mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Iris
April 5, 2013
— 1 Comment
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- indigo
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- rosey
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- bright yellow
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- yellow
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- purple and gold
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- peach
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- peachy
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- blossoms
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- close up
Iris means rainbow in Greek, the name of a messenger goddess . The flower has been used in medicine and perfumery for many centuries. The symbolic fleur-de-lis is a stylized iris used in many coats of arms, and by the New Orleans Saints. In healing the essence of iris is used for seeing. Notice that the iris can only look up.
Art and Practice
April 4, 2013
This month many writers are writing a poem a day in NaPoWriMo..the poetry challenge. I am accomplished in a few expressive ways, but I have not visited my poet for years. I was a prolific song writer as a teenager, and wrote poetry every day of some kind. I am a language fan, loving words because they sound funny or because they have obscure specific meanings. Being poetic, or even doing rhymes as improvisational humor, sharpens the wit, grows the vocabulary and enhances connections and metaphoric images.
When I was young I heard my father recite the Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W Service. He knew it by heart. After a couple of drinks he liked to sing, dance or recite that poem. It was always entertaining. He was a research scientist by profession, but my parents loved music and dance more than anything. We had a player piano which was the scene of many sing a long parties. What was truly admirable about my parents was their artistry. They had regular suburban lives, but my dad was an accomplished musician, and my mother designed and executed both landscape environments and fashion with amazing professionalism. My mother was a prize-winning floral arranger, and avid flower show horticulturist.
I was encouraged , and in some cases forced, to practice art. Piano was a mandatory 30 minutes every day of my life, and a legal pad sheet of cursive handwriting had to be inspected by my father each night. I eventually realized I could recycle some of the handwriting, but there was no faking the piano. My guitar and voice lessons came with mandatory practice sessions when I was in high school. I learned the power of practice at a very young age. Discipline is never natural to kids and maybe my parents overdid the whole rigidity thing. Today, however, I thank Dick and Ruby Morse, the living artists, who gave me the self confidence to know that I can be any kind of artist I care to be. My art will reflect my practice, and with practice I will improve. All poems, all songs, all dances are alive and need to be brought forth. Practice is the vehicle in which they travel into the light.
Sensazione
April 3, 2013
— 9 Comments
Refinement of all the senses leads to a full and more interesting life. Leonardo da Vinci was a student of all phenomena. His seven guiding principals for living were at the heart of all his work. They are his core values, upon which his reputation rests. By reading his notebooks and studying his drawings we can see that his constant eagle eye was at work observing nature. Sensazione, or the development of all the senses, was a big reason Leonardo became as productive as he did. He felt that by making notes and drawings of his sensual observations he grasped more of the meaning around him. He used his notebooks to create, invent, and make beautiful art.
He gives advise on keeping a listener engaged by carefully noting his posture, body language, and facial expressions. By focus and intent to see clearly sight can be developed into insight. The training of all the senses to be more apt, more receptive, and more able to understand reality was a lifetime practice of the master. Vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch and synesthesia (the ability to describe one sense in terms of another) were all parts of this whole. Sight became the best developed of his abilities, which contributed to his artistic talent.
How do you use your senses to take in the world? Have you ever tried to improve on what you have in the sense department? I was a potter for many years, so my sense of touch was developed beyond the others during that time. I had to feel the center of the wheel, and the thickness of the clay with precision or….no pot was made…back to mud. Taste and smell may be my most developed senses now. I cook, bake, and experiment as a cocktail creator. I like making a variety of teas and baths with my garden herbs. Do you have one particular sense that is your strongest? We know what Leonardo would do. He would forever practice to refine them all.
Wellness Account
April 3, 2013
Paying attention is the first step to wellness. Our individual health is like a bank account. We deposit good constitution and healthy habits such as whole fresh food and solid rest. When things go wrong it is impossible to tell which check has overdrawn the account. If you take out more than you put in this will always be the result. Rather that be too crazy about diagnosis and specific remedies, a good overview can help sort out the most crucial from the unimportant. How and why do you use your own resources to damage your health?
Our bodies consist of an advanced bundle of cells and energy connected to create this network of life, feeling and emotion. We are a conduit to something fantastic and sometimes unimaginable; a Responsive Universe…. Our bodies are our best friends. We need to listen to our bodies signals – wellness is the only true focus. Are you listening?
Please check out my latest article published at MindBodyGreen which focuses on listening to our bodies and how we can positively respond to those signals…
Do You Listen To Your Body’s Signals?
