tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45519479639632315882023-06-08T01:39:56.705-07:00Dragonfly EssenceWelcome to Dragonfly Essence! My name is Jackie, and I work with Spirit and Nature in communication and healing for humans, animals, land and structures, and ultimately the Earth. My tools include animal communication, flower and crystal essences, space clearing, transformational healing, drummaking, classes, and ceremony.
I hope you enjoy my site. Read my blog (and digg it!), check out the essences for sale, and contact me if you have questions or would like a session.Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-1485298261444891732015-08-28T20:15:00.000-07:002015-08-28T20:15:20.810-07:00The Long Road HomeWhen I was a child, my Dad was learning to become a Minister. I lived on the top floor, but I spent my time in the basement. There was an Indian family from the high mountains -- Dondekers. And there was a man from the Naga mountains. He was named Tuisem Shishak. He joked and told me he ate humans. Then he said it was a joke.<br />
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For me this was wonderful learning; I learned that other people can be different, and yet human. The mother of this croud showed me how to wear a sari. She was very sweet and kind. When I went upstairs, I asked my parents why they lived in the basement. And we lived on the third floor. All the children went to a Christion school, except my friends. No one else had commented except me!<br />
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Tuisem was part of my growing up -- he said he was going back to NagaLand to. And he did! Years ago, Rev. Dr. Tuisem Shishak together with his wife, began their journey of faith in building what was to be the first Christian College. They were parents, as well!<br />
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<br />Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-57334343335630503802015-08-10T14:51:00.003-07:002015-08-10T14:51:44.397-07:00Bees!Once upon a large 13 acres. I loved where I lived. And then I decided I wanted a bee hive. And there were some people who work with bees. We gathered once a month to learn and teach each others. It was very wonderful. I liked to watch the bees and began to really learn from the bees. <br />
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Bees stay near the hive, and from what I learned bees work together. I loved working with them. Another aspect was talking with other bee keepers. It helps to have others and we did share our<br />
knowledge. <br />
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Another aspect is having sweet flowers. Where I was there was Fireweed in abundance. The bees really loved the Fireweed. <br />
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When I was keeping bees, I had to have a suit to keep the bees from stinging.<br />
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Another part of beekeeping is getting it out of the hive. It has to be spun. <br />
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When I was keeping bees, I had to have people who want the honey.<br />
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The bees work together. We humans could take a look to see how the bees work.Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-40937033780395603982015-07-10T11:46:00.001-07:002015-07-10T11:46:46.779-07:00Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-40091874084623765762015-04-19T16:28:00.000-07:002015-04-19T16:28:44.813-07:00JOLIE: the CATJolie came into my life from the Humane Society. She was in a small space. She is a Tortus, with lots of colors. My Dad had to be there to agree to take her into our home. I had been rubbing her ears, and smoothing hair. Dad agreed, and we all went home together. <br />
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That's when we found out that she was/is ramabuncsh. We fortunally have a very big house. She is loving and also can jump on most places in the house. She loves to sit in my Dad's bed because he doesn't make his bed. She lives in my bedroom too. Mostly she is quite active and happy. <br />
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We had a cat before - a male cat. He came to me from a family who loved him, but his hair created problems. He was with us for a number of years. When he started to have problems, we went to the<br />
veterarian. She told us that he did not have long to live. We took him home for afew days. When he was struggling, we went to vet. She said she could give something for a few days so we could say goodbye. When we went back to the vet, she said it is time. She gave him something to put him to sleep and then something to let him out of his body. My Dad and I dug a place for him. <br />
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It was a while before I could think about another cat. But life goes on, and in came Jolie! She jumps on the six foot fence - and walks around on the fence! I have a harness for her so we can walk together. I have to laugh!Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-80363909585638395902013-12-26T10:32:00.002-08:002013-12-26T10:36:35.144-08:00SAMANTHA the CAT<br />
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It all began with Sam cat – that’s short for Samantha. Oh, I had had many animal companions before
her, beginning with a husky puppy who ran circles around me to protect me from
other dogs when I was six months old.
However, Sam was the first one to talk to me – at least that I was aware
of!<br />
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When Sam came to me I was newly separated and working on a
divorce. It was a painful time. My roommates and I discovered we had mice,
and I said I would really like to have a cat live with us. They agreed that would be okay. It seemed much preferable to traps (we’d have
to empty them and we also didn’t want the mice to have a painful death),
poisons (they’d poison us too!), or worse, the exterminator. </div>
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A friend told me about someone who had two litters of kittens
at her house. I went to visit and saw
this kitten eating. She didn’t want to
stop even long enough for me to pet her.
I wondered if she would be lonely.
The woman, who had to dispose of two litters of kittens, encouraged me
to take two kittens. I said I would try
it.</div>
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It didn’t work. They
both cried all night long. After two
sleepless nights, I took the other kitten back.
Sam then settled in nicely. She
slept on my feet and played with my them every time they moved under the
blanket.</div>
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To the end of her days, Sam always was hungry. Perhaps it came from being one of two
litters. The mothers had stolen each
others kittens back and forth. It must
have been confusing for the kittens, and I’d guess that not all of them got fed
every meal. Plus, I think they were
weaned too early.</div>
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I always fed her. She
always loved me. </div>
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We had a narrow balcony, and we put her litter box outside
under the roof overhang. The roof itself
was her playground.</div>
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So we got on for the first year of her life.</div>
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One of my early memories of Sam is her circumnavigation of
the bathtub when I was in it. It was an
old claw foot tub, so the rim wasn’t wide.
She nearly fell in a number of times.
Once she was playing with the water in the toilet and actually did fall
in. She couldn’t get back out over the
rim of the seat. I was laughing so loudly that one of my roommates came to
investigate. She berated me for not
getting Sam out and sent me after a towel.
Sam slinked away, studiously ignoring my laughter. She ignored me for three days afterward.</div>
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Sam did not digest her food well in the beginning – she
farted frequently. She also used her
claws a lot. She would be sitting on
someone’s lap and then fart and dig in her claws. I was always surprised. You might think I would get used to this
behavior, but no, I did not. I always
yelped, and Sam always leaped down from my lap.
Finally, she’d had enough of this and stopped using her claws. Gradually, as she matured, she stopped
farting as well.</div>
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When she was about a year and a half old, I moved. For the first time in her life she lived on
the first floor and had access to the outside.
