The Rishis Blog

Flow and the iPhone

I love the Apple iPhone because it is yet another example of flow, mainly the concept of knowing.

When the iPhone first came out it was outrageously priced for a cell phone, upwards of $600 or more. Plus, you had to sign a contract committing you to two years with AT&T service at $50/month or more.

But those in flow KNEW, based on historical precedent, that the cost of the iPhone would come down, and come down a lot. Lo and behold, a few months after introduction Apple lowers the price more than 30%. And those in flow also knew that if they bought an iPhone when it first came out that they would be paying a premium and that their phone will be seriously outdated in a year or so.

Next people began hacking into their iPhone software to enable to the phone to work with (cheaper) carriers, even though this clearly violated their agreement with both Apple and AT&T. Today Apple released a software update that made such hacked phones inoperable - surprise, surprise.

Again, those in flow knew to either not hack the phone or knew the huge financial risk they were taking by hacking.

Soon you will read reports of lawsuits and disgruntled customers who will claim Apple and AT&T "screwed them over". But the reality was pretty obvious from the beginning, and clearly obvious to those who understand their own flow.

Logic and flow

I have discussed this before but the topic came up again at a talk I gave this past Sunday.

In many ways, flow does not seem to be logical. You’re supposed to buy a house only when you have enough money, have a child only when you can afford it, never undertake anything without a guaranteed return, and so on. But reality is quite different. All those aforementioned ‘recommendations’ are really just based on flow blockages, mainly fear. I was raised this way, and it took me a long time to break free of fear’s control.

But flow is logical just like nature is logical. You may have heard the story of the bumblebee, a creature in nature that to this day scientists insist should not be able to fly given all known logic and understanding of physics. But it does, and it is successful (there’s that key word!) in everything it undertakes.

When you are in flow you tune out the “logic” of society, and end up finding your own success.

Organic, E85, and flow

Flow is always about knowledge, about the concept of knowing. And I use this in my everyday life.

Two examples that have come up recently are worth looking at in regards to flow.

As I’m sure you know, organic food are a hot button these days. Whole Foods became as successful as it is almost exclusively on their ability to offer a wide variety of organics. But did you know that foods labeled USDA Organic are NOT necessarily organic? Thanks to lobbyists and industry pressure, the legal definition in America for organic actually means the food can contain pesticides!

According to a Los Angeles Times article in June, many organic foods can contain nonorganic spices, colorings, pesticides, and other additives you wouldn’t associate with the term “organic”. Bottom line, you are paying more for a product with the same NONorganic ingredients as its conventional counterpart. And, of course, the companies reap larger profits since it costs them no more to produce.

Solution? Look for products that feature other certifications besides USDA Organic such as QAI (Quality Assurance International). These standards are higher and stick to a generally accepted definition of “organic”.

Like this organic controversy, E85 is another case of propaganda triumphing over reality. E85 is seen as one salvation from our dependence on foreign oil. E85 is a blend of 85% ethyl alcohol (derived from crops such as corn) and 15% gasoline. Sounds like a dream scenario, right? Our farmers can produce “endless” crops for fuel, our true gasoline production is reduced 85%, and people can drive their gas guzzling SUVs and other vehicles without feeling guilty.

The reality is quite different, on many levels. E85 costs more to produce that gasoline (including transportation) unless the crop fields are right next to a refinery (very rare). E85 is not good for vehicles — gas mileage is reduced by up to 25% and engines wear out significantly faster, so an SUV getting 15 mpg suddenly gets 11 or 12 mpg and needs an expensive engine rebuilt at 50,000 miles. And, surprisingly, E85 forces the price of food to skyrocket. In Mexico last year the price of tortillas went up more than 400% thanks to E85 demand. Other increases include the price of beef (cows graze on the same crops), desserts (corn syrup/high fructose corn syrup), sodas (same), etc.

Bottom line? You can eat organic labeled USDA Organic and you can support E85 fuel. But flow is always about KNOWING, not simply blindly following what others say. Don’t believe the media or politicians until you are satisfied you have the truth. After all, remember that such things as cigarette smoking and asbestos were considered to not only be safe, but preferable to use.

Another 9/11 anniversary

Today is September 11th, another anniversary of the attack on New York and other locations. This anniversary is classic case study in flow, mainly because of what it means and what it does not mean.

The media, of course, are going to approach this from two angles. First, we’re supposed to say a moment of peace and remember those who sacrificed their lives. But, more importantly for them, we’re supposed to be afraid of the world, knowing that at any second terrorists can destroy America as we know it. Why? If you are afraid and worried, you’ll watch more news to feed this paranoia, and that brings greater ratings for them. Is this healthy in any way?

Politicians will use this day to promote the “vote for me or the terrorists will win” standpoint, whether directly or indirectly. And many other organizations will use this day to push forward their causes, primarily those that involve war and/or making money off of war.

So what’s going on here? Should you be afraid? Should this day affect you in deep and sorrowful ways? Well, naturally, it is good to remember those who have died and have sympathy for their families. But there are many other tragedies in this world that are equally horrific, many of which have taken a greater number of lives.

The fact is 9/11 should just be taken for what it is: a tragedy, but one that is a single event. It should NOT control your life, make you afraid of the world, or make you want to seek revenge on some group or individuals.

If you do feel some deep connection with 9/11 that is seriously affecting your life, ask yourself what is really going on? What is your flow regarding this date? Unless you knew someone who died/was injured that date, chances are your FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) around this date is due to some other reason.

After 9/11 in 2001, purchase of comfort food skyrocketed, and sales of sleep aids have doubled and continue to rise. The reason? Unfounded fears and insecurities that were pushed to the surface from the event.

For example, a client of mine and her husband are afraid to fly due to “fears of terrorism”. But the reality is both of them are going through traumatic health issues (cancer, etc.), so their fears about their own mortality are being transferred to 9/11.

Flow is about success. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt do not exist in flow. Do not listen to the media, politicians, or anyone else who tells you that 9/11 is anything other than what it is.

David Weber & The Rishis

A question of timing

At a recent Rishi lecture a question of time came up. The person asked why it seems that time is going by faster than normal, why it seems like things are rushing. The Rishis responded that it seems like time is rushing because we are in a time of transition — most people don’t like what’s happening now, whether it’s the stock market crisis, housing crisis, terrorist worries, or something similar. What they are really sensing is this transition “feeling”, something that doesn’t feel normal and is uncomfortable. This is all natural, but there is a sense to rush time in order to get over this strange and unwelcome feeling.

So if you feel like life is literally rushing you by, just remember that for the next few months it may feel like that, and it’s totally normal. What’s more, The Rishis said the fact that you are even feeling it is a good thing as it means you are at a higher vibration level (and therefore more into your flow) than others.

Change is good. In this case, it’s amazing!