Archive for category china

Date: March 14th, 2010
Cate: House-of-Chaos, Ohio, PlantSwap, Tiny House Projects, china, personal

Pony Tails Ornamental Grass (Stipa tenuissima)

Pony Tails Ornamental Grass ( Stipa tenuissima)

Stipa tenuissima known in English as “angel hair”, “Mexican feather grass”, “Mexican needle grass”, “ponytails”, or “silky thread grass”, and in French as cheveux d’ange, is a perennial native to parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Not surprisingly, it is not hardy in Toronto.

These beautiful clumps of Mexican feather grass dancing in the breeze were growing at
Toronto Botanical Garden.

Description

Height: 18-24″
Width: 18″
Exposure: Sun
Water: Very drought tolerant
Hardiness: Zones 7-10
Pruning: Cut back to 6″ in late winter

Ponytail Grass, also known as ‘Mexican Feather Grass”, is a very attractive ornamental grass that forms fine textured clumps about 18 inches wide and an equal spread. It is very drought tolerant and must have well-drained soil.

Use Ponytail grass as accents in the garden and it is especially attractive when planted in groups. Perfect for dry slopes. Also a good container plant. Wispy, fall seed heads start out buff color then changing to golden-bronze.

Date: March 12th, 2010
Cate: House-of-Chaos, Ohio, PlantSwap, Tiny House Projects, china, personal

How to Grow Spaghetti Squash From Seed

Spaghetti squash seeds

This is an exciting time at the House-of-Chaos. We’ve been exchanging seeds via PlantSwap and Freecycle and starting those seeds in Peat Pellet Greenhouses. Each greenhouse has 36 chambers so I’m able to get three dozen seedling started. One of those seedlings are spaghetti squash, a melon squash that produces the closest thing to pasta! The sweet golden fiber is delicious when baked, served with butter and cheese, pesto, Alfredo, marinara and meatballs.

Spaghetti squash is an easy-to-grow squash that can be grown nearly anywhere. It’s a winter squash, which means that it’s not harvested until cool weather, after the skin has had a chance to become hard. Because spaghetti squash is so easy to grow, and develops so quickly, it’s an especially good beginner plant for young gardeners. Just be sure you have a sunny spot and plenty of space in your garden for the sprawling vines.

Instructions

Young Spaghetti Squash

Plant spaghetti squash seeds about three weeks after the last frost in your area, or when the soil is about 60 degrees F. Select a large, sunny spot in your garden, and prepare the soil for planting. Remove weeds, loosen the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches, and work in at least 2 inches of compost.
Hoe the loosened soil into mounds, and plant four or five spaghetti squash seeds 1 inch deep in each mound. Leave a minimum of 6 feet between each mound, and allow at least 50 to 75 square feet for each one. Keep the soil damp until the seedlings sprout, and then water deeply once a week. Spaghetti squash does better if the soil is kept fairly dry.
Keep the area free of weeds either by hand or with a hoe. If you use a hoe, work carefully so you don’t disturb the shallow roots of the spaghetti squash.
Thin the seedlings when they’re 3 to 4 inches tall. Leave the two largest spaghetti squash plants per mound, and remove the remaining seedlings by pinching them off at ground level. Don’t pull the seedlings, because doing so can dislodge the seedlings you want to keep.
Harvest spaghetti squash when the skin is hard, usually in September or October, or before the first hard frost. Cut the squash from the vines, leaving about 2 inches of stem remaining. Store the squash, not touching, in a dry place where the temperature remain between 50 and 55 degrees F.

Date: March 2nd, 2010
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, china, life the universe and everything, personal

YAY!!! February bites the Dust for 2010!

February is over.

The Great Grey Beast of February, which tries to eat me each and every year, has lopped back to its wolf-cave with its tail between its leg. It gave a good fight, but it is March the ‘effin First and I’m. Still. Standing….

Huzzah.

Now get with the green and gardening. I’ve got a faery gate to build before solstice 2010.

Date: March 2nd, 2010
Cate: china, language, life the universe and everything, personal

Wow…I found this today and…just wow.

I use Google Reader to keep up on a ridiculous amount of media in any given day. Google Buzz keeps me connected with other Googleheads. I have an Android phone. My Reader feed offers “recomendations” based on what I have already subscribed to and “liked” or “shared.” Today it gave me this:

The Feathers Fall Slowly

Maybe you don’t know them like I do. Maybe it’s vengeance and maybe it’s love.
Maybe they’re smiling at other people the way they used to smile at me.
Maybe they’ve grown tired of drinking light like water, late at night.

Or Maybe, they’re just tired. You don’t know them like I do.

and yeah…I’ll be tracking this one from now on. Good, good stuff…

Date: February 24th, 2010
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, china, family, funny-bone, inspiration, personal
1 msg

Hit-Girl…the movie!

this would be a yes, yes, y’all…

Date: February 24th, 2010
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, House-of-Chaos, Ohio, Tiny House Projects, china, family, personal, spirit
1 msg

FairyGate: The Back-40 at the House-of-Chaos gets transformed into a fae-gate.

Faery Gate

I know I’m not supposed to do it, but I can’t stand it anymore. I completely understand that “no gates, bridges or other thoroughfares are to be built, opened or unblocked to allow the free transfer of beings from fae-to-terrin.”

Bollocks.

