Destiny?

Interesting that the DOW is getting ready to touch 7000.  Citi bank will have to be nationalized. The government doesn't want to call it that, but if it is going to buy 40% of the shares, then what would you call it?  Words are especially powerful now, and if the government shows any sign of changing direction with the banking sector, it will be the leader in pulling the DOW down to levels we haven't experienced in this lifetime.

I saw an interesting statistic.  100 years ago, 90% of the workers were self-employed.  Today, 90% work for a company or organization.  Imagine the ramifications of this kind of change, and 100 years is really a short period of time.

I have been traveling since February 12, visiting my children and their families.  I'm currently in Portland.  In experiencing this city almost yearly, this is the first time I have been here with no rain except this morning.  The norm is rain daily.  

If you are curious about the title, I selected it to emphasize my belief that what we are experiencing with the world is cyclical in nature, as we are individually, and also part of the great pattern set in place, beyond our limited thinking, to help all of us evolve.

Knowing Yourself Well

More 'mini-Madoffs' surfacing with losses ranging from $25M-$100s of millions.  Other than the India Company, I mentioned in a previous post, the latest stock fraud outside this country that I have seen is Spain authorities arresting 6 people for a $600M loss.

I learned a new word this week called anosognosia.  It has to do with denying reality by seeing through distorted perception.  As I have reiterated, use this time of contraction in the world to scour yourself and see if there is denial anywhere in you.  We all experience this at different times in our lives. Enlightenment of understanding removes that energy.  

In watching the market these last few days, it is moving up and down on an emotional basis, which means investing is full of uncertainty and sudden moves in either direction.  Be prudent and know there is substantial risk.  What has gone up fast, an example being Iceland's financial system (they amassed major debt during years of rapid expansion), can collapse suddenly, taking the government with it.  

There is controversy over whether former President Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld should be held accountable for torture.  My vote is yes because our forefathers set us up as a 'Republic' and the law rules, not majority opinion.  It is very important that we keep acting in this manner to keep our government structure strong.

Look Behind the Scenes

The market plunges almost 8% today and the consensus is that the recession has 'officially' been announced and it started a year ago.  I don't agree with this since we all new that we have been in a recession long before it became official and the market has reflected this psychological impact.  I think something else is winding its way through the system that even the experts are unaware of. 

Look at Russia and Putin trying to convince the residents not to withdraw their money and send it to other countries for safety.  As a result of this action, the leaders are forced to spend less on military.  As I have said before, Russia will be reined in from spending aggressively on the military because the economic concerns will always take precedence.

The leaders of China are saying that they aren't keeping up technologically.  What are they really telling us?

What is the truth ?  I think the example given here plus other countries and what they are saying and doing lead a direct path to us to see why this market  fluctuates in the extreme.  It goes beyond the Bear having its way.  When I see it, I'll post it here.  If you see it, please let me know.

Credit Tsunami

Mr. Greenspan said he is in 'shock' at the failure of the credit markets and that he sees this as once-in-a-lifetime tsunami.  The free market scenario did not work according to what he believed to be the path.  Look at the reverberations of the world markets as ours whip up and down by the hour, hundreds of points at a time, with no consistent pattern.  We are definitely being shown how small this world is and how intricately connected we are.  I feel we are in a world nuclear storm and no one knows the way nor what the outcome will be.

Unfortunately, there is so much emotionalism and high panic levels that more sellers are in force than buyers.  I agree it is difficult to refrain from following the 'herd,' but if you can look out beyond the immediate to a year or two from now, there will be more visibility and I believe a turnaround.  

As you know I was opposed and still am to the $700B bailout plan.  I'm seeing daily how the federal reserve is socializing company losses, like the recent Bear Stearns loss, and guaranteeing debt holders of Fannie and Freddie.  This is going to expand to a level far beyond what has been currently funded.   

My primary sector of interest is the solar/alternative energy.  That groups has been hit harder than the financial sector, dropping as a group more than 30%.  Solid stocks like ENER, ESLR, FSLR, LDK, STP, SOL, SOLF, SPWRA, TSL, and WFR have touched below their 52 week lows.  What is happening is irrational and nonsensical given that I believe this group to be the next prime investment opportunity as the world seeks to find alternatives to oil.   

Use your current financial status to review your world and what is important.  Prioritize those things and act accordingly.  Know that whatever crosses your path is there for a reason.   Seek to understand the purpose of the experience and use it for your spiritual growth.  All lessons in the material are reflections to help us see inside ourselves more clearly and make changes that better our lives.