Life...the universe...and everthing else

A note to myself and my friends in these times..from source. Author unknown to me.

frak23 — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:10:36 GMT

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember (more...) what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God/ess, whatever you conceive Hir to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

Down the rabbid hole ;)

frak23 — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:13:00 GMT

Well since this place is much more quite, I have taken to exploring face book. A few of us have been trying to raise the overall vibration of that forum (though it may seem somewhat futile). If you are there and want to be my Allie, hit me up.

Happy Birthday Mithras

frak23 — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:18:15 GMT

http://www.well.com/~davidu/mithras.html The ancient Roman religion known as the Mithraic mysteries has captivated the imaginations of scholars for generations. There are two reasons for this fascination. First, like the other ancient "mystery religions," such as the Eleusinian mysteries and the mysteries of Isis, Mithraism maintained strict secrecy about its teachings and practices, revealing them only to initiates. As a result, reconstructing the beliefs of the Mithraic devotees has posed an enormously intriguing challenge to scholarly ingenuity. Second, Mithraism arose in the Mediterranean world at exactly the same time as did Christianity, and thus the study of the cult holds the promise of shedding vital light on the cultural dynamics that led to the rise of Christianity.

Solstice blessings to all

frak23 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:12:40 GMT

And merry yule to all.

A Important Message From our sponsors....Love and Light to all.

frak23 — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:56:40 GMT

I had to repost this post from my Friend Rachel Sun. She is....once again, Spot on! "Okay so they are doing it! They have successfully rerouted the attention of us stoner liberals again. Do any of us recall the excitement on the night of the Democratic convention? It was fresh and people began for a minute to believe that change is possible. It was refreshing to hear someone saying things that made some sense, whether or not we believed he could do it, it was relieving to hear someone say it goddamn it... (and it is very possible, we, as a collective, just keep changing to more of what we are looking at, which is usually what is, and so we keep changing, in every second to more of the bullshit that is being flung in our faces, instead of changing things to what we would like it to be. But then... we'd have to look toward the positive change to get there. And somehow we keep getting sidetracked by what we are trying to run away from. ) You see, "they" know that, they are fully aware that collective consciousness is what shapes what we live. So what a better way to take the "conscious forward thinking" minds off the subject of what we would like to create, than throwing this gun toting, wolf killing, creepypsycho christian redneck bitch into the mix? Absolutely fucks up the rotation. They derailed the momentum that had been quickened at the DNC, in one foul swoop. And we bought it. Look at us.... Circulating nasty stomach turning emails about this woman... So focused on the dark side that some of us are sick as we magnify it, because we are magnifying it. And that is precisely where we need to be to give her our energetic vote... and hand them the seat. AGAIN. That placement was such a blatant display of how stupid women are considered to be in the creepy mind of "the Man," but it was an even more blatant attack on the "conscious" leading edge. Many of us have been hornswaggled (and with ease I might add) into refocusing our attention to the fear and disgust that they need us to resonate in order to steal the election again. Happens every time. We get sucked into the game, and we keep falling for it, they pull it off again and we say, shit man they stole it... AGAIN! And we continue to focus on their bullshit, get fed up, scared, pissed off (it feels so godawful because, those feelings are just our real intuition telling us to what we are creating with our focus) and then we shoe them in. Are we too stoned, too much fucking yoga, too much sage, or just plain Stupid? yes that was a capital S. I think it is time for me to get on the wagon. I have spoken my voice in the blog, but I can't be against it any more. Gotta stop pushing against, and igniting her essence every time I engage in a conversation about the injustice of it all. I'm preaching to the choir when i have those conversations anyway. I do believe that we can institute the change.... Let's start right now! On a personal level, I need your help... If you could please refrain from sending me any more emails, or videos that might sway my mind back to focusing on the creepy stuff. I need my mind in a good place in order to assist in bringing about the change I would like to see. On the other hand if you have any triumphant political email to send me, I will appreciate your desire to assist me in tipping the scale in a direction I would like to experience. For all of us. Sending love and light to all as the sun comes out. Going to be in it. We can do this... we just need to get high now, not 'when things change so that we can....'Let's get this party started Right Yall! WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!"

Can People Who Work Here Afford To Live Here? Can People Who Work Here Afford To Live Here?

