I give opinions on all sort of random stuff EXCEPT religion and politics...two of the most divisive topics on the planet. I give advice and answer questions (like an advice column), and I love the topics of all things spiritual and metaphysical, parenting and general life issues. I'll review products, movies, books, you name it.
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I wish I could remember which friend recommended this book to me...cuz then I could thank them. I really enjoyed it.
The Shanghai Tunnel, by Sharan Newman is a historical novel set in Portland, Oregon in and around the 1860's. There is even a map of the city from the archives of this time period. Each chapter begins with a quote from a Portland newspaper or historical document. Since I've been to Portland many times, have relatives there, and the book tells some of the history of the region in which I live, it held extra interest for me.
In this story, heroine Emily, has recently moved to Portland where her newly deceased husband owned property. She soon discovers, that not only was he an abusive husband, but an unscrupulous businessman. As she attempts to take control of her life and her finances, things get sticky, and dangerous.
One of the aspects I really liked about this was the strength and independent thinking of Emily. She is living during a time when women are not encouraged to think, or to assert themselves, and yet she is doing it. I was both angered at the treatment of the Chinese AND women, and encouraged that women like Emily always manage to pave the way for higher evolution.
It wasn't a riveting plot, but rates way above the average beach read. The character of Emily carries the book and makes you want to see how things will turn out for her.
I'm cheap. OK, maybe that's not as accurate as "thrifty, frugal and mostly broke". I see t-shirts from time to time and think, "gee, I really like that, but it's $28!!!!" So I did a little research and between my computer's publishing program, my ink jet printer, some Avery Iron-On transfer sheets and some cheap, blank t-shirts, I'm in business.
Now, I'm also a bit dyslexic and so following written instructions has always been a challenge for me. Avery makes transfer sheets that are recommended for dark colored shirts and some for light or white shirts. The ones for dark shirts have a backing paper (think contact paper) that must be removed first and I'm here to tell you, it is EXTREMELY hard to get the backing off of the transfer. For the dark shirts, you do NOT flip your image first.
And, if you don't really want a background color, it is possible to iron it extra long until pretty much the transfer comes out clear (but then, your image or writing better be white or light. So you have to really think through your design. And if you don't want a square image (the shape of the sheet of transfer paper), then trim it. Notice in the photo above of the shirts I made yesterday that I made the image look sort of like a comment bubble. And...if you look close, can you see that little white blob in the upper left of the transfer? That is where a little piece of the backing paper WOULD NOT COME OFF without out ripping the transfer. Oh Well.
Shop around for transfers. If you already own a computer, a printer and some sort of publishing software (I have Windows Publisher), you've got it licked. I think I purchased the transfers I have from Wal-Mart YEARS ago. I see you can buy them on Amazon too so I'll put those links at the bottom of this post. 5 transfers are 13.96 so that comes out to about $2-3 per transfer. Then at Wal-Mart in the men's department, I found some blank t-shirts. I bought a long sleeved gray one for $6 and two short sleeved shirts for $4.50 each. So that's a far cry from the average price of a t-shirt with your own favorite message on it. Oh, and don't buy the pocket Ts or really stretchy fabrics...it just won't work.
The transfers for light/white shirts are applied a little differently. For these you must create your design and then on the computer flip it so that on your screen it appears as a mirror/backwards image. These do not have backing paper to remove, and you cut the shape you want and iron it on. They are easier to work with.
You will need a FLAT surface that will accept a great deal of heat. An ironing board is not hard enough for the pressure you need or the hardness of the surface you need. For me, it works well because I have a smooth top range, so that becomes my work surface.
Prewash/dry your shirts so you know if they are going to shrink. Iron the area you will put your transfer on. Place a pillow case on your ironing surface (not sure why) and place the t-shirt as flat and smooth as you can. Then iron on. Again, it works well on my stove because I can also turn the hood fan on. You do get a hot smell from the transfer. You will need to iron it on the iron's hottest cotton setting (NO STEAM) for at least 3 minutes. Keeping it moving the entire time, and paying good attention the the edges. The shirt needs to cool before you try to remove the backing papers (which is different from the backing paper you will need to remove from the dark ones BEFORE you begin ironing). The light ones come with the iron paper already on it and you just iron it and then the backing will come off. The dark ones have you remove a backing paper, and then lay a tissue sheet (included) over the transfer for ironing.
So it is both simple and complicated (for me). But it is worth it in the money I save, and that it allows me to create what I want. You can make family reunion t-shirts (these transfers also come in larger packages for higher number of transfers), special event shirts, or just save yourself some money when you see a cool message on a shirt or bumper sticker that you like. You can also make photo shirts from your saved/uploaded computer images.
And there are some other brands of iron-on transfer paper for your computer. If you've used another kind, tell me how you like it. Have you ever created your own shirts?
I stumbled across this website (Post Punk Kitchen) when I clicked on someone's facebook link for a recipe for pumpkin pie brownies. I mean, who could resist taking a peek at that? Tis the freaking season, after all! Then once there, I clicked on a recipe for oven onion rings...I mean COME ON...you gotta see that!
I'm not a vegan. I'm still working with my failed attempts and ambivalence at vegetarianism. But finding an arsenal of great recipes that don't taste like crap or cardboard is a good place to start to encorporate healthier options. One day I might slowly live my way into being a vegan. Without the militant fanfare and foot-stomping about the pee-ons who dare to touch animal products to their lips. It could happen.
There are some really good looking, nice sounding, not too complicated recipes on this site. Don't overlook vegetarian recipes or websites even if you're a hearty meat-eater. There are things on this site even my husband the hunter would eat. Look around the site. And be sure to share with me if you try any of these interesting vegan recipes and what your family thinks of them.
The brownies may be first on my list. But as I write this, it's really cold outside and I just don't feel like going to the store for the few things I don't have. I DO have two small organic pumpkins and found that I really don't enjoy the flavor of them cooked like squash. I just don't. So if they will squish together to add up to a can of pumpkin, it looks like a win win! The gals of PPK also have some recipe books on the market.
From time to time, I revisit my thoughts about being "just a housewife" and continue to try to break down my own, and cultural devaluation of a woman's work in the home.
