mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Sir Thomas, Customer, Smith, 13th Great Grandfather
January 6, 2013
— 3 Comments
Sir THOMAS
My 13th great grandfather pissed off the Tudors several times. It appears that the customs office of the queen was privately held somehow, like outsourcing. Elizabeth I gave him the job of collecting customs fees, but he was taken to court for shortages more than once. His son, Sir Thomas Smith was instrumental in colonizing the world from the British Isles. Just like my mother’s Taylors, these Smiths marry some other Smiths down the line, just to keep everyone guessing.
Sir Thomas SMITH was born 1522 in Weston Hanger, Kent Co, England. He died 7 Jun 1597 in Kent, England. Sir married Alice JUDDE on 1554 in Weston Hanger, Kent Co, England
The Harris and Smith families were interested in the discovery and development of Virginia. He is referred to as “Customer” Smith and rose from obscurity in Queen Elizabeth’s time by marrying the daughter of Sir Andrew Judd, the Lord Mayor, of humble origins himself. THOMAS SMYTHE of Corsham, Wiltsbire, England was born in 1522 and died 7 June 1591 leaving a will. He married ALICE JUDDE, daughter of Sir ANDREW and MARY Mirfyn/Mervyn JUDDE. “Item. I give and bequeath to the children of my sonne in law, WILLIAM HARRIS, Esquire,BR> which he hath or shall beget uppon the bodie of my daughter ALICE, his wife, the like somme of five hundred and fiftie pounds to be equally divided between them. And if any of them shall fortune to decease, then the parts and portion of such as shall decease to remayne and be paid and divided indifferently between the Survivors of them.”
27. Alice JUDDE was born 1535 in Weston Hanger, Kent, England. She died 1593 in England.
ALICE (Judde) SMYTHE, widow of THOMAS, dau of ANDREW and MARY JUDDE, left a will dated 10 July 1592 London, proved 1598 in Prerogative Court of Canterbury. “Item. I bequeath to my daughter HARRIS my Jewell Ringe, an of Diamonds, A table cloth of Damask of the Story of Samyell conteyn inge five yeards in length, A doble Lowell and two dozen of napkins and two chayres of crymson silk taffeta. “Item. I give to her sonne THOMAS HARRIS twentie pounds, and to Arthur, her sonne, tenne pounds to be paid at theire ages of twentie and one yeres. “item. To her daughter Al ice, twentie pounds, And to her daughter Dorathie tenne pounds to be payde to the same daughters at their marriages or ages of twentie and one yeres, whichsoever of the same time shall first happen.”
SIR THOMAS “CUSTOMER” SMITH 2 (1530 – 1591)
is my 13th great grandfather
Son of SIR THOMAS “CUSTOMER”
Son of Sir Thomas
Son of Christopher Lawrence
Son of Col John Speaker Burgess
Son of Capt John
Daughter of Augustine Warner
Daughter of Martha
Son of Mary
Son of Johannes John
Son of Henry
Son of Swain
Daughter of Jerimiah
Son of Minnie M
Son of Ernest Abner
I am the daughter of Richard Arden
Gabriel Whelden, Rebel in Plymouth Colony
January 3, 2013
— 6 Comments
There are many records of my 10th Great Grandfather who ran away as soon as he got to America:
Gabriel Wheldon and brothers deserted ship at Plymouth. To escape punishment and being sent back to England in chains, they went inland to Massasoit’s village at Po ko net, and took to wife a daughter of a brother of Massasoit, although he had a wife in England. After children were born through the good offices of Massasoit and the English at Plymouth not wishing to offend him, consented to try Gaberial and his brothers at the Plymouth court.He was sentenced to dwell at Mattachees on land that was ceded by HighYannough at the request of Massasoit in lieu of certain annual tribute paid Massasoit by the Cape Tribes. One of Gabriel’s brothers went back to England and Gaberial and the other brother stayed in the Colonies. It was many years before Gaberial was made a freeman, and he had to go outside the jurisdiction to become one.
