zanshin

http://chinesefortunecalendar.com/2013ChineseHoroscope.htm Gives some individual and general info. How about year in general though? How will Water Snake year effect politics, economy and people overall?

Eastern Star is US, in my understanding mostly a group for spouses and family members of the male group.

My dad went to high school in rural Ohio. During hunting season, sometimes boys would take a shotgun to school and stow it in a locker so they could go out and hunt after class. They all carried pocket knives too, no one thought this was problem at that time.

Take daily salt baths if you can. Make sort of a ritual of washing your hands when leaving places of illness or after dealing with difficult family members, this is good for you both physically and spiritually. And I agree spending time and attention with your dying relative is very valuable, especially quiet sitting or talking about old times while you still can, administrative things and estate planning must be done but should be secondary to feeling love for the one who is leaving this plane. Love to you too, last week lost a loved one after a decline and period of hospice care myself, at least minimal drama. In any case it is difficult, not feeling a very festive holiday season.

Sitting here having pie and coffee as I watched the worm eating contest, still finished, still want another piece. Tragedy last week, I cried a lot. Probably couple year ago would have felt the same as you, detached. Don't exactly understand what changed. I think media is so impersonal though, perhaps spending time with real people, nature, doing physical things. Even meditation can reinforce a sense of separateness. Are there things or people in your life that are causing you to perhaps subconsiously shut down and make walls as an adaptive reaction?

I agree with the friendly neighbor approach at least at first. Maybe go tell him you heard banding and wanted to make sure they were okay and see if they needed help with whatever they are building.

I think everyone is trying to understand why and how this could happen. It doesn't work, you can't apply reasons and use logic to figure out something is that is absolutely illogical.

"Maybe our ancestors suffered and endured so much with hope some one would find the way and lead them into nirvana."- from you, post 25. Mostly we might agree, but I did not like that line at all. I feel it diminishes the experience of grand old folks who had some bad times as we all do, but also had some fun along the way and loved deeply. I've probably already done a whole lot better than I deserve, lucky me in samsara, right now, not overly concerned with getting.

Tripping Over Joy What is the difference Between your experience of Existence And that of a saint? The saint knows That the spiritual path Is a sublime chess game with God And that the Beloved Has just made such a Fantastic Move That the saint is now continually Tripping over Joy And bursting out in Laughter And saying, “I Surrender!” Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think You have a thousand serious moves. ~ Hafiz

You can do it in Mormonism. You can get your ancestors recorded in something and then they can get into heaven, don't remember the details. It involves money. I'm sure I sounded cynical and you're trying to be lovely and encouraging. I really do think an attitude of going through life thinking it is all something to suffer and endure with the only hope that there might be an escape to something better is pretty dismal and depressing. First of all we don't really know what's beyond this life, if we did there wouldn't be all these different ideas and religions. Maybe it's scary to think we might not be able to control our eventual fate which for 99.999% is going to be death and then maybe whatever is next, if anything. We can control our attitude right now. Life isn't perfect, but it has can have some perfect parts. Even suffering itself can be beautiful, it can bring wisdom and temper people's souls.

I like to sit on footstools. How about me? (shutting up already).

pretty sure my guardian angle is obtuse.

I think you're asking about the more freeform self made sigils used in chaos magic (op)? Bind rune is a type a sigil. I think you have to be careful combining cultures, to use something Abrahamic and throw in runic symbols, consider the vibe between cultures might be unfriendly or at least confusing.

PErhaps it is negative to think about nirvana, seems like a setup for disappointment. Why not accept what is? Seems like seeking nirvana and to end rebirth a huge ego trip. All my ancestors have suffered and have or will die; I'm sure I'm in no way superior to avoid this fate.

Minks make nice warm coats, buffalo is a tasty nutritious meat, but it's all so cruel. And the mincing Maoist master from Minsk spoke medeival Mandarin.

My Grandma from Minsk once minced up a mouse to spice up the mincemeat, so- yes it is! I disagree with it not being a confessional thread, because I must admit the Minskian minced mouse mincemeat pastry was quite tasty.

I can and yeah, I think so too. It is hard to tell what's psychological and what's organic or energetic component though. It seems sort of empowering even altruistic to get a guy off without reciprocation sometimes and then the effect of becoming sexually wound up without orgasm for yourself. But, does seem to be a little more energizing effect to swallow than not. A basic premise of the White Tigress book already mentioned, which I wish I hadn't read because now it feels a little predatory instead of altruistic. Among many other factors, I wouldn't want to absorb essence from random sleazy guys, because it seems like energetically there might be others factors in that energy I would not want to assimilate anyway.

I also concur.

The post by White Wolf points out what might seem like a weird old coincidence this similarity between Wyrd (Norse Orlog) as fate, destiny and the process of becoming and word as we express in speech, it is relvant to the discussion. Words as spells, pretty common concept actually. Where would the human race be without language? In modern times we have the Secret, idea that your very thoughts can change your destiny. Probably ancient people were right to have reverence toward words and expecially written language. Now we just talk silly on the internet and are casual with our words. Runes do seem to tap into some old archtypes that imo should be taken quite seriously.

Did you all read about the aets ascribed to Freya, Heimdall and Tyr?

Odin is an aspect of Hermes (probably the most suped up of any culture).

You're right dogs herd cattle but don't produce them. But fossils are meaningless, tricksy old dinosaurs did it to sidetrack us, doesn't prove a thing.

http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/ Lots of info on runes and Nordic spirituality.

Tomatoes were thought to be poisonous at certain times in history. They do upset my stomach a little and sometimes tomato sauces give me little sores in my mouth. Pasta with cheese or cream sauce on it is tasty, but then no energy and nap time. Pasta with vegetables and a little olive oil seems fine for energy though, so maybe it is about the combination rather than components. Thanks for chart, may get the book.

Of course ten thousand mice came from the two. But nothing reproduces by going down.