IN the spirit of BUDO

Seven Principles of Bushido 

Bushidō (武士道) or the “Way of the Warrior” describes a uniquely Japanese code of ethical conduct adhered to by the samurai. It is loosely analogous to Western concepts of chivalry (think Knights of the Round Table) and yet it is more. Bushido encompasses a system of moral principles. It embodies a code of daily living for the samurai. Those instructed in the code are expected to discipline themselves according to it. There are seven principles of Bushido: 

1.  Rectitude.  Correct judgment or procedure for the resolution of righteousness. “To die when it is right to die, to strike when it is right to strike.”

2.  Courage.  A virtue only in the cause of righteousness. Death for an unworthy cause was termed a dog”s death. “It is true courage to live when it is right to live, and to die only when it is right to die.”

3.  Benevolence. Love, affection for others, sympathy and nobility of feeling are regarded as the highest attributes of the soul. “Benevolence brings under its sway whatever hinder its power just as water subdues fire.”

4.  Politeness.  A poor virtue if it is actuated only by a fear of offending good taste. Rather it should stem from a sympathetic regard for the feeling of others. “In its highest form politeness approaches love.”

5.  Veracity.  “Truthfulness.” Lying was deemed cowardly, and it was regarded as dishonorable. Indeed the word of a samurai guaranteed the truthfulness of an assertion. No oath is necessary. “Propriety carried beyond bounds becomes a lie.”

6.  Honor.  A vivid consciousness of personal dignity and worth is implicit in the word honor. “Dishonor is like a scar on a tree which time, instead of effacing only helps to enlarge.”

7.  Loyalty.  Only in the code of chivalrous honor does loyalty assume importance. In the conflict between loyalty and affection the code never wavers from the choice of loyalty. “A samurai was obliged to appeal to the intelligence and conscience of his sovereign by demonstrating the sincerity of his words with the shedding of his own blood.” 

Seven Dianes

Diane Kruger's eyes.

Diana Ross, singer and focus of love and adoration...

Diane Sawyer's leisurely beauty toys with what coils within as a stimulant barely masked...

Diane von Furstenberg's intoxicating and exciting beauty aglow!

Dian Parkinson easily the most beautiful of women. 

Diane Lane barefoot!!

Diane Farr (born September 7, 1969) is an American actress and writer.

Meamei The Seven Sisters – Australian

WURRUNNAH had had a long day's hunting, and he came back to the camp tired and hungry. He asked his old mother for durrie, but she said there was none left. Then he asked some of the other blacks to give him some doonburr seeds that he might make durrie for himself, But no one would give him anything. He flew into a rage and he said, "I will go to a far country and live with strangers; my own people would starve me." And while he was yet hot and angry, he went.

Gathering up his weapons, he strode forth to find a new people in a new country. After he had gone some distance, he saw, a long way off, an old man chopping out bees' nests. The old man turned his face towards Wurrunnah, and watched him coming, but when Wurrunnah came close to him he saw that the old man had no eyes, though he had seemed to be watching him long before he could have heard him. It frightened Wurrunnah to see a stranger having no eyes, yet turning his face towards him as if seeing him all the time. But he determined not to show his fear, but go straight on towards him, which he did.

When he came up to him, the stranger told him that his name was Mooroonumildah, and that his tribe were so-called because they had no eyes, but saw through their noses. Wurrunnah thought it very strange and still felt rather frightened, though Mooroonumildah seemed hospitable and kind, for, he gave Wurrunnah, whom he said looked hungry, a bark wirree filled with honey, told him where his camp was, and gave him leave to go there and stay with him. Wurrunnah took the honey and turned as if to go to the camp, but when he got out of sight he thought it wiser to turn in another direction. He journeyed on for some time, until he came to a large lagoon, where he decided to camp. He took a long drink of water, and then lay down to sleep. When he woke in the morning, he looked towards the lagoon, but saw only a big plain. He thought he must be dreaming; he rubbed his eyes and looked again.

"This is a strange country," he said. "First I meet a man who has no eyes and yet can see. Then at night I see a large lagoon full of water, I wake in the morning and see none. The water was surely there, for I drank some, and yet now there is no water." As he was wondering how the water could have disappeared so quickly, he saw a big storm coming up; he hurried to get into the thick bush for shelter. When he had gone a little way into the bush, he saw a quantity of cut bark lying on the ground.

"Now I am right," he said. "I shall get some poles and with them and this bark make a dardurr in which to shelter myself from the storm I see coming."

He quickly cut the poles he wanted, stuck them up as a framework for his dardurr. Then he went to lift up the bark. As he lifted up a sheet of it he saw a strange-looking object of no tribe that he had ever seen before.

