How To Deal With the Loss of a Pet

Here's a picture of my beloved Clovis, who will have been gone for 10 years today.  She was my first bunny, and I can't tell you how much I lover her still.  What an amazing girl she was!  She was only 4 pounds, but this Holland Lop taught me about bunnies, and a lot about myself too.  Even now, I know she's watching over me from the beyond.

Not everyone can understand how it feels to lose a cherished pet.  Whether you're experiencing with the loss of your cat, trying to handle the death of your dog, or dealing with losing another pet who has passed away, the shock of grief can be surprising to you.  Perhaps you did not expect this loss to affect you the way it is doing.  However, many people across the world have experienced this pain.  You're not alone.  We all need a hand in dealing with our pain sometimes.  Here are a few tips to help you get through this difficult time.  

Give yourself ample time to grieve.  This cannot be overstated!  Folks who are not animal lovers will never understand.  Even though our pets are not humans, they are are still a part of our family.  You won't feel better overnight, so allow yourself a few days to get over the initial shock and grief.  If you can take a day or two off of work, go for it.  Take a "mental health day" or two if you feel that you need it.  Give yourself a bit of time to feel your emotions and to adjust.

Talk with others who will understand.  Not everyone is going to acknowledge that your pet is worth mourning.  I still remember when my favorite rat, who had lived almost 3 years, passed suddenly when I was across the country.  I got the phone call from my brother, and later when my great-grandmother called me to see how I was doing, she said "You shouldn't feel that way about an animal."  (I loved my Gram dearly, but she just wasn't an animal person!)  When Clovis was ill in the hospital, one of my in-laws told me not to worry, I can just buy a "Clovis #2" if she didn't make it.  Neither of these statements were meant to make me feel bad; they both came from people who love me!  But some folks will get it, and some won't.  It's a lot better to talk about your pet (and your feelings) with those who do get it.  Anything less will just make you feel worse, belittle your feelings (unintentionally, I'm sure!), and just piss you off unnecessarily.  

Share the memories with folks who knew your pet.  This is a common healing technique that people often use with their kids, when a beloved dog or cat dies.  But why limit it to young people, when it can be beneficial to just about anyone?  Talk about the good times.  Remember the funny things that your cat used to do.  Talk about how cute your dog was when you first brought him home.  Look at pictures, tell stories, and enjoy the stroll down memory lane.  Remembering is a wonderful way to begin healing after the loss of your pet.

Keep their things close by.  You'd think that this might make it hurt more, but in those first days after your pet dies, having their toys, their special blankie, or their other important items near can actually be comforting to you.  Over time, you may want to start boxing up their things.  Toss some of them if and when you feel ready.  You can also donate things that are still good, or maybe just save their things.  I still have Clovis's "bunny bed" (it was actually a small dog bed that she'd snooze on in the living room sometimes), and her soft stuffed carrot that squeaks -- a full decade later!  I also have my Seamus's "cone of shame" from the bunny vet.  I don't think I'll ever give them away.  Right now, they're in my storage space, but it feels nice just knowing I can visit them whenever I feel the need.

When you're feeling ready, adopt a new pet!  I know you'd feel like you're "cheating" on them... but after a suitable time, you may want to open your heart and home to a new dog or cat.  The loss of a pet can be traumatic and upsetting, but after your pet has died, you may find that you want to get a new one at some point.  I waited about six weeks after Clovis died; I knew that she would have wanted me to adopt a bunny who was homeless, and who needed me.  We wound up adopting two, and they were with us for seven great years!  (And after they were gone, we adopted two more bunnies!)  Knowing Clovis gave 4 other bunnies the chance to be adopted and loved!  When your pet dies, try to think of what would do the best good.  Taking that into consideration can help you to make the right decision.

The Powers of Aquamarine

Aquamarines are beautiful, valuable, and very powerful!  Named for the blue-green shades of the ocean which are remeniscent of this gem's beautiful hues, the aquamarine is part of the beryl family.  These crystal gemstones are often found near deposits of tungsten and tin ore, and beryls can come in an array of beautiful shades like greens, blues, yellows, and reds.

The words "aqua marina" mean "water of the sea."  The turquoise shade of aquamarines make it a stunning and desireable stone for jewelry; at the turn of the 19th century, it was extremely prized and often paired with silver.  This stone is associated with the month of March and the element of water.

This gem is a wonderful stone for healing all parts of the body, though it is said to be especially effective for the heart, circulatory system, and immune system.  It is also thought to be healing to the eyesight, as gazing upon the stone can produce a soothing and calming effect on the eyes.

It is also healing for emotional issues, too.  Aquamarine is an ideal talisman when used to level one's moods, as well as to help one to open up and share his or her feelings.  Many blue-toned gemstones have had legendary powers to cool and subdue harsh feelings like anger and aggression; this one is no exception, having the power to relax and soothe hurt feelings.  Aquamarine can also enhance psychic visions and mental clarity, as well as to enhance the inner charisma of whomever chooses to wear it.

The Other Face of Clark Rockefeller (Christian Gerharsreiter)

The "Clark Rockefeller" mystery is one of the more compelling stories of the past few decades.  Some may wonder how this man was able to fool his wife, with whom he was so close and intimate, for so long.

In the Lifetime movie, Who Is Clark Rockefeller?, there were many instances of foreshadowing which gave the viewer some helpful hints.  If you're experiencing any of these issues with someone that you suspect may be betraying you (though more likely on a smaller scale than this!), do not hesitate to investigate further.

Here are some of the clues that appear in the movie; some may apply to your own situation as well:

Changing stories:  His stories constantly changed.  At one time, he was trying to work with his uncle, David, but then in later stories, he told Sandra that David was actually his cousin.  And in another instance... first, his mother was a "horsey set" debutante by the name of Mary.  Then, in another story, Clark mentioned that his mother was child actress Ann Carter. 

Crazy-making:  When Sandra Boss called him on the discrepancy about his mother, he gave her a look as if she were ridiculous and quipped, "I think I know my own mother's name!"

Lack of proof:  The Rockefeller in-laws never materialized.  Clark would casually mention this or that relative as if he'd just spoken to them, yet Sandra was never introduced to them.  Reigh also didn't get the opportunity to met them.  Clark never shared his personal information with Sandra, such as his social security number or contact information for his family, citing "strange" privacy issues.

In hindsight, it's easy to see these discrepancies and issues.  However, from the day-to-day living, these things are so close to home that it may be hard to zoom out and see them for the lies that they are.

Some people have called Sandra Boss gullible, stupid, and "unsympathetic."  However, my heart goes out to her.  Once you accept certain things, however dysfunctional the relationship, it becomes easier and easier to blur the line between what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.  She was only one of so many people that Christian Gerhartsreiter fooled.  It is human nature to want to accept the truth of the person that we love, and to want to believe the words that they say.  I think that victims of similar ploys, even if orchestrated by less adept transgressors, will also have some sympathy for a woman who has had to endure such betrayal.