I’m building one. In the back-40 of the House-of-Chaos I’m building a fairy gate. It will open on the Summer Solstice of 2010. Just try and stop me.

In preparation, here is a list of plants to make the fae more welcome in the garden. Since this is the last week of February, and I’m convinced that Spring, in all her glory, is right around the corner…I better get crackin’ on the yard plans.

Try planting some of these faery favorites in your garden!

[ from: http://www.afaeryhunt.com/fairyfun.htm ]

BLUEBELLS: Faeries are summoned to their midnight revels and dances by the ringing of these tiny flowers.

FERNS: Pixie faeries are especially fond of ferns. One story tells of a young woman who accidentally sat on a fern, and instantly a faery man appeared and forced her to promise to watch over his faery son and remain in Faeryland for a year and a day. Ferns make nice soft beds for the little guys.

FOXGLOVE: The name “foxglove” came from the words “folk’s glove.” Folks referred to little people, or faeries. One legend says that faeries gave the blossoms to foxes to wear as gloves so they would not get caught raiding the chicken coop. According to another legend, if you picked foxglove, you would offend the faeries. And if the faeries stole your baby, the juice of the foxglove would help to get it back. In some stories, foxglove appears as a faery’s hat. Foxglove can sometimes heal and sometimes hurt. It is a poisonous plant, but it is also used as medicine to treat heart disease.

HEATHER: lights the flame of fairy passions and may open the gates between the fairy world and our own.

MUSHROOMS: Used by faeries as tables and stools. The species Amanita is the red and white mushrooms very poisonous….

PANSIES: These may be used in fairy love potions.

POPPIES: These will bring faeries into your dreams.

PRIMROSES: Primroses are one key into faeryland. There is a German legend about a little girl who found a doorway covered in flowers, and when she touched it with a primrose, the door opened up, leading into an enchanted faery castle.

RAGWORT, CABBAGE STALKS, GRASS and STRAW: All of these were used by faeries for transportation in the same manner as a witch uses a broom.

ROSES: The sweet smell and soft petals of roses attract faeries to your garden. A popular love spell uses roses. Sprinkle rose petals under your feet and dance on them softly while asking the Faery for a blessing on your magic

SAFFRON CROCUS: The stamens from this fall flowering crocus constitute the herb saffron. Any food prepared with saffron is a favorite faery food. Saffron used as a dye will turn cloth a royal gold. Such cloth is very valuable to faeries.

THYME: Wear a sprig of thyme to increase your ability to see the wee ones. Thyme may also be planted by the doors and windows of your house to invite the fairies to come inside.

TULIPS: The faeries like to use the tulip bloom to put their babies to bed.

Some other faery favorites are rosemary, heartsease, and forgetmenots.

Date: February 22nd, 2010
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, china, funny-bone, professional

codemonkey business card

I found this hysterical…

Date: February 18th, 2010
Cate: Medea, china, family, life the universe and everything, personal

STEM Hosts Book Fundraiser

Barns & Noble Montrose, OH

The National Inventors Hall of Fame® School … Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning will host a summer reading fundraiser at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, February 20.

Profits from sales will help fund required summer reading books. STEM students will be on hand to demonstrate robotics, engineering and digital literacy technology projects.

Selected chamber musical groups will also perform from 1-3 p.m. Shoppers may obtain a voucher from the school and participate in the fundraiser on Sunday, February 21. For more information or to purchase a voucher, contact Susan Hall or call 330.761.3195.

Barnes & Noble is located at 4015 Medina Road.

Date: February 16th, 2010
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, china, funny-bone, humor, professional

I am so getting these…

From Nerd Merit Badges:

1.5″, fully embroidered, Velcro-backed. Attach to your jacket, your backpack, or the lid of your over-clocked, battle-scarred laptop. Start a nerd sash!

Laptop Sash

A seventeen-inch length of two-inch wide, self-adhesive, loop-side, low-profile Velcro. The Laptop Sash sticks permanently…

$13.37

Full Stack Web Developer

Requirements: Able to turn a pile of loose electrons into a fully operating and styled…

$4.99

Family Tech Support

Requirements: Provide hardware, software, and telephone support for extended family computers and electronics. Voluntarily or…

$4.99

Been Boinged

Requirements: Have a project mentioned on the Big Blog.

$4.99

Homonyms

Requirements: Correctly spell words that sound the same.

$4.99

Inbox Zero

Requirements: Empty inbox, 71.4% of the time.

$4.99

Open Source

Requirements: Make an accepted commit to any open source project.

$4.99

Date: February 16th, 2010
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, Ohio, china, editorial, funny-bone

Lots of Snow

In honor of the “Lots of Snow” we have been getting…I present, for your viewing pleasure, Dark Roasted Blends post on ‘Lots of Snow‘. Well work the click. Enjoy.

If you’ve been snowed under for some time, these pictures will help you feel better

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow?…” (Job, 38:22) Some translations put it as “the treasures of the snow”. Well, it seems some locations get entirely too much of this good thing:

Snowed under in the most epic way (somewhere in Switzerland):

…may you stay warm and may your snow shoveler not break.