This strange object cried out: "I am Bulgahnunnoo," in such a terrifying tone that Wurrunnah dropped the bark, picked up his weapons and ran away as hard as he could, quite forgetting the storm. His one idea was to get as far as he could from Bulgahnunnoo.

On he ran until he came to a big river, which hemmed him in on three sides. The river was too big to cross, so he had to turn back, yet he did not retrace his steps but turned in another direction. As he turned to leave the river he saw a flock of emus coming to water. The first half of the flock were covered with feathers, but the last half had the form of emus, but no feathers.

Wurrunnah decided to spear one for food. For that purpose he climbed up a tree, so that they should not see him; he got his spear ready to kill one of the featherless birds. As they passed by, he picked out the one he meant to have, threw his spear and killed it, then climbed down to go and get it.

As he was running up to the dead emu, he saw that they were not emus at all but black fellows of a strange tribe. They were all standing round their dead friend making savage signs, as to what they would do by way of vengeance. Wurrunnah saw that little would avail him the excuse that he had killed the black fellow in mistake for an emu; his only hope lay in flight. Once more he took to his heels, hardly daring to look round for fear he would see an enemy behind him. On he sped, until at last he reached a camp, which be was almost into before he saw it; he had only been thinking of danger behind him, unheeding what was before him.

However, he had nothing to fear in the camp he reached so suddenly, for in it were only seven young girls. They did not look very terrifying, in fact, seemed more startled than he was. They were quite friendly towards him when they found that he was alone and hungry. They gave him food and allowed him to camp there that night. He asked them where the rest of their tribe were, and what their name was. They answered that their name was Meamei, and that their tribe were in a far country. They had only come to this country to see what it was like; they would stay for a while and thence return whence they had come.

The next day Wurrunnah made a fresh start, and left the camp of the Meamei, as if he were leaving for good. But he determined to hide near and watch what they did, and if he could get a chance he would steal a wife from amongst them. He was tired of travelling alone. He saw the seven sisters all start out with their yam sticks in hand. He followed at a distance, taking care not to be seen. He saw them stop by the nests of some flying ants. With their yam sticks they dug all round these ant holes. When they had successfully unearthed the ants they sat down, throwing their yam sticks on one side, to enjoy a feast, for these ants were esteemed by them a great delicacy.

While the sisters were busy at their feast, Wurrunnah sneaked up to their yam sticks and stole two of them; then, taking the sticks with him, sneaked back to his hiding-place. When at length the Meamei had satisfied their appetites, they picked up their sticks and turned towards their camp again. But only five could find their sticks; so those five started off, leaving the other two to find theirs, supposing they must be somewhere near, and, finding them, they would soon catch them up.

The two girls hunted all round the ants' nests, but could find no sticks. At last, when their backs were turned towards him, Wurrunnah crept out and stuck the lost yam sticks near together in the ground; then he slipt back into his hiding-place. When the two girls turned round, there in front of them they saw their sticks. With a cry of joyful surprise they ran to them and caught hold of them to pull them out of the ground, in which they were firmly stuck. As they were doing so, out from his hiding-place jumped Wurrunnah. He seized both girls round their waists, holding them tightly. They struggled and screamed, but to no purpose. There were none near to hear them, and the more they struggled the tighter Wurrunnah held them.

Finding their screams and struggles in vain they quietened at length, and then Wurrunnah told them not to be afraid, he would take care of them. He was lonely, he said, and wanted two wives. They must come quietly with him, and he would be good to them. But they must do as he told them. If they were not quiet, he would swiftly quieten them with his moorillah. But if they would come quietly with him he would be good to them. Seeing that resistance was useless, the two young girls complied with his wish, and travelled quietly on with him. They told him that some day their tribe would come and steal them back again; to avoid which he travelled quickly on and on still further, hoping to elude all pursuit.

Some weeks passed, and, outwardly, the two Meamei seemed settled down to their new life, and quite content in it, though when they were alone together they often talked of their sisters, and wondered what they had done when they realised their loss. They wondered if the five were still hunting for them, or whether they had gone back to their tribe to get assistance. That they might be in time forgotten and left with Wurrunnali for ever, they never once for a moment thought. One day when they were camped Wurrunnah said: "This fire will not burn well. Go you two and get some bark from those two pine trees over there."

"No," they said, "we must not cut pine bark. If we did, you would never more see us."

"Go! I tell you, cut pine bark. I want it. See you not the fire burns but slowly?"

"If we go, Wurrunnah, we shall never return. You will see us no more in this country. We know it."

"Go, women, stay not to talk. Did ye ever see talk make a fire burn? Then why stand ye there talking? Go; do as I bid you. Talk not so foolishly; if you ran away soon should I catch you, and, catching you, would beat you hard. Go I talk no more."