Gabriel Whelden (1600 – 1655)
is my 10th great grandfather
Daughter of Gabriel
Son of Ruth
Daughter of John
Daughter of Abigail
Daughter of Martha
Daughter of Grace
Son of Sarah
Son of John Nimrod
Son of John Samuel
Son of William Ellison
Daughter of George Harvey
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee
The first known Whelden in the line in America was Gabriel Whelden of Plymouth. He is believed to have been born in England, but the date and place are not proven. It is commonly stated that Gabriel Whelden originated in Nottinghamshire, but no records have been found to substantiate it. The author Pope reports he found a record of a land sale in Middlesex county files where Gabriel in 1653 sold land he owned in Nottingham to William Cross. The head archivist of these records, Elizabeth Bouvier has been unable to find any such record.
The Wheeldon/Wheelton family, which has not yet been connected to Gabriel Wheldon, finds the earliest spelling located to-date is Whyldon (christenings of sons of William Whyldon at Astbury, Cheshire: Matthew, 14 Dec 1574; John 14 Mar 1584; per LDS IGI ). In “Homes of Family Names in Great Britain”, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968) H. B. Guppy noted that the surname Wheelton as “peculiar” or “confined mostly to this county [Cheshire].” He indicated it was more specifically associated with Macclesfield. The surname is concentrated in the ancient Parish of Prestbury, which originally included Macclesfield. Additionally, “pockets” of Wheeldon ~ Wheelton individuals settled in the Cheshire / Derbyshire / Staffordshire border area known as “The Potteries.”
Was Margaret (Oguina) a Wampanoag?
Gabriel married Margaret Diguina (or Oguina), who may have been Gabriel’s second wife. Some say that Margaret was a Wampanoag Indian, although it is hotly disputed by many genealogists. Accordig to the Wampanoag theory Oguina was a child of 6 years in 1608 when a British fishing vessel picked her up along with other Wampanoags along a beach on Cape Cod. She was taken to England where she baptized and given the English name Margaret. She eventually married Gabriel Whelden.
Oguina was a daughter of Quadequina who in turn was a son of WAasaneginN. These geenrations were of the Algonkian nation of Massachusoi and tribe of Wampanoag.
Oguina’s descent is as follows:
1- WASANEGIN, born by 1554 begot 2-QUADEQUINA, born 1576. This year is determined from the fact that he was born in the year when the “Great Light” went out. European astronomers noted in 1576 that there was a Solar Eclipse. He, QUADEQUINA begot 3-OGUINA, born 1602 @ Wampanoag village in what is today Rhode Island.
Gabriel Whelden and Margaret (Oguina) had the following children:
- Ruth Whelden, who married Richard Taylor, and who died December 1673 in Yarmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts.
- Henry Whelden, who died 28 October 1694
- Katherne Whelden
- John Whelden, who died 20 November 1711
- Ralph Whelden
Gabriel died January 1653/1654 in Malden, Massachusetts. Following is his Last Will and Testament:
In the name of God, and in obedience to his comand (according to my bounden duty) I, Gabriell Whelding, of the Towne and Church of Maulden, being weake and sicke in body, do make my last will. My body to be layd asleepe in the bed of the grave, in the Common buriing lace for the Inhabitants of this Towne. I give 10s as a Small testimony of my true Love to the Church of Maulden, to be payd into the hands of the Deacons within a month after my decease. i give all my estate in Maulden, consisting of house, Frame Lands, cattle, and corne, (together [with] what money is due unto me from William Croffts, of Linne, to Margaret Whelding, my wife, who I appoynt my sole executrix.
In the presence of: Nathaniell Vphame, James Larnard, Michaiah Mathews, with others.
The part that seems far fetched to me is that Margaret was taken to England as kidnapped child. However, a recent piece of good luck on this very blog has introduced me to a fellow descendant, Ron Turner, who has more information about the story. The clues are many, and my interest could not be higher.
Unite and Lead
January 2, 2013
— 1 Comment
“Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe-German dramatist, novelist, poet, & scientist (1749 – 1832)
Capitalism does not require, nor naturally create great a disparity in wealth between the highest and lowest standards of living in a society. To create free markets we do not need to throw regulation out the window to favor a few insiders. We need to harmonize. We need to focus on lifting the entire society out of the sociological and economic gutter. The black plague in Europe sparked the Enlightenment after the Dark Ages. When people saw the oppressive and powerful upper class die at the same rate as all other classes, a great Wizard of Oz moment occurred. The belief in the old order was shattered, and a search for new knowledge was launched. Tyrants are all the same, dividing to conquer. Harmony requires, above all, keen listening skills. Can we use this moment, in which our government is in shambles, to abandon the old order for the good of all mankind? Can we retire the importance of ostensibly winning and loosing for long enough to seek a better way? Could this be the end of the American Empire as we know it?