frak23 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:08:28 GMT

Can People Who Work Here Afford To Live Here? New Ulster County Survey Explores Housing Costs Also a Barometer on Local Economy KINGSTON, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2008 – The Ulster County Housing Consortium today launched an online survey that asks residents to register their opinion on the costs and availability of rental and owner-occupied housing. The Consortium, a group of 22 government and civic organizations, is seeking a better understanding of just how challenging the current issues associated with housing are seen by those who live in Ulster County and their thoughts about housing costs in the future. “Our goal is for the survey to be circulated widely, beyond the employees and associates of our consortium members,” said Ulster County Planning Director Dennis Doyle, member of the Consortium’s steering committee. ‘We Ask for Your Help’ “The greater the participation, the better the information will be, so we ask for your help. Take the survey, ask your neighbor to respond, give it to fellow workers and send it to family and friends.” The survey can be accessed directly at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=SnTBsMI1EVhnC8ksdj8C0A_3d_3d “If you want additional information on housing, visit the County Planning Board Web site at http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning/housing.shtml. The survey link can be found there as well,” Doyle added. Toward Adequate Workforce Housing The survey is the first step of an initiative to make sure that the workforce needed to maintain and grow the county’s economy can find a safe and decent homes within the county that they can afford. The results may also become a barometer showing how Ulster County residents are coping with the fallout of the sub-prime mortgage crisis, high oil prices and the weakening economy. “When completed, the survey will provide a first hand view of how well residents are managing housing costs today, and what they see in the future,” said Family of Woodstock Executive Director Michael Berg, chair of the Ulster County Housing Consortium. The findings will be used to help guide a major initiative to focus the attention of consumers and officials on meeting current and future housing needs. Berg thanked the Ulster County Legislature for beginning the implementation of the recently adopted Housing Strategies Report with this effort of housing awareness. “In these difficult times, it’s gratifying that the county legislators are giving priority to the housing infrastructure so crucial to economic growth,” Berg added. Has Housing Become Too Costly? “Studies show that in many parts of the country, housing costs make it too difficult for the workers essential to a local economy to live close to where they work,” Doyle said. “These are frequently office assistants and retail clerks, but as housing costs outstrip wages the impacts spread to critical employees, such as health and hospital workers. Housing costs also drive up business expenses, and influence location decisions by new companies,” Doyle explained. “An increased awareness of housing costs is a necessary piece in the discussion of solutions. This survey will help us see the situation from the perspective of county residents and business owners. It will also help us understand what housing will be needed to support economic development in the future,” Doyle continued. The results will be used by the Housing Consortium to focus on housing solutions for county residents, and to enlist support for housing needed to make Ulster County successful.

Yes...I am still alive...and awake.. It seems the Drums of war are still beating folks, just an FYI...

frak23 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:10:04 GMT

PERSIAN GULF http://www.asianews.it/view4print.php?l=en&art=12980 War ships, planes, missiles amassing around Gulf In preparation for the UN decision on new sanctions against Iran over of its nuclear program, while Tehran considers blockading the Strait of Hormuz, Western fleets are approaching. Saudi Arabia is buying jets, and Kuwait is activating its "emergency war plan". Kuwait City (AsianNews) - Iran says that it is "ready to confront sanctions" from the UN in connection with its nuclear program, which will continue forward "under any circumstances"; Saudi Arabia is preparing to buy 72 more Eurofighter Typhoon jets; United States, British, and French warships are increasing the military presence in the Persian Gulf; Kuwait is activating its "emergency war plan". There's a show of muscle in the Gulf, in preparation for the report from the deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Olli Heinonen, who visited Tehran on August 7 to clarify the offer of the "5 plus 1" (the permanent members of the UN Security Council - United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, and France - plus Germany) in exchange for the suspension of Iran's nuclear fuel enrichment program. The Iranian response - expected to be a rejection or a delay - will bring a request for a new sanctions, which could be discussed at the next general assembly of the United Nations, scheduled for September 23- October 1. In recent days, Arab observers have emphasized the concurrence of the threat of new sanctions, and Iran's announcement that it has prepared ground-to-air missiles with a range of 300 kilometers, which is more than sufficient to close the "oil gate": the Strait of Hormuz, about 50 kilometers wide, between Iran and Oman. The Middle East Times highlights that Western aircraft carriers and battleships are approaching the Gulf, on their return from exercises in the Atlantic aimed at breaking a possible blockade of the Strait. It is the largest naval deployment in these waters since the two Gulf wars. Beyond the unfortunate hypothesis of a military confrontation, the presence of Western naval forces could suggest a blockade of Iranian oil exports and imports. Although it is the second largest oil producer in OPEC, Iran is forced to import gasoline, because its refineries are insufficient for its domestic needs. Fuel is already being rationed, and a blockade of its imports would have a devastating impact on the Iranian economy.

Americans are suffering needlessly!

frak23 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:58:41 GMT

http://www. washingtontimes. com/news/2008/jun/04/soros-bubble-causing-increase/ Matthew Leising BLOOMBERG NEWS Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Billionaire investor George Sorros said the record oil prices weighing on the economy are the result of a "bubble" caused by speculation from index funds and a tight balance between supply and demand. "The bubble is superimposed on an upward trend in oil prices that has a strong foundation in reality," Mr. Soros said in testimony Tuesday before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "The rise in oil prices aggravates the prospects for a recession. " The committee is holding hearings on potential energy price manipulation. Congressional leaders are pushing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and other agencies to step up efforts at overseeing the markets for fuels such as gasoline as retail prices are forcing consumers to drive less. The hearings come as oil has retreated from a record $135.09 a barrel May 22. The average nationwide pump price for regular gasoline rose to a record $3.978 a gallon Monday, AAA said. The price was above $4 in 12 states and the District. Mr. Soros laid some of the blame on recent oil price rises on commodity index funds, which only buy oil contracts, helping to push prices higher. Mr. Soros attracted renewed controversy with his 10th book warning that an exploding "superbubble" threatens the global financial system, the New York Times reported April 11. The book bases its conclusions on the idea that individual inclinations and actions generate market fluctuations, rather than the conventional view that markets move toward some kind of equilibrium, the newspaper said. The current oil market price "is a textbook illustration of my theory" on bubbles, Mr. Soros said after his testimony Tuesday. "The buying is based on a misconception" as well as a fundamental driver of higher prices, he said. Mr. Soros said he does not consider himself an expert in oil markets and is not investing in them now. "I stay away from the oil market because it is a very tricky market." He added "I don't find it an attractive market." Mark Cooper, director of research for the Consumer Federation of America, said the current commissioners of the CFTC and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are to blame for allowing energy prices to rise to records. "Just fire the commissioners and clean the problem up," Mr. Cooper told the committee. He compared the federal regulators' reaction to recent price spikes to "the regulato