The Meamei went, taking with them their combos with which to cut the bark. They went each to a different tree, and each, with a strong hit, drove her combo into the bark. As she did so, each felt the tree that her combo had struck rising higher out of the ground and bearing her upward with it. Higher and higher grew the pine trees, and still on them, higher and higher from the earth, went the two girls.

Hearing no chopping after the first hits, Wurrunnah came towards the pines to see what was keeping the girls so long. As he came near them he saw that the pine trees were growing taller even as he looked at them, and clinging to the trunks of the trees high in the air he saw his two wives. He called to them to come down, but they made no answer. Time after time he called to them as higher and higher they went, but still they made no answer. Steadily taller grew the two pines, until at last their tops touched the sky. As they did so, from the sky the five Meamei looked out, called to their two sisters on the pine trees, bidding them not to be afraid but to come to them. Quickly the two girls climbed up when they heard the voices of their sisters. When they reached the tops of the pines the five sisters in the sky stretched forth their hands, and drew them in to live with them there in the sky for ever.

And there, if you look, you may see the seven sisters together. You perhaps know them as the Pleiades, but the black fellows call them the Meamei.


Australian Legendary Tales: Folk-Lore of the Noongahburrahs, by K. Langloh Parker [1897] and is now in the public domain.

 

PRACTICE 25

7 Cherokee Core Values

1. Spirituality
2. Group Harmony
3. Individual Strong Character
4. Sense of Place
5. Honor the Past
6. Educate the Children
7. Humor 

from Bear Warrior (Joe Gonzales)

Unstuck Yourself !

Wisdom Keys

1. What you can tolerate you cannot change.

"If you can live with $6 an hour you'll never make 7. We only change when there is a threat of loss. Endurance creates longevity. You can only change when you hate the present. You must hate the present to qualify for the future."

2. What you respect you will attract.

"What you don't respect will remove away from you. Respect is different from love. To respect something you find value. In the body of Christ we respect healing, but we don't respect health. Whatever you don't have is something you have not valued. Whatever is missing in your life is something you have not truly valued. Respect is the invisible attitude God permits you to adopt to become equal with any human on Earth."


READ: "The Millionaire Next Door"

You can only learn from someone you admire. Protégés want what's in our heart and what you've learned.

3. What you make happen for others God will make happen for you.

4. The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.

"Two forces: creativity, which births and structure which sustains. If you ever tasted the rewards of ritual it'll blow you away. If you fail with your life it'll be because of something because of something that happened daily. Men don't decide their future they decide their habits. Habits create their future. If you succeed it'll be because of a habit. Successful men do daily what unsuccessful men do occasionally."

5. Your rewards in life are decided by the kinds of problems you are willing to solve for others.

"You salary is not based on your worth. Your salary is decided by the kind of problem you decided to solve with your life. Money is not a mystery. Money is merely a reward for solving a problem. When you see someone without a lot of money they're either not solving the problem God created for them to solve, their solving it for the wrong person or with the wrong attitude. If you solve the problem closest to you that's your door out of trouble that's your door out of trouble. Solve it cheerfully. Solve it with excellence because you'll only be remembered in life for two things: the problems you solve and the problems you create."

6. If you insist on taking something God did not give you, he will take back something he gave you.

"Within six weeks that money enters circulation that new money has the traces of cocaine and every known disease. People become ill handling money.

7. An uncommon seed will always create an uncommon harvest.

"A seed is anything that creates more and has value like love, obedience, or patience. Something in your hand will create something in your future. If you give someone something they can't find elsewhere they'll come back to you.


from
Dr. Mike Murdock www.uncommonseed.com/change (June 7, 2015)

Now, I admit to a serious problem with white ministers. It is rooted in history. But, every now and again I wake up in my basement with the TV on and a white minister I know nothing about is on the air speaking words I need. This is how I came across this message. 

I sat up from what I thought a dream and realized the words I was hearing were from this preacher and had substance. Thank God for DVR's. I was able to pause a lot and write down key points of his sermon that mornning. May any of it be of good to you. 

- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 8.1.15 

BLOOD MEMORIES

absolute beauty of a Mashpee Wampanoag woman - Cheryl

Great strides have been made to liberate Western women from the shackles of historical tyrannies administered by church and state. Some things were lost over the centuries of Western domination, and thought. In the wake of so much upheaval of European, and American social structures the divinity and the sacredness of womanhood, motherhood, the breasts, and the sanctity of the womb; of the punany were barely regarded in the political forays into the intellectual and emotional drama of changing the lives and conditions of Western women for the better! In that mix white Americans, for example, have all but forgotten the importance of the Black African slave mothers who raised generations of white boys and girls during slavery, and the Black mothers employed during long period of neo-slavery from the aftermath of the Civil War through the dawn of World War II.