Date: February 16th, 2010
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, china, life the universe and everything, nola, personal

Long Live the Krewe of Chartreuse

KOC_Loki

Originally uploaded by chinagrrrl

Guys. I will be watching over y’all today like a Holy Guardian Angel. I expect you to do this Mardi Gras thing right! Call me from the steps…

I love you!
Chinagrrrl

Date: February 12th, 2010
Cate: NftU, china, inspiration, life the universe and everything, magick, personal, spirit, wisdom

NftU: Think that you are beautiful…

[Editor Note: This is beautiful and timely and I want all my good, beautiful friends read and pay attention to this too. Sometimes it is a long, hard road out of hell. But its a beautiful journey and if we stay mindful and awake when Mara stares us down and we refuse to blink. I'm glad I have you all with me on this journey. I am honored by your prescience and compassion when I'm hurting and I'm glad that I can be a good friend, as well as receive that blessing myself. The light in me honors and respects the light in you.]

Think that it’s fun, China, that you’re guided, and that all is well; that there’s time, that life is easy, and that the best has yet to come.

Think that the reasons that elude you will one day catch up, that the lessons that have stumped you will one day bring joy, and that the sorrows that have crippled you will soon give you wings.

Think that you’re important, that you cannot fail, and that happiness always returns.

And think that you’re beautiful, China.

I do.
The Universe

Date: February 8th, 2010
Cate: china, inspiration, life the universe and everything, nola, personal

…and the Saints, went marching in…

From Saints

Date: January 30th, 2010
Cate: china, magick, personal

Wolf Moon – 013010 @ 131am

Last night was the January Full-Moon, also known as the Wolf Moon. It was big and delightful and made a lot of people I know a little more crazy than usual.

Mia and I started the evening when I picked her up from school. We walked out of her building and stared into the huge wondrous thing and began to howl like beasts. Then we dropped to all fours and ran to the car…

The teachers already think we’re eccentric. I can’t wait to see what happens after this!

Later I spent time with Sirius, Venus and the lunar son. We giggled and the flames rose higher…

We danced in a circle around a central fire. The Indigo Children come. Wine and song. Food and fire. Clothes, shelter and sea.

No more need for the old empire. The Indigo Children come.

Date: January 21st, 2010
Cate: china, language, writing

resonance…

there’s an echo in my bones,
that’s been resonating for years.

it wants to get out
and make it’s mark in the sand,

before dissolving silently
into the eternities.

Date: January 14th, 2010
Cate: china, magick, personal

DARKMOON / SOL ECLIPSE – January 14, 2010

Lunar Phases 2010

Thursday’s solar eclipse — closely conjunct your ruling planet, Venus — promises to change your outlook on 4th House matters for years to come. The 4th House symbolizes home, family, a parent, property, and your foundations in life — especially the family patterns passed down through the generations. I think it’s not too much of a stretch to say we can use our family patterns or be used by them — much as a virus uses a human host to perpetuate itself. This week is an opportunity to achieve some striking clarity about any family patterns that have held you hostage to your parents’ unanswered questions and kept you from living out your life and your dreams. As always, awareness is the first and most important step in healing your life.

This is a time for quiet and heart centered activities. Even if you are on your own at odd points it won’t bother you, since it will give you time for personal reflection. But really a happy family life and contented domestic situation is what you want. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by the things of the outside world.

A family matter may be taking longer to resolve than you expected, but your extra effort today could be the catalyst needed to push the situation along. However, part of the problem may be that you are stuck holding a perspective that is no longer working for you. Reconsider your position; changing your mind can have a positive impact on those around you and enable you to get things moving again.

You need a lot of reassurance and the trust of people around you. At work, you will be able to emerge, thanks to a stroke of luck. In Love, you should avoid being presumptuous. Tip: keep your promises.

Daily Vedic Moon Sign horoscope
Capricorn – 14 Jan 2010
Today an overwhelming problem is going to require your undivided analytical attention. You should be practical and subdued. A relative could approach you to share your thoughts on an issue. Be modest in your outlook today.

Daily Chinese Sign horoscope
Dog – 14 Jan 2010
Don’t be naive in your dealings with others today. Take care not to fall victim to a scheme or cleverly devised plan. You don’t have to be suspicious of everyone you encounter now, just alert and perceptive. If you’re having trouble trusting your own instincts, turn to someone whom you know you can go to for advice.

Rune: ANSUZ
Wisdom and Creative Energy
Ansuz symbolizes creativity in all its forms. Words, music, the birth of a child, or an endeavor which is coming to fruition. Life force and ambition are also represented here. Inspiration, wisdom and spiritual knowledge.

I-Ching: Kun “The Receptive” (#02)
The Receptive is the hexagram denoting “devotion” and the spirit of the Earth. Fertile ground is required for creation. The hexagram of “the receptive” often has a strong female meaning, but can denote a powerful relationship between either a man and a woman, a father and son or between friends. A conscious act of devotion and a willingness to stand by that person, principle or force which sustains us, guides us or fills us with energy.

I-Ching: Tung Jen “Fellowship” (#12)
To achieve your aims, you will have to unite with virtuous people. Indeed it will be easier to reach every objective if a group of individuals( albeit of different characters), had the same common goal. However always keep your own personality and act so that you enrichen one another.

NftU: Expectation

Date: January 11th, 2010
Cate: NftU, china, life the universe and everything, wisdom

NftU

Thanks, China, for every single time you ever fell in love.

Whether or not it was obvious. Whether or not it lasted. And whether or not you were loved back.

It changed everything.

