Finance: The Reserve Bank maintained the OCR in the interim. It was split decision with the Governor having the casting vote to retain it at 2.25%. NZ dollar firmed over the week but remains a very weak currency. Brent Crude continues to vary daily and is currently $93.02/barrel with punters expecting the Straits of Hormuz to remain open & crude prices to fall.
Wool: The wool prices continue to firm with growing optimism in the coarse wool market. The recent sales were very encouraging.
Beef, Sheep & Venison schedules: The meat schedules are steady to firmer for the coming week. There are indications that the India Free Trade will increase lamb demand & prices.
Dairy Prices. Fonterra has a Farm Gate range of $8 to $11 for the 2026/27 season with a mid-point of $9.75. A good offer against a very uncertain world commodity market.

Health & Safety inductions with new employees on the farm is essential. The wearing of helmets, the regular servicing of all vehicles and identifying hazards are all equally important. Check that the motorbike sizes are OK for the staff – on one farm we arranged for a smaller bike as some immigrant employees have shorter legs and it is important that they can hold the bike up while standing astride it.

Jim’s Weekly Rant:
I will comment on the NZ budget when I have had time to analyse it properly.

The thought of a “Super El Nino” creating climate extremes around the world will give the climate alarmists plenty of ammunition to attack those of us labelled as “Climate Deniers”. The NZ media and many of the politicians in national office and more so in local government office will have a field day with the statistics. The announcement of the Super El Nino came at the same time as the UN IPCC changed their view on Climate Change. They have said their catastrophic predictions relating the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 was implausible and they should never have used words like “Likely”. This has been the biggest shift the IPPC has made public. The RCP8.5 has been behind the New Zealand’s planning policy development and now it has been debunked. The RCP8.5 was the main document used to develop the coastal climate change planning system developing a simple legal standard: “councils must plan for the likely effects of climate change, using the best available evidence”. It is reflected in the sea level projections used by councils nationwide using the 'SeaRise' online tool, and it remains embedded in scientific studies relied on in the National Climate Change Risk Assessment. It is also likely at the root of extreme forecasts that have become part of the popular narratives. It has moved from being scientific to being embedded in law underpinning the perceived climate catastrophes. In simple terms the IPCC has stated that the modelling that declared the extreme RCP8.5 is implausible. The significance of the IPCC’s decision cannot be overstated as NZ had accepted the doomsday scenario where catastrophic warming of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius by 2050 with sea-levels rising well over 1-meter, and now it is stated as being unreliable. But there has been no serious reporting or acceptance of the findings by our media or government. The acceptance of the RCP8.5 has led to climate hysteria, kids missing school for protests along with a number of irrational governmental and local government restrictions, increases in insurance costs and the downgrading of coastal properties. There have been NZ scientists supporting the RCP8.5 document while those opposing it have been muzzled and their credibility questioned by a blinded irrational media. So where did RCP8.5 come from? It was a computer model produced in Austria to test the outer-limits of climate sensitivity and was irrationally accepted as “fact”. It had predicted a future dominated by coal use, explosive world populations and explosive economic growth, it was a doomsday type model and now the truth has been exposed. The RCP8.5 has seriously distorted the NZ electricity markets with the rising costs of carbon relating to gas and coal and the Emissions Trading Scheme is reported to add another $200 per annum to the average power bill and $0.20/litre to fuel with expectations of further increases as NZ targets Net Zero by whenever. It has affected our trade as the exporters have tried to comply with Net Zero compliance from the Paris Accord. All the virtual signalling and de facto trade compliance has cost NZ dearly and now we are told it was an implausible projection that our master’s have been following. It is time to stand-up as the electioneering begins and bring some reality and sanity back to our nation!!

Every week in New Zealand, two people die from motor neurone disease (MND) - and two more are told they have an incurable, rapidly progressing illness that will steal their ability to move, speak, eat and eventually breathe. 

This devastating diagnosis sets a brutal countdown timer ticking. The average life expectancy is just two to three years, and New Zealand has a higher incidence rate of the disease than the rest of the world. Despite this, for the more than 400 Kiwis living with MND at any one time, it is frustrating that the disease is not well recognised or understood by New Zealanders.  