A over heard conversation.... from tatterhood

frak23 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:35:51 GMT

Imagine the conversation the Creators might have had about this: "Goddess you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the Midwest? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff we started eons ago? We had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracted butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles." "It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great extent to kill them and replace them with grass." "Grass? But, Lady, it's so boring. It's not colorfull. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?" "Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn." "The spring rains and cool weather probably make the grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy." "Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it--sometimes twice a week." "They cut it, Lady? Do they then bale it like hay?" "Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags." "They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?" "No, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away." "Now, let me get this straight, Lady. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?" "Yes." "These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work." "You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it." "What nonsense! At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life." "You'd better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and have them hauled away." "No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and keep the soil moist and loose?" "After throwing away your leaves, they go out and buy something they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves." "And where do they get this mulch?" "They cut down trees and grind them up." "Enough! Lady, I don't want to think about this anymore. Goddess, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?" "Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about..." "Never mind! I think I just heard the whole story!"

Sharing

frak23 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:26:30 GMT

The War on Food

frak23 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:34:26 GMT

Rome, Italy 3 June 2008 Farmer and civil society leaders carrying out a peaceful action today in Rome, Italy at the FAO Summit on the Food Crisis were forcefully removed from the premises. At around 1:30pm farmers and representatives of civil society organisations staged an action at the press room to deliver a message that millions of additional people are joining the ranks of the hungry as the corporations that control the global food system are making record profits. The issues of corporate control and speculation, which are leading causes of recent spikes in food prices, are not being discussed by the government delegations and the international agencies meeting in Rome to debate solutions to the crisis. “We are outraged that such fundamental aspects of the food crisis were nowhere on the agenda for the Summit,” says Paul Nicholson, member of the International Coordinating Committee of Via Campesina and one of the farmer leaders who was expelled from the Summit. The 10 people involved in the action carried posters contrasting the record profits of agribusiness corporations during the latest reporting financial quarter of 2008 with the estimated 100 million people in the world who now, alongside 800 million or so others, are hungry because they cannot afford to eat. Profits for Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, were up 108 per cent, while Cargill and Archer Daniel Midlands, the world’s largest food traders, registered profit increases of 86 and 42 per cent respectively. Profits for Mosaic, one of the world’s largest fertiliser companies, rose 1,134 per cent. The action was necessary to bring to the world’s attention that the main causes of the world food crisis are not being dealt with and that the world’s food producers– the farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers and indigenous people– have been shut out of the discussion. In previous high-level FAO events, civil society was given more space to express its views and to have a dialogue with the delegates. For this Summit, civil society was blocked from meaningful participation in the preparation and in the event itself. “We are concerned that this Summit will only reinforce corporate control of the food system and lead to a further destruction of the way of life of indigenous peoples and their survival,” says Saul Vicente Vasquez of the International Indian Treaty Council and one of the supporters of the action. “It is time for indigenous people and other food producers to take charge of food policy.” Those involved in the action have been meeting with other civil society organisations at the Terra Preta* civil society forum, parallel to the FAO Summit. A video of the action and the suppression of the action is available on: http://wsftv.net or http://www.grain.org/videos/?id=175 During the action, the security guards seized a banner reading: “Stop corporate control over food!”. For further information about the action please contact: Isabelle Delforge: +39 349 161 0296 Henk Hobbelink: +34 639 329047 See http://www.grain.org/foodcrisis/ for more links, documents, video and audio on the issues around the food crisis.

The Lunar Bull

frak23 — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:50:09 GMT

Passing this one on from my friend Nancy. May 5: New Moon in Taurus The new Moon is always a time of beginnings, so whether you pursue a dream goal or launch into a project -- start something! The Moon increases in light between waxing and waning, so put energy into things that you want to become stronger and more important in your life. Because this new Moon is in earthy Taurus, do what you can to feel physically comfortable, whether you make a plan to save money, vow to treat your possessions more kindly (how clean is your car?), tune in to nature, or formulate values that accurately reflect where you are now in your life. Making a tangible, practical investment in your life can really pay off this month.

May Flowers.-Hexenblum- Witch Flower Bzzzzt Wrong These are ACTUALY BLOOD ROOT.. :)