You changer,
The Universe

Date: January 8th, 2010
Cate: art, china, life, magick, personal

oHgr “Chaos” (video)

more))

Date: January 8th, 2010
Cate: china, life the universe and everything, magick, personal, spirit

oHgr “Magick” (video)

more))

Date: January 8th, 2010
Cate: art, china, life the universe and everything, magick, personal, spirit
1 msg

“that’s why I’ve chosen to rebel against the predestination of my body…”

I’ve been noodling on the quarter-of-a-century which Nivek Ogre and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge have influenced not only my mind, but how I’ve treated my body and cultivated my spirit. I’m journaling about being a just-turned 16-year-old grrrl, with a new drivers license and and old 280ZX and I followed a renovated shop truck carrying Skinny Puppy around the country. I saw 26 shows that summer, but I was too shy to ever introduce myself to them at the time.

I have a PROCESS cross branded into my left-arm…it’s been there since 1995. Genesis, as the head of the Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY), taught me about sacred sexuality and challenging everything about the systems of reality.

I’m a responsible, productive member of society…

But I still believe almost everything about this stuff.

Date: July 29th, 2009
Cate: china, personal

Horoscope: July 29, 2009

Libra – Life just seems determined to break the lid off that box that holds your incredible creative genie. Maybe because you’re so smooth and well put together and you make it look easy, you don’t always get the credit you deserve for being a creative dynamo. On the other hand, a person in the grip of his or her creative daemon is often messy, chaotic and extremely self-focused; it could be your unwillingness to be perceived as such that keeps you from letting your creative genius flow freely. Whatever the reasons you hold yourself back, your 5th House of creativity, romance, self-expression and pleasure has been flooded with an ocean of healing energy this year. Life has been pushing you all year long to work through the wounds that keep you from playing joyfully in the world the way you did in your best days as a child. This area of your chart gets another blast of wake-up juice from the August 5 lunar eclipse, reminding you that you can’t be an enlightened member of the community if you’re not fully expressing the unique gift(s) you incarnated to share with the rest of us. BTW: With your ruling planet Venus now in your 10th House of career (the part of your chart marked for dramatic change in the coming months by the July 21 solar eclipse), you are especially attractive to power-brokers and well-placed people who can help you reach your career goals.

Daily Sun Sign horoscope
Libra – 29 Jul 2009
Financial security is the main thing on your mind today. So it’s worth doing the paperwork to sort out your budget. Once you have that organised, not only will you feel better, you’ll also be able to spend with a clear conscience. You have a deep understanding of the suffering of others and how to relieve it in a practical way.

Daily Vedic Moon Sign horoscope
Capricorn – 29 Jul 2009
Today, you are in the mood to seek encouragement and appreciation for all the good work you have achieved. You could be chosen to organize and streamline a project or an event. Friends may seek your valuable advice on certain organizational issues that confront them today.

Daily Chinese Sign horoscope
Dog – 29 Jul 2009
It’s a fantastic time to plan for the future. Your work is likely to progress steadily; therefore, your income is probably secure. Take this opportunity to focus your financial efforts on opening a savings account or a college fund for your family. For leisure, relax in the comfort of your home. You might even want to invite a few friends over for dinner and casual conversation.

Today’s Horoscope for Libra
You may be overly concerned about money management today, especially if you feel insecure about your situation. The material world feels less stable now, whether you are worried about meeting your financial obligations or paying for something special you want. Even if your concern is based on reality, your fears are potentially more damaging than your current circumstances. Replace thoughts of scarcity with visions of abundance.

The First Quarter of the Moon
The precise moment of the First Quarter was 6:00 pm Jul, 28 2009
A stressful period of time when there is a strong desire to accomplish something, to change, and to show oneself. However, before undertaking anything, first stop and think: is it really needed? Obstacles multiply at this time and contradictions sharpen. Plans developed under this influence often turn out to be unrealistic because people tend to overvalue their abilities.

The Moon is in Scorpio
until 4:11 pm Jul, 30 2009
An emotionally difficult time. There is increased jealousy, greediness, envy and other negative feelings. The colours of the world turn black and white. Sexuality and sensuality go up and strong, powerful emotions run high, whilst diplomacy and tact will noticeably decline. However, it is a good time for any occupation which needs intensity and total devotion.

Date: March 23rd, 2007
Cate: china

Trial Test

LaughPig

Just checking in to see if some third-party software works well or not. How is everyone doing out there?

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Date: February 16th, 2007
Cate: editorial, nola

Goodbye New Orleans

In the New York Times… a decent article on how those people who love NOLA, are choosing to leave…because it’s not getting any better. Makes me sad…but I understand. I just wish I could do something to make it better.

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Date: January 29th, 2007
Cate: editorial, nola

New Orleans Really DID Disappear by Eugene Robinson, Washington Post columnist

posted on Sun, Jan. 28, 2007

New Orleans really did disappear
By EUGENE ROBINSON, Washington Post columnist

More infuriating than anything George W. Bush said in his State of the Union address last week was what he didn’t say.

Congress and the nation heard nothing, zilch, nada, not a single, solitary word about New Orleans, the Gulf Coast and the devastation that remains from the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

A disaster that happened on his watch. How nice that the White House has been able to move beyond the trauma of September 2005 — wind and water, death and destruction, poverty and race, “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.” Too bad the people of New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish, Pass Christian, Biloxi, Miss., and the rest of the coast will never have the luxury of forgetting.