This June, the charitable trust Motor Neurone Disease NZ (MND NZ) is asking the country to take action. MND Action Month 2026 invites New Zealanders to tip a bucket or pour a brew - taking part in the MND Ice Bucket Challenge or Cuppa Tea for MND to help make time count for those living with the disease, and to ensure no one faces MND alone. 

MND Action Month 2026 brings together these two powerful fundraising strands to highlight a stark reality: people with MND are not just losing their lives; they are losing time, moment by moment.. With no cure or meaningful treatments available, what happens in that limited time - the care, equipment, support and connection people receive - becomes everything.

“Time is something people with MND don’t have,” says Mark Leggett, Chief Executive of MND NZ. “We can’t yet stop the disease, but we can change the experience of living with it. This June, we’re asking people to step up so that every single moment counts for those facing MND.”

Throughout June - including Global MND Awareness Day on 21 June - the campaign will spotlight real stories from people living with MND, their carers and whānau. 

Campaign ambassadors will be highlighting the hidden financial costs, the emotional and physical load carried by carers, and the desperate need for timely equipment.

The MND Ice Bucket Challenge injects energy and visibility, challenging participants to take the plunge in support of people facing even colder truths: health system delays, limited access to care, and inconsistent support that can rob families of precious time and quality of life. 

Workplaces, schools and clubs are encouraged to nominate a brave leader, principal or coach to sit under the bucket. 

Meanwhile, the Cuppa Tea for MND strand invites reflection, connection, and conversation. From a simple cuppa in the staffroom to a themed morning tea, it is a chance to gather, honour loved ones, and fund vital advocacy and research. 

“A rapidly progressing disease doesn't wait for paperwork or waitlists,” says Leggett. “A person's physical needs change much faster than our current health and disability systems can keep up with. MND NZ’s support and advocacy services help people  get the equipment and care they need, precisely when they need it, but we rely heavily on the backing of everyday New Zealanders to do that.”

All funds raised during MND Action Month will support Motor Neurone Disease NZ’s vital work - including personalised support services, advocacy for equitable access to care, and research, so we can ultimately change the course of this disease.

“MND is relentless. Every day counts. Every action matters. Whether you tip an icy bucket or pour a hot brew, you’re making time count for the more than 120 New Zealanders who will receive a life-changing diagnosis this year,” concludes Leggett.

To get involved, register your event, or make a donation, visit www.mndactionmonth.org.nz or www.mnd.org.nz

Join the movement: #MNDActionMonth | #TipOrPour | #IceBucketChallenge | #CuppaTeaforMND

ENDS

Thinking about making the switch to contact lenses but not sure where to start? Many people assume lenses aren’t right for their lifestyle, prescription, or even dry eyes—but modern lens technology has completely changed the game. At Ocula, a contact lens fitting is a personalised, step-by-step process designed to find the perfect match for your unique eyes.

Our latest article breaks down exactly what happens during a fitting and how to choose the right lenses for you.

• Demystify the Process: Walk through the complete fitting journey—from the initial eye health assessment and precise corneal mapping to hands-on insertion and removal training.
• Find Your Perfect Match: Explore the wide range of modern options available, including daily disposables, monthly lenses, custom-made solutions, and overnight Ortho-K lenses that offer clear vision all day without daytime wear.
• Know What to Expect: Learn what a truly well-fitted lens should feel like (hint: you should barely notice it!) and understand the warning signs that mean your fit needs a quick adjustment.
• Enhance Your Active Lifestyle: Discover how contact lenses offer total freedom, full peripheral vision, and no fogging—perfect for sports, outdoor activities, or heading up the mountain this winter season.

Ready to trade your frames for complete visual freedom?

Read the full article here: Thinking About Contact Lenses? Here Is What to Expect in Your First Fitting

For anyone running, cycling, playing team sports, or exploring the outdoors in Invercargill and across Southland, glasses can easily become a practical hindrance. From sliding down your nose mid-workout to fogging up when transitioning between the crisp Southland air and warm changing rooms, traditional eyewear often demands more focus than the activity itself.