frak23 — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:32:11 GMT

Found an enclave of these recently and took some photos. I had no idea what they were, but they stopped me in my tracks when I saw them From http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/herborium/wood_anemone.asp Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) Flowering months: March to May Habitat: Normally found in shady deciduous woodlands. Special features: Most of the year this plant is hidden from view. It has no foliage, and looks just like a lumpy root (known as a 'rhizome') in the soil. Then at the end of February it bursts into life, sending up deeply lobed leaves, and flowering until May. It is a member of the buttercup family. The flowers of the wood anemone are a little unusual, in that they have no petals, only sepals, which are white in colour. These are known as primitive flowers. Folk Names: Hexenblum (German), Kopfschmerzblum (German) Smell Fox, Wind Flower, Wind Crowfoot, Wood Crowfoot The wood anemone has a long, tough, creeping wood-stock running just below the ground. It is the quick growth of this root system that causes the rapid spread of this plant, forming huge colonies in the moist soil of woods and thickets. Wood anemone is one of the earliest spring flowers. Like other anemones, wood anemone has a three lobed leaf just below each flower. These leaves are often so divided that it appears to have more than three leaflets. This leaf wraps around the flower bud protectively until it is ready to open, at which time the flower stalk lengthens to carry it above its protector. The flower itself is not attractive to nor does it require the fertilization by insects and has no scent. As in all anemones, the flower has no true petals, but instead sports modified sepals which assume the coloring and characteristics of petals. These are six in number, pure white near the top and pale rose closer to the stem. The flower opens wide in the light of day, but closes up as night approaches and droops to protect itself from dew. It also does this if rain threatens. Wood anemone is susceptible to certain fungal infections. Puccinia causes the stalks of infected leaves to grow rapidly, high above its brethren, while the leaves dwindle and tend to lose their divisions. A species of Sclerotinia attacks the swollen tubers of the root. In the spring when the flowers would arise, fruiting bodies of sclerotinia rise in their place. Effects: Planet: Mars Element: Associated Deities: Adonis, Anemos/Eurus, Aphrodite/Venus, Traditions: The origin legend for wood anemone is the same as for all anemones. “Where streams his blood there blushing springs a rose And where a tear has dropped, a windflower blows.” They sprang up from Aphrodite's tears as she cried over Adonis’ death. Wood anemone is called the Flower of Death in China, and it was an emblem of ill health in ancient Egypt. Areas of Europe also associated the flower with misfortune, though other country-folk considered it a fairy hideaway mainly due to its habit of folding up for the night and in inclement weather. Whether the bad luck arose from fear of disturbing fairies or from the fact that the plant is poisonous and cattle have died from ingesting it is unclear. The name Windflower comes from the belief that it will only open in the windy Month of March. “Coy anemone that ne’er uncloses Her lips until they’re blown on by the wind.” And the Greeks believed the flower was a gift from the wind god Anemos (or Eurus), sent to herald his coming in spring. Magic: The Romans believed that the first flower of the season should be plucked as a charm against fever. Until recent times, it was gathered while saying "I gather this against all diseases." It was then tied around an invalid's neck. It may be added to rituals of healing or added to a bath. Anemone’s connections to legend of Adonis’s end also make it useful in rituals of death, dying, passing. As a flower of a wind god, anemone may be used to invoke air elementals. Offerings may be made of the flowers, powdered wood or bark as incense, and it may be infuse into oil for use in anointing candles. It may also be used as offerings to the small creatures of faery. Medical Indications: Parts Used : root, leaves, juice Like all members of the anemone family, wood anemone is poisonous and should not be used unless you absolutely know what you are doing. Its qualities are the same as found for Anemone. Nutrition: not edible Mercantile Uses: Like other anemones, wood anemone is suitable for rock gardens.

Getting to the Horns of the matter-Mercury in Aries.

frak23 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:01:39 GMT

This from a astrologer friend of mine, and I really wish I had read it the other day. :) My current challenge in life seems to be about not letting my emotions get away with me, something that is hard for a empath at times, picking up other peoples stuff.: "Ruler of communication, Mercury's placement can affect our internal thought patterns, the way we interact with others, and even Internet correspondence (as in Mercury Retrograde). With Mercury in Aries, communication may take on sharp, inventive tendencies of the Ram. You could find yourself able to put your ideas to good use (especially if you're an Aries!). Just be careful not to exaggerate - or fall for the exaggerations of others!" It will be interesting to see what the new Moon in Aries brings.

Life at the cross roads.

