tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781499167547982722024-03-13T17:25:12.304-07:00ArchetrixArchetrix; Architecture & Metaphysics o Erin Sylvia SimpsonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-17775745423875558842023-08-17T07:17:00.002-07:002024-03-10T12:56:06.841-07:00Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h1><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 44px;"><i>Consultant</i></span></h1><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwziBSIg9Z0KiXg2vT0V6Cb9QRJ_kAS3kXwCqffU5AlozIqpvXACTTSNvB5d9kV749zsnFJKnWZ7Egq2CerYyQ-qFv2XFJE-rrsVifTtw7P9qKo1-wR86TzzrNzvbel9MIVMQFWv_UX0WIujT6mrGVxvkHskXQFXzXhReL7a9jJN8gn0aDqWa6qgHGB88f/s684/Sage%20Goddess%20Graduation%20Photo%20Advanced%20Crystal%20Masters%202022%20squared.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Erin Sylvia Simpson" border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwziBSIg9Z0KiXg2vT0V6Cb9QRJ_kAS3kXwCqffU5AlozIqpvXACTTSNvB5d9kV749zsnFJKnWZ7Egq2CerYyQ-qFv2XFJE-rrsVifTtw7P9qKo1-wR86TzzrNzvbel9MIVMQFWv_UX0WIujT6mrGVxvkHskXQFXzXhReL7a9jJN8gn0aDqWa6qgHGB88f/w320-h320/Sage%20Goddess%20Graduation%20Photo%20Advanced%20Crystal%20Masters%202022%20squared.jpg" title="Erin Sylvia Simpson" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx17dfucRxH6C9RdEaxrP_mhBcLfZsBNPgHOvTHQ1EZ5nUHefB7wJJ1aV68lGzSbc6dOVGZj6DOKt8jje1K8SsCuECCIBc8yej4nKnuf6FkEdUZgiPuwVYJgr1DUE9ohWBSlBol6QAFS76xgfhr2QFcz6dczvJfQVLbAxL2XiEr9hi6VuAuWBneS-pkkW/s719/7-7-7%20July%207%202023%20brightness%20and%20color%20enhanced%20level%202.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"></a><br />
<h2><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Creative Professional with Dual Expertise</b></i></span></h2><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Architecture & Metaphysics</b></i></span><br />
<br /><br />
<i><span style="font-family: times;">Washington State Department of
Licensing (Architect 12122) not licensed as a State of Washington architecture business.<br />California Architects Board (22740)<br />Collaborative Designer elsewhere</span>
</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-28126948855784088332023-08-15T20:00:00.003-07:002023-12-22T10:24:35.879-08:00Vastu Purusha Architectural-Metaphysics<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL9FkiUwevyGosXVTaicluHD18ai8IPbZfIG23BRsR-_DKoLhJP33R3GZXF0NMLyd3BPLRMt0nEFqdrswKnSn8QaGUtua9BFaEFARaFF1BSnTm7kD0ui4D8tWQydiOWWV2xwiFSWFh3QSBln-ctLyA_-f-l53r3LcGOTMVEeZG8iBo0Zhh0P8Vlzx_PFR/s484/Personal%20Graphic%20derived%20from%20Ashta%20Lakshmi%20Reiki%20Symbol,%20mirrored.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL9FkiUwevyGosXVTaicluHD18ai8IPbZfIG23BRsR-_DKoLhJP33R3GZXF0NMLyd3BPLRMt0nEFqdrswKnSn8QaGUtua9BFaEFARaFF1BSnTm7kD0ui4D8tWQydiOWWV2xwiFSWFh3QSBln-ctLyA_-f-l53r3LcGOTMVEeZG8iBo0Zhh0P8Vlzx_PFR/s320/Personal%20Graphic%20derived%20from%20Ashta%20Lakshmi%20Reiki%20Symbol,%20mirrored.png" width="320" /></a></div>I've chosen a Vastu course for some of my continuing education requirements, because it links the metaphysics with the architecture very nicely.<a name='more'></a> Several of the courses available are being taught by architectural university graduates and professional architects; and at least one of them by an authentically Indian female presenter who has an architect's education, which is the course I've chosen.<br /><br />Currently enjoying some fanciful historic story-telling from ancient times, with personification of evil and good within architectural structures, and finding that there are interesting universal truths within these ancient concepts that continue to be relevant.<br /><br />The underlying theme, it seems, is that there is an enormous underlying energy in any building which, if not controlled, can result in negativity; gossip between co-workers, arguments in the family, bringing negativity back home through the front door from office stress, etc. And, as well, there are things which can physically happen, such as unplanned maintenance and repairs, for example.<br /><br />The ancients personified this negativity as an enormous entity.<br /><br />To counter this negativity, the ancients personified the devas as being small yet numerous in comparison; something like the divine within all people who live in a house or work in an office, as well as customers and clients coming in through the front door. The devas tied down the negativity, by working together, like the Lilliputians in "Gulliver's Travels".<br /><br />Sort of like, in a western concept, a lot of guardian angels overcoming an enormous demon by working together.<br /><br />Of course, we the people in the house and the people in the buildings and the customers and clients coming through the door represent these Lilliputianesque guardian angels.<br /><br />But the ancients went a little farther.<br /><br />They actually honored the strength and power of the negative forces at three points during the construction process: at the groundbreaking, when the front door was installed, and at the completion of the construction project. This was like a pay-off, so the negative forces would be acknowledged and thereby agree to stay tied down.<br /><br />Fascinating story.<br /><br />The universal truth: there is negativity underlying every building situation, and it's up to us to overcome this negativity by working together harmoniously.<br /><br />Although I don't foresee adding complete services at this time; for a simplified, reiki version of a Vastu Clearing, please visit my <a href="https://www.archetrix.com/p/architectural-metaphysics.html">Architectural-Metaphysics webpage</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-30255094020516919832023-08-04T19:07:00.002-07:002023-08-04T19:25:56.854-07:00I Dreamed I Saw an Older Man lyrics<a name='more'></a>I dreamed I saw an older man<br>
sitting by the sea<br>
in a dusky, summer sunset<br>
and the winds all blowing free.<br><br>
His soft, white hair was blowing long<br>
as he rocked in an ancient chair<br>
and he looked away at the darkening sea<br>
as if it wasn't there.<br><br>
And the sky was burning pink and gold<br>
and the sea foam drifting near.<br>
I called to him both loud and long<br>
but he didn't seem to hear.<br><br>
He drew his breath and gave a sigh<br>
And then began to smile<br>
as he lit his pipe and closed his eyes<br>
and was silent for awhile.<br><br>
I put my hand upon his knee<br>
and looked into his face.<br>
A bright, young tear crept in his eye<br>
as he looked into empty space.<br><br>
“I'll be eighty-two August fourteenth,<br>
about half a year from now,”<br>
he said, and shivered slightly,<br>
because the wind had just started to blow.<br><br>
And in his eyes a bright light shone<br>
like a beacon for the young<br>
He said “never leave a road unknown<br>
nor leave a song unsung,<br><br>
For life is passing swiftly, lass,<br>
more swiftly than you know,<br>
and now I feel my time has come,<br>
and that I soon must go.”<br><br>
And across the ocean, faintly,<br>
I thought I heard a tune<br>
that told of wondrous places<br>
and wove mists around the moon.<br><br>
The tune grew stronger swiftly,<br>
and the smell of harvests ripe,<br>
and I saw a hoofed figure<br>
was playing the tune on bagpipes.<br><br>
And, just behind him, a procession<br>
of things that could not be;<br>
Myths and songs and legends<br>
of a place beyond the sea.<br><br>
As if in a dream of pleasure<br>
the older man rose up and said<br>
“Good-bye until tomorrow, girl”<br>
and he, behind, was lead.<br><br>
They faded into moonlight beams<br>
and left me here on the shore,<br>
and to the sky an albatross<br>
rose upward to soar.<br><br>
I dreamed I saw an older man<br>
sitting by the sea,<br>
in a dusky winter sunset,<br>
and the winds all blowing free.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-56255428705221139782023-07-24T22:15:00.003-07:002023-07-25T00:02:04.003-07:00October November more lyric snippets July 24 2023<a name='more'></a>As time slips by remember why, remember what we know<br>
We know our love was brighter than the lion's sunny mane<br>
We know our love was truer than the archer's crescent bow<br>
We know we'll fly the starry skies to see each other again.<br><br>
We know we'll fly the starry skies and we will meet again.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-34114495012245134612023-07-15T17:59:00.004-07:002023-07-15T18:01:19.453-07:00October November Song Lyrics, First Sounds July 15 2023<a name='more'></a>C E G B
<br /><br />
Cmaj 7<br />
em7<br />
<br /><br />
gm7<br />
B flat 6
<br /><br />
Melody/top note on piano ¾ time, maybe intro?
<br /><br />
b g b (123)
<br /><br />
bflat g bflat (123)
<br /><br />
<iframe src='https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-BKIrCM8wduOmXpiGHrXsl-Yu4dTqIKH/preview?usp=sharing' width='100%' frameborder='0'
/>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-28706646126520506512023-07-08T00:12:00.006-07:002023-07-08T00:34:42.435-07:00October November Song Lyrics, Second Lyrics July 8 2023<a name='more'></a>Yesterday's lyrics seem to be a transition; a bridge. I don't know what the chorus is and I still don't hear the music.<br><br>
Today I am getting a story line about meeting and greeting princesses and pirates. Something fancifull. Also a 3/4 time for that sequence.<br><br>
And the words for the chorus are something about fingers touching through the veil. Angelic harmonies at the chorus.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-27051306617594257272023-07-07T17:30:00.004-07:002023-07-07T18:15:42.327-07:00October November Song Lyrics, First Lyrics 7-7-7 July 7 2023<a name='more'></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qOc0hCp2TSyQuG5CmeRg6hBIECgojsheDq8FqZpvvLa5M4jKgrryUlWE4xQtO1mgcTwbeb4jSGS5mcBynyaGT1N-gb44gkjrrYgqEReVCjs9eJnS_5j2WvkU-40hx810W8ugrVH6q_AXsPOKHc5OZXBgWOVnhcoFeoymG1eWZWgw36cFrF1mZYMq5zqz/s1600/October%20November%20Song%20Lyrics%207-7-7%20July%207%202023.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="October November Song Lyrics, First Lyrics 7-7-7 July 7 2023" border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="873" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qOc0hCp2TSyQuG5CmeRg6hBIECgojsheDq8FqZpvvLa5M4jKgrryUlWE4xQtO1mgcTwbeb4jSGS5mcBynyaGT1N-gb44gkjrrYgqEReVCjs9eJnS_5j2WvkU-40hx810W8ugrVH6q_AXsPOKHc5OZXBgWOVnhcoFeoymG1eWZWgw36cFrF1mZYMq5zqz/s16000/October%20November%20Song%20Lyrics%207-7-7%20July%207%202023.jpg" title="October November Song Lyrics, First Lyrics 7-7-7 July 7 2023" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October November Song Lyrics, First Lyrics 7-7-7 July 7 2023</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br><br>
Thoughts:
<br><br>
If the soul stays with the body for three days after the technical/scientific passing, and then roams the earth for 10 days
<br><br>
(perhaps 7 additional days to the original 3, resulting in a total of 10, is my opinion. perhaps less likely that it's 10 plus 3 although that may be a possibility; this information gleaned from reading books by Raven Grimassi, not sure exactly which volume illumed this theory),
<br><br>
then
<br><br>
We know our feelings, what we experience, on this side of the veil in the world of the living. Songs have been written about this, often maybe country or folk style songs about how we feel when someone we are close to passes. I'm sure everyone can think of a song of this type that is written. "Leader of the Band" by Dan Fogelberg comes to mind and, given that Dan passed before his elder years, I wonder if that was a lucky song for Dan to write? He immortalized two people within it. It's a great song, for those of use who care to listen
<br><br>
and
<br><br>
What about the feelings of the soul that passed? Let's say Raven Grimassi happened to get it right with the number of days and that, by the next full moon ... or, perhaps by the end of the next complete full-moon to full-moon cycle the soul had already reincarnated, then how do the soul and spirit know or remember or communicate?
<br><br>
If the spirit needs to wait until the Hallows season to fully "realize" it has passed, or perhaps mature to the point it may reconnect and give messages to those of us on this side of the veil, what does the soul experience in the interim? And does it split off into two realities? One that is a reincarnation, perhaps a newborn or perhaps someone who receives the incarnation despite already having been born, and the other that is pure spirit.
<br><br>
When does the spirit remember? What does the spirit remember? How does the spirit feel about the transition? How does this transition seem, from the soul's experience? Is it clear or hazy? Does it come in bits and pieces or are there complete scenes remembered? I don't know of songs that sing of this soul's experience. So I'm waiting to see if I receive more lyrics about this.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-72216865513611486692023-01-21T12:00:00.194-08:002023-04-02T09:01:40.083-07:00January 2023Yesterday, when I was online, I noticed that David Crosby of CSN (Crosby Stills and Nash) had passed on my birthday. And I wondered why? Why did he, or some divine force which decides such things, choose my birthday to make the grand transition? My birthday happens every year, has happened every year, and will continue to happen every year during this incarnation on earth. It's no small thing that someone who's been an influence in my life, and on the lives of so many other people for more than half a century, passes on the exact date of my birth.<br /><br />
I remember hearing CSN songs on mid-20th century radio, and those old songs are still memorable and meaningful to this day. So I had a look online, to see more of birthdays and dates and the life of David Crosby, and Wikipedia kindly informed me that he was born in August, the same month as my recently departed uncle, who was a jazz musician with a different Wikipedia page. Both my uncle and David Crosby were the same Leo astrological sun sign. And, like the Leo sign of the lion, David looked the part with his wild mane of Leonine "freak flag" hair, to quote some song lyrics he was associated with way, way back in the hippie era of the early 1970s.
<br /><br />
Years later, after graduating from University, I connected with a musically like-minded group of friends who enjoyed going to concerts. I remember, for a decade or so while I was in my twenties, regularly budgeting concert money out of my meager internship salary. Shortly after an upcoming event was announced, we would pool our funds together to buy the kind of concert tickets you can only get at high prices through Southern California agencies. With those tickets, every few months, we secured seating pretty close to the front row of a lot of excellent performances that were sold out months in advance.
