Dismantle illusion, stare down fear, embrace truth, honor love, realize the infinite wisdom and potential you hold within. ~Ivy

Just because someone tells you she is kind and compassionate does not make her kind and compassionate. It is always best to measure the magnitude of someone's character not by her words, but by her actions.

~Ivy

If you talk to the animals,
they will talk with you,
and you will know each other.
If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know, you will fear.
What one fears, one destroys!
~Chief Dan George

My friends network is a living-breathing fabric, much like the cells of an organism. As living beings we are constantly incorporating new molecules of food, air, water, and minerals into our make-up to sustain the greater organism that is the individual. The cells that connect to create the us of today are comprised of different molecules than the cells of the us of yesterday, and still different from the cells of the us of tomorrow. Yet, this other than implies that we are now physically larger, eating more, or attaching our selves to more physical objects. Rather we are simply aligning with those things that support who and what we are in the now.

So too, do I view my friends network as an ever evolving dynamic organism. As such, I am constantly incorporating new and vibrant energetics while releasing those with which I no longer resonate. Energy is a moving breathing dynamic phenomenon. I honor those relationships which sustain, support, share, encourage and evolve. I invite you to live, breathe, and grow with me~

...that you are truly ready to step into your Strength, Greatness, and Self Love when you find that you are able to do 3 simple things with your profile:

1) Start your name with a capital letter; not a lower case letter; not a *; not a ~; but a capital letter! Announce yourself! You are here!

2) Choose any background besides the black one. The black background keeps you enshrouded in darkness. Open the curtains! Let the light in!

3) Put a photo of your face as your main photo! Not a cartoon. Not a photo of your pet. Not a landscape. AND ESPECIALLY NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S ARTWORK. Don't even make me explain how wrong that last one is. Just put up a photo of you. You're here. Let us see who you are!

Be you! Be strong! Be proud!

:) :) :)

It seeks its likeness...it connects...it expands...seemingly without limitation, without fear...for that is its nature...so long as there is love, love shall seek love, seek connection, seek expansion, without limitation, without fear...love seeks love...

~Ivy

"Drop Dead Fred" on saving a relationship:

Fred: Well, why don't we harpoon Charles straight through the head, drag him back to the apartment, and hit him with a hammer until he agrees to come back?
Elizabeth: Harpoon him through the head? That won't work, Fred.
Fred: Why not? How many times have you tried it?

"Edward Scissorhands' " lesson on puberty:

Bill: You've been closed up away in that castle too long. You don't know anything about the wonderful world of teenage girls. They're all crazy! I don't know what it is. They reach a certain age. They develop these gland things. Their bodies swell up. They go crazy.
Edward: Glands?
Bill: Yeah, glands. I try not to think about it.

"Without a Bar Mitzvah, I'm just a boy with a prostate the size of a goat's head."

www.thesimpsons.com/

why does everyone misspell these?

1) definitely
2) weird
3) receive
4) existence
5) grateful

and so i touched you for a moment...a perfect glass moment frozen in eternity...
and there our bodies melted like sugar into water...crystal fallen to hydrogen...substance collapsed to energy...
i touched you...i breathed you...and you breathed me...together we rose and fell...one heart echoing another...the heated coil of lust unwinding...
and together we released...your nectar to mine...sweet...steady...the same...yours like mine...
and i was there in your arms...and you in mine...and i breathed an eternity of longing then sated...an inquiry for peace then met...a day that became night that became day...
and asleep curled to you...i feared nothing...knew safety...was protected...and thought cherished...
for one perfect crystalline moment, my heart knew yours...and yours knew mine...beyond words...beyond fear...without asking...only giving...only receiving...only having...only everything...

then...

shattered.



~ivy 2007

a very comprehensive look at the Scorpio moon placing...from MSN!

Mysterious, alluring and magical...just a few of the qualities of a Scorpio Moon. Scorpio is elusive and secretive, hence potentially the most misunderstood sign of the zodiac. The Scorpio Moon is deeply, intensely romantic, very sensitive and highly intuitive, exuding an air of adventure, challenge and ultimate discovery.

The Clandestine Paramour

In the zodiac court, the sign is symbolized by a variety of roles that include magi, secret agents, cryptographers, and clandestine paramours. By nature, Scorpio Moons defy description and love to avoid detection. It can be quite difficult to categorize them and even when you get close, they love to slip your grasp and steal away undiscovered. One thing is for certain: they do not like being labeled, summed up or limited by the perceptions or assessments of others. They are mysterious because of their love of mystery and their desire to understand life’s secrets.