frak23 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:48:22 GMT

This article resonated deeply with me and through me, so I'm sharing. ****************************************** We live in a society where only "big success" is acknowledged. We don't care about the small steps. We don't hear about the stumbles. Yet it takes outrageous courage to be in the middle of your journey. The middle is where it's at, baby. Maybe you're growing a new business, writing the book of your dreams, or healing from a necessary divorce. These are the times when alligators are nipping at your raw feet, the rain keeps beating down, the moon is fading, your mother is calling, and you wonder if you are going to age in poverty with hopes that never came true. Yep, these are the moments that need celebration. These are the times we need applause and ribbons and massive hot fudge sundaes and witnesses to our magnificence. These are the times we must love ourselves through the hunger and exhaustion. These are the times when we must celebrate our courage, the power, belief, and stubborn pluck it demands to just keep lurching and wobbling forward. Please give yourself the benefit of true perspective. Do not reject yourself for "not being there yet," wherever that great "there" is for you. You are on the path. You are on the path. You are on the path. The path begins wherever you are, when you embrace your life with honesty, patience, and compassion. Don't join that dismal bandwagon of thieves, those silly addle-brained fools in the streets who only believe in the gods of People magazine, or the ones who believe that it's more successful to just tack things together than to be naked on the path of pursuing your truth. Don't accept the measurements of those who uphold flawed and obsolete standards. Do not borrow knowledge from the ones who do not dare. The ones who dare---absolutely know the pain of being in the middle of things. If you're life is unsettled, imperfect, unpredictable, wild at the core, stuck, or yet to "come together," congratulations. You're one of the awakening tribe. You're in the stream of being holy alive. I spent 12 plus years writing "This Time I Dance! Creating the Work You Love", without an agent, publisher, or writing mentor in sight. I spent years feeling bad because I wasn't done with it. I watched others whiz by in their perfect neat lives, crisp definitions, and big fat paychecks and I felt foolish, foolish because I was in the middle of things. I faced self-doubt every day, but I chose self-love in the end. I decided to stay true to myself even if that looked as though I would walk for years through the deep blue sea. I wanted to follow my own instincts, hold my own hand, and see where that led me in the end. It's led me here, a time in my life where I am so unbelievably grateful for all those essential "middle moments," all those experiences that shaped me, fed me, grew me, and made me what I am---and what I have always been meant to be. In This Time I Dance!, I said, "It takes a hero's journey to create a hero," and I'll say it again. Those middle moments are our ashrams, boot camps, graduate schools, and launch pads. They are anything but useless, empty, or ordinary. The middle of things is where change takes place, where the great big barge of how things have always been turns around in the ocean and goes a new way. It's slower than a long red light, but it doesn't take place forever. The real heroes are in the middle of things, sweating in the middle of the night alone, doubting the future, crying the tears of self-doubt, burning holes in the ground with their mad desire to flee. Celebrate these ones, the ones who are making choices right now that others will not see. Celebrate these ones who dare to make uncelebrated choices. Celebrate yourself, right now as though you are the biggest winner of all time, because you are dear one, you are. You are sticking with the wonderful and terrible confusion of creating an authentic life. Bestselling author Pema Chodron, a beloved Buddhist nun, says, "To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man's-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again." And Deepak Chopra, tells us to look at times of process as "pure potentiality."-- I think "pure potentiality" sounds like a destination spa resort, and so much zestier than a "big fat zero," or "swamp." I suggest you try on language like that that empowers you. Remember, those "pure potentiality" times are when we make our life's most significant choices. It's where we craft, envision, and realize our future. This month I'd love you to truly celebrate the experience of being in the middle of things. Write yourself a letter of congratulations or buy yourself a small token of appreciation at this juncture, a totem of support. While you're at it, celebrate someone else who is in the middle of their evolving lives as well. We all know someone in the thick of a break up, a layoff, an illness, or someone who had their manuscript rejected or their contract cancelled, someone whose circumstances are pushing them to a new and uncomfortable edge of being. Let's clap for all the winners, now, the winners who are on their way, the winners who are not yet recognized, the winners who are walking through the desert, the winners who are allowing themselves to win at last, and those who are even boldly allowing themselves to "lose," because they know they will never lose by staying true to their souls. I want you to know that I celebrate you all in my heart. I am so moved by your dogged steps forward, your hungry self-inquiry, your shaky new belief in possibilities and your emerging commitment to your own inspired life. You are the brave ones, the alive ones, the ones who deserve medals right now. Yours in the dance, Tama ©Copyright 2007 Tama J. Kieves. All rights reserved. http://www. awakeningartistry. com Feel free to forward this copy to anyone you think might enjoy it. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information. Thank you.

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf

frak23 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:00:33 GMT

I left an offering out last night to the forest guardians. Usually it is the Ravens and Crows that come for it. It was a Wild turkey Carcass, a casualty of the road that I left out for them to return it to the land. This morning it was gone...completely. Investigating I found that what ever it was had dug out a good chunk of the earth with its claws around the area. So I have some large carnivores in my back yard. Could be a few things, but I offer this as food for thought.. As a pagan practicing an earth centered spirituality I feel it is important f to develop a connection with nature and increase our awareness of the local flora and fauna. As many of us know, animal sightings can be oracular, in dreams and in real life, so knowing what is out there is good. I myself was treated this weekend to a flight of 5 Turkey Vultures, a Kestrel and a pair of birds that were definitively Ravens, riding the thermals up at table rock. During the short but fun exploration of my friend Lady Morgana’s property a discussion’s came up about possible wolf sightings in this area. I found part of a reference to what I was mentioning about this online, so here you are...Wolfs in the north east. I still want to find the bit from the Suny New Paltz Bio Dep that has been doing studies. Here you go... Gray wolf’s origins in northeast remain a mystery By Gene Chague Article Last Updated: 03/16/2008 05:10:06 AM EDT Sunday, March 16 LENOX Over the last few years, several readers have reported seeing a gray wolf in the Otis, Sandisfield and Monterey areas. In most cases, I politely suggested that perhaps they were seeing large coyotes or perhaps a wolf-dog which may have escaped from captivity. But at least one person absolutely refused to accept that explanation, citing that the color, size and howls were different. As he put it "you think the coyote howls are something, you should hear the wolf’s. It stands the hair up on the back of your neck." When the gray wolf was shot by the farmer in Shelbourne last year, a possible explanation was given by some experts that the animal may have escaped from captivity somewhere. After all, they aren’t supposed to be around here any more because they were eradicated by the settlers in the 19th century. But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department stated that they found nothing to indicate that it was held in captivity. This got me thinking about those above-mentioned reports. I got back to one reader, Lauren Sartori of Great Barrington, and asked her what she thought about the recent revelation. She said that "it confirms what several of us have thought .....more http://www.berkshireeagle.com/genechague/ci_8590537 And more http://freenewhampshire.blogspot.com/2008/03/gray-wolf-killed-in-western.html

Moon in Libra Message from my friend the Dark Mother AKA New Paltz Nancy.

