Book Review: The Charisma Code by Robin Sol Lieberman

I met Robin Sol Lieberman ten years ago when I discovered the Family of Fire, but her reputation had preceded her. I was not disappointed: even here in this magickal world in the desert with drums and dancing and joyous song created by this tribe of amazing people, Robin is a standout figure, passionate and liberated yet present and caring. Her smile is bright and infectious. Indeed, no word describes Robin better than Charismatic.

As impressed as I am by her ability to distill the essence of that elusive charisma and present it in a clear and engaging manner, I had no idea The Charisma Code was the secret puzzle piece I was seeking. Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth left me inspired to be more mindful, and Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People helped me communicate better, but Robin demonstrates a powerfully synergistic approach to interacting with the world on all levels, finding the path of least resistance to effect the greatest change. Robin is friendly and playful as she coaxes the reader to trust in their inherent uniqueness as their Purpose, to give freely of themselves, and forge deeper connections. It left me feeling confident, inspired, and aware.

The Carisma Code is a book I would highly recommend and even give as a gift to many people. It's packed with life-improving advice with the appeal of Oprah Winfrey, and is not intimidating to the light reader. It sparks discussion and connection, making it perfect for book clubs, and the instant practicality of the wisdom is immediately fulfilling. I don't know anyone who wouldn't benefit from some aspect of this multifaceted gem.

The White House's Response, and My Refute

On July 21, I sent a letter to the White House. This is the second open letter I've written to President Obama on the subject of cannabis legalization. I sent the first in December of last year, and have not yet received a response. This is highly unusual, and I do feel it has received attention. It can be found here.

The second letter has been by far the most popular blog post I've ever written. It can be found here.

On August 5th I received a response from the White House staff, about 2 weeks after I sent my letter, as is the normal response time. Here is their response:

Thank you for writing.  The Obama Administration is committed to developing policies based on science and research, and the Federal Government has been funding and reviewing studies to better understand marijuana’s effects on individuals, public health, and safety. 

This Administration opposes marijuana legalization, and our policy approach focuses on improving public health and safety through prevention, treatment, support for recovery, and innovative criminal justice strategies to break the cycle of drug use and crime.  A considerable body of evidence shows that marijuana use, especially chronic use that begins at a young age, is associated with serious health and social problems.  

Studies also reveal that marijuana potency has tripled since 1990, raising serious public health concerns.

At the same time, we share public concerns about ensuring limited Federal enforcement resources are dedicated to pursuing our highest enforcement priorities, such as preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors, preventing the sale of marijuana by criminal enterprises and gangs, preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana, and preventing drugged driving and other adverse public health consequences.  We will also closely monitor implementation of marijuana legalization in individual States and prevent the diversion of marijuana to States that have not legalized its use, sale, or distribution.  Outside of its highest enforcement priorities, the Federal Government has traditionally relied on State and local agencies to address marijuana activity through enforcement of their own narcotics laws.

Like many people, we are also interested in the potential marijuana components may have in providing relief to individuals diagnosed with certain serious illnesses.  That is why we support ongoing research into evaluating what components of the marijuana plant may be used as medicine.  To date, though, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition.

Thank you for making your voice heard.  You can learn more about the President’s approach to drug control atwww.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP.

Sincerely,

The White House

***Here's my response to them:


Dear White House mail room staff,

Thank you for the timely response to my letter. It is good to hear that the Administration committed to basing policy on science, but it's disappointing to hear such outdated and inaccurate information used to back up its positions. 

I have written a line-by line refute of your response on my blog, with links to the data, study, or review whenever possible.

Thank you for proving my point: the Administration needs to update it's information and stance on cannabis prohibition. I await your response.

***Here is my refute:

First they claim that a "considerable body of evidence shows that marijuana use, especially chronic use that begins at a young age, is associated with serious health and social problems."