Richard Taylor, “Tailor” of Plymouth Colony
January 1, 2013
My 9th great grandfather Richard Taylor, the tailor, of Plymouth Colony was described by an unknown source:
Richard was born in Europe and was three times the age of his wife, Ruth Wheldon. Ruth was ½ blood Wampanoag Indian, born at Yarmouth, daughter of Gaberial Wheldon and his wife Margaret, a full blood Wampanoag Indian. Margaret was the daughter of a Wampanoag Sagamore, a younger brother of Massasoit.
Richard Taylor (1620 – 1673)
is my 9th great grandfather
Son of Richard
Daughter of John
Daughter of Abigail
Daughter of Martha
Daughter of Grace
Son of Sarah
Son of John Nimrod
Son of John Samuel
Son of William Ellison
Daughter of George Harvey
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee
Below we see why two Richard Taylors married to two women named Ruth make for a pretty confusing story:
Richard TAYLOR (abt. 1620-1673), “tailor” Early settler of Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony. Not to be confused with his (possibly slightly younger) contemporary, also of Yarmouth: Richard Taylor (abt 1625-1703), farmer or husbandman of “The Rock”. Both were supposedly married to women by the name of Ruth. Vital statistics
Sex: Male
Born: about 1620 at England
Died: about 13 December 1673 at Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony, age at death unknown.
Interment: Probably at Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony
Richard Taylor’s origins and emigration are unknown. (But see below.)
Several histories and genealogies claim that Richard Taylor, tailor, married Ruth Whelden (abt 1625-1673), daughter of Gabriel Whelden, and that she was the “wife of Richard Taylor”, whose body was found in a boat, drowned, off Duxbury, MA about 3 December 1673. HOWEVER, the inquest records concerning the drowning do not provide her given name at all. They simply identify the body as “the wife of Richard Taylor, sometimes of Yarmouth.” This researcher (Jillaine 16:14, 28 July 2007 (UTC)) believes it’s just as likely that Ruth Whelden was married to Richard Taylor of the “Rock”– and that it is just as likely that the “Ruth, wife of Richard Taylor” who died in 1693 was the daughter of Gabriel Whelden. Older genealogies say that Richard “the Rock” Taylor was likely married to Ruth Burgess, but this has never been proven. So we have no proof of the name of Richard Taylor, tailor’s wife; but we do know that Richard Taylor, the “Rock” did have a wife Ruth who died in 1693.
Offspring
Ruth Taylor, b. July 29, 1647; buried in 1648.
Ann Taylor, b. Dec. 2, 1648; buried March 29, 1650, aged about 1-1/2 years.
Mary Taylor (1649-??), m. [Abijah Merchant (1651-?)]].
Martha (1650-1728), b. Dec. 18, 1650; m. Joseph Bearse of Barnstable Dec. 3, 1676; d. Jan. 27, 1727-8, aged 77, leaving issue.
John Taylor (1652-1721), m. 15 December 1674 Sarah Matthews, daughter of James Matthews.
Elizabeth Taylor (1655-1721), m. Dec. 20, 1680, Samuel Cobb (1651-?) of Barnstable; d. May 4, 1721, aged 66, leaving issue.
Hannah Taylor (1658-1743), m. as his 2d wife July 19, 1680, Deacon Job Crocker of Barnstable; d. May 14, 1743, in her 85th year, leaving issue.
Ann Taylor (1659-?), m. Josiah Davis, of Barnstable, June 25, 1679, and had issue.
Joseph Taylor (1660-?)
Sarah Taylor (?-1695); d. unmarried July 31, 1695. The inventory of Sarah Taylor of Barnstable was taken Aug. 16, 1695, and amount to £34 19s. Deacon Job Crocker and Samuel Cobb, brothers-in-law, were made administrators Sept. 23, 1695. The estate was, Sept. 13, 1695, ordered equally divided between the brothers and sisters of the deceased, given in the following order, to wit: John Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Mary Marchant, Martha Bearse, Elizbaeth Cobb, Hannah Crocker and Ann Davis. The inventory consisted of wearing apparel, five pounds of worsted yarn, a Bible, cattle, sheep and lambs, cash moneys due from Samuel Cobb and Joseph Bearse, &c.
