mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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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.
The Prince Archetype
March 21, 2013
— 4 Comments
In literature and mythology the prince is an archetypal figure. In drama or our lives the prince represents one who must take the mysterious and trying journey to become king. His dark shadow companion is the wanderer, who never accepts reposnsibility and continues to avoid the dignity and responsibility of his royal inheritance. They look a bit like William and Harry, honestly. The prince can be charming or dark in his presentation. He may complete his journey and become king, but there is no guarantee.
Carl Jung identified 4 masculine archetypes, and made the assertion that to be whole man must be in touch with all of them. He also explained the bi-polar potential inherent in each character. They are described as shadow and positive qualities. The soul embarks on an epic journey to mature on earth. The heroes and Prince Charmings of our lives have lessons to teach as well as to learn. When you think of this archetype who pops into your thoughts? Americans have some pretty wild versions of the prince from Disney to the artist formerly and once again known as Prince. How do we know when our American prince becomes a king? tricky..
Elizabeth Bessiles, 14th Great-Grandmother
March 21, 2013
— 6 Comments
Elizabeth Bessiles
She was the only child and heiress of William Bessiles, whose family had been settled at Besils Leigh, Berks as Leland says in his quaint language, ‘syns the time of Edward the first’. The Bessells cam out of Provence in France and were ‘men of activitye in feates of arms as it appearith in monuments at Legh; how he faught in listes with a straunge knyghte that challengyd hym, at the whitche deade the kynge and quene at that time of England were present’. (source – http://www.tudorplace.com.ar)
She married Sir Richard Fettiplace.
Elizabeth Bessiles (1465 – 1511)
is my 14th great grandmother
Anne Fettiplace (1496 – 1567)
daughter of Elizabeth Bessiles
Mary Purefoy (1533 – 1579)
daughter of Anne Fettiplace
Susanna Thorne (1559 – 1586)
daughter of Mary Purefoy
Gov Thomas Dudley (1576 – 1653)
son of Susanna Thorne
Anne Dudley (1612 – 1672)
daughter of Gov Thomas Dudley
John Bradstreet (1652 – 1718)
son of Anne Dudley
Mercy Bradstreet (1689 – 1725)
daughter of John Bradstreet
Caleb Hazen (1720 – 1777)
son of Mercy Bradstreet
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Caleb Hazen
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Berkshire flag
Botanical Break
March 21, 2013
— 2 Comments
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- orchid in the butterfly house
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- butterfly
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- queen owl butterfly
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- orchid
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- orchid
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- butterfly magic
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- orchid
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- orchid
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- butterfly on orchid
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- butterly
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- orchid
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- butterfly
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- aloe
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- aloe blooms
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- sahuaro
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- garden ship
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- penstamen
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- Poppy
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- poppy with bee
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- aloe
A trip to the botanical garden refreshes the spirit and gives a natural buzz to the day. I love to visit the butterfly house to see what they are doing. Today the orchids made me very happy.
Equinox Hilaria
March 20, 2013
— 6 Comments
Cybele drives the lion chariot
At the Equinox everyone on earth has about the same amout of darkness and light. The sun is close to the equator as it shines for about 12 hours on all parts of the earth for a day. This seasonal shift is of significance to most native cultures. It signals either a lengthening or a shortening of daylight in the months ahead. It creates the conditions for spring planting or fall harvest, depending on the hemisphere in which you live. For a single day, however, we all have the same amount of light and dark in our experience. The literal meaning of the word equinox is equal night. Many calendars begin around the vernal equinox. Romans began the new year on the Ides of March, Astrology uses 21 March as the first of the year, as the Sun moves into Aires. A new year celebration makes sense at this time, as do celebrations to honor rebirth.
The Roman goddess Cybele was associated with rebirth in one of the first Spring break resurrection parties ever held. Romans were all about blood, so they used real bull blood…no chalice of red wine for them. Hilaria was a celebration of resurrection and eternal life held in Rome on the vernal equinox to honor Cybele. She ruled dangerous animals, fertility, and rebirth. She protects civilization. The fact that she is resurrecting her son, Attis, who is also her lover is not a big deal in Roman terms. These things happen in pantheons all the time. After all was ceremonially brought safely back to life Hilaria commenced in a frenzy of joy and mirth. We do not have any evidence of chocolate bunnies, but they were festive in their own Roman way, with orgies, and chariots drawn by lions, castration, and other stuff they liked. Violets are the flower of the day, since the blood of Attis when he died the first time became the violet we pick in the spring. Do not hesitate to decorate your eggs with violets if you want to get down Roman style this year. Unlike our own Virgin Mary, this mother drives a lion chariot, while holding a pineapple, and is on the violent side, so, caveat emptor.
Roman goddess Cybele
Cybele with her lions
Synchronicity and Synchronization
March 19, 2013
— 1 Comment
To move in synchronicity with others requires concentration and practice. The more a performing group practices the more it develops coordination and precision. From flying trapeze to marching band groups, timing and focus make all the difference. This Chinese troupe is hearing impaired, which makes the synchronization very impressive.
