The Emmerson Witches, web novella!!

http://www.theemmersonwitches.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=14

"I blinked once, twice, three times, as proof that I wasn't caught in a dream, and that I realistically saw the thing that sat beside my sister. A creature with the profile of a goddess faced Evangeline, it's skin so white and translucent, I could see faint blue veins. A tangle of silver-green hair hung wildly down, and swayed in the fathoms beneath the bolder they sat on. That was where the perfect, marble-like skin ended. In place of the creature's legs, it sprouted a long, sturdy tail, much like a dolphins, shimmering in peacock colors as it swished the water's surface."



 
  Alchemy: Mastering of magical chemistry.



 
  Imp: Mischievous, yet dangerous, the imp is a supernatural-being who is comfortable in the presence of either Satan, or in the faerie world.



 
 Fae (faerie): A beautiful creature of folklore, sometimes said to be trapped spirits, fallen angels, or earthly demons.


 
  "My sight had cleared of the blinding mist, and I wished to God it hadn't. A Demon leviathan rose from the churning, blood-filled river, the same monster, I suspected, that had chased me through my nightmares. His appearance was traditionally satanic. I had to crane my neck to take in all of his colossal size. Sinew and bulging muscles pulled taunt over a landscape of ugly orange skin. Where the veins pulsated, diminutive flames rose, flickered and died, though his flesh stayed smooth without charring. The huge black horns dominating the Demon's forehead curled in spiral formation, ending in sharp black spikes."


 
 Ghost: This wandering spirit is a lost soul, trapped between this world and the realm of the dead.



 
  Clairvoyant: An individual who has the ability to see glimpses of the future, or relay messages from the spirit world.



 
 Seraphim: "The Burning ones" God's army of angel's, who are known mate with human women and create offspring called the Nephilim.


 
 Hopelessly, it looks as though Chime may lose the fight against her invisible assailant, as the dark magic pitched against her becomes life-threatening. However, Americus residents are familiar with evil sorcery; the island's hidden past is shrouded by witchcraft, and they are not prepared to lose one of their own. The seemingly ordinary citizens form a coven, to break the spell imprisoning Chime.


 
  Sorceress: A master of Alchemy, magic, and spell craft.


 
 Spell, curse, or hex: By the power of words (incantations) or potions, a curse is laid (or thrown) toward an enemy for the purpose of provoking illness, bad-luck and misfortune.


 
  Pranic Vampire: This paranormal being drains not blood, but life-force from human victims.


 
  Vampire...

A legendary creature that feeds from the blood of humans. Vampires are known as 'The Undead' and are revered for their striking beauty and charisma.


 
  Voodoo Priestess: An individual chosen by the spirits of their ancestors to be placed in a position of power and leadership,and given the responsibility to protect their kin from evil.

 
 Voodoo: This religion hails from Haiti, Africa the Caribbean, and in the USA (predominantly in Louisiana). Voodoo has somewhat of an unsettling reputation, as its magic and curses are extremely powerful. However, it is not by any means a dark religion, as many of its rituals include creating energy to abolish evil spirits.

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The Worry Vessel

Don’t worry, be happy!” Sounds simple, right? Considering that we have 1,000 thoughts per blink of the eye, maybe letting go of worries needs some special attention. Try this visualization from time to time to help you let go of whatever is weighing you down. Sit down with pen and paper and take a few deep breaths. Write down your present worries, concerns and fears. Don’t judge what you are writing, just let loose and write as much detail as you like, for as long as it takes.

When you feel you have emptied your worry vessel, sit back, take a few breaths, close your eyes and focus at your third eye or top of the head. See the beautiful Earth spinning, sailing through space. Expand the view and go beyond our solar system. Then, return to the Milky Way galaxy and back to Earth. Appreciate the amazing beauty, rhythm, flow and energy that you just witnessed. Then take your worry list, honor it and throw it away. Take another deep breath and give thanks for the opportunity to experience this wonderful universe, worry-free!

