Monday, June 30, 2008

Other Worldly Beings: Walk-Ins


After watching “HOUSE, MD” (2004 -, Jacobs and Shore), I realized that Dr. Eric Foreman is a walk-in. In “House vs. God” (219), Dr. Foreman’s co-workers describe him as a “selfish jerk”. Little caring what they think, he acts callously towards them. His team member, Dr. Allison Cameron despises him for stealing her paper and presenting it as his own. Meanwhile, Foreman fights constantly with Dr. Gregory House, his team leader, over procedures.

During “Euphoria” (220-21), Foreman becomes deathly ill. Fearful of dying, he spends his time pleading with and then tormenting Cameron. One moment, he tells her that he is her friend. Then Foreman taunts her claiming that she is indifferent about his impending death. In an act of desperation, Foreman sticks Cameron with a needle infecting her with his disease.

To find a cure, Cameron performs a white brain biopsy on Foreman. Because this is the thinking part of his brain, Foreman is placed into a deep coma. After coming out of the coma, he mistakes his right hand for his left leg. When he returns to work (“Forever” (222)), Foreman forgets how to make coffee. However, there are too many loose ends to be explained only by brain damage.

Foreman’s entire personality changes. Instead of his white lab coat, he now wears comfortable clothes. Cheerfully, Foreman greets everyone. Then the formally avowed atheist prays, surprising people. This newly compassionate Foreman confuses Cameron. Then, he upsets House by refusing to fight with him.

Too many unexplained changes suggest that Foreman is now a walk-in. Faced with the fear of death, and agony over what a mess his life is, Foreman (1) realized that he could not live on Earth anymore. Foreman (2) switched bodies offering relief to Foreman (1), and a chance to redo his life at another time.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Blue Whale: The Colors of Life

Much bigger than the dinosaurs, Blue Whale is the largest animal ever to live on the earth. Besides her size, Blue Whale is noted for other exceptional qualities as well. Swimming alone in the ocean, She has to communicate long distances underwater to other Blue Whales, so She makes the loudest sound of any living creature. Her bass moans are also the lowest sounds in the ocean. Possessing the tallest and strongest blow of any Whale, Blue Whale’s water sprout is also noticeably slender and upright.

However, Blue Whale is full of contradictions. The largest animal on earth feeds on Krill, one of the smallest animals in the sea. (Instead of teeth, She has a row of plates in her mouth called baleen, which functions as a food-collecting device.) For such a fast moving Whale, Blue Whale has a distinctively small and stubby dorsal fin.

Although Blue Whale is called ‘blue’ because of her skin color, her mottled, splotchy body actually reflects more colors than any other Whale. When the sun sets below the horizon and darkness falls on the ocean, Blue Whale’s body mirrors the colors of the sky and sea. The hues of her skin turns from blue to yellow and orange, then red, lavender, dark grey, and finally to black. No long just ‘blue’, Blue Whale is now all the shades of the rainbow.

Blue Whale mirrors the colors of life. Her body shows the greens and blues of the sea and the yellow and oranges of the sun. If this seriously endangered Whale should pass from this earth, we will be the poorer for it. The sky, sea, and even the land would miss Blue Whale and her colors of the rainbow.


Blue Whale’s Wisdom Also Includes:
Breaking Records
Embracing Contradictions
Importance of Observing
Reflecting the Rainbow

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Blue Whale’s Statistics:
Length: 110 feet 2 inches (33.5 meters)
Weight: 209 tons (190 tonnes)
Sound: 188 decibels

Conservation note: Blue Whales are seriously endangered and may not recover. They are protected internationally by whaling treaties.

Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008
For Animal Totem Readings and meanings, contact me at animalteachers @ gmail.com

Monday, June 23, 2008

Other Worldly Beings: Star People

I watched two episodes of STAR TREK (Rodenberry, 1966-69) (the original series) and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (Rodenberry, 1987-94) to compare attitudes towards people of other planets. The episodes were “Day of the Dove” (62) and “Déjà Q” (61) respectively. The most obvious change in attitudes was the easy familiarity between humans and other peoples in THE NEXT GENERATION. In the second series, casual social relations among various peoples were the norm. In contrast, the original series treated people from other planets as alien. Humans were wary of them. An example of the change was the Klingons. In the second series, they were no longer enemies, but welcomed as crew members of the Enterprise.