She thought it was heaven. I
lived, with roommates again, in a suburban condo with acres of green belt
around it. Sam would disappear for hours
at a time. She always came home for
meals though.</div>
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Then she had a bladder infection. I didn’t notice it at first, probably because
she went outside instead of in a litter box.
One day I came home to find she had peed in the middle of the bed. We found a vet, and he diagnosed a bladder
infection. I gave her the little pills
faithfully, with some resistance on her part.
But the infection didn’t seem to get better. Back to the vet.</div>
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He gave me stronger pills, and warned me they tasted bad and
she’d not take them easily. I was
supposed to give them twice a day.
However, Sam would disappear for 24 hours at a time. She came back to eat, and I gave her a pill
and she disappeared again. Finally, I
read a book about a human who rescued a cat.
The author said that her gift to the cat was the rescue, while the cat’s
gift was helping her to see her patterns with her mother. Aha! </div>
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My mother was arriving soon.
Could this be it? I sat down with
Sam and explained that I would deal with my feelings about Mom, and she could
focus on being a cat and getting well.
Immediately she went to the bathroom sink and started drinking
water. And the bladder infection
disappeared.</div>
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The next time we moved, I had to choose between two group
houses. I didn’t know how to choose, so
I took Sam with me to each place. In the
first one, she sat down in the middle of the living room and howled. I had never seen her exhibit such behavior,
though the potential housemates did not believe me when I said so. I could see it in their eyes.</div>
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I was apprehensive heading toward the second house. Sam and I came in, and there was a group of
six people seated in a circle in the living room. I put Sam down. She calmly began an investigation of the
entire first floor (which would become her new home). She stood in front of the closet door and one
of my new housemates opened it for her to explore. Sam even checked out the wheat grass growing
in the dining room. When she finished,
she crawled up on a lap and purred.</div>
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We moved in the next day.</div>
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The owner was Starfire, my first teacher on a conscious
spiritual path. She lured me into doing
kundalini yoga by bringing me ginger lemon tea and singing me awake. I began to open and unravel the chains that
bound me to the past. As I did so, I went
through periods when my whole body pulsed and pounded with the energy, and the
roar inside my head was deafening.
Whenever I was most overwhelmed, Sam would come and curl up on my heart
and purr. She was always nearby when I
needed her, loving me.</div>
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It was also in that house that we had a discussion about her
hunting. She had a cat “window,” created
by the household handyman, Charles. One
day I heard a funny scratching sound behind my desk. Since my desk was a six foot solid oak door,
it was not easy to move. With Charles’
help, I investigated and found a scared little mouse, whom I promptly released
outdoors. After a couple more times of
this, I decided I must talk to her.
“Sam,” I said “You cannot bring mice inside.” </div>
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There were no more mice.
The next thing was birds. They
were dead, and deposited on my grandmother’s hand-braided rug. After a time or two of this, I knew it was
time for another conversation with Sam.
“Sam,” I said “I know you are bringing me a gift. I know this is in your nature. I appreciate the sentiment, and I love you
too. However, I cannot eat these dead
birds. And you have not been eating
them. You don’t need to eat them since I
feed you well. Please stop killing
birds. I will love you just as much. Thank you.”</div>
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There were no more birds – at least until the next house.</div>
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When we moved, I knew it was time. What I had learned and opened up was
enormous. Yet I needed to become my own
self, out of the shadow of my teacher.
We moved this time to a well-groomed brick house owned by a single
mom. Her daughter and a young man also
lived there. Just once did Sam bring in
a bird. It was still alive. Sam and I had another talk. This time I specified no other beings in the
house. And please don’t kill or torture
any living thing. So far as I am aware,
she never did kill or torture another animal or bird.</div>
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As I grew and learned, so did Sam. We were living in a ground level apartment,
and she had access to the outside through the "cat window" that
Charles had made for her years before. </div>
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We moved a number of times after that. Sam began to show signs of flea allergies. There were no easy solutions. When I found her bleeding from sore spots I
decided I had to keep her indoors. I
used one of the new integrated pest management flea bombs to clean the fleas
out of the apartment. Sam sat in the
window and looked out longingly. Finally
I saw her leap from the window of the first floor apartment – down about twelve
feet. She was fine, of course. Yet I felt her need to be able to go outside.</div>
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We finally moved out of the city to an 18 acre parcel. Sam spent most of the first months outdoors
in the tall grass. I let her out first
thing in the morning, and had to find her to bring her in when it was dark
again. There were other cats in the
household. When the one cat that was
older than Sam finally died in her sleep, Sam became the Queen of the house. She relished the role. </div>
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I was adopted by another kitten, Misty. Misty tried very hard to make friends with
Sam. Sam would have none of it, and made
clear that <i>she</i> was in charge. They co-existed quite peacefully though, and
almost became friends. Still, Sam no longer slept on my bed. A year later I was given a very large dog,
Shama. I talked to Sam about it first,
and she said it would be alright. Sam
had been my spirit companion, teaching and loving me, guiding me and pushing me
toward my destiny. With Shama, Sam felt
replaced. She had agreed to this, yet
had not realized it would be so painful to let go.</div>
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Sam started sleeping in the spare bedroom. </div>
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When my housemate moved, there was a big shuffle. I moved to a temporary trailer, and a month
later moved a mobile home onto the property for myself and my companions. Sam, now eighteen years old with joints
deformed with arthritis, did not like it at all. There were stairs to negotiate and she didn't
have her own room anymore. Even the
bedroom was up a few steps. I looked at
her and knew she was thinking about dying and was scared. For six months I did my best for her, knowing
that she was unhappy, and that I really could not give her what she wanted.</div>
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One day, my friend and landlord mentioned that Sam had been
coming back into the big house through the cat door and they had been pampering
her. Since Fran didn't mind, I didn't think much more about it. Then Sam spent the night there – in
"her" bedroom. The next night,
Sam was back in my home, and actually curled up in her old favorite spot near
my head. </div>
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I woke up crying, having had a very unusual dream. In the dream I was left behind, while my
beloved person moved with her dog and the other cat. I caught up with her, and then she moved
again and I could not find her. I felt
despair, terror, loneliness and anger. I
realized that Sam had "sent" me a dream, crying out all her
feelings. I felt guilty and
anguished. I told her how sorry I was to
have caused her so much pain. And that
day <b><i>I</i></b><i> </i>pampered her.</div>
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The following night, Sam went out the cat door. This was amazing, since it was about a foot
off the ground, and Sam found it a challenge even to walk on level ground. The first time, I brought her back
inside. The second time I moved the
stool from in front of the cat door so she couldn't (I thought) get out. Finally, the third time, I went outside to
talk to her and realized she would not stop.