John C. Bader
About the Book: www.responsiveuniverse.com
Now Available: Amazon Barnes & Noble
Easter Gourmet
April 1, 2013
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- fresh orange juice mimosas
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- centerpiece
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- Bob’s Bloody Mary
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- Menu fabulous
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- Bob reads menu
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- homemade bread with homemade jam
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- happy choices
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- omelette for Mindy
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- country fried steak
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- Toast side for my quiche
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- dessert tray to share
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- Mindy chooses dessert
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- Bunny says good bye
We had the best time at brunch yesterday with our neighbor Mindy. We arrived as service began and enjoyed wonderful attentive wait staff, a great ambiance, and most of all, delicious food. The Lodge on the Dessert is our new total favorite place to celebrate holiday meals. Christmas was good, and Easter perfect. I do not enjoy all you can eat buffet, or anything that resembles it. I don’t even want to see other people eating like that. Tucson’s Iron Chef, Ryan Clark, rocked the a la carte cuisine for the omnivores and also for me, a nice lacto-ov0 vegetarian girl. We were too full to finish our desserts, so we packed it to take home. As we headed out many families were arriving with eggs, baskets, kids and some darling fashion. We will be back..hungry.
Henry Burt, 13th Great Grandfather
March 31, 2013
Burt Coat of Arms
Henry Burt (1595 – 1662)
is my 13th great grandfather
daughter of Henry Burt
daughter of Mary Burt
son of Abigail Brooks
son of Isaac Preston
daughter of William Preston
son of Susannah Preston
daughter of John McGilliard
son of Mary McGill
daughter of John Wright
daughter of Mary Wright
daughter of Emiline P Nicholls
daughter of Harriet Peterson
daughter of Sarah Helena Byrne
son of Olga Fern Scott
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Henry Burt was born about 1595 at Harberton, Devon Co, probably the second son of Henry. He married Ulalia March at Dean Prior, Devon County on December 28, 1619. He came to New England in the Spring or Summer of 1639, and with his wife and seven children settled at Roxbury, MA. Shortly after he settled there, his house was burned, for whatever reason, and, in November of 1639, the General Court made a grant to the town in the amount of 8 Pounds because of the loss . He moved to Springfield in 1640 and was Clerk of the writs (aparently the town recorder). But it is strange that his own childrens’ births are not recorded in the town. He died in Springfield, April 30, 1662.
Henry Burt, Jr
Born: About 1595 in: Harberton, Devon, England Married: December 28, 1619 in: Dean Prior, Devon, England Died: April 30, 1662 in: Springfield, MA
Ulalia March Born: About 1598 in: England Died: August 29, 1690 in: Springfield, MA
We know a lot about his life:
Documented events in his life were:
1. Mention in Will, Inv. or Prob.; 10 Jul 1617; Harberton, Devon, ENG 2. Legacy in father’s will.
2. Parish Record; 28 Dec 1619; Dean Prior, Devon, ENG 2. Record of Marriage.
3. Emigrant Ancestor; Between 1638-1639. One source say that he may have come on the Ship James in 1635, but he isn’t listed among the passengers.
4. Lawsuit; 13 Jan 1641/42; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. Henry Burt Complaines against Judith Gregory in an action of the Case for breach of Covenant in Molestinge him in his daughter Sara[h] Burt. Judith Gretory was 3 tymes caled by the Constable to answer the action abovesaid and she appeared not.
5. Town Office; 26 Sep 1644; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 6. By general vote of the town, Henry Smith, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Chapin, Richard Sikes, & Henry Burt were elected Selectmen with power “to order in all the prudential affaires of the Towne, to prevent anythnge they shall judge to be to the dammage of the Towne or to ordr anything they shall judge to be for the good of the Towne: and in these affaires they shall have power for a yeere space and that they, 5, or any three of them shall also be given full power and virtue, alsoe to here complaints, to Arbitrate controversies, to lay out High ways, to make Bridges, to repayr High wais … to see to the Scouring of Ditches, and to the killing of wolves, and to training up of children in some good caling, or any other thing they shall judge to be to the profitt of the Towne.
6. Oath of Freemanship/Allegiance; 14 Apr 1648; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. Henry Burt was sworne to be Freeman
7. Military Service; 7 Nov 1648; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. “Henry Burt was this day sworne Clarke of the Band”
8. Town Office; 29 May 1649; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. “Henry Burt was chosen Clark of the writts for this Towne. This day all the printed lawes were read: the whole Towne being present:”
9. Lawsuit; 29 Mar 1659; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. Henry Burt Plantiff contra James Bridgman defendant in an action of debt to the vallue of 27 19s 4d.