If you do a little research online, you'll find that going back as far as the 50's, there have been attempts by researchers and economists and feminists to put an annual salary or value on the work that housewives and stay-at-home mom's do. The most current estimations are that the work of a housewife would cost the household $75,000 to $100,000 if they paid for such things as a full-time nanny, assistant, gardener, cook, chauffeur, bookkeeper, maid, operations manager...and the list goes on. And one that is on call 24/7. But do these figures really make us feel better? We think to ourselves, "Yeah, well, nobody WOULD hire all of those things out separately, and most women do all that PLUS a full-time job, and how would anybody know if we are doing the job well 'enough' to warrant such a salary?"
Go to any social gathering and people want to know, what you "do" for a "living", meaning, where are you employed for a paycheck? And we've learned to say such things as "just a housewife", "a stay-at-home mom", "a homemaker", or worse yet, we may say "nothing". I jokingly refer to myself as "Dobby the House Elf" (a Harry Potter reference). And the responses from other working women are often rather bristly: "Oh, that must be NICE, wish I didn't have to WORK." or "Don't you get bored doing NOTHING all day?", or "Gee, I have to work AND do that too.", as if to say you're a subdefective. Other women are our harshest critics.
I notice that when I do online surveys, I feel a sense of pride when I check the box that says "post graduate degree", and a twinge of self-loathing when I check the box that says "full-time homemaker". I notice that my head and my heart don't match up. I can say the words and argue the case for women to stay home if they wish and if the family can financially survive and even that it is a job of great value. But my internal messages say "you are lazy, you are nothing, you must always take up less space and breathe less air because you don't contribute a paycheck". It isn't the deep down inner truth, but it is the emotional, conditioned response. It is a learned, visceral reaction based on feelings my mother transmitted, and based on cultural values which I have internalized as did she. You can tell me of my worth, but do you believe it? Can you make me believe it at the core of my being? I wonder.
I will defer to my husband's preferences, take the back seat on most things, and honestly behave far more deferentially than I would if I had a "real job" or if I lived on my own. This is not because he demands it, demeans me or requires such "walking three steps behind" behavior. I do it to myself. I don't feel equal. I don't feel worthy. I feel like a burden.
I know that working would bring home a paycheck with the side effect of a crabbier me, and way less getting done at home. Probably more arguments about division of labor. Probably resentments. I would be less healthy because there would be so much less energy for my system. I know the things that I do are important. But deep down, I think I swallowed the line that a good woman, a competent woman can do it all, be it all and never feel tired. Along with supermodel thinness and a body and face that never ages, I can work full-time, run a household like a well-oiled machine and be happy about every aspect of it. What the HELL??!!!
I feel privileged to be at home. Sort of like I've gotten away with the perfect "crime". I've mostly been a stay at home housewife and/or mother. Sure I've been to college and I've held a bunch of jobs, but being at home is where I love to be. So how can something I love make me feel so worthless sometimes? Why do I feel anxiety if I didn't spend the entire day scrubbing something? If I didn't spend at least 8 hours "working" to equal the time put in by my husband on his paid job, I feel anxiety...I feel shame. Just how does one break the cycle of these old beliefs? It doesn't seem to be enough to just say it to make it so.
I have often heard my mother put these judgements on herself. She has said such things as, "Well, I did it because it was my job, and since I didn't 'contribute' to the family, I figured I better do my job super well." I feel angry when I hear her say these things. I feel angry because I am fighting those very same beliefs in myself. Where did these ideas come from? Are they remnants from the Protestant Work Ethic? Is it a mix-up that resulted from the pendulum swing of the women's liberation movement? Women fought very hard to not be defined ONLY as housewife/mother or to be relegated or restricted to only that. In the process did we demonize the work/roles we wished to be allowed choice about? And it doesn't matter if we call it "housewife" or "homemaker" or "domestic engineer"...the change has to come from within us and spread to the cultural value system. The name we use does not change a thing. Is it a product of how women have been viewed for centuries? "Less than" no matter what they do? Called lazy for staying home, and "castrating bitches" and "refrigerator mothers" if they work away from home? The feeling in the pit of my stomach may just be a pointer to the larger issues.
And I wonder about the guilt and stress levels and overall health of women to pretend they can do it all and do it well. How can one work two full-time jobs and not be diminished in both of them? And why do we all pretend that it is a perfectly reasonable expectation? And why do people who can do such amazing acts of juggling, endurance and productivity still make only about 70% of what men make? What is wrong with this picture?
How do you feel about the role of housewife? What about a housewife who has no children in the home? Are you a housewife? Have you felt the same? Have you overcome those feelings, truly, deeply transmuted the cultural messages? If you did, how did you do it? Mostly, I've heard housewives fall on extreme ends: They either do the "just a housewife" devaluation or they use a loud militant voice to express the value of homemaking but their intensity makes me feel "me thinks she doth protest too much" and that it is simply loud posturing to cover the "just a housewife" feelings.
I certainly don't want to restrict women in any role they choose. I do have inner wonderings about why people have children if they are raised in daycare. I wonder about that. I don't think I'm judging, I'm just pondering the potential ramifications. I did both during my son's upbringing. And I can tell you that I felt guilt unlike anything I can describe to have to go to work when my son was sick, or when I knew he needed that extra bit of TLC, or when I wondered how he could get the individualized care that he could get from just me. I felt guilty when I worked and guilty when I didn't. What's up with that? How does one excise internalized, enculturated value messages? I really really want to know. Would I feel better if my husband stroked my ego and told me how wonderful I was for the work I did and how much he appreciated it and how happy he was for each thing (and list it) that I did? Well, maybe :-) Couldn't hurt. Might help. But I know I cannot depend on another to give me my value. It must come from me. And I just don't know how to do it.
The internet is about as safe as a convenience store in East L.A. on Saturday night.
~ Jonathan Littman; The Fugitive Game ~
The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver is an action-packed crime novel of the cyber-stalker-serial killer variety. I had a hard time putting it down once I picked it up. And I'm still a little paranoid every time my computer acts twitchy. You'll find out why.
There is a cyber-stalker-murderer on the loose and of course, the law is out to nail him. A genius psychopath hacker, whose life is the deep inner world of computer hacking, loses touch with reality when he moves from earning points for challenges in a computer game, to taking the game into the real world. The authorities commandeer the assistance of another genius hacker who just happens to be serving time in prison for his crimes. Nobody, and I mean nobody is who they appear to be, and once a hacker has control of your identity, they can change you into whoever they want others to think you are. And "socially engineer" themselves into somebody who you will trust. And if it makes you feel better to tell yourself that there is no reason anybody would go to this much trouble to murder little old you, when you are of no interest to anyone, think again. You are a game piece. Nothing more. A challenge. Just another "hack".