Scorpio occupies the eighth house of the zodiac and, like Aries, is ruled by the planets Mars. The essence of this house and sign is transformation and regeneration. It symbolizes our individual or collective desire to achieve a state of being beyond our current limits, and in the highest sense, the attainment of some level of transcendence. Scorpio is about moving closer to our souls, our true selves, and finding freedom from the ordinary and the mundane. It acts as a doorway or portal though which we begin the long and often tedious process of personal transformation.

In medieval times, alchemical treatises emphasized the qualities of the Scorpio because they represent the ability to transmute base metal into gold. The Scorpio journey begins in the mundane and traverses by degrees into the sublime. It is no surprise, then, that Scorpio embodies magical qualities and symbolizes the enchantment of becoming more than we are or something else altogether. Who better embodies this aspect of the Scorpio Moon than Kahlil Gibran?

In general, Scorpio Moons exhibit these qualities in a number of ways. They have a probing, inquisitive nature that helps them plumb the depths of any chosen subject, especially those related to the esoteric and spiritual. They tend to be quite philosophical, but are at the same time non-conformist and love to challenge and accept wisdom in their pursuit for a genuine and personal realization of the truth. Their quest for knowledge will take them far and wide. The Scorpio Moon is likely to have at least an interest, if not an active involvement, in astrology, meditation and ancient cultures. To pursue secrets, to unravel the universe and its workings, to discover meaning and revel in understanding, these are the driving forces of a Scorpio Moon. When this striving is less esoteric, it can take on a decidedly scientific nature, which makes the Scorpio Moon’s insatiable thirst for wisdom a real asset, not least because it will give them a compulsion for their work.

The best example of this is Albert Einstein. He took an interest in astrology and commented that it is a science in itself and contains an illuminating body of knowledge. "It [has] taught me many things, and I am greatly indebted to it … astrology is like a life giving elixir to mankind." The author Umberto Eco is a good example of the depth of a Scorpio Moon, with his eminent scholarship, original ideas about semiotics and his breadth of esoteric knowledge.

The Scorpio Moon is often a quiet person, tending to a kind of introversion which is not so much a shyness as a reserve, a cautious withholding of themselves, at least until they get to know you and feel comfortable with you. It will be clear to you that while they are not saying much, they are conscious of everything going on around them. It is rare that a Scorpio Moon will miss anything.

Sometimes they can have a bit of a voyeur in them because they like to watch life from a private vantage point. They can therefore be good observers of people and will enjoy movies, theatre, the news, people watching, tarot cards and anything that lets them see the big picture while not getting too closely or immediately involved. Francis Ford Coppola’s Moon is in Scorpio, which arguably is part of the reason for his keen cinematic eye, if not for his choice of genre. Other Hollywood Scorpio Moons include Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, John Cusack, Alfred Hitchcock, Patrick Stewart and Gerard Depardieu.

In fact, Scorpio Moons are rebellious, avant-grade, artistic and original. Their penetrating natures help them to break new ground, especially in artistic pursuits, the best example of this being Pablo Picasso. Much of the wild, unfettered, creative, intense nature of Picasso had its roots in the Scorpio Moon. His well known penchant for passionate relationships and his desire to find perfect love can also be astrologically attributed to Scorpio.

The Subtle Sensualist

Scorpio Moons are sensual people who have a magnetic, attractive quality that can be captivating, especially if your Moon sign is Taurus, Pisces or Cancer. If so, then you will no doubt be drawn to the magic of the Scorpio sexuality, which is a mixture of subtle intensity, expectation, uncertainty and a hint of excitement ; no doubt a potent allure. This will be stronger or weaker depending on the house placement of the Moons in the respective charts. In any case, though, the feelings will be palpable (assuming of course, there is physical attraction, which is an essential in any match.)

There is a lot more to the Scorpio Moon then just sensuality, however. They can be truly dedicated and fiercely loyal partners. When a Scorpio Moon gives their heart, there is probably nothing more binding. While it may take time to win them over and to create an intimate bond, once you have a mutual trust they are special partners indeed.

There is also a yearning in the Scorpio heart, often felt very intensely, for a level of personal achievement and inner fulfillment. The subtle quality of this yearning may be best expressed by a sense of urgency to discover what will complete them, make them whole and lift them up higher. It is a feeling that is difficult to express in words and finds a better expression in dreams. Although subtle, its effect is powerful, compelling the Scorpio Moon to be ever conscious of the need for that inner perfection.

