Today in 1692

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Wichcraft Hysteria

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

It is also notable to remember the witches trials in Europe, particularly England. Many widows and midwifes were targeted for their land, and their knowledge and standing in the community. They were the healers and spiritual guidance for the villages. The widows lost their land, the midwives lost their right to practice. This was due to new policies requiring schooling for childbirth. At this time, women were not allowed to enter medical training schools. Of course, midwives continued under secret, but they were weeded out during this time.

Witches, in any land, are the seekers and healers. They are knowledgeable in the natural world and how to use this knowledge to heal and bring balance. The stereotype of today is one from the christian church to try and discredit traditional medicine and women as powerful healers.

Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima is a coming of age story, but also brings forth Ultima, who is a curandera.

I am also interested in the book

The women they suffer, they love, they give life.

They are wondrous creatures who's amazing ability to enchant causes distress and hysteria.

Winter Ice Wonderland

02-20-2009 17:00

Cold Harbin Becomes Hot Holiday Destination

The ice sculptures are seen during the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, the capital city of China's northernmost province Heilongjiang.

Korea Times

By Sunny LeeKorea times CorrespondentHARBIN ―

``It seems that I am the only Korean around here who hasn't visited Harbin this winter," said Lee Young-sup, a South Korean journalist in Beijing who works for Hankook Ilbo.When Harbin, a northern Chinese city just south of the border with Russia, freezes during its cold winter, it transforms into the hottest holiday destination in China.

The winter temperature here commonly plummets to minus-30 degrees Celsius. "Even your eyeballs feel pinched because the tears in your eye sockets almost freeze," said Kim Seok-han, a businessman in China's eastern port city of Qingdao. "But I've ended up coming here again because my kids love the ice festival. Where else would you see such a magnificent sight?" he asked.

The Harbin Ice Festival is probably what makes its loyal string of holiday travelers, including Kim's family, return here like faithful pilgrims. Located near the Songhua River, the festival is held in a massive open field on which a new town is actually built entirely of ice. Once you enter the gate, which is also made of ice, you find yourself in a whole new wonderland. It's sheer exotic fun. There's a clock tower, a palace, the Great Wall, a bridge, a statue of Buddha and even a giant Harbin Beer. The lanterns inside the "ice bricks" make this "city of ice" glow colorfully in the darkness. But don't worry, the restrooms aren't made of ice.

The fun doesn't end with just looking. People actually get to bobsleigh, snowboard, snow tube, go snow motorcycling and engage in other activities, all included in the cost of a 150 yuan ($22) ticket. Walking out of the icy wonderland and taking a stroll in downtown Harbin, which is also full of an array of icy sculptures, is also fun, as long as you don't mind your buttocks hitting the ground once-in-a-while on the slippery street.

When dusk sets in, you may want to head for pedestrian-only Zhongyang Avenue, which is comparable to Myeongdong, in Seoul. It offers shops and department stores back-to-back and if you miss Korean food, there's Sorabol Korean Restaurant. If you're of a more adventurous spirit and want some local flavor, go to the 100-year-old historic Russian restaurant "Hua Mei Shi Canting." You may have to wait in line for half an hour, but it's worth it.

People here would also recommend a visit to Harbin Tiger Park (Harbin Dongbeihu Linyuan), which has about 700 wild tigers, including rare Mt. Paektu tigers, and skiing. The winter is long here, with ice and snow not melting until mid-March. So if you think you haven't done enough skiing and winter sports this winter, Harbin's the place for you. In fact, the 24th World Winter University Games opened just this Wednesday in Harbin, with a lavish ceremony. China wants to use the Universiade as a testing ground to eventually bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, making it a competitor of Korea's PyeongChang.

To Koreans, the Chinese city is also historically well-known for being where prominent Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, in 1909, assassinated Ito Hirobumi, the first prime minister of Japan, who played a leading role in colonizing Korea.

Currently, there is little trace of Ahn in the city, except for a triangle mark on the assassination site, which is located at the number 1 platform of the Harbin Train Station.

Ahn was executed in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian in 1910. South Korea last year asked China to halt construction on a site where Ahn's remains are believed to be buried.

Getting to Harbin is easy, with flights directly linking it with Incheon.boston.sunny@yahoo.com

Fair trade rocks!!!

Handmade paper
Fresh-cut flowers

The chocolate is also divine

Rain Rain Rain. Getting ready for Ostara.

The rain is here again. It has been dry and sunny.
Spring is just emerging. The rain will bring needed
help for our mother to shower us with her color and radiance.
I am already making strategies in my head.
Serrano peppers here, green beans over there
hmmm, cucumbers and lettuce.
Tomatoes and onions. I dig making salsa!!! Yum!

Then, the joy of picking wild berries! Making jam!
Chasing the starlings from the bush and getting the good ones.
The wild flowers that will cover the meadows.
The green has begun. The deer are roaming the yard.
The red-breasted robins are coming back in full force.
The ravens and crows forced to share the nourishment of the ground.

The rain does fall, causing my mind to
wonder and delight in the earth's
magnificent rhythm.

thoughts of you

If I could
you would catch me
kissing your left cheek
right cheek
crawling on your lap
head in your neck
smelling you
feeling your pulse
listening to your voice
lull me into space

Would you like this gingerbread cookie G???

