Putin Goes to Latin America: US Creates Wars – Russia Extends a Hand of Cooperation

Who would you pick as your friend?

The country that bombs into oblivion whoever gets in its way – like #Afghanistan, #Iraq, #Serbia, #Libya, #Vietnam, #Korea, #Japan (with nukes); the country that spies on its friends, such as the newest in a barrage of NSA/CIA scandals of the US spying on Germany; the country that manipulates the whole world into submission with sanctions and threats?

Russian President Putin meets French President Hollande in France

OR: The country that comes in peace and helps develop infrastructure, trade and mutually beneficial relations; the country that doesn’t start wars and works tirelessly to preserve peace for all, despite desperate attempts of some to start WWIII?

The answer should be clear even for the brainwashed, zombified and intimidated population of the West… I think it was always clear for Cubans.

I had been to Cuba, and met Fidel Castro, when I was barely 20. It’s a wonderful country with warm and hospitable population, romantic feel and the old world/new world charm. Due to the long-term extraction of the Cuban wealth by the US and later crippling embargo, Cuba is very poor. But Cubans never fret, making do with what little they have. One of their achievements is the exemplary FREE medical care. Another one, the best education system in Latin America. See my interviews, where I talk about Cuba: Feng Shui, Fidel Castro and Fascinating Predictions: Interview with Lada Ray AND The Earth Shifter, New Earth & Alternative Economy: Thought-provoking Interview with Lada Ray.

La Habana, Cuba: Clockwise from top left: El Capitolio, Museum of the Revolution, view of Malecón, lighthouse at El Morro, Havana Cathedral, Plaza Vieja and the Great Theatre of Havana

I am looking at the footage of #Havana today (on video below) and see that, sadly, Cuba has become so much shabbier and poorer since I was there 20+ years ago. Cuba has great potential and it needs a leg up. This leg up comes in the form of a visit by the Russian President Vladimir #Putin. Cuba, where he has met with Raul #Castro (Fidel’s brother and the current head of the country) is the first stop on Putin’s extensive, week-long tour of Latin America.

Raúl Modesto Castro Rus

During the Cuban stop by Putin, Russia will write off 90% of Cuban debt, or $32bln of the total of $35bln. This is huge for a small, poor country like #Cuba. The rest of the debt will be invested in Cuban economy, which will give it a much-needed boost.

After this, Vladimir Putin will visit #Argentina where he’ll sign energy-related and trade expansion deals. Next is #Brazil, where he’ll watch the World Cup final, participate in the #BRICSbank creation, and discuss the information and security deals between Russia and Brazil with President Dilma #Rousseff. Rousseff joins the long list of heads of state-victims of the NSA wiretapping. In Brazil, Putin will also meet with a number of other Latin American heads of state to discuss various energy and investment deals.

Brazil President, Dilma Rousseff

Video report from RT:

Analysis

Russia on the move!

The worldwide revolt against USA – the empire gone berserk – is mounting. USA, with its idiotic, arrogant, and belligerent policies, has angered pretty much everyone on the face of the Earth, and beyond. USA not only bombs anyone they don’t like into oblivion, it not only tries to strangle economies of countries it wants weakened or intimidated, but it spies even on staunch allies like Germany.

In Europe: #NSA spying on #Merkel and every German, plus the latest two German #CIA spy scandals, are just a tip of the iceberg. US has many more ‘assets’ in #Germany, and Germans are naive if they think they are in the clear. Outraged Germans announced that they will lift a ban on spying on Americans. Can you believe it – they actually had such a ban! Talk about one-way street!

Angela Merkel

With one stroke USA just destroyed BNP #Paribas, the leading bank of another European ally, #France. All because France refused to destroy its economy and business credibility by forfeiting its scheduled 2 Mistral carriers delivery to Russia (as USA demanded), and the Russia-France banking deal that was in the works for years. US fined BNP Paribas $10bln for violating US sanctions regime against Russia, which essentially bankrupted the bank. In addition, US blocked France’s ability to use the international dollar exchange mechanism. In response to all that, the outraged France Finance Minister announced that his country will be seeking to trade outside of the US dollar, and will do everything to convince its partners in the EU to do the same.

In Russia, Siberia, Asia: Putin just announced that Russia would be investing $150bln in the ambitious construction of the new leg of the Baikal-Amur Railroad (BAM), taking this money off the table for US Treasury investment. See Russia’s NEW Ambitious Anti-Dollar Move: $150 bln Investment in Baikal-Amur Railroad. After US attempted to impose sanctions on Russia, Russia sold off most of its US Treasuries, which prompted the Belgian bond scandal. Pretty much everyone misinterpreted what happened when suddenly small #Belgium “purchased” US Treasuries for the amount that was bigger than its GDP. I solved the mystery and will have an article about that very soon, so stay tuned.

Putin also made a very successful pitch at the Bali Investment Conference, where he invited #Japan and #China to invest in the infrastructure development in #Siberia and the Far East. The interest is HUGE and Russia expects lots of money flowing in from China and Japan via Russia Direct Investment Fund.

And back to Europe. South Stream – (Russian: Южный Поток): Russia just signed a deal with #Austria regarding the #SouthStream gas pipeline construction. #Hungary and #Italy reconfirmed their commitment to South Stream. This comes on the heals of “uncle Sam” #McCain twisting poor #Bulgaria’s arm to say ‘no’ to South Stream going through Bulgarian territory, thus shooting itself in the foot. More about that here: ‘Gave Americans a Blow Job For Nothing?’ Polish FM Sikorski Leaked Tape Scandal.

But wait, seeing that everyone’s signing up for South Stream, Bulgaria has already managed to do a 180 degree flip! Now Bulgaria swears that they didn’t mean they didn’t want South Stream – turns out they meant they needed to consult with the EU to make sure everything was legal. And this is precisely why they needed to talk to US senator and the world’s biggest Russia-hater McCain, undoubtedly because he is the best expert on EU policy. Grotesque? Pitiful? All the above!

