Not A Ghost Of A Chance

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Aug 31st, 2009 -- You always strive to do your best to be sensitive when it comes to matters of the heart. But there are times like this weekend when it's hard not to trigger strong reactions in others. While it's wise to speak softly and act with self-restraint, it may be impossible to maintain the peace. Be nice and move on. It's not your fault if others can't take the heat.

So there! It's not my fault. Well, we all know where the blame game goes...nowhere good. Usually all parties have done their fair share of good and not so good. Besides, I need my energy for haunted houses. Today I did some exploring and some constructing. It's been a good day!

I'm working on a haunted house project. Altering things to make them spooky is right up my alley. I couldn't resist. As inspiration I took a walk to an old farmhouse that has a ghost or two in residence. I've been visiting that house for over twenty years and things are usually calm and quiet. One rainy day my daughter and I wandered to the farm for a classic car show. The raindrops and shiny cars were wonderful photo ops and I got some great pictures with my trusty Nikon SLR. Then we went into the farmhouse for a tour...and to get out of the rain. We may have been the only ones walking through at the time. When I went to take some pictures my camera's flash kept failing.

I adjusted the settings a bit and took a few more pictures. The lighting was low. It was getting late. We headed home. Next day I had the film developed. The cars and reflections were awesome. I was quite pleased. Then I came to the indoor shots. They were very subdued, having an almost old fashioned look. In each picture strange lights emanated from no visible source. I recognized that phenomena. There was some other energy in the farmhouse. This was particularly visible in the kitchen and the living room. Those are the two rooms my daughter and her friend told me they saw old fashioned ladies from time to time. Volunteers do don period dress on occasion, but these were not those occasions. Children are innocent. They see something, they tell you what they see.

I have always felt peaceful and at home at the farm and in the farmhouse. So have my daughter and her friends, who are all quite grown up now. It's no coincidence that my daughter brought her new daughter to the farm on Pow Wow night. Any spirits who may be at the farm seem most beneficent. They seem to be at peace. So on this late summer night as the crickets sing their song, I end my ghost story. Not scared? Well, that's the last thing our ladies would want!

Jingle dancers~no, they're not ghosts :)

Summer In The City

The Moon in your sign on Friday should lift your spirits. Yet stern Saturn's lurking nearby to hold you accountable for your actions. A serious re-evaluation of your assets can make the rest of the weekend worthwhile even if it's not a lot of fun. Do the hard work of dealing with tough issues now and better times are sure to follow.

That's good advice. Better times always follow, usually not soon enough for us. We can wax philosophical but let's face it, we want better times all the time. It's quite natural to desire this. As we all know, life is way too crazy for that.

There was a lot of rough water in the great ocean of life this past week. Here in New York we've been having a heat wave, thunderstorms and all. Then there's Hurricane Bill churning up eighteen foot waves. That's great for surfers, but it creates deadly riptides. Those riptides have been devastating for many people trying to navigate life's summer seas. Downright treacherous to some. Others are knocked into uncharted waters, barely able to recognize a familiar landmark, they flounder. This unfamiliar territory may be a blessing. It may be a place to shake off the toxic residue clinging to their spirit. Perhaps the people in this new place are nurturing and uplifting. Living with endless negativity destroys the soul. Constant threats and innuendos erode confidence and good humor. This new place, though uncharted, may be a safe port. It may be a place to heal that wounded spirit and to grow in a more joyful natural direction.

I have been whining about the heat and humidity, I confess. There is respite in any air conditioned room or building. It's quite a simple and direct solution to an unavoidable situation.

Sometimes things come out of the blue and we cannot see a simple solution. That's the time to stop. Do nothing. Wait. Listen to the universe. The answer is there. It's not easy to quiet your mind when you are reeling, but when you can a whole new world is at your disposal. Nature has a way of balancing itself. That goes for human nature, too. Karma is cool, very cool. I'm all for spending very little energy on those who have wronged me and mine. I like to channel some good energy in a positive direction and then let it rip! Now, it's out of my hands and into the universe. I can go about my business getting back on my feet again and taking some baby steps. After all, if I find myself in new territory it's time for some exploring. The natives seem friendly and most helpful. New York is an amazing place, steamy or not.

Then there is the healing change of scene therapy. I do believe we're heading south of the border soon. Oaxaca, isn't it? Dia de los Muertos is all about transformation and spiritual healing. Perfect timing.