Biography
The biographical information listed below could apply just as easily to Richard Taylor, the “Rock” with the exception of the 1674 will.
Early life and education Edit
There was a Richard Taylor, age 16, on the ship Truelove which departed Gravesend, England on 11 Jun 1635. Other Taylors on that ship were: James Taylor, 28; William Taylor, 17; Ann Taylor, 24.
Military service
1643 (August): He is first mentioned in the Colonial records as among those in Yarmouth between 16 and 60 years of age able to bear arms.
Career Edit
1648 (June 7): was a surveyor of highways for Yarmouth.
1651 (June 6): was sworn as a member of the grandjury.
1656 (May 30): with Edmond Hawes, Richard Taylor was witness to a deed of Samuel Mayo to John Phinney of Barnstable.
1656 (June 3): he was constable of Yarmouth.
1657 (June 3): he was one of the surveyors of highways there. That year he took the oath of fidelity.
Family life
1647 (Oct 28): Gabriel Whelden gave his assent for one Richard Taylor (many believe this one, but without documentation) to marry his daughter, Ruth Whelden.
1655 (May 28; July 27): Richard Taylor, tailor, among others suing widow Margaret Whelden, for a share of the estate left by Gabriel Whelden.
1673 (Dec 3): Richard’s wife, not named, was discovered drowned in a boat off Duxbury. Richard died within a couple of weeks.
Will of Richard Taylor Edit
(Source: James W. Hawes, “Richard Taylor, Tailor, and Some of His Descendants” in ‘Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy’, No. 48, 1914.) (Transcribed with original spelling maintained.)
The Court (March) 4, 1673-4, made the following order:
“Mr. John Gorum and Mr. John Thacher are joyned with John Taylor ( for the disposing of the estate of Richard Tayler to his children, and for the paying and receiving of debts according to order of Court. Concerning the estate of Richard Tayler, late of Yarmouth, deceased, this Court doth order, first, that the eldest son of the said Tayler shall have his fathers housing, and two thirds of the land, both upland and marsh, and the rest of his portion out of what of the estate Mr. Gorum and Mr. John Thacher shall judge most suitable for him, hee being by order of Court to have a dubble portion. 2condly, it is ordered, that the hay, and what provisions was or is upon the invoice of the estate that is now spent, or shalbe judged convenient for the family to spend betweixt this and the first of the next August, shall not be accounted to the estate, as like-wise what woole and flaxe hath bing spon by the daughters sence theire parents death shalbe accompanted theirs that spon it. The rest of the estate to be devided betweixt the second son and the five daughters, everyone an equall proportion, to bee set out to them as maybe most suitable for them, by the discretion of their eldest brother, and Mr. John Gorum, and Mr. John Thacher. The second son to have the other third of his father’s land, besides his portion equall to his sisters. Lastly, that nothing that hat bin already given or betowed by the said Taylor on any of this children, shall not be considered in the devision, but everyone of to have an equall proportion, after the payment of debts due from the estate.”
His inventory taken Dec. 13, 1673, and submitted to the Court under oath March 6, 1673-4, amounted to L199 4s 11d. The debts of the estate were L18 1s. 2d. Included in the inventory were 12 acres of upland, nine of meadow and three of marsh, which together with houses and some grain sown amounted to L60. The children named are John, Joseph, Martha and Mary. The inventory shows that he possessed a considerable many cattle, shep and hogs, one horse, corn, wheat, flax, provisions, 21 yards of cloth, lumber and household articles. There were due to him 38.5 barrels of tar, and John Blake of Boston owed him money. Some things had been given to the children in his life time.
Contributors:
Jillaine
Sources:
Richard Taylor, Tailor and Some of His Descendants, by James W. Hawes; C.W. Swift, publisher, Yarmouthport, Mass.: 1914.
Barnstable Probate Records
Plymouth Colony Records, Volume 5; pp. 122-123
Plymouth Colony Wills
NEHGS Register, Volume 3, 1849, p. 189 citing CR, Volume II, p. 18
NEHGS Register, Volume 4, 1850, p. 258.