So many people have been taken in by far less competent liars than "Clark Rockefeller."  Lying and betraying someone in this way is a terrible form of emotional abuse.  Protect yourself.  And when you find someone who is truly worthy of your trust, you can feel much more confident in giving it to them as you know what to expect.

Many have been intrigued by the tale, wondering who the real Clark Rockefeller is and where he came from.  Christian Gerhartsreiter's kidnapping of his daughter was his undoing as his true identity became known.  The public will learn even more secrets about Clark Rockefeller (or Christian Gerhartsreiter)'s life will come to light his trial for murdering Jonathan Sohus and Linda Sohus begins soon.

Mental/Cognitive Symptoms of a Spiritual Awakening

Mental/Cognitive Symptoms of a Spiritual Awakening


Changes in dreaming.  You may be experiencing some vivid, crazy dreams!  Everything is brighter, more detailed, and much more vivid than you have remembered your dreams to be.  Sometimes, you may be frightened to go to sleep because of the detail of your dreams can be slightly alarming.  Perhaps you find that you're remembering the dreams better as well.  One's dream life is another way for the higher powers to communicate with you.  Or, perhaps you're experiencing lucid dreaming, where you have more control over what it happening to you.  Try keeping a dream journal and writing down what you remember of your dreams, as they are often clues and messages from your own inner self.

Psychological, mental, or emotional confusion.  You may reach an epiphany where you begin to see all of the loose ends in your life.  You feel as if you need to get these things straightened out, but may also feel a sense of overwhelming at the thought.  It can be a daunting task to know where to begin.  The best advice that I can give you here is to take baby steps.  Decide which things that seem the easiest, or things that seem the most important, and get started on tackling them.  Although you may feel like things are a real mess right now, you can straighten these things out one step at a time.

Learning quickly, and working things through in a much more efficient manner than you did before.  You seem to be picking things up a lot more easily than you previously did in the past.  A rapid sense of understanding and quick learning seems to be pervasive in all aspects of your life.  Some people call this "being in the zone."  This is one of the benefits of a spiritual awakening: feeling that connection with other people and things, as well as to yourself, can be of great benefit to you spiritually and personally.  You may also have more internal fortitude to deal with personal issues which you previously did not feel brave enough to tackle.  Again, this is another benefit to be enjoyed.  Part of a spiritual awakening is finding that courage that you never knew that you had, and allowing it to be a new source of strength that you can call upon when you need it.

Brain fog is another common side-effect of a spiritual awakening.  You may experience moments between complete clarity, and total brain fog.  The creative, emotional, and psychic abilities are also often affected for the positive during a transitional period.  The left side of your brain -- the one that is in charge of keeping order, memory, organization, and focus -- may become duller when comparing to your right hemisphere, which controls your creative, visionary, and psychic impulses.  As your right brain becomes stronger and more thoroughly utilized, the left side may occasionally suffer some drawback from either being underutilized or from lack of interest in certain things which may previously have been more important to you.  This can result in forgetfulness, "brain farts," or procrastination in doing things that require additional focus and concentration.  You may need to push yourself a little harder in order to strike a balance.

Impatience and the consciousness of time as it passes.  As you experience the changes that go along with a spiritual awakening, you become keenly aware of the seconds as they slip past you.  You want to make the most of each morsel of time that you have, to harness all of the gifts that you currently possess. This may manifest as a feeling of impatience or even a sense of overwhelming as you struggle to determine how best to use the time you have.  Try to make lists and keep focused on one task at a time.

A feeling of restless energy which makes it difficult to relax.  With all of the physical and emotional changes that you are experiencing, it's no wonder that you're having trouble centering and calming yourself into a state that is fit for sleeping.  You may have trouble falling asleep, or once you have slept awhile, issues with staying asleep.  This is a fairly common phenomenon during the time of spiritual awakening.  Some people find it helpful to sleep in cycles of a few hours throughout the day, enjoying frequent naps rather than one 8-hour sleep session.  Do what feels right for you.

Memories from the past break through to the present.  Sometimes, we repress memories intentionally.  Other times, things that seem insignificant at the time may resurface during a spiritual awakening.  Pay attention to what's going on around you, and see if there's a way to draw correlations between what you're remembering and what you're currently living.  Don't force more memories to resurface; they will do so when the time is right, and when they do, you can use them to learn more about your current life path.

Feeling dizzy, experiencing vertigo.  Sometimes, we need a little extra grounding.  Sometimes you may feel a physical or spiritual lightness after overcoming a spiritual or emotional state of chaos.  We may feel dizzy, unbalanced, or fear falling.  This is a very common symptom of a new spiritual awakening.  Take care of yourself, rest, and give yourself some time to adjust to the new physical state.  Some say that you need to ground yourself by adding more protein into your diet; check with your doctor and do what feels right.  Be very careful, take things slow, and don't push yourself beyond your means right now.

Reflexology Chart for Super-Beginners

Reflexology is a wonderful and non-invasive way to manage pain and discomfort.  It involves massage of the feet, and sometimes the hands, in order to stimulate the nerve endings in those appendages and induce a feeling of well-being in corresponding bodily areas.

If you're really new to reflexology, but you want the benefits of trying it out, here's a really easy and basic way of figure out "what goes where."

There are specific points for each part, but the general rules are these:

Most parts on the head correspond to areas on the toes.
The midsection of the body corresponds to the middle of the foot, and arch areas.
The lower part of the body corresponds to the heel.

Worse Things Than Being Alone

I've been writing eBooks lately, based on some of the relationship nightmares that I've been hearing about.  When we look around and see what other people are experiencing, it's easy to feel lucky that we've got the problems that we have!

Sometimes, we put up with someone who mistreats us or doesn't respect our rights.  Some people say that even a bad relationship is better than having none at all; the loneliness is too frightening to face for some.  This may prompt those people to remain in a relationship that is unhealthy, negative, or even damaging to them.


Here's a list of things that are worse than being alone.  If your mate does any of the things on this list, it may be time to take control of your own life, to let go of the relationship, and enjoy the freedom of being alone -- without having to worry about being mistreated by someone who doesn't deserve you!


