

Gentleness

Understanding 

Compassion 

We use business and social organizations to improve the lives of others and our business practices reflect the purity we promote to the earth. 

We do not use harmful chemicals or substances 

We source locally 

We reduce or eliminate our carbon footprint 

We keep our prices fair 

We value ourselves and our customers 

We give back to our communities 

We support love, charity, health and spiritual wellbeing. 

We are the Karma Collective

Join us as we break cycles of indifference and apathy

Join us as we emanate positive karma throughout all of time and space

Join us as we ascend to a reality of Enlightenment for all. 

@thekarmacollective