Leading up to that much-heralded year in phenomenology–2012–people from various different fields of interest have been speculating on the changes that will likely occur and affect humankind in a variety of ways.

For years, a variety of rather silly “doomsday theories” have been saturating the metaphysical community, and more recently, authors like Daniel Pinchbeck have offered somewhat more sound conclusions along the lines of an emergence of global consciousness or shift towards a different way of thinking (a paradigm shift, for lack of a better word).

However, in addition to speculation involving these and other theories that include the end of the Mayan Calendar, the 2012 US Presidential election, and a multitude of other potential situations, a new piece that recently appeared in the American Chemical Society’s’ bi-weekly journal Environmental Science & Technology argues that the Earth has entered an new era of geological time, the Anthropocene Epoch, and that the forecast for humanity is anything but good.

Science Daily picked up the story, noting that authors have proposed that this is due to how “humans have wrought such vast and unprecedented changes to our world” in the last two centuries, which they claim will “alter the planet for millions of years.” The excerpt below cites more specific details:

Zalasiewicz, Williams, Steffen and Crutzen contend that recent human activity, including stunning population growth, sprawling megacities and increased use of fossil fuels, have changed the planet to such an extent that we are entering what they call the Anthropocene (New Man) Epoch.

Apparently, the worldwide geological community is now in the process of formally consideration regarding the use of the term “Anthropocene” in describing our present epoch, and whether it will join the Geological Time Scale along with periods like the Jurassic, etc.

Will the dawn of this new epoch, as the American Chemical Society experts have suggested, include the sixth largest mass extinction in Earth’s history? Or is this sort of speculation merely kin to Mayan Calendar prophecies and the like? When looking at the historic record of vast changes that have occurred throughout time on planet Earth, is there justifiable cause for concern?

The Coming Era: New Mass Consciousness, or Mass Extinction? is a post from: Mysterious Universe

Occasionally we see strange things in the sky that defy logic, and inspire the imagination to wonder whether odd facets of our existence are actually acting on us in our daily lives in ways we can’t comprehend. For the most part, these occurrences are completely random happenings; a mere matter of being “at the right place at the right time.” But what happens when you have locations around the world where anomalous activity not only occurs repeatedly, but predictably?

One such area is the Lineville Gorge, nestled in the Black Mountain Range in Western North Carolina. Although the Southeastern United States is home to a variety of strange phenomenon that captivates the area locals (and researchers abroad), near the vicinity of Brown Mountain, a long, looming ridge in the heart of the Gorge, a spectacular display of “ghost lights” can be seen on a frequent basis which continue to defy rational explanation.

Dubbed “The Brown Mountain Lights” by the locals, the lights are actually seen all throughout the Lineville Gorge, and are variously described as bright, glowing orbs of colored light that manifest and drift slowly upward, sometimes behaving so strangely that witnesses have been led to wonder whether they might somehow be “controlled” by external forces.

During a recent television shoot I participated in with the National Geographic Channel, my associates in the North Carolina-based L.E.M.U.R. Paranormal Investigations group and I managed to capture a spectacular display of odd illuminations while cameras were rolling. Below is a sneak preview of the new program, called Paranatural, which will be airing soon and appearing on the web to view:

Bright Lights that Hypnotize: Mysterious Aerial Illuminations is a post from: Mysterious Universe

With the construction of the new studio I went in search of an unusual lamp to add some character to the room. Little did I know I would embark on journey that would lead me to discover the wonders of Himalayan Salt Lamps.

Firstly, let me say WOW! The benefits we have experienced with these lamps in our homes and the studio have been significantly noticeable and exciting. Let me give you a little background…

What is a Himalayan Salt Lamp?

Himalayan crystal rock salt was formed many millions of years ago when the seas dried up. Gradual evaporation, and the conditions prevailing in the interior of the earth, resulted in the formation of a crystalline structure that gives rock salt its typical appearance. Crystal rock salt is the most beneficial, pure salt available on this planet. It consists of the most perfect geometric structure possible in rock crystals and is the result of millions of years of compression under the Earth’s surface. It has a precise mesh with our body’s inner workings because Himalayan crystal salt contains an almost identical set of elements to those found inside the human body: that is, 84 of the possible 92 trace minerals, in the same proportion that naturally exist in our blood.

Research and experience have proven the healthy and therapeutic benefits of this rock salt, especially if illuminated as heat helps it discharge negative ions into the atmosphere that balance the high proportion of positive ions which are released by the use of electronic items such as television sets, radios, artificial air conditioners, dryers and vacuum cleaners. Smoking also pollutes our air with positive charge ions. The negative ions emitting from rock salt lamps freshen the atmosphere and improve air quality by removing harmful positively charged particles from the air, thus also serving as natural air purifiers.