Recommended: 10 Simple Solutions to Worry: How to Calm Your Mind, Relax Your Body & Reclaim Your Life by Kevin L. Gyoerkoe

When I took up Buddhism, My Catholic Family was Suitably Horrified

Repost from 

http://buddhism.about.com

Wisdom Is Compassion; Compassion Is Wisdom

By Barbara O'Brien, About.com Guide   August 5, 2011

My first Zen teacher used to tell us that wisdom and compassion are the two eyes of enlightenment, and that they function together and support each other. The realization of no separation between self and other gives rise to compassion, he said, and at the same time compassion, and selflessness, opens the door to realization.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said,

"According to Buddhism, compassion is an aspiration, a state of mind, wanting others to be free from suffering. It's not passive -- it's not empathy alone -- but rather an empathetic altruism that actively strives to free others from suffering. Genuine compassion must have both wisdom and lovingkindness. That is to say, one must understand the nature of the suffering from which we wish to free others (this is wisdom), and one must experience deep intimacy and empathy with other sentient beings (this is lovingkindness)."

This is from the book The Essence of the Heart Sutra. The Heart Sutra is, of course, part of the Mahayana Prajnaparamita (perfection of wisdom) literature, which is focused on shunyata. But notice that in this sutra, the lecture on wisdom is not given by Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, but by Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Years ago American Zen centers appeared to be full of people who were fired up to get some mind-blowing satori experience, and they had to be reminded about compassion. But lately I seem to be running into people who get all gushy about compassion but have forgotten wisdom.
I bumped into a fellow today online somewhere who spouted (after the usual "Buddhism is not a religion") that Buddhism is just about living an altruistic and compassionate life. Oh, and mindfulness. Mindfulness is good, too. But somehow wisdom has been dropped from the picture.
If we go back to the historical Buddha's very first sermon after his enlightenment, as recorded in the Pali Canon, we see that he spoke about the "middle way realized by the Tathagata that -- producing vision, producing knowledge -- leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding." When he spoke of his enlightenment, he said, "Vision arose, insight arose, discernment arose, knowledge arose, illumination arose within me ..."
In this sermon he doesn't directly mention compassion at all, although he introduced the basic outline of the Eightfold Path, which takes in all of the ethical and moral teaching. And, of course, during the rest of his life he spoke of compassion and loving kindness often. But at the very beginning, when he began to teach his first disciples, he spoke of vision, insight, discernment, direct knowledge, and illumination.
For another take on this subject, see Zen teacher Brad Warner, "Secure Your Own Mask Before Helping Others." Obviously, the title is taken from the safety instructions given to airline passengers. He writes,

"The underlying problem is the same as the problem with the emergency oxygen masks on airplanes. In our usual condition we are far too woozy to be of much service to anyone else. When our own condition is all messed up our attempts to be helpful are more likely to make things worse than to improve them."

In other words, until we cultivate some vision, insight, discernment, and all that stuff, our efforts to be helpful are likely to fail. What often happens is that our ego and selfish attachments get in the way of clearly seeing what other people genuinely need.
Warner Sensei continues,

"The problem is not whether we should live for others or not. The problem is how we should live for others. If our efforts to help end up doing more harm than good, then we aren't truly living for others any more than the most selfish cad among us lives for himself. We're just feeding our own egos, establishing a clearer and more fixed self image as a good person."

This brings us back to the Eightfold Path. The religion (ahem!) of Buddhism is the practice of the entire Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is said to have three sections, which are wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline. If you study the path in more detail you find that helping others is very important, yes. But it is not more important than wisdom and mental discipline.

One of my favorite websites and writer, Emily, of Emily Gems

http://crystal-cure.com/  How to use Protection Gemstones Your best shield against negative influence in your life is your own attuned state with life.

