Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Other Worldly Beings: Old Souls



When I watched “SMOKE SIGNALS” (1998, Eyre), I perceived the two main characters, Victor Joseph and Thomas Brings-the-Fire, to be a split soul. Rarely apart, they guide each other towards wholeness. Victor brings Thomas into the present, while Thomas teaches Victor the way of the Worlds.

Wearing a suit and his hair in braids, Thomas resembles a medicine man from the last century. Known in the Coeur d’Alene Nation as an eccentric storyteller, Thomas lives his life by his own compass. He fears neither lies nor the truth. Weaving the past, present, and future in his stories, Thomas offers wisdom to those around him. As an old soul, Thomas delivers his pearls of wisdom with good humor. “Sometimes it is a good day to die. Sometimes it is a good day to have breakfast.”

Thomas, for his part, regards Victor’s father, Arnold, to be his teacher, he tells about going on a vision quest and encountering Arnold instead. In Thomas’s stories, Arnold emerges as a Shaman working magic and illusions. He hides in plain sight, and practices disappearing. Through Suzy Song, Arnold’s neighbor in Phoenix, Victor discovers that his father was an old soul who made a tragic mistake. Because his pain was so great, Arnold slowly let go of all his connections to this world. However, after his death, he returns to his son in a vision.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Medicine Wheels (1)

I have found Medicine Wheels to be a name totally associated with Native Americans. I wish there was a different name to call these circles of the univese.

Medicine Wheels are places to pray, meditate, contemplate and become one with the universe. They become our sacred place, helping us to strengthen our connection to the universe. They help us bridge the gap between the spirit world and the physical world, bringing harmony to both through us. The general Medicine Wheel has 36 (thirty six) stones. Each stone is a “tool” to help us understand ourselves in relation to the universe. They teach us to respect ourselves and our relation to other life forms, Mother Earth, and the universe.

Creating a Medicine Wheel should be done as a part of a sacred ceremony to show your respect. Ceremony is a way of giving back some of the energy, that we are constantly taking in from the universe. Through Ceremony we can give back through singing, praying, dancing, drumming, chanting . Follow your intuition and your heart to give back in the way resonates with you. Ceremony and the use of the Medicine Wheel is an individual journey. There is no one size fits all spirituality. We each have our own way, and all of our ways work together to make up the whole.

There are many ways to make a Medicine Wheel. They can be made with 12-36 (twelve to thirty six) stones depending on how elaborate you wish to make it as well as how much space you have to work with. The only important thing is that your Medicine Wheel takes the shape of a circle. It is your sacred space so it should be comfortable for you. It holds your vision, whatever that may be.


From “Ma’Heo’o Reiki: A Program of Spiritual Healing, Growth & Development” by Sheryl “Rain” Carter.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Tarot Constellations (2)



6. The Constellation of the Lovers:

The Principle of Relatedness and Choice.
The Lovers, the Devil (15), and all Sixes.

7. The Constellation of the Chariot:

The Principle of Mastery through Change.
The Chariot, the Tower (16), and all Sevens.

8. The Constellation of Strength:

The Principle of Courage and Self-Esteem.
Strength, the Star (17), and all Eights.

9. The Constellation of the Hermit:

The Principle of Introspection and Personal Integrity.
The Hermit, the Moon (18), and all Nines.

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The Tenth Constellation (by Carper)

The Fool stands by Himself as 0 or 22, while the Court cards are 0. They meld with the Fool, as the World (21) is the bridge between them.

10. The Constellation of the Court:

The Principle of Innocence through Maturity.
The Fool, all Pages, all Knights, all Queens, and all Kings.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Tarot Constellations (1)


(Copyright: Tarot of the Animal Lords)

Tarot constellations are the cards that have the same prime number (one through nine). For the number four, the Tarot constellation is the Four card from each of the suits, the Emperor (the number four), and Death (the number thirteen, which reduces to the number four (1+3=4)).

From: “Tarot Constellations”, by Mary K. Greer.

The nine Tarot constellations, according to Greer, are:

1. The Constellation of the Magician:
The Principle of Will and Focused Consciousness
The Magician, Wheel of Fortune (10 1+0=1), the Sun (19 1+9=10 1+0=1), all Aces and all Tens.

2. The Constellation of the High Priestess:
The Principle of Balanced Judgment through Intuitive Awareness
The High Priestess, Justice (11), Judgment (20), and all Twos.

3. The Constellation of the Empress:
The Principle of Love and Creative Imagination.
The Empress, the Hanged Man (12), the World (21), and all Threes.

4. The Constellation of the Emperor:
The Principle of Life Force and the Realization of Power.
The Emperor, Death (13), and all Fours.

5. The Constellation of the Hierophant:
The Principle of Teaching and Learning.
The Hierophant, Temperance (14), and all Fives.


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Wednesday, July 09, 2008

A Very Brief History of the Tarot



In Northern Italy during the early Renaissance, the Tarot developed as a card game, much like today’s Bridge. It later became a gambling card game. In Europe, people still see the Tarot as a card game. The Tarot’s use for divination did not occur until the 1800s in England.

Meanwhile, playing cards came to Europe from Moslem Spain. They consisted of the four suits with a court of a king and two males. The Tarot deck of today is the merger of the Tarot’s Major Arcana, the Fool, the Queens, and playing cards. (The Joker originated in the United States in the 1850s for use in Poker and Euchre games.)