On the subject of chronic use on health, this study tells us it's about as bad as not flossing, but no other health issues were noted. Cannabis is not a cause of mental disorders and has even been shown to improve symptoms in bipolar patients without additional cognitive impairment. Use of cannabis is associated with better outcomes in brain injury patients and lower mortality rates in heart attack victims. It has been shown to slow the spread of cancer and synthetic THC appears to kill leukemia. I have yet to see a recent study that reveals any of the "serious health problems" the Administration referenced, and unlike virtually all other drugs, cannabis overdose is not fatal. Regardless of it's potential benefits, something being unhealthy, addictive, or intoxicating is not grounds for its prohibition, as demonstrated by alcohol and tobacco.

I'd like to point out that legalization has been associated with a decline in teen use, as reported by the CDC, and supported by this study and this study. And this study looked at teenaged twins and found no direct connection between marijuana use and IQ decline. Here's another with similar results. It needs to be noted that alcohol is the gateway drug, not cannabis, as so long has been claimed. Thus we see that harsh prohibition laws do not actually protect teens.

They mention "social issues". This study says work absences decline when cannabis is legalized. It diminishes aggressivenes. The legalization of cannabis is also associated with explosive economic growth, creating jobs in a new billion-dollar industry in Colorado, and amazing tax revenue. Medicare spends less when cannabis is available, too. Ultimately, there is no instance when a black market is preferable to a regulated one. Regulation solves the problems of "preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors, preventing the sale of marijuana by criminal enterprises and gangs, preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation" that the Administration said they are worried about. They want to "stop the cycle of crime?" They need to stop criminalizing it. 

 The myth that cannabis potency has tripled is based on incomplete information, which is backed up by statements from a July 2004 report from the EMCDDA. Also, the THC content of a plant varies dramatically based on quality of care. There has traditionally been little transparency into government approved growing, until Sen. Elizabeth Warren got involved. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also exposed that the NIDA monopoly on research cannabis production is unwarranted. Controlling the only available research material severely limits sample diversity, and any good scientist knows that skews results. In 2011 I wrote to Harry Reid about labs that reported receiving very low quality test samples from the NIDA, containing a shredded mix of the entire plant rather than cured flowers, and will look again for those references. 

The Administration expressed concern about drugged driving, but as we know from alcohol and allergy medicine, inebriative qualities are not grounds for prohibition of a substance. Additionally, the U.S. National Roadside Survey found that cannabis was not linked to higher crash risks, compared to how even legal levels of alcohol significantly increase danger. Supporting the findings of the USNRS, this review found that risk associated with cannabis was previously overstated.

In conclusion, the stale arguments in favor of prohibition are quickly dismantled when looking at the studies and data published in the last 6 months. There is no legitimate reason for cannabis to be illegal, prohibition does not protect the people from anything, black markets fuel crime and teen use, old government statistics are inaccurate, and the risks and effects don't seem nearly as negative as once claimed.

It's time for the Administration to update their information. Prohibition has failed, and legalization is a wild success in Colorado, etc. Fix the injustice, accept the $28 Billion tax the people actually want to pay, and let's deal with this as a health issue instead of a criminal one.

I can't believe I wrote a Patriotic Rap... :p

Lately I've been inspired to write rap lyrics, which is a surprise to me as much as you. Please forgive me if it sucks, but I really feel this message, and I think our culture needs some good mojo right now.

Born in America
Land of Opportunity
Grew up fairly comfortable
Was taught that we were free
But things came crashing down
All around, all so suddenly
September eleventh
Our day of tragedy
So we overreacted
Passed the Patriot Act
And we lost a bunch of freedoms
And protections like that
Economic recession
Shattering our dreams
Costing us our homes
And our dignities
And all the while
Wall Street laughs
Toasting their glasses
Above the gathered mass
They think that we are weak
Indentured servantry
But the People hold the power
In this country

Chorus:
If we want to win
We have to stand together
If you want peace
You've got to love your neighbor
'Cause America's strength
Is diversity
Every stripe is needed
In the Land of the Free

We're an exceptional country
The U-S-of-A
But that really isn't meant
In a superior way
Immigrants traveled
Across the seas
To make a patchwork of cultures
And ethnicities
It's an experimental
Melting pot
I know that it's not perfect
But we give what we've got
And of all the places
 I could be
I'm grateful I was born
In a democracy
Life has never been easy
It's never been fair
But we can make it better
When we show that we care
For although we are
As different as could be
What unites us all
Is our Humanity