A fantastic read and one that although fictitious, reminds me that technology is a powerful, powerful tool, and to what degree I am able, I need to take responsibility for behaving with reasonable caution anytime I interact with "strangers" on the web.
Jeffery Deaver sold me. I must read more of his books. He's also the author of the bestselling Bone Collector (somehow I missed it, but I'm going to find it!).
Luckily it doesn't feel like this all day every day, but there are times, when an empath and medium can become totally overwhelmed with the onslaught of need. It's like everyone is speaking at once, grabbing at you, wanting attention and assistance. Or you just FEEL too much.
Yeah, I know...talk to me until you're blue in the face about boundaries and protections and all that. For some of us, it doesn't always work, or even work sometimes or work YET. We are all on a different path with different timing.
And I'm not even talking about friends and family who call and ask for favors. I'm talking about total strangers who approach me in public and then begin to tell me their stories of woe...out of nowhere, or when spirits seem to crawl out of the woodwork, all wanting to get a message to somebody and I just don't yet have the skill or the desire to prioritize and filter. There are those days, with these sensitivities, when I just want to curl up in a ball with my hands over my ears and escape. I feel too exposed, too vulnerable and like a wishbone being snapped in too many directions.
I found a couple of clips that moved me and help me to illustrate my point to you. Be sure to let me know, if over time, these links fail. I know that links on YouTube get pulled or moved all the time.
The first one is a scene from Jesus Christ Superstar. In it, Jesus encounters the leper colony. They all want to be healed. Do not misunderstand, I am not comparing myself to Jesus Christ, or to being a great healer. This is just a clip that illustrates how it sometimes feels to me to have too many beings wanting my assistance.
This is an episode from the TV show Medium, Season 1, Episode 8. where Allison explains that it is hard for her to be in a hospital because of all the beings who want her help. She shuts them out with headphones. Hell, I do this just to be able to shop! This is the entire episode. First, allow it to load up. Then go to 16 minutes into the segment, and the scene I'm referring to runs for only about 50 seconds.
"I believe that our emotions and life experiences have certain energies associated with them. Experiences may generate different kinds of energies, some of which you may want to unload. I came to Cherrie to help move some energy onwards and outwards; to bring myself some relief and also to discover some things that I knew were present, but I was unable to identify.
The first session I had, I went to identify some underlying emotional reasons for certain odd health problems. The second time I went to move old, repetitive energies (feelings) out.
Once I gave myself over to the process, my mind was relaxed and open enough that I discovered things about myself that I didn't know were even there. I related my health problem to a long term uncomfortable situation in my family. And moving that energy around, and talking with Cherrie gave me new ideas for dealing with those problems. I also found that you don't even need to have a "problem" or a specific idea of what you need. If you're just curious, or think some things might open up for you, Cherrie provides a really comfortable way to explore that.
I also enjoyed the experience as a way of debriefing when the day is over. Really digesting how you lived life that day and then letting it all melt away. And if none of these notions really grab ya, then how about just a really excellent way to RELAX. :)"
Another gem gone too soon in my opinion, Joan of Arcadia staring Amber Tamblyn (a recent addition to hit TV show House), was complex and unique. It only survived two seasons.
The premise of the series is that teenager Joan, who lives in Arcadia, has some parallels to Joan of Arc. She sees and talks to God. God appears to her in many forms and faces: a child, a janitor, a dog walker, a goth teen, an elderly woman, a regular joe and many others. In fact, the dog walker God is Amber's real-life dad. 57 faces of God appear in the series before it ended.
She encounters moral dilemmas and is also given tasks to perform via God's instructions. She is asked to walk in faith that even though there may be negative personal consequences for her at times, the outcome in the larger picture is for the best.
In a cast of heavy hitters grace the character list including Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen and Jason Ritter (son of comedic actor John Ritter and current star of The Event), there is no shortage of intense and moving performances.
There was controversy *sigh* from polar extreme camps. Atheists rejected it because it was a "show about God", and Christians rejected it because it "wasn't Biblical" and they objected to the moral dilemmas and the way in which God was portrayed as ordinary people. Some conservative parents also felt it was not appropriate for children to watch and that it might confuse them in their religious views or give them ideas of ways to go astray. The series was critically acclaimed yet mysteriously canceled. Go figure. I really liked it. I bought the season DVDs. My son was already out of the house when this series caught my attention but I would have viewed the subject matter as rich ground for spiritual and moral discussion.
In this clip, Joan confronts her boyfriend who has slept with another girl. I was really mad at him for this...he is an AMAZINGLY sweet and sensitive character and the show was very challenged by this betrayal. I had forgotten...you'll hear Adam call Joan "Jane", which is just one of his little quirks. In previous episodes, you would know that both Joan and Adam are (or were as the case may be), virgins. Joan is waiting. Adam chose not to.
And here is a clip of the theme song, One of Us by Joan Osborne, which, by the way, created it's own stir and outcry of "BLASPHEMY". I dig it.
If you've missed this TV series, which completed it's third and final season last summer on TNT, give it a whirl. Saving Grace is one of the most fascinating series we've seen. I purchased all three seasons on DVD.
Starring Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko, an out of control manic, hedonist cop on a path of self destruction, this series is not for the prudish. For a TV series, it has some quite graphic sexuality, language and subject manner; nudity and alcohol/drug abuse. So I don't recommend it for kids or even teens unless you've previewed it all first. Grace works hard, drinks hard and loves hard and indiscriminately. She appears to have very few boundaries or morals. If she loves you, she is fiercely loyal, if not...watch your back.
Grace is assigned "Earl" a country-boy, last-chance angel. He gently and patiently gives her guidance and very few clues she can grasp onto. She begins to intersect with others for whom Earl is also a last-chance angel.
The cast is amazing, the acting phenomenal, and the characters are as seriously dysfunctional as you will ever find. It's quirky and different and endearing. You learn to both love and hate Grace and her co-horts. From episode to episode you will laugh, cry, gasp and want to reach through the screen and give them all a good shake. If you watched all of the episodes, let's chat...I'm still trying to interpret the ending. I'm gonna miss watching Grace. Sad the series is over.
