Healthy Thursday, reading for the day

 

For today, I drew these three amazing cards from the Goddess Tarot deck by Kris Waldherr. 

Today for healthy Thursday, we need to remember to work on how we perceive what we see in life.  When you see gray sky remember that rain can help the grass grow.  If you see a closed door, it can be opened on way or another.  When you are sad, find ways to be happy.  Don't accept what does not serve you and grow with what does make that different in you, within your heart. I tried to scope it or even YouTube this today but electronics did not agree with me so instead of letting the electronics get to me, I tried another alternative.  Turn that frown upside down, deal with what you can control and let the rest go.

The past - 10 of swords - the combination of the interwoven swords with a background of cloudy skies can show the ability for a person to transform from difficult times that they have faced.  With the knowledge gained you can overcome the difficulties that lay ahead. 

The present - XV - Temptation - Nyai Loro Kidul - This is the seductive mermaid goddess that can be seen within the green waves of the Pacific ocean.  The powers she possesses are a reflection of what a mirror can give as the illusion which could be enslaving to the one that may be obsessed with the thought of control.  You can be tempted by things that could be out of your control.  There is something within your psyche - the shadow of oneself.  This could be that of temptation, addiction 

The possible future - Prince of Staves (Wands)

You have the ability to create a beautiful ventures with energy from within. There are new ideas, projects or undertaking is just waiting to explored.  Open up your mind and heart to what is out there for you.  Be careful to stay focused on your intended target and stick close what you believe in.

 So what do you hope is true?  Pay close attentions to your fantasies.  When you dream and hope for something you can make it true.  Stay within your light and heart with what is good and true.  To be able to indulge in what you want you do have to take action.   With the history of hard work that has been accomplished learning took place so that the difficult problems can be dealt with. 

Flowing water does not stale.

-Zen proverb

So get on moving with the life you know you can lead.

 

Manic Monday, Positive Thoughts and Quotes

You know you are having a day when the dogs won't leave you alone.  They know that you are stressing about something or your body is and you just don't have time to listen.  The role of pets to a person life can bring amazing changes of perception and what we see as important.  It's not all about the hair all over the place or the muddy floors after a warm day in between the winter thaw. 





There is something more to think about.  They can make us happier over all. My finding that I have read over the years in various books were that pets can help:

• Lower blood pressure and heart rate
• Boost your mood; it can take only about 15- 30 minutes to help a person feel more calm and relaxed.
• Detect cancer
• Cheer you up with a cuddle when you need one
• Be your partner to get fit
• You be more social
• Relieve Stress
• A child grow into a stronger person
• With other medical problems too, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Those with ADHD to relax besides help pull out that extra energy and play with

From the Healthline article Pettherapy, there are different ways pets can be used to help others.  The goals of a pet therapy program can be to:

• improve fine motor skills
• improve assisted or independent movement
• increase self-esteem
• decrease anxiety or loneliness
• increase verbal communication
• develop social skills
• increase willingness to join in activities
• improve interactions with others
• motivate willingness to exercise

 There are many people that can benefit from just a little loving from these precious pets.

• patients undergoing chemotherapy
• residents in long-term care facilities
• patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure
• veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
• children having physical or dental procedures
• stroke victims and physical therapy patients regaining motor skills
• mental health patients

Sometimes they just pop out of a box somewhere and put a smile on your face. 

Always remember that having a pet takes patience and love.  There can be a lot of up keep on them but sometime a little hard work to help you feel better may be all a person needs to have a better day!

References:
Giorgi, Anna Zernone, and George Krucik, MD. "Pet Therapy." Healthline. Heartline Media, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.
Pictures by Shelley "silverwine" Hitch
As always check with your doctor in regards to your health and animals. There could be allergic reactions. 

Breeze to remember

Sunshine and breeze

green palm trees

ocean seas

so soft to thee

can it be

a paradise

can it be 

all so nice

remembering what is

what can &

what will be.

At the end of the day

visions of hope  hope 

seep to what I can see

may always be

a glimpse of the future

in time on the way

(old notes from English - after 2005)

Kick back Sunday

 I would love to learn how to draw, so one day I got a book.  There were great tips in it but I never thought I was ever that good.