<br /><br />
Meeting up at an outdoor amphitheater for a CSN concert became an annual tradition. There was absolutely nothing like being under the stars, in the cool California summer evening, wearing a light sweater atop my favorite outfit for the evening, with a group of friends absorbing the incredible energies shared through that trio of distinctly vibrant harmonies, among thousands of people in the same audience of a huge outdoor arena. The energies of perfect love vibrated through their harmonious vocals to us, as an enormous shared feeling that lasted throughout and beyond the amphitheater, and has been remembered many years.
<br /><br />
After our friendship group eventually separated and went our separate ways, some of us getting married and cutting our hair (how could he do that after all we'd been through together?) and some of us succeeding or failing in our careers or something somewhere in-between the two extremes, after that decade of shared concert experiences under the California evening stars, Crosby Stills and Nash kept singing and playing at concerts the same as they had every year, apparently since 1969, like three immortal men. Sometimes I've thought about looking up that high-priced ticket agency, buying an over-priced concert ticket and enjoying a live CSN concert again. Someday ...
<br /><br />
Unbelievably, to us mortals, David Crosby has passed and, sadly, Irvine Meadows Amphitheater is only a memory, having been quietly silenced and demolished a few years ago. Yet, thanks to youtube, social networking and the internet, we may hear and feel and be present in an online, electronically produced video and audio experience that stimulates the ears of people who never went to a CSN concert and simulates the memories for those of us who have. A man, who seemed almost immortal almost all of my life, has become a shared memory in the electronic and sonic realm.
<br /><br />
So I wonder about that fateful date and I ask. Why? Why, every year from now on, will I be reminded that David Crosby passed on my birthday? What does it mean? Finally, late last night, I googled it. Google pointed me to a few pages. I clicked one that had maybe a half dozen interpretations of what it meant that someone died on my birthday. My gentle, electronic messenger kindly scrolled down and highlighted one paragraph.
<br /><br />
And that paragraph said:
<br /><br />
<i> It is a common belief that those who die on your birthday are designated as your guardian angel. This is said to be the universe's way of giving you a special gift – someone who is always looking out for you and has a deep connection to you.</i>
<br /><br />
And, once again, I am humbled by a phenomenal musical artist who, like my uncle, was a Leo and who, like my uncle, waited to pass until his elder years in the 21st century. While I am saddened that I will never again see a live CSN concert with over-priced seats in an enormous outdoor Southern California amphitheater under the beautiful, starry summer skies, I am humbled to receive this gift and I cannot imagine having a nicer guardian angel than David Crosby.
<br /><br />
Whatever I did to receive this gift, at such a sad moment in our musical history, I hope it was something good.
<br /><br />
resources:
<br /><br />
<i>What Does It Mean When Someone Dies On Your Birthday? (6 Spiritual Meanings)</i><br />
by Liquids and Solids<br />
https://www.liquidsandsolids.com/what-does-it-mean-when-someone-dies-on-your-birthday/#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20common%20belief,a%20deep%20connection%20to%20you. <br />
Accessed January 21, 2022
<br /><br />
<i>Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre</i><br />
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irvine_Meadows_Amphitheatre<br />
Accessed January 21, 2022
<br /><br />
<i>David Crosby</i><br />
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crosby<br />
Accessed January 21, 2022
<br /><br />
<i>Urbie Green</i><br />
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbie_Green<br />
Accessed January 21, 2022
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-68751040120635509512022-12-14T12:57:00.003-08:002022-12-14T13:00:43.740-08:00Graduation Photo 2022, Sage Goddess Metaphysical Programs by Dr. Athena Perrakis<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Sage Goddess Graduation Photo Advanced Crystal Masters 2022" border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="912" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7K1iNJWVpOFI8095E4oaMGdqLC9mI0ksIBrQanIdXxaNxWp07LP8z8hdmFeigSdVphtHKhti_vguAZyT1GYTcw_1P2XHT_jhwrC5h5MTOuHeWeG7cnBWuxpHeGLVOobAR3x3HEeCsk1YBCpT_X_n0I--cxLM8qn9UUjG45rD-fCjugBgNZ8jA0Uvkg/w400-h300/Sage%20Goddess%20Graduation%20Photo%20Advanced%20Crystal%20Masters%202022.jpg" title="Sage Goddess Graduation Photo Advanced Crystal Masters 2022" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sage Goddess Graduation Photo<br />Advanced Crystal Masters 2022<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After two years of study under the guidance of Athena Perrakis,<br />leadership studies PhD level graduate and former university professor at University of Southern California, USA,<br />these have been awarded:
<br /><br />
Crystal Master Level II<br />
Alchemist<br />
Elemental Healer<br />
Manifestation Guide<br />
Oracle and Spirit Channel<br />
Soul Shift Healer<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-33846983358489813462022-10-16T13:40:00.004-07:002023-04-02T09:04:02.211-07:00November and Everything AfterThe following post is about Temple of Fortuna dot com, a tax-exempt organization I founded in 2009, and some alternatives for if and when the tax-exempt corporate structure is dissolved.<center><br /><br /><br /><br />As mentioned in previous posts, i have attempted to find another tax-exempt religious organization which supports the type of work I have envisioned for Temple of Fortuna dot com, and none have been found.<br /><br />It's not that there aren't valid tax-exempt organizations which honor various aspects of Paganism and Goddess path; there are many which do, and which do so with greater finesse perhaps than I.<br /><br />Upon pondering this dilemma, it occurred to me that my greatest inspirations were secular, not religious. And, with this knowledge, I embark upon my personal journey to discover what inspired me on a personal level, and what I believe in.<br /><br />I believe in knowledge.<br /><br />I believe in traditional libraries, full of traditional and classic books, written, designed and funded by traditional writers, architects and financiers, that were first created, designed and built 100 or more years ago, and whose authors, designers and financiers have, long ago, travelled past the veil into spirit.<br /><br />I believe in what I believe, what comes to me through the imagination, through research, through that spark of intelligence from the spirit world which speaks in various ways, perhaps through traditional ways, and perhaps through the electronic medium of online communication. The "chance" finding of that essential piece of the puzzle, within the overwhelm of information overload.<br /><br />I believe in corporate structures, and boards of directors who behave like professionals, and like aspiring professionals, who are driven by honesty, integrity and belief.<br /><br />I do not necessarily believe in organized religion as it has developed in many instances; the egos that come with religious titles, hierarchies which marginalize people who mispronounce occult words, nor those which promote the common person as being more noble than the educated.<br /><br />I do not believe in waiting around for people to show up to board meetings, and finding an empty space or void instead.<br /><br />There are many things I do not believe in, which have transpired over the past decade or so of having a tax-exempt organization attached to a religious corporation.<br /><br />However, there are things I believe in. And there are tax-exempt organizations which represent and support my beliefs.<br /><br />So, instead of giving a referral to another tax-exempt religious organization upon the very likely dissolution of the Temple of Fortuna dot com corporate structure, may I suggest seeking a secular solution that is believable and inspirational to each person based on her or his individual belief system.<br /><br />It may be a library.<br /><br />It may be an online resource.<br /><br />It may be a certain place which has meaning to you.<br /><br />It may be a story or a picture in a book.<br /><br />It may be an historic spirit, known or unknown, who continues to inspire you.<br /><br />There may be a tax-exempt, secular organization which supports your beliefs. And it is to this type of secular, yet tax-exempt, type of corporation I suggest referring, rather than to a church or temple.<br /><br />It has been said, many times and in many ways by prophets and wise people in the past, the non-believers are the first to preach in public and gain attention, while the believers are silent in their approach.<br /><br />So shall it be with Temple of Fortuna dot com.<br /><br />This group will stay open.<br /><br />The website will, very likely, stay up.<br /><br />It is, merely, the attached tax-exempt religious organization that may dissolve.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-48476573514364625912022-10-13T08:18:00.007-07:002023-04-02T09:04:30.328-07:00Good Earth Tea and Natural Flavors"Natural flavors" in ingredients labels are sometimes questionable. Are these flavors vegan? To answer this question about Good Earth Tea, which has a popular blend that has been sold in many markets for a long time, I asked the company. Today I received this response:<br /><br />"Thank you for reaching out to us at Good Earth Tea. The natural flavors in our teas are a blend of compounds that are naturally derived from plants or fruits. They are commonly added to foods/beverages to enhance or complement their flavor. Natural flavors are generally a mixture of flavoring ingredients that are blended together to give the desired flavor profile. The precise composition of a natural flavor(s) are proprietary to the flavor house.<br /><br />The flavoring constituents are derived from a spice, fruit, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or other natural source. The flavoring constituents are extracted and purified from the natural source and blended together to produce the natural flavor for a given product. So a natural flavor with a lemon citrus profile may contain natural constituents derived from lemon, but also from e.g. orange, lime, lemongrass etc.<br /><br />In our Sweet & Spicy tea, the “natural flavor” consists of 100% natural extracts from cinnamon cassia, from Indonesia/Vietnam/China, and oil extracted from oranges in USA. The specific combination of these two ingredients, along with the mix of botanicals, account for the sweetness you taste in the tea. We hope this information has been helpful. Sincerely, Idalia Davila Good Earth Tea Consumer Services Department"</div><div><br /></div><div>So there you have it! The natural flavors in Good Earth Teas are vegan.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-42967635569255606412020-08-05T15:22:00.031-07:002023-08-16T07:38:37.823-07:00Magical Dogs and MetaphysicsIn the first month of 2020 I ordered Mickie and Daniel Mueller's wonderful Magical Dogs Tarot, and then put it aside for awhile. It would be eight months later before I had another look at this deck. Today, I did the first reading with the cards.<a name='more'></a> It's a nice set, and the images are a little fluffy looking at first glance; however, it does stand up to a more serious reading.<br /><br />
The deck features fanciful images of dogs of different breeds in all sorts of adventurous scenes; some are pure fantasy, some are inspired by mythology and many more are realistic. Mickie Mueller's original artwork is likely to include some sort of herbal essences in the wash of the colors, and although there aren't any notes to that effect regarding this deck, it's likely that some interesting herbs made themselves known at the time of coloring in the sketches. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I got the deck, I was assisting an elderly dog ... the last of four dachshunds that have come into my life ... in what turned out to be the final phase of his journey in our shared incarnations. A week before he passed, I had put the last touches on moving the Temple of Fortuna dot com website over to blogger, so that it will hopefully continue in perpetuity as long as blogger exists in the online world. As our goal was reached, so ended his natural life.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Woofie's 17th birthday with me and Angelicka" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nFVhQI3yjYRsHgy5GHBIT6yfZEetluAQrxSeImWMEJ2sTs5LJ8dnTqk-n3-N7kFv2wb0unBgaHjmGDmCOZrCaZlYPtVMbKS54FvMogTO366C0pTn3JTpBOqNAhhFig-fFrYNQT92vJLK/w400-h225/Wolfie%2527s+17th+Birthday+with+Angelicka.jpg" title="Woofie's 17th birthday with me and Angelicka" width="400" /></div><br /><div>A dog's life can have meaning; a beginning, a middle and an end that coincides with reaching a major goal. Those of you who have read my book from cover to cover (you know who you are!) will know the story of my Halloweener dog, Woofie, pictured above on his seventeenth birthday (in the "boo" sweater), with new girl Angelicka photobombing (to the right).<br /><br /><center>
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</center><!--more--><br /><br />Woofie was pretty much my third generation doxy, along with his half-brother Solstice, who was about six months younger, having been born around mid-summer. Solstice's story is also in my book, which is dedicated to all lost and found animal friends and those who lovingly care for them. The two half-brothers are pictured below as young dogs having a fun day in the park, Woofie in black and tan to the left, and Solstice in shaded red to the right.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Solstice and Woofie" border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="300" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ly_-pnHvo5DjvxDZmS4o46vAQoZOS4ZxqRr9I_V4HqjBpBxwPZEt8ATVD6NHVEoYvnLgDlczn6yF3vU47sfTocHv_IyUB2bUew7ASCp2Q7H-wxJ7b98CDk0XtpVLEsLhLmTpHPtiirVY/w400-h347/smiley-dogs-300x260.jpg" title="Solstice and Woofie" width="400" /></div><br /><br />Two dogs, who don't appear in my book, are the birth mother of Woofie and Solstice, who lived with us for more than half her life, and my first doxy; a half-gift from a former post-college roommate (half-gift because I paid half-price, maybe because I was paying for half the rent and utilities ... somehow it made sense at the time). Mama dog came to us with a given name, which scared her when she heard it spoken aloud. So she just became Little Mommi in our household. Little Mommi is shown below, freshly groomed and lounging on a purple plush toy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Solstice's and Woofie's Little Mommi" border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1708" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPQkitBOyP4LMwLbNDYpKHnWQOxknwv2pYfHw4LfibguXxJFPfkaKW9pwXhbNyvCuy7YFiEKsXkfjAGjbw3debRb1GorzhDkPfImILvmB6XBPQpuVHH0vMB2m_KRiI3XIbj6U3pUqQQyV/w400-h158/Wolfie%2527s+little+Mommy+002.JPG" title="Solstice's and Woofie's Little Mommi" width="400" /></div><br /><br />To the best of my knowledge, all my doxies have lived very long lives, and have chosen the date of their natural passings. Those who were in my care, chose to be near me when the day came. I remember who was in my arms, who was on our last walk on the green grass, and who was basking in the sunlight as it shone through the window on the kitchen floor.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_Reichert_-_Curious_dachshund_puppies_and_a_frog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="800" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcxbjBwbrs3pMc9c59Em-d4gpMEhNJVSL4c6DX93silYME6hyzLoWWf7i7gTg7XAoG8lB8dBM6YxXA-x8l-a4AtCbK0oeAkcJioaGjMc8eD2b4WG804PpLAke-txvVPw0mG-ZxvkGo4Rb/w400-h260/800px-Carl_Reichert_-_Curious_dachshund_puppies_and_a_frog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curious Dachshund Puppies and a Frog<br />painting by Carl Reichert, public domain image<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>The readers of my book may know which dog has been a sort of mystery to me, and that mysterious dog was the subject of today's reading. I brought out the Magical Dogs Tarot for an important personal consultation about each of my four doxies, and shuffled the deck for the first time, with the intention of laying out four cards. One for each doxy, in order of their birth. Here is the reading:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Card one:</b> My first, post-college doxy<br />Air<br />Alpha Male<br /><br /><b>Card two:</b> Woofie and Solstice's Little Mommi<br />Air<br />Alpha Female<br /><br /><b>Card three:</b> Woofie, who passed in 2020<br />Air<br />Guardian</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />Three doxies, each as an air and a court card. I read this as an indication that these three have passed peacefully, and now reside with light hearts on the other side of their earthly incarnations. Dogs of air, light and spirit, all pictured with blue skies and some with flying birds. Are these angel dogs or faerie dogs? The cards tell their tale; it is up to the reader to interpret their meanings.<br /><br />There is one more card. The unknown. One who was six months younger than one who passed nearly six months ago. An elderly dog; not the lively, joyful puppy I remember. One who has been on my mind, and in my heart, for more than a decade. Is he a super-ager? Somewhere, somehow? After all these years, it's time to know. I laid out the card.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Card four:</b> Solstice<br />Air<br />Puppy</div><br /><br />A feeling of calm came over this reading. This was a deck which was shuffled for the first time. Four court cards, of the same suit, arrived in my reading in exact consecutive order. Is it possible that I merely shuffled too quickly? What other possibility exists? Is this reading wrong? Maybe, as recently as a year ago, I would have wondered. Now, in the strange year of 2020, when we've lost so many people, I no longer wonder. It's no mistake. This is real, and it makes perfect, absolute sense.<br /><br />Yes, it's a sad reading. But it's a peaceful reading too. And, after all this time, it's okay. Like all of us who have lost someone we loved this year, I am thankful for those moments we had together. And I am thankful for a legacy that inspired me to write a book. Good dogs, all, and a blessing of pleasant dreams in the ever after.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-65504154087982149412019-07-28T19:00:00.000-07:002020-04-14T22:13:46.994-07:00A Collage of Magical Ideas about Art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am new to Taylor Ellwood's writing; this is the first book of his I've read so I really didn't know what to expect. Here's a hint: if you want a book of artistic techniques that will turn you into an award-winning artist, this isn't the book for you. Instead, the author seems to expect his audience to be more familiar with magical ideas than with the creation of art. If you've never drawn anything before in your life, and you love magic, you'll probably love this book.<br />