They can’t forget that, days after Hurricane Katrina made its tragic landfall, President Bush stood in New Orleans’ historic Jackson Square, while most of the city still lay beneath brackish floodwaters, and said that nature’s trials “remind us that we’re tied together in this life, in this nation — and that the despair of any touches us all.”

Must have been a very light touch.

That night, Bush promised that “we will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities.” He vowed, “This great city will rise again.”

Then, as usual, he acted as if saying something were enough to make it so.

Bush said there was “no way to imagine America without New Orleans.” No imagination is needed — the New Orleans that we knew before the flood no longer exists. The remnant of a city that survives between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain has less than half the population of the New Orleans we used to know. Vast neighborhoods are still full of houses abandoned to mold and decay.

Hundreds of thousands of residents still have no way to come home — or no home to return to. Vicious hoodlums have returned, however, and are preying on the diehards who never left and the pioneers who are doing the best to help the city rebuild.

Yes, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have bought a house in New Orleans and say they will make the city their new home. But they’re likely to have better security than their neighbors.

New Orleans was doomed not just by Hurricane Katrina, but by the failure of levees and flood walls that should have provided ample protection. The Army Corps of Engineers has worked day and night to patch the flood-control system, and if Katrina hit again tomorrow, most of the city should stay dry.

But if a similar hurricane hit from a different angle — or, heaven forbid, a stronger hurricane hit from any angle — then what’s left of New Orleans likely would be destroyed.

The man who inspired Bush’s immortal “Brownie” remark, Michael Brown, will go down in history as the Federal Emergency Management Agency director who botched the federal response to Katrina. But he intends to take others in the White House down with him.

Speaking recently to a group of graduate students, Brown claimed he advised that the White House assert federal control of the disaster response in the whole affected area.

“Certain people in the White House,” Brown said, wanted to “federalize” the response in Louisiana in order to embarrass Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, but avoid taking any steps in Mississippi that would cast Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, in an unfavorable light. Brown did not name the White House officials who were behind these alleged machinations. A White House spokesman denied Brown’s claims.

I’m about as cynical as anyone about George W. Bush and his administration, but what I mostly saw in the days after Katrina was incompetence, not political gamesmanship.

The scale of the disaster was almost unimaginable, and even if the federal government had done its job, lives would have been lost and the Gulf Coast left in ruins.

What is unconscionable is that a president who fundamentally does not believe in government has allowed market forces to take the lead in the reconstruction effort, which ensures that the New Orleans he promised to rebuild is gone forever.

A logjam of insurance claims, construction permits, flood maps and levee projects keeps things from moving forward. Business can’t function without workers; workers can’t come home if they have no place to live.

What kind of president can see one of the nation’s greatest, most historic cities ruined, and not make its rebirth his highest priority? What kind of president gives a State of the Union and doesn’t even mention New Orleans?

Robinson is a Washington Post columnist.

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Date: January 18th, 2007
Cate: Great Grey Beast of February, curmudgeon, magick

Ritual – Truth Here Dwells (from Horus-Maat Lodge)

I needed to air our my soul and personality and character this icy winter day. My heart was hard like my life and my judgements were coming quick and covering all with their stereotypes, and began making statements about the way things are and comparing them to “the way they ought to be”. I was being a curmudgeon. I needed to open myself up to the truth, devoid of ego. Devoid of lust of result. This ritual centers me in that intention. I share it now, with you.

TRUTH HERE DWELLS
A Maatian Shamanic Rite
– Aion 131

In the Forest Find the Place of Power Here Offer a Treasure to the Placespirit:

RETURN TO THE LAND THIS IN HONOR AND THANKS AND LOVE RETURN TO THE LAND THAT THE WORDS BE RIGHT THAT THE FEELING BE TRUE THAT THE POWER BE BALANCED RETURN TO THE LAND ALL THAT HINDERS, TWISTS AND BLOCKS ALL RETURNS TO THE LAND

Walk the Spiral Dance inward Humming the Tune Of Thistimeplacerite Feel/see/be the energy flow If not, spiral OUT and leave…
If yes, then collect 5 stones as you spiral Stop & be center Sink roots Sprout and feel saying:

HERE, NOW, PLACE & TIME TRUTH WILL DWELL

Dig a hole& Hum the No-Thing cast the dirt away, humming:

CLEAR, CLEAR, CLEAR…EMPTY

Scry the shadow-hole hum the no-thing It is Clear & Empty:

THERE IS NO-THING
THIS IS TRUTH
THERE IS NO THOUGHT-WORD-DEED
THIS IS TRUTH-IN-ACTION
IT IS…NOT

Take up the stones Handle & Name them feel the truth of these words:

ATTACHMENT TO LIFE
ATTACHMENT TO FEELING
ATTACHMENT TO BODY
ATTACHMENT TO THINGS
ATTACHMENT TO EGO

Throw 1,2,3,4 to S, W, N, E:

LIES CAST OUT RETURN TO THE LAND
DECEPTIONS CAST OUT RETURN TO THE LAND
UNTRUTHS CAST OUT RETURN TO THE LAND
FALSEHOODS CAST OUT RETURN TO THE LAND

Drop the Ego stone behind you:

…WORK TO BE DONE RETURN TO THE LAND…

All empty, silent, earthed Embrace the E, N, W, S, UP, DOWN hum, chant, suck, mudra the currents into the hole The truth-empty-root-currents song comes and:

TRUTH FLOWS IN A WIND !
TRUTH FLOWS IN AN EARTHQUAKE!
TRUTH FLOWS IN A FLOOD!
TRUTH FLOWS IN LIGHTENING!
TRUTH POURS IN TRUTH POURS IN TRUTH POURS IN

Scry the shadow hole See Truth Sing the Song you See there
Plant what you Will To Plant With the Secret Words you Hear Bury it Kiss the Earth Make the Secret Sigil then Revealed Upon the Earth

TRUTH BE HERE
TRUTH BE HERE
TRUTH BE HERE
GROW, FLOWER FLOW WITH POWER
TRUTH BE HERE

Dance the completed Spiral out Carrying the Ego stone Hum the Completion tune Hum the Thanks to All tune Laugh, hug a tree & shed excess energy
Leave. X

*Note: Ego stone can be kept as reminder, returned to earth, added to a sacred pile or left at a shrine.

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Date: January 18th, 2007
Cate: Ohio, anomoly, editorial, life, magick, wisdom, writing

Tarot Spread 011707:2217

Just did a general tarot read on my current status. This is how it came out!

Q: Card that represents me (I allow the deck to pick it. I don’t select it myself beforehand) High Priestess, reversed. Meaning: False Knowledge/Shallowness/Conceit

2: Cross card. What is currently crossing me or creating obstacles. Luna. Meaning: My “femaleness” is crossing me. “Drowning in this blood” I love being female, but my being female has contributed to my bondage and hindrances.

3: Above Card. What is in near future or higher-powered: The Devil. Meaning: Bondage. Fetters. My femaleness has created fetters on my creativity and magickal life.

4: Below Card. What is in my subconscious or foundation. My id urges. 3 Cups, reversed. Meaning: I have a tendency in my foundation to overindulge and want to escape.

5: Left Card: Past influences and left pillar stuff: Pillar of severity and judgment: 4 Cups. Ennui. Meaning: The sensate world holds little satisfaction for me and I’m not free enough to find that satisfaction at the moment.

6: Right Card: Future influences and right pillar stuff. Pillar of Mercy, Emotion. King of Questing (Wands), reversed. Meaning: Severity, Honesty, Subordination. Acceptance of the fatherly aspect of my life.

7: Inner Consciousness. 5 of swords, reversed. Meaning: I worry about my own bitterness and anger over my own situation. I have concern that my heart will harden if I voice too many of these thoughts. I experience (or fear experiencing) menacing and threat from others as a result of expressing my perspective on the spinelessness of the current generation of men.

8: Outside Influence. Judgment. Death, disillusionment, loss, criticism. Meaning; loss of support. Experience outside criticism. Becoming disillusioned to my own perspective or life?

9:Hopes, Ideals, Desires. King of Cups, reversed. Violence, scandal, injustice, weakness. Meaning: Not sure. I don’t think I hope or desire violence, scandal, injustice or weakness. Not sure how this figures into the spread. I’ll meditate on it later this evening.

10: The sum total of the spread. The Hermit. Meaning: Guidance, contemplation, revelation, integrity, respect.

Put it all together and what do I have? My female experience sometimes has me “drowning in the blood”. Binding me by my own biology, hormones and fertility. My foundation has a tendency for escape and excess. My left pillar of severity is a loss of satisfaction found in the sensate world, my right pillar of mercy and emotion is ironically, the card representing the achievement of the “father”. I think this means that I’ve emotionally and maternally accepted the role of “the father” in my life. My inner concerns are will others perceiving my honest feelings being posted to a blog being countered with treats or menacing. I can’t figure out how the card representing my hopes, ideals and desires being one that represents violence, scandal, injustice and/or weakness, but I’ll meditate on that this evening. And finally the Hermit is my sum card illuminating the guidance and integrity while using introspection to achieve revelation. I am now aware that a moments revelation and honest expression is often just one sliver of the iceberg and that judgments and generalizations can be good to vent, but often need to be reviewed so that they do not harden the heart and close down the mind.

Namaste y’all. We are not saints, but seekers.
China

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Date: January 16th, 2007
Cate: editorial, life, narcissism, sad, writing
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Three Generations of Spineless Men and the "Little Red Hen" Effect

Sometimes I like the idea of having a boyfriend, but the few times I’ve ventured into that arena since my daughter was born, I’ve found I like the idea more than the reality. I know this is a gross generalization and I’m fully prepared for the onslaught of angry men to tell me how crocked this post is, but this is just my perspective and I’m entitled to it. I know there are great guys out there. My stepfather, Bill Michaels, was one of them. He restored my faith that there are good guys out there. This post is just an observation and a personal perspective on why women often choose to “go it alone” into the realm of family foray!

It is my experience that men are an incomplete species. Don’t think so? Name a species in which the males will reproduce by parthenogenesis if there are no females present to copulate with? You can’t! But right now there is a komodo dragon who has never been introduced to a male and she’s pregnant. Read up and it’ll tell you of more than a few species in which the females will reproduce by parthenogenesis if there is more than one generation in which sexual reproduction isn’t possible. When this happens, all of the offspring are male, making it possible to repopulate whole areas. That rocks!!! I think women are slowly creeping towards this option since our men have three generations of selfish and cowardly behavior behind them.