1. Being in a relationship with someone who uses you.
2. Being in a relationship with someone who lies to you.
3. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't respect you.
4. Being in a relationship with someone who expects you to do everything for them.
5. Being in a relationship with someone who demeans you.
6. Being in a relationship with someone who belittles you.
7. Being in a relationship with someone who keeps secrets from you.
8. Being in a relationship with someone who is unfaithful.
9. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't care about your problems.
10. Being in a relationship with someone who emotionally abuses you.
11. Being in a relationship with someone who physically abuses you.
12. Being in a relationship with someone who makes you feel worthless.
13. Being in a relationship with someone who physically violates you.
14. Being in a relationship with someone who tries to control you.
15. Being in a relationship with someone who forces you to do things that you don't want to do.
16. Being in a relationship with someone who kicks you when you're down.
17. Being in a relationship with someone who has a problem with anger.
18. Being in a relationship with someone who takes their troubles out on you.
19. Being in a relationship with someone who has addiction issues and will not get help.
20. Being in a relationship with someone who values everything else above their relationship with you.
21. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't respect your boundaries.
22. Being in a relationship with someone who threatens you with violence.
23. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't love you.
24. Being in a relationship with someone who cheats on you.
25. Being in a relationship with someone who manipulates you.
26. Being in a relationship with someone who plays mind games with you.
27. Being in a relationship with someone who does not respect your personal space.
28. Being in a relationship with someone who feels no remorse for hurting you.
29. Being in a relationship with someone who threatens you.
30. Being in a relationship with someone who makes unreasonable demands of you.
31. Being in a relationship with someone who has an addiction that is out of control.
32. Being in a relationship with someone who has problems for which he is unwilling to get help.
33. Being in a relationship with someone who does not take responsibility for his actions.
34. Being in a relationship with someone who blames you for all of his failures.
35. Being in a relationship with someone who makes you feel unsafe.
36. Being in a relationship with someone who uses you.
37. Being in a relationship with someone who lies to you.
38. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't respect you.
39. Being in a relationship with someone who expects you to do everything for them.
40. Being in a relationship with someone who demeans you.
41. Being in a relationship with someone who belittles you.
42. Being in a relationship with someone who keeps secrets from you.
43. Being in a relationship with someone who is unfaithful.
44. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't care about your problems.
45. Being in a relationship with someone who emotionally abuses you.
46. Being in a relationship with someone who physically abuses you.
47. Being in a relationship with someone who makes you feel worthless.
48. Being in a relationship with someone who physically violates you.
49. Being in a relationship with someone who tries to control you.
50. Being in a relationship with someone who forces you to do things that you don't want to do.
51. Being in a relationship with someone who kicks you when you're down.
52. Being in a relationship with someone who has a problem with anger.
53. Being in a relationship with someone who takes their troubles out on you.
54. Being in a relationship with someone who has addiction issues and will not get help.
55. Being in a relationship with someone who values everything else above their relationship with you.
56. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't respect your boundaries.
57. Being in a relationship with someone who threatens you with violence.
58. Being in a relationship with someone who doesn't love you.
59. Being in a relationship with someone who cheats on you.
60. Being in a relationship with someone who manipulates you.
61. Being in a relationship with someone who plays mind games with you.
62. Being in a relationship with someone who does not respect your personal space.
63. Being in a relationship with someone who feels no remorse for hurting you.
64. Being in a relationship with someone who threatens you.
65. Being in a relationship with someone who makes unreasonable demands of you.
66. Being in a relationship with someone who has an addiction that is out of control.
67. Being in a relationship with someone who has problems for which he is unwilling to get help.
68. Being in a relationship with someone who does not take responsibility for his actions.
69. Being in a relationship with someone who blames you for all of his failures.
70. Being in a relationship with someone who makes you feel unsafe.
71. Being in a relationship with someone who has sex with you against your will.
72. Being in a relationship with someone who seems fine in public, but lashes out at you privately.
73. Being in a relationship with someone who mistreats your children.
74. Being in a relationship with someone who isolates you from friends or family.
75. Being in a relationship with someone who tries to keep you down.
76. Being in a relationship with someone who steals from you.
77. Being in a relationship with someone who does not respect what is important to you.
78. Being in a relationship with someone who makes promises and never keeps them.
79. Being in a relationship with someone who treats you like an object instead of like a person.
80. Being in a relationship with someone who takes more than he gives back.
81. Being in a relationship with someone who does things to upset you on purpose.
82. Being in a relationship with someone who you can never depend on.
83. Being in a relationship with someone who has sex with you against your will.
84. Being in a relationship with someone who seems fine in public, but lashes out at you privately.
85. Being in a relationship with someone who mistreats your children.
86. Being in a relationship with someone who isolates you from friends or family.
87. Being in a relationship with someone who tries to keep you down.
88. Being in a relationship with someone who steals from you.
89. Being in a relationship with someone who does not respect what is important to you.
90. Being in a relationship with someone who makes promises and never keeps them.
91. Being in a relationship with someone who treats you like an object instead of like a person.
92. Being in a relationship with someone who takes more than he gives back.
93. Being in a relationship with someone who does things to upset you on purpose.
94. Being in a relationship with someone who does not value you.
95. Being in a relationship with someone whom you cannot trust.
96. Being in a relationship with someone who intimidates you in order to get what he wants.
97. Being in a relationship with someone who tries to minimize your achievements.
98. Being in a relationship with someone who ignores your basic needs.
99. Being in a relationship with someone who does not recognize your rights as a human being.
100. Being in a relationship with someone who has any of the issues above -- yet doesn’t have any interest in doing something about them.




Photo source:  Screaming guy photo by crosathorian.  Woman photo is public domain.

Having an Awesome Life, Lesson #7: Small Victories Add Up

One important facet in leading a life of utter awesomeness is the concept of having goals.  Even the things that you think might be small, stupid, or unworthy can actually be very important pieces to your awesome life!

Make a list of goals that interest you.  Again, they don't need to all be insanely elaborate or ambitious -- it could be simple things like getting your hall closet organized, catching that new movie that you've been seeing ads for all week, or trying a new restaurant for dinner.  These things can really help on your journey to awesomeness, because even getting those small things accomplished can lead to a richer life experience.

Sometimes, we have small life goals... things that we've always wanted to do, yet never had the chance.  It might be something as simple as taking advantage of your vacation time and driving to some local tourist attraction that you've always thought about seeing.  Or, maybe you just want to make a phone call to reconnect with someone.  Get those little tasks accomplished!  You'll feel fantastic knowing that even a small victory can be an important one in leading an awesome life!

Etiquette, Success, and Deutoronomy

The Bible is full life lessons.  Even if you aren't Christian, it is always a good idea to read it at least once in order to glean its lessons and to experience the richness of its literature.

One such important lesson is illustrated in the second chapter of Deuteronomy.  The wanderers consider waging war with various peoples as they encounter them in their travels, but instead they are advised by God to keep the peace.  Instead of pillaging, plundering, and helping themselves to the spoils which are not meant for them, God instructs them to pay for their food and water fairly, to behave graciously and not to harass or bother anyone across whom they come during this journey.


Not only is this prudent behavior in order to keep positive relationships with one's neighbors, but it is also important to remember that it's important to choose one's battles wisely.  If you are positive that you cannot win or make a positive impact in any way, then war is pointless as it wastes so many resources.


Deuteronomy 2

New International Version (NIV)
Wanderings in the Wilderness

2 Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea,[a] as the Lord had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.

2 Then the Lord said to me, 3 “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north. 4 Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own. 6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”

7 The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

8 So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and traveled along the desert road of Moab.

9 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.”

10 (The Emites used to live there—a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. 11 Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites. 12 Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land the Lord gave them as their possession.)

