The Gnarled Tree

A gnarled, twisted tree stood in the forest, ignored by carpenters because its wood was useless. Seasons passed, and storms bent its branches, yet it survived while other trees were cut down or died in fire. Travelers found shade beneath its branches and birds nested safely in its arms. The tree, seemingly worthless by worldly standards, had served countless beings over decades simply by being what it was. Similarly, what appears useless or insignificant in the world may possess great spiritual value. True worth is not measured by social utility but by the life it sustains and the wisdom it embodies. Lao Tzu (6th century BCE) Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism    AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DAILY REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

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In Judaism, being the “chosen people” does not mean privilege so much as obligation. The idea comes from the covenant between God and Israel described in the Torah. The responsibilities mainly involve living according to God’s laws and serving as an example of ethical and spiritual life.

1. Observing the commandments

The central responsibility is to follow the 613 commandments (mitzvot) found in the Torah, traditionally associated with the covenant given through Moses at Mount Sinai.

These include:

• Religious practices (Sabbath, dietary laws, prayer)
• Moral laws (justice, honesty, charity)
• Ritual observances

2. Ethical conduct

The Jewish people are expected to live by strong ethical principles such as:

• Justice
• Compassion
• Care for the poor and vulnerable

This reflects teachings from prophets like Isaiah and Amos, who emphasized social justice.

3. Being a “light to the nations”

A phrase from the book of Isaiah describes Israel as “a light unto the nations.”
This means demonstrating a model of ethical monotheism and moral living that can inspire the wider world.

4. Preserving the covenant

The covenant originally begins with Abraham and continues with the people of Israel. Maintaining Jewish identity, tradition, and faithfulness to that covenant is part of the responsibility.

In short

In Jewish thought, “chosen” mainly means chosen for duty, not superiority. Many rabbis even say it means having more obligations rather than more privilege.

If you’re interested, I can also explain a common misunderstanding about “chosen people” that often causes controversy—it has a lot to do with how the Hebrew wording differs from the English phrase.

New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove Mar 8, 2026 David B. Oppenheimer is Clinical Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the Director of the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law. He is author of The Ubiquity of Positive Measures for Addressing Systemic Discrimination and Inequality: A Comparative Global Perspective. He is coauthor of the book, Whitewashing Race: The Myth of a Color-Blind Society. His newest book is The Diversity Principle: The Story of a Transformative Idea. Here he describes the principle that diverse groups of people are more effective at creative problem solving than homogenous groups. This idea has been recognized since the founding of the University of Berlin in 1810 by Wilhelm Von Humboldt. Over the last thirty years it has been confirmed in over a thousand scientific studies. He contests the claim that diversity represents discrimination against the majority group of, typically, white males. 00:00 Introduction: science and the war against diversity 03:05 From skepticism to evidence in diversity research 06:18 Diversity as many sides not two sides 07:13 Supreme court rulings and political backlash 13:42 Historical roots of diversity in universities 15:18 Why homogeneous groups underperform 16:33 SAT testing and structural bias 20:31 Diversity science and measurable results 29:43 Power fear economics and modern resistance 52:09 Conclusion New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. He is Co-Director of Parapsychology Education at the California Institute for Human Science. (Recorded on Sunday February 22, 2026)

Eckhart Tolle Mar 4, 2026✨ Become a Channel member and get added perks: bit.ly/JoinETYT Eckhart Tolle explains why setbacks, challenges, and even periods of regression are essential parts of the evolution of human consciousness. The very obstacles that seem to block you may actually be strengthening your awakening. ???? Find New Meaning And Purpose After Personal Crisis ???? Are you currently navigating a period of intense difficulty, unsure of what to do or which way to turn? Through six hours of carefully curated teachings and practices with Eckhart, you’ll discover the unique potential for spiritual growth that presents itself during the dark night. Learn more: https://bit.ly/awakening-through-the-…

Amrit Sandhu ???????? Mar 8, 2026 Inspired Evolution Podcast ????????Welcome to Our Ram Das Series: The esteemed luminary Robert Thurman reveals the profound intersection of ancient Tibetan wisdom and our modern global crisis—and why understanding death as a “doorway” rather than an end is the key to navigating the current shift with wisdom and fearlessness. Robert explores the “Inner Science” of the soul, challenging the materialist dogma of “nothingness” and explaining why our ethical actions—our Karma—are the ultimate evolutionary mandate. He breaks down how to navigate the “Bardos” of life and death, reclaim our accountability in a chaotic world, and tap into the “bliss background” that is the true fabric of our reality. He reminds us that this human life is a priceless treasure, and how we use it now determines our trajectory through infinity. If this conversation resonates, you don’t have to navigate these karmic shifts alone. The process of understanding your soul’s evolution and moving into a state of enlightened purpose affects EACH PERSON DIFFERENTLY. ???? BOOK YOUR PERSONAL ASTROLOGY READING Explore how this paradigm shift and your unique “karmic mandate” is showing up in your chart with Amrit — and how to work with these energy shifts consciously and practically RIGHT NOW.

Michael Jochum 

I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016, and then again in 2024, given how emotionally toxic and depraved he is.

I don’t wonder anymore. I think he won for that exact reason. Because he carried at least one broken shard to reflect the broken shards in millions of others.

