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Aquarius New Moon
January 27, 2017
— 1 Comment
AQUARIUS NEW MOON sees a lonely configuration in the sign symbolizing many. Today, January 27th, the Sun and Moon dance together in the skies, like during every New Moon, but because their conjoined lights don’t have any major aspects to other points or planets, it’s hard for that light to shine, at least in groups […]
via AQUARIUS NEW MOON FORECAST FOR EACH SING — Anya’s Astrology
New Moon, Year Of The Rooster 2017
January 27, 2017
— 3 Comments
Rooster paper cut
Year of the Fire Cock 2017
The lunar year of the fire rooster begins today. In many parts of the world this is the most significant and superstitious time of the year. The lunar calendar was widely used around the world before Pope Gregory of the Roman Catholic Church had his way with time keeping, creating the solar Gregorian calendar in 1582. It has become the most widely used, but plenty of people are still on the lunar system. Jewish calendars and Asian calendars are lunar, as they have been forever. Countries varied greatly in adopting the system:
Adoption of Gregorian Calendar
1582: Spain, Portugal, France, Italy,
Catholic Low Countries, Luxemburg, and colonies
1610: Prussia 1700: ‘Germany’, Swiss Cantons, Protestant Low Countries, Norway, Denmark 1873: Japan 1912: China, Albania
1584: Kingdom of Bohemia 1648: Alsace 1752: Great Britain and colonies 1875: Egypt 1915: Latvia, Lithuania
1682: Strasbourg 1753: Sweden and Finland 1896: Korea 1916: Bulgaria
1918: USSR, Estonia
1919: Romania, Yugoslavia
1923: Greece
1926: Turkey
Greek and other Eastern orthodox churches celebrate Easter on the lunar calendar, which explains why it does not match the Roman Catholic date. When you look up your Chinese year on the placemat at the restaurant you may be in error because our western new year is never the same as the one in Asia. Ours is January 1 every year. Theirs falls between the end of January and the middle of February. The significance of the animal of the year is considered to be a big deal to those who celebrate this holiday. A change is expected in luck and finances, and much attention is given to enhancing both at this time. Gifts of currency with symbols and pictures of the animal are given to increase good fortune. Adjustments are made to the feng shui to make the most of the new energy that will flow. You may not personally believe that astrology or calendars have any significance, but a very large part of the world’s population does believe it. It can’t hurt to learn a little bit about it. This is a time to reinvent whatever needs to be changed.
The year of the cock is not expected to be the lucky year for those born under the sign of the rooster themselves. Their trademark weaknesses, boastfulness and vanity, will get them into more trouble than usual this year. Their active, talkative nature will cause problems. They will be challenged to put up or shut up, which is hard for them to handle. Everyone turning 60 this year is a fire rooster. They include famous fire Roosters Dawn French, Donny Osmond, Martin Luther King III, Stephen Fry, Hans Zimmer, Dolph Lundgren, and Jools Holland. This year the new moon in Aquarius begins the reign of the rooster over good luck and chance. I wish all my gentle readers a healthy, prosperous, and happy year. I appreciate your presence here.
#WritePhoto, Half Shining Armor
January 26, 2017
— 11 Comments
waiting
Beneath the staircase of the palace, lurking silently in the dark
The master’s old Tudor dynasty armor stands guard as if alive
Little has changed in the basement rooms since jousting was the sport
The aristocrat concerns himself with wealth and status in the court
Royal drifters follow in the entourage of holy soldiers and servant slaves
In service of some magic majesty that never showed up when expected
We thought time would both heal wounds and protect us from the ravages of injustice
The clock of destiny has not been kind to the greedy crusaders
Marking time with the shattered bones of their broken glory
There are no knights left to tell the end of this frightening story
Their legacy has been buried, lost all meaning of chivalry and grace
The names fade fast in history’s book, vanishing without a trace
Don’t trust armor from an ancient time to protect you from the storm
It may be impenetrable and conductive, but it is anything but warm
The photo prompt comes from Sue Vincent’s blog and is used as inspiration for writing short fiction and poetry. Try your own hand if you like. Please visit Sue, or use the hashtag #writephoto on twitter to find other interpretations of this image. Thanks for visiting, gentle reader.