Our latest article dives into how transitioning to contact lenses can entirely remove these obstacles, giving you a completely unhindered edge.

• Maximise Your Field of View: Discover how contact lenses eliminate bulky frames, giving you the critical peripheral and uninterrupted vision needed to spot approaching players or stay safe on the road.
• Find Your Perfect Fit: Learn about the different lens formats, from convenient daily disposables and high-oxygen silicone hydrogels to specialised toric lenses for astigmatism, and how to choose the right style for your specific sport.
• Double Down on UV Protection: Understand the unique challenges of New Zealand's harsh UV rays and how pairing UV-filtering contact lenses with quality sports sunglasses offers the ultimate defence for outdoor recreation.
• Master Active Hygiene: Get essential tips on managing sweat, dust, and water exposure safely to ensure your eyes stay healthy, clear, and comfortable through every workout.

Ready to see how the right contact lenses can give your active lifestyle an unmatched level of freedom, safety, and visual clarity?

Read the full article here: Contact Lenses for Active Lifestyles: What Invercargill Wearers Need to Know

Contact lenses offer a practical, liberating alternative to glasses—giving you the freedom to move, play sports, and see the world without frames. Yet, for most first-time wearers, the idea of putting something directly onto your eye can feel a bit daunting.

Our latest guide breaks down the process so you can transition to contact lenses with absolute ease and confidence.

• Demystify the Fitting Process: Learn exactly what to expect during your initial consultation and how modern lens tech makes finding the perfect fit straightforward.
• Overcome the 'Touch' Hurdle: Discover practical tips to help you get used to inserting and removing your lenses safely, turning a daunting task into a quick daily habit.
• Prioritise Eye Health: Understand how to choose the right lenses for your lifestyle, like daily disposables, to reduce infection risks and simplify your care routine.
• Spot the Warning Signs: Find out how to distinguish between normal initial adjustment sensations and issues like dry eye, ensuring your eyes always stay comfortable.

Ready to experience a frame-free lifestyle with complete peace of mind?

Read the full article here: First Time Wearing Contact Lenses? Here Is What You Need to Know Before You Start

Whether it’s the harsh glare of the summer sun, biting winter winds, or the constant blast of indoor air conditioning, the environment around us heavily impacts how our eyes feel. Dry eye syndrome is a incredibly common condition for New Zealanders, but you don’t have to live with the persistent grit, irritation, or blurred vision.

Our latest article breaks down how shifting seasons affect your eyes and shares actionable, daily habits to protect your vision year-round.

• Pinpoint the Triggers: Understand how New Zealand's unique climate—from low winter humidity to high spring pollen—can disrupt your tear film and accelerate tear evaporation.
• Master the Habits: Learn simple, effective lifestyle changes you can implement immediately, including the 20-20-20 screen rule, proper indoor humidity control, and why staying hydrated is vital for tear volume.
• Upgrade Your Protection: Discover how small changes, like investing in wraparound sunglasses or tweaking your diet with Omega-3 fatty acids, can create a physical and biological shield for your eyes.
• Know When to Seek Help: Learn to recognise when over-the-counter remedies aren't enough, and why an assessment by a dry eye specialist is crucial for targeting root causes like Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).

Ready to give your eyes the lasting comfort and protection they deserve through every season?

Read the full article here: Managing Dry Eye Year-Round: Practical Advice for New Zealand Eyes

Winter bungy jumping in Queenstown offers a completely different kind of thrill. Snow-capped mountains, crisp alpine air, and dramatic scenery create an unforgettable backdrop that makes every jump feel even more intense.

While many people visit Queenstown for skiing, winter is also one of the best times to experience a bungy jump. The cooler temperatures, quieter atmosphere, and stunning alpine views combine to create a truly unique adventure.

The AJ Hackett Bungy team helps jumpers prepare for winter conditions with expert guidance and safety procedures, so all you need to do is focus on taking the leap.