I said goodbye and went back inside to cry myself to sleep. The next afternoon, I felt her leave her body
behind. </div>
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Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-18515839607007074792013-10-17T23:14:00.000-07:002013-10-17T23:14:15.005-07:00Nine Eleven<br />
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Don Manuel had said he would not come back to the U.S. again. Then 9/11 happened. Don Manuel brought healing to the site of 9/11. He had planned to work with people in NewYork, Chicago and Washington State. In New York and Chicago no one signed up for his teaching. In Washington State, though, there was a full house. Everyone I spoke to in this special session was absolutely certain they were meant to be there. <br />
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It actually started with an open forum with Don Manuel in Skagit County. One of my friends brought Auntie Vi Hilbert, who was revered in all of the tribes of Washington. I don't no what she saw in me, but she counted me as a grandaughter. After the presentation, My friend brought Auntie Vi to the the edge of the stage. Immediately Don Manuel beckoned to her to come up on the platform. Three of us took the post of guardians. Auntie Vi was speaking in her native language and Don Manuel in his native language. The most interesting thing to me was that they absolutely knew what the other was saying.<br />
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Finally the day had come for us to go to Orcas Island, where we would be for several days. Jose Luis translated for Don Manuel. It was apparent to all of us that Don Manuel had something big in mind, but we didn't know until the last day. We had a full room: about forty people. <br />
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The Incan way is to have a "Mesa" with sacred stones. It is energetic, and very personal. When I was in Peru, I gave a stone to Jose Luis. He gave me one of his. The Mesa shows who one is. Don Manuel looked at every single mesa. This was a major process because he had to look and understand what the stones in each mesa were about. I can't say what anyone else's mesa was about, but Don Manuel <b><i>knew</i></b> what I was about. I am certain that he knew everyone of us, especially the inner being.<br /><br />
Once he had checked out our mesa, something much more important happened. Don Manuel gave all of his knowledge, and even more, his energy, to every single person in the room. Once it was done, we made a collective into a whole body of light coming through all of us. We literally became one. I will never forget! <br />
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<br />Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-24902072707845659582013-10-15T23:44:00.001-07:002013-10-15T23:44:04.658-07:00<iframe frameborder="0" height="620" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://files.amnesty.org/slums-widget/" width="540"></iframe><br />
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I have never been even a little bit rich. However, I had a very good education, and I helped people for quite a long time. Education is one of the best ways to get out of <i style="font-weight: bold;">real poverty. </i> But I suspect that in many places in the world, there is no free education.<br />
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Do you remember the school in Africa that Oprah created? There is a reason for that, and a purpose. Africa is <b><i>still</i></b> struggling for food, medicine and <b><i>education</i></b>. Often there is no way to get anywhere except by walking. I walked to school when I was young, but my school wasn't but three streets away. There was one period of my young life that I couldn't walk to school. But we had a free bus ride.<br />
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How do the impoverished countries of the world become part of a real Global Community? Only if we make sure that education, good food, and necessary medicine. It is up to those of us who can contribute, even in small ways. Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-14369535735269905962013-10-14T18:20:00.002-07:002013-10-14T18:20:50.162-07:00After Machu Pichu<br />
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After Machu Pichu, we rode in the mountains on beasts that looked like ponies. They were very sturdy and they knew how to stay on the trail. Don Manuel took us to a high mountain plateau, where he checked each of us before we had a special ceremony. Some of his friends were with us. When he went past me, he said that I was a strong Shaman. We heard some of what Don Manuel wanted us to learn. <br />
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Later we took the train back to Urubamba. I was weary and got sick. Fortunately it wasn't serious. After a night and a day, I was fine to go. There was a body of water, part of the Pacific Ocean and we were told that there is a feud over the water rights. We went to a fancy hotel just a few yards away from the water - the first and only since that first day in Cusco. I went down to the pier, sat for a while, and took some of the water in a small bottle.<br />
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The next day we set out on a boat. We landed on a small community that was built of reeds. The people lived on fish, and more from the tourists. After a while we got back on the boat and went to an island. We were guests in different homes on the island, and we were tired and went to our beds as soon as we had dinner. <br />
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The Peruvians on the island were agricultural, and they also made clothing, pottery and just about all they needed. We got to know our hosts. They were very sweet and wonderful. <br />
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We had more experience of the Peruvian Spiritual way. Some of our group went up to the top of the mountain. Sadly, my lungs -- and my entire body was not up to it. We did go to an unusual store. Each family had a table of their handiwork for sale. <br />
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I had given a stone to Jose Luis. I had done that because the still small voice pushed me to it As we were getting ready to go back to the mainland, Jose Luis, and Mary's husband each gave me a stone. It was without words, but I knew indeed what this was.<br />
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<br />Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-75531656498340550812013-10-05T13:17:00.003-07:002013-10-06T14:54:56.337-07:00Machu PichuI was excited: we were on the way to Machu Pichu on the train. When we arrived we went to a hostel at the base of Machu Pichu. It was clear that all of us were excited to go to Machu Pichu. We had dinner and went to our beds. <br />
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The next morning we gathered to get on a bus going up to the mountain. The bus ride was up a narrow road. The driver seemed quite serene, and I suspect he had gone up and down many times. We did get to the top safely.<br />
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The Incas have what they call mesas. They might have taken it from the Catholic Mass, or it might be about the Rocks. The Mesa is mostly rocks. The rocks have power. There were guides. One of the interesting I realized is that those guides knew exactly what we were doing. At one point we were told to work with our mesas. There were "rooms" without a ceiling. A guide was with some visitors, and as soon as he saw what we were doing, he directed his tourist away from where we were. Another time I put my mesa on a huge and very special stone altar with a rope around to block so tourists wouldn't touch it. But when I put my mesa at the bottom of the altar, the guide who was explaining to tourists, he nodded. This happened a lot. Our group was special because we had been learning the ancient traditions of the Peruvians.<br />