Some of the specific benefits include:

• Improved sleep

• Relief from migraines

• Reduction of the severity of asthma attacks

• Increased work productivity and concentration

• Relief from sinus problems, hay fever and allergies

• Improved digestion

• Enhanced immune system and lung capacity

• Reduction of susceptibility to colds and flu

How did it benefit Aaron and Ben?

Ben and I have experienced considerable improvements in concentration, energy and enthusiasm while putting a show together. Thanks to the wonders of summer in Australia both Ben and I suffer from the occasional bout of hay fever. Since running a Himalayan Salt Lamp in the studio we have both experienced a considerable reduction in hay-fever (except for the MUP109! ~ Ben).

I myself feel especially invigorated after spending a couple of hours near the lamp and Ben had told me he loves having the lamp in his house to help him sleep.

I am really surprised and excited by the benefits I have experienced running these lamps! Pretty impressive considering I purchased the first one solely for the look.

Where can I get one?

Despite living in one of the largest cities in Australia, a search of my local shops revealed nothing. As such I did a Google search and found Natural Gifts for You. The proprietor of this store is Lil Petrovski and she has been as amazing as her lamps! She has an incredible knowledge of the lamps and buying from her has simply been a pleasure. Lil’s lamps come in all shapes and sizes including natural rock formations, spheres, pyramids and fire bowls.

Each of the lamps I ordered arrived promptly and very well packed. Lil also supplies other great products in addition to the Himalayan Salt Lamps. I strongly recommend checking out her store at www.naturalgiftsforyou.com

Unfortunately, Lil currently only supplies her products to Australia, however I strongly recommend our listeners in other locations google a local supplier, get one and let us know how you benefit from these great lamps.

Stay tuned to for an upcoming chance to win one of these great lamps.

Would You Like Some Salt with Your Lamp? is a post from: Mysterious Universe

This incredible gallery of images was blogged and re-blogged on plenty of sites last month. It’s a collection of insect macro photography from Igor Iwanowicz.

Seeing these creatures up close brings to mind the many reported encounters with “Mantis” like beings over the years. I’d take a reptilian over these guys every time.

[Full Gallery]

An Alien World Hidden in Plain Sight is a post from: Mysterious Universe

I woke up this morning on another planet. Well that’s at least what I thought for a few fleeting moments as I stared outside my bedroom window at the red, hazy “martian like” sky.

News.com.au reports that residents of Sydney and parts of New South Wales have awoken to scenes likened to “armageddon”, with limited visibility and orange skies.

Large areas have been shrouded in dust as the state experiences severe winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman Jane Golding said dust had settled on much of the state, including Sydney.

Sydney flights are being diverted and residents are being asked to stay indoors.

This really is spooky. Everything in my apartment is covered in this fine red dust, my poor Macbook Pro looks a mars artifact.

Here’s a pic from my apartment (where you can usually see some tall office towers):

More pics (with a full gallery here):

Sydney Turns the Color of Mars is a post from: Mysterious Universe

The baby snatching antics of New Zealand’s now extinct Haas Eagle have been passed down by Maori elders for hundreds of years.

New research has revealed that the legendary behavior of the “man-eating” giant eagle may in fact be accurate.

The Haast Eagle’s existence has been known for over a century with excavated bones demonstrating the birds weighed up to 40 lbs. Most scientists presumed they were scavengers rather than the predators from mythology.

But a new study has revealed the eagle as a fearsome predator that may have preyed on flightless birds and perhaps even children.

Researchers at the Canterburry Museum in New Zealand and the University of New South Wales in Australia used CT and CAT scans to reconstruct the size of the bird’s brain, eyes, ears, and spinal cord.

When compared with the data from modern predatory and scavenging birds the findings suggest that the behavior  of the giant eagles would likely match their behavior described in the Maori legends.

Professor Scofield said the findings are similar to what he found in Maori folk tales.

‘The science supports Maori mythology of the legendary pouakai or hokioi, a huge bird that could swoop down on people in the mountains and was capable of killing a small child,’ he said.

Te Hokioi had a wingspan of nearly ten feet (3 meters) and weighed 40lbs (18kg). It fed mainly on moa, birds which were incapable of flying, and weighed as much as 550lbs (250kg). Humans hunted the moa to extinction after their arrival in New Zealand around 1,000 years ago, effectively killing Te Hokioi at the same time.

[Source]

New Study Confirms Maori Legend of Giant Eagle is a post from: Mysterious Universe