frak23 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:00:22 GMT

Tonight's Full Moon in balanced Libra is in direct opposition to the Sun in self-centered Aries. This will force us to look within - and around! What does that mean? Those looking to fully utilize tonight's energy should open themselves up to the world at large in order to commune with all things and all people. In experiencing this interconnectivity, what you may find is that you learn something profound about yourself - information you can take with you as you begin the new lunar cycle. Celebrate the work you've done on yourself of late, and put it to use going forward! And more from an astrology site the Libra Full Moon will move into position to square Mars and Pluto as it opposes the Sun, forming a Grand Cross. The next few days will be a powerful time, and the energy of this time will spill over into the next few weeks and possibly months. It's very important now, in this time of great power, to be aware of the energy that we are sending into the world. Everything is amplified now, and each small event ripples into a greater event that has far-reaching consequences

...and now a message from our sponsor.

frak23 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:01:06 GMT

A very important reminder....from a friend to my friends for me and you too...... (whoever reads ) The things that we would be asking ourselves is, "What proportion of my day am I in vibrational harmony with my desires, which means, how much of my day am I happy, glad, eager, fulfilled, satisfied, complimentary? And what percentage of my day am I ornery, irritated, frustrated, or blaming?" And you don't have to do 100%, you don't have to do 90%, you don't have to do 80%. If you could even get around 55% feeling better, than not feeling so good -- you'd have significant movement in what begins to happen in your experience.

Open the pod bay doors please, HAL.

frak23 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:18:16 GMT

"Open the pod bay doors please, HAL." (Look who is commenting on DISINFO BLOG, hopefully not HAL...) Ben Kuchera notes on ars technica: "Arthur C. Clarke is perhaps best known for his three laws of prediction: 1. When a scientist states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong. 2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. 3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. "These are simple words, but in them exists a very singular hope: science can do anything that strong and able minds ask it to, and that a faith in science doesn’t remove one from a sense of wonder." I’d have to venture Mr. Clarke is best known his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name. Open the pod bay doors please, HAL. — Ralph Bermardo, Disinformation (www. disinfo. com)

Ssssssss!!!

frak23 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:31:24 GMT

Honoring the Serpent Powers on this day. May the coils of energy, once again unravel. May we shed out skins and emerge from the dark hole. May the Cthonic powers of the earth rise to be honored and bask on the rock in the sun. St. Patrick and the Snakes From Patti Wigington, Your Guide to Paganism / Wicca. St. Patrick and the Pagan Snakes of Ireland: St. Patrick is known as a symbol of Ireland, particularly around every March. One of the reasons he's so famous is because he drove the snakes out of Ireland, and was even credited with a miracle for this. What many people don't realize is that the serpent was actually a metaphor for the early Pagan faiths of Ireland. St. Patrick brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle, and did such a good job of it that he practically eliminated Paganism from the country. While it's true that snakes are hard to find in Ireland, this may well be due to the fact that it's an island, and so snakes aren't exactly migrating there in packs. The real St. Patrick was believed by historians to have been born around 370 c.e., probably in Wales or Scotland. Most likely, his birth name was Maewyn, and he was the son of a Roman Briton named Calpurnius. As a teen, Maewyn was captured during a raid and sold to an Irish landowner as a slave. During his time in Ireland, where he worked as a shepherd, Maewyn began to have religious visions and dreams -- including one in which showed him how to escape captivity. Once back in Britain, Maewyn moved on to France, where he studied in a monastery. Eventually, he returned to Ireland to "care and labour for the salvation of others", and changed his name to Patrick, which means "father of the people." Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in many places on March 17, typically with a parade (an oddly American invention) and lots of other festivities. However, some modern Pagans refuse to observe a day which honors the elimination of the old religion in favor of a new one. It's not uncommon to see Pagans and Wiccans wearing some sort of snake symbol on St. Patrick's Day, instead of those green "Kiss Me I'm Irish" badges. If you're not sure about wearing a snake on your lapel, you can always jazz up your front door with a Spring Snake Wreath instead!

Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax Passes out of the material plane. Art from http://fenryu.deviantart.com/

frak23 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:47:53 GMT

E. Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Gygax designed the original D&D game with Dave Arneson in 1974, and went on to create the Dangerous Journeys and Legendary Adventure RPGs (Role Playing Games), as well as a number of board games. He also wrote several fantasy novels. This link to BoingBoing has a comprehensive interview with Gygax done in 2003 that provides great detail about the foundation and scope of his marvelous creation. As Joel Johnson said there: "Tiamat consume you fully, Gary. You brought untold amount of fun and joy into my life." And millions around the world. — Ralph Bernardo, Disinformation" I have to say that I was one of those millions, and were it not for him, Tolkein and my collection of Man Myth and Magic magazines I had as a youth, I might have never explored the realms of magick. All I can say is Thank you, where ever you are. I would have never stared the hunt for my secret self without your game. Magister Ludi has nothing on you. Go in peace!!!

Never again part 2

frak23 — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:07:23 GMT

From Phyllis Currott, February 21, 2008 URGENT: Halt Woman's Execution for 'Witchcraft' To Those Who Share Our Deep Concern: Please join us in calling for the immediate pardon and release of FAWZA FALIH [DEL:Falwah Faliz], a Saudi Arabian woman who has been sentenced to death by beheading for the alleged crime[DEL:s] of "witchcraft." As Human Rights Watch has declared, the conviction of Fawza Falih is a travesty of justice. A letter to His Royal Highness KING ABDULLAH has been drafted and signed by clergy and members of various faith traditions. The letter may be read online where you may also sign it. Please do so as soon as possible at: http://www.petitiononline.com/AIDFAWZA/petition.html Please help to circulate this request for support as widely as possible -- time is of the essence. Further information on the case is available at: CNN Reports Saudi Witch Case http://www.cnn.com/video//video/world/2008/02/15/verjee.saudi.witchcraft.cnn HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Saudi Arabia: Fawza Falih's Case Reveals Deep Flaws in Saudi Justice System http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/02/14/saudia18051.htmT To read the letter from Human Rights Watch to King Abdullah: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/02/13/saudia18046.htm BBC News Pleas for condemned Saudi 'witch'http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7244579.stm