NEHGS Register, volume 14, 1860, p. 354
The history of Cape Cod : annals of thirteen towns of Barnstable County, p. 182; p. 193.
History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, edited by Simeon L. Deyo. 1890. New York: H. W. Blake & Co.; CHAPTER XVII, pages 453-506. Town of Yarmouth, by Hon. Charles F. Swift.
James Savage, Vol. IV, p. 263
Torrey, Clarence Alman, New England Marriages, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985; p. 730
Court Files of Middlesex County, Mass., 1649-1675 (through NEHGS web site)
Middlesex Court Files Folio 11; HLS #409 and 411.
History of Yarmouth, 1884, p. 88
Black Sheep Ancestors
January 1, 2013
— 5 Comments
black sheep in dreadlocks
When a family member does something disgraceful or distasteful the general way it is handled is by denial. The person who commits suicide or bigamy or general black sheepery is dropped from the story. Three of my grandfathers, fall into this category. My paternal great-grandfather, Edward Ewing Scott, married another woman while he was married to my great-grandmother who had 4 young daughters at home. My other paternal great-grandfather , Jason A Morse, was referred to as a bum, had a wild Cherokee wife purported to be a witch (after his boy’s mother died), and was never mentioned favorably to me. I very recently have seen his picture which was sent to me by a cousin. My mother’s father, George H Taylor, killed himself at home leaving his 10 kids orphaned during the depression. I have never seen a picture of George H, and did not know about his suicide until I was a teenager. One of my first cousins had a very elaborate suicide downtown Houston in the 1960’s which brought the subject back to light. I remember thinking how weird it was that nobody had ever told me. His wife, my grandmother, had died at home as well, in childbirth. I knew about that, but not his suicide. This denial makes it very hard to find information about the black sheep and how they blackened themselves.
This is your shadow family. This is the information that has specifically not been given to you in an effort to protect you in some way. This is the nature that is hidden in an effort to improve the self-image of the family through spin. Everyone wants to believe that his or her family represents the best and most worthy genetic material. If you can remember your parents being imperfect, then you can extrapolate how imperfect your entire tree really may be. If you look closely you may be frightened that we all descend from loonies. If you look more closely you will see how this evens out over time. The concept of the family curse is as real as the family glory and royalty. We have all arrived at this point in history together because of a long line of imperfect beings who survived and tweaked the story along the way.
My First Job, Singing and Costuming
December 31, 2012
— 3 Comments
When I was 17 I was quite the singer. I sang in an acapella madrigal group in my high school in Texas. We were super professional thanks to our director, Frank, C “Elephant” Coulter, choir director extraordinaire. This small college town in Texas was all about football, the bonfire, and the war in Viet Nam. Frank came to work every day overdressed like a rooster and somehow instilled pure passion and discipline into high school students who generally wanted to slack. When I graduated Frank got me a job in Cherokee, North Carolina, where he spent the summers with his wife working at a theater company in the Great Smoky Mountains. Frank and Elizabeth ran the canteen, a snack bar and meeting place for the crew after our production 6 nights a week for the public, Unto These Hills.
I was the lowest paid and the youngest member of the company. I was a singer in the choir, which was live with an organ accompanist. I quick changed a few people each night including an eagle dancer into Andrew Jackson. There was much body paint involved in the eagle dance, and the stage is dirt, so costumes needed the weekly deep cleaning we did on Mondays in the costume shop. I sewed and repaired costumes for the first week while we were in preparation to get the show ready. Fittings were needed for actors and dancers, who were true to form, very theatrical. Our head eagle dancer was from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and could perform an entrechat huit. He also had a glass eye that he used to take out to scare the young Cherokee boys in the dressing room. When I see the above version of the eagle dance the costumes are familiar but the rest has lost quality. I am glad I was there when we sang it in the Cherokee language live and in person. You can never go back, especially if it has been 44 years. I recently visited Margaret Dorn in New York City, who sings for a living. We recorded a technically awful but sincere Eagle Dance Song and sent it to our friends in Raleigh who still know how to sing it too. It was certainly fun while it lasted.