#writephoto
Pen Pals With Pens, #InCoWriMo
January 25, 2017
— 3 Comments
The month of February, known for Valentine cards, is also the month for #InCoWriMo, international correspondence writing month. I have started a bullet journal to switch at least some of my writing to my own hand, but I am slow getting started on that project. I heavily rely on digital media to both send and receive everything. When I discovered this challenge to send or hand deliver one hand written note, postcard, or card each day for the month of February I was nostalgic for my old pen pal of childhood. My pen pal lived in England and was also a Brownie Scout. Many of my fellow scouts burned out fast on writing letters, but I stayed in touch with mine for several years. I started sending letters to Ann of England around second grade and carried on until about sixth, I think. I remember the gifts she sent me at Christmas, but I don’t remember what I sent her. I know there was an effort to make the gift represent America somehow. I also was forced to write to my grandparents and send thank you notes to anyone who gave me anything or invited me to go anywhere. I had to write a legal pad page of cursive every day at my father’s orders because I got a C in handwriting in school, which was not acceptable. I hated doing that intensely, but I adored buying fancy stationery and writing to my pen pal. I think I can revive the excitement by writing by and to people all over the world next month.
I know some dedicated print and mail specialists who make sure they stay active by sending letters and snail mail. My friend Marc Zazeela, @MZazeela, has been a logistics and shipping expert for his entire professional career. He knows all there is to know about sending anything anywhere at the best rate. He serves commercial and international clients, but is a strong proponent of sending handwritten notes. Hellen Rittersporn, @HELENSstudio, writes a wonderful blog all about letterwritting called Anchored Scraps in which she stays current with stamps, pens, history of correspondence and more. She is naturally on board for the February challenge, and has written this very informative piece on the subject.
There are many famous folks who want to receive letters, such as the Postmaster General of the United States. Many more of us not so famous people have set the intention of finishing this challenge by publishing our mailing addresses on the site for sharing. The website and e mail reminders you will receive when you sign up are very helpful and inspirational. They have designed a planning calendar to help you design a strategy, or just fill your dance card:
2017 calendar InCoWriMo
Now there is a crustacean on instagram running a contest associated with the program. countcrustaceo is running a contest to make things more interesting. Now you can’t say this is not fun:
What Are Health Savings Accounts?
January 24, 2017
— 1 Comment
HSA
I have had a health savings account at my bank for many years. It is a simple savings account earning little interest. My accountant advised me to contribute to it, and I did without understanding the full reason. Now that I am on Medicare, in a relatively safe position, I am extremely happy I have a hefty HSA. I can use it for any approved medical expense that is not covered by my insurance. To qualify in the first place I had to carry a high deductible health insurance policy. This virtually guaranteed all the expenses would be paid by me, since I never hit my deductible amount in a single year. Now that I am on Medicare I can’t contribute any more, but that is fine also. I believe I have just the right amount for my own situation. I was not taxed on the initial deposit and the expenditures always qualify as legitimate medical expenses on my taxes. I get to essentially write it off twice, even though it earns little interest.
There are few caveats, such as making sure the use you make of it is an approved expense under the law. I made a costly error couple of years ago by paying for some body work from that account that did not qualify. I paid an IRS penalty larger than the original payment, just to make sure I am in compliance with the law. Now I will never cross that line again, as I know the consequences. I did get a written prescription from a doctor for lymphatic drainage treatments, shiatsu, and reflexology at the U of A Supportive Care for Healing at the hospital. Without the written orders those treatments would not be allowed, but with doctor’s orders it is fine. The same is true of over the counter medicines or vitamin supplements. Make sure you have the doctor’s orders filed with your tax documents, just in case you need them. My plan and my HSA account is personal, so there is no other entity for me to satisfy other then the IRS and the bank where the account resides.
There are plans in which employers contribute to HSA as an alternative or supplement to insurance. The law creating HSA’s was signed by George Bush on Jan 1, 2004. Previous to that time a similar medical savings accounts existed for employees of small businesses. The present law is open to employers of all sizes, not just those with fewer than 50 employees. Now the HSA is being promoted as an alternative to health insurance. I am very pleased I have one, but it is no way an alternative for insurance. It is effective to the extent that it meets the individual’s needs. It can be spent on preventive care not covered by most policies, so it can upgrade the health care of the customer. It can be invested in a more lucrative way than my own interest earning savings plan at a bank. I have a debit card I use for all medical payments during the year. The feature I like the best is the full accounting of all the money I have spent on health care during a given year. The HSA bank statement is all I need to do my taxes at the end of the year and keep track of my health care spending. I am glad to have it, if for no other reason than ease of tax accounting.
