Fair Trade Products

At my vending events, I will be featuring Fair Trade Products from the Purple Rhino.

From Go Green Giraffe (which wholesales Purple Rhino products)

http://www.gogreengiraffe.com/index.htm

Indigenous Handmade Art is what you’re buying. No matter what size value, you will purchase a "one of kind" product made by dedicated third-world artisan. This art is passed on from generation to generation and is their main source of income. The art is an integral part of their culture. When you take indigenous art and have it copied in China you are eliminating needed jobs, culture and a chance to break the chain poverty in third-world countries.

Our Community of Artisans need these jobs to break the chain of poverty and sustain their families. Your purchase provides them with jobs and gives them hope and dignity. If at all possible, we avoid the "middle man". This helps us standardize what the artisans are making and avoids mark-ups incurred through third-parties. We can than pass the savings onto our US customers and provide better wages for the artisans.

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From the Fair Trade Federation

http://www.fairtradefederation.org/

FTF members link low-income producers with consumer markets and educate consumers about the importance of purchasing fairly traded products which support living wages and safe and healthy conditions for workers in the developing world. By adhering to social criteria and environmental principles, fair trade organizations foster a more equitable and sustainable system of production and trade that benefits people and their communities.

More on Dolphin Statue at Gas Station

I wrote about the Dolphin Statue at the Sunoco Gas Station near my home in August. It is a sparkly blue statue. Today, they put up a sign saying that it is for the Lance Armstrong Foundation: Live Strong. http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.2660611/k.BCED/Home.htm

Dolphins are being enlisted in the fight against Cancer!

Workshops and Classes In October - December 2007

Spiral Grove Witches' Faire: October 27, 2007
10AM-5PM.
Harvey L. Pearson National Guard Armory,
692 Waterloo Road, Warrenton VA.

Workshop: 11AM


Whispering Bear,
310-C Mill Street, Occoquan, VA
$15 at the door.

Classes: Thursdays, 7-9PM

November 1: "Finding Your Animal Teachers"
November 8: "Working with Your Animal Allies, Teachers, and Totems"
November 15: "Animal Divination"
December 6: "Dragons!"
December 13: "Magickal, Mystical Animals"

More info can be found at my website: Animal Teachers Services:

http://funkman.org/animal/services/serviceslink.html

See You There!

Alex, the Grey Parrot has Passed Over the Rainbow Bridge

For those who do not know who Alex was - he was an African grey parrot who could use human language to converse with people.

Here is the release from The Alex Foundation:

WALTHAM, MA (SEPTEMBER 10, 2007)—Alex, the world renowned African Grey parrot made famous by the ground-breaking cognition and communication research conducted by Irene Pepperberg, Ph.D., died at the age of 31 on September 6, 2007. Dr. Pepperberg’s pioneering research resulted in Alex learning elements of English speech to identify 50 different objects, 7 colors, 5 shapes, quantities up to and including 6 and a zero-like concept. He used phrases such as “I want X” and “Wanna go Y”, where X and Y were appropriate object and location labels. He acquired concepts of categories, bigger and smaller, same-different, and absence. Alex combined his labels to identify, request, refuse, and categorize more than 100 different items demonstrating a level and scope of cognitive abilities never expected in an avian species. Pepperberg says that Alex showed the emotional equivalent of a 2 year-old child and intellectual equivalent of a 5 year-old. Her research with Alex shattered the generally held notion that parrots are only capable of mindless vocal mimicry.

In 1973, Dr. Pepperberg was working on her doctoral thesis in theoretical chemistry at Harvard University when she watched Nova programs on signing chimps, dolphin communication and, most notably, on why birds sing. She realized that the fields of avian cognition and communication were not only of personal interest to her but relatively uncharted territory. When she finished her thesis, she left the field of chemistry to pursue a new direction—to explore the depths of the avian mind. She decided to conduct her research with an African Grey parrot. In order to assure she was working with a bird representative of its species, she asked the shop owner to randomly choose any African Grey from his collection. It was Alex. And so the 1-year old Alex, his name an acronym for the research project, Avian Learning EXperiment, became an integral part of Pepperberg’s life and the pioneering studies she was about to embark upon.