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We also had an unusual night at another pleace: the Death Stone. This ceremony was led by Don Manuel. It wasn't about physical death, but a way to let go what each of us needed to. Our soul was sent out of our bodies and came back clear and pure.<br />
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Another day we went into a caves farther up the mountain. There were more ceremonies, and we each were were given all that our guide had of power and blessing. These words cannot convey what all of us felt, and what we received.<br />
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All of this took a couple of days.<br />
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Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-13270438121126349362013-10-01T11:25:00.000-07:002013-10-01T11:29:08.145-07:00Don Manuel<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #1326b6; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<span style="line-height: 1.4;"><br />Urubamba was a small place, and yet it was adequate. We had dinner, and then went to bed. </span></div>
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<br />
After breakfast the next morning, we sat in a room in a circle. Not long after, Don Manuel and a few others of the Inca arrived. What was most astonishing for me was that Don Manuel looked right into my eyes. It felt like eternity, but I suspect it was less than a minute. He made a connection that I could not yet fathom. I don't remember much of what he had to say, even though his words were translated. It was his presence that was so wonderful. It was the beginning of Don Manuel gently poking me, calling me to be all I could be.<br />
<br />
But I had a bad case of flu. We all spent some down time, and the next day we climbed on a six feet high rock Serpent, which we were told it was sacred. Snake is my ally, and I felt the connection. Next we went to a kind of Pyramid, except the layers made steps to climb. I decided to stay at ground level. Between the flu and the high mountain air skimpy on oxogen, I decided to stay with Mary and Don Manuel. I opened my "mesa". It is a kind of altar, but much more than that. I started to work with it, and Don Manuel said it wasn't quite right. He made some motions to show me what he wanted me to do. Immediately it felt so much better. With the next breath he said "We go". And go we did!<br />
<br />
Next was a time in the market plaza. The people were mostly quiet, and didn't look to me to be very prosperous. I bought something just to give something to the people. We then went into an actual building and I looked at one piece. I looked at Don Manuel. He was looking at me and shaking his head. Not the real deal is what I understood.<br />
<br />
Don Manuel laughed alot! I have a picture from a friend who was on the same journey. She caught him laughing.<br />
<br />
<br />
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-12179163981584324762013-09-19T13:47:00.004-07:002013-09-19T22:04:48.001-07:00Urubamba<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
A good friend set out to Machu Pichu yesterday morning. We had a conversation about Machu Pichu and his life before he left to Peru with his wife. He was adopted as a baby, and had recently found his birth family. He had also quit his job. He is in search of his highest self. All this brings up my journey.<br />
<br />
I went in a group to Peru some years ago. We did indeed go to Machu Pichu. <br />
<br />
I had found a teacher, who had so much impact on my life and my beingness. Mary was and still is a major teacher. I learned ways to heal: not just for myself, but for others.<br />
<br />
There was a piece of the teaching that we each had to go through. It opened so many doors I had shut in my inner being. In the process, I saw the Peruvian Master teacher, Don Manuel. He was a simple man in some ways, while on the shamanic level, he was incredible. He was also in my dreams, teaching! <br />
<br />
From then on it was amazing. I had very little money, but I put my down payment. Surely my guides would help me! Mary asked me if I wanted to get my down payment back. I said no. As we got closer to the time of departure, I began to wonder whether I was just being foolish. But no - there was a woman who had a scholarship fully paid. She was pregnant and there were complications, and her doctor said there was no way she could go. Mary called and told me I had a full scholarship! I got a passport, just barely on time.<br />
<br />
I packed my bags and went.<br />
<br />
The journey to get to Peru was long and I was tired and hungry. We arrived in Cusco, the major city of Peru. Our guide, Jose Luis, met us at the airport. We went by bus to a hotel, where we ate and rested.<br />
<br />
We were in Cusco for a few days, getting acclimated to the high altitude. Then we went to<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Urubamba</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><b style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Urupampa</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">(</span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quechua_languages" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Quechua languages">Quechua</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">"flat land of spiders"), a small town in</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Peru">Peru</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">, located near the</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urubamba_River" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Urubamba River">Urubamba River</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">under the snow-capped mountain</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%27iqun" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Ch'iqun">Ch'iqun</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">. Located one hour from</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cusco" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Cusco">Cusco</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">, Urubamba is the largest town in the</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Valley" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Sacred Valley">Sacred Valley</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">of the Incas. It is also located near a number of significant ruins of the</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_Empire" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Inca Empire">Inca Empire</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">, including</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Machu Picchu">Machu Picchu</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">. Tourists often come through the town on their way to visit these sites.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
TO BE CONTINUEDHummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-67299543259034231022013-09-08T15:40:00.000-07:002013-09-08T15:40:24.969-07:00Rare Encounters<br />
<br />
When I left my busy life in Olympia, the Capitol of Washington State, I moved to Whatcom County. My time was my own, and did read quite a lot. I had no idea it would be so satisfying. Even more, I learned a great deal about birds.<br />
<br />
One of the things I did was feed the birds. There was a Vine Maple right outside my window, and I put seeds out for the birds. I hadn't any previous experience, but I had a couple of books and watched what they did. There were lots of small birds: Chickadees, Robins, Swallows, Finches, Bluebirds, Starlings, Sparrow, and more. I enjoyed watching them. <br />
<br />
There were larger birds: Flicker, Cardinal, Crow and even Raven. But the most interesting was a large bird, looking straight at me. It was longer than a yard long, more than the width of the Vine Maple. I had no idea what to do. But I looked at my bird books, and talked to an expert. <br />
<br />