This video clip is based on a book. I adore the message here. Just let it seep in. And please let me know if at some point the video link fails so I can correct it. Enjoy! And go forth and be a pig of happiness! Thanks for my friend Sara for finding this clip and sharing it on FB. Spread it around.
"I have had several experiences with you in the context of healing sessions. I have found them to be deeply moving, accessing emotion that I could perhaps not reach in any other way, bringing understanding through metaphor and at times, memory. Probably the most profound effect your work has had on me is the reduction of stress. I have felt much better after your sessions, and have felt an increased clarity with regard to life issues. In addition, I have found ways to talk about those things I struggle with most. I find the work to be extremely helpful, perhaps in part because of the acceptance and safety brought by you. I also appreciate that you include an element of bodywork in all that you do."
For more information, visit my website. I include these testimonies not in an effort to drum up business. I'm not looking for that. I want people to begin to think in new ways about healing, health, and spirituality and to begin to be exposed to methods that may seem foreign or unusual and to consider, reflect, let the concepts simmer. Then one day when the time is right, find a good healer and give it a whirl. It is ancient, yet seen as brand new.
Chakra Clearing by Doreen Virtue is a small book packed with a lot of interesting and useful applications for ways you can clear your chakras (energy centers in the body). It gives a good basic overview of what chakras are, their functions and some issues related to energy blockages.
I read a lot of "new age", alternative spirituality and healing books and can get a bit bogged down and weary of them at times. This book was both a plus and a minus in that department.
I borrowed this book from a friend and like it well enough as a potential client resource that I think I will purchase a copy. The book is a fast read and a good reference to keep on hand. I figured it was worth owning when I discovered an almost irrepressible urge to use my highlighter all over in it. Note to self...never a good plan in a borrowed book :-) When I want to use a highlighter a lot, it tells me there are things I want to refer back to later. Unless it's one of those books that I take a pen and write in the margins "bull-shit" a lot. I'm glad this wasn't one of those!
One of the most fascinating things about the exercises in this book is that the vast majority of them are approaches I already use for myself and my clients, and I hadn't read about them; they came to me in sessions with clients. They were co-developed or co-created as need arose. So it is gratifying to recognize that "spirit" guides us all in such similar, yet different ways. It helped me to know I was creating approaches derived from divine source. I knew they were working, and that's the main point. Many of them are not limited to chakra clearing, but are useful in general. Those of you who have had energy work with me will recognize interesting similarities between the meditations in this book and the guided visualizations I frequently use with clients.
I'm always critical of any hint of the voice in books that say "this is how it works", especially when it comes to matters of spirituality. Doreen didn't do it a lot, but it was still there; the assumed things of how the spiritual world works. Authors/healers, in my opinion, need to own that their approaches are their own and may work or may not, may be how things work and may not. None of us really knows. I give her credit for stating that these meditations were guidelines and starting places that that one would develop adaptations to them or create totally new ones that worked for them.
Chakras may or may not exist. Angels may or may not exist. But if utilizing these approaches impacts one in positive and healthy ways...who cares? I have a tendency to balk at formulaic approaches. I'm a balker.
I typically don't work from the perspective of communing with angels, per say or by name. I'm not against it, but it doesn't really speak to me. It always has seemed more of a way to use semantics to bridge skeptical religious objections to spiritual work. But that's just me. I'm still separating from my early Christian roots and trying to figure out what words fit and what ways of experiencing and describing "all that is" and "god" and the "collective consciousness vs guides/angels/beings of light". I don't have that all figured out for myself yet.
I think for my fiercely polarized clients (either those who are fully entrenched in mainstream religious OR pagan dogma), the use and wording of working with angels may be off-putting. But it is common knowledge that Doreen Virtue works from a firm base or belief in working with the angelic realm. If one had a problem with the semantics, and is willing to see beyond it, it is easy to adapt wording to work with your belief systems. So don't throw the baby out with the bathwater simply over semantics. I end up adapting wording all the time to fit with the needs of myself and my clients. It's hard to find anything that fits fully with one's belief structure 100%. And if it did, we're not allowing ourselves to grow.
Another thing that works better in theory than in practice is meditations and visualizations in written form AND in audio form. In the written form, it is hard to relax, get into the zone and then remember what you read, or try to read it aloud or memorize it. Not very many of us want to listen to our own voice, if we were to record ourselves reading the meditations either. And, with audios, I find that there are not that many authors with soothing voices or well paced timing. The CD that accompanies this book is no exception. The voice grates on my last nerve. But I am still going to spend some time with it and glean the benefits. I think I can easily adapt and alter the wording and enhance what I already do when balancing chakras with clients. There is good information that helps me create new ideas. I especially appreciate that in addition to working with the colors and locations, Doreen adds a statement of release of fear associated with each chakra as well as ending with an affirmation for manifestation for each. Good stuff.
Although I've covered it in previous posts, briefly, here is a basic overview of the chakra locations, colors and governing attributes:
Root Chakra Base of Spine Red Survival
Sacral Chakra Sacrum Orange Physical Desires/Cravings
Solar Plexus Solar Plexus Yellow Power/Control
Heart Chakra Heart Green Relationships/Love
Throat Chakra Throat Blue Communication
Third Eye Between Eyes Indigo Intuition/Higher Self/Psychic Ability
Crown Chakra Top of Head White Connection to Divinity
Doreen also speaks of two additional chakra centers (there are said to be MANY) which I had never heard of before. These are the ear chakras, located at 30 degree angles above each ear. Said to be associated with the color of Reddish Violet and governing sound energies or hearing; messages of your past, self messages and your ability to clearly "hear" Divine messages. This makes a lot of intuitive sense to me. There are said to be many more chakras above and around us, but ya know, for the average person, this is plenty...and for some, too much.
What are your thoughts? Have you read it? Do you have favorite resources for healing yourself and others? I'm also giving you the link to a book I've previously reviewed that I also really like for a thorough overview of chakras.
When I was starting 7th grade, I had a very wise science teacher, I believe her name was Mary Smith. She seemed to know that 7th graders are scared and still very much children. So at the end of each class, she took time to read to us. She read Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. For a few minutes, each morning at the end of first period, before heading out into the frightening halls of Jr. High, she let us escape back into the safety of the comfort of being read to. To escape reality and relax for a while. I never forgot it.