Gemstones emit vibrations that can help you to become more attuned to those things that will make up a safe, secure environment. These include harmonious relationships, a balanced state of mind, respect for self and others, trading fear for love in all decisions. Types of Protection If one needs protection, the obvious question is "From What?" The need for protection assumes that there is some negative influence that has the capability to bring harm to your home, family, business, personal sense of security, happiness or quality of life. Identifying sources of harm or negative influences is an important step toward achieving a sense of security and protection. Guarding against your inner negativity Some people need to be protected from inner negativity. They need to be protected from themselves. These people are their own worst enemy by nurturing fear or greed or other undesirable characteristics that create a feeling of insecurity and vulnerability. For example, a man who is dishonest in his business dealings with others will distrust people and feel that he needs protection from being cheated by others. This person needs protection from his own fear and dishonesty. He needs to become more attuned to a higher ethical standard in order to be truly safe. A person who is fearful of losing love may feel that he needs protection from being hurt by others. This can manifest itself as jealousy, or being overly possessive, or resisting any serious relationship. This person is not attuned to the other person, since their main focus is on themselves - whether they will be hurt - rather than on the person they love and what they can offer that person in the way of increased happiness. Their priorities are upside down - and such a person needs protection from their own harmful obsession with their own emotions. They would enjoy heightened security by giving less importance to themselves and more to the people around them. As long as your attention is on YOU instead of your environment and the people in it, you are leaving yourself open to attack. This person should become more attuned to loving another as opposed to being loved. Harm from exterior influences There are sometimes real outside influences that mean to do us harm. Identifying people or ideas or groups who pose a threat to our happiness is vital in order to guard oneself. In this case, one would become more attuned to oneself - and notice if a particular person or environment leaves one feeling less cheerful or even 'down'. I once worked at a job where the majority of people were mostly unhappy in their jobs. The CEO was unpredictable - threatening and dissatisfied one day and overly generous and kind the next. It kept the whole office in a state of fear. One never knew if they would have their job from one day to the next. There was little that I could do about this situation besides leave the company (which was not realistic at the time). But I believed that I deserved security and should protect myself in some way... A large fluorite ball on my desk did the trick to shield me from the generally disgruntled atmosphere where I worked. Fluorite makes a wonderful 'mental vacuum cleaner' - it clears the atmosphere of cluttered, confused thoughts and random negativity from varied sources. It assists in making subtle discriminations regarding the kinds of energies and people that you allow to enter your world. Though fluorite is not generally considered a protection stone, I used it effectively to guard against undesirable elements. Often an employee (including the crazy CEO) would arrive in my office asking if they could just sit there for a minute to 'get away' from everything. My office was a little island of peace within a confused and fearful work place. Protection from being hurt (by a lover, friend or associate): A rhodonite sphere or stone brings reconciliation where two people have been hurting each other for a long time. It heals old wounds and scars and is sometimes called the "rescue stone". It helps to recover your unique gifts and opens your awareness to using these for the benefit of others. Classically considered a love stone, rhodonite has energy that is 'outward' focused, or the giving of love, rather than love flowing towards you (such as rose quartz or rhodochrosite). If you feel weak... Weakness can leave one open to attacks. When we feel weak, we are vulnerable, and the source of this is a reduction of our life force caused by a lack of self esteem, or being overwhelmed by people or situations around us. Rhyolite fortifies your natural resistance. It will bring about an increased awareness of your own inner strength. Jasper is an excellent stone to enhance endurance and stamina. If you are working long and hard and feel you are being drained, and therefore at risk - jasper is a very effective protection stone. When you feel the world is out to get you... If you get fearful watching the news, or feel anxious about the state of the world in general, you are probably out of harmony with yourself and your environment. Being out of harmony can leave you feeling unsafe. Things are out of balance when you see only the dangerous side of life. Because the truth is, there is much to be grateful for, and much beauty all around you. Amazonite is the supreme harmony stone, both within oneself and with other people. It facilitates your ability to see multiple points of view on any situation. It allows you to find and know your inner truth - this in turn opens the door to finding a harmony and balance in your attunement to good and evil. Another important balancing stone is moss agate. This stone has strong grounding energies that help you to stabilize and focus on constructive actions. It is an excellent stone for anyone recovering from an addiction as it offers protection from unstable states of mind (such as loss of self control). Know your gemstones Get to know your gemstones and their various properties. Of course there are stones that are clearly protective - agate, jade, jaspers of all types, onyx, all the obsidians, turquoise, tiger eye. But you can get creative with using gemstones for protection by identifying the particular type of protection that you need and then finding a stone with the energy to combat a specific type of threat. Discover the meanings of gemstones! Related information: Protection Symbols Programming your protection stones Gemstone meanings and properties Gemstone articles