Russian FM #Lavrov just met with his counterpart in #Slovenia to sign the South Stream deal. Slovenian FM admitted that US put pressure on Slovenia not to sign the South Stream deal. US ambassador to Ljubljana even pressured Slovenian leadership not to receive Lavrov at all! This is the first admission of US pressure by a EU official. Despite that, #Slovenia signed up for South Stream. The neighboring #Serbia has already signed the 2.1 bln euro deal for building South Stream on its territory.

South Stream gas pipeline, designed to bypass #Ukraine, will take the capacity to blackmail Russia and EU away from the Kiev US stooges. It will increase the diversification and security of gas transit to Europe.

Proposed South Stream route

Gas transit/Russia/Ukraine Prediction: I said this before and I will reiterate: Russia will eventually phase out Ukraine as a transit artery for Russian gas to Europe. Ukraine proved to be an extremely unreliable transit country, prone to the outside manipulation, violence and outright theft. It will be a matter of time. After Ukraine no longer is a meaningful transit country, US/Kiev/EU will not have as much capacity to blackmail Russia on the gas front. At that point Ukraine will become uninteresting to the US and it will be simply abandoned like a used-up lemon. What the West is trying to achieve before they abandon Ukraine is destroy its economy. They are partially succeeding. How far they will get in the Ukraine economy destruction depends on how quickly Ukrainians wake up to the fact that they are being raped. More about Russia, Ukraine, USA, and other countries in PREDICTIONS.

Russian Presence in Latin America

Vladimir Putin’s trip to Latin America is very meaningful. He will meet with different leaders to discuss bilateral trade outside of the dollar system; creation and financing of the BRICS Bank to be juxtaposed to the rotten #IMF and World Bank system; energy and security projects; oil and gas field development.

Newest info: After Cuba, Putin made a surprise stop in Nicaragua. After that, he stopped in Buenos Aires, where he signed a number of energy and trade deals with President of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner. Argentina is very interested in increasing trade with Russia, which right now is only about $2bln. Incidentally, Russia Today (RT) office broadcasting in Spanish for Latin America will be located in Buenos Aires.

To say that Putin’s visit to Latin America has to do with the blatant US meddling in Ukraine, is to say nothing. Cubans, Venezuelans, Argentinians, Bolivians and other Latin Americans are so fed up with the US always IMPOSING something on them that they had been begging Russia for years to have tighter ties with them. Russia finally decided to take decisive steps to properly diversify its huge currency reserves away from the dying dollar. Russian currency reserves are around $450-500 bln. This is the third largest currency reserve in the world.

Instead of buying worthless US dollars or euros, investing these in the infrastructure projects inside the country, as well as in various infrastructure, development and natural resource projects in Latin America, Europe and Asia is THE WISE thing to do.

Russia is also considering reviving its military bases in Cuba, and that’s 100 miles from the US shore. Russia abandoned her bases pretty much everywhere in the world after Gorbachev came to power, but the US shameless interference in Ukraine and persistent attempts to drag #Georgia, #Moldova, and now Ukraine, into #NATO prompt Russia to rebuild her defenses against the super-bully of the world.

I am looking forward to seeing how Americans will enjoy having Russian military bases within 100 miles of their shores. Rest assured that Cuba isn’t the only country that would love to host Russian bases: #Venezuela, Argentina, #Bolivia and #Nicaragua all have issued a standing invitation.

Predictions

I

Russia is giving an example of how to conduct her global affairs peacefully and cooperatively. But I seriously wouldn’t recommend the US and EU to continue stepping on Russia’s toes. The result is always the same: every aggression against Russia turns into a humiliating defeat and long-term disaster for the aggressor (think German aggression in 1941; think Napoleon aggression in 1812). I have to say the US is legendary for its survival instinct. This is precisely why they will never dare attack Russia directly. This is precisely why they always use proxies to do the dirty job for them. But someone who betrayed once, will betray again. US proxies eventually turn against them: think US-trained/financed Al-Qaeda & Taliban. And this is what will eventually happen with Ukraine and various US allies in the EU.

II

Expect Russia to create a new investment and business climate both inside the country and abroad, which will eventually result in a global shift of how things are done internationally. China is also working on same. COOPERATION, as opposed to confrontation, is the word that comes to mind.

#BRICS will slowly but surely fully develop the BRICS Bank, which will create a much more humane and forward-looking alternative to the existing rotten IMF/World Bank system.

The crumbling US dollar system will continue being undermined both inside and out by the idiotic actions of the US, and by the fed-up population of our planet that is gradually rebelling against the dollar slavery.

III

All of the above mega deals and projects will be financed outside of the dollar. This effectively means that less and less money will be fed to the US Treasuries, thus undermining the fake financial backbone of the US empire. These moves will gradually take away the US dollar status as reserve currency.

October 9, 2014. Read related: Vladimir Putin and President Cristina Kirchner of Argentina Inaugurate International Spanish RT Channel

The Earth Shifter, New Earth & Alternative Economy: Thought-provoking Interview with Lada Ray

A reader reaction: “Great interview – fantastic, challenging questions and extremely thought-provoking and insightful answers. Loved reading it  Rory, BeyondtheDream blog (UK)

Must read! In this thought-provoking piece with unique perspective, I’m being interviewed by author and blogger Jason Sullivan, whose inquisitive mind and poignant questions have allowed us to create this one-of-a-kind interview! In addition to THE EARTH SHIFTER’s protagonist, Sasha, and the mystical setting of Lake Baikal in Siberia, which caught Jason’s imagination, we discuss lots of hot and important topics, including my advice on the mysterious Bitcoin and other alternative investments, future of the US and global economy, preparing for Earth changes and global paradigm shift, as well as what it was like growing up in Russia and meeting Fidel Castro. Some of the burning issues discussed are: What is the future of Capitalism and what kind of society are we transitioning to? How to protect yourself during the upcoming collapse and other changes? What lessons can we learn from the 1990s Soviet collapse? What is the future of human consciousness and spirituality? Why organic gardening and community building is paramount? And much more! Please read, like and comment! Jason and I would love to know what you think! 🙂

***Incidentally, Jason has also authored a 5 Star review of THE EARTH SHIFTER, which you can read on Amazon and Goodreads.

