Planet Earth - Our Home

Does Humanity hold the collective consiousness of a vast evolving universe?

Its my understanding that we do. The science behind Feng Shui taught me so.
Feng Shui, as a practical philosophy, existed before the Chinese learned to write. The ancient sages employed the most original and basic binary form of “Yin” and “Yang” to make sense of events in the world around them. The palaces and tombs of the royal families built in the Tang dynasty (618-907) and in all subsequent dynasties strictly followed the prescription of the Feng Shui masters. When Buddhism reached China, it soon absorbed the Feng Shui principles and combined them with its own practices. Historical Buddhist temples, most of which are located at famous mountains in China, were all constructed in harmony with the principles of Feng Shui. So with my civil engineering background, and with the colossal inheritance - an oil company my father built, I have the resources to make a difference on a larger scale than most.
Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. My uncle Otto told me that from the moment I could read.

Earth, our home, is alive with a unique community of life. The resilience of the community of life and the well-being of humanity depend upon preserving a healthy biosphere with all its ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile soils, pure waters, and clean air. The global environment with its finite resources is a common concern of all peoples. The protection of Earth’s vitality, diversity, and beauty is a sacred trust.
To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace.
The dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, and a massive extinction of species. Communities are being undermined. The benefits of development are not shared equitably and the gap between rich and poor is widening. Injustice, poverty, ignorance, and violent conflict are widespread and the cause of great suffering.
As most of the readers will probably already know, Feng Shui is based on the principle of Yin and Yang, and the balancing of five elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood. Based on these factors, recommendations can be made on how to improve the relationship with the environment using the elements as remedies.

The communities I build, and the teachings that are being held in our half-way houses around the globe are using the Feng Shui practices when it comes to creating a sustainable environment.

The phrase Feng Shui translates literally as “wind” and “water”. These two elements summarise the common components that make up any landscape. A simple way to begin working with your own living situation is to look at your home, your town or village or your business and learn about how the different sectors of your dwelling relate to parts of your life.
Feng Shui teaches that a dwelling reflects the owners and the owners reflect their dwelling. Success, failure, illness, career direction and much more in life can be read from the layout of the place where you live. Amazing?

The Element of Earth

Earth represents the solid state of matter. It manifests stability, permanence, and rigidity. In our body, the parts such as bones, teeth, cells, and tissues are manifestations of the earth. Earth is considered a stable substance.
Create an ecologically abundant environment around your dwelling if you can. Have a greater understanding of how to work with the natural flow patterns of the land. For example water, wind and sun flows. Integrate & connect the various components in ways that work harmoniously. For example, siting structures in relationship to slope, sun, water, garden, access etc. Use local, natural, non-toxic materials.
Develop a plan that you can work on over time. Learn how to observe and use the same principles that make ecological systems self-sustaining, and apply them to your energy systems and water supplies.

Permaculture

In 1978 Bill Mollison, an Australian ecologist, and one of his students, David Holmgren patented the word permaculture meaning “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture.” In our communities we use both Feng Shui and Permaculture principles
Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils and water into stable, productive communities. The focus is not on these elements themselves, but rather on the relationships created among them by the way we place them in the landscape.