13 And the Lord said, “Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.” So we crossed the valley.

14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.

16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar. 19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.”

The Benefits of a Spiritual Awakening

The positive advantages of a spiritual awakening cannot be underestimated.  Inside yourself, you can gain a newfound sense of peacefulness and calm that will carry you to heights you have never imagined.  You will become braver and more confident, as well.  Because you'll become more comfortable, kind, and loving with yourself, you will feel a lot less lonely when you're alone.  You can keep much better company with yourself, as you'll become more introspective and have more thoughts to process and enjoy.  Although someone may have had painful and sad experiences in the past, the spiritual awakening can make a person stronger and more self-aware, so that painful memories do not hurt as badly as they might have done earlier.  You also become more able to appreciate the here and now; the gifts that the universe has given become more precious and meaningful when you put them into perspective and realize your good fortune.  What you don't have becomes far less important to you, and you feel much less focused on material wants and more trivial issues that seem to matter so much less in the grand scheme of things.  Fear and uneasiness may be replaced by a newfound sense of calm.  Your new faith can give you a pervasive sense of inner strength.

The benefits of a spiritual awakening do not begin and end with your sense of self.  Interactions with other people will also be improved.  You shall find yourself being less judgmental of others, more open-minded and more accepting of those who live their lives in ways which are different than yours.  One of the reasons for this is stronger connection that you'll feel with other people; simply by experiencing your own spiritual awakening, you will be able to put your issues into better perspective, and understand where you fit into the world better.  Thus, you can connect and interact much better with other people.  You will feel a renewed sense of love and faith toward humankind, as well as experience more tolerance and acceptance of others.  A spiritual awakening often enables people to feel less inclined to argue that our ways are the best, or the right ways; and that others' ways are the wrong ones.  Because you are also more confident and happy, you feel better about sharing with other people.  Your giving nature and loving tendencies will emerge stronger than ever, as you share of yourself without the anticipation of receiving anything from others in return.  The simple act of giving and sharing your blessings will bring you more happiness once you've come to understand the joys of giving of yourself.

The Halo: Crystal Grid Layout for Head Pain, Migraines & Headaches

As promised, here's another crystal grid layout for you!  I call this one "The Halo" for pretty obvious reasons. :)  I have illustrated it with round circles to represent your gemstones.  If you have pointy crystals to use, those would be just fine.  Remember to lay the crystals so that the points face outward, though!  Otherwise, your standard polished/tumbled crystal gemstones will work perfectly here.

I would always recommend using three amethysts for headaches and migraines; not only has it been typically carried and used for such ailments for thousands of years, the color purple also corresponds to the crown chakra which is just where we want to concentrate on when pain occurs in the head.  You can also use indigo stones like lapis if you would prefer to do so.  (Use what you like -- I happen to like amethyst!)  Place two just above the sides of your head, and add one to your forehead.

You'll need two orange stones as well.  I also recommend using orange or brown agate, or perhaps tourmaline to represent the sacral chakra, which is a great source of fortification for pain management.  Place them just above your eyebrows.  Agate is well known for its healing properties, and pain soothing attributes.  I'd try to find some agate first, but tourmalines are also wonderful healing stones. 

Thirdly, turquoise stones are required -- you will need two of them.  They should go directly underneath the amethysts which are laid around your head.  Turquoise is great for its uplifting and positive energy, as well as its protective properties.

What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four legs?

This is a joke which has been circulating for a long time!  Here's the joke as I originally heard it... however, I don't really like jokes that make fun of a particular stereotype.  Nevertheless, it's a cute joke!


A blonde and a lawyer are seated next to each other on a flight from LA to NY. The lawyer asks if she would like to play a fun game? The blonde, tired, just wants to take a nap, politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks. The lawyer persists and explains that the game is easy and a lot of fun. He explains, "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5.00, and vice versa. " Again, she declines and tries to get some sleep. The lawyer, now agitated, says, "Okay, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5.00, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500.00." This catches the blonde's attention and, figuring there will be no end to this torment unless she plays, agrees to the game. The lawyer asks the first question. "What's the distance from the earth to the moon?" The blonde doesn't say a word, reaches into her purse, pulls out a $5.00 bill and hands it to the lawyer. "Okay" says the lawyer, "your turn." She asks the lawyer, "What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four legs?" The lawyer, puzzled, takes out his laptop computer and searches all his references, no answer. He taps into the air phone with his modem and searches the net and the library of congress, no answer.

Frustrated, he sends e-mails to all his friends and coworkers, to no avail. After an hour, he wakes the blonde, and hands her $500.00. The blonde says, "Thank you," and turns back to get some more sleep. The lawyer, who is more than a little miffed, wakes the blonde and asks, "Well, what's the answer?" Without a word, the blonde reaches into her purse, hands the lawyer $5.00, and goes back to sleep. And you thought blondes were dumb!

By the way... if you don't know the answer to the question "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four legs?" The answer is: A chair that's on its way to be fixed by a carpenter who lives on the top of a hill!

Someone else had suggested the alternative answer, which is an uphill three-legged race.  The contestants are tied together when they go up the hill, but when they're on the way down the hill, they are untied, and have four legs.

Latest Cancer Information From Johns-Hopkins

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today.  I'm not vouching for the validity of it, as I am not a medical professional. However, I did want to post it here because it is definitely a concern that Americans have, as cancer rates in the USA are out of control.  Cancer is a frightening disease, both to have and also to witness in a loved one.  Take care of yourself, my friends!

