Manic Monday Positive thoughts and quotes

 For Monday can be worse than a nightmare but maybe better than a dream.  For today can be as bright as the moon or as dark as the sky but either way other things in your life are at play.  Sleep is very important to a your body, so on the weekends many of us love to sleep in.  Yet when Monday comes back around we wish to pull the covers over our head and sleep a little longer before we get up and back to work. 

WHY?  

Everybody needs sleep because it can help boost their physical, mental and emotional health. It can make you feel better and more able to tackle the day.
Enjoy the beauty of starting a new week.
 Feel blessed that you can live in the day and not in a place where shadows lay.
Take a chance on enjoying all you can,
Feel free to explore this great land.
No one was made to be alone,
no one was given a guide book was given
So do more and have others be shown.
Who you are and what your about,
Love life for every moment,
From inside and out!
- Shelley "Silverwine" Sprecher - Hitch

   I dream, therefore I exist.
-J. August Strindberg

Sleep is the balm for hurt minds,
natures great second course.
- William Shakespeare

Yet it is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.
-Virginia Woolf

Now Allah has created the dream not only as a means of guidance and instruction, I refer to the dream, bu he has made it a window on the World of the Unseen.
- Mohammed, the Prophet

 Dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy.
-Sigmund Freud

 Dreams are illustrations . . . from the book your soul is writing about you.
-Marsha Norman

The dream was always running ahead of me.  To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.
- Anais Nin 

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Lord, teach me, as Your faithful follower, how;
To have fun without foolish acts,
To be cheerful without vanity,
To have self-respect without pride,
To be faithful without illusion,
To be relaxed without laziness,
To be serious without gloom,
To be friendly and not fickle,
To be sunny without the fluff.

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Inspired by Make Me an Instrument of Peace - (prayer of Francis of Assisi)

Make me an instrument of your piece
where there is hatred,
May You bring love into my heart;
Where there is wrong,
May You bring honesty to my soul;
Let the truth be known.

Help bring The Spirit back into my life,
So that I can be shown forgiveness of my past;
Where life has the errors in what is right,
May You bring truth to the situation front and center to everyones eyes;
Where there is doubt in my mind,
May You help me regain my faith, direction and path;
When I feel helpless with despair,
Help me regain hope that life will be better;
Where there are the shadows,
Bring to my eye Your light;
Where there is sadness in my heart,
Please fill it with an abundance of joy.

Lord, grant that I can seek to comfort others,
For when I do, that comfort will  make me feel;
For to understand Your love,
may be what I need to be understood;
To love, as to be loved.

For when I die knowing that You love me,
I know that I will be awakened into eternal life;
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace,
For your mercy and love is ever lasting.
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See You more clearly,
Love You more dearly,
Follow more nearly,
My Savior and Guide.
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Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my live, my all!
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References:
pictures by Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/photos/?image_type=&cat=&min_width=&min_height=&q=images&order=

Colors - what can change can be amazing!

What you see can change everyday but did you ever think that maybe you can push the boundaries of colors to help you as well. Take your own light within you and shine bright.  Many days I pick my clothes out to coordinate colors to a day so I decide quicker what to where.  Having basic black pants or black skirt can increase your wardrobe when you then combine it with different colors each day.  Bringing color to your world can really increase your spirits as well as the strength that can come from them.  Try it and enjoy the freedom of change without breaking the bank or staying stuck wearing the same old outfits day after day.

Let your light of color shine on in

White can help to purify your thoughts and to help you connect with your spirit guides.  White can help to bring you the angelic protection from that of dark work against or dark thoughts you may feel. This can also be the color of a new page to begin on or that of the emptiness of self.  Look into your life and meditate to see where your soul is to determine how white could define for you.  If Monday starts your week, than maybe a clean slate on the first day of the week is perfect.

Wear the color white on Monday, moon day.

Red or pink can help attract friends, bring more love into your life, as well as a communication bridge.  When we bring love into our hearts we honor our self to strengthen our desire and drive to keep fighting for what we want in life.  Many people may feel red is that of anger but when red is used for good it can really relieve the inner self.  Thinking beautiful hues of red can help to relieve depression and enhance sexuality and passion for what you want to gain in life.