So, as an adult, I recently purchased Julie of the Wolves, only I purchased the trilogy in the series in the form of Julie of the Wolves Treasury. It was time to revisit this childhood favorite.
Julie of the wolves is the story of an Eskimo girl named Miyax (her Americanized name is Julie) who is sent to live with her aunt following the death of her mother. Her dearly beloved father all but loses his mind to grief and later she is told he has wandered off and died. Betrothed and then married to a developmentally delayed boy, she decides to run away. The story is one of adventure and survival in the wilds of Alaska and of her friendship and partnership with wolves she encounters. As a child of about her same age, it sparked a sense of competence and survival and adventure in me and I loved the book. It teaches much about wolf behavior as well as what it might be like to be an Eskimo.
Julie of the Wolves was written in 1972 and won the prestigious Newberry Medal. Interestingly, the author had been peppered with requests to write the sequels and Julie was written in 1994, a full 22 years after the first book was written. Julie's Wolf Pack followed in 1997.
Sadly, I'm gonna tell you straight up that Jean Craighead George should have refused the pleas to continue Julie's story. The two sequels became monotonous and tedious. I got really bored with them. It became like the never ending story. But Julie of the Wolves, the first, original novel? Worth it. So worth it. And you'll enjoy reading it to your children. There are two brief passages in the first book to be aware of when reading to children: there is mention of the start of Julie's period (a sentence easily skipped over if you wish to), and brief mention that her young husband Daniel, when being teased by other kids that he can't "mate her", briefly attacks her in a failed attempt (prompting her to run away and begin her adventure). This too, is a brief sentence or two that can be skipped over if you wish to. Otherwise, it is considered a young adult or teen novel, and I think any age of child would enjoy it if they have the attention span to listen.
Did any of you read it when you were younger? And if you get it, let me know what you think.
Recently I read a blog post by Jen Whitten about clearing your home space for the holidays. It's a good post and I hope you'll read it. It got me thinking about the many ways I've worked over time to clear the energy in our home to create a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere. So I thought I would expand on what Jen wrote about. As I got started, I realized that is a LOT of stuff I've done to make this house feel like a home. It's going to be more than a post, it's a full-blown, long-ass article. It's my blog and I can blab if I want to, blab if I want to, blab if I want to.
When I first moved into my husband's house, we had a lot of refurbishing to do. A very tiny place, built in 1920, it hadn't been updated since sometime in the 70's. Most of the work we did was inexpensive and cosmetic. I felt negative energy in the house which I believe is/was a combination of negative energy from the original male inhabitant that most likely built the house and local spirits. I got the impression of an abusive and angry man who drank and wasn't kind to his spouse. It was hard for me to tell, but over time, I came to believe that it was not his spirit that remained in the house but his emotional imprint. Sort of like leaving a bad smell behind. In fact, once, as we were redoing some stuff in here and realizing how crooked the entire place is, I got a little miffed and said something like "what idiot built this place??", and had an immediate flash of a guy, in a white t-shirt, in the attic with a hammer, looking at me...there was something in his eyes that communicated "I built it with the only skill I had". After that, I had more respect. And I tried to honor him knowing that our skills were also very limited as we entered into our do-it-yourself projects.
We also live in what is considered to be "old town", or the original area where the city was founded. We are also smack dab on the Oregon Trail. And I can sense that this area was also very much, originally, Native American land. At times I can sense the conflict and the sadness between the Native people and the pioneers. I am also aware that the trail still seems to continue to be utilized; as though the movement along the Oregon trail is forever imprinted with moving spirits.
Add to that the fact that the land the house sits on is over an old creek bed on what was previously considered a flood plane area. It is said that spirits move more easily between worlds through the fluidity of water.
For many years, my husband had the same plastic over the windows for weatherproofing, curtains that had never been moved, and used the place like a typical guy-pad; piles of stuff that never moved. Stagnant energy is another contributor to a feeling of dis-ease in a dwelling.
So right there, are several reasons why the energy in this home were unsettling to me. My husband never noticed anything, but I sure did. I was convinced I couldn't live here. And clearing these types of contributing energies takes time. You don't just wave a want and viola! Nope, it's a process. Or at least that is how it has been for me. So let me outline the process we've been using.
Caring for the property: Land and houses have a personality and seem to respond to loving care. Keeping a property well maintained and in good repair and clean helps more than you will ever know. Think of it like a child. You bathe it, you dress it, you love it, you give it regular care. So we did some MAJOR cleaning and repair. Paint, organization, updating. Not the really expensive kind, but the dig in with elbow grease kind. The yard was overgrown and piled with stuff too. So that's where we started and it has been an ongoing process. Keep clutter to a minimum. Hey, a little dirt is fine, but keep things organized and have a place for everything as it keeps the energy more positive. Like attracts like. Do you want to attract chaos? Ever notice how a little clutter builds as though it takes on a life of it's own? It does exactly that. Regularly cleaning out spaces is good for the energy flow. If you haven't worn it or used it or touched it or enjoyed it in a long while...give it away.
Bringing/Attracting life to the property: This can improve the energy of your space tremendously. We did a lot of landscaping over time and planting. I put a bird feeder in every window of the house, squirrel feeders on a tree, a fish in bowl, and plant cuttings in water in every window sill. Interestingly, it took time for birds to come, for squirrels to come, and eventually we had deer frequenting the yard (a mixed blessing for sure). We get large groups of quail and last year, we had a huge flock of wild turkey within a half a block of the house. The energy at first kept them away, but slowly they began to arrive. I noticed that there was one bird feeder that would never get used, in a window off the back porch; one of the remaining areas of negative energy. That too is slowly improving. And houseplants have been shown to help actually clean the air. Find those that you like. You can also research those that seem to have demonstrated their air cleaning ability. I don't really want a dog or cat or other animal to care for, but we have a "Purrfect Petzz" which may be one of the most bizarre ways to bring "fake or symbolic" life into your space. They are rather lifelike looking stuffed animals with a battery that makes them breathe. We get very mixed responses. From "that's so stupid", to "that's so cool". But it doesn't have to always be REAL life that you bring in, it can be symbolic life that you "breathe" into your space. BTW, ours is the golden retriever puppy. Fresh cut flowers are also a useful addition. I have cellular shades for the windows instead of fabric curtains. I hung some twisty branches over a couple of windows and wound metalic (copperish) beads to them, and some whispy copper fabric pieces. Even a bit of ropey fishnet with starfish stuck in them. Let your imagination run wild when it comes to the many ways and forms you can "bring life" to your home. I just noticed there is even a palm leaf pattern on the living room rug. See what I mean? I have some toll painting rub on transfers in various places in the house; around a light fixture, and in some window sills...even some rub on lady bugs for good luck.