When Moses was found by the Pharaoh's daughter, and his mother came out of the reeds and offered to be the handmaiden she deepened, and raised the level of sacrifice, and emphasis, and power of blood covenant far beyond the sacrifices, and the meaning of covenants laid by men in her time, and of her culture. In her time the Hebrew men laid covenants between one another. There were seven (7) steps to that ritual.

Standing before each other in front of witnesses each man takes off his coat. The gesture says, "this (coat) represents me. I am giving you me. We possess each other". Next they take off their belts. The belts represents one's strength. It is the symbol of a man's strength. This is where the weapons are worn. The third step is central to the ceremony and the point I want to make. An animal is sacrificed and split in two."The halves are split amongst us and put behind us".  The two men walk through the mounds of blood, and flesh making a figure 8 (the symbol of infinity) until they are standing face to face in the center of blood. They are inside death prepared.

What supports and builds community and relationships better: the letting or the giving of blood? The Hebrew covenant ceremony was between men. It was inclusive. Each man's family and generations were included in the ceremony. Vows were made when each man slashed their wrists or palms, placed their wrists in the air and locked them together. In their vow they are beginning to enter Blood Covenant prepared to die as the animals had died.

"My life is yours. If we break this covenant Let God do this to me!" they said looking at the dead flesh surrounding them

The scars say, "I have made a covenant for life and it is a responsibility. What talents I do not have I now have through this new relationship." The witnesses hear all the terms of the covenant, and a memorial is built to the covenant. In the end a loaf of bread is broken and shared between the friends saying to each other, "This is me into you. We are one flesh of each other's flesh." A cup of wine is shared that tells the two and the witnesses present; "This is my blood. It has become yours as you drink. We are together. We are blood-relatives for life."

I purposely severely limited the number of wombs I entered. One of the reasons was a logical one. There is a distinction between intimacy and sexual intercourse, and the two I envisioned as a teenager, but at 13 years of age it was taught to me quite clearly: make it now. I made the choice thus embarking upon a journey of such magnificence and magnitude! Women's Moontime opens them up to the energies of the Moon, Water, and Earth Mother. What that feels like, as a woman, I know not.

~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 3.16.12

absolute & compelling black power within Kina

Self-determination for a bound people:

In the spirit of African American spirituality I submit Black History is a touch stone that should begin in its appointed month, and be propelled into the upcoming months with Nguzo Saba's 7 principles starting with Kujichagulia, self-determination. Self-determination is the basis of identity reconstruction. Keeping it very simple start with the spiritual discipline of changing the voices inside your head. Maya Angelou's words are as good as scripture.

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 2.4.15

Aaron Neville at 73 years of age

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.” ~Maya Angelou

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” ~ Maya Angelou

Blanca Vasquez, community activist

Seven Triggers

The Brazilian television personality, Laura Soares, said according to Sally Hogshead there are seven triggers of fascination, and we are always led by two.

 What are you led by? 

"There are many questions living gives to us. What do we do with ourselves? Am I where I need to be? Who am I alive? Where is the life journey taking me? What am I giving into? Was that wise? Is there more to me, if so what? All kinds of things come at us." 

Yesterevening, I met a smartly and distinctly dressed Black man sporting a black beret, and a vintage ensemble of his own making, and elegant manners. He was poise almost in a suggestive feminine manner, but making no expression of sexual preference, only a sense of knowing who he was and where he stood in life. I excused myself from the conversation I was in in the church basement, and approached him, greeting him in French with a question. He looked at me coolly, with confidence and tried to respond in kind. I made a brief appraisal of his wardrobe to him that he confirmed with a nod of his head, and our conversation fell into one about the arts, and performance and purpose. 

His name was Frank. He was at the church to sing and rap in a performance in the sanctuary upstairs. He was interested in the children running around in the basement I was looking after. The young man had an interesting background in his young life that included two years of public education teaching performing arts under the strict cold guidelines of the Washington DC public school system that are not compatible with a child's creativity, and their natural ways of learning and processing stimuli. It was an awful struggle he faced with his best efforts, but the harshness of the system shortened his desire to teach in that arena.

The most interesting thing about Frank was his wisdom about education. Frank said, "I went through school with purpose. I know who I am. I was in school only to enhance what I had, and to sharpen it." He went on to explain the average student's problem in school was going through school not knowing their purpose. It explained the switching of majors in college, the irresponsible partying and so on. 

His plan in school was to sharpen his skills, graduate and immediately do what he was doing at the church. 

Why was he born? To develop an art for families to better raise and develop their children through sound, movement and the spoken word. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 2.20.14

a Colombian woman sitting in the dentist's office.
February 13 , 2014

   

TRUE LOVE: It's No Tall Tale

Moll Anderson & her husband together March 18, 2013 on their 7th wedding anniversary. In her blog she writes about what love taught her.