Over the course of 30 years of research, Dr. Pepperberg and Alex revolutionized the notions of how birds think and communicate. What Alex taught Dr. Pepperberg about cognition and communication has been applied to therapies to help children with learning disabilities. Alex’s learning process is based on the rival-model technique in which two humans demonstrate to the bird what is to be learned. Alex and Dr. Pepperberg have been affiliated with Purdue University, Northwestern University, the University of Arizona, the MIT Media Lab, the Radcliffe Institute, and most recently, Harvard University and Brandeis University.Alex has been featured worldwide on numerous science programs including the BBC, NHK, Discovery and PBS. He is well known for his interactions with Alan Alda in an episode of Scientific American Frontiers on PBS and from an episode of the famed PBS Nature series called “Look Who’s Talking.” Reports on Alex’s accomplishments have appeared in the popular press and international news from USA Today to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. The Science Times section of the New York Times featured Alex in a front-page story in 1999. That same year, Dr. Pepperberg published The Alex Studies, a comprehensive review of her decades of learning about learning from Alex. Many other television appearances and newspaper articles followed.

Alex was found to be in good health at his most recent annual physical about two weeks ago. According to the vet who conducted the necropsy, there was no obvious cause of death. Dr. Pepperberg will continue her innovative research program at Harvard and Brandeis University with Griffin and Arthur, two other young African Grey parrots who have been a part of the ongoing research program.

Alex has left a significant legacy—not only have he and Dr. Pepperberg and their landmark experiments in modern comparative psychology changed our views of the capabilities of avian minds, but they have forever changed our perception of the term “bird brains.”

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For press contacts: The Alex Foundation and Dr. Pepperberg can be reached by e-mail at the alex@alexfoundation.org or by phone at 781-736-2195.

If you choose to help support this research, please consider making a donation in Alex's memory to The Alex Foundation, c/o Dr. Irene Pepperberg, Department of Psychology/MS-062, 415 South Street, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454.

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The goal of The Alex Foundation is to support research that will expand the base of knowledge establishing the cognitive and communicative abilities of parrots as intelligent beings. These findings will be used to encourage the responsible ownership of parrots, conservation and preservation of parrots in the wild, and veterinary research into the psychological diseases and care of these birds. Through these efforts, The Alex Foundation will accomplish its mission to improve the lives of parrots.

National Zoo: Anteater

In July, the Washington D.C. National Zoo was surprised when they found that their giant anteater had a little baby. This baby looked like the Mom in every way. They found her clinging on her mom's back. However, since the two were inseparable, it took awhile before anyone knew the baby's sex. So every one called the baby, "Little Snozzie" because of her long nose. Her official name is Aurora.

From the Zoo's site: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Amazonia/Facts/fact-anteater.cfm

"The giant anteater may be five to seven feet long, from nose to tail, and weigh 40 to 86 pounds. It has a narrow head, long nose, small eyes, and round ears. Its coarse hair may be gray or brown, with a white-banded black stripe running along the body to mid-torso, and a long, bushy tail, which can be two to three feet long. Its front feet have large claws, which are curled under when it walks. It has poor vision but a keen sense of smell. "

"The giant anteater detects termite mounds and anthills with its keen sense of smell and tears them open with its strong claws. Its long nose, which contains a bone tube formed by the fusion of the upper and lower jaws, functions as a vacuum, sucking in the insects. The anteater's sticky tongue—up to two feet long—collects more insects. An anteater may eat as many as 30,000 ants in a day."

Meanings of Water: Fresh water

Freshwater regions include ponds, lakes, and rivers. Each has been endowed by people with their own particular meanings. People are purified in the River Jordan (Jordan) and the River Ganges (India). Springs have healing properties that people seek. Monsters live at the bottom of lakes ready to frighten people.

