Superstitions

 

Being superstitious is maybe something of the past as science fills our world with proven intelligent fact. But many of these old thoughts live strong in some people and even over run their lives. Many of our superstitions revolve around the elimination of bad luck or the avoidance of it altogether. Take the year 2013 for instance, it was toted as one of the worst years ever for life in general and for unexpected and unwelcomed events to arise . 13 being an unlucky number and having to do with the number of Witches in a Coven coinciding with the number of cycles of the Moon in a 12 month period and also the number of yearly menstrual cycles of a woman. Being born on the 13^th of any month is bad according to folk lore, you will have bad luck your whole life. I am not too sure about that as I was born on the 13^th and have used 13 as my lucky number often and succeeded. I’ll leave that to your perception.

 

So what is superstition? According to Webster’s it is religion, opinion or practice based on belief in luck or magic. If you were raised with people who believed in superstitions then one would think the influence would rub off. And it usually does according to nature and nurture. So what makes us want to believe in superstitions? Well based on the definition above, who would not want a little luck or magic in their lives?

 

After a brief over the dinner table interview with family one night at the cottage a summer or so past we came up with the following list of superstitions. Some, of course you will have heard of and some maybe not.

An itchy left palm is money coming in or you will find money

An itchy right palm is money going out or you will lose money

Killing a spider makes it rain

Breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck

Walking under a ladder is bad luck

Opening an umbrella in side is bad luck

When your ears burn someone is talking about you

Knitting a hair into the garment brings the recipient to you

Killing a Lady Bug is bad luck, your house will burn down

Knock on wood to keep evil spirits away

Snapping a wishbone, the larger side recipient will have their wish come true

Candles on the birthday cake were to keep evil spirits away from the birthday person and a wish will come true when they are blown out

A bay leaf in your wallet will keep the money flowing into your wallet

Wearing a wedding band on the ring finger of your left hand encircles a vein to the heart to hold onto love

It is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the alter

Making a wish on a penny and tossing it into a fountain or another body of moving water is supposed to make the wish come true

Toss a pinch of salt over your right shoulder to keep away evil spirits

The playing of Amazing Grace for a safe ship voyage

Saying “Bless you” after someone sneezes prevents the Devil from entering the sneezer’s body

Jasmine rice sprinkled across the threshold to your home invites a marriage proposal from your sweetheart

A raw cut onion will draw off sickness 9we are actually not too far off on this one, as smell a it is)

Finding a four leaf clover is good luck

Carrying a rabbits foot is good luck

A horse shoe hung over a doorway keeps money flowing

A black cat crossing your path is bad luck

 If you have a favorite superstition one from a family member or one that you like to practice please leave it in the comments on the FB page and share with us where it is from. I would love to hear some of your stories.

 

 

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The French Kiss

 

After spending a lovely Valentine’s Day with my husband I started to wonder what are the origins of the French kiss? I began my research as always using an internet search engine and I came up with very little in the way of useful information. I mostly found information on how to perform this act not on where it came from. So I dug a little deeper and discovered that it was not the French people who first performed this very intimate and sensual act nor did they name it.

 

This type of kiss was named after the French because of their open sensuality and their acceptance of overtly public displays of affection way back in the early nineteen twenties. For most of the rest of the modern world this type of behaviour was frowned upon in public and was meant only for the bedroom of a married couple.

 

It was the arrival home of the soldiers from World War I that brought this kiss to North America. After spending their rotations with European women many of the soldiers came home with a new way of kissing that involved not just the lips but the tongue as well. This kiss was deeply passionate and extremely intimate. Almost as if they were making love with this part of their bodies, how romantic!

 

So no one really knows who coined the term French kiss not that it really matters. This act of passion is overtly sensual and pleases most human beings. It is a delicate balance of touching that can be subtle or more actively stimulating depending on the desire of each person involved. Now isn’t love grand?

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Perfect: The Popular Response

 

 

Although this is dwindling for a different and new response I still hear or even catch myself saying it.

“Perfect” as a statement is not cute or endearing and at this time it is one of the most absurd statements that is being over used and insults most people without them even knowing. How can it be insulting you ask? Well let’s ask, “What is perfect?”