Cormorant! Usually Cormorants stay close to the sea. Where I was living was about five miles from the sea. That's not a difficult flight for this bird, but this young one was confused. There wasn't really anything I could do: I couldn't even give food and water. Eventually the bird flew.<br />
<br />
Later, in a different and bigger house, I continued to feed the birds through the winter. I saw many different species. I have two bird feeders through the winter. One is for the smaller birds, and another somewhat bigger, and easier for the larger birds. I also put out suet. The most interesting was a Northern Harrier, sitting on our roof. I went to my bird book, and found this is a rare bird. It didn't come close to the bird feeders. This one couldn't have easily gotten food out of the feeders anyway, and it flew fairly quickly.<br />
<br />
There is a dead tree in the front of the house, which I covered with Hollyhock, a leafy vine and two different Clematis. It also has a hole into the center of the tree, just big enough for two Flickers. And so our tree became a Flicker nursery.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite bird siting was when I was driving South and saw a huge Snowy Owl going the other way. Snowy owls sometimes come South in the winter, but this was nearly summer. It was about five feet away, and the bird wasn't higher than where I was in my car. I can see it still! It was beautiful.Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-79438588742817187492013-08-08T18:01:00.001-07:002013-09-04T08:52:46.150-07:00Computer Wizardry<br />
<br />
<br />
I remember my first awareness of computers. It was 1967. I was 18 years old, and at school at the University of Iowa. The computer took up the space of a whole two story building. <br />
<br />
Now, 46 years later, everywhere there are smart phones. And today, I read a prediction that tablets will be the computer of choice. And even my humble cell phone is a kind of computer able to send messages and browse the web.<br />
<br />
I also remember the first time I saw a car phone in 1980. A friend was a doctor and needed to be available even when driving. His phone was huge compared to my cell that fits in my relatively small hands. The doctor's wife had a Macintosh, but I didn't have the money to buy one. <br />
<br />
It turned out that my first computer was a MAC, and I loved it. I had it for quite a long time - about 15 years. <br />
<br />
I searched for a place to take it, and found a group who would take computers for people who really needed them but had no money to buy one. I remember that they had posted what they would or wouldn't take and I figured they wouldn't take mine. But no . . . they were excited to get it even though it needed a lot of attention to spiff it up. <br />
<br />
In 2000 I went to work in Olympia, the Capitol of Washington State. We had much faster computers, and people who could fix them.<br />
<br />
Most recently I bought an HP all in one -- there is no tower. I'd love to have a MAC, but I don't have that budget. I'd also like to have a tablet. Maybe soon.<br />
<br />
I wonder what will come next!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-67236275525788474332013-06-24T15:40:00.001-07:002013-06-24T19:41:46.068-07:00The Way Home<br />
<h2>
</h2>
My Cousin Darlene and my Mom took me to Milwaukee to catch my flight home. We all got on the plane. But ... there were some problems. The plane needed some help - a LOT of help. The plane was also going right through Houston shortly after the tornados went ripping through near enough to be another caution for me. They made all of us get off the plane. I had noticed the woman seated across the isle from me was crying. <br />
<br />
We waited, and waited, and waited. The woman who had been crying told us that her father was dying and she wanted to see him before he died. Still crying she asked to find the fastest way to get to Southern California. That took a while. There was a woman next to me that said we needed to pray. There was another woman on the other side of me. We all prayed softly. My sense of it was that we were enveloped with angels. We stayed with her while the airline people searched for the fastest and best way for this woman. She did get a plane to Southern California.<br />
<br />
Then the plane was finally ready. I had to make a choice. I really didn't want to go to Houston. Beside the tornados, my Dad would have to meet me at SeaTac at midnight, and probably longer because of the two hours of repairs. So I decided to get a different plane. I found a man from the airline, and asked him if I could go straight across the country. <br />
<br />
This wonderful man gave me a first class seat going from O'Hare directly to SeaTac. And since I would have stay overnight, he gave me vouchers for free for a place to stay, and for dinner and breakfast, and the Coach to take me to O'Hare. My Dad didn't have to travel late at night. <br />
<br />
The very best was that I had my first time in first class: wonderful food and wine, and it was <em>really</em> comfortable. The man sitting next to me told me how to open up the table when our food was served. <br />
<br />
When I got to SeaTac, I found my luggage very easily. And my Dad's car was just outside the door. <br />
<br />
The last miracle was that we drove home the before the bridge on I-5 collapsed! <br />
<br />
Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-16443400563896250452013-06-20T14:55:00.002-07:002013-06-20T14:55:50.674-07:00Cousins, Aunts and Uncles<br />
<br />
<br />
My Mother lives in Wisconsin, while I live in Washington State with my Dad. So I go to Wisconsin most years. Both Mom and Dad came from large families. Eighty some years ago there was no birth control and children worked on the farms. Thus, although I am an only child, I have lots of aunts, uncles and many cousins.<br />
<br />
My most recent visit was in May of this year. I went with a purpose -- to visit as many family members as I could. I got my wish. Of course I spent a lot of time with my Mom, but spent time with family I hadn't seen for a long time. <br />
<br />
My Mother's eldest sister Lorraine is still alive at 94 and clear as a bell. She uses a walker, but otherwise she seems more like 84. While I was talking with her she said "I have only six years to get to 100"!<br />
<br />
Lorraine has a daughter, Darlene, and four sons. The boys used to tease me and my cousin Margaret. For example, they told her she had to pump the cows tail to get milk. She almost got kicked. One of the boys died in a car crash a few years back. While I was visiting with Lorraine, her youngest son, Gene arrived. I hadn't known that I would get to see him. It had been decades since I had any contact. Later that day we had dinner with two of Darlene's brothers and their wives. <br />
<br />
We spent most of a day with another of her brothers, Lyle, the eldest, and slept at their house. That was interesting because as a child, I rarely even saw him because he was was so much older. His wife, Ella Mae is a really wonderful woman. She has hearing problems, and yet she communicates very well.<br />
<br />
One thing I really liked as we travelled around, was the beauty of green rolling hills and valleys. Ina way it reminded me of Whatcom County, in Washington State, where I live. Both are green, and both have hills and valleys. Yet Wisconsin doesn't have actual mountains as we have in Washington. <br />
<br />
Another of the places we went to was Madison Wisconsin. My Aunt Yvonne lives there. When we arrived at her door, she scolded me for not having visited for too long. She said, "I haven't seen you since 1986!" Then she smiled.<br />
<br />
Then there was church, and another cousin from a different family. He was leading a session on money issues for the church. He was as surprised as I was! A couple of days later he came to Mom's apartment and spent some time with Mom, another aunt, and me. <br />
<br />
Every thing comes to an end, and Darlene and my Mom took me to the airport in Milwaukee. I checked my bag and then the fun and challenges began. <br />