Synchronicity is not practiced, and may appear to be unrelated. The coordination of meaning is personal, but it depends on the oneness of the universe. The individual must notice and connect the dots to appreciate synchronicity. One must look from a new frame of reference to see the connections that fall into place every day.
Connessione
March 19, 2013
— 2 Comments
Systems thinking was described by Leonardo da Vinci as “Everything is connected to everything else”. He called this connessione, or connection. Now that we study quantum physics, we can see that Leonardo’s concern with the connectedness of all things was ahead of his time. Ecology is the whole picture, with all the actions and reactions charted, considered and studied. Man has now reached the conclusion that the unenlightened connections to our environment are probably destroying the future of man.
Where and how do you connect with all of creation? We can think of many examples of disconnection….government, education, so called health care, all the failed and failing systems created without any thought of wholeness and balanced contribution. How do you effect the world around you and how does it effect you? Are you aware of any connections in your life? What is the most important intellectual connection you have made up to this point? I notice that resources abound for those who notice, respect, and care for them. I have connected human greed, depression and insatiable consumption of resources as a single downward spiral. I believe that mindless overconsumption of everything around us is our biggest threat.
Leonardo observed,” every part is disposed to unite with the whole, that it may thereby escape from its own incompleteness.” How do you apply this idea?
Process Addictions
March 18, 2013
— 7 Comments
Americans are going deeper into process addictions daily. The repetition of compulsive behavior as a substitute for involvement and enjoyment in life is a growing national disaster. Our national diabetes and obesity problems are highly related to the indoctrination created by the food industry. If people are vulnerable and advertising is unquestionably absorbed by the public, where is the ethical line of common sense? I heard that one in every four health care dollars in the US is spent on diabetic patients. Our nation is not in control of our health or our advertising. Compulsion rather than appreciation is promoted at every level.
Professionals are being trained to recognize the symptoms and help patients who suffer. The behavior repeated may be socially acceptable, making it hard to distinguish from healthy behavior. Eating disorders are a common variety of process addiction. Eating itself, working itself, sex itself, and even gambling itself ,are not the real problems with the process addicted person. The overwhelming need to repeat and continue to seek reward in a behavior as the thrill diminishes is the hallmark of process addiction. Joy is drained away from the person who stays in a deep rut of compulsive habits. The remedy is similar to substance abuse treatment, since the same brain centers are involved. To evolve and escape the tyranny of habit is everyone’s job. To make better choices, the first step is to be present and aware. If most of your choices are made by default, this is a good time to begin to choose more deliberately.
@Pontifex Francis
March 18, 2013
— 1 Comment
Pope Francis has the twitter handle of the Vatican now, and this is his first tweet:
“Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis.”
His style is matter of fact. He keeps asking for the people to pray for him. He breaks out and kisses babies. I think he is a very smart and astute cookie. The Jesuits are big into discernment as a key to practice. The order teaches ways to recognize the activities of the spirits in action in everyday life. They devote a good deal of time and effort into understanding the emotions and the spiritual meaning in the details. They listen for the voice of God. It is most tempting for the human ego to impersonate the Creator, rather than deeply search for divine guidance.
The Catholic church needs now to both listen to the membership and discern what is spiritually best for the world. A closed, authoritarian, dogmatic institution has the need for a live wire to bring it back to awareness. The first deliberate steps taken by Pope Francis (who I believe is named for both Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier) signal a new direction. I am neither Catholic nor a fan of any church, but I do appreciate discernment. He seems ready willing and able to bring fresh discernment to a troubled institution. He has already changed the vibe.
Adam Forrester
March 18, 2013
Forrester coat of arms
My 20th great-grandfather, Adam Forrester, was the founder of a clan in Scotland. He became wealthy trading, and had permission to import grain into Scotland without paying duty. His castle no longer exists, but there are parts of the churches he erected in his time that can be seen today. He and his son John held important political offices. The both were Keepers of the Great Seal of Scotland. The clan is without a chief and has been waiting for one for centuries. I want to visit someday, but I do not think they will hand over any clan power to an American woman.
Adam Forrester (1360 – 1405)
is my 20th great-grandfather
John Forrester (1390 – 1448)
son of Adam Forrester
Janet Forrester (1410 – 1488)
daughter of John Forrester
John MAXWELL (1404 – 1484)
son of Janet Forrester
Mariota Maxwell (1430 – 1472)
daughter of John MAXWELL
Annabella Boyd (1449 – 1476)
daughter of Mariota Maxwell
Robert Lord Gordon (1475 – 1525)
son of Annabella Boyd
CATHERINE GORDON (1497 – 1537)
daughter of Robert Lord Gordon
Lady Elizabeth Ashton (1524 – 1588)
daughter of CATHERINE GORDON
Capt Roger Dudley (1535 – 1585)
son of Lady Elizabeth Ashton
Gov Thomas Dudley (1576 – 1653)
son of Capt Roger Dudley
Anne Dudley (1612 – 1672)
daughter of Gov Thomas Dudley
John Bradstreet (1652 – 1718)
son of Anne Dudley
Mercy Bradstreet (1689 – 1725)
daughter of John Bradstreet
Caleb Hazen (1720 – 1777)
son of Mercy Bradstreet
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Caleb Hazen
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
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