tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.comments2023-08-14T04:29:11.586-04:00The Blue Turtle BlogLori Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-64308349245917691432016-07-28T17:32:26.143-04:002016-07-28T17:32:26.143-04:00Hi, Frosty!
Don't worry...I haven't forgo...Hi, Frosty!<br /><br />Don't worry...I haven't forgotten you! :)Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-70113580566528870652016-07-21T12:43:54.047-04:002016-07-21T12:43:54.047-04:00Hi Lori,
Nice to see you're still challenging ...Hi Lori,<br />Nice to see you're still challenging life at the highest levels. I met you at Sonoma Beach, CA in 2014 while on tour of the West Coast. You probably don't remember me, but I am inspired that you continue inspiring other women and all toward their highest and best. May your journey continue to enlighten and fulfill you. Frosty Wooldridge, fellow bicycle traveler Frosty Wooldridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397573523826700716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-35451373495900319642016-07-20T13:01:53.506-04:002016-07-20T13:01:53.506-04:00Thank you for the feedback and questions, Richard....Thank you for the feedback and questions, Richard. I'm not sure what you mean by "the responsibility of individual morals" so I'm not sure how to respond. I will say though, I think the progression of neuroscience will at least contribute to the consideration of what environments encourage and discourage higher human functioning, especially with respect to the maturing of the pre-frontal brain. <br /><br />The pre-frontal brain is the part of the brain that is the source of self-discipline, delaying gratification, emotional self-regulation, perspective taking/empathy, rational thinking, consideration of long-term consequences, adapting to novel situations, and creative problem solving. The problem is it does not develop all these potentials without considerable input from the environment (home, school, culture, etc.). Furthermore, if it does not develop optimally (during the period of infancy to about 24 years of age), we humans can still "get by" as individuals and as a species, but we end up with many of the problems we're seeing today. Almost all of them can be linked to limited functioning of the pre-frontal brain.<br /><br />I think we could, in time, develop a social moral code that would ultimately seek to optimize the functioning of this most highly evolved part of our brains to do what it is there to do: to help us function as individuals in a society. But, again, that development has a time frame, and it is almost completely dependent on the environment in the form of age appropriate demands and expectations placed on individuals which forces them to use their pre-frontal brains to meet them. I'm afraid we have had a few generations now where such age appropriate demands and expectations have been almost completely lacking, and, again, that is why we are seeing many of the problems we see today.Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-34395599135238788632016-06-07T21:35:21.735-04:002016-06-07T21:35:21.735-04:00Lori. Your ideas are great. My only question for y...Lori. Your ideas are great. My only question for you is how is society dealing with the rationalizing of morals by the individual versus just accepting societies status quo.It seems, especially when you consider this election cycle, that Americans in particular are incoherent. In a democratic world, what can you say to those with confused morals. In a society hopefully working it's way to the end of post modernism, all opinions tend to be legitimized. We seem to have few agreed upon standards of decency. Dishonesty is accepted. Do you think the human race was cut out for the responsibility of individual morals? Let me be so bold as to include a l;ink to my last newspaper letter. I do them monthly. Hey, I'm writing a book as well,on philosophy. It reflects what I hope will become the future religion of non belief, intuition,physics, and the kinder human instincts. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160605/OPINION02/160609696/Wrong-priorities-have-led-us-here<br />Rick Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10220289453217911253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-14097435443904608002016-03-05T17:00:20.907-05:002016-03-05T17:00:20.907-05:00Awesome...many would like to do this,few will...oh...Awesome...many would like to do this,few will...oh for the experiences and people you touch in life's journey...