Here is the post in its entirety, as well as the cancer cell pic that was included:

~~~

LATEST CANCER INFORMATION
from Johns Hopkins

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY …


1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.


11. An effective way to battle cancer is to STARVE the cancer cells by not feeding it with foods it needs to multiple.

What cancer cells feed on:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Note: Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.


b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells will starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes t o nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.

To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water--best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines will become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor.

Anger, unforgiving and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

(PLEASE SHARE IT TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT)

The True Story of Brenda Geck and "Family Sins"

One of my favorite Lifetime movies is called "Family Sins," starring Kirstie Alley as Brenda Geck, the evil matriarch that we all love to hate! 

This movie is actually based on a real family, the Burt family of Pawtucket, Rhodie Island, who was led by their beloved mother, Frances Burt.  "Family Sins" is the story of Frances Burt, who was a mother to many of her own children and a foster mother to several more.  She was unspeakably cruel and abusive to her children -- mentally and emotionally tormenting them, but also physically abusive and violent with them.  She beat them and harmed them physically in many other ways, forcing them to commit crimes for her.  Younger ones were forced to shoplift items for her, and the older children were then groomed to carry out more sinister crimes as they grew, including arson, racketeering, and fraud. 

Their family kidnapped a disabled woman and kept her prisoner in their home, cashing her Social Security checks, raping her repeatedly, and forcing her live as a servant.

Frances Burt was eventually tried and convicted in 1994 of kidnapping, welfare fraud, disability fraud, extortion, sexual assault, and kidnapping.   She was sentenced to 30 years in prison, though after serving 11 years, Burt was released in June of 2001.  She is currently on probation.

Although this movie is entertaining, it also serves as a reminder that even people who seem the most perfect and "together" on the surface may be hiding their own dark secrets.  You can never judge a book by its cover!

Are Spells Evil?

A lot of people have visited my site, wondering if spells are evil.  The answer is NO!

A spell is basically the same thing as a wish, a prayer, or form of meditation.  There are often rituals involved.  A spell can be done for good things, or (like any of the other things I just mentioned) bad things.

As a professional psychic, I try to steer people away from doing evil spells, wishing harm on others, or praying for other people's harm or failure.  The universe has a way of sorting those things out for itself.  If you commit harm on another person in thought or deed, the harm will come back to you.  Therefore it's much better to cast spells, say prayers, and make wishes for good things only.

I have also cast spellwork for clients as well, but I insist on only focusing on good and positive things, and I ask the assistance of only positive forces to aid me!

Astrological Symbols Chart

It has come to my attention that some people who are visiting the site for astrology information may not yet know what the symbol for their zodiac sign is.  So I've created a quick reference chart for those who are interested. :)

 

When you think of the sign, Aries, consider the ram.  The symbol for Aries looks just like a ram's head, with its horns.

The sign of Taurus corresponds with the bull.  Its symbol looks like a bull's head, with horns sticking out on each side.

Gemini is known as "the twins," and its astrological symbol represents this too.  The symbol for Gemini looks like the roman numeral 2 (II).

Cancer is often represented as a crab, and the astrological symbol for Cancer can be thought of as a crab inside its shell.  It also looks to some people like the number 69.  See the circles of the 6 and the 9?  I always think of them as the crab's eyes, which are surrounded by a shell.

Leo is the lion, of course!  The symbol for Leo is a small circle with a long, winding tail.  I associate the long tail on this symbol as a lion's tail, and the circle as the lion's mane.

Virgo is usually depicted as a beautiful virgin maiden.  Some schools of thought say that the symbol for Virgo is thought to represent the female sexual organs.  The "loop" at the end is closed, as the female virginity is intact.

Libra's astrological glyph can easily been interpreted as the scales.  The top curved part is where the scales join, and the line below is the balance of the weights.

Scorpio's astrological symbol is an "M" with a pointy tail.  Just as Virgo's symbol appears interpreted as sexual body parts that are closed, the Scorpio glyph is open and ready to strike, which is a good metaphor for Scorpio's passionate lusty nature.

Sagittarius is often represented as a centaur, or a human archer.  As such, the zodiac symbol for Sagittarius is an arrow.

Capricorn has been called "the goat," and you will often see the sign represented as a goat (obviously).  Sometimes, though, the goat has a fish tail -- this may seem a bit confusing to some, as a "mer-goat" isn't really common!  But the tail tends to symbolize Capricorn's mercurial and cool nature.  You can see that the Capricorn symbol is like a fish-tailed goat in profile: the goat's horns on the left, and the fishy tail curving on the right.

Aquarius, the water-bearer, has an easy zodiac symbol to remember.  It is simply two squiggly lines, to represent the waves of the water.

Pisces is "the fish" as is its constellation in the sky, with two fishes bound together with a thread.  Its glyph hard to imagine as two fish, but it does kind of look like two fish tails merged together, one on top of the other.  It can also be interpreted as two fish heads facing one another, with a line joining them.

Traits of a Sociopath

1. They are charming, and have a way with words.  There’s a tendency to be engaging and charismatic.  They aren’t shy or self-conscious; because of their disregard for acceptable social behavior, they will speak whenever they feel like it and often say whatever they think will make an impact.

2. They have an exaggerated sense of self-importance.  Sociopaths often see themselves as being better than everyone else, or “special” somehow.  They have an unrealistically enhanced view of themselves.  They will brag; they are opinionated, and overly self-assured.

3. They get bored easily.  A sociopath has a higher than average need for stimulation, and they are often prone to boredom.  Sociopaths seek out things that are exciting and novel.  They take chances and often engage in risky behavior, because they are easily bored.  They also lack self-discipline, and get bored with routine; failure to hold a job for an extended period of time can be a telling sign.

4. They lie.  The lies can big big, small, or anything in between.  Sociopaths think nothing of being dishonest.  At a sociopath’s best, he or she can be crafty and shrewd; at worst, they can be manipulative, deceitful, and sneaky in their dishonesty.

5. They manipulate people.  This doesn’t have to mean they’re deceptive, but often deceit can play a part in manipulation.  The difference between manipulation and dishonesty is the level of ruthlessness or lack of empathy present.  A true sociopath has little interest or awareness in the feelings of others; people are seen as sources of gratification, not as humans with emotions.

6. They have no remorse.  A sociopath will not have any concern for the sadness, pain, loss, or suffering of his or her victims.  Someone like this is seen as heartless and inconsiderate.  In fact, there is often a certain level of scorn or indifference concerning the sociopath’s victims.

7. They are shallow and superficial.  Someone like this has a limited spectrum of emotions.  He or she may display signs of caring or friendliness when necessary or beneficial, but check further; there may be nothing underneath to suggest much beneath the surface.

8. They are cold-hearted.  We’ve discussed the lack of empathy toward a sociopath’s victims, but there is also a lack of empathy for people in general.  A sociopath may be described as “a cold fish” -- they are inconsiderate and self-absorbed, with little room for interest in other people’s feelings.

9. They are parasites.  Often, a sociopath will intentionally manipulate others and become financially dependent on other people.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that they will con people out of direct cash; it may be as simple as failure to pay his or her own way, expecting other people to pick up the tab for his or her lifestyle.  This is often seen as selfishness, a lack of self-discipline, lack of motivation, an inability to behave responsibly or to follow through with responsibilities.

10. They will have problems controlling their emotions.  You will notice that a sociopath may have difficulty controlling his or her temper.  They may jump to conclusions, behave in haste, and lash out verbally or physically at other people when they are annoyed.  A sociopath’s patience is very limited, as are his or her ability to manage his or her feelings in a healthy way.

11. They are promiscuous.  Sociopaths often have shallow and brief sexual encounters and affairs.  Often, they have little discrimination in sexual partners, and are willing to have sex with virtually anyone.  A sociopath might have a history of engaging in multiple relationships at once, or a history of using coercion to get sex from others.  Sociopaths often take pride in boasting of their sexual conquests and activities as well.

12. Their behavior problems begin at a young age.  Before the teenage years, a sociopath likely already been committing unacceptable behaviors.  Young sociopaths often participate in activities including bullying, violence, setting fires, sexual behavior or activity, drugs or alcohol, running away from home, cheating, stealing, and vandalizing.