A Woman of Her Word

Don't bullshit a bullshitter...This sage advice comes on the heels of a disappointing episode with a young woman who repeatedly lied, when the truth would not have hurt so much. Now, her credibility is shot. She made promises about a repayment of a debt and then kept stalling about its whereabouts, and promising to both 'hand deliver' and then go straight to the ATM and return, none of which transpired. Someone explained it away as 'shame,' but I think it borders on sociopathic behavior, and needs to be corrected.  

Besides, the Bitch stole my Tupperware!

how to

By Kwame Opam Aug 13, 2011 1:00 PM

5,152 14

How To Be an Expert Liar and Not Alienate Your Friends Online

If there's anything I've found to be painfully clear about social media, it's that having friends is exhausting. Privately, I don't care if it's your birthday. I secretly hate you. But society now forces me to acknowledge your virtual existence.
So, if you're anything like me—admit it—you feel like a willful prisoner of the accepted technologies of the day. It's not just about keeping track of the people you don't truly care about. That's one thing. It's that there are "close friends" in your life that you don't give two shits about, but still have to RSVP to their asinine Facebook events or @reply them on Twitter. Close only because you share a few too many drunken pictures together.
But, for one reason or another, you can't break the friendship. Breaking up is hard to do, be it for complicated group associations or having to see them everyday. So what can you do? Lie. And lie well.

Be as Passive Aggressive as Possible

Let's face it. If you were one of those "I say what I mean when I mean it" types, you wouldn't have this problem. That kind of honesty sucks. Hell, the only reason I write this now is because the people in my life that this applies to don't read Gizmodo—if you do, you're safe. You can trust me. So, the only feasible way to go about keeping friends off your back is by keeping them at a distance while making it seem like you care.
That means you can't go off grid. You can't just turn off your accounts, because A) The friends you actually care about are still there, and B) Having more friends/followers is cool. Don't be stupid and risk losing your friend count. And for all you know, your actual friends hate you and are playing this exact game with you. You're stuck.

Know What You Use

I barely use my Tumblr these days. I don't worry too much about what's happening on LinkedIn, though I'll be sure to change some of my settings ASAP. Really, my social networks of choice are Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Foursquare, and Google+. In that order. So my behavior in these spaces naturally informs how and when I lie. You need to know what you habitually use and how they connect before you can be an effective liar. Otherwise, you'll get caught or stuck going to a party or baby shower you don't want to be seen at.
Also keep in mind that a lot of the services you use will, by design, try to keep you honest. Not because they esteem honesty as to shun those who break the 8th/9th Commandment. Rather, telling the truth is just easier. For a computer. You, on the other hand, are human. You should celebrate that fact. Therefore!

Be Creative... Within Reason

Scenario. A few of your friends have invited you to hang out for old times' sake. You haven't seen them in some time, and it really would be nice to catch up. Only they live across state lines, and your last bender has left you a little broke.
Simple solution right? Just tell them you can't come out. You're all adults. They'll understand. Except you let things get to the last minute, and if you flake you look like a bastard. Considerably more complicated. Now what? Well, you could start with a few well-placed tweets or status updates, like "Ugh I feel awful" or "I can't believe this happened!" +1 an article on WebMD. Instagram a sad puppy. All stuff that's specific enough to catch their eye but vague enough as to not feel forced. Later, when you have that talk to break plans, you'll likely hear, "Yeah I saw your [insert here]. Everything ok?" Perfect.
Take it a step further. Say you opt with the "My dog died" range of excuses. Like saying your father got into a car accident and you need to rush to his side. Don't check into the hospital on Foursquare. It's classless, hurts your credibility, and you won't get points for it. Instead, a few choice tweets from the trip here and there is enough to get some sympathy and good will. But be careful! Never overdo it. Short of paying people off, you don't wanna wind up having no one to corroborate your story.

