Geesh.

I just ask for a little understanding and patience... cause I need to give that back to others right now myself

Caelidh discovered a great website and wants you to be a part of it. The Enquirer is looking for the best photos of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to be put in a full-color, hard-bound, coffee-table book.

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Since issue no. 171 (June 2006), Sino-Platonic Papers has been published electronically on the Web at no cost to readers, with older back issues also being released periodically for free in e-editions. Paper copies of issues nos. 1–170 will continue to be available for purchase until our stock runs out, at which point those issues too will be available for free on the Web.

Thanks for having the interesting interview with Dennis McKenna. I have been looking forward to this interview for quite some time.  However, I can't say it was what I was expecting, but then again.. most shows never are.

I found it interesting, albeit frustrating, a bit, that Dennis happend to have a very skeptical attitude towards his brothers theories.  I have read the books that Terrence wrote and should re-read them again.

I come from a family that is strictly atheistic and skeptical, yet, I myself consider myself far more open minded and inquisitive and creative in my theories about what is going on in our heads and in the Universe at large.  I know that many strict scientists are more about deconstructing the universe and trying to find the most rational and logical explanation for everything and I concede.. the scientific method IS a very important aspect in our search for understanding.

However, that being said.. I have to say that Terrance McKenna did get me thinking about things in a new way.  Which is what I believe Jan and Dennis did agree was one of Terrance's biggest contributions regardless that anything he actually postulated was scientfically verifiable or not.

Regarding the whole 2012 movement.  One things that I notice that really kind of drives me up a wall is how this movement is portrayed.  I will say that I totally agree that there are going to be and already are a NUMBER of hucksters out there trying to stir up fear and a buck or two to sell a book or a movie . And that there are many who probably ARE sitting on their butts just WAITING for Dec 21, 2012 for the "end of the world" to happen.

Yet... I personally don't percieve 2012 as a call for us to just wait for our "savior to land" etc.. AND I don't think that all folks who are talking about 2012 are preaching for that!... Case in point is Daniel Pinchbeck.  I heard a very interesting talk he gave at Burning Man (that was on the Psycadelic Salon Podcast) regarding "Cancelling the Apacolypse" (I believe that was the title.   What he was calling for was for us NOT to sit on our butts expecting the earths destruction.. that isn't what the "meme" of 2012 is about... that it is more of a dialogue.

I agree.. I think too many individuals give up their power to Saviors instead of saving themselves.  But I don't believe that 2012 is about that OR that everyone inteprets 2012 as a signficant specific end date.... As most "rational" individuals have stated ... 2012 IS merely an end of an age.. the end of this specific cycle of the Mayan Calendar..

We all talk about consciousneness and what exactly that means, entails or how it influences human evolution.  Being a "Magickian" of sorts.. I believe in the concept of thoughts leading to manifestation of "form".  We have the power to create.. Our thoughts are powerful things.. and we should not dismiss them.  I have hung on to 2012 as signficant to some degree in MY life because I definatly felt a SHIFT in how my consciousness about where we are in our human evolution.  Where are we RIGHT NOW?.. how are we treating the planet, how are we treating each other.  It all seems so futile to go repeatedly through the same stuff over and over and we never seem to really be GOING anywhere.  Yet 2012 to ME is sort of a MAP.  It is an opportunity for DIALOGUE that we all need to be happening. 

Too many skeptics, or nut jobs will be trying to co-0pt that discussion to benefit THIER agenda.. but what are WE who envision something more postive and healing  doing?  Are we engaging in that discussion? How? 

2012 can be a powerful tool to do that.. and I believe that honestly.. perhaps that is how our consciousness manifests reality... 

Being passive at this time is NOT the answer.
but I disagree that 2012 is just like Y2K... I think Y2K was merely a predecessor for raising our consciousness about where we have come in our civilization!.. how much power we have given up.  We have been too passive.. and now is the time to act.. to become TRULY engaged and take back our power.  To me.. that is what 2012 represents.

To fall into the typical naysayer skeptical or even fanatical believer roles are not productive in this day and age.