Read the full article: Why Bungy Jumping in Queenstown's Winter is Pure Magic

As winter sets in and temperatures drop, our natural instinct is to seal up our homes to keep the warmth in. However, trapping that warmth can inadvertently create the perfect environment for two very unwelcome guests: condensation and mould.

JAE’s latest guide breaks down how these winter property issues form, the hidden risks they carry, and the proactive steps you can take to keep your environment healthy.

• Spot the Warning Signs: Learn how everyday activities—like showering, cooking, and even breathing—create excess moisture that settles as condensation on cold windows and walls.
• Protect Your Health: Discover the undeniable link between persistent dampness and mould growth, and understand why tackling spores early is vital for safeguarding your family from respiratory and allergy issues.
• Master Simple Habits: Get practical daily tips to control indoor humidity without freezing your home, including smart ventilation hacks, ideal heating ranges, and the golden rule of airflow.
• Know When to Call the Experts: Find out why widespread or recurring mould requires more than just a surface wipe, and how professional treatments target the root cause to provide a lasting, dry solution.

Ready to clear the air and ensure your home stays warm, dry, and healthy all winter long?

Read the full guide here: Is Your Home Winter-Ready? The Guide to Condensation & Mould

When it comes to unforgettable South Island winter escapes, The Cardrona Horse Treks & ATV Adventures offers the perfect way to experience the beauty of Cardrona Valley. Located between Wanaka and Queenstown, The Cardrona has built its reputation around small-group alpine adventures, stunning mountain scenery, and authentic high-country experiences.

Here’s why Cardrona Valley deserves a place on every winter bucket list this season.

Enjoy the Best of Autumn and Winter Together

Early winter in Cardrona Valley is one of the most scenic times of year. Visitors can still enjoy the last of the golden autumn colours while fresh snow begins dusting the surrounding mountain ranges.

Take in spectacular views across:

• Mount Cardrona
• The Crown Range
• The Pisa Range

The combination of colourful valleys and snow-covered peaks creates an unforgettable alpine landscape.

Drive New Zealand’s Highest Sealed Highway

The journey into Cardrona Valley is part of the experience itself.

The famous Crown Range Road is New Zealand’s highest sealed highway and delivers breathtaking views around every corner. Winter conditions can make the road challenging at times, so visitors should drive carefully and allow extra time to enjoy the scenery safely.

Escape the Winter Fog

One of Cardrona Valley’s best-kept secrets is its elevation.

During early winter, low inversion cloud often settles heavily over Wanaka and Queenstown, leaving the towns grey and foggy. Cardrona Valley frequently sits above the cloud layer, enjoying:

• Blue skies
• Crisp alpine air
• Winter sunshine

It is the perfect escape from the gloomy conditions below.

Avoid the Busy Ski Holiday Crowds

Early winter is also the ideal time to explore before the school holiday rush begins.

With fewer visitors around, guests can enjoy:

• Smaller tour groups
• Relaxed outdoor adventures
• Peaceful mountain trails

The Cardrona Horse Treks & ATV Adventures is well known for its small or private group experiences, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the incredible alpine environment.

Must-Visit Cardrona Valley Attractions

While exploring the valley, make time to visit some of the region’s iconic destinations:

• Cardrona Hotel
• Cardrona Distillery
• Cardrona Alpine Resort
• Snow Farm

Whether you are chasing snow, sunshine, adventure, or simply a peaceful alpine getaway, The Cardrona Horse Treks & ATV Adventures and the wider Cardrona Valley offer a winter experience unlike anywhere else in New Zealand.

Contact The Cardrona

info@thecardrona.co.nz

+64 3 443 1228

https://thecardrona.co.nz/

Contact Phillip Quay

027 458 7724

phillip@mediapa.co.nz

www.mediapa.co.nz

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — As winter settles in across New Zealand, Premium Clean has announced its Winter Clean campaign, offering households 25% off a professional whole-home deep clean and move-out clean throughout June, July, and August 2026.

The campaign responds to a quietly familiar pattern in Kiwi homes through the cooler months. Windows stay closed longer, heaters run more, indoor occupancy increases, and the natural rhythm of cleaning slows down — particularly for busy families and working professionals. The result is a gradual build-up that most homes only really feel once it's been properly addressed.