 

HER STORY

Today, I celebrate my 7-year-anniversary with the love of my life, my charming Charlie. As I celebrate with him, I want to share with you what I have learned about love – thanks to this marvelous man of mine.

Destiny is your friend. Destiny may be right around the corner and just one degree of separation away from you right now. Charlie and I met through a mutual dear friend. All those years spent looking and looking and right there he was. Destiny will always lead you to the person you’re meant to be with, right when you’re meant to meet them, oftentimes when you’re least expecting it! Just keep your eyes – and heart – open and destiny will take care of the rest.

It’s never too late. I met Charlie later in life at 45. As Whitney Houston once sang, I used to wonder, “How will I know?” Well, Whitney, I knew it was love when my heart stopped and I couldn’t eat. While I wish I’d met him earlier for so many reasons, I realize that I needed this extra time to get to know myself better, to learn what I really needed from a partner and to be led to him at the exact, perfect time for both of us. It’s exciting for me, really, because he was truly everything I could have asked for and more, at the exact moment I was ready for him to come into my life.

Easy Does It. People always say that being married is “hard work”, but with Charlie - for the first time in my life – it’s not hard work! The ease we have with each other lets me know that we are just meant to be. When you’re with the person you’re really supposed to be with, even the most daunting things don’t seem so difficult.

Like your love. Yes, you must love your partner. But it is equally important to like them. I really like Charlie. A LOT. He is truly one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He’s brilliant, strong, loving, passionate, determined, thoughtful, giving and – best of all – he loves me big-time! We are of like mind, we believe in God and we love giving back. We work hard and, oh, how we love hard! We believe in each other, we laugh, we cry, we support each other and are each other’s best friend! People always say that adage about “marrying your best friend” but it’s a point that many people choose to ignore until it’s too late. Yes, the passion is mucho important but the partnership is pivotal too.

Know thyself. Finding my love later in life, I have learned that love really is what makes the world go round. But I have found that it’s equally important to love yourself first. So if you’re single, really take this time alone to get to know yourself and love your own company. What you want, what your needs are, what delights you and excites you are all things that will help you know who the right person is for you. Don’t believe me? Baby, I’m livin’ proof.

Celebrate daily. While it’s crucial to celebrate these marital milestones, Charlie and I really try to celebrate our love every day. It’s those little, loving moments – that cup of coffee together in the morning to start the day off right or that cocktail in the evening to download our day and connect with each other– that really make our marriage work.

Do new things together. So how are we celebrating our anniversary? By conquering the world! Well, sorta. We just went to Paris for the very first time! Neither of us had ever been before so it was thrilling to experience such a magical city together as a couple. The architecture, the art, the people, the food, the fashion, the food (oh wait, did I say that already?) – it was a thrilling trip that neither one of us will ever forget!

And thankfully we won’t have to, thanks to all of the pictures we took! Thank you, especially, to our son Michael for taking this beautiful video of us dancing on the bridge in front of Notre Dame. Our love immortalized on film! - Molly Anderson

Molly Anderson
wearing her beauty choice of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics for the
most romantic week of the year Valentine's Day

Empowerment

7 People Who Are Always Broke

A DIVINE ORDER OF THINGS

Instagram Chicks

"Change requires us all to gaze into the unknown and act as if we believe angels will guide us in the dark. Spirit is your manifesting partner, allowing yourself to be in the dark without the certainty of the future and trust that your highest intentions will find their form in divine appropriate timing. Courage my love...courage."

 -Colette Baron-Reid  

Sept. 9 2013

The ENERGY OF THE DAY equals 7. The number 7 is ruled by the planet Neptune and is considered to be a highly spiritual number with introverted qualities. 7 has mystical power.

7 is the sacred number of Mother of the Oceans, Yemoja. Water is a feminine element. Representing receptivity and allowing. It reflects our emotional state. The depth of its mysteries.

7 also shows up as the Chariot in Tarot which speaks of having victory and being able to carry yourself as a confident being in the world. The Chariot is astrologically associated to the sign of Cancer representing mother love, nurturing, protection and psychic power.

Therefore, you need not be afraid to step "Into the Unknown." It's in the void where questions and answers live. - reading by Celeste Morgan 9.10.13

absolute beauty of a naked brown woman

7 card created by
 Colette Baron-Reid 

Newest Creation Story!

Creatress creating...

I've long thought or believed creation's stories were set into place by events special storytellers translated for children in future generations to understand. It felt like they were assembled to be told in the holiest of ways and within a physical space that resembled the origins of things, place and time. This story feels like that.- Gregory E. Woods, (Dawn Wolf) Keeper of Stories 11.29.13

Crow Woman

"To be read aloud to your children. To be shared. To be Remembered."

