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*PlanetPuna* I - How to live 'En Pod'
©
2002 Sirius Institute, Return to *PlanetPuna*
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How to Live 'En Pod' - Paradise Newland -
If humans lived on land like Cetacea, the dolphins and whales do in the water, how might that look? To live 'en pod' means that you know you are part of something good and bigger than yourself that is there for you always. Being part of a pod means you are valued and accepted for being you and bringing your own special self to the pod, making it richer and more interesting. Pod people are kind and caring to each other because they know they are connected to everyone else and what goes around comes back. Pod people like to have fun together, playing, creating, sharing food and enjoying life. They spend time with each other in many different locations including their neighborhoods, homes, exploring the world and meeting up with other pods. Sometimes a whole bunch of pods come together for a big gathering like Earth Day or a concert or birthday party and they reconnect, share information, and have fun while forming a 'superpod'. Pod children are raised or spend time in 'pod' homes, centered around the wellbeing of the children, just like the dolphins. The people who live here are called a podlet. There are moms, dads, aunties and uncles, grandma's and granddads, sisters, brothers and good friends too. Even if your own mom or dad is away somewhere.there can be a mom or dad person there for you. Pod homes are islands of stability where people gather to help each other, care for the children, give hugs and other kinds of 'yummy touch'. like touching hands, feet, shoulders, ears, giving back rubs. This is the kind of touch that everyone can enjoy and helps us stay well. A pod home also has toys, music and art materials, maybe land to grow food, computers to make websites and learn about the world and neat stuff for the child in all of us to use, play and create with to make new things. There is enough food, hot water, extra clothes to share so everyone has the feeling of enough for now. Members of pods each have their 'Books of Wisdom' of the special things they know that they bring to the group. They get to share this in many ways - like talking story, demonstrating, teaching classes, writing about or filming what they do. Who and what are some Books of Wisdom in your lives? Who do you know who could teach you how to be a rocket scientist, farmer, clothes designer, teacher, healer, musician, firedancer, housebuilder, solar energy technician, dolphin researcher and more? When we are part of podlife, life is lots of fun and we feel closer and at ease with many more people.
Whales, Dolphins and Humans - Michael Hyson, Ph.D. - Whales and dolphins are a group of sea-going mammals, including the largest animal, the Blue whale, up to 100 feet long and 100 tons. Some whales live over 200 years - the longest lifespan. They are warm blooded, give birth to babies (tail first) and suckle them with milk. They have long childhoods with their moms and aunties, play much of the time and swim together in groups called pods. "Baleen" whales like the Blue, Humpbacks, or Grey whale, feed on shrimp called "krill" & small fish using strainers in their mouths. Others with teeth, like dolphins, Orcas and Sperm whales, eat fish and squid. As a group they are called the Cetacea, (SEE TAY SEE A) from the Latin word "Cetus", meaning "whale" Their senses are superb. They hear sounds five times higher in pitch than we do and send out sounds so they can find their way by listening for echos. This is called SONAR (Sound Orientation Navigation and Ranging) the same way navies find submarines and fishing boats find fish. The Cetacea breath air and surface every few minutes to breathe. They are awake all the time - and rest only one side of their brain at a time. They share a special quality with humans called "Self Awareness" - this means they are conscious, like you and I. Whales had big brains for 20 million years before humans existed. The 60 ft. Sperm whale's brain is 6 times larger than ours. They eat giant squid they caught 10,000 ft. down. Are Sperm whales more intelligent than we are? Most likely. Dolphins can make 4 complex sounds at the same time (clicks, moans, whistles). Their own language can have up to a trillion "words". Dr. John C. Lilly's dolphins imitated English phrases quite well. Other dolphins communicate with sign language or computers. Some Cetacea sounds are music, like the songs of the Humpback whales. One of our projects is the Interspecies Concert, where the Cetacea can play musical synthesizers and communicate musically. Come hear our demonstrations. Dolphins have always helped us, even fished with us. Recently, the boy Elian Gonzales was attended by dolphins while lost at sea. Dolphins can even heal us and have helped many children. It is time for the People of the Land, and the People of the Sea to be friends and partners. When a place exists where the dolphins and humans, can live together and learn from each other as equals, our progress will be rapid. Happy Earth Day! ALOHA and MAHALO (thank you) as they say in Hawai'i. Michael Hyson, Ph.D. To learn more:
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