So.. That is my 2 cents about the discussion on 2012.

My mind has been incredibly stimulated by Terrances ideas as well as 2012 and recently Jan Irvin's push to bring to the forefront the discussion of the origins of Christianity and the larger discussion of the power of entheogens in human consciousness evolution.

I do not want the discussion to end.

We are in dark times.. and I fear heading into darker times.. we do have the power to reverse that.. if we choose...

The dark times may be very dark and something out of our control.. but I believe that our consciousness will have the ability to transcend whatever challenges lay ahead. But we must remain engaged and aware... and keep working on the process.

Namaste
Caelidh

Yet.. what we have in the west typically is an Ayn Randian philosophy of Selfishness as a virtue. "If everyone just looked after themselves then we would all be taken care of".

There are other groups who believe that as well. IF we all are doing our own thing.. Our "own will".. then we wouldn't have conflicts.

Yet.. turn that on its head for a moment...

What if.. everyone looked after everyone else!?? If I come to you and see that you need a blanket.. I give you a blanket.. and you see me and see that I need a meal to eat.. and you give me a meal to eat... rather than...

Me trying to GET a meal to eat and figuring that out while you are struggling to figure out how to get a blanket.

The energy shifts.
 

it isn't about promoting laziness or welfare.. it is about compassion.

Conservatives tend to be very selfish.  They confuse taking care of ones self with self interest.  They look with disdain on folks who fall on hard times.. blaming them for their troubles.. looking at them suspiciously .. putting up walls to "protect their stuff"...   condeming "laziness" etc... it is a dog eat dog world.  Everyone grows up suscpicious and fearful instead of allowing themselves to let go and trust each other. 

Sure.. you should do a hard days work.. (whatever that means)... but I know a lot of folks who work their fingers to the bone and get little for their troubles and then uber rich folks who never really worked a frelling dayin thier lives and grew up in big homes went to nice schools.. etc...

There are exceptions that folks from the RICH side... can be exceptionally compassionate and generous.. and there are poor folks who are selfish and lazy...

and there are poor folks who manage.. and live very good lives and don't need a lot.

It comes from WITHIN. 

We need to really ALL shift our perspective.
 

Right now.. the Conservatives are bitching about this "Class warfare" and they are defending the Rich who get bonuses... and I don't understand why.??

We are all in this sinking boat together. Don't demonize everyone except the rich...   Everyone is pointing fingers.  Yet we all are feeling the pinch.. and we need to wake up and becmoe a bit more conscious.  

No.. we dont' all want to be like the grey faced stereotypical Mao suit wearing "Commies"... but throw that image away! It is a fear tactic that keeps  us from evolving.

Yet.. we also need toquit believing that we will all be living in gold plated houses...

I think Buddhism can teach us ALOT about our attachment to things.. To stuff. .. to what we believe about money, prosperity and security.  That fear we carrie within us only serves to separate us and keeps us apart from each other.  If we are afraid of someone taking something from us... what are we afraid of? 

I like Byron Katie's work and it could possibly be very useful in this excercise...

 STEP ONE:

Judge Your Neighbor

Stress is NOT conducive to manifesting positive things.
 

It seems totally on a track to derail any progress i make.
 

I find myself getting angry because I make choices to do things in my own time and place and BAMN... LIFE has other frelling plans. Well you know what? FUCK IT!

Luckily I am currently getting my car repaired

I am TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY FRELLING LIFE by getting a massage and doing things on my own damn time and place. If others don't like it.. they can frell off!!

I have been so stressed all week.  Other folks trying to scare me and freak me out.  Others behind me trying to push me... Me trying to get all this RESPONSIBLE stuff done.. like cleaning my house. running errands. taking care of my cat. doing laundry.. .

maintaining a relationship.
Getting to work
etc....

fuck it is hard!~

All I really want to do is this:

I want to be making some more money.. ONLY so I am not stressed each month...

I want to have more time to relax.. and enjoy cooking, growing food, enjoy my relationship... enjoy downtime.. Not worry about weather I can frelling afford to go out and get a beer... or whatever.