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<i>The Magic of Art: How to use Sacred Art and Practical Magic to get Consistent Results (How Magic Works Book 3)</i><br />
by Taylor Ellwood<br />
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The introduction, although possibly fascinating for the more magical-minded, left me a bit bored. I was hoping the book would get better and, fortunately, it did. Taylor offers up photos of some of his own artwork, which is abstract in nature and uses color more often than complicated forms. You might want to copy some of his artwork literally, for personal use, but probably not. The reason is that each piece of artwork has a personal agenda; a "magical" intention that inspired the creation of the work, and for which the artwork hopefully assists in resolving.<br />
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Your intention may be different from mine, and both our intentions might be different from Taylor's. Or maybe not. Only you know your intentions. The book has a few chapters in it. Each chapter deals with a slightly different facet of magical workings, shows an example of how Taylor used his artwork in a similar working, and finishes up with an optional exercise. Included are basic supply lists for people who want to get going on the magical part and don't want to come up with a bucket list. I have not done any of the exercises, and that doesn't mean I won't in the future. The book has a feeling of being one that I might come back to and, perhaps, cherry pick through the exercises.<br />
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Taylor's basic message is not to worry about whether you have any talent. Just get going with what you know and see what happens, and then share it with other people (hopefully nice people who will say something sweet) so that it can pick up "energy" from being looked at.<br />
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As someone who was trained at college level in the arts, and has no clue whether I have any artistic talent after so much education, I found some of the material a bit mind-numbing. This doesn't mean that the material doesn't have merits; it actually does. But, without the pressure of a client's demands and a deadline, I realized just how far things had drifted from my pre-college days of playing with art and actually enjoying the experience. Taylor may just have a few decent ideas in his exercise suggestions. Or maybe not. The only way to know is to actually give it a try.<br />
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That's just the first 100 pages or so. Interestingly, the last third of the book is where the collage starts to really get interesting. In an appendix format, several artists (all of whom happen to be female) dive in and share their artistic experiences, which range from avant-gard painting and dancing rituals, to textiles, to creatively writing about creative healing art in ways that make you remember the writing more than the art instruction.<br />
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And, last but not least, Taylor comes back into the picture and we get a little dissertation about magic of bodily health written by the author credited on the cover of the book, who dutifully includes an exercise at the end of this part, and the book trails along with a few more ads for more of his books.<br />
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I might have given this book five stars if the introduction had been more compelling, or if anyone in the book had mentioned anything about Veganism and art supplies. (hint: if you're Vegan, or aspiring to be Vegan, look up Vegan art supplies before going out and making any purchases. You'll be amazed at which suppliers are transparent about the materials in their paints, pencils, papers and brushes ... and which are dubiously silent on the topic)<br />
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This is an honest review based on my feelings and opinion about the book after I read it. I was given a review copy in advance of publication, and I did not receive any monetary compensation for creating this review.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-55011656515249313742019-05-23T13:12:00.005-07:002020-08-10T13:11:17.528-07:00Reiki box Decorations!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfZaxugHMrM-A-oAPc28pL4pKVYWoyeV8QtZ73Dxss-2nK60A6cq5Bp8xds7hb4khdwsLnSPMpz9cBJUciwFg97Wzm5-NOtCimCZ3TWuo8arEaJPEGIQTDcgXv7EjArO0WeL0X1OiHcB3/s400/PICT3614.JPG" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LExhOwQWMep1HvA3scu_i0um8UvCuitZg1toY8r1D5Ja3lIdhYza5_O_zTpjiYNt59RD15D86NFRcMvTOgNk1BVZ-gTlBAaPSlEaBU27XAPdWYUB0rxn8sHSG8c5MAqm0VKJ2kmv-DuQ/s400/PICT3617.JPG" width="400" /></div><br />
The crystals you see in the picture have been with the box for several months,<a name='more'></a> and I just noticed I hadn't posted a picture yet. The pyramid on top is golden rutilated quartz (also called "hair quartz") . The pyramid with points at the front has the traditional reiki symbols.<br />
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The leaves and coins are new additions, which will be put inside the box after the leaves have dried off from the rain. We're still getting rain, although it's very late in the season (springtime in my hemisphere). <br />
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Four older coins were smudged with palo santo, and they will go inside the box after the leaves have dried off a little. Older coins were selected, rather than shiny coins, to represent earned income, and financial stability over a long-term.<br />
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The ivy was selected because it's evergreen, strong, and has the ability to "hang on" to things. Ivy is a well known plant, and some believe it has metaphysical properties.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-12083005149531777672019-02-15T16:48:00.005-08:002020-08-10T15:13:21.706-07:00Usui Reiki Simplified Symbols<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Reiki ... the study and practice of ethically harnessing and applying universal life energy for the purposes of improving our lives ... is fairly easy to learn. Legend tells that Master Usui uncovered ancient symbols which accessed the energies. The symbols, once considered secret and esoteric, have become part of mainstream new age culture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Reiki symbol" border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="242" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pTTfquSrf6SQ7FyHTtMecHYitIIh4A32m88IcVRiFTGPf-GSg_3-60h5QHHxu1D5nYEnO6ejXu3sO_ifdreMd8USpjSzL_Q5Fnqx3gNbNJEi-W6MLuMi5TaoSrjHr-pwq9LwoBI8ywKB/s200/ShoKuRei.jpg" title="" width="165" /><img alt="Reiki symbol" border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="277" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwhgcHc4iK9PD-r_G-yhHpyLBBAcoXUp6uKqYDahkO-gEjgslOj6Sp65FzgIm59QBf8oowq6nayow5XLlniJEwewGkiDJhvESHKLplxNRp5YN1Kv_2iW0U3PK9e0Q2TlM42kWss8sL-MP/s200/SeiHeiKi.jpg" title="" width="163" /><img alt="Reiki symbol" border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="334" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMoiAntLcBWfTSMSAOwbJ5fYyQ-047pVI9ATf-csuWxSKyr7jB_VeZ7lFowpw05V1CnerCrXV1EQLbGPrt7Ar7hADc83u6NbVpkYTxqfZA4vOan25N66i8FBY5gZyLm6IiIcxgh25nl-N/s200/HonShaZeShoNen.jpg" title="" width="116" /><img alt="Reiki symbol" border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="432" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFZ8RSPa9gB2a3q7votfijHUGR-oN9FMleXLElrr2s01W_zF0UWov3ub4uF42eBHtcdBX1DD-FYx8_FgfX4kRwWotW9f1DHGb9LEDontI7CvOwNaZaBglVYFMtFb-NuRofefe4XUtrXXI/s200/DaiKoMyo.jpg" title="" width="135" /></div><a name='more'></a><br />
These symbols, although available to the general public, are typically not taught until the second course; the first course being a study of the history of Reiki, the people who developed and shared the system, and the ethics underscoring the practice. Before Reiki became popularized, it's highly unlikely that these symbols would have been given so much attention...<br />
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Where did these symbols come from? Most Reiki courses explain that Master Usui discovered the symbols after years of searching through ancient documents, and received enlightenment on what they meant and how to use them through a personal spiritual epiphany.<br />
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Most students of Usui Reiki accept and memorize the symbols as provided in the coursework, often becoming practitioners, Reiki Masters and teachers. Many other students of Usui Reiki move beyond the traditional system and create their own versions of Reiki. These new versions of Reiki often address the treatment of various natural issues, incorporation of many different spiritual paths, and the pure enjoyment of sharing wonderful ideas and creativity...as well as often including simpler, easy-to-understand, new symbols.<br />
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The simplicity of the newer symbols, along with the distinctly <i>Japanese</i> flavor of some of the original symbols, leads me to return to traditional Usui Reiki with new eyes. What do these symbols communicate to us, on a global level, and how may the more complex among these symbols be simplified?<br />
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In my opinion, the first symbol is very evocative of ancient artwork, invoking the spirals of labyrinths and crop circles. Indeed, the symbol is of the universal life energy; an energy known to ancient and contemporary people. The essential element of this graphic is the spiral; a form known in nature and well expressed in the shells of snails and creatures of the sea. This form has also been used in contemporary Goddess iconography to symbolize the feminine womb and possibility of conception.<br />
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This is the symbol of the origin, possibility, and the unexplainable life force that is given by divine sources. It is a gift from a higher power, and it is the primordial symbol of Reiki; that which is invoked as Reiki is "turned on" and thanked for its presence as Reiki is "turned off" during any session.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Reiki ChoKuRei Symbol" border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="242" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG4VFIK8nzMDZth5M3Ig8aXGqpoXWaVZmFtx12S22Ps2uZywZgl5tAM-ZmOGVObZqtzjYH8a24p9EWK1um4DkAwbTS1Kw9nqmwD4VWTl0Gx0LrO3-04N-r-OzHHiD7uNKOTU6zGi4uZdS/s200/ShoKuRei.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" width="165" /></div><br />
The second symbol, apparently less ancient in form, is an abstraction of the belly and breasts of a pregnant female filled with prenatal life. This symbol of a healthy baby growing and lovingly cared for in the womb symbolizes a protective emotional environment, and the soothing care of an expectant mother. This symbol speaks regarding incubation and protection of emotional needs of the living; love, hope, dreams, disappointments and aspirations.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Reiki SeiHeiKi Symbol" border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="277" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrL14peL2rHbl7eagz10hLnodTaNdZjVQKY9jtIxs02MAmWEWphbun77szmLNO8vggpb7_HrOjwk4hxMKEkfFArUqeqa-MWH8-uM5a-jzzLVlVTj3fK8j18BDh3Shqm3GYLg37bceRs_j/s200/SeiHeiKi.jpg" title="" width="163" /></div><br />
After these two symbols come two very stylized symbols which, to my American eyes, seem very <i>Japanese </i>in flavor. Memorizing these symbols was a labor of love, rather than one of cultural appropriation. However; their form is not intuitive at first glance. The first of these symbols is an extremely helpful series of forms which symbolize dimensions of traversing distance; the ability for connection despite global separation, time travel to the past and the future, and perhaps space travel for those so inclined. Like any complicated machinery, the symbol is complex.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Reiki HonShaZeiShoNen Symbol" border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2kJEsg9IL4nMcnVQ0o84twOaPmxqQg4FXB12safEVfOVl9TK0hkQKVIhOAVDEHMXDIDnCXxvf06d4nqEeil-szyFCa3VxGhCYm8gCSneph7JAtiZgoV7bUGUTfn-ASGQbE0zmWTealcq/s320/HonShaZeShoNen.jpg" title="" width="187" /></div><br />
This symbol, so strongly styled as <i>Japanese </i>in my opinion, speaks volumes of complexity to a global culture...and, again in my opinion, may be even more accessible and useful globally were we to simplify the image to its most basic form.<br />
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As an Architect, trained in graphic arts, I look for a repeated pattern that tells the story...and I find two pointers looking in the same direction. In effect, it's the opposite of a yin/yang symbol in which we typically see a balance of opposites. Here we see a duplication of uni-directional travel. The traditional Reiki symbol is on the left. On the right are the two pointers derived from the symbol. Can you see the pointers in the original symbol?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Reiki HonShaZeShoNen Symbol and Simplified Graphic" border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="605" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-BeOOH3lVjGZMM_RBWWo18mtS1mmhnIxSF1ujVJ5vmkBVZ1rY-UfUymu3FGjqiE5pkc80QvVZVxE3oSZSUhdUZRmnrH1sHXDaOhnRlyCYXdIUa7KY1iqKGV6DgGTeDtVnGa7bCb9JL0R/s200/HonShaZeShoNen+with+Simplification.jpg" title="" width="200" /></div><br />
Our complicated <i>Japanese </i>symbol about distance becomes a simple representation of two pointers in alignment, similarly directing a focus toward a different location. This becomes a more global communication symbol, of similarly global ancient origins. It speaks to us of being in one place and looking in alignment toward another specific place or point in time; in alignment, perhaps, with a higher power. Here is my suggestion for a simplified graphic representing distance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtu0W7qMuqqSxsZI8JGw5O8yHCOrhPRNU6BnTjkBW3OSNM-NBc-yzAhAEzczueh6TpiTxPueI0-XXPdjLMNxIUwwfTQOYa1fljPF0STn854yR1bkKedlSTmH91Tocewi38TYiR50VLIIY/s1600/HonShaZeShoNen+Simplification.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reiki Symbol Simplification" border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="193" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtu0W7qMuqqSxsZI8JGw5O8yHCOrhPRNU6BnTjkBW3OSNM-NBc-yzAhAEzczueh6TpiTxPueI0-XXPdjLMNxIUwwfTQOYa1fljPF0STn854yR1bkKedlSTmH91Tocewi38TYiR50VLIIY/s200/HonShaZeShoNen+Simplification.jpg" title="" width="118" /></a></div><br />
And the final symbol; a symbol of supreme power, is also highly stylized and, in my opinion, appears as a very <i>Japanese</i> style graphic within the traditional Usui Reiki system. This symbol, although not quite as flexible and useful as the previous symbol, is intended to evoke the supernal divine higher powers of spirituality within its imagery. It speaks, in a grand way, of power descending from above, and gently filtering down to us here on earth.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvuC3FNHIM4WyTjdWrEhzwOUpSTvbmeUzjtIIR7Jw2kMGd7bKcmhIVnrXV9tYwW2FS-rUGzNIa5WLatwG-c_iEJPNuZmIsV4mSrUt1YHNQOKAxFLORcm5ypts46bl8EXdWgFWErF9JQrJ/s1600/DaiKoMyo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reiki DaiKoMyo Symbol" border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="432" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvuC3FNHIM4WyTjdWrEhzwOUpSTvbmeUzjtIIR7Jw2kMGd7bKcmhIVnrXV9tYwW2FS-rUGzNIa5WLatwG-c_iEJPNuZmIsV4mSrUt1YHNQOKAxFLORcm5ypts46bl8EXdWgFWErF9JQrJ/s200/DaiKoMyo.jpg" title="" width="135" /></a></div><br />
What the two boxes at the base symbolize is not entirely clear to me, as a person with some knowledge of Germanic runes, because the orientation of what appear to be letter figures within the boxes is not necessarily the most auspicious. This symbol, fortunately, lends itself easily to simplification. Again, I look for hints repeated patterns and I see several repeated motifs. On the right is my suggestion for a simplified version of this traditional symbol. Looking above the two boxes, do you see this pattern?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Reiki DaiKyoMo Symbol with Simplification" border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="761" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bK-1duDBbY4CpzHGDgrIUaCx9tHYWSphlzNoZJYdXbrWJ2uQzcT_-1TI_HBYdYnz8TAZLEse4dLUfkKLbgaT03zlou-HOI0qvV1DlmQATYTVHEMJgtTRQeJwOfVyRcdhUFEsymKIHnLC/s200/DaiKoMyo+with+Simplification.jpg" title="" width="200" /></div><br />