Today when I look back at these pictures, it is really not half bad.  I always was too hard on my self.  Probably because my mother was always so hard on me.

I understand why she was so hard now, I needed to be a strong woman with conviction.  I needed the tough love so I would not end up soft and always wanting stuff from others.  To suck it up and just do it my self.

My self esteem did not help grow with that type of love but I also had to figure out what would work for me as well.  No one can tell me how to be, how to act, what to do or even who I really am except me.

Difference in meaning
 The graduation of the language of the teachings - haughty, relaxed, rising, descending - are not the same.  What are called desires and aversions, when one is not yet enlightened or liberated are called enlightened wisdom after enlightenment.  That is why it is said, "One is not different from one who used to be; only one's course of action is different from before".
- Pai-chang

 I never understood that home is where your heart is.  Where you are in life can tell you one thing yet in the distance it can totally mean something else. 

When your children leave the nest than your heart is always some place else.  You miss hugging and holding those children that have always brought peace and love to your life.

Know your own mind
You really have to know your own fundamental mind before you can stop and rest.  If you know you mind and arrive at the fundamental, that is like space merging with space.
- Ta-tu

Of all the different things I have tried to do creatively I still have trouble focusing on just one thing.  My mind goes all over the place deciding from day to day what to do.  I have so much homework at the end of a semester.  Yet before I ever begin on any day, I have to write something for fun or I feel like my writing is useless.

Like these drawings from the past.  I never thought they were ever good enough to share with anyone.  Like my poems, stories or inner thoughts.  What good are they to anyone if I can't believe in myself as the strong independent woman my mother wanted me to be.

References:
Cleary, T. F. (1999) The Pocket Zen Reader. Boston: Shambhala, pages 36 & 116. Print.

Headache & Migraines

What are they any ways?  Quite possibly many feel that it could be the change in the weather.  Others feel that it could be spirits trying to get you off your game or the yin and yang within a person may be off balance. Some various reasons can be either mild tension to searing intense pain.  Stress can cause the muscles to tense up within the muscles of the face, neck and head.  This could reduce the blood supply, which then can produce pain.  What ever is the cause at least throughout history there was thing to help them out. 

For whatever they are to a person, here is some good information from ancient healers that may help.  I found much of the information in the book Ancient Healing Secrets, practical cures from Egypt, China, India, South America, Russia, Scandinavia and more by Dian Dincin Buchman, PH.D.  There is so much goo information in here I can’t help but share a little.

Book written by Dian Dincin Buchman, PH.D.

The use of water had been used back in the days of the great Persian Empire.  When weary travelers made their way through the empire the post houses offered hot, wet compresses for their headaches.  When the wet heat is applied to the head it would relax the painful scalp muscles and speed the circulations in the constricted areas.  

A simple foot bath can help those with headaches as well, as found by European villagers. They divert congestion from the head by drawing the blood to the feet. 

·       Run hot water into a dishwater tub.  Use the essence of pine, four tablespoons of strong thyme tea, two tablespoons of powdered mustard seed.  Set your feet in there for about 10 minutes.  The fatigue and tension that can cause a headache to ease.

Rosemary

In Hungry, the use of a jam made from rosemary and sugar was said to do the trick for headache.

·       Combine fresh tops of rosemary with the times their weight of sugar.  Use a teaspoon at a time in rosemary, cloves or woodruff tea.

Early Greek physicians used to use two types of mint for headaches.  

·     The ancient Greeks would drink peppermint tea each morning and evening.

·     Bind the wet tea leaves in a cloth and lay it across a person forehead while you have a headache to ease the pain.

During the Renaissance times, Italians would stuff fresh mint leaves into their nose to help cure headaches.

In the Appalachian area of the United States it was recommended that catnip as being a highly effective remedy for headaches and insomnia.

Basil

·     For adults, combine 3 to 4 tablespoons of catnip with a cup of boiling water.  Steep, strain and drink for relief.

Basil leave would be used throughout, Egypt, Europe and the eastern areas of the continent.  They were used as a nerve tonic and stimulant.  If basil was not available then the herb marjoram was used.

·     Headaches that are caused by nausea or vomiting need to have crumbled fresh basil or 2 tablespoons of dried herb into a cup of boiled water.  Steep, strain and drink when it is needed to help with this type of headache.