Perfect is defined by Collins Dictionary as finished, whole, unspoiled, faultless, excellent, of the highest quality. So does this apply to the human being themselves or to the act between two or more individuals?  As a spiritualist I have studied for many years to obtain perfect and have in my studies realized that perfect is a state and not necessarily an absolute. Perfect is not obtainable by any human standards I know of. It is not the act nor is it the person who is perfect.

So what does it mean to each of us? Well to some it is this grossly unobtainable level of accomplishment that continues to stretch out of the person’s reach. The bar who ever is in control of it being raised or lowered continues to push it out of reach. This makes perfect by any standards impossible. So that leaves you with good enough. Well isn’t that a self-esteem builder? Never being satisfied with what the accomplishment is and not what else it can or could be. How can a society filled with such diverse individuals force perfect on everybody? Well, we as a human race have standards to live up to. You are a law abiding citizen, you have a job, you are to treat every body the way you want to be treated etc. So the standards are met and most of us sit back and say we have done enough and that it is good enough. But yet we still are pushed for perfection even beyond our own ability to perform. The consequences of the push are nasty, depression, stress, heart attacks, are just a few to mention.

 

 

So moving forward with “perfect” are we lazy or self satisfied? What are your personal standards for perfect? Most of us have learned in life that there is a higherarchy of the human race and that some of us are more privileged than others. But that does not mean that our idea of perfect should be on the same scale. As human beings we are naturally lazy and unsatisfied. Donald Trump’s version of perfect is certainly different than the homeless person on the street corner with his hand out for spare change. Not saying the homeless man is lazy, just unfortunate. But there are those of us who are innately lazy and have expectations of life with no regard for the amount of work contributed to society to become one of the Trumps of the world and then sit back and complain that they are amongst the have nots. Well those people can stuff it where the sun don’t shine!!! If you are not going to work for it you will not have it!!! So where do we draw the line at satisfied? That is once again an individual choice. If you believe that stopping work everyday at 5 pm sharp is going to get you that raise and promotion think again. It will be the dude in the carol next to you who stays that little bit longer to get the days work done. So once again ask what is lazy and what is satisfied and how does satisfied meet perfection?

 

 

Well if you become satisfied with the career you have and that meets your life goals than it is entirely possible that you have obtained perfection with your career and financial life. That is terrific!!! But what about those of us who have raised the bar for someone else, the bosses of this world the Donald Trumps; why do you feel that inflicting your version of perfect on the rest of us is mandatory? Well if we think about it, it is about improving the human race in general, but if you believe that please read some of my other articles on What Really is Spirituality and Following Your Own Life’s Path.. As human beings we need to pushed to accomplish otherwise we are lazy and never strive for perfection or even satisfaction. Take a good look at the guy with the well-manicured lawn and garden what do you think he or she is striving for and what is their accomplishment of perfect? It would seem typically to be raised standards and a little bit of friendly competition from around the neighborhood.

So when someone says to you in response “Perfect.” how do you feel? Insulted, condescended too, as if this person knows what your idea of perfect is? Maybe if it is the exact amount of change for an item purchase the response “Perfect.” can be applied but to the everyday activities and the motions that we go through it is nobody else’s business what you think is perfect or not. It is a “to each his own” kind of area with in the human psyche. Remember don’t tread on my perfect and I won’t tread on yours. Who needs these ridiculous catch phrases anyways?  

 

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Follow Your Own Life Path

 

 

As a young person my life was mapped out for me by the choices other people had made for me. My parents bless their hearts in all good intentions decided that I was to spend my life in the business world doing what ever it was that was there for me. Truthfully there was nothing in the business world for me but sorrow. Every job I held in that world was uninteresting and it was not long before I quit or left the position for one reason or another. No reasons were ever significant until now.

I grew up, I went to school (several times), I got married, had children, all that expected stuff but I was unhappy. I bought a business, operated it and closed it after being kicked repeatedly by the industry. I had had my fair share of disappointments by this time. But it was during that time that I realized that I’ve done everything that everyone else had expected of me and not what made me happy. So what made me happy? It was not the main stream; in fact the main stream is an absolute foreign language to me.