A Premium Clean deep clean is a top-to-bottom service that covers everything a regular weekly clean doesn't reach, inside the oven, behind appliances, bathroom grout and tile, skirting boards, light fittings, window sills, and the detail work in every room of the home.  

"Winter changes how a home feels, and most people don't quite realise how much until they walk into a properly refreshed house," says Sam Bhandari, General Manager at Premium Clean. "A deep clean isn't about your home being dirty. It's about taking something off the never-ending to-do list and letting your home feel its best, exactly when you're spending the most time in it."

The Winter Clean campaign offers 25% off, available for bookings made through 31 August 2026. Services can be booked online at www.pemiumclean.co.nz/winter-clean or by calling local Premium Clean teams across New Zealand.

Premium Clean operates across New Zealand, providing residential and commercial cleaning and lawn and garden services through a network of trained local teams. The Winter Clean campaign is the company's dedicated residential seasonal offer for 2026, with similar campaigns planned for spring and the end of the year.

Quick facts

Campaign window: 1 June – 31 August 2026
Offer: 25% off home deep cleaning and move out clean
Booking code: WINTER25
Eligibility: residential properties across New Zealand
Booking: online at premiumclean.co.nz/winter-clean or by phone

About Premium Clean

Premium Clean is a trans-Tasman residential and commercial cleaning services group, delivering professional cleaning, lawn and garden maintenance, and integrated property care across New Zealand. The company is built on trained local teams, full insurance, and a commitment to consistent quality across every home and business it serves.

Media contact
Hyzent Aurelio
Marketing Department, Premium Clean
Email:  media@premiumclean.co.nz
Phone: 0800786780
Web:  premiumclean.co.nz/winter-clean

The cost of living has been steadily rising, and for many retirees, that brings a new kind of pressure. Not just the cost itself, but the uncertainty.

When you’re no longer earning, every unexpected bill can weigh heavily on your mind. It’s often not the day-to-day expenses that cause the most stress, but the unpredictability around the bigger costs.

How much will rates go up this year?
Will insurance rise again?
What happens if something breaks?
How will I manage if everything increases at once?

For those still living in the family home, these aren’t hypothetical questions. They’re real, and they come up again and again.

Rates rise. Insurance premiums increase. Power bills fluctuate. Repairs appear without warning. One cost on its own might be manageable, but together, and over time, they create a sense that things are becoming harder to predict, and therefore harder to plan for.

Retirement is meant to be a time of calmness and simplicity. But when costs are uncertain, it can start to feel like the opposite.

At Settlers Lifestyle Village, many residents describe a different experience.

While everyday expenses like power and groceries are still part of life, as they are for everyone, there is a sense that the bigger, more unpredictable costs have been taken care of. Rates, water, maintenance, and many of the ongoing household responsibilities are no longer something to worry about in the same way.

One resident explained it simply:
“You don’t have to worry about rates, water, maintenance… all those things keep going up, but your costs are clear. That’s a huge relief when you’re on a fixed income.”

That word, relief, comes up often.

It’s not about avoiding costs altogether. It’s about removing some of the unknowns. Knowing what to expect. Being able to plan. Feeling confident that a surprise bill isn’t waiting around the corner.

It also changes how problems are dealt with when they arise. As another resident put it, “To be able to say to someone, fix this up for me, that’s such a relief, and it frees you up.”

There’s no searching for tradespeople, no waiting, no wondering what it might cost, if you’re being ripped off…it’s simply taken care of.

Because while cost of living affects everyone, the experience of it can feel very different depending on your environment. In a setting where many of the major expenses are predictable, and where support is close at hand, the pressure can feel lighter.

When the bigger costs are accounted for, the question shifts from ‘can I afford this?’ to ‘how do I want to live?’ 

For many residents, that turns out to be the most valuable thing village living offers; not just financial predictability, but the freedom to stop worrying and start enjoying.