13. They don’t have life direction or long-term goals.  While a sociopath may talk a good game, there are often little or no attempts to follow through with goals as time passes.  There may be a history of failure or inability to develop long-term plans.  A sociopath may lack direction, both physically and mentally.  They may change jobs, residences, even circles of friends as time passes.

14. They are impulsive.  A sociopath may exhibit behaviors that clearly show action without thinking beforehand.  There are unable to deal with temptations, urges, or frustrations.  Sociopaths often commit reckless behaviors and engage in behaviors that are foolish or without thinking of the consequences.

15. They are irresponsible.  A sociopath may get the reputation for repeatedly failing to honor commitments or follow through on promises.  They may also fail to take care of obligations, such as ignoring bills or defaulting on loans, shirking responsibilities, performing tasks lazily, tardiness or absence to work, or failing to live up to agreements he or she has made.

16. They do not accept responsibility for their actions.  Sociopaths will often try to escape their responsibilities.  They may blame others for their own mistakes, or simply fail to acknowledge responsibilities in any way.  This often goes hand in hand with denial and manipulation of others.

17. They fall in and out of live easily.  Many of their relationships, including love and marriage, are brief and shallow.  When someone is lacking in the emotional skills to participate in a relationship, combined with a lack of ability to follow through with responsibilities, they will connect briefly but shallowly.  Such romantic connections are made easily and broken easily to them.

18. They may be juvenile delinquents.  Aside from simple behavior problems, a young sociopath will have trouble understanding or following basic societal laws or guidelines.  Between the ages of 13 and 18, sociopaths often commit crimes and engage in behavior that involves aggression, exploitation, and manipulation.

19. They fail to meet legal obligations or requirements.  If he or she has been in trouble with the law, it is not unusual for a sociopath to disregard or violate requirements which have been set for them; often due to being careless, deliberately ignoring notices, or failure to be in attendance when summoned.

20. They can disregard laws or rules in a number of ways.  A sociopath may violate a number of rules or laws, whether or not they are caught.  There may be pride or bragging involving getting away with criminal activity or violating rules.  Many sociopaths believe that they are “above” the rules.

Having an Awesome Life, Lesson #6: Being Prepared

A stitch in time, saves nine!

Life has often been compared to chess -- and chess, to life!  The similarities are easy to see... in order to do well, you often need to sacrifice.  There are also many ways to conquer what's in front of you, and the method to success is as varied as its participants.  However, I think that the biggest similarity of all is  this:  Both of them require strategy in order for you to come out on top.

While it's fine, and fun, to fly through life by the seat of your pants, preparation for the rough times is going to make a major difference between success and failure, happiness and sorrow.  "A stitch in time saves nine," goes the old proverb.  What you're able to take care of today, can help you enjoy a better life tomorrow.  What you fail to resolve now will come back to you, and it won't leave until you make it a point to take care of it.

Planning ahead is one of the most important steps in having an awesome life.  It doesn't sound particularly awesome, I know.  But, when you plan ahead by saving for a rainy day, or by taking care of something before it becomes a full-blown crisis, you're actually saving more than just time and effort.  You are saving yourself worry, stress, and hardship.  You are saving yourself from regrets and wasted time.  Let's face it, a crisis always costs a lot more to resolve than a small bump in the road!

By planning ahead, you're also left with more time to enjoy yourself, to relax and to have fun.  Security and order can actually bring about a tremendous sense of freedom!  Try using some of that chess strategy to give yourself an edge on a little extra happiness, and I promise you, your life will be much more awesome for the effort.

The Wiccan Rede (Long Version)

The Wiccan Rede is a set of moral, ethical, and spiritual guidelines that has been set into verse for those who practice.  Remember, this spirituality promotes the acts of peace toward all people, and respect for nature and the planet as a whole.  If you're looking for the full version of the Wiccan Rede, you've come to the right place.  Here it is!



Bide the Wiccan laws we must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Ye must live and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about,
To keep unwanted spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time,
Let the spell be spoken in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak ye little and listen much.
Deosil go by waxing moon, 
Chanting out the Wiccan runes.
Widdershins go by waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful tune.
When the Lady's moon is new, 
Kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon is at Her peak, 
Then the heart's desire seek.

Heed the North win's mighty gale;
Lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind comes frome the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the moor wind blows from the West,
Departed spirits have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Epect the new and set the fest.
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them quick, and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree;
Burn it not, or cursed be.

When the Wheel begins to turn,
Let the Beltane fires burn.
When the wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush, and tree;
By the Lady, Blessed Be.
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone, the truth to know.
When ye have and hold a need,
Harken not to other's greed.
With a fool no seasons spend,
Or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part,
Bright the cheeks, and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should,
Three times bad, and three times good.
When misfortune is enow,
Wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ye must e're bee,
Lest thy love is false to thee.
These words the Wiccan Rede fulfill;
And ye harm none, do what ye will.

How to Prepare for a Spiritual Awakening

Everyone is composed of three basic layers: our body (the physical), our mind (the intellectual), and our soul (the spiritual).  Caring for our bodies is a fairly straightforward business.  Mental health can have its variations, but there are many consistencies from one person to the next.  However, the spirituality of each person can vary wildly from one to the next.  Spirituality centers around exploring our origins and our destinations; where our souls originate and where they will be going after our bodies have ceased to be, as well as the exploration of our place in this world, life's purposes and meanings.  While we all possess our own individual soul, not everyone in the world is destined to experience a life-altering spiritual transformation. 

It can be difficult to find information about spirituality that meshes well with our own personal needs.  Reading, doing research, and talking to other people can be great ways to explore new ideas.  However, when you don't exactly know where to start or what sort of spirituality experiences that you are seeking, it can be frustrating and often feel like a futile, fruitless search that never ends. 

Most people who embark upon spiritual quests will tell you that the search for your own life purpose and meaning can be a lifelong endeavor.  Even when you are unsure of where you're going or how to get there, we all have the ability to listen to our hearts.  Deep inside all of us is a voice that's reassuring us of the right path for us, letting us know that there is something more to our lives than simply the physical realm around us.

Take heart; the universe is infinite and ever-expanding.  Regardless of the place you're in right now, your spiritual identity will grow and evolve with each passing day.  Spirituality is a malleable, changeable thing.  The longer a person lives, the more information he or she gains.  As time passes, our worldview will change and so will our hearts and minds along with it.  There is so much all around us, beside us, and within us that can help to contribute to a rich and vibrant spiritual life.

Happy Birthday, Gemini!

Birthday greetings to our cool and interesting friend, the sweet Gemini!

Ruled by Mercury, Gemini loves to communicate; not just talk, but listen too.  Geminis tend to be intelligent and love mental stimulation.  Whether it's a quiet night at home reading books or a big party with tons of movers and shakers, the Gemini is ready to go!  Learning and connecting with other people come naturally to Gemini.  It's true that Gemini people tend to change their mind quickly, but that's just because they find the world so interesting, and they want to experience it all.  But they are also genuine and sincere folks who love to immerse themselves in whatever (and whomever) interests them.  A Gemini  can inspire others with their natural interest in people around them, and their tendency to love new adventures.

These are the communicators of the zodiac!  With a Gemini by your side, you're guaranteed to have a lot of interesting conversations!

Happy Birthday, Gemini friends!  We love you!

P. S.  I made some cute birthday images of each zodiac sign... keep checking back all year for more!  I hope that you enjoy these!  They're licensed under "Creative Commons" (non-commercial only) so feel free to share them and use them for personal stuff on Facebook, Myspace, or wherever you like to network with your friends.  Have fun!

This work by ConsultTheSage.Com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

A Troll Poem

Just something I was thinking about lately... I remember it from childhood, and had no idea that Tolkien wrote it until today!

