Conscious Capitalism | Ascension Lifestyle

07 Dec 2015
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Season of Stories

“The universe is made of stories, not atoms.”

~ Muriel Rukeyser

As we enter the year’s prime shopping season, stores tend to replace stories as the gift source of choice. I grew up in Paramus, New Jersey, the shopping capital of the known universe, where it’s easy to get “malled”, so I understand just how seductive — and soul diminishing — the material mindset can be.

Emerson said: “Rings and jewels are not gifts but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of thyself.” How do we put the “I” back in “stores”, supplant material-eyes with empath-eyes? How do we create the new story of Now? We can begin by sharing who we are, as keepers of culture, guardians of wisdom traditions, members of a vast community belonging to something greater than ourselves. In re-storying the holidays, we restore a sense of continuity that is soul nourishing for us, and everyone around us.

I suggest a trio of powerful vessels for re-storying our lives. The first is Ho’oponopono, a Hawaiian teaching that means, “to make right” with all our relations, past and present. It encompasses the idea of forgiveness, along with a rather extraordinary premise: that by looking deeply within to correct “errors” in our own perceptions, we can heal emotional, mental, and physical dis-ease in others, since we are all expressions of the One Being.

Haleakala Hew Len, PhD, calls this taking “100 percent responsibility” and, indeed, it elevates the idea of being our brother’s keeper to an entirely new dimension.

Another example of re-storying in action is The Secret, the mega-popular DVD about the Law of Attraction (LOA). Most of us are familiar with the LOA concept: what we think and feel creates our reality. Seeing life as a basket of broken eggs is much less fun than viewing it sunny-side up. The latter mindset aligns us with our highest aspirational vision, and enables us to take positive action in the direction of our deepest dreams.

While on one level, the information The Secret presents is elementary, the film’s engaging scenarios and healthy dose of humor highlight its core message, making it a useful refresher in how to create the life we want — personally, professionally, and planetarily.

And this brings us to the third re-storying vehicle: Espavo. Steve Rother, channel for The Group, brought through this term, which literally means, “Thank you for taking your power.” The ancient Lemurian acknowledgment is akin to the Indian greeting “Namaste”, which means, “The Spirit in me recognizes the Spirit in you”, and the Mayan saying, “In Lak’ech”: “I am another yourself.” The distinctive difference is that, like Ho’oponopono and The Secret, Espavo carries an implicit call to action.

So as you prepare to gift those you love this holiday season, I invite you to invest in some new threads from the stories you visit. With autopilot turned off, it’s easier to reclaim your Wonder Wings. You already know how to fly. Espavo.

About the Author:

Amara Rose is a “midwife” for our global rebirth. Her services include transformational guidance, talks, e-courses, a digital download CD, and an inspirational monthly newsletter. She is widely published in health, business and new thought magazines, both digital and print. Learn more: http://www.liveyourlight.com

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05 Nov 2015
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DOCUMENTARY OF THE MONTH – November – HUMAN

What is it that makes us human? Is it that we love, that we fight ? That we laugh ? Cry ? Our curiosity ? The quest for discovery ?
Driven by these questions, filmmaker and artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand spent three years collecting real-life stories from 2,000 women and men in 60 countries. Working with a dedicated team of translators, journalists and cameramen, Yann captures deeply personal and emotional accounts of topics that unite us all; struggles with poverty, war, homophobia, and the future of our planet mixed with moments of love and happiness.

The VOL.1 deals with the themes of love, women, work and poverty.

The VOL.2 deals with the themes of war, forgiving, homosexuality, family and life after death.

The VOL.3 deals with the themes of happiness, education, disability, immigration, corruption and the meaning of life.

The inspiration for this film started a few years ago for filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand, when his helicopter broke down in a rural part of Mali. While he was waiting for his helicopter to get fixed, he spent a day with a local farmer, talking about the farmer’s hopes, concerns, priorities, and examining the basic questions about life that transcend all cultures. It was the first time the filmmaker threw himself into the experience of someone else from a completely different part of the world. Fast forward, with the help of Google, the United Nations, and 2020 everyday people around the world, Arthus-Bertrand is bringing his experience to all of us. HUMAN has become the first film to premeire at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations. It premeired to an audience of over 1,000 people, including U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

During the film’s creation, Arthus-Bertrand interviewed 2,020 people in 60 countries with his team of 16 journalists. Every interview comprised of the same 40 questions, discussing heavy subjects from religion and family to ambition and failure.

The visual elements of the film include single-frame interviews with a black backdrop, interspersed with signature sweeping shots of deserts and mountains which Arthus-Bertrand is known for, all of which is blended with a soundtrack of Armand Amar composed world music. The filmmaker’s intention was to portray the world through three voices: people, landscape, and traditional music.