For more on weighing up the real costs of staying in the family home versus village living, read Terry Middlemost’s, CEO of Settlers Lifestyle Village, opinion piece in the New Zealand Herald 

One of the most important realisations emerging from my recent research is that the recurring problems of humanity may not originate in governments, political parties, religions, corporations or even individuals. These are expressions of something deeper. They are reflections of consciousness itself.

For many years I watched the world through a political lens. I protested. I started my own magazine – streetalk. I questioned authority. I followed environmental issues and social issues closely. I believed, as many do, that if enough people stood up and spoke out, the systems would change.

Yet after decades of observation, I’ve noticed something troubling. The same patterns kept reappearing, generation after generation, even when governments changed, leaders changed, parties changed and policies changed. Fear, division, conflict, corruption and war continued to emerge under new names, new faces, new banners.

This raised a deeper question: What if the problem is not the system itself, but the consciousness that continually recreates the system?

I’ve been re-reading Seth’s Unknown Reality Volumes 1 & 2. His discussion of humanity’s ancient movement into separation offered me a framework I had never encountered before.

..”.. When, in historic terms, the race was in the process of adopting a necessary artificial separation of itself from the rest of nature; when it needed to be assured of its abilities to do so; when it took upon itself the task of a particular kind of specialization and individual focus, it needed a religion that would assure it of its abilities.  The male-female tendencies at that time became psychically alienated from each other. The differences were exaggerated. The ancient mother-goddess concept became "unconscious"; the male, purposely forgetting the great natural aggressive thrust of birth, took physical aggression and force as his prerogative – for this came to represent the quality of ego consciousness in its need to physically manipulate its environment.

While it (ego consciousness) recognized its deep oneness with the earth and all creatures, it could not at the same time develop those abilities of specialization and its own particular unique focus. The growth of separate tribal cultures, for example, and later of nations, could emerge only through a sense of separation, and a certain kind of alienation. This, however, allowed for a diversity that could not otherwise be achieved under the accepted conditions…”

Humanity gradually specialized its consciousness. Individual identity strengthened. The ego emerged as a powerful organizing force. The price of this development was a growing sense of separation from nature, from one another, and from our own deeper identity.

For most of the modern era, classical science reinforced this sense of separation. By focusing almost exclusively on the objective, measurable world, it achieved astonishing success in medicine, engineering, technology and exploration. Yet it had a persistent blind spot: consciousness itself. Science became extremely skilled at describing what reality does, while struggling to explain the observer — the conscious experiencer. What is consciousness? Where does it come from? Why does matter become experience? For a long time the assumption was that consciousness emerges from complex physical processes — an accidental by-product of biological life.

But this view is now being profoundly challenged. A growing number of serious thinkers suggest the reverse may be true: that life and matter emerge from consciousness, rather than the other way around. This reversal is enormous in its implications.

Physicist and computing pioneer Federico Faggin is particularly compelling to me. After a deep personal experience of expanded awareness, he concluded that consciousness is not generated by the brain but is fundamental to reality itself. The brain participates in consciousness rather than produces it. Others, such as Maria Strømme, are working to build bridges between physics and non-dual understanding, attempting to map and even formalize these ideas.

While I resonate more with Faggin’s direct experiential knowing, both point to the same emerging realization: reality may be more relational and conscious at its core than our classical frameworks allowed.

Whether one accepts these ideas literally or symbolically, the pattern is clear. When consciousness experiences itself as fundamentally separate, certain behaviours naturally follow:

Fear becomes dominant.
Protection becomes more important than relationship.
Competition replaces cooperation.
Judgement replaces understanding.
Control replaces trust.
Domination replaces partnership.

The “other” becomes a threat rather than a participant in a shared reality.

Over time entire societies become organized around these assumptions. Our social structures, institutions and even our ways of relating have been deeply informed by this narrow materialist view — by not fully knowing ourselves, by separating from our own deeper nature. This has helped create a fearful world, even though cooperation, relationship and love are constantly operating beneath the surface, largely unseen.

What strikes me now is that the contrast between love and fear is not merely emotional. They are fundamentally different ways of organizing reality. Take a moment to ponder this and then look around at the world, our country, our beliefs, our emotions, our lives

Love tends toward relationship.  Fear tends toward separation.