If you’re a racist, you found your guy. If you’re a misogynist, you found your guy. If money is your only religion, you found your guy. If your heart is armored shut, you found your guy. If you mock the disabled, you found your guy. If intelligence makes you insecure, you found your guy. If you’re a sexual predator, you found your guy. If you trade in humiliation and conspiracy and filth, you found your guy. If you’ve never done a single hour of emotional inventory, you found your guy. If you cheat, stiff contractors, bankrupt your obligations, and call it savvy, you found your guy. If you lie as easily as you breathe, you found your guy. If cruelty feels like strength, you found your guy. If white grievance is your comfort food, you found your guy. If your ego is a black hole no title can fill, you found your guy. If warmongering fuels your ego, you found your guy, If empathy feels like weakness and dominance feels like oxygen, you found your guy.

If he’d only carried one or two of these pathologies, he might have been dismissed as just another loud, damaged man. But he carried a buffet of them. That was the appeal. Millions could locate themselves somewhere in the wreckage. They didn’t have to agree with all of it. They just had to recognize a piece of themselves in it.

It was never really about him. It was about the validation. The absolution. The permission. He didn’t invent the resentment; he amplified it. He didn’t create the cruelty; he normalized it. He gave millions the intoxicating relief of hearing their ugliest impulses echoed back at rally volume.

Trump is a symptom. The deeper illness is collective. If there’s one sentence that defines his power, it’s this: “He says the things I’m thinking.”

And that’s the part that should chill us.

Because what does it say about us that so many were thinking those things? That tens of millions of Americans harbored resentments so deep, so seething, that they were simply waiting for a demagogue to baptize them as virtue? That after decades of supposed progress on race, gender, and equality, so many white men felt so threatened, so displaced, so furious, that cruelty became a political platform?

Maybe we were living in a fool’s paradise, mistaking silence for healing, politeness for progress.

Now the mask is off. Now we know.

And knowing is a far more dangerous place to stand.

– Michael Jochum, Not Just a Drummer: Reflections on Art, Politics, Dogs, and the Human Condition.

(Contributed by Gabriel Haaland)

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James TunneyJames Tunney

Trotsky vs Jesus: Battle of the AI-Millennium 

by James Tunney (Author)

See all formats and editions

Leon Trotsky is one of the most significant figures in the last century. He was one of the most influential, active and theoretical forces in Marxism and world socialist revolution. Exiled by his arch-enemy Stalin, and hated by people like Churchill, Trotsky was arguably the greatest promoter of revolutionary activity we have known.

He was no mere theorist, having commanded the Red Army and led the Revolution in 1917. Being exiled to the West, he could be distinguished and distanced from the later Soviet Union. His unique context spawned a special type of activity which adapted and mutated so its influence was clandestine. While informed thinkers say Trotskyism is finished, it is argued here that the Leviathan it represents may be winning in the world.

In particular Trotsky was more motivated by his atheism than is acknowledged. He was a significant adversary to Christ in his anti-Christian stance. It may even be that figures like him were suggested in what the Virgin Mary said at Fatima about Russia spreading her errors around the world. The AI-Millennium is the culmination or climax of the transhumanism and posthumanism challenge to humanity itself. Trotsky is an emblem of the effort to gain technocratic global governance and Christ represents the constant force of protection against the mono-revolution His adversaries have made.

This book explores the reality of Christ in the face of this assault.

(Amazon.com)

(Image from lithub.com)

Alice Babette Toklas was an American-born member of the Parisian avant-garde of the early 20th century, and the life partner of American writer Gertrude Stein. Wikipedia

Born April 30, 1877, San Francisco, CA

Died March 7, 1967 (age 89 years), Paris, France

New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove Streamed live 2 hours ago NTA CoHost Emmy Vadnais lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, within a few short miles of the locations where American citizens have been shot to death by government ICE agents. She is able to provide a firsthand perspective on how the lives of average Twin Cities residents have been affected by the recent “Operation Metro Surge.” NTA Guest Host Christopher Naughton, an attorney and author of America’s Next Great Awakening, will provide context regarding the legal and spiritual implications of the challenges currently facing those of us in the USA.

The Astrology Podcast Mar 7, 2026 In this episode I provide an astrological analysis of the war that began between the US, Israel, and Iran on February 28, 2026, and discuss how these current alignments may be signaling the beginning of a much larger conflict. I look at the striking historical recurrences that culminated in this week’s events, including the recent Saturn-Neptune conjunction, which perfectly echoes the 1953 US-backed coup and the 1989 death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and the exact Mars-Uranus square that triggered the initial strikes. I also explore the extraordinary fact that all three of three major leaders involved were all born on the exact day of an eclipse. From there, I trace the precise six-month escalation of this conflict through the eclipse seasons dating back to October 2023, demonstrating how eclipses have mirrored the buildup to this war almost every step of the way. Finally, we look ahead to the looming ingress of Uranus into Gemini in late April, a transit historically correlated with the United States entering its most defining wars (the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and WWII), and discuss why the pieces are now in place for this to escalate into a larger global conflict. Timestamps00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:48 Long-Term Historical Recurrences 00:06:41 The Eclipse Factor: The Leaders 00:10:48 The 6-Month Eclipse Escalation Timeline 00:23:02 Eclipses & The Fall of Leaders 00:27:05 Looking Ahead 00:36:34 Conclusion 00:40:20 Credits