Think about your outdoor landscaping. Make it whimsical and meaningful. This will help improve the energy of the property in general. I have many MANY cuttings from friends and neighbors that have become the fabric of my yard. I have cuttings from the last place I lived. We have cuttings from the woods. The beds are full of rocks and shells and pots and bits of statuary and most of them, like the indoors, have a story. You can add solar lighting too. Another interesting thing I've added is boot planters. Every time my husband gets a new pair of work boots, I take the old ones and turn them into planters for Hens & Chicks. These boots have concentrated husband/male protective energy in them. They are the energetic equivalent of peeing on the boundaries. I place them here and there along the property lines. They are centinels that offer protection and his calming, loving energy. You would be AMAZED at how many people walk by our house and smile, or look around and point and discuss, or come to the door to ask me about this or that. I do not have a green thumb. I just keep at it, bit at a time. It isn't the professional job that attracts people, it is the attention and love and positive energy they feel. I release lady bugs on the property every year if I can too. They are good little pest controllers AND they symbolize good luck.
Candles, Air Cleaners, Incense, Air Freshners: Tiny houses can really be hard to keep fresh smelling. I have two air purifiers running at all times. Interestingly, when spirits are around, the air cleaners snap and spark. I have plug in air fresheners and reasonably matching scented candles. The preferred scent for this house seems to be that of apple and cinnamon or some variation thereof. During the fall and winter, when it is darker, I have candles burning most of the time. Extra light improves the energy of a home, and not just the electric type. Open curtains, and candles help a lot. Candles also seem to symbolize being watched over and connection to the larger "LIGHT". If you are sensitive to odors or scents, try natural approaches like boiling a little bit of water on the stove when some cast off orange peels and cinnamon.
Colors: Pay attention to the colors that you are attracted to when in your home. Oddly, the house, sort of "knows" what it needs. This house was all dark paneling and I mean DARK...even the kitchen cupboards. It felt like a cave. We painted everything very light. I think it is called "Sandpiper". I love the beach. It seemed like a beige, but depending on the light it picks up hues of pink and apricot I had no idea about. Ceilings and trims are an off-white. Paint also freshens the energy and is a reasonably inexpensive refurbishing tool that can do wonders. Sit in silence and ask the house about the colors. I never liked or used colors like sage green and copper but this house really needed/wanted it. I have used sage to smudge and have bundles of sage about, and have used sage colors here and there. I really wanted a copper or copper colored roof but it was too expensive. Instead, you will see copper accents here and there. For whatever reason, this house needed those colors/influences. And for some reason, the living room art is largely a black/white theme.
Do you have a developing theme in your home? Mine is a theme of nurturing and mothers, with secondary themes of nature and Native American influences. It just happened. I have always felt very connected to the concept of mothers. My own experience, the experience of others, Mother Mary, mothers throughout time. I am drawn to images of mothers. I have rocks and feathers here and there. Don't try to strive for a home from a magazine. Just let your personality develop in your space. The more of your imprint that is there, the homier it can be. Have you noticed that the way you feel in a person's home can often be very reflective of them? Cold/warm, comfortable/harsh. Pay attention.
Incorporate sound into your home. Sound has a way of improving the energy in your space. I have small wind chimes both indoors and out. I have fair bells on the screen doors and they tinkle upon entry or exit. Sort of like being showered with a light sprinkling of cleansing fairy dust. My indoor chimes will sometimes move and ring when spirits are about...and often in the middle of the night. People will often utilize sound to cleanse their homes. Going around the home with a rattle, drum, singing bowl while setting the intention for cleansing out negative energy and bringing peace and love into the space. I most often listen to ambient music in my home if anything at all. Ocean waves, soft nature sounds, whale calls...When energy feels particularly heavy, I may leave it playing softly round the clock.
Incorporate objects from your history or objects with positive stories connected to them. Keep sakes from ancestors, and objects found or purchased during fun times, or things that people gave to you. I bet if you ask me about almost any picture, or item you find displayed in my home, I have a story to tell you about it. There are very few things that I have that are "because it's pretty" or because it seems fashionable. They all have my energy, my imprint or the imprint of someone I love connected to it. There are framed photos of relatives as far back as the 20's, or art that evoked a memory or a feeling important to me. Don't worry if you'll end up on a home decor intervention program. Make your home about YOU. Who wants to life in a stark motel room? Surrounding yourself with things you love improves the energy in your home.
Stones and Crystals can also improve the energy of your space. Find those that you like and experiment with where to put them. I'm not totally sold on the use of rocks and crystals but I do not poo-poo something that can be used to run electronic equipment. Don't tell me it doesn't have it's own energy. The extent it not yet fully known and may never be. I placed pretty hanging crystals on clear fishing line in every window. They help clear the energy and collect and refract light around the space. Even at night with street lights or headlights, the crystals split light all around. Pick up rocks and shells and feathers that you find in places you enjoy and add them. Try out rock shops and see what feels good in your hand. I also have small geodes in the four corners of my property.
Pictures of life or even windows. Bring life and nature into your home with art that contains or depicts nature. Our back porch continues to be the energetic problem area. It is small, and old and it used to have about 8 or more windows. When it was sheetrocked and windows were replaced, we kept only two windows directly across from each other. But the space always feels closed in and stagnent. I was able to locate a partiularly stagnent area of it and what I did was order a poster that is a photo of an open window looking out onto a nice outdoor scene. I don't have to punch a new window in if I can't afford it or if it isn't practical, but I can ADD one symbolically. It really will and does help move energy. This poster even has a blowing curtain. Try All Posters and enter a search for "windows" and see what attracts you.