Rivers are water in motion. They start in mountains and flow to the seas. Since human commerce moves with rivers, people’s lives are closely tied to them. Human civilizations first rose along the banks of rivers.

In literature, rivers stood for the flow of time, ebbing, and flowing, but constantly moving. An animal metaphor for the river would be salmon. These fish swim from small pools to their rivers to the seas. When it comes time for salmon to spawn, they fight the river current to return to their home pools upstream.

Deep in many lakes are cold-loving fish that took refuge in the cold waters, when the glaciers receded. Birds may live on the banks and fish for the many frogs and insects, but refugees from previous ice ages live near the bottoms. The subjects of legends, prehistoric monsters are reputed to be dwelling in the bottom of deep water lakes.

Lakes are mirrors into the other world. Ladies of Lakes beckon people to dive deeper for enlightenment. A lake may seem inert, but power lies just underneath the still waters. Dive in and encounter a magical world.

Life is lived small in ponds. They provide breeding spots for small animals like salamanders and frogs. Ponds attract a unique collection of animals to their shallow fresh waters from dragonflies and water snakes. Ponds are friendly places for people to enjoy nature.

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If you want to know more about your nature guides, I can help you.

Inner Journeys: Nature Journeys:

http://www.funkman.org/innerjourney/journeys/nature/naturemainlink.html

("Jackson Creek" by Mary Ann Sterling)

Finding Your Tree Guide

Unlike animals, trees do not move. However, like animals, trees have particular personalities and teachings. Trees, that grow by running water, will have a feeling movement within them. Meanwhile, trees in fields reflect the peaceful energies of those places.

To know a tree is a subtle and quiet process. Each group of trees (grove) has a head tree that needs to be acknowledged. This tree is usually the oldest or tallest. Once you speak to the leader tree, you can freely walk among the other trees. Remember though, some trees prefer not to be touched, while others beckon to be sat under. As you open yourself up to the trees, you will feel one call to you.

Trees are subtle in their relations with people. For a response, watch the movement of the leaves or the dropping of a nut. Sometimes, you will feel energy from the trunk of the tree. Rarely are trees dramatic in what they do. Trees move very slowly, and are in no hurry. They expect the same from people.

When you are with a tree, watch, listen, and remember. Your experience may not seem much to you at the time. Over time though, the tree’s answer will have relevance. Be calm when conversing with a tree. Remember to thank the tree, when you leave.

During a hurricane, a huge oak crashed into my living room. Why this tree chose my condo to die in, I did not know at the time. Later, I discovered that He passed his strength on to me. He opened the door to other worlds for me to step through. The oak has been my companion on my walk. Trees offer their wisdom to those who listen quietly and with an open heart.

Why Animal Empowerments?

Animals have gifts that they are willing to offer people. One gift of the animals is their energies to empower people on their journey of life. With their energy gift, animals offer their particular wisdom to the person. People in need of serenity will benefit from Manatee’s soft, calming energy. Meanwhile, Wolf offers people a strong sense of self. For people who need to walk without fear, Jaguar offers his formidable gifts.

For those who are willing to listen and respect the animals, the energy gifts are theirs for the asking. When you first receive their energy, you may notice a powerful shift in the beginning. Your “guide” animal will infuse the energy in you. United with the animal, you will be in tune with their wisdom. Because you receive inner guidance from the animal, you will have a healthier point of view.

How does an empowerment works? Feeling stifled? Killer Whale will help you facilitate a process of self-transformation. She will swim with you, teaching you, your soul song. Together, you will enjoy the richness that life has to offer.

Feeling poor? Buffalo will adopt you into his herd. He shows you how to create abundance. As the Native Americans know, He fosters abundance through his life. Roam with Buffalo and know prosperity.

As you can see animals, many benefits come from the animals. Have them infuse you with their gifts, and see your life change. Just ask, and the animal will help.