·       You could make the tea then add with it 2 tablespoons of witch hazel extract for a warm compress to a persons forehead and temple area to help relieve those areas from the tension.

In Hawaii, the island people would use Awapuhi kuahiwi or gingerroot.  The ancient healer would put gingerroot juice or pounded root and coarse salt to the head.

·       Cut a piece of gingerroot and squeeze out some juice.  Apply to part of the head that hurts.

Ancient Siberian remedy would use onions to help relieve headaches within 2 hours.

·     Pound one onion and mix it with 2 pinches of course salt and one teaspoon of olive oil.  Put the onion paste on a cloth and put it over the area that hurts.  The paste is said to pull out the pain from the affected area.

A Danish remedy used sage and eggs for their traditional headache remedy.

·     Cook a handful of sage leaves in water until they are mushed up.  Then mix that with the egg and put the paste mixture on the area that hurts.

I have only touched on the use of water & herb or plants to help with headaches.  There is so many more hand methods uses to help with tension headaches and migraine issues such as acupuncture, Chinese pressure points, ancient Indian Ayurvedic doctors recommendations or in some cases headaches could be caused by attachments of some sort.  Because of this I will have to extend this topic for another day.  


References:
Buchman, Dian Dincin. Ancient Healing Secrets: Practical Cures from Egypt, China, India, South America, Russia, Scandinavia, and More. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2005. 92-97. Print.

As always, I am not a doctor.  Please talk to your doctor if you would like to try something different for tensions headache or migraine relief.  Some medications can be effected by the use of the products that were mentioned in this article.  If you are unsure of anything please do not use anything orally or externally without the proper medical consultation.  These are just ancient remedies that were used in the past and have been found to help some people.

See me - the party

See me

11-18-12

Sit back, So proud to be, Not looking in the mirror

So proud to be me

Skin so clear, Eyes do bright, Everybody looks, Have arrived & outside

Get on out, Into the car, A stunning beauty, Move you like no other,

you are the star!

So tall and lean, Walking in, One hell of this sexy Queen

It is totally clear-cut, life of the party, no one else could ever know,

Who is the life of the everlasting party, this extraordinary show.

Into the groove, In the party let’s run.

Slamming them down, being the one, taking them all down.

Need to use, the facilities down the hall.  

Let as much out, so it can hit, that long over due, last call.

Washing your hands, In horror a look,

Who’s in the mirror, you see, how can this look,

Be possible be?!

Old and wrinkled, hollowed out eyes,

That once looked like the beauty of the sea.

A glance in this mirror, A woman of disease.

Trying the living,  Of a former college sister.

Under those eyes, dark circles are sinister.

Crows feet at the ends, huge holes in the skin

How did this happen, oh my God when?!

Only seeing what wanted to be seen, felt only what thought should be

What really has being looked at, when entering down the hall

All the snickering and sneering, the laughs from them all.

Behind the back, just stood there was it a miss,

Could have been out there, but rather be dismissed.

Old frumpy hag, was really not on the blacklist.

Sides so fat of muffin top hanging, cloths of the daughters,

That thought fit in, make-up pushed and plastered, 

To spackled the holes to make smooth the skin.

Chlorine bleach dyed over, gray hair of many years.

Next time that you strut, that takes you out that door.

Really look in that mirror, like never before.

Making it in the scene, your aged face on the screen,

Remember your age, there are no in-betweens.

You are who you are, always the age that your in.

No fountain of youth to one, when your stuck in a bottle of Gin.

Accept the life you leads, that old simple truths,

You are who you are,

There really is no excuse.

Fog tunnel

Along you go, where the road stops,
nobody knows.
Nothing to the left, even less to the right.
All that is visible, is the cars glaring tail lights

Black as night, twinkle of firefly twilight
Passion flow, quickly traveling unite
Away you go, in the heat of the moment.
Bodies entwined, filled energy essences,
Cloud your mind.

Can't see, the road ahead
is that a deer, in the ditch,
off the road or a shed?
Who's the threat, too scared to move,
paralyzed with fear, gripping the clutch,
Staying stead fast in the groove.

So used to the ride,
On empty roads it fade,
3:00 a.m. in the morning,
Prism circled haze.

(from 11/18/12)