Symbols, Words, Stencils, Messages. You can also improve energy through positive messages. I have a few cursive copper wall hangings above door ways. One says "imagine" another says "believe" another says "dream". I have a wall plaque that says "Be Quiet". OK, I got that one at the dollar store and to ME it means "be still and know". To my mom, it means I'm being rude and telling people to shut-up. You can order wall stencils and messages. Try Expressive Walls and others. I also seem to collect stones and small pocket charms with words on them. They are scattered in flower pots and window sills both inside and out. I have some Asian word symbols on the wall on the back porch (such things as "energy", "love", "home"), and I stenciled one of those symbols outside of both the front and back doorways. I also have a few dream catchers here and there.
No Shoes policy. This is quite controversial I found out. We don't wear shoes in the house. I bought some "boot slippers" for my husband so that on lunch breaks or when he's quickly in and out for something, he can slip these on over his shoes, but otherwise, we don't wear shoes in the house, nor do most of our few guests. It helps keep the house clean, helps keep the flooring new, and to me it is a sign of respect for ME, the person who has to do all the cleaning. This simple thing cuts down on the energy you track into the home. You would be surprised. There is also something that says to me internally "you're home now...relax, unwind and take your shoes off...you are on holy ground." American's are among the few who wear shoes indoors. Other countries find this curious and arrogant of us. It still hasn't caught on. People within my own family find it "rude"...rude enough that they don't want to come over. I've posted a small plaque outside the door that says "Please remove your shoes." I don't make a fuss about it, and most people are more than willing to respect it.
Meditate or Pray in areas of negative energy. If there are places in your home that always feel a bit "off" and you can't really figure out why and they just don't seem to improve, try sitting yourself smack dab in the worst of it and mediate or pray. Ask for the energy to be improved and transmuted. Ask that any negative energy or spirits be removed. Ask your higher power to intervene and help you out. Do it as often as you wish. Think of items and things to do in this area that will imprint positivity to the space.
Smudge. This is an ancient technique for using smoke to cleanse space. Some use incense, some use white sage, some mugwort, or sweet grass. The idea is to light the herb (keep a bowl or non flamible container under it to keep it from dropping any live ash), and gently wave the smoke around every area of your home while praying or holding the intention for clearing away negative spirits or energy and to bring in positive energy to the space. Every corner, every closet, every nook and cranny, concentrating on areas of "funk". You can make your own smudge sticks or purchase them. When I smudge, I begin in one area of the house and work my way around the entire perimeter of the space until I return to where I started. You can find many methods just by searching the keyword. After I smudge, following the same path I took when I smudged, I go back through and open every window and door (even in the dead of winter). Depending on air currents, you should probably feel the air move and see the smoke swirl. Leave it open for as long as you wish depending on the weather. If it's really cold, I just open it all, and then go back around a third time and close it. While doing this I keep the intent "may all negative energy be carried out and away". My husband is not too fond of the smell...and it does sort of have a burning barrel or marijuana smell. I've come to associate it with cleansing the space so I like it. And I hope nobody drops by and thinks I'm smoking dope. I will sometimes smudge myself, in the same way, hold the smudge stick out and wave it around my body to clear and cleans any funk that may have stuck to me. On rare occasions, I've even used an old meerschaum pipe that was my fathers, and smoke it internally, to clear and cleanse any internal funk. This is rare, but I have done it. (FYI, the pipe looks EXACTLY like the one shown on the link...weird).
Bring in Light and Air. I've touched on this already, but you will improve the energy of your home by allowing plenty of natural light in. Clean your windows, and open your curtains. I have a night light in almost every room as well, so there is always light in my home, even in the darkest of night. When weather allows, leave windows and doors open. Even using a fan to blow air through is fine.
Improve energy flow/movement. Our house is LITTLE; like 550 square feet little. It is challenging to keep the energy clear. One thing we did when we were fixing things up was to remove all internal doors. Yup, you heard me. We have a pocket door for the bathroom, so it disappears into the wall. All other interior doors are gone. We don't have much company so we don't need a lot of privacy indoors. Without doors, or even the physical possibility of doors, the energy flow is vastly improved. Leave all interior doors in your home open as much as possible. Notice how that "junk room" feels heavier and different than the others? Likely, you keep the door closed so nobody will see all the clutter.
Include spiritual objects or meditation space. Inside the lower cupboard to my grandmothers china hutch, I've made a meditation altar with little doo-dads and a candle that mean something to me. The zafu and zabuton can easily slide under the hutch when not in use. The dedicated space for meditation increases positive energy to the home. Include in your home any objects or symbols with spiritual significance to you. I'm eclectic. I have a cross on the wall, and Buddha's and prayer flags, and the list goes on. If it moves me and puts me in a spiritually connected frame of mind...it stays.
Give a lot of extra attention to the funkiest energy places in your home. I mentioned this before. Our back porch has been an ongoing project as is the "basement". I use quotations because there is a creep-nasty wooden stairway under a trap door in the floor of the back porch that leads to the mostly dirt area under our house. Not really a basement. A spider haven. It is funk-a-dellic down there. I hate going down there. There is one small area with a cement slab used to store stuff but you can't even fully stand up down there. MY plan is to eventually bring everything out of there up and sort/clean through it all, and then white-wash the beams, walls and even the cement floor to add "light". In the meantime, I have been down there with a friend working on blessings and clearings, I've hung bundles of sage from the yard to dry down there (bringing life), and have even sat down there in a yard chair and meditated with candles. I still hate it down there. When we did our initial refurbishing, the entire underneath of the house had been used sort of like an early garbage dump from previous owners: broken windows, mattress, old bottles and cans etc. So my husband cleaned all of that out and there was a LOT. He reinforced the floor underneath, insulated here and there, and laid heavy plastic over the dirt. To incorporate and honor the original and previous owners, I saved what was interesting...some bottles/jars/cans from the 1940's and a child's shoe (I was praying that the rest of the child wasn't down there too!). Burying a shoe in the foundation area of a house was a German good luck tradition. Burying a child down there, would not have been.
These were just the things I could think of that I've done here. And it was a surprising amount. Let me emphasize that this is a process, not an afternoon event. It is ongoing as need arises and as creative ideas present themselves.
Be sure to check out Jen's holiday house clearing blog post and check out the links I've provided in this article. Also, below you will find how to purchase a Purrfect Petzz and I've left a link to one of my favorite ambient CD's for home/client energy healing/self healing/relaxation/sleep; Reiki Whale Song by Kamal. You can listen to some of the tracks on amazon to check it out.
