Preparing for the End of the World: A 2012 Checklist
As 2012 fast approaches and the predictions of Nostradamus, the Mayan calendar, the Hopi Indians, Edgar Cayce, and the Jewish calendar have us all dancing foot to foot with antici........... pation, it might be a good time now to examine a few necessarys that may come in handy in the event of Armageddon. Exciting times! Let's break it down.
Energy: Worst case scenario- earthquake, extreme storms, bombs from Iran... prepare for massive power outages that last for weeks and months, not hours. You need a generator. There are many genearators out there that run on diesel or regular fuel. There are also generators that run on biofuels, solar energy, perpetual motion, wind, and hydro-electric energy. You can even make them yourself! This is not new technology! People have been making generators and wind turbines since the '30s using used car parts! Try to find a generator that does not rely on gasoline and make sure it is portable. You'll need a rechargable battery kit to plug into the generator for radios and flashlights. Better yet, buy solar flashlights and portable solar battery chargers that will recharge your laptop, cell phone, and other little USB cable compatible devices. They are relatively inexpensive these days. Here is a great invention being worked on by the U.S. Army, remember Mr. Fusion from 'Back to the Future'?
Water: No one lasts long without it. Water filters are key here. You have to prepare to be mobile and to filter water that may contain viruses in the case of chemical warfare. Boiling water is an excellent method, as is reverse osmosis, iodine, and water bottles that contain a built in filter. Should the power be out or your home destroyed with no access to power, conceptualize now how you will make fire for cooking or boiling water.
Heat: Eventually, you will run out of lighters and matches, get yourself a steel knife and flint set for making campfires. A firestick is a metal rod that you brush with the edge of a knife to create sparks. Having a good knife and flint or firestick, will ensure that you will always be able to make fire, wherever you are. Both are light and easily carried in your belt. A space blanket is another smart purchase to be made now. It is durable, incredibly light, and incredibly efficient, invented by N.A.S.A. and used by astronauts in space. Lugging around heavy blankets while you are on the run, admidst chaos, just won't do. Space blankets do not retain water or germs and are very easy to keep clean. It can also double as a shelter in a pinch, by laying it across a structure of branches if you find that you need to flee into the mountains.
Light: Having a good supply of emergency candles, votives, and lanterns is a great idea, as is the aforementioned solar flashlight. Supply yourself with months worth of candles. They don't take up much room and you will always need them to create ambience, whether or not the end of the world is approaching.
Food: Try to imagine no more grocery stores. Severe whether or war prevents trucks and planes from shipping food around, or maybe the fields of the midwest have been flooded and the California coast is rocked by severe earthquakes. Stock yourself up with a variety of seeds and beans. You could go all out and line your pantry shelves with preserves (forget anything that requires refrigeration) but, buying a few pounds of sprouting seeds and storing them in glass bell jars would be a mighty smart thing to do. Sprouts are extremely rich in vitamins and nutrients and in the worst case scenario- you could survive very well on sprouts alone. They require minimal water and sunlight to grow and are ready to eat in a matter of 24-72 hours depending on the seed. Alfalfa, mung, broccoli, cabbage, radish, clover and fenugreek are some of the seeds that provide you with great taste and lots of life bearing properties. Assorted dried mushrooms are also a great idea. You can buy large quantities of assorted dried mushrooms like reishi, shitake, porcini, oyster and more and reap the benefits later. Dried mushrooms require no refrigeration and provide essential nutrients, enzymes, and probiotics to your body. They are essential to an anti-radiation diet, as well. Stocking up on beans will also ensure that your protein requirements are met and they can also be sprouted for added cell renewal and good health. Garbanzo, black beans, red kidney beans, and lentils are some of the healthiest beans you can buy and taste excellent cooked or sprouted. Buy a few large boxes of green tea and assorted herbal teas for good measure. It will keep your immune system online and deliver further antioxidants your organs which may come under stress.
Medicine: Prepare to heal yourself and others, by yourself. Obtaining a small medical guide is a practical move. No one expects you to know how to deal with someone's broken leg or open flesh wound. Make sure the book is comprehensive but, lightweight and can easily be thrown into a bag to take with you. Essential oils are more than just aromatherapy. Lavender and tea tree oil are antiseptic and promote healing. For severe pain or hysteria, keep a few dried poppy pods and kava kava extract on hand. You can grind up the pods with a mortal and pestle. and make a hot tea for patients suffering from severe injury when no other painkillers or medical aid is available. Kava kava will help calm hysterical patients and still allow them to be alert. A conventional medical aid kit is also a practical investment now, containing gauze, peroxide, bandaids, etc.
Your (Im)Mortal Soul: Do you have any unfinished business? A guilty conscience? Haven't made peace with someone important in your life? Take some time now to get in touch with the people who matter most to you. Tell them that you love them. If you have never tried meditating, now is the time to give it a shot. If you believe in prayer, ritual, angels, God, or the almighty power of Love.... make sure you make some time to nourish your spiritual and emotional being now.
Whether or not the world as we know it is coming to an end in two years, the advice above is withstanding. These are practical steps to take to be prepared for any kind of natural disaster or emergency situation. However, there are a lot of arrows pointing to the year 2012 and they are all saying to prepare for some major catastrophes. Whether we are on the brink of embarking on a new age or are preparing for the worst.... prepare we must. Preparing for your own comfort and survival, and those you love around you, require only forethought and a few inexpensive purchases which will be consumed and enjoyed, no matter what happens in 2012.
If you choose to do nothing else, at least make peace with yourself and your loved ones and be sure to tell them how much they are loved. Having that peace of mind, is invaluable no matter what year it is. Meditate on the meaning of love and how you create, allow, and perpetuate it.