("Heart" by Maryann Sterling)
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For those interested in empowerments. I will be at the Holistic Health Fair in Dale City, Virginia ( http://www.harmonyproductions.net/index.htm ), on September 9, to do the empowerments in person.

If you can’t make it, I offer distance empowerments. Check out Animal Teachers: Empowerments: http://funkman.org/animal/services/animalempowerments.html

Dolphin and people

Recently a local gas station put up a beautiful statue of a leaping dolphin in from of their building. The dolphin sits next to a busy intersection. Imagine a gas station thinking that dolphins will make people feel good about them! Well, everytime I pass by the Shell station, I feel a smile coming on.

Here is a writing on dolphins.

Dolphin’s qualities are life force energy, manna, inner child and Universal Consciousness.

(Copyright: unknown)

Dolphin medicine people have a strong life force energy within them. They have a loving and tender nature. Within their soul is a young, vibrant and alive child. They love to live near, and connect to the seas and oceans. Other animals connect with these people. They treat all life forms with love, gentleness and compassion. All life is sacred in their eyes. These people are connected to the universal awareness. They have strong psychic gifts and an ability to communicate love and compassion through their eyes. They breathe in the energy of air, and allow this energy to flow through their being. They are people who believe that love can cure all. They are attracted to the ancient arts of yoga and meditation. They understand the workings of our spiritual energy centers. They live their lives through their feeling centers. When a Dolphin medicine person walks into a room, you are filled with love and compassion. As you breathe in their presence you are filled with compassion, hope and gentleness of spirit.

When reversed, Dolphin people have become quite hurt and fearful. They have held their breath and as such, have closed down their ability to love and express themselves. They are denying their inner child access to their outer life. They have become old and set in their ways. They have become stressed out and are causing themselves sickness and emotional trauma. They are refusing to listen to the signals that Mother Earth is sending to them. They have forgotten how to play and enjoy the wonders of life.

Release your breath and remove the fear that is invading you today. Use your breath to remove the negative emotions that are eating away at you. Connect to your inner child.

When Dolphin is your protector and guide, he is calling to you to awaken your love of life. He is telling you to heal your childhood traumas and become playful. Dolphin teaches you the art of release. By breathing in his energy, you release sickness, stress and fear. Become open to your connection to Mother Earth and Great Spirit. Use your qualities of love and compassion to help others heal.

Call on Dolphin to aid you in your healing. His love and compassion will guide you to happiness and fulfilment. Dolphin will teach you the sacred ways of breath. He will show you how to release the old and bring new life force energy into your being.

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For those who want a deeper connection with the dolphins, check out my Gifts From the Dolphins! http://funkman.org/animal/services/dolphingifts.html

What is Reiki?

What is Reiki?
Founded by Dr. Mikao Usui, Reiki is a system of hands on healing. This system provides the body with the ability to restore itself to balance and harmony. Reiki seeks to regain order to the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced.

For those who know Japanese will be confused by the Kanji (Characters) reading. “Rei”, according to Mrs. Hawayo Tanaka, means “universe”, and “ki” means energy. Since she introduced Dr. Usui’s system to the West, people have accepted the Kanji reading to be Reiki, “Universal Life Force Energy.”

Why are there so many different types of Reiki? If the healer channels the energy into the person, then is that not the same energy for everyone? In the real world, different bodies require different types of energy or can only handle certain kinds of energy. Energies can be softer or harsher depending on how they are focused. In Ocean Friends Reiki, manatee energy is softer, while seahorse energy is more energetic.

Reiki healing is warm, enlivening, and peaceful. The main goal is to nourish the body on many levels. The different energies heal physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. Manatee energy is used for heavy emotional distress, while sea turtle energy is for spiritual distress.

Therefore, Reiki can be described as a combination of 'spiritual healing' and 'energy healing' techniques. Reiki can be effectively used in combination with other therapies - both allopathic and 'alternative'. In fact, some studies have demonstrated that Reiki stimulates the relaxation response.