The simplified symbol I am suggesting appears to resemble a simple ancient Celtic icon which symbolized the rays of the sun as a divine force of nature; the sun has represented divine power since time immemorial. Similar symbols of sun rays may also exist within other ancient cultures too. Here is my suggestion for a simplified Reiki symbol to the left, alongside a traditional Celtic symbol for the sun's rays to the right. Can you see the similarity?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojZ3yrvfaq8O7zv2fJRwSIK7QIray7nS4Tp2chywyq7N5BQ4B4wARrttJdzVAkpJ5wvP8vrOF8J2cGgO6mVyqfTUsg130jn0W71GcBnZQMFfQVmXYlcImFwVegQ_YCyOuspHeMLge2cl9/s1600/DaiKoMyo+Simplification+with+Awen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simplified Reiki symbol and Celtic symbol" border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="551" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojZ3yrvfaq8O7zv2fJRwSIK7QIray7nS4Tp2chywyq7N5BQ4B4wARrttJdzVAkpJ5wvP8vrOF8J2cGgO6mVyqfTUsg130jn0W71GcBnZQMFfQVmXYlcImFwVegQ_YCyOuspHeMLge2cl9/s200/DaiKoMyo+Simplification+with+Awen.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></div><br />
If these simplified symbols resonate strongly with the Universal Life Force Energies, as well as the original Reiki ethics and teachings, it may be appropriate to simplify the complicated <i>Japanese</i> style traditional Usui graphics, creating more globally understandable images. This may assist us to release any fears of cultural appropriation and open the path to more easily understand and globally unify in our understanding of the underlying ethical intention included in traditional Usui Reiki teachings. In my opinion, memorizing esoteric graphics has far less value than learning how to put divine life energies to work in ways that are beneficial to us all.<br />
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The graphic below shows two simple traditional Usui Reiki symbols, and two simplified symbols derived directly from the illustrated teachings of Usui Reiki. The simpler symbols are shared with the intention of being very easy to learn and relating fairly to the ethical and effective international practice of Usui Reiki by those who have studied and attuned globally to traditional methods.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_KcHREsc1f4C7wLH4i7sYM5YdErvv57mgDWx5dvJJ0ZJvpL_iDx6uB5vG852WqaicCFrI-LojMTygivqrG1mwFj3aqh5i55kPn5zzmCNn2N0y9qcAQ8RaVUlgiRqaSaj0zTvqiFHW-1E/s1600/Reiki+Symbols+2+traditional+2+simplified.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Traditional and Simplified Usui Reiki Symbols" border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="946" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_KcHREsc1f4C7wLH4i7sYM5YdErvv57mgDWx5dvJJ0ZJvpL_iDx6uB5vG852WqaicCFrI-LojMTygivqrG1mwFj3aqh5i55kPn5zzmCNn2N0y9qcAQ8RaVUlgiRqaSaj0zTvqiFHW-1E/s320/Reiki+Symbols+2+traditional+2+simplified.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-45014233724827364452018-09-16T22:06:00.002-07:002023-04-02T09:10:49.008-07:00Peace of 2000It was a beautiful day, one spring day in 2000. I was living in the only two-story rental house on a street in Santa Ana, and some of the neighbor girls clambered up the rickety wooden stairs and played on the porch. From that view, it seemed you could see for miles. Whatever a mile is to a little girl. Three, four, five houses or more, all the way down the street. Bird's eye view.<br />
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I didn't notice at first, that I had some visitors on the porch, and it really didn't matter that they had chosen my second story view to enact whatever scene they were playing at the time. The community had neighborhood watch, and what with all the professional housewives on the scene, I was pretty sure someone had a clue where the kids could be found. As for me, I kept to myself.<br />
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Single white girl in a Latino neighborhood, and living in the tallest house on the block. For one of the last peaceful periods in the lives of many of us, my status as a respected neighbor was secure. Someone kept a rooster, who gave the alert when it was time to wake up. We all woke up together, regardless of who was on what shift. It was just that kind of neighborhood. Nice. Safe. Pleasant.<br />
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I didn't notice the doll until nearly dark. One of the neighbor girls must have left her. Little baby doll, wrapped up in a striped brown blanket, tan skin and eyes that close when she lay down. I felt sure the girl would miss her. But, in the afternoon's adventure, would she remember where she left her? Surely, I did not know how to return the doll, and it was getting dark. I chose to bring her inside.<br />
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Silly, I thought at the time. It's a doll. A child's toy. Plastic, fabric and made in a factory no doubt. Not an expensive doll, but what child cares the price of her toys? I felt strange, me who was adult enough to have my own house, bringing a child's baby doll in out of the darkness. What would it matter to a toy? A toy has no soul, no real life. Maybe I should have left it on the porch, to be found tomorrow.<br />
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But the little girl did not return. Did she forget her doll? Did she forget where she had been? Was she upset when she returned to her own home and realized the doll was gone? I had no clue where she lived, nor did I know who might have a clue. Although most of the families had English speakers in the home, the houses were secure behind tall wrought iron fences, with large dogs in the yards.<br />
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I never had a baby doll as a child. My mother did not particularly believe in such things. A girl should pursue her own interests; women can have careers these days. We don't need to be attached to a baby when we're only just out of babyhood ourselves, as little girls. I, the serious-minded child, wanted to be a paleontologist. My toys were dinosaurs, model kits, and shrink-and-grow devices.<br />
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A baby doll? Not in my mother's house, no not mine. The first baby doll I ever touched, in my entire life, was that little girl's toy, left on my porch in the Spring of 2000. Maybe I should have taken it to my Latina neighbor's house. She had a little girl. Maybe she would know who lost it. Or, perhaps, best to leave it as is. Why alert the mothers in the neighborhood when there was no safety issue at all?<br />
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Not having much experience with little girls (except the little girl within me) nor with mothers, families and their kids toys, I just decided to let the doll stay inside my house until I heard more. And, actually, I never did hear more. Maybe the girl got another baby doll. Maybe she decided to play with other toys. Who knows? Maybe she wanted a career when she grew up; to have a job like I did.<br />
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I'll never know. Because she never came back to play on my porch. The baby doll I rescued from one night in the dark never left my home. Somehow, when it was time to move to another rental, the doll got packed in a box with the rest of my stuff. I had help packing. I don't remember packing her myself, and when I unpacked my boxes, there she was. Just like when she was left on my porch.<br />
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I wasn't on the same street anymore. I was not in a house either. I was in a sweet little apartment with a yard, some dirt, and a hose bib. A place where I could let my dog play, grow a garden, and have some privacy. Me, my dog, my stuff...and some little girl's baby doll. A doll that she, apparently, thought so little of that she left her on a stranger's porch. And not just any stranger. A white girl.<br />
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At this point, the doll couldn't be returned to the old neighborhood. If I didn't know who to talk to then, I sure didn't know now. Although, sometimes, I still drive through those streets in that part of town. It still feels just as nice, just as safe, just as much like I'm a lighter shade of the same families that lived there for so many years. And why not? Am I not a little girl's future child's Godmother?<br />
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Today I noticed that I've had that baby doll for 18 years. She's not a little girl anymore. She's a woman in her twenties. I'll bet she's a beauty and married to someone who loves her. She probably has a little girl of her own. Maybe a few of them. I wish her well, despite that I didn't ever have kids myself. Because, actually, in a spiritual sense I guess I did have a kid. A little girl. Someone to love.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-1889622978893874662018-08-04T12:16:00.001-07:002023-04-02T09:12:09.577-07:00Nosce te Ipsum for Duchess of Sussex #HappyBirthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Because the Duchess of Sussex and I were born within 33 miles of each other in the Los Angeles area of California and within 44 minutes of the same time in the morning, and also because it happens to be her birthday today, I would like to have a try at a bit of Nosce te Ipsum Research with her birthdate and birth time:<br />
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August 4th and time of birth 4:46 am<br />
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For more about Nosce te Ipsum Research Reports, and how you may order one for yourself, please see my blog post <a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2017/06/nosce-ipsum-know-thyself.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Nosce te Ipsum: Know Thyself</span></a>.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Foundation</h3><br />
HRH Duchess of Sussex's physical guardian angel is 27 Yerathel.<br />
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Her emotional guardian angel is 66 Manakel<br />
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Her spiritual guardian angel, according to my tables (online tables may be different) is 15 Hariel *interesting!*<br />
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Each of these guardian angels presides over a daemon, these daemons being<br />
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physical element: 27 Ronove<br />
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emotional element: 66 Cimeries (fun fact: perhaps a conflation of the Egyptian deity Khepera)<br />
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spiritual element: 15 Eligos<br />
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Each of these guardian angels and daemons have certain talents; things they are good at doing. I'll look into that later...now I'm merely gathering information.<br />
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So, above all of these talented beings are the Archangels...the bosses who take care of business, keep things under control, manage the scene...the parent figures, so to speak. Each Archangel manages a company/family/choir/city/shire...whatever you wish to call it. A definable unit of governance.<br />
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So the physical element (27) is within the choir of the Dominations, which is managed by Archangel Zadkiel.<br />
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The emotional element (66) is within the choir of the Angels, which is managed by Gabriel (fun fact: Archangel of the west...HRH Duchess of Sussex is from the west coast USA, and Gabriel is one of the few Archangels who is actually recognized by contemporary Abrahamic religions)<br />
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The spiritual element (15) is within the choir of the Cherubim, which is managed by Raziel.<br />
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Of all these entities, only her emotional element is being highlighted with a "regular" Archangel. The rest of the crew are more of an elite, non-churchy sort of spiritual being.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Daemon</h3><br />
Let's start with her physical daemon. Some people are absolutely fascinated with daemons, heaven knows why...27 Ronove...online resources state that he is a monstrously unattractive sort of guy who is educated in linguistics and art; a loyal sort who does his best to be friendly to everyone. Don't we all know someone like that? Who might this represent to HRH?<br />
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Daemons, we are told, have talents, and they are attracted to certain things. I have one (1) daemonic resource; Gallery of Magick's Gordon Winterfield has produced <i>Demons of Magick</i> ("DoM" to followers of "GoM"), which is the only offline daemonic text I reference at all.<br />
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According to DoM, Ronove is all about charisma and charm; allowing a person to receive and be trusted based on these personality traits. As a physical daemon, these personality traits come into play on the most basic levels of survival.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Guardian Angel</h3><br />
Now for the physical guardian angel...I have several resources for this, because I particularly appreciate angelic energies at this level. I also feel that many of the ancient deities correspond to energies that work at a level of personal guardianship. (The Roman Fortuna, for example, is one I've found myself personally bonded with, at an energetic level similar to Guardian Angels)<br />
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HRH's physical guardian angel 27 is Yerathel. There are various spellings of angelic names, and a quick search online will reveal this. The talents of Yerathel are writing, finding fame through writing and spreading knowledge through writing.<br />
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In another resource, we also may see Yerathel involved with sociology, philosophy and/or economics. Yerathel represents optimism and open-mindedness, as well self control in difficult situations.<br />
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A third resource (from Spain) provides some details about Yerathel:<br />
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Yerathel's angelic planet is Jupiter, and the symbol is the astrological symbol of the planet Jupiter (the one which looks a little like the number 4). The color is dark blue. The element is fire, astrological sign of Leo, whose color is yellow, with something written in Spanish, which is "google" translated as:<br />
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career, freedom from enemies, harmony between the divine and the human, progress in communion with others (communion is defined as the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially on a mental or spiritual level), order imposed on chaos, ability to forgive, success, luck in games.<br />
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I have at least one other resource for guardian angels which gives Yerethial's talents, as Yeret, being an understanding of vows, an ability to make changes and be released from vows, to increase abundance where growth has started and having a sense of personal innate life force.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Archangel</h3><br />
And, finally, the presiding archangel over the physical: Archangel Zadkiel.<br />
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I have several archangel resources, which I have been exploring for a few months. Stewart Pearce has a particularly lovely book which gives Pagan correspondences for Archangels; his theory is that the Pagan deities were actually an Atlantic priesthood for energies which are termed "angelic" in contemporary theological systems.<br />
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Therefor, Zadkiel would be conflated with the Atlantic priestess known as Ceres in the Roman system and Isis in the Egyptian system; a very iconic harvest Goddess. Stewart suggests that stones in a turquoise color, for example larimar, may represent Zadkiel. Other gemstones, which may hold a connection to Zadkiel, are suggested as amethyst, clear quartz, diamond, aquamarine, moonstone, opal, tanzanite, topaz (I imagine this would be blue topaz), lapiz lazuli and emerald, which represent Her spiritual ideals.<br />
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After the fall of Atlantis, according to Stewart, Zadkiel relocated to the north Mediterranean islands, which may be considered Her present area of influence or power base, and Her physical realm is within the 10th chakra of the cosmic heart, which is located between the heart and throat chakras.<br />
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Zadkiel is classified as a divine COMFORTER by Stewart, who describes Her as a merciful and compassionate nurturer, and the scent of sage incense or use of sage smudging may be appropriate to invite Her energies into a space.<br />
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Another resource lists several ways in which Zadkiel is powerful, adept or talented, and I also have a third resource I have not yet explored (so will not include; however it has even more info):<br />
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Talented healer of painful memories from the past, also healer of illness and/or exhaustion, strongly understands the realities of the present, able move from the present into the future to bring prosperity to specific ventures.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><br />
I feel this research appears to represent a surprisingly accurate analysis of what we see in the public image of HRH Duchess of Sussex!<br />
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Her public image clearly shows her as extremely being an charismatic woman who is charming enough to get her way, regardless of what her inner motivations may or may not be.<br />
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She first achieved fame through writing a letter, after which a major corporation chose to change their advertising strategy.<br />
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She has chosen a role of comforter in Prince Harry's life; to overcome his past sadness regarding his mother.<br />
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I had not done this research before, for HRH, yet it's quite a bit easier than calculating the angles, trines, squares, oppositions, planets and so forth of astrological research...and it appears to be pretty much on the mark...at least in this instance.<br />
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This same type of <i>Nosce Te Ipsum</i> research, which obviously requires some time and care to perform, may be reported at an emotional and spiritual level...which I am not doing for this exercise, as it has less to do with public image, and I actually have other things to do today.<br />