The Tale of Seven Volcanoes

the story 

This is the story as it was seen by the eyes of the tellers. As I write this story for the children of times to come I must say I beheld these happenings with my very eyes. Some days ago, a set of notable folks gathered at the Bay of Hanalei. They gathered to celebrate the birthday of a child who bears the name of the land upon which they stood. You see this child was named for a special tree that grows on the cliffs northerly of this bay where the mermaid queen once called home and the peoples of today call the cave pool below the “Blue Room.” So, on this birth celebration day of Banyan Immanual, the peoples gathered and celebrated as they do on this island of Kauai, with fun, and surf, and food, and fire.

As the sun set, and the fire began to wane, several gathered near the glowing embers. To some it may have looked like a few unlikely children and two fathers curling up by the fire, but you see this evening it was a special group of people. Let me call them by name:



2 fathers John Andrew and Trinity along with 5 children.

Banyan Immanual son of John Andrew and Victoria Louise of Kentucky born and brother to Angelic Koa NaKai

Triton, son of Holy Trinity and Saint Mary Martha, brother to Rizon

Nene, son of Greek Niko of the Sea and Angelic Carla, brother to Anulea

Anulea, son of Greek Niko of the Sea and Angelic Carla, and sister to NeNe

Jonathon, son of Vanessa of Drum and Dance and Francis Primeaux Jr., brother to Wanbli, Grandson to Francis Primeaux Sr.

With these notable children of origin and power a special combination wove you see that gives rise to tell this tale onto thee. Each child began to shape the sand around the central fire, they shaped the sand to mountains of various size and in various direction. They shaped the sand with the seawater, they prepared the fire with the iron wood and java plum they worked the coals of the fire. Then they called forth to Pele. Then they called forth to Poseidon, to Hephaestus, to the Mermaid Queen, to Kama Pua’a, to Angel Carla, to Angel Koa. They said let us give life to mountains, let us fill them with fire. Let us show man creation, let us show the man the power of the Children of the Land.

So, each of the 7 sand mountains became sand volcanoes and the earth magic began. As each child took the glowing coals from the central fire to fill the core of each mountain the volcanoes sprang to life. Then each child fed the volcanoes with breath and fuel as flames erupted. A beautiful site it was to my eye to see 7 glowing volcanoes on the Bay of Hanalei.

7 days for earth and fire and sea works of such to take form, to manifest, and on the 7th day it came within hours of each other November 23, 2013.

1. In Japan, a volcano on Nishino-Shima Island erupted for the first time in 40 years. The eruption resulted in a new island in the Pacific.

2. Italy’s Mount Etna Erupts, Briefly Closes Sicily Skies.

3. Mexico's Colima Volcano created a steam and ash cloud that reached two miles into the sky.

4. In Guatemala, Fire Mountain lived up to its name and created a moderate ash could that blanketed the nearby towns with ash fall.

5. In Vanuatu in the Pacific, the Yasur Volcano had some weak explosions and the resultant ash fall is affecting farm lands.

6. in Indonesia, Mount Merapi on the island of Java exploded

7. In Indonesia, the country's Mount Sinabung spewed ash cloud four miles high

7 people, 7 days and 7 volcanoes, from a central fire, from the youthful medicine born to their blood. The earth magic is strong and creation is at foot. I tell this true tale to the children of times to come so we may not forget the power born within our being, the power begging to shine in your life, be it volcano or a song, each of you were born to this earth with medicine, and magic, with gifts and purpose. So we beg of you live your life full and express your genius in every corner of earth walk for we can see so clearly the future is in your hands so in this moment shine."  By Vittorio Hernandez | November 25, 2013 10:02 AM EST

The PATRIOTS

My Vintage Look

Yoko Ono & John Lennon

Interesting perspective looking at this photograph of Yoko Ono and John Lennon on a ferry moving away from the Twin Towers in New York city. Those two characters were less than patriotic. They were thinkers and Creators. They were stirring emotions and thoughts in the culture that resisted change. The government at the time was deep in the practice of resisting change and about the business of tearing apart the Youth movement, the social platform and structure of the Civil Rights movement and the Black Panthers, and trying to rein in the passions and anger and calls for social reform by white youth who were openly examining the mores of the American way of life, and the Domino Theory that justified the War in Vietnam! 

It was an exciting time, but the naive and overly patriotic easily mistook patriotism as blind obedience without questioning the morality of government policy. That is what came to be called patriotism during the Bush administration as fear replaced reason, and Hebrew 13:17 became the Biblical text justifying blind obedience to governmental authority, and dictatorial patriotism became even more mean spirited in action. 

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 9.29.13

Seven women locked arm and arm on the beach in heels. That was a dangerous era for Black men, and for Indians we were just invisible and suffering in forced silence. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 9.29.13

Speaks to the Heart

African Women

The Revealing Light

Tiger Woods and the Seven Bodies

Sadly one of my heroes Tiger Woods has succumbed to the thoughts and feelings of the Feeling Body.