However, both series kept the same attitudes towards more powerful people from other planets. In “Day of the Dove”, the Beta Entity used people for its own ends. In “Déjà Q”, the crew greeted Q with veiled hostility. When Q shouted gleefully, “I’m omnipotent again!”, Commander Riker answered with a sarcastic “Swell.” Meanwhile, Capitan Kirk ordered the Beta Entity to get off his ship. Both shows regarded these entities as beings that used people instead of helping them. While the attitude towards ordinary aliens changed, the one towards aliens with advanced powers did not.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Lucky Cats and their Meanings.


From "The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols" by Adele Nozedar.

Lucky Cat statuettes of Japan and China

With the right paw raised, the cat will bring money and happiness to home and workplace. A cat raising its left paw will attract new customers for a business. And a cat with both paws raised hits the jackpot: both home and business will be happy and profitable, attracting good luck, friends, prosperity, and new clients.


Now you know that raised paw means.:)

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Types of Balance: Day/Night

Day/Night Balance
(Consciousness/Unconsciousness)


Day is the time of activity and wakefulness. Night is the Dreamtime that Day gives fuel to. Day recedes into Night, which gives birth to Day. In the darkness of Night, unconscious notions transforms to conscious choices in the light of Day. Day/Night complements each other.

In Western Cultures, masculine qualities would be more rational, direct, and assertive. Feminine qualities are creativity, vision, and introspection. Male is looking out; female looking in. With Day/Night, you move from duality to wholeness.

Friday, June 20, 2008

The Leaf Cutter Bee


LEAF CUTTER BEE
Craftsmanship


Most Bees are called “Solitary Bees” because They live in individual nests. One such Bee is Leaf Cutter Bee, who lives independently of other Bees. However, She does build her nest close to other “Solitary Bees”–Mason Bees and other Leaf Cutter Bees. Together, They share a large area as their combined territory.

This hardy Bee is the first Bee seen in the early spring. While Honey Bees are still home inside their hives, Leaf Cutter Bee is busily gathering pollen. Because this fuzzy, hairy Bee emerges so early, many gardeners install special nest boxes to encourage Her to live in their gardens. Along with her Friends, She actively pollinates flowers while gathering nectar. Leaf Cutter Bee stores this nectar in her “honey stomach”, an extension of her gut. Later, She disgorges her nectar that She had gathered as food for her Young.

Quickly, Leaf Cutter Bee darts to a suitable tree, and within two minutes, selects a leaf, cuts a hole out, and then quietly departs. With her powerful, scissor-like jaws, Leaf Cutter Bee cuts leaves into tiny pieces for her nest. Each cell of her nest is made with 15 to 20 pieces of leaves. She uses the oval leaf pieces for the walls, and the round ones for the nest partitions. After filling that nest cell with nectar, Leaf Cutter Bee lays her egg, and then seals the cell. To ensure that the nest will survive the winter, She cements the leaves together with her saliva. Because her nest is covered with leaves, it is not as easy to see as Honey Bee’s nest.

Leaf Cutter Bee is particular about what leaves She uses for her nest. She prefers soft, pliable leaves from roses for constructing her nest. Leaf Cutter Bee builds with such precision that you can count the exact number of leaves in her nest. Learn craftsmanship from Leaf Cutter Bee and build a quality product that lasts.

Leaf Cutter Bee’s Wisdom Includes:
Being Fast and Stealthy
Sharing
Constructing a Home
Living Side by Side With Others

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers 2008
For finding your Animal Totems, contact me at animalteachers @ gmail.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Wisdom of the Bumble Bee


BUMBLE BEE
Attend to Your Affairs

Bumble Bees are large robust Bees with the color patterns of yellow and black. You can usually find Bumble Bees flying low to the ground or on flowers collecting food. They nest almost anywhere but only remain in one particular nest for a year.

Besides size, another way that you can tell how Bumble Bee is different from Honey Bee is that Bumble Bee's nest is a mess. Bumble Bees have fewer members in their colonies than Honey Bee. Also, They do not store large amounts of honey. Unlike Honey Bees, Bumble Bees rarely sting unless their nest is threatened.