Wear the color red or pink on Tuesday.

Purple, Indigo or lavender is wonderful to help to relax and distress your self.  These are calming colors that can help guide you through psychic workings and spiritual development.  These colors can help promote peaceful sleep like that of the herb lavender.  Think happy  thoughts.

Wear the color purple, indigo or lavender on Wednesday.

Wear blue to bring you peace, banish evil from your self, heal the body like that of water to your soul.  Think of blue to relax and focus your energies in a more positive way.  Blue can also help with the protection of others, the barrier of blue seas.

Wear the color blue or blue hues on Thursdays.

Green can help bring luck to you day.  Since money is the color or green you can attract money while meditating on this color.  Green can help with the healing of emotions as well as being a good color to help your children grow.

Wear the color green on Friday.

Wear black to ward of negativity, remove hexes, protect against evil works or the truth behind your magical working can increase.

Wear the color black on Saturday.

Gold can help to strengthen your thought power, guide your intuition help to communicate with your angel better

While yellow is pretty close to gold, it can spark intuition, bring understanding to a persons work with karmic strength of self. When yellow is meditated on it can help bring happiness to ones life as well as learning the wisdom of the old ways or traditions within ones family.

Wear amber for enhancing your sexual drive, communicating with spirits, develop your psychic side and allow you to go deeper into a meditative state.

Wear the color yellow or gold on Sunday.  A sun day!

The color of gray is that of the unconsciousness or the shadow that we think we can become of our self. 

The color brown is that to ground us.  This can help to get back down to earth and what we need to think of doing to better our self.

For little extra fun with color I thought I would pull out a few more ideas for you.  The home is where you are a good amount of your time.  It should be a place to bring you peace.  Developing your own personal style is something you can enjoy and try to bring more positive energy to your life.  So why not give it a try.  Add a little more color to those white walls.

Feng Shui represents the manner of electromagnetic spectrum of Chinese science developed by the Western science culture.  It can help to define a persons surroundings.  The line s of chi used with color can help to increase the invisible lines of energy to flow correctly. The use of feng shui use of color in the best placement can help energy flow from the inside out better and to enhance the sense for an individual.  Not that you need to repaint your whole house.  Just think about how color can affect you.

When you look at your home in Feng Shui frame of mind there is a need to develop homes or business with a positive vibration.  That can be done while using these color combinations:

Red and green are good for the south sides of the area.  This is the fire area of the building
Black, blue and white is good for the north side of the homes.  This is the water area of the building.
East and southeast use the colors of green and blue. This is the wood area of the building
West/northwest use yellow and white. This is the metal area of the building structure.



References:

Abrev, Ileana. White Spells: Magic for Love, Money & Happiness. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2001. Print.

Fiebig, Johannes. The Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2014. Print. 

 

Too, Lillian. Total Feng Shui: Bring Health, Wealth, and Happiness into Your Life. San Francisco: Chronicle, 2005. Print.

Body rethink about - You are beautiful!

Images

thinner me 155

     Everyday you see images that can make you go "Wow, I want to look like that".  Yet, do we really know the real story behind the pictures.  Body dissatisfation is not a new concept.  There are many people who have a different idea of beauty.  This is common in both westernized and non-westernized cultures.  My son in kindergarten can home to tell me that one of his new friends were on a diet because they thought they were fat.  It was such a sad thought to be coming from someone so  young who is growing and changing daily.  Where do these thoughts come from?  Why can't we be happy with oneself?

heavier me 185

the other thinner me 135

Even for myself, I always felt that I was too heavy.  No matter what weight I was or what size I had been I always felt I was never good enough.  The term used for feeling this was is Body Dissatisfaction (BD) and it is a pretty big problem.  The way you feel can affect your mental state as well.  There is a range of adverse psychosocial outcomes, including depression,
eating disorders, obesity, and suicidal ideas and attempted suicide.  There is that of cultural values/norms regarding appearance that can typically be measured in terms of an individual’s perceptions of oneself and that of the pressures of society to meet the external standard of appearance.