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14653836030225562569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-43804010497001761012015-09-06T11:46:18.957-04:002015-09-06T11:46:18.957-04:00Interesting essay. Interesting essay. rk60657https://www.blogger.com/profile/14487325344449692946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-56485477980496546402015-07-28T14:32:57.310-04:002015-07-28T14:32:57.310-04:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-16426474466757672072015-07-28T09:17:07.124-04:002015-07-28T09:17:07.124-04:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-32062166795897072452014-12-19T03:50:15.608-05:002014-12-19T03:50:15.608-05:00Dang Lori!!! I didn't realize you're still...Dang Lori!!! I didn't realize you're still on your trip! Way to go! I just thought of you randomly and remembered your blog. This is really cool! You are really cool! Keep us updated please!!! Love, PhilipAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-24533364764986799292014-10-17T14:56:35.712-04:002014-10-17T14:56:35.712-04:00Hi, Amelia. Thank you for taking the time to offer...Hi, Amelia. Thank you for taking the time to offer feed-back. You have drawn my attention back to this page and motivated me to add a couple of photos. For the record, the middle turtle is a female and the other two are males. The males have longer front toe nails, and, for your sake, I hope both of your turtles are males because the females can get very big, very quickly - these three were all the same size when they started out together! Between my years in college and this last round of keeping turtles as pets, I was amazed at how much the science of herptology had advanced. The biggest revelation for me: the fact that turtles need UVA/UVB light (similar to sun light) to properly assimilate Calcium. I'm afraid many of my in-door turtles suffered from the lack of such light as I was growing up as I generally just used basic aquarium lights. I really enjoyed having my turtles though, when I had the above aquarium in my bedroom (at the residence before this one) it was like watching a National Geographic program every night! ... With regards to Robert Sapolsky - his whole "Human Behavioral Biology" lecture series (from Stanford) is on YouTube. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it! Thanks again for offering this feedback and be sure to check out my other blogs as well. Yours in Peace! LoriLori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-37056726635685373112014-10-13T15:25:01.672-04:002014-10-13T15:25:01.672-04:00Hi!! I am 19 years old and just starting a new cha...Hi!! I am 19 years old and just starting a new chapter of my life (moved to new york city and started college a few months ago) One of the first things I got, before the room I rent in a house was even furnished beyond a mattress on the floor, I acquired two red eared sliders. Now I have them in a 30 gallon tank and they are beautiful pets! I love animals but I also always think about what symbolism they might have and what deeper meaning there is to be taken out of their presence in my life at this time (still don't know, but they are good company if nothing else)<br /> I just stumbled upon your blog by accident! I was searching google for an image of Robert Sapolsky, whom I am intrigued and inspired by although I have seen very little of his work, I know I want to become more familiar with it. Anyway, a picture of you on your bicycle came up in the results for some reason and here I am on your blog! I just read what was on the first page, about your journey and this section and I am very happy to have found your writing, many of the things you mention interest and resonate with me and I am looking forward to reading more of what you have written about your experiences and many of the titles of the important links and resources you have listed are grabbing my attention so I know I will have lots of good information to process! There are more things to say but the main thing was I just wanted to say hello and I am glad I came across your internet presence. Good luck on your journey!Ameliahttp://pigbangingonthebongos.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-18011190377446832062014-08-07T17:08:17.747-04:002014-08-07T17:08:17.747-04:00Thanks for the positive feedback, Nancy. Follow yo...Thanks for the positive feedback, Nancy. Follow your motivation on reading "Lila". I do not think you will be disappointed.Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-86605221372962525452014-08-07T09:39:20.997-04:002014-08-07T09:39:20.997-04:00I'm too tired to respond with any contribution...I'm too tired to respond with any contribution to the discussion, but I'll just say I enjoyed reading the post. Long time fan of ZatAoMM, and overdue for reading Lila.... yours is the 3rd or 4th ping I've had in the past year saying "come read me."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-58883512390682935222014-06-29T22:53:02.712-04:002014-06-29T22:53:02.712-04:00oh my goodness! I just noticed the same gray circl...oh my goodness! I just noticed the same gray circle and minus sign on my blog...then googled it and found your post...I definitely went through and deleted a bunch of pics from my google plus account :) <br />Thankful to know you had the same problem! Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12057749148620994709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-12860461817762015602014-03-21T01:50:41.425-04:002014-03-21T01:50:41.425-04:00Zeus, I appreciate your taking the time to respond...Zeus, I appreciate your taking the time to respond here. To me faith is in part an expression of oxytocin, i.e. the emotional biomolecule associated with trust. It is expressed through various interactions with other beings, even across species, as well as being self-generated. At this point in my awareness I do not need there to be anything "spiritual" about it. I am perfectly okay with being awed by the biological, emotional (biomolecular), and intellectual (conscious) capacities of these human bodies, and with everything else that has come into existence in the world through the "play" of "static" and "Dynamic" Quality.