Ocean Friends Reiki Principles
Just for today do not worry.
Just for today do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to every living thing.
Love and respect all the oceans and marine life.
Give back what has so freely been given to us.

"Behold a Pale Horse"

What does it mean to see horses of a certain color? In Western folklore, there is a wealth of information regarding this. "Behold a Pale Horse" meant death is afoot. Here are some more colors and their meanings.


Color and Meaning

Black: Death, Mourning, Underworld
Brown: Sadness
Golden: Sun
Grey: Death
Pale or Greenish: Death, Pestilence
Red: Sun, War
White: Moon, Sun, Purity, Victory

Teachings of the Sea Turtle

GREEN TURTLE

Perseverance

(U.S. Forest Service)

One of the largest of the Sea Turtles, Green Turtle likes living in warm, shallow waters where sea grass, Her favorite food, grows. She locates the vegetation with Her excellent underwater eyesight. Swimming at great speeds underwater, She travels near the coasts in search of sea grass.If you find Green Turtle far out to sea, She is on Her way to Her nesting beaches. She is meeting the male Turtles there for mating. Both male and female Green Turtles return to the same beaches year after year. Usually, these beaches are the same ones from which the Turtles were hatched.

Although Mother Green Turtle is awkward on land, She still comes up on the beach to build Her nest. Mother Turtle drags herself on to the beach to dig a large hole with Her flippers. Once She lays Her eggs, Mother Turtle pushes sand over the eggs. Then, She hauls Herself back over the beach to the sea.

Green Turtle teaches perseverance. Watch Her as She struggles to lay Her eggs. Graceful in the sea, Mother Turtle comes on land, an alien hostile environment, to provide a nest for Her young.

Green Turtle’s Teachings Include:

“As about, so below, and within. The gentle turtle acknowledges the delicate balance between ocean and earth, and reminds us of the importance of respecting both.” Copyright: “Wisdom of Australian Animals”, Ann Williams-Fitzgerald .

Green Turtle’s Wisdom Includes:

Home

Being Grounded

Healing Knowledge

Respect

Persistence

Mockingbird by Sayahda

The Mockingbird

The Northern mockingbird is approximately 10 inches inlength with a long tail that twitches vigorously when excited. It has strong legs suited to scratching through dead leaves and underbrush for insects. Although their dull gray color doesn’t impress the eye their various calls definitely demand attention. Known for their songs the mockingbird was given its name because of its ability to mimic the calls of other bird species. In Latin the word mockingbird means “many tongued mimic.” The song of mockingbird is a medley of calls of many other birds. They are master imitators and usually repeat an imitation several times before they start another song in rapid succession. They are one of the few birds that sing while in flight.

Mockingbirds hold a variety of teachings. On a subtle level they show us how to mimic ourselves. What we mimic reflects back to us and helps us see what we truly are. Discovering oneself in this way can be a powerful transformational experience. Those with this totem should ask mockingbird to help them connect with their personal sound frequency. Once this connectionis made healing on all levels takes place. It is common for an individual bird to have as many as 30 songs in its repertory. It can also mimic the sounds of barking dogs and cats.

They teach us about the power of the voice through song. Appearances are not important to those with this totem. They are always heard before they are seen, if they are seen at all. Those with this medicine can learn new languages easily and make excellent interpreters and spokesman. Mockingbirds are fearless and will defend their nest and territory. Courageous birds they will dive and attack intruders that come too close. They teach us how to develop confidence within ourselves, sing out our truth and stand up for what is rightfully ours. http://www.sayahda.com/cyc3.html

From Nature to Myth: Owls and People

Owls spark people’s imaginations. These silent predators of the night both inspire and frighten people. For nighttime, when owls are most active, is also when magic is afoot. To many people, seeing these shadowy birds with their glowing yellow eyes is to experience the Other Worlds.
This worldwide Order of Birds ranges from tiny elf owl of North America to huge eagle owl of Eurasia. As predators, owls regard anything that moves as fair game. While elf owl eats insects, eagle owl feasts on deer. Because most owls fly at night, they occupy the same niche in the eco-system as hawks and eagles. Native Americans called the Owl Family “Night Eagles”.