This is the story is of a rich man who decides to make conditions on his will. The recipient, Drew Fuller, must complete a series of tasks designed to grow his character (which is one of a surly entitled rich kid with loads of anger and attitude).
This little-known movie from 2007, The Ultimate Gift, stars Drew Fuller, James Garner and Abigail Breslin was not received with much praise when it was released to a limited number of theaters. It sold better when it was released on DVD.
So, first of all, I guess I have to admit that this "kid" reminded me a little in looks and attitude of my own son, so it was fun from that perspective, and from the perspective that transformation can occur no matter how hopeless the situation or person may appear. I also found it fascinating that Drew Fuller was able to transform his persona through his acting to such a degree that the change was palpable. I don't know if they did any of it with make-up or if it was all done through his acting. To me, he is the primary character and the one to watch.
Each of his "gifts" that he is given in the will are tasks that must be completed before receiving the full inheritance. The gifts are:
The Gift of Work
The Gift of Problems
The Gift of Friends
The Gift of Giving
The Gift of Gratitude
The Gift of Family
The Gift of Learning
The Gift of Money
The Gift of Laughter
The Gift of a Day
The Gift of Dreams
The Gift of Love, which leads to the Ultimate Gift.
This will be a bit more than a book review because this book sparked many memories of my early childhood interest in primates.
Ape House by Sara Gruen (author of Water for Elephants), is a fictional story of a group of bonobos (similar to chimps) who are being studied in a linguistic program and have been taught to understand both verbal, sign and symbolic computerized language and are able to communicate back using ASL and computer symbols. The plot thickens as they are stolen for less humane purposes. That's about all I want to say about the plot so as not to give away too much.
I've always been fascinated with primates, and in particular, gorillas and chimps. I didn't even know bonobos existed. In another life, I want to study them and communicate with them. Their similarity to us is so kindred.
Growing up, I remember the work of Jane Goodall, and I also recall seeing other unrelated work, in one of my father's National Geographic, images (I never read the articles when I was a kid) of experiments (which now seem horrifying to me) of infant monkeys who were separated from their mothers and studied to see if they would bond with mechanical mothers (a wire figure with large eyes, a towel and food source). Here is a clip from YouTube of those early experiments. Please let me know if the link no longer functions...I know YouTube can change a lot.
I also recall, while growing up, a store in Tacoma Washington called The B and I. Inside this store, in a revised box car, lived a male silverback gorilla named Ivan. Visiting Ivan was the highlight of my life when I was a child. I had no understanding, nor did many people of the time, that this was a really bad way for a gorilla to live.
Here is a quote and a video clip of Ivan today. He has been relocated to Zoo Atlanta.
"Ivan’s story is one of Zoo Atlanta’s most memorable happy endings. Born in Africa in 1962, he was captured as an infant and sold to the owners of a department store in Tacoma, Wash., where he lived for nearly three decades in a solitary indoor enclosure. By the mid 1990s, the silverback’s living conditions had inspired a highly-publicized movement for his relocation, prompting Ivan’s owners to donate their celebrity tenant to Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. Leadership in the care and study of western lowland gorillas were already trademarks for Zoo Atlanta, with the world-class Ford African Rain Forest having opened to national acclaim just six years earlier. Recognizing the importance of giving Ivan the opportunity to become a social gorilla and with the recommendation of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), Woodland Park Zoo placed Ivan on permanent loan to Zoo Atlanta in October 1994.
Now 47, Ivan lives with a female companion, Kinyani, 27. He is one of the Zoo’s most recognized and beloved individuals, widely known for his characteristic disdain of cold weather and for his paintings, which he “signs” with a thumbprint. Even after 16 years, his popularity with his original fan base remains undiminished. Zoo Atlanta receives letters, emails, calls and even Facebook posts every year from Ivan’s friends on the West Coast."
And I also read of and was fascinated about reports of Koko and Washo and their ability to use sign language. Ape House even incorporates a quote from Koko when she called someone a "dirty bad toilet" in ASL
So, as you can tell, this book sparked my long-held interest in primates, and in my earlier experiences reading or looking at photos of primates and their similarities to us. They are something like 98% identical in their DNA structure to humans.
The author, Sara Gruen spent time learning ASL and did her homework for this book. She spent time at the Great Ape Trust in DesMoines, Iowa and was allowed to interact with the bonobos there. Oh the drools of such an opportunity!
If you read reviews on Amazon.com for this book, you'll see that on average, most people at least sort of liked it. I really liked it. There were others that harshly criticized this book. Some said it was interesting only when the studies in communication were ongoing and that when it turned into a suspense drama, they disliked it. Others said that it was full of male villains and hinted that one of the famale characters was demeaned by the hint of an eating disorder. OK, well, she threw up a couple of times and felt ill a few times, but in understandable response to being emotionally distraught. It's a very human reaction to react to high stress with nausea. Fight or flight symptoms include evacuation. I suspect that this critic had a feminist ax to grind and used her review to further her own agenda. But, hey, that's just me. As you can cleary tell, this book sparked more in me than simply the reading of a work of fiction.
I used to adore watching seals, otters and primates most of all whenever I visited a zoo. However, I think I know too much now, about the negative impact of holding animals in captivity for human entertainment. I feel a bit badly about that now. And, as I grew older and became more aware of my sensitivities, I am able to tell which primates are unhappy just by being near them and observing their body language. Primates who spit, pee, throw feces or food are often displaying signs of distress. And I can't count how many times I've seen the pacing wild cats, or a primate curled up with its back to the audience looking as though it is damn tired of being stared at all day long.
My limited ability to sense what other beings are sensing has also shown me that some animal beings have an understanding that even though captivity is not what they would have chosen, they are here as embassadors and educators and appear reasonably content to do just that. Others clearly are miserable in this role and those are the ones my heart aches for.
I can no longer think about factory farming in the same way after watching Food Inc., and I may not be able to enjoy zoos and animal parks much anymore either. In some ways I'm sad when my eyes open and I must let go of something that once gave me joy or pleasure, and in other ways, when my eyes have been opened, I feel sickened that I didn't open them sooner and sorry that I participated in something that was harmful to another being. But we're all here to learn.
So, gee, did I really review the book? Not sure. But it is my version of saying that I enjoyed it and the many memories and thoughts it inspired. I literally read this in a single sitting. All of the images that you see in the above clips were dancing in my head as I read. I was transported.