Chorus

The world's a scary place
But that's nothing new
Don't believe in all those fears
It makes them stronger than you
So take a tip from Yoda
When you're feeling angry
'Cause if it turns to hate
Well, we know where that leads
Walling off the world
Isn't the answer
Suffering spreads
Just like a cancer
We gotta be the change
That we wish to see
Sure it's cliche
But I'm speaking truthfully
Rise above with your love
We're all in this together
The pointing of fingers
Causes ties to be severed
One thing we must remember
If we want to stay free
We have to let our Brothers
Be themselves, naturally

Chorus

Letter on DEA to President Obama

Dear Mr. President Obama,

As you are aware, the American people are waiting to hear the DEA's decision on the scheduling of cannabis (marijuana), which was supposed to be released in June. Honestly, I don't trust the DEA to rule in the country's best interest. I'm not a legal scholar, but I know that laws regarding this plant are deliberately complex.

As I understand it, plants are not legally considered medicine, even when the plant has traditionally been used medicinally and components are isolated for modern medicine, as in the case of white willow (asprin) and foxglove (digitalis is used in heart medicine). Since these plants are not considered to have medicinal value, this sets the precedent that cannabis will not be given that status. But neither do we have foxglove eradication program making sure only those with prescriptions get their digitalis (after all, the plant can be poisonous in wrong dosage).  People take herbs at their own risk.

There was even a time when doctors were forbidden from admitting that herbs had any effect medically, because legally they have no medicinal value. I know a nurse practitioner who recently reversed his stance on natural remedies, once he saw the effect of peppermint oil firsthand. The asthmatic discovered he didn't need his inhaler when the oil was applied to his chest, and this flew in the face of everything he learned in medical school.

It's really difficult to trust the FDA and the DEA to not be in the pocket of Big Pharma. From here, it seems policy is more firmly shaped by pharmaceutical profits than good public policy. We see Big Pharma's fingerprints all over the opioid epidemic, and the law makes it so hard to study cannabis that it's suspicious. If cannabis sativa (sativa means "useful" in Latin) is really so dangerous as the propaganda has been telling us for so many decades, then science would confirm this. The reality is, we've been lied to, and science is proving that.

Why put so much legislation in place to keep us in the dark? Who benefits so much from prohibition? Not the American people- it creates black markets, overpopulated prisons, waste of tax revenue, and a divide with law enforcement. Adults are trusted to be responsible with alcohol, which has many known negative attributes. We've seen positive effects everywhere cannabis has been legalized, so it doesn't seem like there is any good reason for it to be illegal.

Prohibition does nothing for the good of the People, but certain special interest groups make money because of it. Doesn't this fit John Locke's definition of Tyranny, against which our Founding Fathers told us to be ever vigilant?

I have a sinking feeling that when the DEA reveals its decision, it's going to preserve the status quo as much as possible, while creating avenues for Big Pharma to cash in. So I'm asking you to please use your influence to right the injustice inherent in prohibition. We're supposed to be free to persue our happiness, and for some of us, cannabis helps us on our way. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Raven Wildchild

American Exceptionalism: We are the Wildcard

A lot of people, including President Obama, are uncomfortable with the term "American Exceptionalism," and I can't blame them: the term sounds like we're saying that the U.S. is better than the rest of the world. But the meaning is closer to the concept of "the exception to the rule," though I don't mean  exempt from following rules. It means our country's formation was unique in the history of the world.

Never before has there been a country created with a population so widely diverse as the United States, with no common heritage or culture or religion dictating the course of our fate. We are the wildcard, with the potential to rise above using the combined wisdom of the world, or to fall flat believing it doesn't apply to us.

Our diversity is a great strength, helping to make us a world leader in innovation, and as the Land of Opportunity, we understand that innovation often comes from the least expected places. In many cases, or ancestors came to this land to make a better life, because their homelands imposed restrictions that limited potential. We are defended from the world's most adventurous spirits, and those strong enough to escape oppression. This country is built on their optimism and highest ideals.

Therefore, it is important for the U.S. to honor immigrants as part of the reason America is great, to look to the histories of other nations and learn from their mistakes, to take responsibility for the role we play in the world, and to make sure all our citizens have the opportunity to reach their highest potential, because it helps us be stronger.