Enjoy watching these fairly placid Bees as They go about their business of pollinating the flowers. Learn from Them to mind your own business. Just do not be messy in your affairs.


Bumble Bee’s Wisdom Includes:
Messenger Who Holds the Secrets of Life
Regaining Focus
Gathering
Contentment

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

If you want to know your Animal Totems, please contact me at animalteachers@gmail.com for a consultation

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Wisdom of the Bee Family

BEE FAMILY
Making Choices

Bees belong to the order Hymenoptera (membrane winged), whose members have two pairs of thin, clear membranous wings. Also, included in this order are Wasps and Ants.

The two Bees that most people are familiar with are Honey Bee and Bumble Bee. These Social Bees are organized into colonies, with each member of the community having certain responsibilities to fulfill. Queen Bee builds the nest and lays the eggs. Worker Bee searches for nectar and pollen to take back to the nest.

Besides Social Bees, there are Solitary Bees such as Leafcutter Bee, Carpenter Bee, and Mason Bee. Leafcutter Bee constructs her nests with leaves and wood. Carpenter Bees construct their homes in solid wood by forming tunnels. Despite their resemblance to Bumble Bees, Carpenter Bees are loath to sting anyone. In some species of Carpenter Bees, Mother Bee and her entire family fly off to search for nectar and pollen, together. Mason Bees are similar to Carpenter Bees except that They wall off their tunnel chambers with dirt and clay.

One of the busiest and most useful of insects, Bee asks you to examine your own productivity in life. Bee reflects multiple choices. When opportunities present themselves, Bee teaches you to sort through for the most important one.


Bee's Wisdom Includes:
Celebration
Organization
Service
Gathering
Industry
Frugalness and Hard Work
Fertility and the Honey of Life
Builder

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008
For Animal Totem Readings: contact me at animalteachers@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Wisdom of the Crawling Ones



The Crawling Ones are usually small, creepy, and crawly. Moreover, They give many people "the creeps." Go beyond the “ick factor” and learn what Crawling Ones have to say. They are opportunists, and one of the most diversified life forms.

As long as people have been on Earth, Insects have been a part of their lives. Insects provide food or live off people; protect or ravage crops. One fourth of all living animals are Insects. They are found in every place on Earth, adapting to all sorts of environments.

Social Insects live in communities. Their nests seem busy and chaotic but these Insects are performing specific tasks. To insure the group's survival, the individuals have a clearly defined role. Each nest forms a tightly knit unit, with the Queen as the driving force.

One characteristic is that all Insects share is that They undergo transformations as They mature. From the egg stage to the voracious larval stage, Insects mature into breeding adults. This process known as metamorphosis, has advantages because it allows several generations to live together and not compete for living space and food.

The non-insect Crawling Ones impart their own wisdom. Worms and Slugs, two different orders of animals, feed on decaying plant matter, producing livable soil. Snails control pests in gardens. These Crawling Ones may seem 'gross', but They do a lot of good.

Most people do not like Crawling Ones, and therefore do not differentiate between any of Them. For example to many people, all Flies or Bees are alike. Flies range from the bloodsucking Mosquito to the beneficial Robber Fly. Although Bumble Bees and Honey Bees are Social Bees, They differ in subtle ways. Bumble Bees keep messy nests, while Honey Bees are more methodical. Read the Individual Teacher Pages for their wisdom.

Since to many people, all Crawling Ones seem alike, a family page will be provided as a starting point. Each Individual Member has things in common that the Family can teach for example Flies and Dragonflies are skilled fliers. Read both the family page and individual pages for the wisdom that They impart.

Crawling Ones' Wisdom Include:
Fertility
Matriarchy
Community
Metamorphosis
Opportunity
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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008
For Animal Totem Readings: contact me at animalteachers@gmail.com
animalteachers@gmail.com

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Hawaiian Raven

The sacred raven is quickly disappearing in HI and there are just a few in captivity now. I was lucky to see some in person in April at The Maui Conservation Center in HI. Thank you for helping me.
Sincerely, Debra Gannon Neuberger

Kelanola, the Raven Princess of Oahu
New Illustrated Children’s Book Colorfully Presents Story of Hawaiian Folklore
In her new children’s book, Kelanola, the Raven Princess of Oahu (published by AuthorHouse), Debra Gannon Neuberger imparts the majestic beauty of Hawaiian folklore in a story about friendship and freedom.