<br />
See you in the next chapter!<br />
Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-65315680359821735912013-05-29T08:44:00.001-07:002013-06-05T19:52:56.193-07:00The Beauty of Whatcom County<br />
<br />
<br />
I have lived in a variety of places: born in Anchorage, grew up in Chicago and Iowa, law school in St. Louis, and then to Seattle. More recently I moved to Whatcom County. It is my favorite place to love.<br />
<br />
Eastern Whatcom County has wonderful mountains around three sides: South, East, and North. One of those mountains is Mount Baker. It is majestic and beautiful. The native people of this area, the Lummis, call it Komo Kulshan. There is a wonderful story about Komo Kulshan, of love and envy: <a href="http://home.online.no/~arnfin/native/lore/leg268.htm">http://home.online.no/~arnfin/native/lore/leg268.htm</a><br />
<br />
A long journey south of them stands their mother, Clear Sky. <br />
You know her as Mount Rainier, (seen in the 'Paramount' pictures at the end of movies, in the cinema!)<br />
<br />
There was a woman named Fair Maiden, who planted seeds and roots. The seeds she planted there grew and spread, and that's why the lower slopes bloom with flowers of every color. Often on a clear day or night, the mountain dresses in sparkling white and looks with longing at Komo Kulshan and the mountain children near him. <br />
<br />
What I love most about Whatcom County is the abundance of green: trees, farms, blooming flowers and tall cedar. It always stirs my heart.Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-54203418978276338352013-05-12T22:25:00.002-07:002013-05-29T08:47:33.804-07:00 Whatcom County and Komo Kulshan<br />
<br />
I love the place where I live: in Whatcom County. The mountains divide <br />
the western county from the east. And in the west is the bay. There is lush green almost everywhere in Whatcom County. When I drive through the county, I cannot help soaking up the beauty of the trees on the rolling hills. <br />
<br />
One of the most prominent part of the scenery is Mount Baker. It is the tallest of the mountains in our area. There is always some snow on Mount Baker, although in the summer there isn't much. The volume of snow and ice on Mount Baker is greater than that of all the other Cascades volcanoes (except Rainier) combined. <br />
<br />
Mount Baker, along with Shuksan, have a special place in the lore of the native people of this area. also known as <b>Koma Kulshan</b> or simply <b>Kulshan</b>, is an active volcano.<br />
<br />
Komo Kulshan, a very tall and handsome young man, had two wives, as was the custom of his tribe. One was named Clear Sky; the other, Fair Maiden. As you might guess, there was quarreling. Eventually Clear Sky packed her bags and left.<br />
<br />
Fair Maiden became an island, and Kulshan, left with his children in the mountains of the Northwest coastal range, kept stretching upward, trying to see his wives. So did his children. <br />
<br />
The Three of them grew taller and taller and became high mountains. One is Shuksan, a little east of Kulshan and almost as tall. Some people say the others are Twin Sisters, a little west and south of Kulshan. <br />
<br />
A long journey south of them stands their mother, Clear Sky. <br />
You know her as <strong>Mount Rainier</strong>, (seen in the 'Paramount' pictures at the end of movies, in the cinema! ) <br />
<br />
The seeds and roots she planted there grew and spread, and that's why the lower slopes bloom with flowers of every color. Often on a clear day or night, the mountain dresses in sparkling white and looks with longing at Komo Kulshan and the mountain children near him. Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-83869520256165327822012-11-17T12:27:00.002-08:002012-11-17T12:27:32.684-08:00Go to the Birds!Why Birds? I have had extraordinary experiences with birds. <br />
<br />
For example, a few years back I was feeding the birds around and in a large bush in front of my living room window. I had been in the kitchen, and when I went to the living room, I saw a bird with a very long tail. It was sidewise to me, and then it turned directly towards me. I caught the feeling of this bird, wanting food but unable to get at it because of it's long tail. <br />
<br />
I watched, and waited, and finally it did find a way to get out of the bush. <br />
<br />
In the aftermath, it felt important to see what kind of bird this was. With help from an ornithologist (a bird specialist) I discovered this was a juvenile cormorant. Now a cormorant is almost always found on the edge of the sea. It eats fish. So the food I had for the usual bird wouldn't have worked anyway. I wonder still whether that juvenile bird found his way to the bay off the Pacific Ocean some few miles away.<br />
<br />
More recently, I saw a juvenile Northern Harrier Hawk. It was on the roof in a place that it was visible from where I was standing. At first I didn't see much of it, and the back feathers were mostly grey, so I didn't think of it as unusual. And then it flew. The underbelly was mostly gold and some grey, and as the bird flew, I saw a round patch of white just at the base of the body. I had never seen anything like it. So I got out my Audubon book. Nothing like it there. But I wouldn't give up -- I went to Sibley, and quite quickly identified this beauty. Sibley says the juvenile's gold/orange fades to whitish by spring. Sibley also said the white rump is always obvious. I also found that it is a rare occurrence, even though the Northern Harrier is widespread.<br />
<br />
Finally, a hawk has been taking refuge in the trees, near to the suet. I am not sure what kind of hawk, though I suspect it is a Swainson's Hawk. My guess is that there is actually a pair, nesting in the Rhododendron. Last year there was a pair of Starlings nesting in a large, 10 foot stump. There was a hole just enough for the birds to get into it. <br />
<br />
There are lots of usual birds: right at this moment there is a flicker feeding at the suet cage. There are Finches, Juncos, Chickadees, Sparrows and a Stellar Jay. I love them all!<br />
Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-39671600037162731282012-11-08T10:30:00.003-08:002012-11-08T10:40:39.006-08:00The Day AfterI had an interesting phone call yesterday evening - a young woman wanted to convince me to vote for same sex marriage. It was late in the evening, but she was determined. I told her I had voted a week before, and that I did vote yes on same sex marriage. I told her I think it is essential. It is really way past time.<br />
<br />
I have friends who are devoted to their partners. Two women friends have been together for more than twenty years. They created their own wedding in a park. I was in the wedding party. The brides were ecstatic. Some years later they went to Canada: July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage.<br />
<br />
My friends had moved to California, and then the same sex marriage became law there. The period of granting such licenses began on June 16, 2008, due to a ruling by the Supreme Court of California based on an equal protection argument and ended November 5, 2008, due to the passage of Proposition 8, an amendment to the California Constitution that limited marriages to those between one man and one woman.<br />
<br />
Before the passage of Proposition 8, California was only the second state to allow same-sex marriage. Marriages granted by any civil entity, foreign or otherwise, anytime before the passage of Proposition 8 remained legally recognized and retained full state-level marriage rights. Subsequent state legislation established that any same-sex marriages granted by other jurisdictions after the passage of Proposition 8 retain the state rights that come with marriage, except for the legal term "marriage" itself.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Perry v. Brown</em></strong> (formerly <i><b>Perry v. Schwarzenegger</b></i>), 671 F.3d 1052, is a case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on February 7, 2012. A three judge appellate panel of the Ninth Circuit held that California's Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution state constitution to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples, was declared unconstitutional. <br />