Permaculture is an ecological method that produces food. This system has also helped me with the designing of energy-efficient buildings for our communities and how to plan for waste water treatment, recycling, and land stewardship in general. Permaculture has also expanded its purview to include economic and social structures that support the evolution and development of more permanent communities, such as co-housing projects and eco-villages. Permaculture design concepts are also applicable to urban as well as rural settings, and are appropriate for single households as well as whole farms and villages.
What can we do?
Tip
  • Before you plan your garden, the best way to start is to go on a permaculture course, whether an introductory weekend or the longer Design Course. These courses enable you to get a deeper understanding of permaculture than can ever be had from reading books and magazine articles. Meeting a lot of like-minded people can be one of the most empowering and enjoyable aspects of a permaculture course.
  • Meet like-minded people in your own area. If there is no group in your area, you can join the Permaculture Association nationally and they will provide you with a list of all members in your area. You will probably find that most of them are keen gardeners.
The Element of Water
Are you just using water from your tap? Do you save your water for your garden? Have you ever thought of how valuable water really is ? Water characterises change and represents the liquid state. Water is necessary for the survival of all living things. A large part of the human body is made up of water. Our blood, lymph, and other fluids move between our cells and through our vessels, bringing energy, carrying away wastes, regulating temperature, bringing disease fighters, and carrying hormonal information from one area to another. But -- many people die each year due to lack of water. Our planet is already showing signs of great stress in her rivers and seas. Have you heard of acid rain?...
The launch of numerous water efficient products in the last few years has ensured that there are viable alternatives to the older model appliances like washing machines, which often consumed large amounts of water. If you are thinking about buying an automatic dishwasher they are generally more water efficient than hand washing in a sink although they use more energy.
In our gardens we need to improve the quality of recycled water, and to develop efficient ‘closed-loop’ systems where used water is returned into the system (our gardens). If water had a greater value, recycled water could be sold as input to industrial or agricultural processes.
What can you do to make a difference?
 What can we do?
Tip
  • Install a wastewater treatment system in your home. There are many possiblities available when you do some research on the internet.
  • Other wastewater systems such as a composting toilet and disconnect it from the sewer can also make a difference to your garden.
  • Make sure that you collect all your rainwater. Look at your gutters, are they in good order?
Wind
Feng Shui and wind chimes help balance inauspicious energies round the home and landscape.

Wind has also been harnessed for grinding grain, pumping water and even sawing wood, through the technology of windmills. The first windmills were invented in Persia around 600 AD and used only to grind grain. It is believed that this windmill technology spread back to Europe via the crusades and by the 1100’s, windmills could be found throughout Europe. By 1400, there were around 10,000 windmills in England alone. Humanity has utilised energy from wind for transportation, in the form of sailing, for thousands of years. In fact, people have been able to sail longer than they have been able to write, with the earliest known image of a vessel under sail to be found on a piece of Egyptian pottery dating from 3100 BC.
 What can you do to make a difference?
Wind energy is the trend of the future, and my landscaping division The Buttercup has lately become amongst the top-10 companies in the global wind-energy industry. The energy of wind is captured and converted into electricity by devices we call wind turbines. Our community in Australa called GLOBAL WIND-POWER has started to exchange opportunities. during their global event, which is being held in Brisbane from 18-22 September.
 What can we do? 
Tip
  • Get yourself a wind turbine if you have a small holding, a farm or if you have a plot where you want to create alternative energy for your dailly use.
  • Do some investigations on the internet about wind turbines available in your neighborhood. In South Africa The Western Cape's winds are considered perfect for wind energy - prevailing winds are from two directions, and tend to blow during peak electricity consumption periods.
The Air Element we breathe

Air is the gaseous form of matter which is mobile and dynamic. Within the body, air (oxygen) is the basis for all energy transfer reactions. It is a key element required for fire to burn. Air is existence without form.
Today in many places around the world, each breath we take, especially when we live in built up areas, is already poisonous to our physical bodies and to every living thing that is affected by air polution. This is an alarming statement but according to Annelies it is one of the first causes of aging.

Oxides of nitrogen are in vehicle emissions and in domestic and industrial emissions. The hydrocarbons and VOCs are given off as vapours from petrol, and industrial and household products containing solvents, such as paints add to the mix.
Road traffic is responsible for a third of hydrocarbon emissions and half of nitrogen dioxide emissions. Devices fitted to cars such as catalytic converters remove a large portion of the carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from car exhausts, but they do not remove carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas responsible for global climatic change.
More and more can be written on our air pollution but that is not the point of this website.
What can we do?

Tip
  • Use public transport, walk or use a bicycle.
  • Keep your car tuned and use unleaded petrol.
  • Plant more trees to reduce carbon dioxide.
  • Avoid household products, which contain hydrocarbons. These include cleaning agents, furniture polish, fabric softeners, hairspray, nail varnish, shaving cream, car waxes and lubricants.
  • Do not buy aerosol spray cans.
The Element of Fire
Fire gives birth to Earth. With Fire over Earth, the earth can be strengthened, but if it gets out of balance we’ll have the earth erupting. Many great fires, the eruption of volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, explosions are all emanating from the earth that is out of balance with its environment. Many environmental issues could come to a head as our consciousness of the connections between our economic system and the world’s climate become clearer.
Fire is the power to transform solids into liquids, to gas, and back again. In other words, it possesses power to transform the state of any substance. Within our bodies, the fire or energy binds the atoms together. It also converts food to fat (stored energy) and muscle. Fire transforms food into energy. It creates the impulses of nervous reactions, our feelings, and even our thought processes. Fire is considered a form without substance.
FIRE Energy ,the source of all life
Solar power as a renewable energy resource is concerned with exploiting the sun’s daily emissions of heat and light. The world must use less electricity and energy. Renewable energy sources from wind, sun, ocean currents, tides and hydroelectric schemes are available but all have costs, disadvantages and need further research. Cleaner fuels such as gas must be used in preference to oil and coal.