“Getting at the heart of what it means to be a human can be a little heavy” Arthus-Bertrand

30 Oct 2015
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Ten Common Sense Economic Truths

“The more closely I look, the more obvious it is that the Old Economy fails because it is based on false values, assumptions, and logic. Those who are working to create a New Economy from the bottom-up intuitively recognize and act on 10 common sense truths foundational to a sound economy.” ~Dr. David Korten

DOCUMENTARY OF THE MONTH (October)- Billions In Change

The world is facing some huge problems. There’s a lot of talk about how to solve them. But talk doesn’t reduce pollution, or grow food, or heal the sick. That takes doing. This film is the story about various groups of people trying to make the world a better place through the elegantly simple inventions they have made to change the lives of billions of people, and the unconventional billionaire, Manoj Bhargava spearheading the project.

Manoj Bhargava is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, founder and CEO of 5-hour Energy. When 5 Hour Energy was introduced to the market in 2004, retail sales skyrocketed to over $1 billion by 2011, and now the company owns 90% of the energy shot market. The genius of his innovation included the 2 oz. packaging, stating that people who needed energy were also not necessarily thirsty enough for an 8 ounce drink. The smaller size packaging enabled retailers to strategically place the product near checkout counters and point-of-sale locations.

Bhargava’s foundations include Knowledge Medical Charitable Trust and Rural India Charitable Trust. The charities have funded medical research in the United States and over 400 charities in India. Two of the major initiatives are hospitals for the poor and education for disadvantaged women in rural areas.

The Hans Foundation is solely supported by the Rural India Charitable Trust, and in five years it has given $48.1 million U.S. In November 2014, Bhargava committed $80.2 million to develop villages in Uttarakhand, India. In September 2012, Bhargava joined “The Giving Pledge” and has pledged 90% of his wealth to charity, with an emphasis on a common sense approach to philanthropy. Rather than simply giving money to charity, Bhargava believes that personal involvement is necessary.

The Center for Public Integrity dubbed him the “political kingmaker nobody knows” after finding out that “he makes donations through several of his more than 70 limited liability companies”. Michigan politicians have said that Bhargava has never tried to influence a piece of legislation nor has he asked for anything in return for the donations.

Check out his documentary above and leave a comment. If you want to get involved with his organization you can join the movement at:

billionsinchange.com

facebook.com/billionsinchange

twitter.com/billionsnchange

23 Aug 2015
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Amazing! Zero-Waste Grocery Store for Eco-Conscious Consumers

This zero-waste grocery store has no packaging, plastic or big-name brands

Forget Whole Foods. The Germans have created a store with eco-conscious customers in mind. Well, at least in Berlin—the newest home of Original Unverpackt (Original Unpackaged). You won’t find any paper or plastic bags here—or any kind of bags for that matter. This new grocery store creates zero waste by allowing customers to purchase exactly how much they need, reducing waste in their homes.

Original Unverpackt doesn’t carry any products under popular brand names; instead, they carry mostly organic products. Original Unverpackt stocks their shelves using a bulk bin system with an assortment of fruits, vegetables and grains. Even shampoo and milk are dispensed from refillable containers according to Salon.

The Original Unverpackt is the first Zero Waste Grocery store in the World.

The idea came to be when founders Sara Wolf and Milena Glimbovski were determined to create “something impossible.” They used crowd funding to back the store and decided to challenge the traditional shopping experience. The store’s mission is to stop contributing to waste that’s caused by food packaging by selling groceries in a sustainable manner (16 million tonnes per year in Germany alone).

Three studies conducted in 2013 found that 12 million tonnes of food waste is accumulated annually amounting to a price tag of £19 billion a year. This figure isn’t only swelling landfills, but also contributes to 20 million tonnes of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions annually.

Sara Wolf and Milena Glimbovski are the creators of Original Unverpackt

The same study states that 75% of this waste could have been easily sidestepped with more efficient infrastructure.

In terms of pricing, some of the products offered at Original Unverpackt are more expensive, mainly because they’re organic. But other items are comparable, if not cheaper than standard supermarkets. The “fill-your-own-container” idea can save customers money by preventing them from overspending on food. Customers can bring their own containers, such as tubs and recycled bags—which are also sold at the store—and pay based on the weight of the products.

Although many believe that the sustainable supermarket model is unlikely to reach North America anytime soon, awareness and demand for low-waste alternatives will undoubtedly speed up the process.