10. Credit; 16 Sep 1659; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 7. Henry Burt CR
Sept 16 1659
By Wm. Deines 00 02 00
11. Jury Duty; 7 Apr 1660; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. Served on the jury investigating the death by drowning of Ebenezer Herman, youngest child of John Herman who was found dead in the brook in Nathaneell Pritchard’s yard. The death was ruled accidental.
12. Jury Duty; 25 Sep 1660; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5.
13. Lawsuit; 14 May 1661; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. “Henry Burt Complaines against John Henryson for not paying of Three bushells of wheate according to promise for spinning and knitting of Stockens. To which John Henryson says that the debt which he owes Henry Burt is but 10s and this he ingaged 2 bushells of wheate towards it and noe more: and he hat paid Henry Burt in worke so that Henry Burt owes him 8x for worke: Henry Burt ownes owing him 8s which says he John Henryson was to have a shurt cloth for and John owning it is adjudged to take the shurt cloth: and for the other 10s John Henryson is adjudged to pay Henry Burt Two bushells ow wheate (7s) and Three shillings in a day and halfe worke.”
14. Jury Duty; 24 Sep 1661; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5.
15. Will; 30 Apr 1662; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. “Henry Burt of Springfeild who departed this life Aprill 30th 1662, not leavinge any will under his owne hand for the disposing of his leigh, estate yet for that he did by words express his mind therein before Ensigne Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt who by a writing under their hands presented the Same unto this Corte: a coppy whereof hereafter follows, the Widdow Burt before the Corte consenting thereunto The Corte allowed the same to stand as the Last will and testament of the said Henry Burt.
We Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt doe testify, That after Henry Burt now deceastl had disposed of part of his estate to his Son Nathaneell, the said Henry had Such expressions as these. vizt. that what estate he had then left should be at his wifes dispose as witness our hand This 29th of September 1662.
Thomas Cooper: Jonathan Burt
To the truth hereof in the mind of the said Henry Burt the said Ensigne Cooper & Jonathan Burt tooke thier oath in the presence of the Corte:
16. VR – Death; 30 Apr 1662; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 8. Burt, Henry “the Clark of ye Writtts”, d. 30th of Apr. in ye evening and buried May 1, 1662
17. Inventory Taken; 11 Sep 1662; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. An Inventory of ye estate of Henry Burt of Springfield, deceased, taken Sept. 11, 1662. Also the Widow Burt before the Corte made oath that this is a true Inventory of her said deceased husband’s estate.
A remnent of broadcloth œ1.00
One remnent of gray kersey 10s
One cloak 10s
One suit of clothes 1.00
One hat, 12s–chest–10s 1.02
One Jackett 5
A pound of hemp and flax œ0.12
Several other small things 1.00
Other particular things 10
The housing and land at ye town 45,00
Corn at ye town 1.00
5 pair of sheets 2.10
2 pillow cases 5
2 bed ticks, 20s–one bed, 20s 2.00
3 blankets and 1 rug 2.10
Pillows 1.00
Brass pan and kettles 5.00
One iron pott 12s–pewter 30s 2.02
A warming pan and frying pan 15
Wooden wear 40s, 3 bottles 5s 2.05
Books 10s–2 wheels 8s 18
1 smoothing iron 4s, a hatchell 8s 12
A branding, 3 bellows and clevis 09 72.15
3 Seves .04s
Sellers and fencing œ5.00
2 axes, 3 sithes, 1 beetle ring 1.00
Swine 4.10
2 oxen 14.00
3 cows 11 00
3 young cattle 5 00
15 acres of land 22.00
5 acres of land 7.10
18 acres corne 20.00
16 loads of hay 8.00
Yarn 7 lbs., bedclothes 8.00
One chest .05
Two guns 2.10
Taken by Geo Colton 108.19
” “Benj Cooley 72.15
Total 181.14
Debts. To Mr Pynchon 45.00
To John Drake 1.07
To Mr. Hab. Glover 17
Sam Maudford 16
John Stewart 15
Total 50.10
Cycles of Rebirth
March 30, 2013
— 6 Comments
Aesculapius
I: And the crown? Solve the riddle of the crown for me!”