 

What makes me happy and is my life’s path is to be creative. I am a musician, I craft (sew and knit), I cook, I write and I want to learn how to draw. I have found that this path is one that continues forward for me and it is enjoyable and I am learning how to make money doing the things I love to do. But I wish to tell you that as a young person I was duly informed that this was no life to be had that being creative was not a trait that was acceptable and that I must conform to the expectations of everyone else around me. I was pinned into something that had no direction for me. So I flopped along and fully wasted time, as there was nothing else I could do.

I spent many hours studying Spirituality and taking salvation in a secret place where I could journey on my life’s path. It took me many years to over come the fear of disappointing other people. I needed to remember that my life is about me and not about them and their expectations of me. I know that had I been allowed to develop my creative side at a younger age life overall would have been a much happier experience in general. Although for the most part I am relatively bouncy and happy go lucky.

I have accepted this portion of my life as it stands and from it I take every moment as a learning moment. What have I learned? I have learned who I am and what I am meant to be. I now have a clear view of the path I am to follow and for the most part have been able to map out the directions the forks in the road will take me. I look forward to the rest of my life and the new journey and I am grateful for the lessons of the past.

 

It is never too late to look at the direction of your life and to assess or reassess your journey. Look deep within yourself, within your heart, and meditate. You may find that where you are is exactly where you should be or you may find you need to make some changes, but either way you know yourself the best and know what path is right for you.

 

Blessed Be

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What Really is Spirituality?

 

 

 

After reading more than a fair share of definitions and meaning of spirituality where everyone differed so greatly it seams it is left up to the reader to create their own interpretation of spirituality. Difficult you say, well maybe but this may help guide you on your journey to find yourself.

 

Spiritually it is the ability to look into ones own self and discover the strengths and needs of your own personality and being. It is the desire to grow and develop as a human being and work towards the acceptance of the next journey in life whatever you may believe that to be. It is the inner ability to understand more than just what is around you and tangible, touchable and or seeable. It is joy, it is rapture, it is pain, madness and growth. It is beyond the belief in superior beings that direct and or punish us. It is the ability to believe that we and the earth are holistic and the ability to see that holism in every living creatures and thing. It is the understanding of Mother Nature and her ways. It is the ability to let Mother Nature have her ways. Spirituality has nothing to do with a religious belief system, as everyone has the ability to be spiritual. Spirituality is awareness.

 

You may have heard the term “he is finding himself” well that is the journey of spiritualism. He or she has embarked on a jounry to enlighten the soul and enrich the mind through a number of different experiences of the individuals choosing. Many of these experiences include the experimentation with religion but they do not need too. There are places that one can go to find the spiritual association they need. Usually these places are places of peace and serenity as the relaxed mind and body can connect with the inner spirit under gentler circumstances. This “finding of one self” is enlightenment and growth through learning. The learning is not only about the self but also of others and their ways of spiritualism.
 

 

As a life style spiritual people often meditate or practice relaxation of other forms including yoga. Meditation is the deep visualization in the mind of calming events and activities including the focus on aspirations and daily devotions. Yoga includes the mind and the body through stretching the muscles in various positions that allows the body to cleans itself, the mind can then clear and focus and spirituality can continue.

Spirituality never stops as long as the person allows themselves continued growth and awareness. When we stop being open to new concepts and ideas to discussion about others ways of believing we stop being spiritual. We shut the door and close our minds to the beauty of the world around us. In today’s society with the vast form of communication that we have it is easy to keep listening to keep growing by finding other people to help you grow on a spiritual level. There is no excuse to let go of your spiritual growth.

As we all grow and change within the sphere of life we have experiences that shape us into the people we are and the people we will become and the people we will die as. With positive self awareness so abound in our society it seems we should have a perfect world that is aware of others and accepting of the differences between people, but sadly not so. Spirituality must continue to grow not only in ones self but as a culture and a world population as well.

 

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Writer's Block and the Big "Empty"

 

So as I sat staring at my blank computer screen yesterday I realized I was going through yet another, yes you guessed it, episode of writer’s block. It was as scary as much as it was empty. On most days I cannot stop my thoughts from racing into stories and ideas to write and certainly during conversations it is hard for others to get a word in edge wise (listening to others is something I work very hard at mastering). My children have even caught me talking out loud to myself about something I am going to write.