oooooohh Veeeeenusssss

frak23 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:06:56 GMT

Sharing the love of a post from my friend "the Dark Mother" As communication planet Mercury in friendship-based Aquarius comes together with lovely Venus in Aquarius, you seek out people who share your values. This will provide a fabulous climate for interesting, thought-provoking conversations. This is a perfect day to attend a lecture, throw a party or join a matchmaking service. It's not everyday that the planet of love matches up with the cerebral planet!

NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

frak23 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:38:43 GMT

This could happen here if a Fundy gets in office folks. It is important that we make our voices heard. Many Saudi executions are beheadings by the sword in public places Call your senators and or reps and ask them to Please put pressure on the Saudi to Halt this execution. The trial and conviction of Fawza Falih is a miscarriage of justice. The illiterate woman was detained by religious police in 2005 and allegedly beaten and forced to fingerprint a confession that she could not read. Among her accusers was a man who alleged she made him impotent. Human Rights Watch said that Ms Falih had exhausted all her chances of appealing against her death sentence and she could only now be saved if King Abdullah intervened. 'Undefined' crime The US-based group is asking the Saudi ruler to void Ms Falih's conviction and to bring charges against the religious police who detained her and are alleged to have mistreated her. Its letter to King Abdullah says the woman was tried for the undefined crime of witchcraft and that her conviction was on the basis of the written statements of witnesses who said that she had bewitched them. Human Rights Watch says the trial failed to meet the safeguards in the Saudi justice system. The confession which the defendant was forced to fingerprint was not even read out to her, the group says. Also Ms Falih and her representatives were not allowed to attend most of the hearings. When an appeal court decided she should not be executed, the law courts imposed the death sentence again, arguing that it would be in the public interest.

Lupercalia Arrrroooooooooooooooo!