Owls are divided into two families-True Owls (Strigidae) and the older family of Tytonidae, to which only barn owl and bay owl belongs. Barn owls can be thought of as the more ancient version of “Owl”. They do not hoot like true owls, but instead make a hoarse “Khurrew” noise. In addition, they have heart-shaped faces, longer beaks and heads, and forked tails. Barn owls live in Europe and the Western Hemisphere, and bay owls live in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. This makes the Barn Owl Sub-Family, one of the most widespread land birds in the world. The round-headed owls, that most people see, are from the larger Strigidae Family which contains 300 species.

Because so few birds are nocturnal and the majority of owls (Strigiformes) are, most people respected but distrusted them. The Japanese regarded barn owl and horned owls as demonic. In Borneo, Scops owls were thought of as ill omens to be avoided at all costs. The Romans believed that any owl sucked the blood of babies.

However, the ancient Greeks welcomed little owl as their Goddess of Wisdom’s Friend. In Hawai’i, Pueo (Hawaiian Owl) is a protector. As ‘Aumakau, Pueo is the ancestor guardian who watches over the family. Because barn owl saved Genghis Khan from his enemies, Mongolians revered her. Meanwhile, the Celts look upon tawny owl as one of the five oldest animals on earth.

For owl empowerments and other animal consultations:

http://funkman.org/animal/services/serviceslink.html

Otters on youtube

Hi everyone,

"Ferrets have a golden rule that we humans could teach to our sons and daughters,
Do unto Otters, as Otters would do unto you."

This is on youtube - a short video of sea otters holding paws by Cynthia Holms, taken 5 years ago. I watched it several times and it was truly remarkable. The otters were not simply floating or rafting together. I thought it was great.

Watch the whole 1 minute and 40 seconds, it is not an accident these otters are holding hands!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno

The otters are Niack (She is a survivor of the Exxon Valdez Oil spill) and Vido, of the Vancouver Aquarium.

Otters at the Otter Trust, Earsham, Suffolk, UK

Watch European Otters play and eat and swim to music (not the otters, the sound on the tape.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjBN3etmHwY&NR=1


Baby otter learning to swim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bnnKKltKLQ&mode=related&search=

Midsummer

Midsummer is when the sun stands the highest in the sky. Daylight dominates, and the night is short. Then, the night reclaims its due.

In the past, on Midsummer Eve, people gathered herbs for healing. (Plants of the wort family were especially prized.) For more healing and cleansing, people then bathed in various springs. After the Midsummer bonfires burn out, people gathered the ashes to mix with water. Then, they sprinkled this ‘glop’ around their houses for protection in the coming year.

To the Norse, Midsummer was as important as Yule. At this time, the Norse gave thanks for the prosperity and fertility of their lands. Also, they prayed for continued prosperity and good health. Sunna (the sun) was honored at Midsummer, as well as Balder (the God of Light) and Nanna (His Wife).

For me, Midsummer is a bittersweet High Day. Because of my on-going depression, I crave the sunlight. At Midsummer, the sun is at its peak, and then daylight lessens gradually. Midsummer is time of joy tempered with the shadow to come.

My connection with Nature (2)

How do I live on the earth right now? I live modestly in a garden condo. I do not feel the need to have a bigger house. I dislike clutter, and strive for simplicity.

Clutter comes in many forms. Financial clutter is when you overspend to feel good. Demanding more and falling behind in payments has a cascading effect. The things no longer please you, and they take up valuable space. You accumulate debt, and more things. After awhile, you become trapped, unable to function as the debt piles up. You think that a bigger house is the answer. Of course, that eats up more resources both financial and physical.