It wasn’t always this way, but the past 40 years have made many men eunuchs in the family arena. This started out as their “choice” when, in the 60’s, when boy and girl would get jiggy together and then unplanned pregnancy would occur it was really the first time that society condoned the man 1) denying that he was the one responsible for the pregnancy and 2) abandoning the woman and going on his merry way, leaving her to hold the bag. I’m sure this wasn’t the first time this happened, but it was the first time it was condoned by the generation and accepted as an option.

In the 70’s, we (meaning feminist women) added to the problem of the selfish men by insisting we didn’t need them and even escorting them out of our lives. Now, not only were they not sticking around to be responsible but we were establishing ourselves into the male-dominated workplace and giving them permission to abandon the children they helped in creating, and we told ourselves that we were capable and better off without a partner that didn’t want to be there.

And we became both mother and father to our children.

Then the 80’s happened and the American world got greedy. It was fashionable to overwork, be material and leave those children to raise themselves, convincing ourselves that we’d done such a good job and we had such complete, level-headed kids who would make good choices.

In the 90’s those kids came of have and were beginning to have children of their own. With greedy, absentee parents we became nihilists and decided to embrace the “live for today, for tomorrow we may die” philosophy. Like our parents we fucked each other and fucked each other over, knowing we could cut-and-run if it went bad or got serious.

In the 2000’s a substantial percentage first births happen to single mothers. After 40 years of spineless men, we are finally getting our stride at doing it all and it is becoming les of a burned that we can’t bear. Fewer of us are in poverty situations with our children.

And now countless men, who insisted their past girlfriends had multiple abortions because they wouldn’t use birth control and they weren’t ready to stop playing with the world, are asking why they can’t get a slice of the family pie?

Men, who have ignored their children for decades or more, can’t figure out why their kids won’t return their phone calls?

Good men, who aren’t flawed by multiple-generations of cowardice by men, don’t know why a woman would choose to go ahead and have and parent a child on her own, rather than wait until he decided he’s ready.

I’ll tell you why.

Women got tired of waiting for men to grow up, to wake up and to become men. So we became men for them. And like the little red hen who planted the corn and watered the seed and tended the sprouts and harvested the wheat and milled the grain and baked the bread…

Now that the hot bread is on the table, the little red hen who did it all says;

“Step the fuck off, because this is the table that I built, in the house that I own and the family that I made…all without your help.”

See if a couple of generations more and I bet we get the hang of that parthenogenesis thing.

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Date: January 10th, 2007
Cate: china, nola, writing

NOLA & Lord of the Flies (response)

“We have created a generation without remorse and given them a Mad Max style wasteland to live out their Lord of the Flies fantasies in.”

These are the words of Loki . Recently married gentleman born and raised NOLA-style. He went back to NOLA as soon as possible after Katrina and dedicated himself and his resources to rebuilding. I read his blog “Humid City” every day in digest form by email. Over the past 15 months I’ve heard the futility and the frustration seeping into his words and today his post has spurned me to write.

He quoted another blog: Metroblogging New Orleans: Pondering and proximity, which states about another such poster who also has committed to stay and a “block-by-block” local action for the rebuild. These are intelligent, independent and committed individuals who love NOLA and believe in their heart-of-hearts that she needs to rise again. But I don’t think anyone though it would be this hard.

And it probably wouldn’t…but there is that quote that started this post:

“We have created a generation without remorse and given them a Mad Max style wasteland to live out their Lord of the Flies fantasies in.”

Indeed we have. I lived in New Orleans and love her city. I love her energy, her way of pushing people until they transcended their own humanity or left, or died. I love her music, her coagulation of the creative; artists, singers, performance and theater people. It was a carnival town as well as a carnivale town and all of the members from the side show, to the flying trapeze to the management were in residence in the off season.

New Orleans remains the only place I can say that I live with my heart wide open. No mask. On my two trips back since Katrina, as soon as my feet touched NOLA dirt there was a huge sigh of relief by my soul. It relaxed, and for the duration of my trip, I didn’t need to worry about keeping appearances up so that I would mix in with humanity. NOLA is a place that allows my wings to spread, my teeth to sharpen and my blood to run shimmeringly black. I love New Orleans and I want to protect her, but when I was there and talked she reminded me of a rape victim who wants to hide herself away from further trauma and to try and heal, but in that process something truly went wrong and she’s in this bad relationship with bad people who continue to hurt her.

I live in Ohio now and since 1998 I’ve tried to find an opening for my return to NOLA. I almost had it in 2005…and then the storm happened. Now I can’t find adequate housing for me and my 8 year old, even IF there were schools to educate her and jobs to help pay for it. NOLA is about as far away from being my place of residence as it can be…but it’s still home to my heart.

When I lived there were these sections of the city you just didn’t go. When I got shot, I got nudged into one of them. They were bad places filled with bad people, taught be bad people to be bad. The housing projects were such that they made the projects of Compton, CA look like country club resorts. Poverty was learned as an occupation. Hustling as the side game. I was very glad that I didn’t have to live in one of those places, but that didn’t prevent me from imagining what it was like, as a child to come of age in one of them. It would have been so removed from the American Dream.