I learned in my Ascended Master studies that we have seven (7) bodies: Physical, Feeling, Mental, memory, causal, Christ body and the I Am Presence (aka Electronic Body). One of these bodies is called the feeling body. It is a part of the four (4) lower: physical, feeling, mental and memory. It is dominated by our feelings and emotion.

I once read a quote from an a QuanYin master that the soul is controlled by the mind, the mind is controlled by feelings and the senses are controlled by our feelings. Yet it should be in reverse. The senses should be controlled by the mind, the mind should be controlled by the soul and the soul should be controlled by the God presence.

Energy follows thought and emotion is energy in motion. In this time where we look to the perfection of the Christ Consciousness let us beware to seriously contempate the Violet Flame and other paths that lead us to gain mastery over the feeling body. Else we fall victim to our sense nature as our fallen hero Tiger.

Posted by AtibaTaylorStudios
December 9, 2009

Pakistani woman in black nighty

BLUE WOLF

the Blue wolf: 

the story of the beginning of the mongol Hun Turkick people

Shuurgan traced his finger through the fireside dust and sidled closer to the embers. At his back, from within the canvas tent faintly lit with its own sacred fire, came the muffled grunts and moans of the young wife in her labor. He was relieved that these mountain people had their own idugan, and that he was not expected to assist with this female work. A lifetime as shaman still had not inured him to the fearsome power of a woman giving birth. It was dangerous for a man to be nearby at such a time, when the portals between the worlds opened to allow the incoming soul to settle into its new form. He had told Saikhan so. Stay outside! Your male force will be ungrounded by such intense female powers whirling around the birth bed.But Saikhan had stayed with his woman.


Shuurgan knew already that the child would be male. The bones had foretold it on the very night that the woman now squatting over the birth bed had revealed that she carried Saikhan's child. He ran his thick fingers through shaggy, black hair, shot through with grey, and gazed northward. It seemed a lifetime ago that he had followed Saikhan across the vast distance between here and the Sayan Nuruu. They had led their small band of young warriors away from their their fathers and mothers and the security of their northern homeland to seek adventure in a new land, and had found more than they had expected here in the Kunlun Nuruu. Soon after Saikhan and his comrades had come upon the smoking ruins of the village here nearly three years ago, the young chieftain had made it his personal quest to wage war on the Khyatad--the accursed Chinese--who had committed the massacre. Saikhan had transformed, and was now as if born of these mountain people, who called themselves Khangbaa, even taking a survivor as his wife. And now he was about to reap the fruit of that unusual marriage. What sort of man will be born of such a foreign union, Shuurgan wondered.


The shaman sighed quietly. Sometimes he missed his old home. But he knew his place was at Saikhan's side. He waited now for the moment that the fresh cry would split the silence of the dark morning hours. He would throw the bones again to foretell the forces at work in this boy's life. He glanced back at the glowing tent, and watched Saikhan's silhouette weave slightly in the dun light as he wearily pressed his back against the canvas wall.


Suddenly, Saikhan's shadow jerked upright, and a drawn out wail from the mother bled from the smoke hole. Then silence. It seemed to Shuurgan that his heart stopped for that moment. And then, with a warm rush of blood from deep in his breast to his throat, he welcomed the squalling breaths of the chieftain's first son.


 As the newborn cried, the shaman threw the bones onto the flat stone he had laid before the fire. A chill scuttled over his back. For an instant, as bones struck hearth, the sky seemed to bend close and flare an unearthly blue. He flinched, looked up, and saw nothing but the stars. And then, from the north end of the canyon, came a low howl. It rose slowly into the night, and was joined by others. The wolves seemed to answer the infant's wail. The shaman shivered and drew his heavy fur closer around him, then turned his face downward to read the bones.

It was the Chinese Year of the Black Water Tiger, the Roman year A.D. 462 that his voice speared its promise through the pre-dawn stillness between the frozen canyon walls. As the idugan drummed and chanted her song of welcome and protection the midwife swayed with the rhythm, smiled and massaged the wailing infant with a hot, wet chamois, washing the last of his mother's enveloping protection from his new skin.


 "Listen to him howl!" she chuckled. She glanced up at the sweaty, red face of the woman who now gazed in flushed amazement at her firstborn. "Already he commands us!"


 She held up the boy, and at the sight of him, the mother slumped against the furs. Her voice returned in exhausted, sobbing gasps, but she smiled. She watched the midwife's assistant take away the bloody bedding and afterbirth so that all surrounding mother and son would be softness and warmth. She held out her arms. The midwife, at last taking a moment to tuck her disheveled tufts of grey hair behind her ear, crooned softly to the child, sidled over on her knees and handed the baby to his mother.


