Conscious Choices of 2016

I just got challenged to make a list of conscious choices I have made this year to make the world a better place. I have to travel a lot with work, which equals a high Co2 footprint and a bad conscience, so I decided to make some adjustments and take responsibility to help balance it out somehow. Every footprint matters.

1. Drastically reduce plastic waste. I try not to buy anything that is wrapped in plastic, always bring my own bags to the store, avoid drinks from plastic bottles, etc. 
    
2. Make an effort to bring back the wisdom of the sages, indigenous knowledge and lessons, and apply them in my daily life. There is a great peace to be found in creating rituals for yourself, paying respect to the sacred in your life, whether it is expressing your gratitude for all the joys surrounding you in the morning or just lighting a candle for humanity in the night.. 
    
3. Make your own hygienic products. Baking soda is a great substitute for shampoo, apple cider vinegar for conditioner, aromatherapy-infused coconut or argan oil for the skin and choosing conscious brands for face paint/makeup. 
    
4. Every time you spend money, you are choosing the world you want to live in. I have spent less than 400$ on new clothes this whole year. I get most of my clothes from markets around town + trading with other people, and still manage to feel professional and sharp (believe it or not). In our flatshare, almost all the furniture and kitchenware have had other homes before. #thesharingeconomy  
    
5. Find mentors. Stay in touch with the men and women of all ages if they have something to teach you. I have a handful, and keep returning to them when I feel like my inner compass is spinning off course. 
    
6. Beach cleanups. Marine plastic pollution is the worst. Every time I am by the sea (often, having to remain sane in the city), I bring a bag and collect whatever it is that people have used the ocean to get rid of. Bring a friend and share the love, you’ll be surprised how many people will stop, ask, and learn. In yoga philosophy, they call this karma yoga, selfless service to others AND the environment.
    
7. MEDITATION. Create a quiet space in your mind and fill it with light. Breaking down the barriers and fears that society has built up around you takes a great deal of courage. My friend Åsmund taught me it is okay to cry and that weakness and that true openness is one of your greatest strengths. Yoga and a vegetarian diet also helps the planet breathe <3
    
8. Give back, pay it forward. There are many people in Oslo at the moment that could use some warmth, physically and mentally. Sometimes, a warm coffee or a smile can make someone’s day, think about this when you pass by on your way to and from your busy meeting. 
    
9. Engagement. Doing what makes you feel alive and surrounding yourself with people who inspire you and also want to make a difference. Help out where you can. 
    
10. Choose your thoughts and words carefully. Thoughts are energy which manifests itself faster than you think. Self-program yourself with visual imagery, books and music that take you on inward journeys. Be positive, and never ever put yourself down, because you are incredible and we love you.

New moon, new needs..

It's all about manifesting your own happiness. Feeling whole and complete. Setting the intention for what you feel is missing in your life. I finally sat down and realized I have to be more conscious about my relationships. So here goes.

I need a man who touches me. Who is emotionally able and can read my every breath. With many layers. A man who sees can read between the lines of the everyday unspoken and will lead me into adventures in unseen worlds. A man who sees the universe in every living being. A man who makes music out of all things alive. A man who sings songs at the campfire, whose soul will howl with me as we run through open landscapes. A man who looks at me and sees art. Whose gaze comforts my body and makes my every cell glow. A man who feels the energy of male and female and travels between the two. 

A being who has conquered the chains of time, who knows that we are meant to be mirrors for each other so that we can become our greatest selves in this lifetime or the next. Who knows my greatest weaknesses and strengths and is not afraid of facing either of the extremes. Who knows that experiencing the duality and polarities are necessary in order to expand. Who calls me by my true name and knows how to kindle the heat of the ancient stardust still burning in my DNA. Whose touch melts down the frozen layers that have crystallised around a heart which came here for the sole purpose of loving wildly. 

A man who can lead in a tribe and follow in a movement. A man who senses the subtleties of the elements and knows how to use them to his advantage. A man who is not afraid to love. 

Who is the Norwegian Sage?

Author and activist Howard Thurman said: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." I believe that making a difference starts with feeling alive. 

The Norwegian Sage has been whispering in my veins ever since I was a child, closely watching and guiding my spirit as I grew older. She is voice of my ancestors, of the indigenous wisdom carried down in my genes through generations, and the compass I turn to when my balance is disturbed. 2015 felt like the year to honour her energy and begin practicing her teachings. 

Growing up in a modern world that is constantly pulling you in different directions, with an overwhelming amount of available choices will silence your intuitive mind. Although it was always present somewhere inside, it took me a long time to remember and discover my inner self and authentic direction. In 2008, I was in a skiing-accident and spent six month literally getting back on my feet again. For the first time in my life I  had time, a space opened up for exploring and challenging the truths and structures I thought constituted my self.

I dove deep into yoga philosophy and started meditating several times a day. Realized that I can consciously use my thoughts to program my own reality. That everything starts spinning in the right direction when you begin expressing your own energy instead of being influenced by other people's. It felt like I had thrown myself into the universe without map or compass, but it also felt very safe and intuitive.

At university, I studied humanitarian crises and peace processes for seven years in order to find out how living/human systems are constructed and broken down again by war and instability. Realized that nature is more important than anything else and that the destructive dimensions of global conflicts are emphasized by fragile local communities and institutionalized power relations where nature is given less value. 

Traveling around in countries such as Nepal, Burma and Sri Lanka to observe the traditions of indigenous people, political systems, sacred meeting grounds and conflict resolution mechanisms, made me understand, like many a person before me, that the change I wanted to see in the world had to begin with nurturing a sustainable resilience in myself. That my own life had to be 'eco-logical', in accordance with nature's own rhythm, for me to feel happy and calm. I realized that both personal and social development unfolds faster when you work with nature, not against it.

Today I work as a diplomat trainee in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continuously confronted with the challenges and dilemmas in our current global systems. There is no doubt that the world is out of balance, but I believe that the synergy between knowledge, communications and technology, combined with love and a little magic will drive the world forward in a more harmonic direction.

I envision a world with political and economic democracy, ecological balance, strong local decision-making power and creative unfolding, where food is medicine, and we take care of each other and our living environment, both animals and plants. 

The platform 'Norwegian Sage' is an attempt to nourish a community of people wanting to live closer to nature and taking collective action on issues facing humanity today. I hope to share glimpses into my own life and journey, as well as stories and practices from people and traditions I encounter along the way.

Everything is connected, and every step into the light will make a difference.