My Tribe and History
December 31, 2012
— 6 Comments
Plymouth
It is enlightening to track my personality archetypes while I track my ancestors. There are similarities, highs and lows, temporary dead ends in both. You can’t change the ancestors and you can’t change your archetypes, in the same way that you can not rearrange the stars in the sky. When I was new in the genealogy game I went to Tulsa to meet a cousin based on only family legend and no facts to discover/confirm our Cherokee bloodline. We had a great time, but came up empty on the Native American theory. We both wanted it to be true, but my cousin’s husband was insanely convinced without any evidence. He really wanted a Cherokee wife. He was the worst detective I have ever seen.
While searching it is important to be open to discovering that for which what you were not looking. When I find a Plymouth Colony ancestor I am generally excited, fill in the blanks with some black britches and some assumptions. Richard Taylor was no regular Pilgrim. He fell in love and married a Wampanoag chief’s daughter. I have a tribe in Massachusetts. I never would have guessed this, but I am thrilled out of my mind. My 12th great-grandfather,Great Sachem, had been exposed to English fishermen, and had learned some language from them. He walked into the Pilgrim camp and said “Welcome Englishmen”, to the great surprise of the Englishmen.
Wasanequin Great Sachem Wampanoag tribe (1554 – 1617)
is my 12th great grandfather
Quadequina Wampanoag (1576 – 1623)
Son of Wasanequin Great Sachem
Margaret Diguina Weeks (1613 – 1651)
Daughter of Quadequina
Ruth Whelden (1625 – 1673)
Daughter of Margaret Diguina
John TAYLOR (1651 – 1690)
Son of Ruth
Abigail Taylor (1663 – 1730)
Daughter of John
Martha Goodwin (1693 – 1769)
Daughter of Abigail
Grace Raiford (1725 – 1778)
Daughter of Martha
Sarah Hirons (1751 – 1817)
Daughter of Grace
John Nimrod Taylor (1770 – 1816)
Son of Sarah
John Samuel Taylor (1798 – 1873)
Son of John Nimrod
William Ellison Taylor (1839 – 1918)
Son of John Samuel
George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)
Son of William Ellison
Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)
Daughter of George Harvey
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee
I am very interested in my tribe, and have already had contact from a fellow descendant who has some proof of our Nativeness. I am looking forward to his input and learnring more about my roots. Ironically these people helped the Pilgrims survive, but the tribe has no reservation today. This is an overview of my First Nation Family:
Pokanoket is a tribe of Native Americans who trace their their lineage back thousands of years beyond the colonial days of the United States of America. We trace our ancestry through the bloodlines and the written and oral history of our people. We are the people of Massasoit Ousamequin, Massasoit Wamsutta, and Massasoit Metacom. We are Philip’s people, the people of Metacom. We are the people who celebrated the First Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims in 1621. We are the people who have endured much and who have returned, after a long journey through history to the present day and continue to look forward to the future.
Pokanoket is also a Nation. The Nation of Tribes you may have heard of referred to as Wampanoag ( pronounced wahm – peh – noe – ahg ) was known to our ancestors as the Pokanoket Nation. The Pokanoket Nation, also known as the Pokanoket Confederacy or Pokanoket Country, was comprised of a multitude of Tribes.
Each Tribe was comprised of Bands and Villages and the Pokanoket Tribe was the Headship of the Pokanoket Nation.
Pokanoket is also our home. Prior to the time of the pilgrim’s arrival in Plymouth, which used to be Patuxet, the realm of the Pokanoket included portions of Rhode Island and much of southeastern Massachusetts, including the surrounding islands around Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.
The Pokanoket social organization developed in a manner that differed from neighboring Native American Tribes, since Pokanoket was more socially structured and layered, as well as more politically complex.
Unique to the Pokanoket Tribe were the spirtual and military elite, know as the Pineese (Pineese Warrior), who protected and served the Massasoit (Great Leader). They are the spiritual guardians of Pokanoket Nation.
Pokanoket believed seven to be the perfect number of completeness, for we still believe in the Seven Spirits of the Creator.