~~~

Troll sat alone on his seat of stone,
And munched and munched a bare old bone;
For many a year he had gnawed it near,
For meat was hard to come by.
Done by!  Gum by!
In a cave in the hills he dwelt alone,
And meat was hard to come by.

Up came Tom with his big boots on.
Said he to Troll, "Pray, what is yon?
For it looks like the shin o' my nuncle Tim,
As should be lyin' in graveyard.
Caveyard!  Paveyard!
This many a year has Tim been gone,
And I thought he were lyin' in graveyard!"

"For a couple o' pins," says Troll, and grins,
"I'll eat thee too, and gnaw thy shins.
A bit o' fresh meat will go down sweet!
I'll try my teeth on thee now.
Hee now!  See now!
I'm tired of gnawing old bones and skins.
I've a mind to dine on thee now."

"My lad," said Troll, "this bone I stole.
But what be bones that lie in a hole?
Thy nuncle was dead as a lump o' lead,
Afore I found his shinbone.
Tinbone!  Thinbone!
He can spare a share for a poor old Troll;
For he don't need his shinbone."

Said Tom:  "I don't see what the likes o' thee
Without axin' leave should go makin' free
With the shank or the shin o' my father's kin;
So hand the old bone over!
Rover!  Trover!
Though dead he be, it belongs to he;
So hand the old bone over!"

But just as he thought his dinner was caught,
He found his hands had hold of naught.
Before he could mind, Tom slipped behind
And gave him the boot to larn him.
Warn him!  Darn him!
A bump o' the boot on the seat, Tom thought,
Would be the way to larn him.

But harder than stone is the flesh and bone
Of a troll that sits in the hills alone.
As well set your boot to the mountain's root,
For the seat of a troll don't feel it.
Peel it!  Heal it!
Old Troll laughed, when he heard Tom groan,
And he knew his toes could feel it.

Tom's leg is game, since home he came,
And his bootless foot is lasting lame;
But Troll don't care, and he's still there
With the bone he boned from its owner.
Doner!  Boner!
Troll's old seat is still the same,
And the bone he boned from its owner.

-- J. R. R. Tolkien

Erotomania: Is It Real?

I drew this picture of Jenna Elfman as
Ellena Roberts, wearing an orange prison
jumpsuit.  I love drawing with PhotoShop!

If you're at all familiar with the Lifetime movie "Obsessed," you must be wondering about the details of erotomania.  The therapist in the movie described it as "a condition where one believes that one is loved by someone, when in fact, one is not."  That is just the tip of the iceberg.

It is a type of mental health disorder where the person believes that someone else -- often a stranger, and usually a celebrity or person of high status -- is in love with him or her.  Patients will often manifest an entire relationship that exists solely in their own minds.  The disorder occurs in people who have bipolar disorder during mania, schizophrenia, a psychosis of some type, or a disorder involving delusions.

When a person experiences an episode of erotomania, he or she often interprets the actions of their "love interest" as directed solely at him or her.  The "love interest" may, in the erotomaniac's opinion, be sending them secret messages via actions, gestures, or facial expressions, as well as messages via regular media.  The erotomaniac may also return this imaginary affection through contacting the love interest, through calling, emailing, sending gifts, or even visiting the love interest.  

Although these gestures are not expected or wanted, the love interest's denial of this "relationship" is often viewed by the erotomaniac as some type of scheme to conceal their relationship from the public.

In "Obsessed," the main character, Ellena Roberts, was erotomaniacally obsessed with Dr. David Stillman, a renowned surgeon that she pursued relentlessly.  Toward the beginning of the movie, the viewer is lead to believe that their relationship is real but clandestine, as Dr. Stillman is married and a very public, well-known physician.  As the movie progresses, we begin to understand the depth of Ellena's madness.  Her delusions and compulsions extend far beyond simply Dr. Stillman, and in fact are seen as not just a nuisance, but a potential threat to the safety of others if left unchecked.

The movie, "Obsessed" is, in fact,  based on the true story of Diane Schaefer who stalked Dr. Murray Brennan, chief surgeon at Sloan-Kettering in New York City, for about eight years.  She sent him letters, called his home and his office, brought gifts, and even managed to sneak into his home to greet him in a see-through negligee.  Although the fictional Ellena Roberts (who is played by Jenna Elfman) never threatened to harm her doctor in any way, the real Diane Schaefer is quoted as saying to Dr. Murray: "I can't live while you're alive on this earth.  I am going to kill you!  Kill you, or kill myself -- I am degraded by your being alive."

External Symptoms and Signs of a Spiritual Awakening

Major life changes.  While this is not necessarily a symptom of a spiritual awakening, it is often a trigger.  Significant life events, such as divorce, job loss or change, death of someone close to you, moving, or major illness (yours or someone else's) can give impetus to a newfound spiritual status as well.  While we cannot always prevent these life changes from occurring -- and indeed, in many cases, have no control over these at all -- we can control our reactions to them.  Even negative changes may manifest something positive at the end.  You are stronger than you realize.

Technical difficulties.  It feels like Mercury is in retrograde all the time!  Your computer may crash, your cell phone might lose its signal, or your car refuses to start.  Yes, these things can happen to everyone from time to time.  However, if you notice a significant increase in the technical difficulties with machinery and mechanical devices, this may be your higher power trying to tell you something.  Some folks actually do reiki healing techniques on their cars or computers.  Couldn't hurt!  But more than anything, try to keep these issues in their proper perspective.

You notice cycles which seem to repeat themselves over and over again.  Issues that you may have had in the past (and avoided) are much more likely to resurface.  Incidents that you have put aside may keep coming back to pass as they require your attention and resolution.  People that you have avoided, pushed away, or whose issues you have failed to handle adequately may suddenly be thrust back into your life, prompting you to finally resolve the issues between you.  Even if the people themselves are not presenting themselves back into your life, the old issues that you've had with others can still keep cropping back up into your consciousness.  It's also possible that new people will trigger these same negative feelings or dealings.  This is your consciousness's way of trying to clear the air with you.  In order to properly attune yourself to your new spiritual level, you must first clear away the toxic emotional debris and ineffective ways of dealing with these issues.  Try to take these occurrences as the lessons which they are intended, and work on the issues so that you can more formally immerse yourself in new and exciting arenas.