Angel in Oaxaca

Fussin' About Elvis

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Aug 17th, 2009 -- Friday's fussy, but Saturday and Sunday can be your friends this weekend. Listen to the advice of a person you trust who is able to get you back in balance if you've lost your cool, fallen into despair or given up on a relationship. Healing may not happen over night, but having a more objective perspective will get you on the right track.

Heard on the news Elvis died thirty-two years ago today. The good news is the radio station I listen to is playing so much of his music. No, I'm not going there. The past usually repeats itself. Enough said. It was such a pleasure to listen to him. I've been a fan of his almost since I can remember. Part of the magic of music is it's ability to transport us back to a memory, kind of an aural time travel device. Right up my alley.

I've been writing about time lately. At some stages of life you have a sense of timelessness. As your personal time goes on you hear the clock ticking louder for one reason or another. This is a good thing. It reminds us to live. It's not necessary to do wild and crazy things. If you've been meaning to I would suggest getting a move on your next adventure. If you've been there, done that there is still the miracle of everyday living we all take for granted. What a foolish thing to do. What is more precious than everyday? Those are the things you will remember in more detail than some of the big occasions you think you will be celebrating. The mind is funny that way.

You may remember sitting having a cup of tea with someone dear. Maybe a spontaneous drive to the beach on a steamy summer morning. Everyone piling into a VW bus after making baloney sandwiches and Kool-Aid for the trip, laughing and horsing around all the way. How about watching a babe take his first steps? That expression of apprehension, then glee is amazing.

Catching fireflies on a summer evening and realizing how fragile and beautiful they are is a gift.

Snow forts and snowball fights were best at night. Chasing mosquitoes in the middle of the night (sorry Jane! I know I'm compulsive) until they were squashed was an obsession. Still is.

I haven't fallen into despair. Far from it, I feel invigorated and full of enthusiasm. Some great things are in the works. I'm also very blessed to have people I trust help me get back on my feet when I am off balance. It's good to hear the King and enjoy a few moments of nostalgia. Soon I'll be back to writing about vampires, parallel time and supernatural stuff. Maybe I can work Elvis into the storyline. If not I know his music will continue to inspire my memories and my imagination. Thank you. Thank you very much!

Hold On...I'm Buzzing

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
For the Week of Aug 10th, 2009 -- The Moon in your 7th House of Partnerships should provide all the stimulation you can handle this weekend. The challenge is to find some emotional ground upon which you can stand in the midst of whirling winds of change. Attractions flicker like candles that will be extinguished if either of you holds on too tightly.

General Weekly Love Horoscope Influences
Passion gets pumped up on Thursday after a cold beginning to the week. Maybe it's the frustration started earlier that encourages an adventurous spirit this weekend. Still, don't allow moments of magic to cut off your connection with common sense. Over-estimating someone is a fast track to disappointment, so maintain a bit of emotional balance.

Finding balance is a common theme today. Many of us have busy lives that we coordinate with family and friends' busy lives. We buzz around our hive-homes working to create a harmonious life. Our fellow hive members do the same in their own way. Sometimes there is so much buzzing and hovering we forget to take a break and appreciate one another.

I am blessed to have family and friends close by and to the north, south and west. Although I may not see all of them as frequently as I would like I hold them dear to my heart. I've been tidying up which is a major project for I am not tidy in any sense of the word. In my quest for some semblance of organization I periodically come across an old photo, birthday or holiday card or similar now faded relic. This results in a pause in tidying and a smile or tear. Then on to the next target of tidy with similar results. I just feel like giving everyone a big group hug! Some are starting new families, others are empty nesters and some are close to the end of their life's journey. Still, they are all vital members of the hive. Young and old, they are all sweet as honey to me.

Killer Beez ~ Villainess Soaps

Elliot & Kumar on a sleepover

A Mystique of Violence

"There is a hardly a nation on earth today that is not to some extent committed to a philosophy or to a mystique of violence. One way or other, whether on the left or on the right, whether in defense of a bloated establishment or of an impoverished guerrilla government in the jungle, whether in terms of a police state or in terms of a ghetto revolution, the human race is polarizing itself into camps armed with everything from Molotov cocktails to the most sophisticated technological instruments of death. At such a time, the doctrine that "war is the will of God" can be disastrous if it is not handled with extreme care. For everyone seems in practice to be thinking along some such lines with the exception of a few sensitive and well-meaning souls."—Thomas Merton (The Asian Journals, 1968)