This interview has been reposted from Different Outcomes Blog.

 

The Earth Shifter *Virtual Tour* Interview with Lada Ray

L: Jason, it is my great pleasure to be your guest today. I enjoyed tremendously our last interview during the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour. That interview was so profound and revealing – all thanks to your rare ability to ask poignant questions and make your guest feel comfortable answering them – that it became the centerpiece of the last year’s tour. This one promises no less.

 

1) J:  You have lived in America for many years now and you have a very good grasp of American culture. Please compare and contrast this with growing up in Russia. What are some things you miss about Russia? What are some aspects of American life that you like? I know you have also traveled extensively. How do you see your international experiences as contributing to your perspective that we are all citizens of one planet?

L: There are lots of things that warm my heart when I think about Russia. Two of them are: how incredibly safe it was to grow up there. I mean safe to the point that kids could play in the cozy courtyard of our apartment complex until 9 or 10 p.m, without having parents worry about them –and I lived in Odessa, a city of over 1 million people! The neighborhood babushkas would sit on a bench and chat, while watching everyone’s kids, and the neighborhood grandpas would play chess at a nearby picnic table and do the same. I know, in my books, I depict certain violent events happening in today’s Russia. However, remember, I write thrillers where things are always seriously dramatized, although my books are generally based on real events.

 This violence emerged as a troubling new phenomenon after the breakup of the USSR in 1991. Such escalation of violence is typical of any society experiencing violent, revolutionary change. Breakups of empires would normally usher in this type of scenario. Look what’s happening in Europe now, and this is just the beginning for the Western world. Meanwhile, Russian life is presently normalizing, as prosperity and confidence in tomorrow returns.

I only caught the very beginning of the USSR collapse, when robberies intensified as I was about to leave the country in 1991. Before leaving, I oftentimes had to carry a lot of cash with me due to many last minute expenses and purchases that needed to be made (there were no credit cards at the time). So, in the course of several months I was robbed twice, and so quietly that I didn’t even notice. In my whole life before that, I was never robbed in Odessa. Now, in retrospect I understand (a thriller writer here ;)) that it was done by someone who knew that I was leaving the country and had to carry all that cash with me, or it was a tip from such a person. Apparently, someone followed me around, waiting for the right moment to cut my purse neatly and take the money. Of course, a lot of people knew, so it would be hard to pinpoint who it may have been. With my present knowledge of things and people, I would’ve probably figured out the identity of the thief, but at the time, I was young and trusting, since I grew up in a very safe environment.

Typically, there were just a few petty crimes per year in the whole city of Odessa. I remember, at one time, the crime of the year was someone snatching fur hats off people’s heads. The audacious hat thieves were finally apprehended and the wave of hat-snatching stopped.

In my case, they never found the thieves. The country was already quietly collapsing, and the police didn’t really bother working hard. The second time around, along with cash, they stole my house keys and passport (which was the biggest loss). I was very distraught about the passport as I needed it to leave the country, and getting a new one would have taken a while. But… lo and behold, these considerate thieves quietly left both the passport and house keys at the nearby militsia (police) station…along with empty wallet. After that, I became much more cautious and no more thieves were able to get near me.

Another thing that is a complete contrast, is how much Russians help each other. Watch my Real Russia Eyewitness Video Journey for a glimpse of that. When we had to move from place to place, all friends would come and help us move the furniture. A whole group of friends came to help us carry our suitcases and to say goodbye when we were leaving the country. This sense of a friend’s shoulder, this sense of true community, is what I miss most.

USA is a very different country. What I like about it is the go-getter, business-like attitude, and that things for the most part get done quickly, compared to a lot of other places in the world. I fit in here in many ways, but what has never worked for me is the lack of any sense of community and the fact that you could never find anyone to have an intelligent conversation with, beyond someone’s kids and mortgage, or an upcoming vacation. The most “advanced” would be talking about stock market moves and ask me for stock tips. Really???

However, the situation has changed after I became active at my blog and Twitter. I’m happy to say that I found many intelligent, like-minded and evolved people in cyberspace, some of whom reside in the USA (like you, Jason), while others live all around the globe.

We are living through a paradigm shift of staggering proportions. These days, in order to find your “tribe,” your community of like-minded souls, one doesn’t have to be confined to a specific town, or even to a specific region. We truly are becoming global citizens! I’d traveled extensively, as you correctly pointed out. Currently, I’m so busy with my writing and other projects that I hardly have time for physical travel any more – no time to waste! I find this new way of traveling in spirit – through my writing, and via the internet – to be even more rewarding than physical travel.

Capitalism (Germans call the American system “Capitalism on steroids”) emphasizes individual over society. This often happens at a detriment to the needs of a community – case in point: all the bailouts of banksters (new term =bankers + gangsters) in the USA, Cyprus and Greece at the expense of ordinary citizens. Meanwhile, Socialism is notorious for putting society before individual. However, we are witnessing the collapse of the old system. Socialism has already collapsed as the 20^th Century’s ideological structure. Now, it’s Capitalism’s turn.

We are evolving into a new species: Homo Luminous. Our society is evolving into a new type of society, never heard of before. It’s post-capitalist and post-socialist society, where the rights of individual and society have equal weight and are equally respected. The yin and the yang of societal structures will eventually merge to create a whole. This in part is the topic of The Earth Shifter.

It’s also the global village type of society. I am working on a book about that, and perhaps I’ll also do some videos soon, which you’ll be able to watch at my new Futurist Trendcast blog or at Lada Ray Channel on Youtube.

2) J:   Your interview with Fidel Castro has captured many people’s imaginations. Oftentimes meeting a famous person, or being in his presence, is different than one might expect. Is there anything about your translating for Fidel Castro that particularly stays in your mind? What was the setting like? Were you nervous? Please tell us a bit more about this experience.