The Tarot deck familiar to people in the United States is the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) one. Named for the company that published the deck and its creators, RWS was created in the early 1900s. Arthur Edwards Waite wrote an overview of the traditions, history, and commentary for each Tarot card. In addition, he changed some of the Major Arcana from the traditional Marseilles deck. Meanwhile, his illustrator, Pamela Coleman-Smith revolutionized the Minor Arcana with her pictures. (Before that, the Minor Arcana were done in geometric patterns.)

In the 1940s, Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris developed the Thoth Deck to update the RWS deck. Crowley infused the Thoth Deck with symbolism of the occult. Therefore, many people today often find this brightly colored deck more difficult to read.

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Many Tarot decks have animals in them, and the animals add to the meanings of each card. For example, the lion and crab are in several cards. Lion represents strength, while the crab represents the moon and water.

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Tarot card from "Australian Animal Tarot" by Ann Williams-Fitzgerald


Monday, July 07, 2008

Suffering and the Human Condition: Ending the Suffering

For me, suffering occurs when people are alienated from their selves and everything around them. Suffering people have inside of them, an empty hole that aches with pain. People react to this pain in different ways. Some people fall into such despair, that they kill themselves to end the pain. Others are perpetually busy darting about, in hopes of being distracted from the pain. Still others do things to smother the pain, such as taking excess drugs.

The loss of hope lives at the root of human pain. I had my season in hell where I reached that place of no hope. In fact, I just wanted to lie down and die. To me, the world was bleak and gray. After seeking professional help, I was diagnosed with acute depression. The doctors told me that my brain was not producing the right chemicals. Now, I take medications to help my brain. What I had experienced was the secret strength of depression.

From my experiences of reaching out and receiving help, I know that the world can be kind and loving. In my opinion, people asking for help need to be sustained with hope and love. For me, when I was the most vulnerable, I experienced the Spirit (Divine), which came to me. Now, I carry that small spark inside me, never wanting to extinguish it.

To have a good day, there are three things I do daily. First, I get out of bed. I demonstrate to myself that there is something to get up for. I just don’t what it is yet. Second, I make my bed, which tells me that I can make order out of chaos. Third, I make myself a cup of tea. This shows that I care enough about myself to feed myself. If I do nothing else, I will have demonstrated to myself that I am worthy of love and that I am loved.

For me, the solution to suffering is in the struggle for wholeness. Conflict is an inevitable part of life, since it shows people what is worth fighting for. In avoiding conflict, a person may sacrifice their integrity. Resolution, the end of conflict, is a joining together. In order to be complete, the person needs to resolve their conflicts. The disunion of conflict and the unity of the resolution break the self apart, and then reforms it into a healthy whole.

To understand this further, consider the predator/prey dynamic of animals. When you ponder the animals’ interactions, you realize that they are more than the sum of their parts. For example, Elephant Seal and Great White Shark move from a position of strength. They use their strength and intelligence in different ways. Great White Shark is an apex predator of the oceans, while Elephant Seal rules his icy territory with an iron flipper. The shark preys on the seal, who escapes death by moving onto the land. The two animals dance in a synergy to form a new wholeness. The shark is yin to the seal’s yang.

The predator/prey relationship represents the primal forces of procreation and death, which is filled with a dynamic tension. From the struggle of opposing forces, a new life emerges. The new life is whole and in balance.

Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008
To learn how animals can help you, email me animalteachers @ gmail.com

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Otherworldly Beings: Defending Against "Soul Killers"


There is a book written in the 1970s. that sums up soul killers, “When I Say No, I Feel Guilty” by Manuel Smith. Add to that the informaiton that can be gleaned from watching TV Judge Shows (Judge Judy, etc). If nothing seems to make sense, then you are in the presence of a soul killer. Being with one destroys your commonsense and sanity. When things always seem the opposite than they should be, then you are enmeshed with the soul killer.

To deter soul killers, you can use several methods. What I suggest for people to do before they enter into an agreement with another person, is to get it in writing. Whether it is a family loan or a cell phone, getting it in writing is your best defense. If the other person refuses, then you do not loan them money or give them a cell phone. In short, if you feel guilty for saying “no”, then you are dealing with a user or a emotional abuser.

Walk away, if you can. Use the broken record if you cannot. Repeat over and over, “I need you to sign this” or “No, I do not want to loan you money”. Eventually, the soul killer will become frustrated and give up.

Another series of books called the “Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense” goes one step further. They deal with abusive people and abusive relationships. If someone is repeatedly discounting you, your self-esteem drops. These books offer gentle suggestions on removing and defending yourself from abusive people.

Watch a TV Judge Show to learn how people lie, manipulate, and generally deceive themselves and others. The judge, as an impartial person, cuts through the talk to the essence of the situation. The judge generally offers suggestions such as “if someone threatens to kill you, call the police” or “if someone hurts you, do not go back to them”. Watching the show may speak to you or spark something inside you. Sometimes hearing a judge speak to a user, helps you to sort out what is going on in your life. Remember if you are in an upside-down universe, then you are with a soul killer.

Purchase the book at Amazon.com:
When I Say No, I Feel Guilty

Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008
For readings and empowerments, contact me at animalteachers @ gmail.com

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.