Love expands awareness.  Fear contracts awareness.

Love seeks understanding.  Fear seeks certainty.

Love recognises connections. Fear emphasizes difference.

Love encourages cooperation. Fear encourages competition.

Love invites participation. Fear demands control.

Seen this way, love is not simply a pleasant feeling. It is a mode of consciousness.

Likewise, fear is not simply an emotion.  It is also a mode of consciousness. Each creates a different world.

The news media demonstrates this every day.

A bombing is reported.

A murder is reported.

A scandal is reported.

A disaster is reported.

A conflict is reported.

The unusual, dramatic and threatening naturally attract attention.  Meanwhile countless acts of cooperation remain invisible.

Millions of people care for children.

Millions support friends.

Millions tend gardens.

Millions help neighbours.

Millions work together peacefully.

Millions solve problems collaboratively.

These events rarely become headlines.  As a result, we are presented with a distorted image of reality.

Not a false image, tragedies are real, but they are disproportionately represented. The extraordinary violence of a few individuals is displayed repeatedly while the ordinary cooperation of millions remains largely unseen, largely unacknowledged, not added into the equation of the totality of human experience. 

Fear therefore appears normal. Relationship appears exceptional. Yet the opposite may actually be true.

Humanity itself, its systems its institutions, its organizations on every level depends upon cooperation. Indeed, we are all in relationship at fundamental levels.

The food reaches the supermarket because thousands of people cooperate. Water reaches the tap because thousands cooperate. Electricity flows because thousands cooperate. Communities function because countless relationships operate successfully every day.

The world continues because cooperation is already occurring on a massive scale. In this sense, cooperation is fundamental it is relational, it’s just that we rarely it, or acknowledge it because it’s over shadowed with what is ‘wrong’ in the world

This has led me to reconsider where meaningful change actually begins. For many years I believed change primarily happened through systems. Now I increasingly suspect systems emerge from consciousness. I am beginning to see that a fearful population tends to create fearful institutions. A distrustful population tends to create controlling institutions. A divided population tends to create divisive politics.

Likewise, a population that values relationship, trust and participation gradually creates structures that reflect those qualities.

Its remembering that Governments do not stand outside humanity. They are humanity organized at scale.  The collective reflects the individual, and the individual reflects the collective.

This understanding also changes how I view my own reactions. In 2020 just before covid, I had a huge heart opening.  I had to undergo open heart surgery to replace a deformed aortic valve.  It changed me and over the years I couldn’t fully articulate why – until now.  Back then when confronted by injustice, corruption or cruelty, I become reactive, I blamed, I become emotionally entangled in the very consciousness pattern I didn’t like.

Now I realize - Love asks something more difficult, Love asks for coherence It asks me can I remain centered in the presence of fear?  Can I respond rather than react? Can I maintain relationship without collapsing into anger or hatred? Can I see suffering without becoming consumed by despair?

I feel that these now may be the most important political acts available to us.

Not because they change the world overnight, they don’t, but because they change the consciousness from which the world is continually being created, and that’s the difference and to me its huge.

Perhaps this is why I keep returning to Seth and the many books he wrote with Jane Roberts. Not because he offers easy answers, but because he places human experience within a developmental context — one that modern consciousness research is now beginning to echo. The world is not simply trapped in endless decline, nor automatically progressing toward perfection. It is unfolding, slowly, painfully, imperfectly. Yet unfolding nonetheless.

And if consciousness created the patterns that produced our current world, then consciousness can also participate in creating something new.

The question is not merely what governments are doing anymore, the deeper and I think bigger question is: What consciousness am I cultivating to help unfold this?

For ultimately, relationship and separation are not only forces operating in the world. They are choices appearing moment by moment within each of us. In this sense, humanity’s next evolutionary step may involve not merely acquiring more information, but developing a deeper understanding of who and what we truly are.

If that proves to be the case, then the greatest frontier before us is not outer space.

It is consciousness itself.

Through understanding consciousness, we may finally begin to understand why the patterns of fear and separation arise—and how the forgotten patterns of relationship, cooperation and love can once again become active forces in the human story