L: Yes, I was nervous, but I was always able to set aside my nervousness and sort of observe it from a distance, while focusing on speaking. I think this is a necessary quality for anyone who speaks (or translates) publically. Fidel Castro had a magnificent aura – the notion I knew nothing about at the time. I just felt his formidable presence in the room. I don’t think he ever smiled, and even if he did, you wouldn’t see his smile beyond that beard.

It was a long time ago, but let’s see: the room where he received delegations I translated for was very, very large and sunny, with light curtains, huge, polished table, Cuban flag and a portrait of Che. He smoked Cuban cigars (of course), which I could do without since I could never tolerate smoke too well. Although, I must say, the smell and smoke of real Cuban cigars is something very different. If I ever had to tolerate cigar smoke in the room, I’d agree only to Cuban cigars. Fidel Castro, who is old and sick now, was an amazing powerhouse in his day. He was only a leader of a tiny island lost in the Caribbean, strangled by the blockade and American sanctions, but his presence was so formidable that meeting him was truly unforgettable.

3) J:  I must mention the recent Chelyabinsk meteor explosion in the skies above Russia. What an event! And coming so soon after you published The Earth Shifter. This is surely an indication that the cosmos likes your work!  Such an event of epic proportions and amazingly there were not too many serious injuries. I had just finished a short story, a flash fiction, and was up late (it was around midnight in my time zone) getting ready to post my story on the #amwriting website. I checked the internet one last time before calling it a night and I saw the first videos popup! Spectacular! Tells us your reaction and experience of this event. Have you heard from friends in Russia about it? What did they say? And, most of all, tell us your thoughts on the meaning and timing of this event. It could have been devastating if the trajectory had been altered just a little. Was this a warning shot? A wakeup call?

L: Oh, I like this: “Cosmos likes my work!” I sure hope so. 😉

I don’t really know anyone who was touched by this event, but I’ve heard that people, even as far as Moscow, were rather shaken. It was so fortunate that there were few serious injuries. It did look like a Cosmic warning of sorts. We are living through times of major transition on all fronts of our collective existence. And (hate being the bearer of such news) cataclysms and disasters of all sorts will continue happening during this decade, and possibly beyond. However, everyone needs to take a deep breath and see all this in perspective. As I said earlier, we are transitioning to a completely new society, and birthing pains are never pleasant.

I know many felt it was an eerie coincidence between The Earth Shifter and the Chelyabinsk meteor. But as we all know, there are no coincidences in life… After all, The Earth Shifter was born as a beautiful dream of a better world, but also as a stark warning for mankind.

4) J:  The Earth Shifter is such a wonderful book. It explores many of the profound changes the world is currently experiencing. You  have a very well thought out geopolitical perspective. Not merely do you have a clear grasp of how the governments of the major world powers work, especially Russia and how it transitioned from the former Soviet Union, but you also provide insight into the business sector and the rise of globalism. Please tell us how this interest developed. Did you have any formal training or life events that were significant in opening up this perspective for you? The book contains information that is fresh and convincing. How would you say your perspective differs from the typical mass media one on geopolitics and the challenges the world is facing?

L: Although I majored in foreign languages and literature, my classical Russian and European education included deep immersion in world history, political science and philosophy as part of the curriculum. And I never met history, philosophy or political science I didn’t like. American system of education is very different and oftentimes people here don’t understand how education could be so all-around. But that’s classical curriculum, which educates people and citizens, as opposed to training them in a narrow field, without giving them an unshakably strong foundation in related disciplines. This kind of all-around educational foundation is what has allowed me, and my former compatriots, to arrive to this country and quickly grasp new to us fields without any additional formal training, and for some, even without sufficient language skills.

I was always interested in history and geopolitics, and even if I wasn’t into politics per se, I oftentimes found myself in the epicenter of various global events, be it in Cuba, USA, Russia, or elsewhere. I’ve accumulated so many observations and so much knowledge of various counties’ inner workings throughout my life that I felt a need to share all that with the world. I’ve always been extremely intuitive, but at some point, I found that I could accurately predict events. I’ve been too busy to concentrate on that fully, but I hope to do more predictions in the future.

As to mass media: a long time ago I had disconnected cable and stopped matching all these CNBC, CNN, etc.; I unsubscribed from all magazines and papers back in 2001, when I realized that their reporting was all based on fear and greed, as well as sensationalism at any cost. I would strongly recommend that everyone do the same. Mainstream media will have to change, or die. I have to watch some news (oftentimes I just skim headlines) because of my work, but I only do alternative media, and primarily through Youtube (I recommend RT and RTAmerica).

As to my perspective: you’ll find that my point of view on world events and economy/finance most likely will be similar (not always) to that of Marc Faber, Gerald Celente, Max Keiser/Stacy Herbert, and Jim Rogers. These are the people to listen to in order to gain real perspective. On the mystical side, I find that my view is rather original, although I agree to a degree with other mystics of today.

5) J:  Concerning ascension and/or the rapid transformations taking place on planet Earth, many people have had personal experiences, perhaps even phenomenological moments, when they witness these changes. Is there anything, a vision, a realization, or something  else that has dramatically called your attention to these changes? I know you have said you are not a doomsayer, and yet there is so much negativity put forth by the media and others, how do you stay positive? What can you say to reassure those who are worried? Might you suggest some proactive attitudes and/or endeavors?

L:  I mentioned earlier our transition to a new society on planet Earth. I cover this in The Earth Shifter quite extensively, and there will be much more in future Earth Shifter books. I also will do some videos and posts, which everyone will be able to find at Lada Ray Youtube channel and Futurist Trendcast blog.

We are going through birthing pains, and this is always scary. There are also plenty of forces out there that don’t want this to happen, or want to exploit the new paradigm for their own gains.

First of, staying positive is a must. The important thing is to keep all this in perspective. The events that are happening now are predestined and the benefits humanity will reap from the new paradigm will be enormous.