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I sense this type of research is of great value...for a new mother...or actually for anybody who knows the birth date and birth time of any person of interest.<br />
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Looking into important dates may be equally valuable: national holidays, for example, or something more personal like the date of a job interview, a wedding or wedding anniversary, or selecting an auspicious date for a rite of passage like renewal of vows.<br />
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<b>References</b><br />
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Gallery of Magick publications:<br />
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<i>Archangels of Magick </i>by Damon Brand<br />
<i>The 72 Angels of Power </i>by Damon Brand<br />
<i>The 72 Sigils of Power</i> by Zanna Blaise<br />
<i>Demons of Magick </i>by Gordon Winterfield<br />
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<i>The Angels of Atlantis</i> by Stewart Pearce<br />
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<i>Las Cartas De Los Angeles De La Cabala</i> by Uriel<br />
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<i>Your Special Compendium of Divine Formulas</i> by Maria Duval<br />
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronove<br />
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Key_of_Solomon<br />
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https://mylittleoccultshop.blogspot.com/2017/04/high-ranking-gods-and-crowned-princes.html<br />
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https://www.astro.com/astro.../Meghan,_Duchess_of_Sussex<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-71846860946629540242018-05-14T12:31:00.001-07:002023-04-02T09:12:52.574-07:00Vacation: Let's Visit Tintagel Castle!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a name='more'></a> on vacation....starting with places I have actually visited before...and looking into fun things to do, places to stay, and, of course, souvenirs!<br />
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A quick note before we begin:<br />
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Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
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If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
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Now...back to vacation!<br />
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If you missed my previous posts in this series, here are the links:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/Stonehenge-Ocean-Liner-to-UK-Pet-Friendly.html">Part I Ocean Liner to the UK: Pet Friendly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/stonehenge-Cruises-Pets-and-MOOCs.html">Part II Cruises: Pets and MOOCs</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Cross-Country-Cars-and-Crystals.html">Part III Cross Country: Cars and Crystals</a></span><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Port-Southampton-UK-Cars-and-Tours.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part IV Port of Southampton UK: Cars and Tours</a><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/Southampton-UK-Vegan-Pet-Friendly.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part V Southampton UK: Vegan and Pet Friendly</a><br />
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As you know if you read my previous articles, my dream vacation has been to take my dogs for a walk at Stonehenge. Because I live in California, this scenario has taken quite a bit of strategy on my part to find a way to get to the destination. The strategies were covered in my previous blog posts, in which I virtually arrived at the Port of Southampton, did some sightseeing and found a place to stay.<br />
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<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Advertisement</span></div><!-- START ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=5928&awinaffid=468227&clickref=&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.english-heritage.org.uk%2Fvisit%2Finspire-me%2Fdog-friendly-properties%2F" rel="norewrite" s="2101201&v=5928&q=223581&r=468227" style="clear: right; float: right;" target="_blank"><img alt="Join | English Heritage" border="0" src="https://www.awin1.com/cshow.php?s=2101201&v=5928&q=223581&r=468227" /></a><!-- END ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --></div>I have recently started a new job, so I don't have quite as much time to write extensive blog posts as I've have in the past. What I've chosen to do, instead, is to share cool, vacation and travel-related stuff I notice on my partners' websites.<br />
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Because I haven't necessarily purchased everything I write about, this blog post is not always going to be about my personal experiences.<br />
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What I will do for you, is share the things I feel may be particularly interesting, helpful or fun for a vacation, based on what I am most attracted to at the time I write.<br />
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Before I delve into this blog post, though, I must mention that dog friendly does imply some sorts of protocol, and rules which are probably welcomed by other members of the public.<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Advertisement</span></div><!-- START ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=5928&awinaffid=468227&clickref=&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.english-heritage.org.uk%2Fvisit%2Finspire-me%2Fdog-friendly-properties%2F" rel="norewrite" s="2101201&v=5928&q=223581&r=468227" style="clear: right; float: right;" target="_blank"><img alt="Join | English Heritage" border="0" src="https://www.awin1.com/cshow.php?s=473735&v=5928&q=229151&r=468227" /></a><!-- END ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --></div>For example, dogs should be well behaved, and restrained on a short leash (for example, a six foot leash may be preferable to a long, retractable leash).<br />
<br />
Some people are allergic to pets, and won't appreciate having a strange dog, no matter how cute or friendly s/he is, jumping up on them or putting muddy paws all over their clothing.<br />
<br />
Others are frightened of larger dogs, and I must include myself among these. Ironically, since the writing of this dog-friendly series, an incident with a medium sized poodle in my own neighborhood has made me a bit wary of medium sized pets as well. It also put a temporary damper on my typing and blogging activities.<br />
<br />
No matter how well a pet is trained, I believe that it's imperative to have pets on leash at all times when other members of the public are around. I'm not the biggest fan of unsupervised, off-leash activities, especially when medium to large sized dogs are around kids and smaller pets.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Advertisement</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=5928&awinaffid=468227&clickref=&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.english-heritage.org.uk%2Fvisit%2Finspire-me%2Fdog-friendly-properties%2F" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Join | English Heritage" border="0" src="https://www.awin1.com/cshow.php?s=2101203&v=5928&q=223581&r=468227" /></a></div><!-- START ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --><!-- END ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --><br />
<br />
Today I am featuring Tintagel Castle as a dog-friendly outing for friendly dog owners; a very magical place I have visited before. According to the English Heritage website, Tintagel Castle is among numerous dog-friendly places to visit.<br />
<br />
Tintagel, legendary home of legendary King Arthur is (or was, when I was last there) a castle in ruins. The castle site is overgrown with all sorts of lush grassy areas which make the setting something like a wonderful park.<br />
<br />
The setting, overlooking the ocean, is absolutely spectacular.<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Advertisement</span></div><!-- START ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=5928&awinaffid=468227&clickref=&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.english-heritage.org.uk%2Fvisit%2Finspire-me%2Fdog-friendly-properties%2F" rel="norewrite" s="2101201&v=5928&q=223581&r=468227" style="clear: right; float: right;" target="_blank"><img alt="Join | English Heritage" border="0" src="https://www.awin1.com/cshow.php?s=473737&v=5928&q=229153&r=468227
" /></a><!-- END ADVERTISER: English Heritage - Membership from awin.com --></div><br />
If Tintagel Castle is anything like it was when I was there, all sorts of people who cater to the tourists may be present, with various sorts of characters and entertainment.<br />
<br />
People who enjoy taking their friendly dogs, safely restrained on leashes, might be most welcome.<br />
<br />
Comments, please?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>To be continued...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Resources<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.historic-uk.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Historic UK: Heritage accommodation in castles, cottages and historic hotels</a><br />
www . historic-uk . com<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/2016/taking-dog-on-public-transport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The rules about taking your dog on public transport - Saga</a><br />
www.saga . co . uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/2016/taking-dog-on-public-transport<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-66281783025563189442018-04-04T21:12:00.004-07:002023-04-02T09:14:32.594-07:00Vacation: About the Architecture
This is part of a new series of blog posts about travelling<br />
<a name='more'></a>on vacation....starting with places I have actually visited before...and looking into fun things to do, places to stay, and, of course, souvenirs!<br />
<br />
A quick note before we begin:<br />
<br />
Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
<br />
If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
<br />
Now...back to vacation!<br />
<br />
If you missed my previous posts in this series, here are the links:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/Stonehenge-Ocean-Liner-to-UK-Pet-Friendly.html">Part I Ocean Liner to the UK: Pet Friendly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/stonehenge-Cruises-Pets-and-MOOCs.html">Part II Cruises: Pets and MOOCs</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Cross-Country-Cars-and-Crystals.html">Part III Cross Country: Cars and Crystals</a></span><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Port-Southampton-UK-Cars-and-Tours.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part IV Port of Southampton UK: Cars and Tours</a><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/Southampton-UK-Vegan-Pet-Friendly.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part V Southampton UK: Vegan and Pet Friendly</a><br />
<br />
As you know if you read my previous articles, my dream vacation has been to take my dogs for a walk at Stonehenge. Because I live in California, this scenario has taken quite a bit of strategy on my part to find a way to get to the destination. The strategies were covered in my previous blog posts, in which I virtually arrived at the Port of Southampton, did some sightseeing and found a place to stay.<br />
<br />
I have recently started a new job, so I don't have quite as much time to write extensive blog posts as I've have in the past. What I've chosen to do, instead, is to share cool, vacation and travel-related stuff I notice on my partners' websites.<br />
<br />
Because I haven't necessarily purchased everything I write about, this blog post is not always going to be about my personal experiences.<br />
<br />
What I will do for you, is share the things I feel may be particularly interesting, helpful or fun for a vacation, based on what I am most attracted to at the time I write.<br />
<br />
Last week's blog post was about visiting Windsor castle; a place I honestly haven't visited in person, unlike Stonehenge which I have. An obvious difference between the two places is that one is a monument from the past, and the other an historic residence which provides regal shelter in the present day. If Stonehenge is archaeology, Windsor castle is architecture.<br />
<br />
Memories of places I've visited in the past are often stronger than experiences, souvenirs, entertainment or gastronomy; despite that all these things are highly marketed to tourists.<br />
<br />
As a foreign student of a Royal music conservatory overseas in my youth, the ambiance of the historic conservatory building is something I still remember with crystal clarity. To this day, I recall climbing six flights of stairs, rising to the pinnacle of the structure for private lessons, because the elevators were reserved for professors.<br />
<br />
Music and the ambiance of architecture are an exceptionally pleasant combination. I like to believe this blend was the reason I was given a choice to transform from aspiring musician to aspiring architect.<br />
<br />
At the moment, I'm enjoying a couple of online courses I want to share with you today. These are MOOCS or Massive Online Open Courses that may have a little, or a lot, to do with the architecture.<br />
<br />
The first course is about <i>starchitect </i>Mario Botta; a European architect whose ideas are shared in videos and text. The MOOC is provided in the English language at the FutureLearn platform. In subtitled videos, the architect speaks poetically with respect to topics of historic structures, strong geometric forms, and a love for warm materials like brick.<br />
<br />
Despite my appreciation for architecture, and my training as an architect, I am not a technically minded person. With the exception of a fascination with the inner mechanical workings of acoustic pianos, when I fell in love with the beauty of fine architecture my heart was already full of music, the art of writing poetry, and theatrical performance.<br />
<br />
<br />
How many people are lucky enough to discover the perfect math professor in college, after struggling with the topic for about twelve years in school? I don't know the answer to this question. I only know that, had I relied on pre-college math skills to get me into architecture school, it would have been a huge joke.<br />
<br />
My high school geometry teacher, a divorced man with a chip on his shoulder, taught at a pace just a little too fast for me to follow. I used to dread being called to the board to prove theorems, which made me feel like a lost attorney in a courtroom full of amused basketball jocks. As I recall, "I'll bet you a dollar to a donut" was one of his favorite phrases.<br />
<br />
Bet a dollar? sure. I'd bet every guy in that class would be laughing hysterically if they knew I were accepted into architecture school. If it wasn't for college math classes, I'd probably be laughing at myself too.<br />
<br />
Those old ghosts linger sometimes. If only there were a way to prove to myself, let alone a class from the past, that I can understand high school level geometry. And there is. Thanks, Goddess, someone is looking out for people like me.<br />
<br />
I found it on an internet search. <i>Introduction to Geometry</i>, offered through edX platform. This is a really nice geometry course, taught with lots of interactive graphics, and maybe a gazillion short lessons. You really can take it at your own pace. And, believe it or not, it's fun.<br />
<br />
I personally recommend both of these courses for anyone who appreciates architecture. And, yes, you can do either or both courses from a hotel room with internet access and a computer. I wouldn't wait too long, though, because I'm not sure how long these courses will be available.<br />
<br />
That's it for this blog post. See ya next week!<br />
<br />
Comments, anyone?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>To be continued...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Resources<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-geometry-schoolyourself-geometryx-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Introduction to Geometry | edX</a><br />
www . edx . org/course/introduction-geometry-schoolyourself-geometryx-1<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/mario-botta-architect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mario Botta: To Be an Architect - Online Course</a><br />
www . futurelearn . com/courses/mario-botta-architect</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-57774996678296952762018-03-28T11:56:00.001-07:002023-04-02T09:15:36.517-07:00Vacation: Let's go to London and Tour Windsor Castle!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is part of a new series of blog posts about travelling<br />
<a name='more'></a>on vacation....starting with places I have actually visited before...and looking into fun things to do, places to stay, and, of course, souvenirs!<br />
<br />
A quick note before we begin:<br />
<br />
Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
<br />
If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
<br />
Now...back to vacation!<br />
<br />
If you missed my previous posts in this series, here are the links:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/Stonehenge-Ocean-Liner-to-UK-Pet-Friendly.html">Part I Ocean Liner to the UK: Pet Friendly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/stonehenge-Cruises-Pets-and-MOOCs.html">Part II Cruises: Pets and MOOCs</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Cross-Country-Cars-and-Crystals.html">Part III Cross Country: Cars and Crystals</a></span><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Port-Southampton-UK-Cars-and-Tours.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part IV Port of Southampton UK: Cars and Tours</a><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/Southampton-UK-Vegan-Pet-Friendly.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part V Southampton UK: Vegan and Pet Friendly</a><br />