Beautifully illustrated by Kathleen Michele Nail, Kelanola, the Raven Princess of Oahu is a colorful book that teaches a simple message – all living creatures desire to be free – and includes a glossary of many Hawaiian words that children and parents will enjoy learning together.

Kelanola is a very special raven. She is an aumakua, an honored Hawaiian spirit ancestor who can assume many forms, including the form of a raven. According to an ancient Hawaiian legend, when someone dies they are taken by the sacred raven to a high point where they leap into the next world. The raven is said to continue communication between those in this world and the next.

The book opens with Kelanola soaring high over the ocean on soft trade winds. Kelanola meets her best friend, Kanoa, and they reminisce about their childhood growing up on the island of Oahu. The two ravens were raised in captivity by two sisters, Kakalina and Kaniele.

Kelanola always dreamed of being free, living high on a cliff over the ocean. One day she found an open window and flew up and away to freedom. But her escape made Kanoa lonely. The sisters set him free, and he searches in desperation for Kelanola. A whale tells him that a beautiful young raven has gone to Oahu, and he flies straight there. When he finds Kelanola, they joyfully fly away to be together forever.

Today, two ravens are often seen soaring together over the Manoa Valley, and many believe that the birds are Kelanola and Kanoa.

Debra Gannon Neuberger and Kathleen Michele Nail both grew up in Honolulu on the island of Oahu and currently live in Colorado. They regularly return to Hawaii to visit family and friends.

Friday, June 06, 2008

Other Worldly Beings: Incarnate Elementals (2)





Bursting into Jerry Seinfeld’s life, Cosmos Kramer (SEINFELD, David and Seinfeld, 1989-1998) is an Incarnated Fire Elemental. He cheerfully goes through life off-kilter, driving his friends crazy. Wearing his hair straight up, frantically waving his arms, and erupting in strange syllables, Kramer resembles a wildfire. Like a fire, he burns away the status quo, thereby disrupting his friends’ lives.

For example, believing that a pigman was held captive in the hospital, Kramer confronts the doctor. He yells, “There was half man, half pig in that room! Now where is he? You know, pork, sausage, yabitty, yabitty, that’s all folks!” After Kramer engineers his escape, the pigman steals his friend’s (George Costanza) car. Only then does Kramer realizes that the man was a mental patient.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Other Worldly Beings: Incarnate Elementals (1)



Spider-Man (Marvel, Lee and Ditko, 1962 - ) swings from tall building to tall building to fight crime in New York City. As an Incarnate Air Elemental, he does it for the sheer joy of being lighter than air. Spider-Man enjoys dropping in on people when they least expect it and disappearing just as suddenly. He takes no one seriously, including himself. “I’m just your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” he quips.

In his ordinary life as Peter Parker, Spider-Man is unassuming and shy. Awkward on land as Parker, he applies his passion for life as a scientist unlocking the secrets of nature. Only when Parker is soaring through the air, does he come alive. The air is his element. The skyscrapers beckon him to go higher and higher in the sky.




In contrast, SpongeBob SquarePants (SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, Hillenburg, 1999- ) is an Incarnate Water Elemental. Cheerful and kind, he greets the world with, “Good morning world and all who inhabit it.” Then he tells his friend, Patrick, the starfish, “You’ll never guess what I found in my sock this morning! Go ahead, guess.” Life in his pineapple house under the sea is never dull.

A serious fry cook, SpongeBob has been the employee of the month at Krusty Krab for 371 times. Elsewhere, he wrecks chaos wherever he goes. Because of the havoc he creates learning to ‘drive’, Miss Puff, his boating instructor refuses, to grant him his license. Undeterred he continues on. Driving the Patty Wagon, a hamburger-like vehicle, SpongeBob tells Patrick, “You don’t need a license to drive a sandwich!”

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Prayer to the Mother Earth

Earth Mother
Our Mother
Your child offers to You,
My labors
My fruits,
My love,
Receive my offerings.