Yes, there will be a need to adjust to all this: for some – more, for others – less. It all depends on what kind of life you’ve lived, how far along you are in your development and what kind of karma you are bringing with you. It is very important to keep growing spiritually. As Buddha said: “question everything.”

The new spirituality is very different from the old, stern and unbending spirituality, or the spirituality as a hide-out from the cruel world. It is open and joyful.

Osho, one of the foremost spiritual teachers of the 20^th century, called it being “Zorba the Buddha.” I see this very clearly. This is what we, the humans, are evolving into, this is the new being. However, not everyone will be able to get there. I talk about this new type of being extensively in The Earth Shifter. I am also starting to work on my new non-fiction book about this phenomenon and its practical applications for ordinary people.

If we are talking about physical preparation: become self-sufficient, so you don’t have to depend on crumbling Western infrastructure, and grow your own organic garden. We’ve recently had an interesting discussion on 1EarthUnite.wordpress.com blog. Someone mentioned that Cubans have always grown their own organic gardens. I confirmed that this was true – I’ve seen them with my own eyes. Also, after Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and before the collapse of the USSR, very smartly the Russian government had distributed gardening plots to all citizens; all you had to do was claim yours. This is why the society continued functioning and there was no famine during the 1990s collapse, despite the fact that supply routes were disrupted, ruble collapsed, and salaries were often late. I’ll talk more about that in my future posts.

Investment wise, I suggest getting rid of dollars. Don’t keep too much money in the bank, and don’t keep all your savings in dollars, as dollar will eventually collapse.

This is all very individual, and as independent financial consultant, I can only give personal financial advice during a private consultation. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to explore investments outside of the normal scope, if you want to preserve your capital. Get out of bonds and be very careful with stocks – generally, a bad investment for this decade.

The so called “preppers” stock up on food, water and munitions. A supply of food and water is always a good idea, but I wouldn’t overdo it as it does spoil in time, and you may never be able to really use it. I would never advise anyone to stock up on guns, which I personally despise, however, I understand the American point of view on the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. Just remember, where I come from people avoid guns at all cost, since Russia and Europe have gone through two devastating world wars in the 20^th Century. As a result, the aversion to guns in Europe is universal. That’s why Europeans will never understand the American “obsession” with guns.

It really would be much, much better if people in the USA began developing a real sense of community instead, if they learned to cooperate and perhaps barter, rather than insist on their separation from each other by way of barricading themselves and pointing guns at each other. I see the sense of community starting to develop in some, more progressive parts of the country. For example, I see the shoots of that in NYC and certain areas of Upstate NY, say in progressive towns like Oneonta, Woodstock, New Paltz. I hear that similar things are happening in some communities in California, Santa Fe, etc. In the Berkshires, MA, where I lived for a time and where the action of my mystery/thriller STEPFORD USA takes place, a new, community-based currency has emerged, called Berkshares.

6) J:  To take this a little further, in addition to your profound insight into the “macro” geopolitical world, your books contain touching interpersonal relationships. The warmth within these relationships contains a dynamic that lifts the spirit and makes the impossible seem possible. Could you speak a bit about the interpersonal nature of humanity and how you see this transforming, perhaps even evolving, during these amazing times?

L:  Thank you for the compliment about my books. I try my best to express through my writing the visions of humanity’s higher expression. I think I’ve already spoken about that above, but to reiterate, developing a community of like-minded people will be paramount. I was privileged to experience such community/friendships as  a teen and college student back in Russia. Now, I’m building this type of community again through my wordpress blog and interactions on Twitter. One day, I’m hoping to build a community of new human beings in real life. Where? I have an idea, but I won’t reveal my secret just yet. However, I’m working on a non-fiction book about that. Stay tuned!

7) J:  I love the manner in which you describe the Russian steppes and Lake Baikal. I am currently living on the Great Plains and I feel there are certain similarities between these two majestic natural expanses. What can you tell us about the Lake Baikal area of Russia, the feelings it evokes, the magic it contains? What kind of people live there? What is the history of the area? And, most importantly, how is the spirit contained there, in the land and water, important to all of us as citizens of the world?

L:  Sacred Lake Baikal is a very special place, and one of the amazing natural wonders of our planet. Every view here is picture perfect.

In the words of The Earth Shifter:

“Sasha let the smell of the taiga and the breeze from Baikal wash over her. The sacred lake of Siberia, Baikal, contained more than one fifth of the planet’s fresh water reserves. An average lake on Earth had rarely survived past the age of ten thousand years. There was nothing average about Baikal. Over a million years old, rather than contracting with age, it kept expanding. Scientists believed that Baikal was an ocean in the making, while the locals swore that its pristine blue depths possessed incredible healing and spiritual powers. At the moment, the sacred lake was a gleaming, rippled sheet of silver in the light of the full moon. The dark taiga—Siberia’s giant untouched forest—loomed silent just behind them.”

Lake Baikal is so huge and its energy is so powerful that it is generally regarded in Russia as Sacred Sea. It is home to over 500 endemic species, including a huge population of one-of-a-kind seal, called Nerpa – one of the many enigmas of this place. Baikal is very deep and its blue depths are uniquely fed by the live water from pristine underground sources, which continuously replenish it and because of which locals swear that the lake possesses healing powers. Baikal is a very important UNESCO World Heritage site, whose clean water reserves are invaluable in the face of any potential water shortage.

The word shaman is a local word, introduced to the world by the Russian researchers, and Siberia is the birthplace of shamanism on our planet. Like in many parts of Russia, the population around Baikal is mixed: part Russian and part Buryat. Buryats are an Asian nationality, close relatives to the Mongols. By the way, for those who wonder what tribe Shaman Tengis belongs to: he is a Buryat.

Siberia and Lake Baikal are described very poetically in The Earth Shifter. Essentially, both become beloved characters in the book. More about the mystical realm of Lake Baikal, with awesome pics.

8) J:  Please also talk some about your concept of money, monetary systems, derivatives, and especially, alternative currencies such as Bitcoin.