 While individual-level perceptions are meaningful because they are likely to indicate the pass on of sociocultural values and disaggregating these group level ideals to the individual level has several serious implications. There are individuals within groups that tend to be more similar to each other than to out-group members in terms of their appearance-related experiences, values, and behaviors.

We cannot guarantee what we will be like when we grow up but genetics can play a big factor for our body type.  Studies show that the way western society view of a persons body plays a big factor in how one feel they look.  The way the body is shown in western society is very unrealistic and needs to be put out there as wrong.  In recent years there are some magazines breaking the mold and using bigger model sizes.  Good for them!

It doesn't matter the size of your body what matters is the size of your heart and mind.

Get ready for the cold

Basil

Plant it now 

Rosemary

During the summer there is so much to do outside in the sunshine.  The grass is green, the flowers are blooming and we work, for some, to have the perfect yard.  Why should it stop when the weather gets colder.  Having fresh herbs in the house during the winter time can bring spice into your life and can help keep you in a positive frame of mind.

Right now, you may get herbs at a reduce price at your local gardening center.  Last fall I went found some great deals on many of the herbs that we can use every day.  There can also be some of the pots, potting mixes and gravel or pea pebbles (for drainage in some of the closed bottomed containers).  Take a trip to the resale shops as well for the nicer containers to decorate your home with a little more flare.  It can be fun and very fulfilling to enjoy that little bit of green around your home.

For many years in human history plants have been very helpful not just for spices but certain types of homeopathic remedies to help the body heal from certain ailments.  Many medications that we now use in today's medicine had some association with a plant based product.  Many herbs are seed producing plants that die at the end of their growing season.  They can be used for their scents to help ailments and/or medicinal qualities within their leaves but how ever you use them always check and double check what they are and how they are used.  There are many great books out there and many can be found at discounted places such as a thrift store or the bargain book area of your local book store.  

You don't need just herbs, any plant will do

Herbal remedies, sometimes called botanical have been around for quite a long time.  In ancient India, about 10,000 B.C. to present old clay tablets were discovered in the area known now as the Middle East that mentions plants that had healing qualities.  Early writings called the Vedas were 4 books describing and identifying individual herbs that would correspond to the physiological action they had on an individual.  This was the start of the Ayurvedic medicine that Hindu religion developed into.

Further into history the ancient Asian cultures arose, from 5000 B.C. to present, that embraced the idea that one should seek balance with the natural forces around them to better ones life.  This worked with Chinese Taoism and bipolar medical systems, the opposing actions yin and yang. 

Since the month of October starts getting wet and cooler we will check out some great teas and a little extra info that have been used through the ages.

Dangerous types 

Always remember to go to a reputable store that sells herbal supplements and get educated before you start mixing some ingredients together.  Always check with your doctor to make sure no medications you are on will give you a  problem with your current health issues.  If you have never used herbal products before start slowly and make sure you do not have any reactions to them.  

St. Johns Wart can interfere with Beta blockers

Licorice root should not be used if you have high blood pressure

Dandelion or Ragweed - you could have an allergic reaction to this herb

Echinacea - using too often can cause skin irritations, itching or rash

Rosemary - may cause epileptic type fits or too much could cause poisoning

Remember to always:

• Check with your doctor
• Check with your pharmacist 
• Look for scientific research finding regarding what you want to try
• Always make sure that you understand whom the manufacturer is for the product.  There are many that can be made out of country.  Double check the contents and their reputability.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding there could be complications, so refer to the first point
• If you are younger than 18 or older than 65 there may be specific reasons that you should not use certain herbs.

Colds

Have some ginger tea or a ginger tonic wine. Use the tea if you have any problems with wine or the fermentation processing of it.

Ginger Tea

Hot water
Slices of ginger from the ginger root

• Add the ginger root to the hot water
• Seep for a little bit

Ginger Tonic wine 

Inexpensive white or red table wine
2 inch piece of ginger root

• Pour off about one to two ounces of wine from the bottle.
• Wash and cut 2 in pieces of ginger root into the wine
• Re-cork the bottle
• Place it in a dark place for about a week to 10 days
• Strain after it sits and clearly label the bottle

Drink it at first signs of a cold.