Do you have a health savings account, gentle reader? Is yours done through an employer or is it a personal plan? I think it is a good idea, but there is much to know to choose the right one and deposit the right amount for your future needs.
IRS
Aquarius Sun Sagittarius Moon
January 22, 2017
— 1 Comment
Today it will really feel like Aquarius Season with the Moon in philosophical Sagittarius. She spent the night void-of-course in Scorpio and leaps into fiery Sagittarius before daybreak. The only aspect the Moon makes today is a bright, inquisitive sextile to the Aquarius Sun during the morning. Sagittarius and Aquarius are natural allies and share […]
via Sagittarius Moon says think big 1-22-2017 — Libra Seeking Balance
#WeekendCoffeeShare, Faith In Enantiodromia
January 21, 2017
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#WeekendCoffeeShare
Enantiodromia is a concept made popular by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. Carl is known for being deeply difficult to interpret because of his writing style. He was first friendly but later became a rival of Sigmund Freud. If we were having coffee today, on the day of the women’s march on Washington, I would make an effort to explain this idea. I think if we look at the United States as an entity created by history we can see that our society has become more and more at odds with “the Other”. Carl explains this blame game as transference, or finding fault in others rather than looking into our own responsibility for any given situation. In personal relationships this is common, and now it is the norm for our politics. I have really been thinking hard about this as we approached the inauguration. I share feelings of doom and despair with many, but I am taking solace that we are establishing a new rock bottom from which we can only bounce. Our collective consciousness is a mess, in need of clarity and healing. The United States, the nation, is delusional. We need to face this fact and remedy the cultural issues that we have made such a big deal of establishing. Neither “other” is right. Both are out of touch with reality. This is another way Carl looked at action and reaction. He said there is not so much good and bad as real and unreal. The pendulum has swung to the outer limits of unreality now, and the center is strained to the max. Will it hold?
Please help yourself to tea or coffee, or a big glass of fresh grapefruit juice. It is rainy and cool out, but the wood stove is roaring and the armchair with the ottoman next to the fire is ready for you. Snuggle in and tell me how you are dealing with events these days. I stayed quiet this week, mostly because my car went to the shop for 3 days to be repaired. I wrote another short piece of fiction based on a photo prompt this week. It turned out to be very disquieting, haunted and macabre because my mind was on the national spirit. I am a bit surprised at my own darkness in these short stories. I guess it reflects by subconscious as well as my desire to make up stories. I thought I would be funny in fiction, but I am a bit of a horror writer, much to my own horror.
This is the perfect time for me to segue to enantiodromia, the phenomena. Simply put, it means that any force in overabundance will produce it’s opposite in order to keep nature in balance. If one single aspect of a consciousness is developed at the expense of all others, the equal and opposite reaction will be triggered by the extreme condition of the psyche. Often in individuals this shift precedes a breakthrough into a more integrated personality. Once the “other” is seen in a realistic light an enlightenment can take place.
In Jung’s own words:
The grand plan on which the unconscious life of the psyche is constructed is so inaccessible to our understanding that we can never know what evil may not be necessary in order to produce good by enantiodromia, and what good may very possibly lead to evil. (“The Phenomenology of the Spirit in Fairytales”, Collected Works 9i, par. 397)
I am placing all my hope in enantiodromia to save our society. We elected our shadow, and now we will be forced to view it, ironically against the backdrop of the White House. We can’t blame our shadow into evaporating because it represents (imperfectly) the ideas of “the enemy”. We have to meet it straight on, and see what part we have played in establishing it and then giving it power. This is deeper and weirder than just Republicans vs Democrats. This is real vs unreal, in which everyone has a little of each. We are codepending with everyone and everything. Our journey to balance will require enlightenment and compassion for all those “others”.
Diana hosts the coffee party each weekend from New Orleans. Please visit us to read, write, comment, or just consume a few cups of digital coffee. This party is a wonderful place to keep it real and share your thoughts in a safe, creative atmosphere. Thanks for dropping by this week.