Times are hard now, but America is still great because we aren't held back by centuries'-old patterns; we are built on creating better futures.

On Balancing Diverse Opinions

http://mobile.nytimes6/05/29/opinion/sunday/the-liberal-blind-spot.html

 I was reading this article called "The Liberal Blind Spot" regarding how universities have lately been censoring conservative speakers and,  while I agree that we shouldn't censor opinions that differ from our own, I feel the author misunderstands some of the reasons there is that knee-jerk reaction. He suggests that, like Islamophobia is more common among those who have never met a Muslim, perhaps  bias against Evangelicals is due to not having Evangelical friends. Obviously this person has never been harassed to convert to Christianity. As a Wiccan, I've experienced this many, many times over the last 15 years, with some people becoming quite aggressive about it. I may be minding my own business, silently reading tarot cards or wearing a pentacle necklace that gets their attention.

 Now, I am fascinated by religion and happen to be fairly knowledgeable about Christianity- in fact, more knowledgeable than the last person who wouldn't leave me alone. He admitted he was recently "born again" and had only read part of Genesis out of the whole Bible, and when I tried to engage him in an intellectual conversation with a few poignant questions, he responded that his pastor would know all the answers and I was wrong because only the Christian God was real and good. I decided to end the conversation because it was like trying to debate with Donald Trump- facts didn't matter to him. But he continued to press the issue, aggressively telling me about Satan in child-like terms. When this is a typical experience, it makes sense that people whom the Church has been known to demonize- pagans, LGBTQ folk, and other outsiders- might be concerned about having a conservative speaker on their college campus. It is an awkward situation when a person feels that God wants them to impose their opinions on others, and I have yet to find a graceful method of diffusing those situations.

So the question becomes, how do we strike a balance between allowing all opinions to be heard while making sure no one is unfairly treated? It has been an ongoing process for me to learn how to listen, and I work hard on it, but it's extremely difficult to maintain that presence of mind when the other party seems unwilling to reciprocate. How do we engage those who do not wish to engage us? And what do you do when a core belief of another person is to try and change or subvert an integral part of your being? Ironically, it was Jesus who told us to "Turn the other cheek" when slapped in the face, but who wants to get slapped in the first place?

On Trump's tax returns

Donald Trump loves to boast about how he made over $500 million last year, but also that he pays as little as possible in taxes. While he refuses to release his tax returns, old returns available to the public show that he paid $0 in taxes those years. We can assume he continues the same tactics and still pays no taxes. This should be a very concerning thing to those of us who struggle to get by and still pay a good chunk of our hard-earned paychecks to Uncle Sam.

By my estimation, Trump should be paying about $175 million in taxes for last year, without considering any deductions of which he takes advantage. At least, that's what an average person who suddenly won a $500 million lotto would be expected to pay. That's what our tax system says is fair.

But as the favorite pastime of the American wealthy, tax evasion means that the huge financial burden of running the country falls on the working class. Why is it OK for us to struggle to make ends meet while people like him get a free ride? That's not fair play, but the Donald makes it clear he doesn't believe the rules apply to him.

Trump benefits from the taxes WE pay- our nation's infrastructure can't be supported without those taxes, and he looks down on the rest of us as "stupid" for paying those taxes.  America can't be great without income, and his "great business mind" knows this. But his "very good brain" only thinks about helping his own business interests and not the greater economic state, which is ironic- he can't make money of people who don't have any. The mindset he espouses is directly responsible for the recession of which we're clawing our way out (and from which he personally benefitted, i.e., he made money when you lost your home). But rather than using his "very good brain" to solve the economic crisis for the good of the many, to recognize that his contribution to the shared struggle of America could be far more impactful than 1,000 people with my wages, he still strives to leave us high and dry when the tax collector calls for contributions to the true Greatness of America.

It shocks me that so many are willing to support a man who so gleefully rapes our economic system, who openly says he will change or ignore any rules he doesn't like... How can we trust such a man to be a wise and benevolent leader? To put all our fates in those money-grubbing hands and expect him to help the people on whose backs he stands? This is a very dangerous possibility, and we would be fools to allow it.