Fennel Tea & honey

This combination had been used by the ancient Egyptians to help shorten a cold.  Sometimes they would add one of the following: caraway seeds, anise seeds, cinnamon sticks or cloves.
The ancients Egyptians also would use garlic to help maintain good health.  Garlic was thought to be a vital antibacterial for a number of infections.

Sore Throats

One of the oldest know remedies
 for a sore throat remedies is the use of salt mixed with water.

1 teaspoon of salt

8 oz  glass of water

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the easiest to get and grow in your home.  This herb is very durable for those of use that don't have a green thumb.  Here are a few tips to help you thought this hectic time of season.

There is so much going on at the beginning of the school year so sit back and enjoy a treat with some Rosemary tea.  This can help comfort your thoughts and help to refresh your memory.

Basil

This herb is pretty great for many culinary dishes.  Warm spaghetti is very helpful during the crisp days of fall.  As well as comfort food, basil can be used as a tea to help with pain from an insect stings and could help with insect repellent.

References:
Herbal supplements: What to know before buying them - Mayo Clinic Staff

Buchman, Dian Dincin. Ancient Healing Secrets: Practical Cures from Egypt, China, India, South America, Russia, Scandinavia, and More. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2005. Print.  

Buchman, Dian Dincin. Herbal Medicine: The Natural Way to Get Well and Stay Well. London: Herb Society/Rider, 1983. Print. 

Davis, Patricia. Aromatherapy: An A-Z. Saffron Walden: C.W. Daniel, 2000. Print. 

Poetry and pictures from Shelley "Silverwine"

In light of being true to your self

 So many people believe that when you write it is what you will do.  Instead of believing that writing is an out outlet to calm ones savage beast.  When I write it is to help me cope so I do not explode and become a wreck of a mess more than I am.   There are theories that psychologist and psychologist come up with about psyche, mental well being and bipolar stability.  Names can change in the medical field to make things less "hurtful" but what ever they or anyone else want to call it writing can be a way to remember that pain is real but you can write to release the pain and let go of past that grips us not to move.  Writing can create a more positive frame of mind if a person lets it or it can be used a a self defeating behavior to pull you back into chaos.  For me, I write to see that there is light at the end of that tunnel and I can change my thoughts from negative to positive.  

 In pictures and prose, we all need to find some way to find happiness.  Do what comes natural and find your balance and center of love life and happiness.

Golden Power

Momma takes a shower,

Sipping the golden power.

From the sun above the heavens,

So many lonely hours.

It helps her pass the time,

Taking journeys in her mind.

Trying to stay within given limits,

Keeping her life with sanity in it.

Holding on by the tips of her teeth,

Looking for answers, screaming for relief.

Does it really help her tipping the joy-juice bottle?

Sleep, child, sleep,

Please don’t make a peep.

It’s midnight at home,

Mommas gotta go,

Looking for more to get her stoned.

Sleep child, sleep,

Please count the many sheep.

Daddy’s been gone a very long time,

Momma really needs to unwind.

With no sleep from you,

The golden power helps to soothe her through.

Sleep child, sleep,

Please don’t make a peep.

It’s midnight at home

Momma hates to be alone.

Sinking into the golden power,

Journeys in her mind,

Helps her pass the everlasting time.

tree growth

Sleep child, sleep,

Please don’t listen to the screams.

Daddy’s back at home

He doesn’t like her when she’s stoned.

Doesn’t he understand,

Living together but separate from her man.

He usually is very gentle,

Except for when he swings the palm of his hand.

Sleep child, sleep,

Please, God, please don’t make a peep.

Momma got real mad,

Took the keys away from dad.

She went out crying and started driving. .

In the tears of anguish and pain

She ended up dying.

the gears keep turning

Too much alone,

Too much was gone.

Lonely yet alive,

Finally hit that wall taking that ride to die.

Sleep child, sleep,

Please don’t make a peep. 