Carl Jung
#WritePhoto, Dancehall Of Dread
January 19, 2017
— 14 Comments
#writephoto
In the darkest moment of winter, heaviness and despair falls on the land. Frightened workers huddle indoors, sharing the heat of a single stove in the dance hall of the dead. The musical sounds drift in from the streets, strings and horns and voices of the past kill time by serenading the future. The dance floor is void of happy feelings but full of feverish dread of the coming days. The waltz goes on forever, the tempo hypnotic, mind numbing. The dancers know all the tribal dances that have been danced for centuries in this place. Circles of spirited colors whirl above the floor. The walls vibrate with deep bass rhythm and drumming creatures representing sacrifices made to tradition. The swift current of time sweeps the crowd up in a cloud of memory and doubt.
The donkey shadow on the wall opposes the one of the elephant wearing a hat. The shadow puppets play the same parts forever, constantly changing costumes to deceive. The audience blends into the puppetry, never minding the strings attached. The glow from the streetlight illuminates the dancing puppets as they pass. The translucent quality of their weary bodies is briefly revealed for a moment. Darkness and bitter cold then quickly envelops each one in dread. Nobody knows if this is real or imaginary. This may be happening in the present, or we may be stuck in each other’s dreams. Is there an escape? Are we under a spell? Will this dance continue? Do we have a choice?
Visit Sue Vincent’s blog on Thursdays to find a photo prompt for fiction. Create your own story to go with this week’s image.
#writephoto
Wishing Tree For Year Of The Fire Rooster
January 18, 2017
— 1 Comment
The Chinese tradition of the spring festival celebrates the new year for two weeks around 4 February each year. In 2017 the celebrations will begin 28 January with the first official day of the rooster year falling on the 3 February. There is a custom of making a wish then throwing it up into a ” wishing tree”. The wish to carry us through the year is similar to a resolution, but also resembles a letter to Santa. We can celebrate this cool custom in our own private ways. If planning the year at the start includes a fresh start in health, wealth, career, family, and community, what will your wish be? The rooster is a confident, well dressed and chivalrous. He will not back down in a fight. He is known to, in fact, go beyond reason to get his way. The cock wakes up crowing and does not hold back criticism and domineering attitude toward others. Feathers will fly during this year, and egos will be bruised. The rooster is the most misunderstood sign of the Chinese zodiac, a heroic Don Quixote, taking on windmills of gigantic proportions. I wish that during the cock year you will learn to do less, but do it with precision and passion. Cock-a-doodle-dooooooooo
House Plant Happy
January 17, 2017
— 1 Comment
kitchen bromeliad
dining table
Growing plants is a joy and an art. I enjoy gardening outdoors, but lately I have been reading about improving air quality indoors with house plants. I used to have a large variety of plants in the house, but during the last few years I tried growing orchids. They are beautiful while blooming, but require very consistent and careful care in order to make them bloom again. I have killed a couple, and finally after over a year barren, one is sprouting a new flower. I will not expand on my orchid collection. I don’t think I have the appropriate amount of patience, and they don’t really want to live in Arizona. I read that lavender and English ivy are extra active at cleaning the air at night, so I bought those two for my bedroom. As soon as they were in place I noticed how happy they make me when I see them. I am sleeping very well, but am not sure the plants really contribute to that. They are cheery and alive. If I take care of them properly they will grow and fill my space with more fragrance and clean air. What is not to like? They are little happiness producers.
I did some transplanting and moving of the existing house plants before I ventured out to the nursery to purchase a few more living decorations. I did not want to splurge much financially, and even less on space. Lucky for me, small tropical plants were discounted as were the small bromeliads. My entire purchase, complete with new pots and saucers, and a new hanging uranium for outside, was just over $50. Now my whole home is upgraded. The green dashes of optimistic color cheer me up and remind me of the power of nature to survive. I do have a very green yard outside the windows, but bringing these little living jungles inside has changed my mood. I am uplifted by their presence.
Winter doesn’t last long in Tucson, but during the dark time of year we need a little light and cheer to remind us that spring is right around the corner. I fill the humming bird feeders and light the fire in the wood stove. while darkness turns slowly to light. I listen to beautiful music and light a few candles in the evening to create a cozy feeling. The plants have added a sweet touch to the space. Do you grow houseplants, gentle reader? Do you have a favorite?
Alexa’s palm tree
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