Always Have a Plan

Ultimately, this is a numbers game. The law of averages has it that you're gonna screw up somehow and get caught in a lie. Now, if it's little enough you can talk your way out of it, provided you come prepared. It's just like how in Catholic school they teach that lies only beget more lies. That's not so terrible if you know what you're doing.
Now, you just stood up a date, telling him you have to do some work. But they just busted you. It wasn't hard. You just tweeted how great a time you're having at the party you ditched him for. You even checked in at the location. Been there, done that. All you have to do is send a picture of yourself doing something domestic. A picture you smartly took of yourself beforehand. Then sober up the best you can, and make a phone call from a quiet place to allay any suspicions. Tell him you were making gentle fun of the friend who's party you're at right now. She never even invited you, but you found out on Facebook anyway. The bitch. It sounds ridiculous—it is—but by now you've got him laughing. Good. While it's not the most airtight of solutions, it sows enough reasonable doubt to get you out of hot water.
However, if it's a big enough lie...

Be Prepared to Confess

Well, you can't win 'em all. Sometimes you get caught, and you have to keep it real. This is a good thing. Friendship should not be taken lightly, and lying is wrong. But most importantly, getting caught keeps your sharp for next time. So be ready for it, because it's gonna happen eventually. Don't be afraid to beg for forgiveness. It may not come lightly. It may not come at all. If it does, good for you. You keep a friend, and maybe you can begrudge them a little more respect. If not, who needs them? Either way, lesson learned.
And remember...

You Are Not a Sociopath

You're just a victim of circumstance. There's no reason you shouldn't use your know-how to get out of a tight spot, and you'll probably need that know-how more these days. The ubiquity of all things social network-y means that you'll find yourself in all sorts of situations that demand you deal with people's bullshit. And people's bullshit can overlap and overwhelm in surprising and uncomfortable ways. No one has 900 friends in real life. At the same time, having even 50 regular friends bombarding you with their lives and plans can be very stressful. This is about survival. I'll concede that honesty is still the best policy. But, even for the most noble among you, a good lie can be an excellent back-up.

 Here's the definition of a sociopath:

A sociopath is characterized by the deficit of social emotions such as love, guilt, shame or remorse. According to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the sociopath lacks "a sense of moral responsibility and social conscience." Sociopaths often scheme to manipulate others without regard to consequences of inflicting harm. It is the cold-hearted way the sociopath reacts to his victims that illustrates his lack of moral compass and detachment 
How to handle a sociopath (should they be related to you)

        Observe the person in his day-to-day life to assess her interactions with others. Sociopaths may be charming, but their actions are calculated to manipulate others. Common behaviors include scams, fraud and deception and may include feigned emotions to appeal to the victim's emotions.

         Watch for indications that the individual pursues anything they want at the expense of others. According to Austin Peay State University, the sociopath's life revolves around meeting his own needs without regards to others. (Reference 2)
        Verify stories and information provided by the suspected sociopath. Sociopaths typically concoct elaborate backgrounds, inflate their worth and experience and simply lie to convince others to give them what they want.
        Look for lack of expression of guilt or remorse for wrongful actions towards others. Lack of emotion and failure to express remorse typically signals sociopathic tendencies. Sociopaths convicted of violent crimes typically remain expressionless and exhibit a cold exterior.
        Assess whether the individual has the mental capability to understand their actions. Sociopaths typically understand their actions and know they are wrong or socially unacceptable but simply don't care. Mentally challenged individuals may lack the cognitive abilities to understand their own actions

      Arrange for psychological testing to determine the stability of the individual. Children may exhibit sociopathic traits in the early teens. Lying, stealing and violating laws may signal the onset of sociopathic personalities. Psychological testing rules out other psychological issues that may present with similar traits.

It is SO important to be truthful and credible or once you get a reputation for lying and deception, nobody takes you seriously anymore. And, importantly, they don't care about you or about what happens to you...