<br /><br />As for what is "inside" and what is "outside" - I think that actually leans more towards a "subject-object" metaphysics rather than the "Metaphysics of Quality" that Pirsig has developed. When you look at "static patterns of value" that grow increasingly more complex through the persistent intrusion of "Dynamic Quality" - "random" mutations on the genetic level, an infinite number of creative variations along both biological and socio/cultural paths, some that end up being more "successful" on the whole than others - that pretty much accounts for all of the "patterns-patterning" in the world today. Elements of "static" and "Dynamic" quality apply to the atom as much as they apply to the workings of the Universe, as much to individual cells as to whole societies of human beings.<br /><br />I do feel it is each person's responsibility to come to better understanding of what is going on inside their bodies, inside their reptile brain, inside their (emotional) limbic system, and inside their cortical brain, and especially their frontal cortex as the frontal cortex is so critical for Self Regulation - a capacity that is essential for anyone who is going to be interacting with other individuals in a group (in a Society) and wants to do so in a sustainable way. (And if meditation or some other "religious" practice helps people with emotional/functional self-regulation, I'm all for it!)<br /><br />If looking "inside" means looking at how well our cells and systems cooperate with one another as part of a whole (most of the time), and learning something from that which will help us cooperate with other human beings "outside" of us ... then I am all for that as well.<br /><br />I'll summarize with this for your further consideration...<br /><br />Single cells in the Global Society are we<br />Along with all other beings of earth, air, and sea.<br />Imagine in what kind of state we'd be<br />If each of our cells were crying, "Me! Me! Me!"Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-82015566125154851772014-03-20T08:50:50.400-04:002014-03-20T08:50:50.400-04:00The main spiritual issue is about turning from the...The main spiritual issue is about turning from the outside-in to the inside-out. These different moral foundations and codes are still accepting an "outside-in" mentality, even when dealing with the individual (who sees him or herself as an object of development or enhancement, rather than a being to be expressed in light of (and with the aid of) greater forces and powers)). <br /><br />We are still not quite ready, it seems, to take our part. We still want to be masters, tyrants even, in the play of the universe. It's a quaint and immature idea, to be sure, and a bit of a tragedy, because we have so much more to embody if we drop this single conceit. <br /><br />The trick, I believe, is to understand that infinity can be contained at any level, because the universe, exhibits itself in patterns, iterations, at every level. If we try to find that pattern on the outside of us, we will find only part of the picture. If we explore the pattern on the inside, we find the entire universe, except in miniature. <br /><br />That is the decision to make-- impressive power and manipulation, externalized (outside) or subtle but comprehensive power, internalized (inside). <br /><br />Interestingly, as I am discovering in my almost drafted book "Spirit Athlete" when you tap into the subtle power, you find a channel into power that can generate real-world results on an impressive scale as well, but without the conceit. <br /><br />This power is sourced in joy and humility and one "uses" it not by using or mastering, but by expressing and allowing oneself to be mastered by it, an intimate part of a deed, rather than a callow and shallow "doer." <br /><br />Ironically, the "individual" we fear will be lost in the "deed" becomes more vivid and present, when one gives oneself over. It is the purest kind of choice, to give oneself to a kind of grace, and in the purity of that individual choice, great genius and culmination comes, as it can only come, refracted through the unique prism of being in you and I. All that is required is... faith. <br /><br />Check out this video by physicist Nassim Haramein-- very powerful adjustment to the way we see the universe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zc0ICPoqlMCitizen Zeushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11351012973937300861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-78404235752997972602013-07-14T17:59:02.042-04:002013-07-14T17:59:02.042-04:00Thank You, Barry. the fact that people are "f...Thank You, Barry. the fact that people are "fed up" is all the more reason they really need to read Paul's books, because he is offering Real Solutions for how to approach changing all of this for the better. There are answers to some of the relevant questions and people need to be focusing on those so they can move forward with positive, non-violent, solutions.Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-88673431567534908472013-07-14T17:55:02.766-04:002013-07-14T17:55:02.766-04:00Hi, Turin! I really don't know how long I will...Hi, Turin! I really don't know how long I will be on the road in total. Just taking it one "Stage" at a time. I think you know this was at least being planned from 2011 and it has had quite the winding course as it has evolved over the last two years! In a way, I'm "reading along" with everyone else not knowing how the "final chapter" will conclude!Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-6260990731971810922013-07-14T16:06:36.776-04:002013-07-14T16:06:36.776-04:00Good for you and well done Lori, what an adventure...Good for you and well done Lori, what an adventurer you are. How long are you going to do this for? turin*otzakihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12158001715900471532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-16162954374568900902013-07-14T11:12:20.980-04:002013-07-14T11:12:20.980-04:00excellent post. i really believe that much of the ...excellent post. i really believe that much of the pro-revolution thinking currently in vogue in this country is related to all the action hero movies that are so popular. everyone thinks they can be Bruce Willis. Fighting for freedom. and i understand it on one level. People are fed up with what's happened to our once grand country...trouble is, there isn't much agreement as to the cause of our current problems. For me, at this moment in my life, I am pulling away from staying informed, as it makes me an angry person. We all have a roll to play, and mine, i think, is to try to add beauty and inspire people to think about living a different way than the status quo. If it all turns to chaos, i think people like you and myself will be well equipped to adapt as necessary. There really isn't any way to predict what it will look like in the near future. Amazing times, really. BARRY HOWARD https://www.blogger.com/profile/00512462226083686485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-28361913799717948252013-06-19T12:39:44.742-04:002013-06-19T12:39:44.742-04:00It was so wonderful to hear from you. You are a wo...It was so wonderful to hear from you. You are a wonderous woman. Good luck on the rest of your journey and looking forward to seeing you here at Jordano's. Marcy Schapelmarcy schapelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-4914202623251553212012-09-24T01:58:39.222-04:002012-09-24T01:58:39.222-04:00Hey Lori ... very cool. I like how it all goes bac...Hey Lori ... very cool. I like how it all goes back to your childhood with the turtles on the side of the road; how interesting it is that these childhood experiences so much define who we are or what is important to us...forever. Turtles.Creation Myths. Love & Attachment. Gary Snyder. It all amounts I think to a personal unified theory of being, the circle-shell being such a symbol of unification. I think the E=MC2 will eventually evolve into LOVE=GOD or LOVE=LIFE or LOVE=UNIVERSE and it may even be expressed in scientific terms that quantify the musical vibration of love, a turtle swimming through water, but in any event your blog continues to seem to me to be Notes to a Supreme (Non)Fiction which could be re-vised re-envisioned into the permanent artistic work continually being created from your soul. Best! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16533841919640950923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-32172129349856713772012-07-31T14:53:54.705-04:002012-07-31T14:53:54.705-04:00Thank you for that feedback, Chris. I will admit, ...Thank you for that feedback, Chris. I will admit, some of the inclination to use Capitalization comes from the limitation of "plain text" with text messages and even Facebook. Furthermore, in many of His books, my Guru, Adi Da Samraj, uses capitalization as a way to counterbalance our emphasis on the ego-self in the form of "I" (capital "i'). He Describes it as a "tent pole" from which the rest of the language hangs. It's just a convention, but it does say something about where we habitually focus our attention. Having read many of His books, I guess I have (at least to some degree) "Become what I've been meditating on", i.e. I have picked up the habit myself. : )Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-82963796817032319672012-07-30T02:22:57.906-04:002012-07-30T02:22:57.906-04:00Lori -- Thank you for a fine and forceful argument...Lori -- Thank you for a fine and forceful argument. I especially like "In other words, it is not in dying that such changes take place, but only through LIVING." But that is just one among many 'thoughtful thoughts.' I hope you continue to develop the meaning of "Pattern Patterning," and I applaud the use of initial capitalization for some of the most important words. It's very Emily Dickinson; very Thomas Jefferson.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16533841919640950923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8403883963335203719.post-72447678562248476092012-07-12T11:46:30.010-04:002012-07-12T11:46:30.010-04:00You're welcome, Cristeen. Thanks for the feedb...You're welcome, Cristeen. Thanks for the feedback. : )Lori Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705706227685359532noreply@blogger.com