Yes! I want it!!!

"He poo'd out his head."

Native American history put right! For our Children!

http://www.oyate.org/
Click on the girl's picture to enter site.

This site is a great resource. My son is in 3rd grade and has a unit on the native peoples of our land. I used many books and guides on this web-site. It might be an eye-opener for some who may enjoy some books they advise to avoid. I have bought items from them and encourage you to do the same. I also found many books at my local library. I feel so passionately about telling the truth of the first nations. They/we have survived and our part of our world today. Not just bows and arrows, civilizations filled with diverse human beings. Thank you.
Peace
This is from the site:

My name is Raven. When I was in the third grade, our class read The Courage of Sarah Noble. In this book they said Indian people were savages and murderers, they chop your head off and eat you alive and that we were not really people. When the class put on the play for the whole school, the kids started taunting me, calling me "stinky" and asking me how many people I've eaten. Nobody would play with me or even sit next to me in class...I felt so ashamed. Finally, I told my mother I didn't want to go back to school.
—Raven Hoaglen (Maidu/Konkow/Wailaki/Mono)


Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us. For Indian children, it is as important as it has ever been for them to know who they are and what they come from. For all children, it is time to know and acknowledge the truths of history. Only then will they come to have the understanding and respect for each other that now, more than ever, will be necessary for life to continue.

Feeling life

http://vimeo.com/3262788
Please watch this video.
For some reason the embeded is not working:(
Its a celebration of a life short, but filled with feeling life.
Peace

Twilight fun

I was a bit shocked to get Alice. Then again, I am fiesty and cute ;p
I do like her character in the series. Her spirit and energy gave the novels needed sparks.
I am on Jacob's team.
The books are at times redundant and focus on typical high school banter.
However, I was a sucker for a love story. I remember the tingles and longing for another during this time in my life.
Actually, I still feel tingles and longing.
Lately, I have been giggly and grinning a bit more.........

love

Do you see that face?

That nose?

Those feet?

The hair

the cheeks

the side-view

The laughter.

The look! Ohh mad......

But, wait

my luck has changed.

A grin, dimples

a kiss

a hug

LOVE

hunger attack

If it could be this easy. Serotonin is a tricky some. Makes you highhhhh as your mind is capable. But, can cause havoc in your body- migraines and vertigo. There is a big one tho. One that serotonin is famous for........

In this world it's called depression. It could also be sensitive or intuitive emotional. Either way, medication is often prescribed. To insure it's effectiveness don't drink or do drugs. Oh, and if you are horny, better up the dose. Can't have tooooo much fun while we are at it.

Don't get too comfy with your clothes, cause your weight just might go up and up. But, remember it's for the common good. No need to have non-neurotically people out on the prowl. Could get sticky.

Every once in awhile you can skip a pill. Feel the rush, the emotions that are all too human. Night filled with acid-like color dreams that transport the mind to other realms.

tsk tsk

hmmm, I guess I am being a good girl. I am hungry.

few thoughts on mr. change man

(wrote this a bit ago, just a bit tho)

ohh mr change
we all gonna wait to see it to believe it
mr washington with your soft appointments
perpetuating a system that sucks life out of this country

lets all chant away
so we can go back to the life of complacency
that two party system of keeping america bipolar and well medicated
with candidate ads and flag stick pins
famous singing about the new glossy public whore
ohhh yes we can ohh yess we can
we can keep on going down
this road to nowhere

That's Who

I have a secret friend
shhhh.....................giggle, giggle.

note to self

it's snowing
hmmm, wear socks tomorrow you foolish girl!

May your spirit be free

http://kyleroger.blogspot.com/
Dirty knees sweet smiles
dog kisses and fuzzy blankets
sticky hands, tangy taste, more please
Run run fast, slide, swing, fly
May your spirit be free
Your new journey filled with laughter and
peace



You will be missed
We light a candle for your spirit
Good journey Kyle

Been There Done That LiSt

The Been There Done That List
Thanks to :
Rudegirls worldhttp://prsweet.blogspot.com/

The BOLD/color is what I have done................let's go see

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (???)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
Whew! Well, I have done a bit! However, seems I need a few more adventures!
PEACE~!

A Walk in the Fog

Pagan Family

http://www.thepookapages.com/
Wonderful website for pagan families! The Imbolc newsletter if full of wonderful ideas! The herb sented bath sounds heavenly!

BLessed Imbolc

Oh Blessed Brigit
Inspiring poets
Goddess of the holy well and sacred flame.
Today we celebrate the awakening of spring.
We light the fire to mark the return of the light from the dark winter.
We braid the bread, made with grain and fire.
We hang the white cloth outside on the eve
absorbing your energy we may later need for inspiration.
It has been said your name translates as fiery arrow.
When we receive a brilliant idea from the muse
we do indeed proclaim that we are all fired up!

The christians wanted to put out your sacred flame and creativity.
No matter. They were no match for you.
Simply calling you Saint Brigit
to lay claim to your land, people and spirit
Yet, if one looks thought he haze
of this spell cast, they will find many
who keep your fire alive
for they know you bring the light, the ewes, healing
you bring good fortune and the knowledge
the light is coming
the darkness is retreating.