<br />
This was an historic decision, which opened the way for states to allow same sex marriages. For me it was important because of my friends, male and female, who are in a same sex union. The two women I have mentioned went through everything they could in order to be legally married. There are many challenges for same sex partners who do not have a legal right as married partners. One of the most basic is part of the usual marriage verbiage: in sickness and in health. I know some same sex partners who were not even allowed in the hospital room when their beloved were sick or even dying. Think about it -- it is heartbreaking.<br />
<br />
So YES, it is essential!Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-56928634727512553462012-01-16T21:41:00.000-08:002012-01-16T21:50:37.644-08:00PerelandraI first heard of Perelandra in the mid 80's, when I visited a friend. I
wasn't up to par, and she suggested I do a "coning". <b>MAP</b> is the name of program: <b>M</b>edical <b>A</b>ssistance <b>P</b>rogram, and a coning is a connection with nature: the devas and Pan; and with the human side: the White Brotherhood, and with my own soul. <span class="st">The Great <i>White Brotherhood</i> is a spiritual order, an organization of Ascended Masters united for the highest purposes of God on Earth.</span><br />
<br />
My friend had me read
the process, and I settled in comfortably on the sofa. Immediately when I asked, I saw symbols for my
White Brotherhood personal MAP team and my team for helping others. The symbols for my teams were so perfect
for me: a bear for my personal work, and a momma bear herding her babies
for working with others. I was born in Alaska, and bear has been my
healing ally, with me all my life.<br />
<br />
Later, the same friend was learning to work with flower
essences, and I was a guinea pig. She would put together a flower
essence combination for me, and I would take it for a couple of weeks. Often when I came back to
tell what happened, I thought nothing had happened. Then she would read
what I had described that I wanted to work on. And the issue had been
resolved, usually with such ease I hardly noticed that anything was
different. <br />
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An intuitive friend told me I would make my own essences, and I
scoffed at that. Then, in 1992, I moved to the country. There was
large back yard, and lots of well composted horse manure. My housemate
had the garden workbook, but wasn't using it and gave it to me. So I
made a garden with the help of the devas and nature spirits. When
flowers filled the garden, I thought it was a great idea to make
essences. One day when I was in the garden making essences, I called the friend who foretold that I would make essences.<br />
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A few years later a friend gave me the entire sets of Perelandra
essences, along with the books! And, you guessed it, off I went again
to work with conings of all kinds. I have used conings for myself and for others. I also use a coning to do almost anything difficult, important, or new to me. It always makes anything easier.<br />
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I am SOOO grateful: for Perelandra, and for all the people who helped along the way. I suggest you check it out at <cite>www.<b>perelandra</b>-<b>ltd.com</b>/</cite><br />
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<br />Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-61283834936004617152011-12-15T14:29:00.000-08:002011-12-26T12:26:09.926-08:00Hair! My grandmothers were such a wonderful, profound part of my life. They always loved me, and they taught me a lot. But some of our time together was very special. I remember one summer when I was about three years old my Mom was busy with something, and hadn't the money or space to hire a full-time nanny. So I spent half the the summer with each of my grandmothers.<br />
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My Dad's Mother was in Wisconsin Dells. Most of my cousins were living in this summer resort. I was in the middle of the cousins age-wise. Grandma Kimball, my Dad's Mom, would pick berries and I ate as many as I
could. In later years I would pick along side her. She picked at least
twice as fast as I was, even when I was in college.<br />
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I remember that my Mom called her Mom "Ma" but my Mom wouldn't allow me to call <i>her</i> Ma! Gramma Long lived in a very small village, and there was an outhouse. It was a novelty, but not my favorite thing to use. She cooked over a wood-fired iron cook-stove. And I can remember her skill. She made donuts, which I had never had before that time. There was a dog, and lots of cats.<br />
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My most vivid memory of that summer is about my hair. I have lots of very thick, curly hair, even today. Now, of course, it is short. But until late in grade school it was mostly long. My Mother would put it into ringlets after the weekly hair washing (I hated it!). And each morning she brushed and tamed my hair into shape. But the Grandmothers hadn't the practice that Mom had. I don't remember how well, or not, they were at taming my mane. But I am sure it was a challenge!<br />
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I had gone to camp the summer I was two. My parents were teaching, and I was with a group of children of various ages. The counselors were <i>very </i>strict about keeping the children together, and not allowing them to sit with parents. We had meetings in a large tent, and I could see my Mom and Dad. I escaped and went to sit with them, but someone came and got me. I don't think I dared cry.<br />
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So . . . that week my hair went unbrushed. My Dad tells me that he saw me with the group, my hair wild and tangled. I don't remember what it took for Mom to get it back to shining orderly curls.<br />
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I also had an "Auntie." Auntie Anna Esau wasn't really an aunt. Though she was almost old enough to be a granny, she never married. We had a wonderful friendship. Anna adored me and I adored her. Often people would stop and comment on how beautiful my hair was. At the time I was less than five years old. I didn't know better when I went up to passersby and said, "Isn't my hair pretty?" And, of course, they said yes, probably with a chuckle. My Mom was mortified, but Anna just laughed and said, "She's just telling the truth!"<br />
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These days, I have a wonderful friend who has hair a lot like mine. He has a hair salon, and tames the curls, now short, and makes them beautiful. Thank you Ward Wicklund!<br />
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<br />Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-60074986027447337322011-12-05T13:45:00.001-08:002011-12-05T14:42:32.747-08:00The Music of IrelandToday I listened to the "Irish Priests", one of my Christmas favorites, even though it isn't really Christmas music. Dad heard the music and asked for the CD to listen to, and we got into a discussion about Ireland. I think my Irish blood is about 4 or 5 generations back. My Irish ancestors were part of the Long clan. My Grandfather on my Mother's side was Vern Long.<br />
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My Dad has been to Ireland and I haven't - yet. He learned quite a bit about Ireland however, when he went there. He told me about a book: How the Irish Saved Civilization, by Thomas Cahill. Cahill argues a case for the Irish people's critical role in preserving Western Civilization from utter destruction by the Huns and the Germanic tribes. The Wikipedia entry is skeptical. I would guess that there were many factors in European civilization, including the Irish monks toiling away at copying books. <br />