frak23 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:13:16 GMT

Lupercalia is uniquely Roman, but even the Romans of the first century were at a loss to explain exactly which deity or deities were being exalted. It harkens back to the days when Rome was nothing more than a few shepherds living on a hill known as Palantine and was surrounded by wilderness teeming with wolves. Lupercus, protector of flocks against wolves, is a likely candidate; the word lupus is Latin for wolf, or perhaps Faunus, the god of agriculture and shepherds. Others suggest it was Rumina, the goddess whose temple stood near the fig tree under which the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus. There is no question about Lupercalia's importance. Records indicate that Mark Antony was master of the Luperci College of Priests. He chose the Lupercalia festival of the year 44BC as the proper time to offer the crown to Julius Caesar. According to legend, the story of Romulus and Remus begins with their grandfather Numitor, king of the ancient Italian city of Alba Longa. He was ousted by his brother Amulius. Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, was made a Vestal Virgin by Amulius and forbidden to marry since her children would be rightful heir to the throne. Mars, the god of war, fell in love with her and she gave birth to twin sons. Fearing that the boys would grow up and seek revenge, Amulius had them placed in a basket and thrown into the freezing flooded waters of the River Tiber. When the waters receded, the basket came ashore on Palantine Hill. They were found by a she-wolf who, instead of killing them, nurtured and nourished them with her milk. A woodpecker, also sacred to Mars, brought them food as well. The twins were later found by Faustulus, the king's shepherd. He and his wife adopted and named them Romulus and Remus. They grew up to be bold, strong young men, and eventually led a band of shepherds in an uprising against Amulius, killing him and rightfully restoring the kingdom to their grandfather. Deciding to found a town of their own, Romulus and Remus chose the sacred place where the she-wolf had nursed them. Romulus began to build walls on Palatine Hill, but Remus laughed because they were so low. Remus mockingly jumped over them, and in a fit of rage, Romulus killed his brother. Romulus continued the building of the new city, naming it Roma after himself. February occurred later on the ancient Roman calendar than it does today so Lupercalia was held in the spring and regarded as a festival of purification and fertility. Each year on February 15, the Luperci priests gathered on Palantine Hill at the cave of Lupercal. Vestal virgins brought sacred cakes made from the first ears of last year's grain harvest to the fig tree. Two naked young men, assisted by the Vestals, sacrificed a dog and a goat at the site. The blood was smeared on the foreheads of the young men and then wiped away with wool dipped in milk. The youths then donned loincloths made from the skin of the goat and led groups of priests around the pomarium, the sacred boundary of the ancient city, and around the base of the hills of Rome. The occasion was happy and festive. As they ran about the city, the young men lightly struck women along the way with strips of the goat hide. It is from these implements of purification, or februa, that the month of February gets its name. This act supposedly provided purification from curses, bad luck, and infertility. Long after Palentine HIll became the seat of the powerful city, state and empire of Rome, the Lupercalia festival lived on. Roman armies took the Lupercalia customs with them as they invaded France and Britain. One of these was a lottery where the names of available maidens were placed in a box and drawn out by the young men. Each man accepted the girl whose name he drew as his love - for the duration of the festival, or sometimes longer. As Christianity began to slowly and systematically dismantle the pagan pantheons, it frequently replaced the festivals of the pagan gods with more ecumenical celebrations. It was easier to convert the local population if they could continue to celebrate on the same days... they would just be instructed to celebrate different people and ideologies.. Lupercalia, with its lover lottery, had no place in the new Christian order. In the year 496 AD, Pope Gelasius did away with the festival of Lupercalia, citing that it was pagan and immoral. He chose Valentine as the patron saint of lovers, who would be honored at the new festival on the fourteenth of every February. The church decided to come up with its own lottery and so the feast of St. Valentine featured a lottery of Saints. One would pull the name of a saint out of a box, and for the following year, study and attempt to emulate that saint. Confusion surrounds St Valentine's exact identity. At least three Saint Valentines are mentioned in the early martyrologies under the date of February 14th. One is described as a priest in Rome, another as a Bishop of Interamna, now Terni in Italy, and the other lived and died in Africa. The Bishop of Interamna is most widely accepted as the basis of the modern saint. He was an early Christian martyr who lived in northern Italy in the third century and was put to death on February 14th around 270 AD by the orders of Emperor Claudius II for disobeying the ban on Christianity. However, most scholars believe Valentine of Terni and the priest Valentine of Rome were the same person. Claudius' Rome was an extremely dangerous place to be Christian. Valentine not only chose to be a priest, but was believed to have been a leader of the Christian underground movement. Many priests were caught, one by one and imprisoned and martyred. Valentine supposedly continued to preach the word after he was imprisoned, witnessing to the prisoners and guards. One story tells that he was able to cure a guard’s daughter of blindness. When word got back to Claudius, he was furious and ordered Valentine’s brutal execution – beaten by clubs until dead, and then beheaded. While he was waiting for the soldiers to come and drag him away, Valentine composed a note to the girl telling her that he loved her. He signed it simply, "From Your Valentine." The execution was carried out on February 14th. Another legend touts of a well loved priest called Valentine living under the rule of Emperor Claudius II. Rome was constantly engaged in war. Year after year, Claudius drafted male citizens into battle to defend and expand the Roman Empire. Many Romans were unwilling to go. Married men did not want to leave their families. Younger men did not wish to leave their sweethearts. Claudius ordered a moratorium on all marriages and that all engagements must be broken off immediately. Valentine disagreed with his emperor. When a young couple came to the temple seeking to be married, Valentine secretly obliged them. Others came and were quietly married. Valentine became the friend of lovers in every district of Rome. But such secrets could not be kept for long. Valentine was dragged from the temple. Many pleaded with Claudius for Valentine's release but to no avail, and in a dungeon, Valentine languished and died. His devoted friends are said to have buried him in the church of St. Praxedes on the 14th of February. The Feast of St. Valentine and the saint lottery lasted for a couple hundred years, but the church just couldn't rid the people's memory of Lupercalia. In time, the church gave up on Valentine all together. Protestant churches don't recognize saints at all, and very few Catholic churches choose to celebrate or observe the life of St. Valentine on a 'Valentine's Sunday'. The lottery finally returned to coupling eligible singles in the 15th century. The church attempted to revive the saint lottery once again in the 16th century, but it never caught on. During the medieval days of chivalry, the single's lottery was very popular. The names of English maidens and bachelors were put into a box and drawn out in pairs. The couple exchanged gifts and the girl became the man's valentine for a year. He wore her name on his sleeve and it was his bounded duty to attend and protect her. The ancient custom of drawing names on the 14th of February was considered a good omen for love. Arguably, you could say the very first valentine cards were the slips of paper bearing names of maidens the early Romans first drew. Or perhaps the note Valentine passed from his death cell. The first modern valentine cards are attributed to the young French Duke of Orleans. He was captured in battle and held prisoner in the Tower of London for many years. He was most prolific during his stay and wrote countless love poems to his wife. About sixty of them remain. They are among the royal papers in the British Museum. By the 17th century, handmade cards had become quite elaborate. Pre-fabricated ones were only for those with means. In 1797, a British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained suggested sentimental verses for the young lover suffering from writer's block. Printers began producing a limited number of cards with verses and sketches, called “mechanical valentines,” and a reduction in postal rates in the next century ushered in the practice of mailing valentines. This made it possible to exchange cards anonymously and suddenly, racy, sexually suggestive verses started appearing in great numbers, causing quite a stir among prudish Victorians. The number of obscene valentines caused several countries to ban the practice of exchanging cards. Late in the nineteenth century, the post office in Chicago rejected some twenty-five thousand cards on the grounds that they were not fit to be carried through the U.S. mail. The first American publisher of valentines was printer and artist Esther Howland. Her elaborate lace cards of the 1870’s cost from five to ten dollars, some as much as thirty-five dollars. Since then, the valentine card business has flourished. With the exception of Christmas, Americans exchange more cards on Valentine’s Day than at any other time of year. Chocolate entered the Valentine's Day ritual relatively late. The Conquistadors brought chocolate to Spain in 1528 and while they knew how to make cocoa from the beans, it wasn't until 1847 that Fry & Sons discovered a way to make chocolate edible. Twenty years later, the Cadbury Brothers discovered how to make chocolate even smoother and sweeter. By 1868, the Cadburys were turning out the first boxed chocolate. They were elaborate boxes made of velvet and mirrors and retained their value as trinket-boxes after the chocolate was gone. Richard Cadbury created the first heart-shaped Valentine's Day box of candy sometime around 1870.