Life is about enjoying it.. NOT about stress. You hear me?!???

I am not here to be some frelling slave to some stupid machine. I didn't cause the frelling financial collapse.. Others did. They got greedy.

I have been plowing away.. working on trying to save the planet.. heal the planet.. become more evolved and aware.  To be able to love more...

It is frelling CHALLENGING to even go into the grocery store and deal with IDIOTS. No. I have barely an ounce of compassion for folks at the checkout line..

Yesterday. i go through the self chekout at Krogers.
 

I am getting staples. But I saw a buy one get one free exotic chocolate bar thing so I get two chocolate bars.  A treat.
I take them to the checkout. The frelling machine doesn't take off the discount .. I ask the woman about this.. She says "it will take it off when You press pay".  I ask "are you sure?" she says yes... I proceed. I press pay  It does notthing.  "It isn't taking it off" She says It will take it off when you finish the transaction.  I SHOULD have known at this point that something was wrong.. But I frelling trusted this idiot checkout woman.

So I finishe my transaction. NOPE.. I have just paid for 2 candy bars. One at 2.79 and another for 3 something (I said they were exotic and I should have gotten 2 for 2.79).

I tell her.  She shrugs her shoulders and tells me that I have to go to customer service. URRRRGHHHH!!!.. Stupid woman.  She didn't know her frelling job! I was trying to avoid this.; But of course it ends up being MY fault because I proceeded to TRUST her frelling judgement.
 

I had to then go over and stand int line and wait.. I was pissed Off!!!!... I told the woman at Customer service about this and she says "all two for one is for the same KIND not merely the same brand... I had gotten a super dark chocolate and a dark choloatae with nibs or something..)  Of course I tell her this stipulation was NOT clearly marked on the promotional signand she said "its always that way". 

FUCK IT.  Why don't they just spell this shit out?? Why do they have to hide this?  You know why? becuse they know MOST folks won't notice.. and end up paying for 2 chocolate bars when the promotion was two for one.
But the blame gets laid on MY shoulders as a consumer because I didn't kNOW this .. or I didn't real carefully enough.
 

Fuck My time is precious!!!.. Don't waste it by tryingto manipulate me or trick me into spending more money.
 

I tried to be a careful consumer.. but I really wanted the fucking chocolate.. and so I trusted the judgement of some stupid check out clerk WHO COULD have explained that to me if she would walk her fat ass over and find out what the problem was. But no.. she lied to me and told me something wrong instead of knowing the policy and explaining it to me.
 

This is what is wrong with our society. This is probably what happened in many mortgage circumstances... Folks trusting what others say. Becuase they want to believe the other person knows their job and they are trustworthy. NOPE

So we are screwed.....
and this is what causes dissention in the system.

 

sorry I have been out of commission.

All my weekends have been taken up (happily occupied btw)  but I haven't been on here in ages.
 

UPDATE

I have been sick.
My bf has sick (and thus why I am online )
Last Sat I was rear ended by a woman from Florida... and Have been dealing with stress from that all week. Car is going in on Monday .... hopefully...... ergggh
 

So I stayed home this weekend and am doing some vital spring cleaning...

fun fun fun!!!

Well that's pretty much it!
 

While I didn't know her.. many of my friends and their kids did.... I may go to the funeral/memorial service to show suppport.

There are too many of these tragic murders... I unfortunatly feel numb ... which is awful... this one hit too close to home.  They are all tragic... all horrible... and it is frustrating...

I get these sex offender notices and it feels frustrating... There was some news on how we handle sex offenders... if they are really rehabiliated and how we treat them with red letters and never allow them to integrate back into the community... Yet.. .when you see situations like Esme Kenney's murder.. you understand and you don't want these messed up people in your community.  Trying to hold any kind of compassion is hard.  

I work in a mental health agency and so my view is that he more than likely had a severe mental illness...what do you do???.. How do you handle it?  How to you help avoid situations like that?

What happened on Sat?  He lived down the street from her.. so was he following her?  Was she caught unawares because she perhaps knew him?  What happened?  She apparently jogged regularly in the area... but this time... something happened.. and she never returned... I hope we find out...