L:  This is a very involved subject and we have discussed some of the alternative investments above. In a few words, Bitcoin is a new type of global electronic currency, which is an alternative to the dollar. This is peer-to-peer currency without any third party risk (meaning, it bypasses the bank). Several years ago, Bitcoin has started trading at 1 to 1 with dollar, but it has been going up against the dollar like mad for the past several weeks. Currently, it is trading around $90. It’s a new currency and as such, it’s VERY volatile, but this is one of the future currencies of the new world. Note, Bitcoin investment can be very rewarding, but it’s also very tricky, and I recommend educating yourself well before opening an account. Investing at the right price is also paramount. Also, more and more people open Bitcoin merchant accounts.

This is not an investment advice – just a general discussion – although I am a licensed financial advisor. You can seek additional advice from a trusted qualified advisor if you don’t feel you know enough on your own. I provide financial advice to private clients as an independent financial consultant.

Also, stay tuned for my future videos and analysis of pros and cons of Bitcoin, gold, silver, as well as the future of money and society. All links can be found below.

9) J:  I love the scene in The Earth Shifter when Sasha empties out her wallet to give all of her money to the wife and mother of the men who murdered her father. This is so powerful! Tell us about writing that scene. It was very moving to read.

L:  Sasha, the protagonist of The Earth Shifter, is a dream of Homo Luminous, the being of the future I’ve talked about above. Without revealing too much of the plot (because the scene involves certain twists and surprises), imagine this. This is her father’s funeral. Sasha has just undergone an absolutely devastating experience of losing her only parent, the situation to which many others would react with anger, resentment, or even destructive force. The thing is, everyone would understand if she has, as the crowd is already working itself up to such outcome. But then I imagined Sasha coming in touch with another human being who has also lost everyone and everything (even if it has happened because of their own horrible actions), and I knew that her compassion would overwhelm her ego and personal sense of loss, and that she would give comfort and whatever money she had to the unfortunate woman. When I wrote, the events unfolded naturally as I could not imagine any other way in which this scene could have developed.

I think a post by Kozo of Everyday Gurus (the part where he mentions the forgiveness of a mother towards the killer of her daughter) has a very direct resonance with this EARTH SHIFTER scene.

10) J:  Finally, you mention heading up to Tibet when your writing is done and I think this is a wonderful idea. Since I was a child, the Potala Palace has fascinated me. How about if all of us “spiritual” writers have a meet up many years from now when the work is  done? I know there is much left to write, but it might be nice to look forward to a collegiate gathering, a celebration of sorts. What do you think?

L:  It’s a date, Jason! I would absolutely love to meet with you and other like-minded people and authors in Tibet! But why wait that long? We can always organize such meetings in New York, or say, in Machu Picchu, Peru. I’m planning on heading down there in a year or two. And we should definitely celebrate every chance we get, because remember, we are Zorba the Buddhas after all! 😉

J:  Thank you, Lada, for taking the time to answer a few questions about your life and writing. Best of luck with your writing and we look forward to reading many more of your books in the future!

L: Jason, I had a blast answering your questions! Thank you for this treat!

All my ebooks are on huge sale, only $.99! Paperbacks are also on big sale for a limited time on Amazon.

My books at a glance

Author links:

Author blog: LadaRay.wordpress.com

Predictions blog: Futuristrendcast.wordpress.com

Official author site: LadaRay.com

Twitter: @LadaTweets

Youtube channel: Lada Ray

Goodreads author page

Buy Links:

The Earth Shifter:  Amazon US  UK

Gold Train:  Amazon US   UK

Stepford USA:  Amazon US  UK

…

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Feng Shui, Fidel Castro and Fascinating Predictions: Interview with Lada Ray

Reblogged from source: Rohan7thingsblog

Feng Shui, Fidel Castro & Fascinating Predictions! An Interview with Lada Ray!

The title says it all! A truly awesome and off-beat author interview. I’m being interviewed by Rohan Healy of the Rohan7thingsblog!

Read a fun chat about my writing style and what was it like to create THE EARTH SHIFTER and other books. In addition to feng shui, Western/Chinese Astrology predictions and my travel musings, this interview includes advice for new and aspiring authors, plus, Rohan has added some spectacular pics too!

Today it is my honor and pleasure to interview author, Feng Shui master and world traveler Lada Ray! I recently read and reviewed her latest book The Earth Shifter which I thoroughly enjoyed and while I wait for part two I thought I’d reach out and ask Lada for an interview. She kindly obliged and so here it is. Introducing Lada Ray!

Rohan: Hi Lada, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview! It’s my pleasure to be able to share your work and experiences with an ever increasing number of people.

Lada: Hi Rohan, it’s so wonderful to be a guest at your positive and uplifting blog! Your posts always put a smile on my face. 🙂

Rohan: Thanks for the kind words, I’m glad my blog can have that effect! So I’ve just finished your latest book The Earth Shifter, which I really enjoyed, but I know this is by no means the first book you’ve released. How many books have you written in total? And when did you start writing?

Lada: I started writing fiction several years ago, when the idea of The Earth Shifter first popped into my head. So far, I’ve written 1 epic novel: The Earth Shifter; 2 full size novels: Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) and Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Smalltown Adventure), as well as 2 novelettes, Green Desert and Catharsis (Earth Keepers Chronicle 1). 

Rohan: Very cool, I also enjoyed Catharsis a lot by the way! The Earth Shifter was certainly written with an

air of confidence, with a plot that follows numerous characters and story lines that all converge satisfyingly at the end. As someone who has started writing fiction recently I was wondering if you had everything mapped out story wise before you started writing, or did you just jump in and take it from there?