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We do know that Ireland has a long history of avoiding death as a penalty in any case. We also know that St. Patrick brought Christianity, or to be precise, Catholicism, to Ireland. Whether he got rid of the snakes is a very different question! We also know that the Irish have music in their blood. My Grandpa loved to sing, and it was one of the few ways of entertainment on the farm when my Mother was growing up. Not so long before my Grandpa Long went to the nursing home, I went to where he lived, along with my Mother and her husband. We all sang, even Grandpa. It was quite wonderful.<br />
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No one can dispute the music and dancing of Ireland. Both music and dance have been important for me as far back as I can remember. I can't dance anymore in my arthritic body, but I can sing, and I do! I love to hear beautiful music, especially if it is meaningful and/or fun. And someday soon, I will visit Ireland in person.Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-2634569420700295522011-11-26T19:12:00.001-08:002011-11-28T17:51:26.282-08:00Protest in the SixtiesIt has been quite a while since I was in college in the University of Iowa. It was in the second half of the sixties, and into the beginning of the seventies. Viet Nam was a constant nagging in the background, and at times burst into the open. Dick Gregory talked to a huge auditorium full of students. At the time he was on a hunger strike. There were peaceful protests on the grounds of the University, and at one point a temporary building was burned. <br />
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I was in my junior year when Kent State burst into riots. The University decided that anyone who chose could take their grade as it stood, and go home. I took the option, but I didn't have to go home because I lived off campus.<br />
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I was living in a community supported by the Lutheran Church. We were a fairly large group, and we had adult mentors. We discussed what we wanted to achieve: to tell adults why we were against the Viet Nam War. As we had a church supporting us, we went to as many churches as we could, talking about what mattered to us. We simply did not believe war was the way to peace.<br />
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The University brought in the National Guards. I remember taking a walk and passing a place where there were Guardsmen with rifles in hand. I didn't really believe the Guardsman would shoot me just walking by, but it was definitely scary. Spooky! The issues are not exactly the same, yet there are similarities. The young people today are no longer in a lottery, and don't have to go to war against their will. But there is so much damage to those who choose to go into the military - not just physical. In fact, the mental and emotional damage can be even more difficult. <br />
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My prayer is that we all will come to terms and stop killing people. May we learn that we are all part of the whole, and we must learn to respect every being on the planet.Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-29683239314884241812011-11-17T12:15:00.001-08:002011-11-21T17:06:43.402-08:00Upside Down Cake"Let them eat cake!" This phrase is usually attributed to Marie Antoinette, even though there is no evidence for her having said this. Yet whoever first said this . . . the attitude has survived much too long. We are seeing it once again in the United States. The big corporations once had legal boundaries, and once upon a time we had currency backed up with gold. The world we live in is cake turned upside down and messy.<br />
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There was a time when employers had a kind of unwritten contract with employees even if there was no written contract. Employees often spent their entire working life in one corporation or company. Now I don't necessarily advocate having the same job forever. Yet, there is a very different expectation in much of corporate America these days. Too often profits are the <i><b>only </b></i>goal.<br />
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Now the corporations are legally allowed to use their monetary clout in candidate elections. Two years ago, the Supreme Court overruled two important precedents about the First Amendment rights of corporations. A bitterly divided Supreme Court ruled that the government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections.We haven't had a presidential election since then, but we will see what happens in the months to come.<br />
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I remember reading a speech by Adlai Stevenson, which suggested that if we had free trade around the entire globe, we would have no more war. He was wrong, as we now know. We arguably have more war on this planet than either Stevenson or Eisenhower could have imagined. Sadly, we do not know how to end it. Much of it is about religion, but not all. Some is about greed, and some is just about having enough to survive.<br />
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In the United States these days, too many people are hungry. If you go to the the social services nearest you, I would bet that the room is full and people are waiting to see if they can get food, medical care and so on. The United States is on the same path that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette took in the 18th century. We no longer use the guillotine, but I wonder what will happen when the peasants get really hungry?<br />
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<br />Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551947963963231588.post-54400398519056894832011-10-27T19:49:00.000-07:002011-10-28T16:28:17.505-07:00Beauty All AroundThis past weekend I had the opportunity to go up into the Frasier River Valley in Canada. It was spectacular! The mountains impressed me the most. At times the tops of the mountains were shrouded in mist, and they seemed to be floating high above everything. Then the mists dissolved in the sunlight, and the mountains showed their greenery. It felt a bit like heaven. The foliage was equal to the setting, with trees painted gold and bronze in the midst of green Pine trees and bright red Sumac. And of course the Frasier River was a constant companion.<br />
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We stopped for lunch and it was very tasty!<br />
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As we wound our way up the valley to our friends' house, we were high above the river. We had been warned about the big slide, and it was a BIG slide. We had one lane for about 1/4 mile, and it was winding road so we couldn't see the end.. Another car came through from the other side, which was a bit scary. But we managed to squeeze past each other. I must say our driver was VERY good.<br />
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Once we got to our friends' house, we had a wonderful reunion and party, with excellent food. Some of the guests I hadn't seen for some years. That was a blessing. Our hosts' home is just up the hill from the river, and it was lovely and peaceful. The dog was happy to have so much attention. She is quite sweet.<br />
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On the way home, I took lots of pictures. It appeared to me to be even more beautiful than when we were going up the valley. It was the release of tension that I needed. Someday , I hope to go back up the Valley.<br />
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<br />Hummingbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12847130912847415493noreply@blogger.com0