You have become a 'villain'

Accept or Reject

I developed a little saying a long time ago,
"Accept or Reject,"
after I realized that I was spinning my wheels.

I was NOT getting what I wanted, I was NOT moving forward, I wasn't moving at all. Somewhere the thought occurred that I needed to accept all that had happened to me, all that is, and then I would be able to go forward. Of course, it also meant that I had to reject a few notions, too.  When faced with confusion, fear, doubt, anxiety, I have learned to first identify the problem, and accept or reject it. This way, there is no wishy-washy avoidance of the whole mess, but a stand for or against the situation. 

As in, "Show me where I stand, and I may rule the world," which is paraphrased from a  quote by Archimedes, a brilliant guy who invented the lever in long ago Greece,

"Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the Earth..."

is to  be fully present where you are, accept what is, and then decide where to run with it...

read more about Archimedes on Wikipedia, the World's Encyclopedia...

Archimedes

 and for more about Acceptance, read this post from Yogi Bajan's Yogamint...

http://www.yogamint.com 

Joyful Acceptance

Finding En-Lightenment

Acceptance is located in the heart space of neutrality. We are all unique individuals experiencing being human with our own thoughts, perspectives and attitudes.

Acceptance is seeing what is real and what is imagination. I learned this lesson recently as a tour manager for a World Music singer. First, I accepted the job position of tour manager. Yet, as we embarked on a 30-day tour covering 7,000 miles, I began to experience negative thoughts and mental chatter. I was very quickly distracted into dozens of “what-if” scenarios and needless worry until I finally laughed at my own ridiculousness. At that moment, a deep belly laugh sprung forth like a geyser and the knowingness that “all is fine” sank in.

With that laugh, I moved from the edge of the storm to the eye of the storm where all is calm. The self-imposed pressures of being in charge shifted to a sublime statement “I AM the tour manager.” I accepted all the aspects of me —all my experiences and life training—that were being called on to deliver what was required of me at that moment. I was asked to just be me. Radiating from the core of me, the infinite vastness, I learned to relax into the flow. Life became so much easier.

That attitude of gratitude and humility now carries me into every situation. I am constantly looking for moments to say “Wahe Guru” (Cosmic Wow!) and to experience the knowingness that all is in perfect order.

Haridass Kaur
Tour Manager, Fearless Chocolate Goddess
www.simritkaurmusic.com
www.infinitegoddess.com
Recommended Read: Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach Ph.D

Om Brzee Namaha

http://lessonsfromearthschool.blogspot.com/2009/04/om-brzee-namaha.html

Om Brzee Namaha is a mantra. A mantra is a sound to induce transformation, and is perhaps the oldest form of prayer of mankind originating in the Vedic tradition of India. Later, it was incorporated in Hindu, Buddhist, and other religions. It is used to divert the mind from its instinctual desires and thoughts toward manifesting divine consciousness.

Om or Aum is both a mantra unto itself and an auspicious beginning, even as legend states the Lord chanted Om as He created the world. The letters Aum are said the represent the three deities, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva; the three worlds, Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah; the three Vedas, Rig, Yajur, Sama; and the three states, waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. It symbolizes everything, the means and goal of life, the world and Truth underlying, the material and the Sacred, the form and formless, and provides profound effect on body and mind. It begins most mantras and Vedic prayers.

Namaha ends many mantras and prayers, saying I bow down to this, I submit and submerge myself, I become one with this, this meaning the substance of the mantra or prayer.

Brzee requests greater substance, wealth, a vanquishing of scarcity consciousness. The concept invoked is that of what the mind conceives and believes, is achieved. The universe reflects the deep mind’s belief, and the mantra beseeches the deep mind to reward, to bestow wealth on others and self.

Brzee Mantra links to a YouTube performance of the mantra repeated 108 times, 108 being all the names for various deities. Many Hindu masters adopt the alias Brzee as part of their message and marketing of their message. It is their manner of saying they can provide this if this is what you seek. They, too, would build toward having 108 names.

In invoking the mantra, let oneself submerge into the spirit of the mantra, this Vedic prayer as old as man or older.