Body clutter is when you over focus on food. You demand food in fashion or out of season. This uses up scarce resources like the rainforest and oceans. The transportation system becomes congested with shipping more and more food. More land is only used for roads. Moreover, the air becomes more fouled as more trucks put out exhaust. Buying food in season focuses on replenishing the local resources.

My connection with Nature (1)

My connection with Nature is complex. Although I live in an urban area by the railroad tracks, I am surrounded by nature. For me, the various plants and animals have adopted this unnatural place.

The oak and maple trees behind my garden condo shade my small balcony. A little intermittent stream appears when it rains between the two garden condo buildings. The rocks, lining the stream, provide places for snakes to sun themselves. Of course, there are the squirrels, who nest in the trees.

How do I honor the earth? I do it in small ways. The local woodpeckers bother the neighbors with their noise. They like to drum on the gutters at daybreak, waking everyone up. I teach the neighbors the names of the various woodpeckers in our neighborhood. (We have Pileated, ladder-backed, downy, and hairy.) I think that my neighbors will appreciate these birds. One elderly man now refers to them as the ‘big bird, middle bird, and small bird.’

Also, I am known as the snake lady. Often, I will see someone with a shovel ready to whack a snake. I scream, “DON’T KILL THAT SNAKE! IT EATS RATS!” They generally thrust the snake and shovel at me, demanding I get rid of it. I usually take the snake to the local wildlife rescue person.

Sky and Earth Powers

In Roman Cosmology, the Sky is the traditional province of the Dii Consentes (The Council of Twelve Gods). In the Roman mind, the powers of the Sky were just and right. The Romans sought to divine the will of the Dii Consentes from birds in flight and other sky omens. Iuppiter, Optimus and Maximus (Jupiter, the Supreme Sky God) signaled His Will through thunder and lightning.

In Rome, the Sky Power supported civic society. Iuppiter’s temple was the center for Roman politics. Victorious generals made sacrifices there as well. In the Roman worldview, the Sky Gods with the Senate and the People governed Rome.

Meanwhile, the Earth was the province of the Dis Pater, God of the Underworld. Under His Rule, the earth is chaotic and dark. For that reason, the Mundus (Well to the Underworld) is only opened three times a year. Once the Mundus is opened, Dii Inferi (The ‘Infernal Ones”) move about. For that reason, these days are considered to be unlucky.

However, the Earth Power used sacred snakes to convey prophecies to to the people. Caves and grottos were his sacred places. The Dis Pater not only ruled the Underworld but also governed wealth and riches. Meanwhile, the Penates, guarding the family’s food stores, lived in underground chambers.

In the Roman sense, the mingling of the Two Powers is one of order working with chaos. Snakes, associated with various Gods, crawled out of caverns offering omens. Lightening bolts from the skies were more signals of Divine Will. The powers of Earth and Sky mingle, but then separate.

As the Sky and Earth Powers mingled, it was for the good of the Roman people. The Sky brought the governing power and the Earth brought riches and kept people safe. Together, they supported the people of Rome.

Sharks in Danger!

Sharks are not glamorous subjects but without them, our oceans would become cesspools. Take a look at the website in the following post. Shark cartillage has no medicine value. It will not cure cancer. Don't eat shark fin soup - taking of the shark's fins is cruelty to animals.

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Hi,

I found your website through the Shark Webring and thought you or your family might be interested in this story about sharks from Conservation International:
Preying on Predators: Shark Tagging Data Will Guide Conservation Policy, Efforts
"Contrary to popular belief, sharks are not preying on people as much as people are preying on sharks. Millions are harvested every year, primarily to fill a ravenous craving for shark fin soup."

The story describes the plight of sharks endangered by the demand for shark fin soup and the efforts of scientists to learn how to best protect them by shark tagging. There are maps of the sharks' movements, photos, and video.

Learn more at:
http://www.conservation.org/xp/frontlines/2007/03260701.xml

Please consider adding this link to your website to help spread the word!

Cheers,
Lindsay Walter-Cox
l.walter-cox@conservation.org
Conservation International