A keener sense of mystical coincidences, miracles, and cosmic "gifts."  Your eyes may open to interesting new experiences such as symbols and signs which may have ordinarily been ignored by you in the past.  Seemingly innocuous aspects of your life may start to carry extra significance and meaning.  You may find these in day-to-day life, but they may also manifest during sleep in the form of meaningful dreams and visions.  Spiritual awakenings will often bring those hidden meanings out into the open for people, whether they are seeking them or not.  Coincidences may also happen more often; strange or unusual occurrences can often cluster together and help to you dictate your path in life.  Try being on the lookout for cosmic messages, as it can be a fun and interesting experience.

Your own personal "Law of Attraction" success.  Remember that thoughts, even when unuttered and discarded, are still going someplace.  Although you may not act on all thoughts, they are still existing on some level, and you are still putting them out to the universe.  Perhaps you're manifesting some great things, but be careful what, good or ill, you're wishing for -- you might just get it!

What's more, it seems that the opportunities to learn lessons and to put personal issues into their proper places seem to be cropping up more and more.  This is the universe's way of telling you that it is time to handle your emotional and personal baggage now, in order to prepare for the changes which are about to come.  You may see signs throughout the course of your day which point to certain thoughts or ideas at hand which you need to tackle -- take those hints for what they are, and do your best to try to see them through.  You already know what you need to do; but now, it is time to do it.

Vedic Astrology for Potential Love Matches

Astrology involves studying the aspects of stars, planets, and other bodies in space with the belief that these celestial bodies can guide occurrences and human traits here on earth. Astrological forecasts can be utilized in order to predict various things within our lives; our livelihoods, our fortunes, even our loves and friends can be determined through astrology. Astrological predictions can help to steer you in the pathway of success. The effect on celestial movements in our day-to-day living can't necessarily be dismissed. There are millions of people using astrology to help them every day.

Some people even use astrology to determine whom they should marry. Marriage is a sacred bond between two people, and although divorce rates are high, most of us take our marriages seriously as an important part of life. However, it can be very difficult to find the right woman or man who can unite with your body, heart, and soul. Astrology can help you to find the right person, though. Folks can use astrology to determine how compatible two people might be. In India, people use Hindu Astrology (or Vedic Astrology) to determine which people are best suited to one another. It's a very common procedure; the astrology specialists can also help to settle on just the right time for the marriage to occur, as well as which dates should not be chosen for the wedding. A bride or groom's natal chart and horoscope can provide much inside information on the future, but also the present and past as well. An astrologer can also forecast where the couple's rough patches may begin or end, such as when Saturn or Venus are in bad placements for the bride and groom. Astrology can be a valuable tool in determining when breakups or divorces are most likely to happen, in order to soften the blow or avoid the breakups entirely.

In order to do a bride and groom's natal charts and compatibility assessment, the astrologer needs the birthdates, birth times, and birth locations of both people. The natal chart is cast with this information. Each planet and celestial body was in a specific position at the time of birth, so those specific locations have an effect on the bride and groom's individual personalities. The astrological information does not need to be perfectly compatible, but generalities are very important. People can also learn about one another with this information: how to communicate with them most effectively, what they are seeking in a potential partner, and which aspects of yourself that you need to work on as your marriage grows.

Q&A: Aura Photo Analysis

Hi, everyone! :)

Exciting news here.  A couple of weeks ago, one of my readers sent in a great picture of his aura for me to analyze! I am flattered that someone trusts me enough to ask for my opinion. (I have blurred his face, just to protect the innocent! LOL) In the last few years, I've learned a thing or two about auras, so I am thrilled to give it a try!

The first thing I look for when analyzing an aura is the patterns that it contains. (The color is important, of course, but we'll get to that later.) This is a beautiful example of a banded aura! You can notice how the prevailing color (blue) is intercepted a few times with some horizontal violet and turquoise streaks. Banded aura bearers tend to be emotionally sensitive, and very perceptive of their surroundings. They also have an unconventional way of looking at the world, tend to be open-minded, but enjoy blazing their own paths and forging ahead their own way.  That isn't to say that this young man doesn't appreciate tradition, but he's likely to enjoy learning about all sorts of different ways of doing things, gathering as much information as possible before making up his own mind about the best way for him.

After we see the pattern, we can then analyze the colors that are contained within.  At first glance, you may say "Well, OK, blue and some bits of purple," but look closer!  Yes, the prevalent colors in this aura are cool blues and violets. But notice all of the different shades of blue, indigo, violet, turquoise!  These shades all belong to the cooler air/water realm, and underscore his sensitivity and perceptive abilities which can be used in conjunction with a strong logical mind and love for details. The deeper blue represents a quiet confidence, strong but not too pushy or aggressive. He's more of a constitutionally strong person, as opposed to one of those aggressive tough guys... he can keep his wits about him long after the meat-heads have gone home! ;)  There is also a lot of emotional strength here, with the ability to help calm other people by his mere presence. This guy would be fabulous in any profession which involves person-to-person interaction, problem solving, or helping others in distress as he's got the cool head combined with the natural strength that can make others feel at ease quickly. The turquoise shade suggests further that there is the natural ability for healing and helping, as well as a high energy level that can deplete quickly if not adequately addressed. This may mean that he dreams big, but doesn't always know how to complete the vision -- but the purple addition can help him find his way through a tougher life issue by instinct.  All purples signify a dignified and gracious personality, but I'm seeing a brighter violet which suggests to me a strong sense of vision, lots of dreams, and some psychic potential as well. 

This is the first time that a reader has asked me to analyze an aura before, but I sure hope it isn't the last!  Hopefully, I've been able to provide some insight.  Thanks, "D," for giving me the chance to have a look at it! :)

Using Reflexology to Help Baby's Earache

Reflexology is a fabulous method in the arsenal of wellness.  Coupling new-age (and age-old) methods with scientific medicine can really bring about some wonderful benefits for the soul as well as the body.   Reflexology is non-invasive, comforting, and can work well with conventional medicine to ease physical ailments.

When your baby is ill, the most important thing on your mind is to help ease the little one's suffering.  One of the most common physical ailments of childhood is an earache -- even for adults, the pain and discomfort of an earache can be just unbearable.  

Shanti Burgess, an herbalist and reflexologist, of Happyzine, a New Zealand website which offers information for health and happiness, endorses reflexology as a way to help soothe the stress of earache.   To ease the discomfort of an earache, Burgess suggests working on the toes, particularly the last two toes on each foot.  She also recommends working on the "the spleen, thymus, upper body lymphatic points, throat, jaw, cervical neck, diaphragm, and adrenals" to help ease baby's discomfort.  Check my reflexology chart here for more information on those particular parts of the foot.

And, feel free to look at Happyzine's article, How to Soothe Your Three-Year-Old's Ear Ache By Pressing Points on Their Feet, here, to learn more about using reflexology for an ear ache.