Lada: Different books work out differently. First, I generally imagine the story in my head, and spend some time letting it percolate. I go for long nature walks and meditate on the plot and characters, until I’m ready to put it on paper. Then, when the urge to write becomes unbearable (sounds a lot like orgasm, actually 😉 ), I sit down and write the beginning, and oftentimes the ending as well. I also usually write the crucial chapters of the books, which I call the “skeleton of the story,” that foundation upon which the whole story rests. After that, I work from both ends to fill in the middle. The longer the book, the more complicated the process. I love the challenge of writing an epic novel like The Earth Shifter. It requires a lot of plotting and outlining definitely helps, but I find rigid outlining too restrictive. It’s easier with full-size novels, like Gold Train and Stepford USA, because they usually consist of one streamlined plot line. I adore writing shorter novelettes, as the whole story—normally between 10k and 18k words—can be imagined and written practically in one breath.

Rohan: Wow, that’s a very cool system! It’s kind of like the visual artist who first creates the outline and then fills in the rest of the details of the painting. Haha, I know what you mean about the orgasm, it’s often that way with creative works, the creative tension builds up until it must be released 🙂  

So there was no way I could interview you without mentioning the meteor strike on Russia! For those of you who don’t know, The Earth Shifter’s story revolves around an impending meteor strike that will end the world, and much of the story is set in Russia. I was reading the book at the time of the real life strike which was really eerie! Having worked as a financial consultant at a number of Major US financial institutions, plus your interest in astrology and metaphysics, I know you are in a unique position to make predictions but the meteor thing was crazy! Any more predictions you’d like to share? I’m a Libra and a Fire Tiger, can you see me sipping lemonade on a Thai beach in a few years’ time? Haha 😉

Lada: Yes, the Russian meteor was a fantastic coincidence indeed. As to the other predictions: I make predictions on my blog about presidential elections and economy. We had a number of elections in 2012 and all my predictions came true. You can check them out on my blog: Predictions 2012 and beyond.

I will be posting more predictions on my blog throughout the year, and I’ll also discuss some of them during my upcoming interview on the Vinny Eastwood Show on 3/18 at 6pm EST. I’ll post the video of the interview on my blog, so stay tuned! I am also planning on writing a comprehensive book of predictions for this decade and beyond, and I’ll hopefully get around to it this year.

But since we are at it here are some personal predictions for you, Rohan. Ready?

Rohan: Yes Please! 🙂

Lada: Okay, here goes:

Libra is a wonderfully friendly and fair sign of the Zodiac. For about 2-3 years, till last year, you were hosting the taskmaster and imparter of harsh lessons, Saturn, in your sign. You went through a serious personal transformation and probably took on more responsibility during that period.  Your rewards for any hard work you’ve been doing will start arrive during this year! In what form? It could be anything from recognition to more exposure, but it largely depends on how hard you’ve been working and what you want to achieve. During the next couple of years you’ll be learning lessons concerning your self-worth, including earnings, money, and/or anything else that is important to your sense of self-worth and self-esteem. By the way, your writing and blogging also fall under this category. It may be self-exploration and discovery. Best of luck!

Chinese Zodiac/Feng Shui/Numerology: Tiger – what a terrific sign! You’ll be happy to hear that together with the Ox (my sign, actually) Tiger is the LUCKIEST sign this year. Both Tiger and Ox are considered the signs of the Northeast, and the NE is hosting the luckiest White Star this year, referred to as Star No. 8. The No. 8 Star is the ultimate star of luck and fortune and those who are under its guise are truly blessed! Congratulations Rohan, and make sure you make the most out of this very special year! 2013 is for you—be bold and make great strides in everything you do! The force is with you!

I will make one more global prediction here. According to the secret Chinese Theory of Long Cycles, which I learned from my Asian Feng Shui Masters, and which I use in my predictions, we are currently in the Period 8, which lasts for 20 years. The last period was called Period 7 and it lasted from 1984 to 2003. Period 7 was the period of the West. During that time, we saw the unprecedented rise of the West, including USA (compare the US in the 1990s and now), UK (Look at the difference: the UK looked like heaven on Earth in the 1990s and look at it’s problems now), Western Europe, and incidentally, also Ireland , which is the quintessential West of Europe. Period 8, lasting from 2003 to 2023 is ruled by the Northeast, which means in global terms that the countries rising and dominating will be Russia and China (since they occupy the Northeast of the world and of Asia).

Rohan, personally speaking, Period 8 is simply fabulous for Tigers and Oxen, since these two are the rulers of the Northeast. Sure, there will be setbacks, but by 2023 you will find yourself living in a completely different reality and looking back you’ll often wonder how on earth were you able to accomplish all that?

This is all very fascinating stuff and I have a lot more to say. I’ll try to post more predictions on my blog, as well as cover it in my future books.  

Rohan: Wowee! Where do I start?! First of all both of my parents are Oxen as well. I work closely with them on writing and music so that’s a great sign, they’ll be happy to hear your prediction too 🙂 The Libra thing is interesting, everything changed for me in 2012, but the three years before that were very trying indeed, lots of upheaval and many difficult challenges that I had to overcome. I really do feel like I’m moving out of that period into something fresh and new now! That’s really interesting about the Chinese Long Cycles, I’ll have to look more into that, I can definitely see Russia and China becoming the dominant world players over the next while. The economic collapse has decimated the US and European economies over the past five years! What a rock star you are, thanks so much for the personalized predictions, given your track record I’m very excited about the next few years now hehe 🙂 I have a personal “5 year plan” from 2012 until 2016 in which I’m working to achieve a number of life goals, looks like I picked a good time! Looks like you did too 😉 I look forward to following more of your predictions.

So speaking of all things Asia, you have lived and worked in Malaysia studying Feng Shui. I’m jealous! I’ve been to Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand but only on short stopovers travelling from Europe to Australia or vice versa. I’ve always had a fascination with Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai history and culture. What was it like living and travelling in Asia? What was your most memorable experience?

Lada: I love Asia, and one of my goals is to return there and travel more extensively. I have a lot of books to write first, so this idea is on hold for now, but my biggest dream is to end my days in Tibet, meditating high in the mountains, where I could be one with all (however, there’s still so much to do and so much to say, that it’ll be a while 😉 ).