<br />
As you know if you read my previous articles, my dream vacation has been to take my dogs for a walk at Stonehenge. Because I live in California, this scenario has taken quite a bit of strategy on my part to find a way to get to the destination. The strategies were covered in my previous blog posts, in which I virtually arrived at the Port of Southampton, did some sightseeing and found a place to stay.<br />
<br />
I have recently started a new job, so I don't have quite as much time to write extensive blog posts as I've have in the past. What I've chosen to do, instead, is to share cool, vacation and travel-related stuff I notice on my partners' websites.<br />
<br />
Because I haven't necessarily purchased everything I write about, this blog post is not always going to be about my personal experiences.<br />
<br />
What I will do for you, is share the things I feel may be particularly interesting, helpful or fun for a vacation, based on what I am most attracted to at the time I write.<br />
<br />
This post is about leaving Southampton and moving to London, in the next phase of my virtual journey around the UK with my dogs. Finding pet-friendly accommodations is not too difficult, and several good websites provide excellent information.<br />
<br />
For example, the Agoda website brings up plenty of dog-friendly accommodations in London, which is also a high energy, central location in the UK. I can type <i>London </i>in the search box, enter the dates I may plan to visit, and press the search button. I'm taken to a page full of a bunch of different accommodations available for the location and dates I entered. From there, I gaze down along the left side bar, where I may select from a nice choice of options.<br />
<br />
I want pet friendly accommodations, so I scroll down to <i>Property facilities</i> and click the <i>Show more</i> button with a downward facing arrowhead. From there I check the box for <i>Pets allowed</i>. The screen refreshes to reflect my selection. In my example search, there are over 100 pet friendly properties in London. There is also a section called <i>Property types</i> where I can select apartments or hotels. In today's search, I also see several hostels and one bed and breakfast.<br />
<br />
In my youth, when I traveled throughout the UK with my parents, my family enjoyed staying at castles, and also at bed and breakfasts, both of which were much friendlier than hotels. Guests from different parties would often sit together for the morning meal, family-style, around a big dining room table.<br />
<br />
Often the bed and breakfasts, back in those days anyway, were run by a family and breakfast menus were not as extensive as restaurant menus. But times have changed, and as Veganism becomes more and more popular, I expect menus will be adjusted to include Vegan meals.<br />
<br />
After booking the lodgings we'll be staying at in our virtual vacation extension to London, I'll be packing up to leave Vegan- and dog-friendly Southampton. I'll see about getting a rental car that I can drop off in London, after I check into new place where I would enjoy staying with my two small dogs.<br />
<br />
According to online search, small dogs may be taken around town on <i>The Tube</i>, London's underground rail transit, so I may not need a car once I get in town. Travel rules, reportedly, require pets to be carried on train escalators, which is pretty easy because they are both small and get along well with each other in a shared carrier. After settling in, I can explore any dog-friendly parks, pubs and restaurants that are easily accessible via the underground.<br />
<br />
One of the first places I want to visit in London will be Windsor castle, which I believe is the official residence of the Queen. Windsor has been in the news lately and is reported to be open for tours daily.<br />
<br />
I've experienced travelling on <i>the Tube</i> before, and visited castles in the past, but at the time Windsor was not on the itinerary for whatever reason. Windsor Castle would be a most exciting place to visit for a few hours, although I certainly wouldn't want to live there. The idea of having strangers show up where I live, snooping around my stuff every day kind of gives me the creeps. Good thing I'm not royalty, I guess...<br />
<br />
As anyone following recent media may know, royalty do own dogs. As a castle guest, however, I would expect this may be one excursion where my dogs will have to stay at the hotel or apartment for the day. I'll be meeting and mingling with everyone else on the tour, gawking at the sights like a typical tourist.<br />
<br />
Comments, please?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>To be continued...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Resources<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.historic-uk.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Historic UK: Heritage accommodation in castles, cottages and historic hotels</a><br />
www . historic-uk . com<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/2016/taking-dog-on-public-transport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The rules about taking your dog on public transport - Saga</a><br />
www.saga . co . uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/2016/taking-dog-on-public-transport<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-7405346845125456422018-03-21T17:41:00.004-07:002023-04-02T09:16:25.968-07:00Vacation: Working Remotely Online<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is part of a new series of blog posts about travelling<a name='more'></a> on vacation....starting with places I have actually visited before...and looking into fun things to do, places to stay, and, of course, souvenirs!<br />
<br />
A quick note before we begin:<br />
<br />
Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
<br />
If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
<br />
Now...back to vacation!<br />
<br />
If you missed my previous posts in this series, here are the links:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/Stonehenge-Ocean-Liner-to-UK-Pet-Friendly.html">Part I Ocean Liner to the UK: Pet Friendly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/stonehenge-Cruises-Pets-and-MOOCs.html">Part II Cruises: Pets and MOOCs</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Cross-Country-Cars-and-Crystals.html">Part III Cross Country: Cars and Crystals</a></span><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Port-Southampton-UK-Cars-and-Tours.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part IV Port of Southampton UK: Cars and Tours</a><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/Southampton-UK-Vegan-Pet-Friendly.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part V Southampton UK: Vegan and Pet Friendly</a><br />
<br />
As you know if you read my previous articles, my dream vacation has been to take my dogs for a walk at Stonehenge. Because I live in California, this scenario has taken quite a bit of strategy on my part to find a way to get to the destination. The strategies were covered in my previous blog posts, in which I virtually arrived at the Port of Southampton, did some sightseeing and found a place to stay.<br />
<br />
I have recently started a new job, so I don't have quite as much time to write extensive blog posts as I've have in the past. What I've chosen to do, instead, is to share cool, vacation and travel-related stuff I notice on my partners' websites.<br />
<br />
Because I haven't necessarily purchased everything I write about, this blog post is not always going to be about my personal experiences. What I will do for you, is share the things I feel may be particularly interesting, helpful or fun for a vacation, based on what I am most attracted to at the time I write.<br />
<br />
This post is about living a travelling lifestyle that literally supports itself, working from a hotel room for a few hours a day and enjoying a vacation too.<br />
<br />
Everyone knows that too much of a good thing can be, well you know. Tours with guides are fun at first. Absorbing foreign fascinating history though, in my opinion, is best done with a little down time in between. And how better to spend that down time than working at a job that can be done from a hotel room?<br />
<br />
There are tons of blogs about how to make money online. I'm not going into the topic of how to make money online because, not being an expert on the topic, I'd just be wasting time. I'm sure everyone has seen ads about "work from home" so you can spend more time with family, go on vacation, and buy expensive stuff you don't need. This isn't about that. I honestly don't know how to make the kind of living working from home that would support an extravagant lifestyle.<br />
<br />
What I have discovered, though, since my last post is some nice ambient audio from Brain Sync, one my advertising partners whose website claims that <i>just 30 minutes a day will bring outstanding results. </i>Does the audio actually work? It's too soon to tell. <br />
<br />
According to BrainSync FAQ, <i>If you are working with a particular goal, such as weight loss or attracting wealth, we recommend that you listen to those once a day for a period of 4 to 6 weeks.</i> Since I've had the full audio for less than a week, it will be at least May before I can give the full report on the purchased program.<br />
<br />
For a link to the freebie version I've tested out for the full six weeks, take a look at my last blog post:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/03/restful-sleep-vacation.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Vacation: Restful Sleep After a Day of Exciting Exploration</a> <br />
<br />
I wrote that post while I was window shopping around at the BrainSync website. I was not offered any discounts or freebies that aren't available to the public before making a purchase, even though I'm a partner. My shopping experience was pretty much the same as anyone else who tried out the freebie and liked it. At the time I definitely wanted to pay for the full version of the freebie program, and noticed a 4 for 3 mp3 special.<br />
<br />
Anyone who loves a sale will understand how this complicates a simple shopping experience. Instead of just buying what I've tried and liked, I had the chance to get more to like at a nice price.<br />
<br />
This took awhile because the founder of Brain Sync, Kelly Howell, has been producing this type of audio for literally decades. She has a lot of material to choose from, and it's pretty easy to cross check reviews online. Most of the reviews I've noticed for Kelly Howell and Brain Sync are very positive, across the board. So the rest of this post is about which products I chose to acquire, and how I like them so far.<br />
<br />
If you haven't guessed already, I did actually go for the 4 for 3 mp3 downloads. There's also a 3 for 2 special with cd format, but then I would have to wait for the cds to come in the mail. I prefer same-day access, and I also like getting to choose one more audio in mp3 format for the same price as the cds.<br />
<br />
The freebie product, the one I wanted to upgrade, is <i>The Secret Universal Mind Meditation.</i> It has Kelly's soothing voice and lots of affirmations that feel reassuring enough to have in the background as I go to sleep. <br />
<br />
I also got <i>The Secret Universal Mind Meditation II</i>, which is supposed to work together with the original version. The download for version II includes a music track as well as a guided meditation. Both audios have scientific sounding waves with Greek names like Delta. Version II has both Delta and Theta waves which, according to Brain Sync, are good for falling asleep.<br />
<br />
Brain Sync also mentions three other waves, with the names Gamma, Beta and Alpha. According the website, these waves are more for waking hours. My goal, then, as a shopper, was to find audio I'd like to have on during the day, ideally when I'm working from home. <br />
<br />
An easy choice, which I felt might do everything all-in-one, is <i>Brain Power</i>. This is the only audio that has all five of the waves mentioned on it. <i>Brain Power</i> has plenty of good reviews, and is advertised to <i>improve memory and concentration, “Big Picture” thinking, perception, and clarity of thought</i>. Fine with me.<br />
<br />
So now for the last audio, the fourth of the 4 for 3 special. This last audio was the most challenging to select, for a few reasons. With so many options to choose from, ranging from love, fitness and success, to wealth, spiritual growth and creativity, it wasn't obvious where to start.<br />
<br />
After a short time out from window shopping, I decided to work with Maslow's classic 20th century needs theory, which places fundamental needs on a more basic level than emotional desires or aspirations for self actualization. <br />
<br />
The most fundamental need I have, and which many bloggers have, is financial. Just how do I make money to support my lifestyle? My choice, then, would be success or wealth. In many ways, I already feel successful. I have access to the internet, a computer, a website, and other things. I also feel prosperous, which seems related to success as well.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, a person who doesn't have a lot of money can feel successful in non-financial ways, and may also experience prosperity. Who cannot look into the night sky and see the stars? Who does not enjoy the change of weather in spring? <br />
<br />
In the purest sense, many of us prosper in so many non-financial ways. So, narrowing this down, my most basic need isn't success. Nor is it prosperity. My most basic need, at a most basic level, is money. Money can't buy love, and money can't buy happiness, but without enough money it's hard to be happy and difficult to place a value on love.<br />
<br />
Money, in the absence of success or prosperity, is merely wealth. It's not necessarily the wealth of a highly successful or prosperous person, although that would be nice too. In my opinion, wealth is directly tied to finances, and the success or prosperity that is represented by money itself...cash, a reliable paycheck and money in the bank.<br />
<br />
I've narrowed down the topic, and now to select the product. This is where the going gets tough. I still have four choices:<br />
<br />
<i>The Secret of Attracting Wealth</i> and <i>Attract Wealth</i> both have plenty of great reviews. They both use Theta waves, which might be effective for relaxation after work.<br />
<i>Attract Wealth While You Sleep</i> sounds good, yet I don't see any reviews for it anywhere online.<br />
<i>Attract Wealth While You Work </i>sounds great! Again, though, no reviews...<br />
<br />
After thinking about this for awhile, I decided that someone needs to be the first person to review a product. Since I'm basically getting it for free on a 4 for 3 deal, maybe that first reviewer should be me. Someone's got to do it. It's only fair. I've received reviews, and although I'd like a lot more reviews than I do, if there were no first reviewer I wouldn't have a single review to my name. <br />
<br />
Every person, every product, every service has to start somewhere. With Brain Sync, it's not like I'm in uncharted territory. Most of the product line has good to excellent reviews already. I chose <i>Attract Wealth While You Work</i>. <br />
<br />
When I work I want to get paid for doing it. I can do lots of work (prosperity) and I can be published online (success). But the bottom line is, am I getting paid for what I do (wealth)? Isn't wealth the reason why people work? Isn't it true that people work to attract wealth?<br />
<br />
On the other hand, people don't usually get paid for relaxing and sleeping, even though that sounds enticing. Sometimes I do see unexpected e-deposits appear overnight into my bank account, but that is based on work I've done in the past, and it honestly doesn't happen as often as I'd like. And, besides, my evening hours are already allocated to falling asleep with both of <i>The Universal Mind Meditations</i>. I don't want to complicate things.<br />
<br />
Finally, after exhausting myself window shopping at Brain Sync, I made my purchase. The mp3s took awhile to download, maybe because the files aren't zipped. My four mp3 selections each had up to 60 minutes of audio for listening, pdf and/or audio instructions and a cover graphic, all as separate download files. I created separate file folders for each of the four packages while I was downloading, before reading the instructions, to have it all organized.<br />
<br />
After the downloads were completely finished and filed, I read the instructions. Then I created three playlists: one to play before I start work, another to create ambiance while I'm working, and one for when I sleep. This is the way I've decided to use the audio, and not necessarily exactly how the instructions suggest. I don't have the time or patience to use headphones. Instead, I want to use the audio as background music rather than as relaxation sessions.<br />
<br />
At the moment, I'm looping the playlists to repeat throughout the evening, which is how I listened to the freebie over the last six weeks.<br />
<br />
I'm also looping the day playlist and adjusting audio levels based on my tasking. I like having the audio super low when I'm on the phone, instead of turning it completely off. When I'm writing or doing tasks that don't require audio communication, the sound level gets turned up.<br />
<br />
So far I'm enjoying the ambient sounds during the day, and I don't notice the subliminal messaging at all. Sometimes, maybe because of the waves used, I find the audio distracting and just turn it off. As background sounds, the ambiance is pleasant and non-intrusive, with slowly shifting musical textures and nature effects. My plan is to continue using the playlists every evening, and during the day when I'm working. <br />
<br />
After about six weeks of ambient sounds and music, I may write another blog post about my Brain Sync audio experiences. Maybe sometime around the beginning of summer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>To be continued...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Resources<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brainsync.com/about-us/about-brain-sync.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brain Sync | The Leader in Brainwave Technology</a><br />