Two Tigers in a Treatment Room
December 30, 2012
— 6 Comments
Elizabeth, White Tiger Acupuncture
I was lucky to be called when an appointment opened up at the U of a Cancer Center Supportive Care for Healing where I am the substitute. I have been seeing Justine for lymphatic drainage or cranial sacral work regularly by booking the cancellation slots on short notice. The volunteers call me when sessions become available. I was offered the chance to try acupuncture, which I know is good but I have not tried. My iatrophobia extends to all things needle, but I took the opportunity to face my fear. My spleen is delighted that I went, and so am I. I go to practitioners of wellness rather than the drug docs. My presence at the hospital is still for wellness care, but surrounded by drug docs…slightly expanding my knowledge of what they do. So far I have seen no evidence of allopathic negligence, so my phobia cure is working. I think I may be the only one who goes to use it as a self-care facility rather than as a treatment for cancer, but everyone is super kind to me. The cost is about half and the quality about double what is found on the open market. It is a fabulous deal to be the substitute. The practitioners are in it for the value they can give to the community
My session with Elizabeth Hachenberg of White Tiger Acupuncture began with pulse and tongue reading to determine my situation. She concurred with Jon Thomas who told me last month at my Tui Na session that my spleen was trying to talk to me. I listened to her advise about diet, meditation, and demeanor which was brilliantly delivered. She was so right, I was eating on the fringe of my balanced diet, consuming too much alcohol, greasy rich food, and sweets. I had gone too far out of healthy bounds for too long and need to move closer to the center of balanced eating target. She was elegant about saying this without blame or need for sudden radical change. Her deep knowledge of Chinese Medicine is well communicated in language anyone can understand. She was born in the year of the tiger, as was I, so there was a certain compatibility in Chinese terms just because of the 12 year difference in our ages. I had no problem trusting her to work on me.
She placed the needles on my meridians, most with very little sensation. A tiny prick or a tingle quickly passed as she moved around the table quickly inserting the next needle. When she arrived at my left foot I noticed pain, ache, then a dull sensation that followed that particular point, which turned out to be on the liver meridian..the pumpkin pie martini point. It only lasted for about a minute, but it was distinct from the other points she targeted. She let me rest for about 20 minutes to allow the process to take place. She gave me a great meditation to use during the rest. I used an imaginary cheese cloth to strain the contents of my body, starting with the tip of my toes, and slowly removing impurities until I reach the top of my head. I enjoyed the cheesecloth visualization, and collected a huge load o schmutz to dump. I felt really good all day after the treatment, and will go again. I am over my fear completely, just like that. I am correcting the dietary issues and feel better in general after about a week of that. If you have wondered how acupuncture might help you I highly recommend that you try it. Elizabeth works on the far east side of Tucson in Civano, taking appointments Tues-Sat.
Saturday Morning Puppet Show
December 29, 2012
— 2 Comments
There is a number to call in the ad above to tell congress if you want to stop living like Jessica Rabbit in a bad cartoon. Tweet them, write them, fax them, call them, and beg for mercy on this country. Each new installment of this congress show is less acceptable than the last. We have gone beyond throwing bums out, and must address the systemic way this all came about in the first place. I think it would be good to know what happened on K Street before lobbyists moved in and started running the Howdy Doody Show.
To Tweet or Not to Tweet,
December 28, 2012
— 3 Comments
Hamlet and skull
that is the question…..wheather it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of 140 character communication, or ignore it. Peeps who do not tweet are not neccesarily out of touch, while tweeps who do may be wildly deranged or just killing time. Considering how much time is killed in real time, we must admit that this double edged sword cuts both ways. Our challenge is to use it for the benefit of mankind. I am sure there were many fatal errors while humans became familiar with the properties of fire, but eventually the power was harnessed for beneficial uses. The printing press, and, Oy Vey!, the printed Bible have drastically changed the course of history. The tool itself must not be maligned, but investigated to find the highest and best use.
We have a tool for democracy called congress which,in itself,is not a bad idea. It was created to govern our republic. There were corporations in early America, but there were no superpacs. Carolyn Myss uses an excellent example in the book Sacred Contracts to explain the use of tools on earth. She used the example of learning to use a knife. If you grab the knife by the blade it will be painful and destructive. When the paid becomes too great you may decide to use the handle of the knife which makes the knife useful for many purposes. Then the knife can cut food and perform a number of other useful tasks. We need to grab congress by the handle now. This is much too painful. This is our time in history, post Zombie Appocolypse global hot house. How shall we handle this?
mermaidcamp 