It is no wonder, then, that their nature is strong, intense and moving. The Scorpio Moon can perceive meaning even in the most ordinary of experiences. Nature speaks directly to them, again in a way that is not easy to convey unless your Moon is in Pisces or perhaps Cancer. For this reason, verbal communication with a Scorpio Moon can leave you feeling that much is left unsaid, and if you are in a relationship with one, you will certainly need to develop your intuitive and non-verbal skills to fully understand what’s going on. If you are the kind of person who likes to keep things simple, uncomplicated or more on the surface, then the Scorpio Moon may be too deep and subtle for your liking.

Their love of freedom and originality along with their rich inner world can also make them eccentric. The Scorpio Moon does not like taking the beaten path. Even when they tend towards conservatism, it is their own personally and embellished brand. They are not easy followers, so expect them to change things slightly if you are working together on a project. Maybe more than many of the Moon signs, they contain a knot of contradictions not easily unraveled.

Beguiling the Secret Lover

It takes time to get to know a Scorpio Moon, so be patient, especially if they are quiet or withdrawn. At first, they are likely to interact with you with small often imperceptible and seemingly inconsequential comments, gestures and sideway glances. These actions are a kind of radar that helps the Scorpio Moon assess your reaction, nature and character, while you remain unaware of it. Needless to say, the Scorpio Moon is very aware, and you may notice that behind the reserved facade, there is a lot going on, which earns the Scorpio Moon the reputation for being intense and mysterious.

In time, they will open up, and you can get to know them better. If you express an appreciation of secrets and discretion, it is likely that they will feel more comfortable with you, but they will certainly ask you to talk about yourself first. When they do voice their opinions, you can expect them to be frank and a touch diplomatic. You may have to read between the lines, as they can be subtle in their expression, at times appearing to talk in riddles and double meanings. If you are shy or insecure, this can leave you feeling uncertain about where you stand.

In simple terms, the Scorpio Moon prefers privacy and secrecy. They are not boisterous and are unlikely to be demonstrative. They are more demure and refined in their dealings. A paradox of the Scorpio nature is their ability to swing to extremes, sometimes showing intense interest in someone or something, and in the next moment nonchalantly walking away, detached as always. The intrinsic quality of reformation and regeneration expressed in their character means that you will see some degree of the anarchy that often precedes creativity.

In fact, they are accustomed to holding their views and feelings close to their chest and tend to scrutinize new ideas carefully before accepting them as their own. Their thirst for knowledge doesn’t mean they are easy to convince or persuade. Bringing a Scorpio Moon round to your way of thinking takes time and patience. Don’t expect quick results. It’s best if you are just as happy if they don’t ultimately agree with you, because otherwise you could be disappointed. The Scorpio Moon certainly doesn’t like to be pressured, and the best way to gain their agreement is to tenderly cajole them and give them lots of space and respect.

When confronted or dominated, there is contrariness to the Scorpio Moon, which should not be underestimated. There is no force on Earth that will easily get a Scorpio Moon to your side of the fence if coerced, the fundamental Scorpio urge for freedom will take control. If anyone is going to be in control, it’s the Scorpio Moon. This often creates misunderstanding and distrust in their relationships. Taken at face value some people think that the Scorpio Moon simply wants to override others. For the most part, this is not the case. The moon is highly sensitive in the sign of Scorpio, giving feelings of vulnerability, heightened awareness, preoccupations and fears, both real and imagined. Scorpio Moons thus desire respect in all their dealings. While this principle can vary widely according to other factors in a person’s chart, it will certainly constitute a large and important part of their character.

The symbol of the secret lover is appropriate here, because the Scorpio Moon will, like a secret lover, expect attention, care and understanding, all in a way that is not so obvious as to draw other’s attention. Scorpio Moons tend to be painfully self-conscious and while they are good at hiding it, it can nevertheless affect their confidence. The last thing they want is to draw attention to their delicate feelings, or any special treatment that you offer, and you will earn their respect and gratitude if you are able to handle emotional or romantic matters with care and discretion.