www . brainsync.com/about-us/about-brain-sync . html<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brainsync.com/faq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frequently Asked Questions</a><br />
www . brainsync.com/faq<br />
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Wikipedia</a><br />
en . wikipedia . org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-73698739922362381902018-03-14T20:44:00.007-07:002023-04-02T09:16:52.212-07:00Vacation: Restful Sleep After a Day of Exciting ExplorationThis is part of a new series of blog posts about travelling<a name='more'></a> on vacation....starting with places I have actually visited before...and looking into fun things to do, places to stay, and, of course, souvenirs!<br />
<br />
A quick note before we begin:<br />
<br />
Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
<br />
If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
<br />
Now...back to vacation!<br />
<br />
If you missed my previous posts in this series, here are the links:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/Stonehenge-Ocean-Liner-to-UK-Pet-Friendly.html">Part I Ocean Liner to the UK: Pet Friendly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/stonehenge-Cruises-Pets-and-MOOCs.html">Part II Cruises: Pets and MOOCs</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Cross-Country-Cars-and-Crystals.html">Part III Cross Country: Cars and Crystals</a></span><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Port-Southampton-UK-Cars-and-Tours.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part IV Port of Southampton UK: Cars and Tours</a><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/Southampton-UK-Vegan-Pet-Friendly.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part V Southampton UK: Vegan and Pet Friendly</a><br />
<br />
As you know if you read my previous articles, my dream vacation has been to take my dogs for a walk at Stonehenge. Because I live in California, this scenario has taken quite a bit of strategy on my part to find a way to get to the destination. The strategies were covered in my previous blog posts, in which I virtually arrived at the Port of Southampton, did some sightseeing and found a place to stay.<br />
<br />
I have recently started a new job, so I don't have quite as much time to write extensive blog posts as I've have in the past. What I've chosen to do, instead, is to share cool, vacation and travel-related stuff I notice on my partners' websites.<br />
<br />
Because I haven't necessarily purchased everything I write about, this blog post is not always going to be about my personal experiences. What I will do for you, is share the things I feel may be particularly interesting, helpful or fun for a vacation, based on what I am most attracted to at the time I write.<br />
<br />
This post is about meditation, rest and sleep. Getting to sleep in a strange place can be a challenge, especially after an exciting day of sightseeing. To get the most out of each day, I feel it's important to try and get a good night's rest in the evenings.<br />
<br />
Over the past six weeks, I've drifted off to sleep listening to <i>The Secret Universal Mind Meditation</i> by Kelly Howell. It is available at YouTube, and also offered in two different versions through Brain Sync website. Brain Sync sells these and other helpful audios in mp3 and cd formats.<br />
<br />
A sample of the meditation from YouTube is <a href="https://youtu.be/AO4RKIs1p54" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> (youtu . be/AO4RKIs1p54 ), and if you'd like to try the longer version I've been using, it may be found <a href="https://youtu.be/6tF14GnCJqk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> ( youtu . be/6tF14GnCJqk ). I feel my sleep has been restful, and I've been in a better mood than usual during the day. Maybe it's the meditation, maybe it's a synchronicitous coincidence, or maybe I've just been a little more mindful than usual.<br />
<br />
So this post is not just about my wonderful partners. It's also about a "freebie" at YouTube, which I thank Kelly Howell for sharing as a video, and I also thank Nicole Guillaume of <i>Guiding Echoes</i> for sharing with followers like me who signed up for her ebook and emails.<br />
<br />
Nicole, by the way, has one of the nicest Goddess Fortuna meditations I've found online. Her <i>Create Abundance with Goddess Fortuna - A Guided Meditation </i>may be found at the top of this page and <b><a href="https://youtu.be/KOfSfw_wgGU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> </b>( youtu . be/KOfSfw_wgGU ). Again, a freebie, and the reason I checked out Nicole's <i>Guiding Echoes</i> and signed up for her ebook and email newsletter.<br />
<br />
Nicole, Kelly and I all have our own businesses to run, and as I'm writing this post I'm also window shopping at Brain Sync's website. Nicole recommended <i>The Secret to Attracting Love</i>, and that one does look nice. I definitely want to be sure I'm comfortable with using the audio while I'm asleep. However there are a few more I'd like to try, especially with Brain Sync's buy 3 get one free promotion. (hover over the <i>Audio Store</i> tab, drop down and hover over <i>Gifts and Specials</i>, and then slide over to <i>CD </i>or <i>MP3 Special Savings</i> to the right)<br />
<br />
I'm no expert at brain waves, and I'm noticing that Brain Sync's audio offerings are linked to different types of brain waves like Alpha, Delta, Theta, etc. Some audio includes subliminal messages, and some doesn't. Also, some of the meditations can be done anytime or while sleeping. Other meditations require wearing headphones, which doesn't interest me at all. If this can't be done while I'm asleep, I doubt I'll want to take up extra time during the day. I definitely don't want the obligation of researching or investing in equipment like headphones.<br />
<br />
It appears to be that the BrainSync recommends selecting one thing to improve at a time, and to work on that one thing for at least six weeks. So I need to choose just one thing. Do I really want love more than anything else right now? Or does something else interest me? Whatever I choose to work on first, this means I might drift off to sleep listening one new meditation in the evening for the next six weeks, just as I've done with the <i>The Secret Universal Mind Meditation</i> over the past six weeks.<br />
<br />
After that, I may return to <i>The Secret Universal Mind Meditation,</i> take a rest, or continue with another audio.<br />
<br />
So to clarify, the Brain Sync website seems to suggest absorbing one topic over at least a six week period, and not to make a playlist of different meditations on different topics, nor to shift topics around from week to week. I'm not sure why, because I don't see it explained at the website. Maybe brain waves prefer repeated vibrations. Maybe keeping things simple makes for more restful sleep. Who knows?<br />
<br />
Anyway, if the freebie meditation is relaxing for you, maybe you will consider listening to it for the next six weeks. Be sure to leave a nice comment at YouTube thanking Kelly for making the meditation available for us, and please remember to come back to my website when you're ready to make a purchase so you can go through my affiliate links.<br />
<br />
I hope you sleep soundly, have wonderful dreams, and wake up refreshed, happy and ready to start a new day!<br />
<br />
Comments, please?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>To be continued...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Resources<br />
<br />
<a href="http://guidingechoes.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guiding Echoes | Discover the wisdom of your soul</a><br />
guidingechoes . comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-46875790386322615892018-03-07T13:42:00.001-08:002023-04-02T09:18:09.288-07:00Vacation Exploring Roman Britain: Design of a Spiritual PlaceThis is part of a new series of blog posts about travelling<a name='more'></a> on vacation....starting with places I have actually visited before...in this post: England!<br />
<br />
A quick note before we begin:<br />
<br />
Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
<br />
If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
<br />
Now...back to England<br />
<br />
If you missed my previous posts in this series, here are the links:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/Stonehenge-Ocean-Liner-to-UK-Pet-Friendly.html">Part I Ocean Liner to the UK: Pet Friendly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/stonehenge-Cruises-Pets-and-MOOCs.html">Part II Cruises: Pets and MOOCs</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Cross-Country-Cars-and-Crystals.html">Part III Cross Country: Cars and Crystals</a></span><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Port-Southampton-UK-Cars-and-Tours.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part IV Port of Southampton UK: Cars and Tours</a><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/Southampton-UK-Vegan-Pet-Friendly.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Part V Southampton UK: Vegan and Pet Friendly</a><br />
<br />
As you know if you read my previous articles, my dream vacation has been to take my dogs for a walk at Stonehenge. Because I live in California, this scenario has taken quite a bit of strategy on my part to find a way to get to the destination. The strategies were covered in my previous blog posts, in which I virtually arrived at the Port of Southampton, did some sightseeing and found a place to stay.<br />
<br />
In my actual visit to England, which happened as a family vacation years ago when I was in my teens, my parents chose to visit many different places. Because one of my parents was born in the UK, our focus was connecting with and meeting our extended family members. We also visited historic castles, churches, and went sightseeing What fascinated me at the time was the tremendous spiritual energies of history that could be felt in an almost tangible way, unlike anything I had previously experienced in the USA.<br />
In recent years, people from around the world have shared their opinions and answers to practically every question imaginable on the internet. I have discovered online what British people have known for centuries:<br />
<br />
The tremendously rich spiritual history of the UK is influenced not only by the native religions, but also by having been part of the ancient Roman Empire.<br />
<br />
Although the beautiful statues of Roman antiquity rarely appear so far from their source as England, inscriptions to Roman deities may be found in places like the baths of Roman forts. Ancient Roman British temples and foundations have been found at a few different archaeological sites in the UK.<br />
<br />
Inspired by the idea of vacationing in England and exploring what remains of that Roman Britain place of Empire in ages past, I recently awoke from a dream and began my day inspired with a new idea. The idea is a theory of design that might incorporate ancient and contemporary spirituality in the same place, with the architectural design and layout of a temple site. The design theory is based on two things:<br />
<br />
Contemporary interpretations of some ancient Roman religious decrees hold that neither animal sacrifices, nor statues of the deities, were deemed appropriate for Pagan Roman religious worship during the reign of the Roman King <i>Numa</i>. This interpretation, accepted by numerous contemporaries, confirms an early expression of humane and vegan offerings to the divine. These vegan offerings may be ethically emulated for educational dramatization and historic reenactments of Pagan religious holidays, or for rituals held at spiritual sites.<br />
<br />
I have also been inspired by reading a recent book by internationally renowned British voice coach and author Stewart Pearce, whose writing has greatly influenced my feelings about integrating ancient and contemporary New Age style spirituality. The book is <i>The Angels of Atlantis</i>. The book contains illustrations of cards which are available as separate items. I do not own the cards, although the images are lovely.<br />
<br />
The book is quite amazing, and describes relationships between archangels, Atlantis, locations on earth, the heavens, and a theory that the names ascribed to deities of the ancient Egyptian and Greek mythological spiritualities were actually the names of Atlantean priests and priestesses of angelic energies.<br />
<br />
The energies I feeling emanating from a piece of pink Himalayan rock salt have also been a strong influence. The rock salt, in the form of a tea candle holder, rests in an arched wall niche in my home. Beside the rock salt, and sharing the same niche, are a small replica statue of a Roman Goddess and a flower vase made of a seven day candle with the image of the Lady of Guadalupe wrapped around it. Of these three objects, my sensual impression is that the rock salt feels stronger energetically.<br />
<br />
It is possible that the divine, having always been associated with the unknown and the unknowable and in current practice often referred to as being "of the heavens", may have been the result of extraterrestrial energies felt on earth. I'm not saying that aliens arrived on space ships or anything like that. However; the energies of the sky and the stars have been an enormous inspiration to people from times long before recorded human history. These energies may been among the unknowable divine that ancients worshiped.<br />
<br />
These energies, which we may know as angelic in contemporary practice, were honored in groves, stone circles, and so forth...both in human-created and naturally created spaces. Early temples, so to speak. The temples may have had a presiding priest or priestess. However; as time went on, people had more things to do than preside as a priest(ess) over a temple space. And so, images of the priests/priestesses may have been created to appear to serve the space, when human priests were absent.<br />
<br />
Because the images may have represented priests/priestesses who could "put in a good word" with the angelic, extraterrestrial, heavenly, unknowable divine, people may have left presents or offerings near the statues. Not as divine offerings, but as offerings to the priest or priestess. Over time, the statues may have became conflated with divine energies, and at that point people might leave offerings for statues which were, perhaps, never intended to represent the divine. Only to represent the presiding, yet absent, priests/priestesses.<br />
<br />
And because ancient "deities" had very human traits and foibles, it stands to reason that those whom we refer to as ancient deities may, in fact, have been human beings who acted as priests/priestesses.<br />
<br />
Outlandish stories arose about the priests/priestesses and their powers, perhaps because of peoples' desire to believe in the impossible...and perhaps, as it is in the present, it's kind of fun. Disneyland indeed has its ancient precedents. Maybe Venus was an exceptionally beautiful and charming priestess of the angelic energies. Maybe Mars was a warrior for his "main profession", that is when he wasn't serving as a priest. And so on...<br />
<br />
And again, before carving rock was invented by humans, the most ancient icons of worship would not have been statues representing the divine as human. Instead, the earliest focal points of worship would probably have come from nature. Inspiration may have come from trees, animals, rocks; for example a large black meteorite that fell from heaven to earth was highly regarded as divine.<br />
<br />
So, with this theory in mind, it is very possible to construct a new style of temple which includes Pagan statues of Mars, Venus, Jupiter and so on...as part of the design, yet not as the main focal point of worship, which could be a natural grove, the heavens, rocks, or what have you.<br />
<br />
So, the temple design becomes, perhaps, an entry point which is promenade or column-lined path, in which the path is formed of statues relegated to the priests and priestesses from our shared ancestral history, as an experience of ancestral reverence rather than as a focal point of worship (aka statues of ancient deities, and also perhaps revered priests and priestesses throughout the ages all displayed within the same context).<br />
<br />
Then the promenade or path leads to the sacred space, which does NOT have statues within it. The space could instead celebrate the miracles of the natural world. The place may be a grove, a circle of rocks, one big rock, or another type of natural area which is sacred for reasons that were created by divine energies rather than by human hands.<br />
<br />
If an external space is not available, the sacred space might be a lavishly decorated room within a larger building, perhaps to include natural rocks, plants, a water feature, an atrium and/or skylights for example...the sacred space, again, being designed without statues or human images within it. Statues and imagery, when desired, may appear leading to the space, as a part of the pathway of experience within a larger space, and as a remembrance for our shared ancestral human heritage.<br /><br />
This is my vision, perhaps, for a temple which attempts to combine concepts expressed in some contemporary worship systems, such as the idea of avoiding iconic images within a divine worship system, or that angels and deities exist as divine energy and not as created sculptures or images, while (whilst?) giving a nod to the images we human beings enjoy creating, sharing and experiencing, which represent a collective, human, ancestral past we share together.<br />
<br />
Comments, please?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>To be continued...</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Resources<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/questions_01.shtml#five" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BBC - Ancient History in depth: an overview of Roman Britain</a><br />
www . bbc . co . uk/history/ancient/romans/questions_01.shtml#five<br />
<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/roman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br />