Daddy’s now sad and crying

He didn’t understand how it felt

He couldn’t see her pain

Or did her think it was just the effects of the golden power rain.

Sleep child sleep,

She loved you when you peeped.

Just need to have the break

Some love once in a while

All she found inside he,

life going too fast

Was a lost and confused child?

Momma took that shower,

Sipping from that golden power.

Was she really were she wanted to be,

After many lonely hours?

a look back into the past - poems from seventeenth century english verse

A pleasing look at what was written long before many could have the chance to look at a book yet alone be able to read it.  I had found a treasure among aisles of books in our local book store.  The year of print was that of 1920, Macmillan & Company, Limited St. Martin’s Street London.  The works were chosen by H. J. Massingham for the book A treasury of Seventeenth Century English Verse, From the Death of Shakespeare t the Restoration (1616-1660).  There were many that caught my eye, but you decide for yourself what you think.

do we really ever look what is around us?

            Upon a Funeral

To their long home the greatest princes go

In hearses dressed with fair escutcheons round,

The blazons of an ancient race, renowned

For deeds of valour; and in costly show

The train moves forward in procession slow

Towards some hallowed Fane; no common ground.

But the arched vault and tomb with sculpture crowned

Received and corse, with honours laid below,

Alas! Whate’er their wealth, their wit, their worth,

Such is the end of all the sons of Earth.

-Sir Joseph Beaumont (1583 – 1627)

the friends we keep where are they really?

            Drinking Song

I have been in love, and in debt, and in drink

This many and many a year!

And those are three plagues enough, any should think,

For one poor mortal to bear!

‘Twas love made me fall into drink;

And drink made me run into debt!

And though I have struggled, and struggled and strove;

I cannot get out of them yet!

There’s nothing but money can cure me;

And rid me of all my pain!

‘Twill pay all my debts;

And remove all my lets;

And my Mistress that cannot endure me,

Will love me and love me again!

Then I’ll fall to my loving and drinking amain*.

- Alexander Brome (1620 – 1666)

On that lonely path to where?

  To Death

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think’st thou dost over throw

Die not, poor Death; nor yet can’st thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but they picture be,

Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow;

And soonest our best men with thee do go –

Rest of their bones, and souls’ delivery!

Thou’rt slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men.

And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell;

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,

And better than they stroke.

Thy swell’st though then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

- John Donne (1573 – 1631)

 

even in the most explosive place life will 

live but may not thrive

Drop Golden Showers, Gentle Sleep

Drop golden showers, gentle sleep;

And all the angels of the night

Which do us in protection keep,

Make this queen dream of delight.

Morpheus, be kind a little, and be

Death’s now true image, for ‘twill prove

To this poor queen that thou art he.

Her grave is made I’th’ bed of love;

Thus with sweet sweets can Heaven mix gall,

And marriage turn to funeral.

- Thomas Goffe (1592 – 1627)

what kind of light will lead us into the right direction

Death Invoked

Why art thou slow, thou rest of trouble Death,

To sop a wretch’s breath.

That calls on thee, and offers her sad heart

A prey unto they dart?

I am nor young nor fair; be therefore, bold:

Sorrow hath made me old,

Deformed and wrinkled; all that I can crave

Is quiet in my grave.

Such as live happy, hold long life a jewel;

But to m thou art cruel,

If thou end not my tedious misery

And I soon cease to be.

Strike, and strike home, then; pity unto me,

In one short hour’s delay, is tyranny.

-Philip Massinger (1584 – 1639)

Dare to dream, live big and enjoy it all . . . .

Every day we live but do we really do what we can to make life really ours.  How are you making your mark in this life?  Do you lead or do you follow?  Are you trailblazer or a tail rider?  With death there is always a new beginning.  Get rid of what does not serve you, get on with what does and grab it with both hands and move! Always smell the roses, drink the coffee and experience all you can.  It doesn't have to be far, and you don't have to spend lots of money.  It is the little things in life that can be the most enjoyable.

 

 pictures by: Shelley "Silverwine" Hitch

1. Clouds of Rapid City, SD

2.  Full moon of Sturgis

3.  Cemetery in North Carolina