I tend to be wary... cautious. I don't trust strangers... I have been a  single woman.. My first instinct if anyone is following me is to turn around and look.. let the person KNOW I am aware they are there.. I change my stance... I don't go down secluded areas by myself....   If strangers come up asking for $$ or anything I get on alert... I feel guilty... but this is the way we live.  I don't give strangers money. I don't stop to talk to strangers... I don't like to be afraid.. but I am not stupid either...I don't mean to judge the stranger on the street... but if you are innocent.. don't follow so close...

if you are aware.. you will know if someon is a threat.. Their energy is different.  I deal with mentally ill people every day.... and I am more used to it.  I used to be more scared...
 

It is just about being grounded and aware of your surroundings... listen to your gut.  Don't be irrational.. but lock your doors in bad neighborhoods.. it isn't "racist".. it is just common sense  Things happen..

Things could happen in GOOD neighborhoods too.  I could get mugged or attacked on my street. Other's have. there was a hold up around the corner from me one summer...I woke up at 3am to screaming about someone having a gun and calling the police. I called 911... and told them all I knew. But the victims never went to the police!....

This attitude that the police are evil .. keeps crime happening. 

Just basically .. be aware... be grounded... I don't want to live in fear... I refuse to live in fear...

Fear IS the mindkiller....

I send good healing thoughts to the family and friends of Esme Kenney!....

I wish them all well....

Namaste
 

According to researchers in Taiwan, the answer is “Yes.”

The researchers (Ko & Kuo, 2009) administered a 43-item self-report survey to 596 college students who were mostly between ages 16 and 22 and female (71 percent). The college students were young adults who had blogging experience, and specifically with blogging for the purpose of keeping a personal journal.

The researchers found support for deeper self-disclosure from bloggers resulting in a range of better social connections. These included things such as a sense of greater social integration, which is how connected we feel to society and our own community of friends and others; an increase in social bonding (our tightly knit, intimate relationships); and social bridging — increasing our connectedness with people who might be from outside of our typical social network.

They also hypothesized and found support from their data that when these kinds of social connections increase or grow deeper through blogging, a person will also feel a greater subjective sense of well-being or happiness.

This research is consistent with prior research on personal writing (usually more privately, though) that finds that when people share their innermost thoughts of their moods or feelings with others through writing, they may gain greater social support and improve their social relationships and feelings of connectedness. There isn’t a whole lot of research into blogging, so this study is a valuable contribution to our knowledge and understanding of this behavior.

The researchers also reminded us that since most people who read personal blogs are a person’s own friends and family, it’s likely that self-disclosure on those blogs will help them improve these existing relationships. Not only does blogging not diminish or interfere with existing social relationships, the researchers argue, but it enhances them and has the ability to actually improve them.

I’ve seen this time and time again with some of my friends’ blogs — they share feelings and thoughts that I’d have a hard time getting from them in-person. Especially since many times people blog as they’re going through an emotional or difficult situation in their lives. It’s so much easier to blog about it as it’s happening than to try and call and talk to a half dozen close people by phone, repeating the same information and feelings time and time again (which can result in an emotional drain).

I also see similar things happening in our online support groups. Those people who share their feelings and thoughts consistently over time seem to get more from the groups than those who only use them as a social group.

Yet being around prominant Athiests doesn't help.

My stepfather is the National Legal Director for American Atheists. Both my mum and stepdad were mentioned in Richard Dawkins's GOD DELUSION (footnoted)... and I have been to a few secular atheist events and helped out with Camp Quest the first 2 years....

so yeah.. i have been around it. And i have questioned and questioned and questioned.. and fought with myself over belief....

It is complicated. I support what American Atheists do.. they have rights and I don't like Literal Creationists.

But arguments are NOT black and white.. and many dont understaand or take the time to understand the subtetlys of arguments and issues... They let their assumptions dictate how their choose to see the world.

Skeptics tend to be honestly.. a bit more negative. If they can't SEE it .. they dismiss it out of hand..

but then fundies.. tend to be just as literal as we all know.