</a> <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/roman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roman sites | English Heritage</a><br />
www . english-heritage . org . uk/visit/places/roman/<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/10411832/Exceptionally-rare-Roman-statue-unearthed-in-City-of-London-building-site.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Exceptionally rare Roman statue unearthed in City of London building site - Telegraph</a><br />
www . telegraph . co . uk/news/earth/environment/archaeology/10411832/Exceptionally-rare-Roman-statue-unearthed-in-City-of-London-building-site.html<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/falling-stars-and-black-stone-humanity-s-worship-meteorites-001901" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Falling Stars and Black Stone: Humanity's Worship of Meteorites | Ancient Origins</a><br />
www . ancient-origins . net/unexplained-phenomena/falling-stars-and-black-stone-humanity-s-worship-meteorites-001901<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Numa_tradition" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Numa tradition - Nova Roma</a><br />
www . novaroma . org/nr/Numa_tradition<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.societasviaromana.net/Collegium_Religionis/sacrifices.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On sacrifices, a guide for practicioners of the Religion Romana</a><br />
www . societasviaromana . net/Collegium_Religionis/sacrifices.php<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-90589240065042889382018-02-28T18:38:00.001-08:002023-04-02T09:19:04.201-07:00Stretching, Exercise and Relaxation While TravellingThis is part of a new series of blog posts about travelling<a name='more'></a>....today will be a very short post about a relaxing stretch program that can be done from a private room.<br />
<br />
A quick note before we begin:<br />
<br />
Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
<br />
If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
<br />
Now...back to STRETCHING<br />
<br />
After a day of travelling, or when waking up in a room away from home, it's nice to have a familiar routine for stretching. I thought it might be nice for this series of blog posts to share a program I actually use. I find it's very helpful for relaxing in a sensuous, feminine way, and for limbering up the spine for other physical activities.<br />
<br />
Lots of people enjoy being physically active. I imagine many of my neighbors grew up in families that encouraged playing competitive sports. We have bike riders, golfers, tennis players, swimmers and who knows what else. For some people, vigorous, strenuous and continual movement is second nature.<br />
<br />
When I was a kid, Dad provided personal lessons in how to swing a British cricket bat and the best ways to throw a punch while wearing boxing gloves. Swimming and ballet classes were supported by Mom, who was a dance instructor in her youth. My parents both encouraged competition in the arts and getting good grades in school.<br />
When I was in college, I gravitated toward noncompetitive fitness like dance classes and weight training. After graduation, it was easy to work out in health clubs, with aerobic dance classes, weights and equipment. The ambiance of being a member of a group of exercisers is energizing, and I like the idea of being fit.<br />
<br />
Movement is part of nature and community, and I often prefer to take a slower pace than some of the more athletic types. Whether it's walking the dogs, or enjoying a pleasant day as a sort of nature meditation.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, too, I like to exercise in private. It's more convenient for me, and healthier for the environment than sitting in a car and driving to a fitness club. Fortunately, online video workouts and social networking groups make it easy to exercise in private while being part of a group too.<br />
<br />
>With so many exercise programs available on the internet, sometimes it's hard to choose. Many fitness "gurus" have tons of free videos to try out before getting a paid program. I have worked with several different fitness-from-home programs, and each has its own strong points.<br />
<br />
Earlier this year I got bored with yoga poses and repetitive motion exercise. I missed the artistry, and intellectual challenge that comes from learning new dance movements, but I don't have the kind of dedication that ballet/jazz/modern dance classes require. I decided to check out belly dance videos.<br />
<br />
And then I found Coco Berlin. Like most contemporary fitness instructors, she has a lot of free videos available. She also has an extensive free course in belly dance, with a paid upgrade option. Social networking is available for Coco's updates, and for students to connect with ourselves.<br />
<br />
Coco's style of teaching is friendly and patient. She favors comfortable ways to learn movement. Her voice is gently touched with a German accent, in a pleasant way that sounds almost musical to the ears. Her personal style is genuine and honest, sensual and sexy at the same time.<br />
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Despite wanting to learn belly dance quickly, it soon became clear that it would require more confidence. Although some movements are easier than they look, many are not. I wasn't sure I was ready to invest in the belly dance course right away.<br />
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Fortunately, Coco Berlin offers a sensuous dance workout, which is a less expensive option for beginners. After a few weeks of doing the exercises I felt my confidence increasing. As it turned out, Coco's sensuous dance workout was a really nice introduction the sensual aspects of exercise, and to some of the supporting muscles for belly dance.<br />
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The sensuous dance course does not require an internet connection, except for the initial download. It may be ordered as a cd set, as a set of digital downloads, or both cds and downloads. I opted for both versions, so I could share the cd with Mom, and work with the digital downloads on my laptop.<br />
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The program package includes videos, audio versions of the workout videos, and pdf handouts about anatomy specifics featured for the workout. Coco includes a five-minute workout, a longer dance workout, sensuous tips and instructions, and a helpful wake-up-and-get-out-of bed stretch routine to start my day.<br />
Coco Berlin, an acclaimed belly dancer and instructor who travels, appears to have thought of everything I need to stretch, limber up, get ready for my day, and wind down afterwards while travelling.<br />
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Highly recommended.<br />
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<b>To be continued...</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578149916754798272.post-75518753570276233812018-02-21T23:44:00.005-08:002023-04-02T09:20:12.947-07:00Let's Visit Stonehenge Part V Southampton UK: Vegan and Pet FriendlyThis is part of a new series of blog posts about travelling<br />
<a name='more'></a>....starting with a place I have actually visited before: STONEHENGE!<br />
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A quick note before we begin:<br />
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Please remember to come back and click through the advertising banners and links you see in my blog posts when you choose to make a purchase. That's how I get credit or money to help support my blog. You will also find banner links of my affiliate advertising partners at the right side bar for your convenience. (scroll down) The shops and services I select to partner with generally have good to excellent online reviews. Although I haven't made personal purchases with all of my partners yet, when I do I'll share my honest opinions with you.<br />
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If you have an experience you'd like to share or a suggestion to make, post a comment below, and come back to my website often. I'll be posting more material soon!<br />
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Now...back to STONEHENGE<br />
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If you missed my previous posts about my dream vacation, here are the links:<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/Stonehenge-Ocean-Liner-to-UK-Pet-Friendly.html">Let's Go to Stonehenge! Part I Ocean Liner to the UK: Pet Friendly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/01/stonehenge-Cruises-Pets-and-MOOCs.html">Let's Go to Stonehenge! Part II Cruises: Pets and MOOCs</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Cross-Country-Cars-and-Crystals.html">Let's Go to Stonehenge! Part III Cross Country: Cars and Crystals</a></span><br />
<a href="https://esylviablog.blogspot.com/2018/02/stonehenge-Port-Southampton-UK-Cars-and-Tours.html" style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Let's Go to Stonehenge! Part IV Port of Southampton UK: Cars and Tours</a><br />
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As you know if you read my previous articles, my dream vacation is to take my dogs for a walk at Stonehenge. Because I live in California, this scenario has taken quite a bit of strategy on my part to find a way to get to the destination. The strategies were covered in my previous blog posts, ending up with actually visiting Stonehenge, returning to Port of Southampton, and preparing for the return home. So now it's time to consider whether I really want to go home, or whether I might actually want to stay awhile longer, if my Visas are good for it.<br />
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Since I brought my dogs with me (no easy task, given the strict UK regulations about pets) I obviously want to us to be able to hang out together. And, if the dogs are approved to leave the ship with their pet visas, the first thing I will want is a place to stay overnight. My first idea was to drive all the way to London. It's a big city, centrally located, with lots of contemporary amenities and lots of things to do. A place like London would probably have a good selection of pet friendly hotels and, turns out, it does.<br />
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What surprises me, after all the strict pet travel regulations, is how pet friendly England appears to be when my pet is safely with me. Online search, from my location in Southern California, for pet friendly accommodations near Port of Southampton UK turned up a number of options. London is definitely not alone in the pet friendly hotel business.<br />
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After I've got my pet-friendly reservation, hopefully near a nice park where I may walk my dogs, I'll need to think about food for me and my dogs. This is more complicated than it sounds because of my nutritional choices. About ten years ago I slowly started converting to Vegan eating. This was not necessarily for my personal health or beauty, although those are both reasons some people swear by plant-based diets. It's actually because I just want to be kind to animals.<br />
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I first started to modify my diet as a pescetarian, which is a vegetarian that eats fish sometimes. I rationalized that fish probably live more of a normal life than most farm animals. They get to swim around with other fish and a fairly normal life, while they grow up to a fair size before that final, fateful last day in the water. I also switched my dogs diet over to a salmon-based dry dog food. They they really liked it.<br />
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Over the past few years, I've participated in several massive online open courses that opened my eyes to the plight of dairy cows, chickens and other farm animals (MOOCs, which are sponsored by international universities). Knowledge and facts were what helped me make strong dietary decisions.<br />
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Giving up dairy products like cheese, yogurt and ice cream, was really difficult for me. Along with eggs, dairy products are included in the recipes for practically every baked good and comfort food imaginable. Aisles and aisles of most grocery stores are filled with merchandise and foods that don't qualify as animal-friendly. Food shopping is a tough call for vegans.<br />
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These days, the only non-vegan food I keep in my kitchen are eggs from pasture-raised chickens, which I mostly get from local farmers at the farmers market who promise me that they treat their chickens good. Aside from these pasture-raised eggs, everything I buy for the kitchen is vegan these days.<br />
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My dogs moved over to a similarly vegan diet too, with a combination of dry vegan dog food and recipes from Dr. Pitcairn's book, <i>Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats</i>, which is also my go-to guide for basic pet health care and maintenance at home.<br />
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The secret behind Dr. Pitcairn's whole food pet nutrition is a home-made supplement powder that's included in the book's recipes. The authors call the supplement a <i>healthy powder</i>, and it includes a variety of different nutritional supplement powders in specific proportions.<br />
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According to Compassionate Circle website, pre-measured vegan pet supplements made by their company are designed to go with Dr. Pitcairn's recipes. The website also states that some of the supplement advice has changed since the book's first printing, and that the most recent edition of the book has more vegan and vegetarian recipes than ever. (4th edition, printed in 2017, as of the writing of this blog post)<br />
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Compassionate Circle website includes Veggie Pets as their UK-based international re-seller for their vegan pet supplements. Veggie Pets delivers vegan pet food and supplements packages throughout the UK, which will be convenient for my vacation overseas. I'll probably contact the hotel where I booked my room, and see how to address a shipment sent for delivery to me when I get there. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to take dog food off the ship and through customs.<br />
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According to Veggie Pets, the UK has quite a few choices in brands for vegan pet food, including Benevo, from Havant in Hampshire. Veggie Pets will also ship V-Dog, which is made in California. I can also order Benevo dog foods through ebay's UK site, if I prefer.<br />
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It might be a good idea to let the dogs try out Benevo and V-Dog at home before our vacation. I can add it into their regular food slowly, so I can see how they adjust to the different brands and if they like them both equally.<br />
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V-Dog I can easily order from ebay, although it's quite a bit more expensive than the stuff they usually eat. I might have to order Benevo from Veggie Pet. It might have to be shipped from the UK to USA if I want to try it at home.<br />
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I might also want to order some vegan snacks ahead of time for me too, and have that sent to my room so the dogs aren't the only ones munching out in the hotel room. It might take a day or so get used to being back on steady, dry land again, after going with the flow of wave motion in the ocean liner for a week. I'm not sure I'll be up to grocery shopping that first day off the ship. If my room has access to a kitchen with a refrigerator, I will definitely want to go shopping later.<br /><br />
Happy Cow is one of the better known websites for free vegan searches. If I want to help support the website, I can help Happy Cow with the expenses by making purchases at their affiliate shop for books and Happy Cow swag. People are encouraged to contact the website with new vegan-friendly restaurants and stores or ones that aren't already included in their database.<br />
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According to Happy Cow, Southampton UK is home to Rice Up Wholefoods, a five-star, all-vegan grocery store. Imagine shopping for food, with only animal friendly products on every aisle. This dream vacation is getting better and better.<br />
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The Rice Up website also has a page of links, including a global, UK-based company that makes cups and cutlery from plants, and The Art House, a vegan cafe in Southampton that displays affordable artwork by local artists. Why was I thinking of going to London? Southampton seems like a pretty nice place to hang out near the beach with my dogs. Sort of like California, but a little chillier.<br />
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<b>To be continued...</b><br />
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Resources<br />
<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d663796-r241295287-Golden_Tours-London_England.html#REVIEWS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br />
</a><a href="http://travel.spotcoolstuff.com/websites/dog-cat/pet-friendly-hotel-booking-engines" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Reviews of Cat & Dog-Friendly Hotel Booking Websites | Spot Cool Stuff: Travel</a><br />
travel . spotcoolstuff . com/websites/dog-cat/pet-friendly-hotel-booking-engines<br />
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<a href="https://www.happycow.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Find Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants Near Me - Happy Cow</a><br />
www . happycow . net<br />
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<a href="http://www.riceup.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rice Up Wholefoods Cooperative Ltd</a><br />
www . riceup . co . uk<br />
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<a href="https://www.veggiepets.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">VeggiePets.com</a><br />
www . veggiepets . com</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com