Soul Bird: “The crown and serpent are opposites, and are one. Did you not see the serpent that crowned the head of the crucified?”
I: “What, I don’t understand you.”
Soul Bird: “What words did the crown bring you?
“Love never ends”-that is the mystery of the crown and the serpent.” ~Carl Jung; Red Book.
Carl Jung was the son of a reform minister who grappled with his own religion throughout his life. He had high aspirations and did some deep Dante style soul searching. His final spiritual expression was the Red Book, published after his death. In it he links symbols to deeper meaning. He was a student not only of mythology and history, but also of the ancient sciences. He studied the astrologers and the work of the alchemists to find clues to the collective consciousness as it has passed down through history. He was interested in Kundalini, the serpent coiled at the base of the energetic spine.
During the time of Christ the GrecoRoman god of healing Aesculapius was still popular. Cures and diagnosis in the cult of this demi god involved dreams and dream healing. His symbol, and indeed his assistants in healing temples, were the snakes. They were deemed to be powerful psychics. The symbol of the snake as natural healer was traded for the image of snake, the temptation of Eve, which got everyone thrown out of the Garden of Eden, reptiles included. We are not sure who lives there now..
If you have dreams of crowns or serpents, pay special attention. Something may be attempting rebirth within your soul.
Feminist Fatale
March 27, 2013
— 5 Comments
One of my gentle readers, Rick, brought the movie It’s Always Fair Weather to my attention in our discussion of the femme fatale archetype. This 1955 production features some superb dancing, including Gene Kelly doing an early version of Stomp, tap dancing with trash can cover on one foot. WWII changed social roles and put women into the workplace for the war effort. After the war they were expected to be housewives without careers, and without support other than from the man of the house. I can imagine how the most popular actresses who portrayed femme fatale roles must have envied by every housewife in America. Who did not want to be Marilyn Monroe? Cyd Charisse, dancing above, plays a powerful business woman in the movie. She vamps a bit in her dance with the boxers, but she is only a warm up for the real feminist power performance.
The amazing dance number Rick pointed out from the movie is much more outlandish than Diamonds are a Girl’s Best friend or anything Marilyn ever did. Midnight with Madeline is the funniest camp vamp tribute to this character stereotype I have ever seen. Dolores Gray is over the top marvelous in this spoof (??) on Broadway musical style. There had to be at least a few women who enjoyed watching her take control of all the guys in suits. A romp through Hollywood history shows us that the femme fatale role can include socio-political meaning, and satire. Thank you, Rick, for bring this to my attention. It is classic.
Charlton Heston meets Dame Edith
March 23, 2013
The relatively dead Charlton Heston is resurrected to play Ben Hur and Moses this time of the year. His public image at his death with his cold fingers wrapped around his gun have somehow surpassed that of the young buff actor who played these religious roles. He came to stand for the NRA, and the NRA has come to stand for a whole lot. Some old angry dude lent his celebrity to the NRA like Clint Eastwood did for the Republican party. Somehow an untarnished reputation as a pure actor seems more valuable to me than these actor endorsements of political positions. Their mothers told them that if they die in a political public outrage their face will freeze like that ( in the public memory). If Charlton is believable in Planet of the Apes, then he is not believable as a political voice of the people. We never should have allowed Ronnie and Nancy to ride out of Hollywood and into the White House, blurring the lines between politics and showbiz. At least Dame Edna shows the proper amount of respect.
Dreams and Dreamers
March 22, 2013
— 5 Comments
Your dreams are personal and they arise from the collective unconscious as well as your own. We all share a foundation of unknown mythology that our ancestors built into our beliefs. We share, and sometimes rebel against, cultural practices and teachings. To deeply analyze our own psychological types dream work is necessary. The setting and the characters portrayed in dreams are metaphorical players in our spiritual lives. Deeper understanding of our own unconscious leads to better understanding and appreciation for all of life.
There has been an attempt to hijack the word dream and turn it into a house or a car, or that illusive American Dream. The big consumer consciousness promotes purchases of certain items in order to fulfill a dream. It also spotlights outer image as the key to dreaminess. I think it is important to note that marketing experts use the personality types to design ad campaigns and sales persons use them to craft the appropriate pitch for the prospect. The archetype technique is being used strategically to manipulate you and your dreams. If you submit willingly you will buy a lot of stuff with dubious dream fulfillment. Take the reigns, gentle reader. Design your own dreamscapes and accept no substitutes.
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