Do not make the mistake of airing private matters publicly, because this can hurt them beyond words, or forgiveness. They tend to feel things deeply and can carry hurts with them for a very long time. They will let you know it by hurting you back, letting fly with a cutting remark that really stings – another reason why the ancients chose the symbol of the scorpion for this part of the zodiac. The suddenness of their expression is most likely due to their failure to express themselves and their tendency to keep things in long after you have forgotten them. There is also a compulsive side to their nature, which means that their salvos are not always intentional, but are instinctual, especially when they are hurt in some way. If this catches you by surprise, rather than respond straightaway, give a moments thought to what you have done, consciously or unconsciously, to cause pain, then do your best to heal the wound with a little attention and the salve of affection.

The range of emotional expression is very broad with a Scorpio Moon. Even after you have known them for some time you can expect surprises now and then. While anger is not uncommon at difficult moments, the most likely Scorpio expression is a silent painful brooding, which can be very difficult to tolerate, especially if you are also very sensitive. They are usually aware that this and their sharp tongues can land them into hot water, so they work consciously to avoid taking things to the extreme. Getting the right balance of self-expression and restraint is important for the Scorpio Moon and something that they will usually perfect as they get older.

Transforming Love

Transformation is an important part of the Scorpio life mission, which manifests as a tendency to tear down, in order to build up again. This phoenix-like urge applies pre-eminently to emotional matters where periodically the Scorpio Moon will want to redefine the relationship, discover new meanings and challenge the existing emotional patterns. A typical expression of this will be the need for the two of you to redefine your love and attachment for each other, sometimes by playing one of those bittersweet dramas where you separate only to reunite in greater mutual intensity. Depending on your own nature, this can be something of an emotional roller coaster ride, but if it’s excitement, striving for freshness and relevance, and emotional adventure that you crave, then the Scorpio Moon is for you.

Scorpio Moon is strongly intuitive and often psychic, which like all qualities has its good and bad sides. On the good side you can expect them to pick up on how you are feeling and what may be bothering you. They can be proactive and helpful with this, especially when it comes to getting you to talk about repressed feelings or thoughts that need expressing. It’s also not uncommon for them to have premonitions, insights and dreams of the future. This is very handy, but some people are not comfortable with knowing things in advance. You’ll be fine if you are comfortable with a partner who can read at least your feelings and maybe something of your mind, and has a pretty good idea of what is going on. The downside of this trait is sometimes a tendency to be suspicious and to think that what they feel is what is really happening. If they become skeptical or even jealous, the Scorpio Moon can take some convincing that all is well.

For a loved one, however, the Scorpio Moon can be long-suffering and in some cases this helps to fulfill a kind of yearning for the experience of profound romantic self-sacrifice. The Scorpio Moon is capable of a deep and intense quality of love. When they love you, they throw their whole being into relating to you. Their amorous embrace has a binding, seductive nature that envelops your being. You too will be expected to give of yourself, to offer maybe more than you might with a less demanding love. For some, this is highly captivating and for others, slightly unnerving.

Scorpio Moons also have their own subtle and sometimes difficult to understand emotional language; deep, intense, yearning, but changeable and sensitive. In a moment, it is possible for you to unconsciously say or do something that rubs them the wrong way, and it may take some time and effort before you understand the cause of their mood change. In truth, it is not possible to change this tendency in a Scorpio Moon and the best way to deal with it is to accept it, enjoy it and sometimes just watch it in wonder.

The heart language of Scorpio first and foremost wants to be understood, but not revealed. They want their feelings to be perceived, but not exposed. They want to be respected, and yet not be taken too seriously. They want to be serious and deep, but don’t want to dwell on feelings or have you look too closely at what goes on inside them. In a sense, they want you to see them deeply but not directly. To do this you will have to look at them emotionally speaking, with a sidelong glance that tells them you understand them, without revealing how much you understand them. When you can do this, you will have their heart and their abiding affection, because you have pierced the mystery of their being and understood the simplicity of their love, however complicated it may seem on the surface.

Being a partner to a Scorpio Moon means traveling with them on their journey of personal evolution, a journey of the soul. The karmic theme of this journey is the transformation of latent potential into higher-minded achievement. It is certain that this is an exciting, unpredictable, demanding, but ultimately rewarding journey. If you choose to join them, you can expect an uncommon depth of love and life experience.

groups.msn.com/ZombiesUnd...inlove.msnw

I lose myself for a bit...

The good news is that I am never far away...and I can always be found again so long as I remember to look~

~Ivy

Once you realize how insignificant you are, then you can truly grasp how significant you are~

~Ivy

–noun

1. intense, sharp, overmastering fear

Terror is not something that encroaches upon us from without, but rather a heightened state of fear that rises from within and paralyzes.