So you ask, “What is writer’s block?” I shall tell you. Webster’s defines writer’s block as a condition of different intensities that can be trivial or extreme. Basically the mind that never stops going is empty. Wow... let me tell you for some it can be a very frightening experience and cost them their careers as they spiral down into an abyss of thoughts that become random or fragmented and do not measure up to standards created either by the writer themselves or by outside influences. This is better known as empty thoughts, thoughts without substance.

On the other hand most writers just lose inspiration on a temporary level. That level can be for a day, a week or more depending on the circumstances around the life of the writer. I know I was affected by sheer exhaustion and practically fell asleep looking at the blank screen desperately willing a topic to come to me. So this temporary paralysis of the artistic mind can be caused by many different internal and external influences.

What you ask are internal influences that pressure writers? Well we all know we have self-esteem and confidence and when those confidences are broken for some reason or another we are likely to not be able to create. Artists, which includes writers are sensitive, unless of course you are the Andy Rooney type and then you are just a curmudgeon with feelings, and we have spirits that can easily be bruised by our own internal self depreciation. In other words we do not measure up to our own standards and we beat our selves up over it and basically stop functioning as a writer. Pretty awful isn’t it? Well most of us get over this in a day or two and move on and find that one topic that brings us back to reality or for fiction writers out of reality. Awesome!!!

But we have not talked about external influences that cause writers block. Where do I begin the list is so long that ….Ah crap Lisa Anne just go for it. Okay, first of all there are non- like-minded people that read works and trash them harshly directly to the writer. With the way we publish on the web these days it is easy for hurtful, angry people to sit behind their computer screens and tear a writer to shreds publicly. Click on Post…. damage done. Not fair if you don’t like it okay not everyone is the same and we get that just do not be mean. Remember writers are sensitive and this could cause pressure to change and then “bang” the writer can become blocked from external emotional hurt. 

Some other general external influences can be family and friends that take up too much creative time and therefore writers lose the opportunity to write and ideas and stories lines disappear into thin air. Ahh, you ask for a solution. This writer carries a digital recorder everywhere I go. Some people have asked me what I am doing or if I am from some authority, especially when I pick my child up form school and I am standing in the grounds talking into a little box quietly so no one can hear my ranting or my best work for that matter. I ask friends and family to be tolerant of my interrupting conversations and digital recorder issues so that I do not become blocked. Most of them are very giving in that way.

Well I saved the worst for last. Exhaustion. Have you ever been so tired that you cannot keep your eyes open but you know you have to because if you don’t your going to do something that could be of serious consequence. Sorry, not to be a fatalist or anything like that. Well I have been that tired, that exhausted and this time it hit me right in the writing skills. Wa Bang!!!! Like a ton of lead out of know where. I could not do anything but stare at the blank screen like a zombie with my mind completely and totally empty. For a writer who relies on continuous thoughts, the rapid fire of synapses and the miles of myelin of one’s brain, empty, can be a scary place.

Well apparently I have overcome empty and found inspiration in that empty. Sometimes it takes that loss of words to jolt us back into action and remind us that we have the ability to move forward. Writer’s block does not have to be a permanent “condition”. The village on Wikipedia claims that some writers never over come this situation. Not so, with a little grace and some good rest for the mind, body and soul every writer will find inspiration in or out of the empty. Write on my fellows!!!

 

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The True Nature of Taurus

                                              Taurus the Bull

Taurus by nature are steadfast and strong, loving, giving and practical. People born under this sign are loyal, stable and balanced. Taurus does not like change. Venus the planet of love, pleasures and fine arts rules the second sign in the Zodiac. Taurus is an earth sign that is fixed meaning this sign represents the season at its height.

 

Mental characteristics are keen-witted and intellectual. Although most Taurus become fixed in their opinions they will follow reliable patterns of experience. In the face of difficult times Taurus will be dependable, prudent and just. Vices arise from virtues and there is a tendency to be lavish towards admired conventions.

Occasionally but very rare are the traits that make a Taurus self-righteous, argumentative, unoriginal and rigid. But for the most part these traits are sub-dominant and mean very little to the overall picture of a true Taurus.