My husband’s family is from Hong Kong and he was born there, although he grew up in the USA. The Asian joke about Hong Kong and Singapore is that there are so many people crowding a small space in these two metropolises that if you move just slightly people will start toppling into the sea. Hong Kong is very crowded, noisy, and expensive, but it still has that very special charm, and there are still hidden gems there if you

know where to look. What I loved most in Asia: Malaysia with its capital Kuala Lumpur, where I studied with my feng shui teacher, Lillian Too, and where I made some very special friends, and Bali, where I seriously considered moving at one point. I’m planning a post on my blog about that sometime this year.

Rohan: Malaysia looks incredible, it looks like it would be a beautiful and inspiring place to live and write. And I like your dream of ending your days in Tibet, that would be wonderful 🙂 You also worked in Cuba as a translator right? Havana looks like a beautiful city, what was that like? I know you met him and so I just have to ask, what is El Comandante like? Mr Fidel Castro?

Lada: Cuba and its capital, Havana, are amazingly beautiful. The sea, the beaches and the palm trees are nice. Cuba’s beauty stems not so much from say, architecture, which is quite worn out and dilapidated, but from that special intangible quality of its people. The people are simply fantastic! Warm, inviting, they never fret and are always helpful—all that, despite the fact that they are pretty poor by any standards. They don’t have much, but what

they have they use resourcefully. Of course, the long-standing American economic blockade doesn’t help, but all other countries already do business with the island quite nicely, bypassing the archaic American restrictions. That includes US’ next door neighbors, Canada and Mexico, as well as South America, Russia, and Spain.

Cuba has an excellent educational system, the best in Latin America, and one of the best health care systems in the world. Cuba is also famous for its night clubs, and Cubans can dance till Madrugada (dawn), then go home, have a short nap—or not—and back to work.

El Comandante, Fidel Castro, is now old and sick, but he was an incredible powerhouse in his day. I was only about 20 at the time, but I still remember how it was being in the same room with him during the interviews. His presence and his aura, was so huge and overpowering that you felt completely enveloped by it. His presence was almost mystical.  You can think whatever you want about this man, but one thing is undeniable: he is an absolutely unique phenomenon. He gathered huge crowds wherever he went. I remember him speaking at La Plaza de la Revolucion. The crowd could easily reach 100k and more people. Everyone would watch and listen mesmerized, as his aura would reach to the furthest corners of the square. People would chant, “Viva Fidel! Viva la Revolucion!” I was never the one to fall under a spell, as I always think for myself and never develop fetishes, but even I was impressed by the incredible energy he was able to generate! Only a man like this could withstand all the attacks by the US, years of libel and slander, vicious blockade, all the assassination attempts, and still keep his cool, coming out of all this intact.

Rohan: Yes, he’s an incredible and important historical figure, it must have been fascinating to see him in person knowing what he’s been through and achieved under such scrutiny and pressure. Very cool!

Now, you’ve written a number of books, you’ve gone through the whole process from inception, through writing, to editing, proofing, working on cover design and finally publishing and promoting. As an aspiring author myself, and for all the others reading this, I want to ask you; what is the most important lesson you’ve learned about the writing process? If you could go back in time and tell younger Lada something about writing that would help her out, what would it be?

One practical piece of advice for the new writers: make sure your novel is professionally edited before releasing it.

Rohan: Yes, it’s definitely a personal journey of discovery and overcoming the challenges that are presented to the author. That’s true, it’s a good idea to get your work proofed and edited by as many qualified people as you can. I want to ask the same question, but this time about publishing and marketing your books. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned about the business side of being an author in the modern age?

Lada: Treat your writing as a real business! Be disciplined and driven, but don’t forget to keep writing! Tip: make sure your formatting is top notch. It is tricky and I personally outsource it to a professional. Eventually, you want to outsource as much as possible, so you could dedicate more time to writing.

Rohan: That’s great advice Lada. Many aspiring authors have to do the bulk of the work, but it’s best to delegate wherever you can and focus on what you do best, write. So when can we expect part two of The Earth Shifter Trilogy? I’m very much looking forward to continuing the adventures of Sasha and co!

Lada: I am working on The Earth Shifter 2 and will start revealing the title and other interesting details in the spring. Anticipated release of the sequel is winter 2013-14. I want to make sure the second book is as interesting and suspenseful as the first one. I have many surprises and revelations planned and I promise my readers a wild ride! 

Rohan: Ooh, can’t wait to see how things develop! And what else do you have planned for 2013? What other writing projects are you working on?

Lada: I’m incredibly happy and excited to report that The Earth Shifter paperback is coming out ahead of schedule, in the end of March. Simultaneously, I’ll be releasing Stepford USA as paperback, and second edition of the Gold Train paperback as well. It’s busy times – but it’s all good 🙂

The Earth Keepers mini-series is the prequel and companion to The Earth Shifter. This fantasy/alternative history series has a strong spiritual/metaphysical message. I am planning 2 or 3 more novelettes in this mini-series

Last, but not least, it is my pleasure to announce that on March 18th, at 6pm EST, I’ll be a guest on the Vinny Eastwood Show which is broadcast on American Freedom Radio. Watch it there, or at vinnyeastwoodshow.com andguerillamedia.co.nz.  I will also post the show on my Youtube channel and blog (find moreof my links below). Please tune in to listen, ask questions and comment! Hope you enjoy it, and please stop by to let me know what you think!

Rohan: Wow! So much going on. I look forward to continuing the Earth Keeper Chronicles  and the Vinny Eastwood will be great, can’t wait for that! Thanks so much Lada for taking the time for this interview today, I wish you all the best going forward this year with all your books and projects 🙂 Take care Lada, all the best!

Links:

 

Lada Ray’s Goodreads Author page

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You can purchase The Earth Shifter at:

Amazon US     Amazon UK       Barnes&Noble      Smashwords      Kobo

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Find out more about Lada’s books: LadaRay.com

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Follow Lada:

Blog: LadaRay.wordpress.com

Twitter: @LadaTweets

Youtube: LadaRayChannel

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