In the U.S.A., at this time when at least an incremental step is being considered by Congress toward legally guaranteeing that all citizens have some form of health-care coverage, the pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies are spending record sums to advertise the benefits of the status-quo. This would be the same status-quo that has enriched insurance companies for many years while leaving millions of citizens young and old uninsured or cheated out out of the often unreliable and over-priced coverage that they might barely afford. The same status-quo that has allowed pharmaceutical companies, with the collusion of our government representatives (most of whom are heavily-lobbied and campaign-funded by these very companies), to make huge, unjustified profits. What does this massive surge in public relations spending by the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, to the tune of millions of dollars a day on all media advertising, tell you? Does it perhaps beg the question of why so many members of Congress are dragging their feet, trying to dilute and delay legislation until it amounts to a practically meaningless change in the national health care system? Does it explain the resistance from mainstream television and radio spokespeople to real change in the system, or the voice given to disreputable hack doctors and scientists that have suddenly been enlisted to resist this change? Does it throw some light on the motivations of extreme right-wing corporate shills like Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck, Medved (and too many of their clones to mention) in their efforts to vilify President Obama or anyone wanting to at least try to set up a slightly more equitable and efficient health care system in this country so that we might take another step toward becoming a civilised nation? V.M.

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Is it part of this mystique of violence to deny health care to those least able to afford it? That will soon become most of us unless we take a big step in the right direction of health care reform now. I have worked as a health care professional for my entire working life. I have been a recipient of health care as a patient. The consensus of opinion among my coworkers and fellow patients is the same. We need health care reform now. VT

Editorial~Viggo Mortensen at Perceval Press

picture~warning on my gamma camera

Leaving a Trail of Bread Crumbs

For the Week of Aug 3rd, 2009 -- Romantic fantasies are fun, yet there's a chance that you could start to believe in them this weekend. The Moon in sensitive Pisces opens up your feelings but may shut down your brain. If you're going to follow your heart, protect yourself by leaving a trail of bread crumbs so you can find your way back home to reality.

If I'm relying on a trail of bread crumbs for protection my brain may have shut down already. It certainly didn't do Hansel and Gretel much good. Though, come to think of it, they did have a happy ending. Not so much for the witch, but karma and all...

Fantasies have their place in life. If you can't imagine something how can you manifest it? Living in a fantasy is a way of life for some. They become quite indignant if reality injects itself into their world.

Real life is fine for me. If I want fantasy I write my vampire tales, read a good book or watch a movie. I do have an active imagination. It comes in handy after working a day in the real world. Creating art or writing is a great outlet. Some say my outlook is a bit dark, but there is much humor in the dark areas of imagination too.

I've been fascinated by the supernatural since childhood. Being raised Roman Catholic instilled a belief in the supernatural, as all religions do, I guess. We have saints in heaven, sinners in hell, Satan lusting for our souls, angels watching over us, demons trying to possess us and many crosses, scapulars and rosaries for our protection against harm. How about the prayer we said right before going to bed? "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. God bless....every possible relative and friend is included." Sweet, isn't it? There is a natural progression to curiosity about other supernatural phenomena.

I do enjoy creating my alternate worlds where time lines may run parallel with other worldly beings being the norm. Who doesn't have a soft spot for a zombie...at a distance?

My grandmother had a collection of books which contained myths and fairy tales. I devoured them when I stayed at her house. The first book I proudly got from the library at age six was Norse Mythology. Thanks Nana! I was blessed to be surrounded by book lovers and storytellers. It was and is a natural way of life for me and mine. My daughter is a voracious reader who still tells people I read The Hobbit to her at bedtime when she was knee high to a grasshopper. Children love ritual. It is a comfort for them to have the familiar routine ease them into sleep. We would read a story, make up a story, usually about adventures with her friends and sing songs. One summer night I was joined in a refrain of The Muffin Man by three adolescent boys outside in our community yard. They ran away laughing when I peeked out the window, but I think it brought back memories of their not so distant babyhood. We all remember being tucked into our bed. She looks forward to doing the same for her daughter.

So, I'll settle down for the evening. Writing a scene about a steampunkian vampire timekeeper explaining time travel to a shape shifter should be fun and fulfilling. Of course, I will be wearing my St. Theresa scapular which say "Whoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer the eternal fire~Our Lady's scapular promise." It's all about that ounce of prevention.

Cross~Oaxaca 2008~Josefina Aguilar~now in my home sweet home :)