The Gift of Awareness this Christmas

“In today's world of materialism and consumerism we often forget the energy behind the products that we buy in the places where we shop. Advertising, social pressures and the sense of separation that industrial mass-production creates encourages people to forget that the most important part of the gift or an object is its feeling and sense of beauty. Cheapness and the negative energy that is associated with the pain and suffering that is part of the sweat shops and unethical mass-producing factories cycle often create the sense of materialism where true value is distorted.

I have spoken about the financial crisis prior to it eventuating as it has in the last few months due to the unsustainability of the monetary system. Now we face another interesting challenge whereby I believe countries such as China that epitomise this mass-industrial culture will start to create products that will carry with them serious health and well-being threats.

We have seen the beginnings of this Chinese problem with its lead-based paints in toys, food such as chocolates and milks manufactured there carrying cancer-causing heavy metals and various Chinese herbal remedies that have unacceptable levels of pesticides. This is only the beginning. I feel in the next year or two that a lot of items that we don't even realise are made in China will not only carry the negative energy that is part of this hideous production system but rather will actually be a genuine threat to our health and well-being.

Now that Christmas shopping pressures are mounting be aware when you buy something for yourself or a loved one to take into consideration how it was produced and where it was made.

I encourage you to purchase products from ethical companies that have a genuine interest in its workers and the people buying the products and in creating a new paradigm whereby what is being created is not a cheap throw-away product but rather something that can be deeply appreciated and carry with it the beauty of giving.”

Tony Samara – November 2008