Be Here Now

"Be here in your mind as well as in your body, in a state of appreciation and an absence of longing. Let go of wondering about doing the right thing. Release the what-ifs and all of your goals for the future, replacing them with the power of this instant. Be here, and remember to do it now, for thinking about being someplace else uses up your precious present moments. The enlightened sage makes a practice of immersing himself completely in the current “nowness” of his life.

Being here now is accomplished by adopting an acceptance of life as it is presented by the great Mother, or the Tao. It’s a surrendering process, if you will—simply allowing this great all-creating, all-nourishing Source to take you where it will. You give up the idea of having to get more or to be in another place in the future, and instead see yourself as whole and complete just as you are. This surrendering process allows you to bear witness to the unlimited abundance and eternal light that is always present. You retrain yourself to give up your beliefs about lacks and shortages; you instead trust in the great Source to provide what you need, as it has always done for all beings."

- Excerpt from Dr. Wayne Dyer's forthcoming book Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life which is to be released July 31st

Animal stuff

This is such a precious story about some animals rescued after the tornado in KS (I just got it in email and found it online):

http://www.heavenlycreatures.ca/blog/?p=19

And this is a great story about a pet hippo!! She is going to be featured on a show on Animal Planet tomorrow night. I hope I remember to record it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/06/19/eahippo19.xml

"The question for each of us is not what we would do if we had the means, time, influence, and educational advantages, but what we will do with the things we have." - Hamilton Wright Mabie

stuffonmycat.com

One of my kitties finally made my favorite website!

http://www.stuffonmycat.com/index.php?itemid=4007

Revelers welcome summer solstice

"STONEHENGE, England - Druids, drummers, pagans and partygoers welcomed the sun Thursday as it rose above the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge on the longest day of the year — the summer solstice.

Clad in antlers, black cloaks and oak leaves, a group of druids cheered and danced at the Heel stone — a twisted, pockmarked pillar at the edge of Stonehenge.
...
About 24,000 people gathered at the stone circle in Wiltshire, in southwestern England. Dancers writhed to the sound of drums and whistles as floodlights colored the ancient pillars shades of pink and purple. Couples snuggled under plastic sheets.

Solstice celebrations were a highlight of the pre-Christian calendar. Bonfires, maypole dances, and courtship rituals linger on in many countries as holdovers from Europe's pagan past.

In more recent years, New Age groups and others have turned to Stonehenge to celebrate the solstice, and the World Heritage Site has become a magnet for men and women seeking a spiritual experience — or just wanting to have a good time."
...
Stonehenge, on the Salisbury Plain 80 miles southwest of London, was built between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 B.C., although its original purpose is a mystery. Some experts say the monument's builders aligned the stones as part of their sun-worshipping culture."

Revelers welcome summer solstice

Summer Solstice

Today is the summer solstice, a/k/a Midsummer, Litha, St. John's Day, Alban Heflin, Alben Heruin, All-couples day, Feast of Epona, Feast of St. John the Baptist, Feill-Sheathain, Gathering Day, Johannistag, Sonnwend, Thing-Tide, Vestalia, etc.

The Summer Solstice occus on the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer. It is also referred to as Midsummer because it is roughly the middle of the growing season in Europe. People around the world have observed celebrations during the month of June (or in December in the southern hemisphere), most of which are holy days linked in some way to the summer solstice.

"Solstice" is derived from two Latin words: "sol" meaning sun, and "sistere," to cause to stand still. This is because, as the summer solstice approaches, the noonday sun rises higher and higher in the sky on each successive day. On the day of the solstice, it rises an imperceptible amount, compared to the day before. In this sense, it "stands still."

Many ancient celebrations related to the feminine, fertility, prosperity and abundance. They honored Mother Earth and other goddesses representing the divine feminine. The Celtic Druids celebrated the apex of light, midway between the spring and fall equinoxes.

After the conversion of Europe to Christianity, the feast day of St. John the Baptist was set as June 24 (the alleged date of his birth).

There are many ancient sacred sites where temples or other structures are built so that they are aligned with the solstices and equinoxes. The largest room of the ruins at Qumran (location of the Dead Sea Scrolls) appears to be a sun temple with two altars at its eastern end. Stonehenge's main axis is aligned on the midsummer sunrise. Machu Picchu's Sacred Plaza, Temple of Three Windows and Intihuatana platform align with the summer solstice. Many medieval Catholic churches were built with solar observatories, typically a small hole in the roof admitting a beam of sunlight which would trace a path along the floor. The path, called the meridian line, was often marked by inlays and zodiacal motifs.

Sources and Lots More info:

http://www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/SummerSolstice.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/summer_solstice.htm

http://www.souledout.org/earthday/summersolstice/summersolstice.html

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/29/story_2991_1.html

http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html

http://www.satimagingcorp.com/gallery/machu-picchu.html

I'm famous

I was minding my own business at Chesapeake Bagel waiting for my breakfast when a newspaper reporter came up and asked me about the mayor's proposal to raise the user fee (that you pay for the "privilege" of working in Charleston). I am against it.

http://www.dailymail.com/display_story.php?sid=2007061861&format=prn

Then a little bit ago a television station, WSAZ, called asking to interview me later! I declined. I would be too nervous!

Juneteenth

This is not a religious holiday, but it was on my calendar and I had never heard of it so I decided to look it up.

Today is “Juneteenth”, also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, which commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. It is an annual holiday in 14 states and originated in Galveston, TX.

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863. Few slaves were actually freed at that time. In Texas, the Confederacy was in control of most of the state. News of the war's end did not reach Texas until well after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. Many speculate the news was deliberately withheld so that slave owners could bring in one last crop; others believe it was delayed because the messenger traveled by mule or the original messenger was murdered en route.

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on Galveston Island to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its 250,000 slaves. That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name derived from a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth.

Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year. Large gatherings are held at various locations, with music, dancing, contests and games.

Resources/More Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

http://www.juneteenth.com/

http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/juneteenth.html

Happy Fathers Day

The tiny cheetah cubs that have a slow, gentle start in life | the Daily Mail

The tiny cheetah cubs that have a slow, gentle start in life | the Daily Mail

Don't sweat the small stuff

"Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings." - Andre Maurois

Frankie

My sister's & niece's new puppy, named after Ball Park Franks.

 
 

West Virginia Psychic

This morning I saw a psychic mentioned in a newspaper article who apparently is becoming pretty well known, and he lives in West Virginia. Interestingly, the CD he listened to that started him having these dreams is one that I have. I haven't listened to it for awhile because my cheap cd player in the bedroom started squeaking. Maybe I should start again!

http://www.briansprediction.com/

http://www.myspace.com/briansdreams