BY:

Khadjia Khan for the Plaid Zebra

08 Jul 2015
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13 Eco-Conscious Fashion Brands You Need to Know

Some people might still picture eco-friendly fashion as being something for granola types. And true, eco-conscious duds might not have the most stylish history, but thanks to growing interest in sustainability and the rise of a “slow fashion” movement, more and more designers are proving to us that fashion and nature can coexist, putting out collection after collection of eye-catching getups. Intrigued? Here are some of the best and most accessible places to find clothing that is designed with both the environment and style in mind.

1. ASOS Green Room: Don’t worry, you won’t have to kiss this online retailer goodbye after embarking on your environmentally friendly wardrobe mission. Check out The Green Room for clothing made with eco-conscious materials and designers that support fair-trade principles.

2. Litke: Behind the minimalist design, eccentric tailoring and unique touches of Catherine Litke’s self-titled line are quality organic fabrics, handmade details and a business model that puts local manufacturing high on its priority list.

3. Amour Vert: We’re falling hard for this super chic and incredibly conscientious brand. Maybe it’s their “With Every Stitch a Purpose” motto, or maybe it’s the made-in-the-USA manufacturing process, non-toxic dyes, sustainable fibers, innovative fabrics and zero-waste design philosophy. Oh, and did we mention that they plant a tree for every Amour Vert t-shirt purchased? Any way you look at it, this brand has eco-style on lockdown.

4. Loomstate: While the use of organic cotton has gained Loomstate many a fan, it’s their holistic approach to the cotton’s production that really caught our attention. They work with farmers to develop sustainable farming practices that protect the health of both community members and the environment. (via Organic Fashion Blog)

5. Study NY: Sort of like the eco-conscious female version of Tim Gunn, Tara St James knows a thing or two about sustainable design and fab fashion. For her line Study, she explores a variety of different eco-conscious practices, including zero-waste, environmentally friendly fibers and local production, to create minimalist styles with contemporary flair.

6. Reformation: No list of green clothing brands is complete without mentioning Reformation. Using sustainable fabrics and vintage garments, the brand manufactures most of their super chic products in their environmentally friendly sewing factory. The company also uses 100% recycled packaging for every shipment they make.

7. Zero + Maria Cornejo: Using ecological and sustainable materials and techniques when possible (with everything from fabric made from recycled cassette tapes to llama wool), Maria Cornejo creates timeless, modern designs that have been worn by the likes of Michelle Obama and Tilda Swinton.

8. Nudie Jeans: Made with 100% organic cotton and backed by a business model with sustainability built right in, Nudie Jeans is setting the bar high for other eco-conscious brands. They offer free repairs using recycled denim and even give you 20% off when you do decide to buy a new pair.

9. Kowtow: This brand is all about changing the way the fashion industry operates. The bright, modern and minimalist designs are made using 100% organic and fair trade materials. Check out their “seed to garment” video to get a peek at their entire production cycle.

10. Riyka: British-made, recycled and organic materials translate into bold colors, geometric patterns and a fresh sports-chic style that you won’t want to pass up.

11. Svilu: From flirty feminine separates to contemporary borrowed-from-the-boys styles, Britt Cosgrove and Marina Polo’s designs feel timeless yet bold, and are prime examples of the fashionable possibilities that arise when you put environmental and social sustainability first.

12. Freedom of Animals: In the market for a new bag? Freedom of Animals uses high-quality manmade materials (post-consumer polyurethane, a safe alternative to PVC, and organic cotton), non-toxic vegetable dyes, strict EPA guidelines and a cruelty-free philosophy to create to-die-for bags that are sleek, sophisticated and totally on trend.

13. Feral Childe: Besides playful silhouettes, one-of-a-kind printed textiles and elegant tailoring, Feral Childe delivers sustainable design through the use of upcycled, natural and deadstock fabrics, low impact and less water-intensive dyes. They also practice a business model that aims to cut back on the waste often produced in the fashion industry.

Now that you’ve got the full scoop on designers to know, it’s time to get shopping. Not sure where to snag these covetable, eco-conscious threads? Sites like Helpsy, Kaight, Beklina, Shop Ethica, Not Just a Label and People Tree are ethical e-retailers who stock some of the most stylish sustainable fashion brands out there.

Do you have a favorite eco-friendly brand? Tell us about them in the comments!

About the author:

Libby MacCarthy is an urban planner turned writer with a love (bordering on unhealthy obsession) of all things fashion and beauty related. She lives for perfectly brewed coffee, farmer’s markets, dinner parties and perusing impeccably designed boutiques. When she’s not on the hunt for the latest trends, you’ll likely find her plotting her next adventure or nose deep in a book. Libby currently splits her time between the East Coast and her adopted home of France. Follow her daily adventures on Instagram. Find Libby MacCarthy at http://notesfromthebackrow.com/.