Terror has been the Bush administration's primary instrument in meeting its ends, by instilling in people a paralyzing fear of "what might be." And while people are frozen in fear of "what might be," they are forgetting that they can have a say in creating their own realities. Out of fear, they have surrendered their rights to create peace, harmony, love, prosperity and a healthy existence. Terror has granted the Bush administration a blank check to cash in on our human rights, our intellectual freedoms, our environment, our health-care, our economy, and our lives.

Terror cannot be overcome through external protections, walls, doctrines, restrictions, blocks, or alliances. Terror can only be overcome from within, by recognizing the fear that paralyzes, looking it square in the eyes, holding our heads up and saying "We are stronger than this. Now, let's get on with living."

-Ivy

(As a side note, I am researching the word origins of terror and Terra [Earth] to see if there is a connection. I am really starting to think that the "War on Terrorism" was a declared war against our sacred Earth, as She certainly seems to be the one who has suffered the most at the hands of the current administration.)

As we each allow our individual light to shine, others cannot help but be illuminated by its presence.
~Ivy

Woah! I just saw what my profile looks like in Internet Explorer, and I must say, "It ain't right."

If you're curious to see how it's meant to look, I recommend installing Firefox:

www.mozilla.com/en-US/

Buckle up! The future is here!!!

:)

Perhap's Icarus' greatest mistake lay not in flying too close to the sun, but in attaching his wings with something so fickle as wax. ~Ivy

Think mythologically, yet speak plainly, that you may say great things and be understood by a great many. ~Ivy

So, the thing is I have several projects underway...and this will help me keep track of 'em as well as allowing people with whom I have trades to see what I'm up to. If your project is listed, it's not yet complete. When it disappears from the list, it's complete, but I'll prolly contact you at that time as well!

:)

1) Trade with Jamie: 2 watercolor paintings in exchange for a sublime crocheted hooded shawl~

2) Trade with Ms. Kaya: 1 watercolor painting in exchange for an exquisite necklace people.tribe.net/mskayasat...fc5da22bd3

3) Trade with Andy: Sky photo manipulation in exchange for ?

4) Trade with Faern: 1 Azalea print in exchange for a mesmerizingly beautiful magnolia photo print people.tribe.net/faern/blo...585680623d

So, for now...that seems like a pretty full plate to me! When I get down to just 4 on the list, I'll seek out some new trades!

Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"All works of art start as potential. Similarly, all relationships start as potential. When I meet a person, I try and see not their mask, with its defenses, but what’s underneath. I get accused of refusing to acknowledge who a person is choosing to be right now. When that person is arrogant or rude or selfish, then my friends say, 'Clyde!!!!!! THIS is what this LOSER is about.' But I say, "Hold on people, this is only what this person THINKS they are about." So this so called Loser person is confused. But if no one sees their potential, then they may not ever see it themselves, and that would be tragic." ~ Clyde (American Doll Posse)

"Where do you come up with this stuff? I mean the wisdom you offer? Where does it come from?"

Ivy, "Uh, mostly from my head. Though sometimes outta my ass. But I'll tell you, I usually find truth in that stuff too."

:)

Nope! There's a lot of yucky stuff below the surface. Before we can genuinely be filled with truth and light, we must look at the darkness...with honesty, with integrity, and without fear. Exposing the truth can only ever serve to empower and enlighten us. Ignoring the truth keeps us imprisoned by doubts, fears, and lies. Face your fear, smash it with a sledgehammer, and then rise to your truth. Greatness awaits!

~Ivy

When choosing death, choose a death that is swift, painless, and without much thought.
A slow death is painful, lonely, scary, and suffering.

When choosing life, slow it down and truly live it!
Breathe the air, smell the flowers, smile at the bees, dance, sing, laugh, and take time to notice those around you who are living as well.
A fast life can pass in the blink of an eye, and what then?

Yes, choose wisely when choosing life or death, and each shall come to you in a way most desirable~

~Ivy

I hope both for our individual and collective evolution...that through our love and support of each other we will achieve things creatively, intellectually, spiritually and consciously of which we, as individuals, might not otherwise be capable. This is my dream, my wish, my vision, my hope: for me to assist in bringing out the best you in you and you to assist in bringing out the best me in me and for us, together, to resonate to a higher awareness, consciousness and effectiveness.
~Ivy