When the Katrina fiasco was in full swing I remember hearing about the looting that was happening. Not just food and water, but clothes and entertainment items. It made perfect sense to me. If I had lived a whole life without having those sorts of things, and my mama has lived her whole life without them…and her mama. And all of a sudden the city’s closed down and the power is out and there are not security alarms or guards and the police has other things to worry about, then I would feel pretty damn justified in going and getting myself one of them boxes with a fancy TV. Sure, there isn’t any power, but there will be…and if there isn’t, I have something to sell to someone who has power. Either way, it’s all good by me.

I understand that underdog mentality. Couple that with the testosterone found in the 14-24 males growing up in those parts and you are right; It’s Lord of the Flies. The have found their Promised Land and they are doing what they know.

When I read about the founding of New Orleans I read about pirates and criminals and the miscreants of the New World. They stormed the city and founded it in their image. And it has always remained in the shadow of that foundation. That is one of the reasons it held our heart so tight.

Maybe in the rebuilding of New Orleans , another seizure of the city is happening by the criminals and pirates who would claim the city for their own?

And if that is the case, there are two options. Fight, using their rules, and beat them, then seize the city for your own, or leave the city to them. They will never go willingly. You are right. Most of them know the prison system and they are having too much fun. Once you have been to prison, there is always a part of you that operates on that logic. So…your rebuild efforts may be in vain, because even if you fix up every building to better than its original state, who is going to move there with that element running the outside world? And they have already proven they aren’t afraid to storm your house, kill you and take your shit.

So what is the answer? I don’t have one. I want my old New Orleans back too, but once squeezed out, the toothpaste is damn hard to get back inside to tube. Time is like that too! Things have changed. New Orleans isn’t what she used to be. There is an element that seeks to feed on her wounded body like a carrion bird, picking at her flesh when she is not yet dead. To those who would stay with her, I salute you, but I feel that unless you take the fight to a very visceral and mortal level, you will continue to feel frustrated as you watch them take her away, day by day.

Could a clear, strong, local government who is intolerant of the bullshit that has been happening make a difference? Yes, if supported by the community agencies of sheriff, police, and legal and community action to support those efforts. Right now everything is fragmented, and the vultures smell weakness.

Maybe someone should don a super-suit and a cape and become a modern-day super-hero. That is what I think we need…. A super-hero for lady Babylon!

Rise again lady New Orleans . Let me know what you need from me to aid you in any way. I miss you

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Date: January 10th, 2007
Cate: china, magick

Organizing Book of Shadows

I’m currently making a new BoS for me. With the intention that I’ll pass this down to my child and maybe down further than that. I’ve noted that my own family of birth has given me nothing I wish to pass onto further generations and I’ve noted I do NOT wish to be like that. So with my limited vision and self and resources I’ve begun to design some things that will begin to define what the Darrington family is representative. The BoS will help pass the various accumulation of knowledge of magick and ritual, ceremony and wildernessing. So I’m going through the many dozen of journals that have been filled and marking those entries that should be transfered to a more permanent medium.

I found this on “organizing grimors”

Here’s a general list and suggested organization for your personal book.

Book Title and Date

Book Blessing

General Index (make a few sections to help organize your book)

The Sections:

Magikal Rules and Principles
Write down your personal principles, beliefs, and/or magikal rules that you chose to follow and believe in. These are your values of life and spiritual path. They should be created from scratch each time you begin a new book. This way you’ll be able to review past volumes and see how much you’ve grown.

Goals and Aspirations
Write down what your short term goals are. Include a date to achieve the goal and outline a few steps you plan to take in order to reach it. Then write down your long term spiritual aspirations, what you feel you need to work on and how you plan on succeeding. What you would like to achieve and by when.

Dream and Divination Records
This section is for messages you receive through dreams, or some type of divination. Either a reading you’ve given to yourself, or received from someone else. This is the section where you want to record your personal introspection and interpretations.

Research
Here you can record all the research and particular information you receive along your path. You might consider organizing this into sub-sections in alphabetical order. Astrology, candles, crystals, Gods/Goddess, tarot and timeliness research could be some examples.

Classes & Experiences
Every witch should take a few classes or workshops on topics or subjects that you feel most interested in. Within all classes and workshops, you should receive some type of exercise or “how to” instruction. Record your experiences with these. What you liked, what didn’t work and what you’d like to do differently next time.

Spells, Incantations & Prayers
Record the spells, incantations and prayers you find along your spiritual path. Those you like and even those you really dislike. There is a message hidden within words you feel very strongly against, write them down and note that you “dislike this one”. Later when you have time, re-read the words and try to find the message hidden within for you.

Rituals & Ceremonies
Plan out your rituals and ceremonies. Record your experiences during or after conducting the event. Include your thoughts about what you liked, what worked well and what you’d like to change next time.

Herbal Remedies and Potions
These are your personal recopies. They can cover various herbology information and recopies to specific potions which are to be used in conjunction with a spell or incantation.

Closing Thoughts
At the end of the year, or once the book is filled, save a few pages for a review and reflection of your book of shadows. Note the goals and aspirations you achieved, the reflections of what you learned during the research and practices you made. End this section with a blessing of thanks and gratitude to all those forces, seen and unseen that helped you along this journey and with the lessons contained within this volume.

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Words to the CosmosPersonal & Professional blog of China Krys Darrington

Archive for category china

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February is over.

Huzzah.

Try planting some of these faery favorites in your garden!

It changed everything.