With friends Taurus are faithful, generous and have a great capacity for affection. Most times friends are kept within the social ranks where most are excessively faithful. The most part Taurus are modest, good-natured, even-tempered, dislike arguments, avoid ill feeling and are slow to anger. However once buttons are pushed a few too many times Taurus can explode with a ferocity in which all self control appears to have vanished. Although they can also explode in the opposite direction into humour and fun.

 

Physical appearance aside Taurus have a strong aesthetic taste, loving art, where many are very talented, beauty of the world (recoiling from the ugly) and music. A strong and sometimes unconventional, religious faith can be part of this sign. Married to the taste for all things beautiful is a love of life pleasures, comfort, luxury and good food and wine.

In work Taurus are industrious and crafts people who have no fear of getting their hands dirty. Rewards from their own work not that of others make Taurus flourish. They can succeed in many trades including banking, farming, medicine and the arts. Taurus are good managers and make ideal trustees and guardians.

Ruled by Venus, Taurus are sensual but slightly self-conscience. Very sexually straightforward and not driven to experiment in this area. They do however make loving homes with their spouses and become loving parents that do not demand too much of the families. Taurus are usually very magnanimous in forgiveness as long as the other person will meet them half way.

Slow and steady wins the race to be a Taurus is with great grace!!!

 

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Ghost Wolf

This incident took place about fifteen or sixteen years ago even more now. I have never seen anything like this and have done some investigation into other sightings but have come up empty so far.

My husband (at the time my boyfriend) and I were headed up to a small lake area in the Ontario Kawarthas. It was a Friday night, just after six o’clock pm and we were on a highway we had traveled uncountable times. It was winter and we planned on snowmobiling the next day after settling into the small cabin we used on his parent’s property.

We were about one and half hours into a two-hour trip when we hit a snowstorm that blotted out the road, the trees and most of the buildings we were passing. You could not see anything until you were on top of it. The road was silent beneath the tires of the truck as we crept along slowly making our way through the white wall in front of us. The road we were on was winding and took several tight curves in the darkness as we drove in between very small towns with no streetlights at all. Some buildings had bright lights on but that only obscured our vision more as the light reflected off the falling snow. Our headlights acted in the same manner as the building lights and we needed to keep the low beams on just to see.

About fifteen minutes into this white-knuckle drive the snowfall became heavier and the flakes stuck together and were the size of rose petals. It became more difficult to see and we had to slow down even more. I asked my husband if we should stop for a while and he said no I know where I’m going and we will be out of this soon. I had heard that a few too many times and I was feeling unsure and for a good reason.

Against my better judgment we pressed on and the snow did not let up. I could feel the sense of unease my husband had and he was struggling to keep the truck on the road as the curves did not lie visually before us any more and we turned only at the last moment for every curve we encountered. This was a treacherous go and I was nervous.

We had just passed a small town and my husband indicated to me that we were now upon the worst part of the road where it curved through the farmer’s fields and there would be no more buildings with lights for several kilometers. The tension in the truck grew around our silence as we drove slowly out of the lights of the town.

It was very dark and our headlights shone on the falling snow and we could see nothing else. My husband almost missed the first corner and of course with a gale of profanity got us back on the road or so we thought. Another corner and another almost miss of the road. I was now scared when a very large gray dog came up along the passenger side of the truck. This dog appeared out of the snowstorm and was running along side the truck up near the wheel well and fender. It was huge. The shoulders were as high as the engine hood and the head was massive. It was a little shaggy looking and had no collar or other markings. We were traveling at fifty kilometers per hour and this animal was keeping pace with the truck. We navigated another curve with this animal beside us. My husband thought it was crazy as it kept running into the fender of the truck and forcing my husband to veer to the left of the road. The curve had been invisible to us and on the other side of it was a grouping of trees that would have surly taken our lives had we collided with any of them. If not we would have died of exposure.

This dog then began to growl at the front of the truck and sped up and ran in front of the truck and was gone. We did not feel a thump or a bump and we could not see anything on the road behind us. Not that we could see much anyway. We looked at each other with that "did that really happen" look on our faces. Yes it did, it did really happen.

A little further along the snow began to slow and we could see well enough to get our bearings and continue on to the cabin.  It stared to sink in as we were unloading and starting the fire that what ever that was saved our lives that night.

Blessed Be Creature of the Night and… Thank You.

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