Yet there is a HUGE world in between Atheism and Fundamentalist Literal Christian beliefs...

Michael Shermer is a huge skeptic and every time I hear him speak on such topics as Tarot or "fortune telling" his arguments and points are predictable and only see the stereotypical side of fakey Tarot readers.
 

Are there fake tarot readers? SURE.. that doesn't mean that tarot isn't valid... he just doesn' t understand what REAL tarot does or how it works and why it works.  He only understands tarot from what he has seen in movies...but I doubt he has read ANY extensive work on tarot.. never read the wide variety of books on the tarot etc.. so he really needs to just shut up...
 

For YEARS I have tried to educate my stepfather about what real MAGICK is ...

Atheists like to dismiss Magic as "wishful thinking" .. or have some ridiculous idea that magic is merely Bewitched or I Dream of Genie.. that is immature and naive.  Yet he refuses to read anything that really handles the subject in a mature way.  And you have to understand that many skeptics are like this!!

They want to pigeon hole practioners as crackpot quacks.. and this isn't true... and you have to call them on their BS.
 

Sure.. there are a lot of fakes and BS'rs..

but there are many skeptics who are in the business for the money too.
 

Do we want folks to be harmed by dubius claims? no... and we can't always control bs'rs who run around making dubius claims and give bad advice...

My experience with MAGICK is more profound and involves my own personal transformation.. not making bunnies appear out of hats.
the world IS mysterious.. and science IS cool.. but there is a MYSTERY to science and whether scientists like it or or not.. they are discovering that science is a bit more "woo woo" than they would like and are trying to backpeddle (and I have noticed this over time) with some of the initial claims that have been revealed by Quantum physics..  They are trying to distance themselves  by slamming "Magickal" practioners and saying they don't understand the science properly and are making claims that are not there... but I don't agree with that.. I think they just are scared that things are a bit more complicated and woo woo than they would like and don't know how to deal with that.. and so they bash folks on the other side...

 

"I believe in only one thing: liberty; but I do not believe in liberty enough to force it upon anyone."
H.L. Mencken

INTRODUCTION

Everyday in the mainstream, corporate underwritten or so-called ‘liberal media’, we hear how of all of America’s problems can be blamed on the ‘liberals.’ For those of you who may not know, here are the true definitions of ‘liberal,’ ‘leftist,’ and ‘conservative.’ These definitions are certainly not what most of you currently understand when referring to liberals.

First I will present a 150-year history of definitions of the word ‘liberal’ via several dictionaries at my disposal. I will use multiple dictionaries so there will be no confusion as to the so-called ‘OLD,’ and ‘NEW’ definitions of the word liberal. The dictionaries I will use are:

• 1) Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1853 - 1st publication 1828
• 2) Webster’s International (Unabridged) Dictionary of the English Language 1893 - 1st publication 1890
• 3) Hurst’s new Nuttall's Dictionary of the English Language, 1898
• 4) Webster’s 9th New Collegiate Dictionary 1983-1990
• 5) Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition 1989
• 6) Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, 1996

Following the breakdown of the word ‘liberal’, I will break down the words ‘leftist’ and ‘conservative,’ going over what they mean in the political sense today. Finally, I will discuss how these political terms have been used and what that means to you.

Gods I love Keith Olbermann!

The Terrorist Barack Hussein Obama

'Kill him!'? Silence as McCain/Palin Response is Deafening

I am a VERY primal being... THat is expressed through my spirituality .. my dance, my singiing... and my sexual nature... the more I deny those things.... the more bereft and confused I feel.  I need to express those things... but most of the time .. they come with wierd taboos You can't sing outloud walking down a street.. or dancing in the middle of a lunchroom or have free sex. Or whatever...

We humans have fought tooth and nail against that.. to rise ABOVE IT and conquer.. and yet we end up with broken hearts, broken lives, broken families, broken economic systems, broken envioromnets... on and on...

I am hoping SOON that more walls will come down and I can be even MORE in the present moment and worry less about what other's think and feel....