 Close to the doorway, quiet in the shadows away from the fire the young chieftain stood, at once terrified and fascinated to be so close at the birth of his son. None would know from watching how his insides quavered at each scream, how he held his breath each time she bore down and strained to release the child. Now, in the peace following the birth, he wondered if his knees might buckle. The Guardian of Great Tree of the Underworld had sent a new spirit to live in his son. He called up his strength and straightened so that none would know how deeply moved he was. He pushed himself away from the wall and approached his new family.


 His smile was steady masking his relief as he watched their child quieted at his mothers' breast. Tentatively he reached out, touched the head and bent to look into the red, temporarily misshapen face. The baby's thick tuft of downy hair was as black as his mother's, and showed no sign of the rusty sheen that colored Saikhan's own dark mane. His son's eyes were lighter than the deep brown of his mother's, but not so pale as the blue-green of his own. It was too soon yet to see what they would be.


 Saikhan glanced at the sword lying above his wife's head. The weapon, shining and unused, was a replica of his own. By my side, my son, thought Saikhan, you will carry this blade, forged like my own. Together we will drive the Khyatad before us and destroy them.


 Outside, haunches to the stone at the edge of his sacred fire, Shuurgan waited. He began to drum. His voice rose, softly at first, chanting the ancient birth rite and blessing until his nasal voice rang high, as clear and strong as those of the wolves in the distance. He felt their attention turn to him, the bright-eyed watchers, and as the trance raised him above the rock and snow to look down upon himself, he joined them.


 Inside, the young mother sighed and relinquished the child to her husband. She watched as Saikhan walked to the tent flap, gingerly cradling the child. He was tall, and had to stoop to leave the warmth of the fire lit dwelling. His broad shoulders touched the edges of the door as he passed through.


 Cloudy green flickers of eye shine met him, and for an instant, the form of an enormous, blue-grey wolf flashed at the edge of the firelight. Saikhan dared not speak or threaten the silent, watching shadows. Though the shaman's body continued to drum and sing, his spirit might be among them.


 "We bring his name." Shuurgan's voice was distant, strangely deep and gravelly. "We sing his name." And his words trailed off to become a low, long howl. The wolves danced and growled at the edge of the firelight, their flanks flashing orange before they were off, racing back up the canyon. A moment later, their howls answered Shuurgan's.


 The shaman raised his arms slowly towards the father and child, and it was not without trepidation that Saikhan handed him the baby. Callused hands lifted the naked boy high overhead showing him to the ancestors and to the Kunlun Nuruu. The whitish birth caul on the baby's skin shone pale blue in the starlight. Saikhan's gaze followed the rise of the great peaks. So high, he thought, that the feet of the Khans of the Overworld must tread upon them.

Look down, Great Ones. Bless and protect my son.


 "Khokh Chono," chanted Shuurgan, "Sayan Chono. Blue Wolf, Sage Wolf. The 7 Suns flashed for your coming, Chono. I give you the name of those who sing for you. And also will you be called Sayan, for the ancient mountains, the sage mountains of your father's homeland. If ever you are lost, the Sayan will call you home."


 Saikhan's deep bass voice joined Shuurgan's, thrumming against the stone canyon as they chanted the name together so that the mountains and stars would hear and remember it. This boy would be chieftain someday. They must bind him to these stones and to the sky under which he was given his name, bind him to Tenger Etseg, Gazar Eej, to his own ancestors, and to the tenger, spirits, that crowded close at his birth.


 The child raised his voice in protest as the cold bit him. The shaman lowered his arms, pressed him against the fur at his belly and rocked him. Slowly, his chanting softened and stopped. He stared, glassy-eyed at the boy he held, then slowly raised his face to Saikhan.


 "An iron seed will come from these loins," murmured Shuurgan. "700 times will the winter come again, 700 years will our people struggle and die. Yet 700 springs will bloom when the Iron Son of the Blue Wolf of Saikhan will deliver them and be Khagan of the World."


 Saikhan stared open-mouthed at Shuurgan's faraway eyes unable to speak. Heat seared across the top of his scalp, and he knew that though the words had come from the shaman's lips, they had been spoken by the gods of the Overworld who saw past and future as if they were one.


 Shuurgan blinked slowly, and the lines of his face relaxed. His eyes became his own again. He drew a long breath and gave a great, uncontrolled shudder. "Take him," he said, lifting the child to his father. "She will be able to feed him soon. You will come back here. I will read you the bones."


 Saikhan turned to the warmth of the tent, looked down in wonder at the lustily screaming boy in his arms. Wild joy flooded his heart.


"Great things will come of you, Sayan Chono," he whispered. "The Voice of the Third World has said it will be so. Tonight, it begins."


shared by Layla Riverside

http://hare.bio.miami.edu/hun/

The Story of Shan Yu - The Blue Wolf of Mongolia