Living off the grid

Living off the grid

By Druid

Living off the grid is becoming more and more popular nowadays as people try to move away from relying on big utility companies such as Eskom and Telkom. It is not as much of a trend in South Africa as it is in countries such as America and Canada, but it is definitely a growing movement. For instance, there is a housing development on the West Coast that is totally Green and has no reliance on outside utilities at all. They store all their own rain water in tanks on the estate and power is supplied via either solar panels or low consumption diesel generators. This is all well and good if you are a millionaire and are ready for retirement but for the average person it is not practical.

If you want to start moving off the grid there are a couple of not too expensive things that you can do to cut down on consumption:
 Get a geyser blanket for your geyser
 Get a small to medium water tank that can trap rain water from your gutters and later be used for watering your garden.
 Use gray water i.e.: run a hose from your bath/shower to your garden. Most soaps and shampoos nowadays are bio-degradable but if they aren’t go to somewhere like the Body Shop to get biodegradable soaps.
 Put half a brick in the cistern of your toilet. This cuts down on water usage every time you flush.
 Use cfl light bulbs wherever possible and not incandescent.
 Turn off all unnecessary items like TVs, computers, DVDs etc and don’t leave them on stand by.
 For those of you with a bit more money get a solar geyser; they cost between R10000 and R25000 depending on capacity but it should pay for itself within three years.
 Get your windows tinted and have insulation put in your ceiling instead of using an air conditioner or fan.

Most of these suggestions will help you save electricity, water and, in the long run, money. It is not necessarily off the grid living but it is a start and the more of us that make an effort the better the planet will be in the long run. Just remember that every little bit counts and whatever you can do will help.

Chemistry Of Herbs

Herbs are holistic agents as they work on many levels of the human being; and even on the physical level-on the level of biochemistry-their actions are complex and synergistic. Despite the complexity, pharmacologists have undertaken a lot of research to find out what the constituents are, and have classified these constituents according to their chemical groups. Even though this analytical approach to herbs is inherently limiting, it has produced a great deal of valuable information about some of the biochemical processes taking place. A knowledge of herb pharmacology is not essential to a herbalist, but is a great help in understanding the herb.

Hermod

Messenger god. Nordic (Icelandic). One of the sons of the Viking god OTHIN, he was sent to Hel on a mission to obtain the release of the god BALDER, who had been slain by the blind god Hod. The mission failed because only one creature in the world, a hag (probably LOKI in disguise), failed to weep at Balder’s loss and Hermod returned empty-handed. It may be argued that Hermod is less a deity than a demigod hero modeled on the Danish king of the Beowulf Saga. Also Heremod; Hermoth.

Anna Kuari

Local vegetation goddess. Indian. Worshiped by the Oraon tribe of Chota Nagpur. The recipient of human sacrifice in the spring months, she was believed to endow riches on the sacrificer and to ensure plentiful harvest while living in his house in the form of a child.

 

Britannia

Tutelary goddess. Romano-Celtic (British). The genia loci of Britain who first appears on the coinage of Antoninus Pius in the second century AD. She became the symbol of the British Empire after being partly syncretized with the Roman war goddess MINERVA.

Balarama (strength of Rama)

Incarnation of the god VISˇNU. Hindu (Epic and Puranic). May have originated in Vedic times as an agricultural fertility deity. He is the son of VASUDEVA and DEVAKI, though born from the womb of ROHINI. Jointly with KRSNA (his brother), he is identified as the eighth avatara (incarnation) of Visˇnu, or, with RAMA, as the seventh. Legend describes how Visˇnu impregnated the belly of the goddess Devaki with two hairs, one black, one white. To ensure their safety against a demon king, they were transferred before birth to Rohini. Krsna grew to be dark-skinned, and Balarama light. The latter enjoys similar characteristics to Krsna but fails to attract the same popularity. He is usually depicted on the right side of Krsna, rarely standing alone. The consort of Balarama is REVATI and his sons are Nisatha and Ulmuka. Epithets included Ananda (joy). In Jainism he is known as Baladeva.

Apollon ah PAHL lon

The immortal son of Zeus and Leto

The name usually appears in the Greek texts as Apollon, or Phoibos Apollon, Phoibos meaning ‘shining’ or ‘bright’. Leto traveled far and wide to find the suitable birthplace for Apollon. She finally came to the rocky island of Delos and knew that this would be the birthplace of her glorious son. The goddess, Delos, made Leto swear a great oath on the river Styx that her new son, Phoibos, would not abandon his birthplace and that he would always keep his temple on the humble island. Leto agreed, Apollon was soon to be born on Delos.

Indrik the Beast

by Cyril Korolev

 
In Russian folklore Indrik the beast is a miraculous beast, the lord of animals. He lives on “the saint mountain” and treads there where no other foot may tread. When he stirs, the Earth tremble. This beast has two horns, he rules the water with snakes and crocodiles. According to a legend, Indrik has rescued people from a drought.

Radionics Experiments

The experiments that follow involve a radionics device. A radionics device establishes structural links.

Practice #24: Make a photo of floor of the room. Make a target cross onto the photo. Put the photo into the radionics device, set the dials of the radionics device and point your wand at the device. Have your partner feel the location on the floor to which the cross on the photo corresponds.

Buddha

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.