Solar energy
Even the fossil fuels we enjoy today are derived from solar energy. They are the products of a process spanning millions of years, beginning with the sunlight received and stored by plants.
Build homes or any dwelling place that are energy efficient so that less air conditioning and heating is needed.
Use the most appropriate building materials and design for your living space, depending on the climate. A simple idea is to have trees carefully positioned around the house to provide shade for the building during summer. Use energy saving devices and wherever possible, use solar powered technology.

Energy fr0m Oil

World oil supplies are expected to run out by 2030 and gas by 2045 (I should know) Oil usage around the world is approximately 300 billion gallons per day. It is used in many ways such as fuel, manufacture of plastics and medicines and electricity.
Nuclear energy.
Nuclear energy is the world’s largest source of emission-free energy at the moment because Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants, BUT
Nuclear waste remains highly dangerous for thousands of years and accidents could devastate huge areas.The cost of new nuclear power has been underestimated. Nuclear power is too slow, too expensive and too limited as a response to global warming. In an age of terrorist threats, it is also more of a security risk than a solution.
Renewable Energy
Instead, renewable energy offers a safe, climate-friendly energy supply system. It leaves no toxic legacy. A broader combination of renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal than is currently utilized, with a range of micro, small, medium and large-scale technologies, and applied flexibly, could more than meet all of our needs. These projects would have the ability to create new access to energy supplies for millions of people around the world who currently lack basics, such as lighting or the ability to cook without inhaling lethal indoor smoke.
“Without sustainable, reliable supplies of energy the world faces a future in which climate change and fuel shortages will combine with catastrophic results. The poorest and most vulnerable will suffer the worst.
What can we do?
Tip
  • Use less energy in the home
  • Turning off lights that are not needed
  • Using energy-efficient light bulbs
  • Using energy-efficient gas for cooking and heating
  • Purchasing energy-efficient household appliances such as fridges
  • Installing a solar-powered water heater and water-saving shower heads
  • Using cold water only in your washing machine
  • Not wasting room heating by leaving doors or windows open Installing insulation to reduce the amount of heating required
The Element of Ether

Ether is the space in which everything happens. It is the field that is simultaneously the source of all matter and the space in which it exists. Ether is only the distances which separate matter. The chief characteristic of ether is sound. Here sound represents the entire spectrum of vibration.

Every substance in our world is made up of these five substances. All substances can be classified according to their predominant element. For example, a mountain is predominantly made up of earth element. A mountain also contain water, fire, air and ether. But these elements are very small compared to the earth. So, its classification is the earth.
Heard of Noise Pollution?

Our noise levels are rising around the globe. In recent years, complaints to government environment departments have increased dramatically. Figures suggest the average volume of sound is doubling every 10 years.
What can we do?
Tip
  • We can prevent noise pollution at its source by imposing tougher penalties.
  • We can enforce noise regulations.
  • We can introduce penalties for faulty car and burglar alarms.
  • We can research ways of making roads quieter.
  • We can improve the design and construction of engines and other machinery.
  • We can establish noise control zones, for cars and aircraft.
  • We can subsidise building materials with proven soundproofing properties.
Conclusions
Many people will make changes in their lifestyles to help save the planet. In the coming years more environmental shifts in government policies will be forced by public pressure. It’s to be expected then that there will be more cooperation among countries that are aiming to set up an effective system for the protection of global interests, such as resolving environmental conflicts, global warming issues, religious differences and the prevention of disease.
Since fire rules illumination and the earth is our home, many new truths will surface about the origins of mankind during the years to come. The much touted connection between science and religion (or spirituality) will be made very clear through this website and we are aiming to bring about a revolution in spiritual science and firmly establish its place in the world.
For that reason alone I feel privileged to add my input to this website during the next few years.
Regards Toon