And The Tower Shakes

With all the tragic events unfolding over the last few weeks...hurricanes, flooding, fires, earthquakes...

I don't think that anyone who either reads cards, or is familiar with Tarot imagery, has not 
had this particular image come into their head.

  The Tower...

"Facing the Unexpected"

"Upheaval"

"Out of the Blue"

"Shocking Events"

The reason I'm writing this post, however, is to remind everyone what 

comes next during The Fool's journey.  
The card 'after' The Tower.

The Star...

"Faith and Hope"

"Courage"

"Inspiration"

New life through new possibilities and hope.

When we have been shaken loose from our roots and it all seems to be hopeless, 

we look within and then start anew. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all.


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Gluten Free Oat Flour Muffins

When I pulled a batch of gluten free oat flour muffins out of the oven over the weekend and saw that they were an immediate delicious hit - meaning my husband ate 3 - I decided that I should share the recipe.  To this particular batch of muffins I added 2 chopped apricots and 4 chopped dates which I happen to have had on hand. 

The recipe for the oat flour muffins is a variation on the basic gluten free blueberry muffins that I posted on this blog several years ago.

In that recipe I used buckwheat flour instead of oat flour.  I've found that buckwheat is a good gluten free substitution for recipes that require whole wheat flour. 

Although both muffin variations are quite tasty, using buckwheat will definitely give you a denser baked good.

Oat flour?  It's pretty simple to make your own.

I usually buy Bobs Red Mill Oats in bulk from Amazon. (gluten free variety)

I put pour a bag full in the food processed and grind it up.  It's then stored in an air tight glass canister with a screw on lid.  The oat flour will last a month or more.

You can use quick cooking oats, or rolled oats.  Rolled oats are denser and require a long cooking time when you prepare them for oatmeal.  They also make a denser oat flour.
Oat flour is a nutritious, delicious alternative for gluten free baked goods. White rice flour in gluten free baked goods lack texture and usually tastes rather bland, although gluten free baking in general has improved greatly over the last few years.

The texture of this oat flour muffin can be a bit crumbly sometimes, but there are ways around that.  If you bake the muffins using foil lined muffin papers it helps quite a bit.  Also don't forget to spray the muffin liners with cooking spray before you fill them.  And finally, allow them to cool down a bit before you try to eat one.  I know, it's hard when they come right out of the oven.

Enjoy!

1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup Yellow Corn Meal
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt (I use sea salt)
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
1 1/4 cup milk


Preheat oven to 400.  Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or grease muffin tins.
Mix together all ingredients.  Batter will be thin so let the batter sit for a few minutes so it will thicken up.  Then stir in your add ons.  Fill muffin tins 2/3 full - the muffins will rise.
Bake aprox 15 minutes.

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Energy Follows Thought

"Whatever manifests in your outer world is first

created in your inner world.

The energy that follows thought, and that you are

constantly experiencing in your life, is the result of whatever

resonates within the vibration you set in motion 

with your thoughts.

The world around you is mirroring the world within

    you via your subconscious mind."

Just as these seeds are about to blow away, scattering

to the wind...so are the thoughts and vibrations

you are currently creating. 

We all need to keep that in mind ~

Enjoy your day

The quote was taken from the book 

Spiritual Balancing by Diana Burney

photo by Diane Fergurson

                     

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2017 Year of the Fire Rooster

Chinese astrology is considered to be one of the world's oldest forms of Astrology.  Unlike the other Moon-school traditions; Tibetan, Vedic and Judaic, which are couched in religion, Chinese astrology is purely secular, a direction shared by Sun-school astrologies (Western and Arabian).

Ming Shu (Circle of Animals), is just one form of Chinese astrology, but it seems to be the one that is most commonly recognized by westerners.  This system is what Sun signs are to Western astrology, meaning, you only have to know the year of your birth to create a general personality profile.  Like all of the world's major astrological traditions however, a person's time, date and place of birth are essential to create an accurate, true birth chart.

2017 is the year of the fire Rooster (chi'), and people born between January 31, 1957 and February 17, 1958 are members of the Fire Rooster Zodiac Sign.

Although there are general behavioral patterns associated with the Rooster (chi') sign, the delineation is further augmented according to which element (earth, metal, fire, water, wood) happens to be in control the year that you are born.  For example, the personality of a fire Rooster is different from that of a wood Rooster etc.  So, just because you are a Rooster (chi') in Chinese astrology does not mean that this is your year.

In general, the Rooster (chi') is very intelligent and honest.  They also possess an excellent memory.
He or she can be quite a showman with much vanity, and possesses remarkable candor.  This person can also place too much emphasis on the trees, instead of the forest so to speak.

The fire Rooster is a highly motivated, single minded person.  They can become almost fanatical when it comes to investigation and details.  This can cause problems with coworkers who do not have the same work ethic or are not very conscientious about their work and work habits.

Although in 2017 fire Roosters will have to work hard and be patient to achieve their goals, they will also experience a surge of productive energy in order to do so.  Expect a lot of mental activity.

2017 is Yin year and will be ruled by the fire element.  The fire element is a boiling, hot force that rises upward.  Although a fire element person is enlightened and possesses much wisdom, they can also have an emotional state that is volatile.  A fire element person possesses natural leadership qualities.  they are also highly motivated and optimistic. 

The color for 2017 is red, although it is not advised to wear things that are red.  Instead, concentrate on colors that complement red or calm red.



*Information for this post was taken from Miller and Brown's "The Complete Astrological Handbook for the Twenty-first Century"; Understanding and Combining the Wisdom of Chinese, Tibetan, Vedic, Arabian, Judaic, and Western Astrology.  Also, Qi Journal.

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The Candle Sculpture

I decided to resurrect my candle sculpture today.  I was putting Christmas decorations away,

went to move the sculpture, and decided that it not

only deserved to be lit up on a more regular basis, but needed 

a little TLC as well.

The candle sculpture has to be at least 15 years old, if not older.

I was in a coffee bar long ago and saw the coolest

candle sculpture perched on the side of the bar.

Wax had dripped down everywhere.  Down the books, down the

side of the bar and on to the floor.  It was totally inspiring!

Over the years when people have seen the candle sculpture in our home,

their responses vary and are often pretty amusing.

The creative/art people will simply say its really cool and 

look at the sculpture as a sculpture...taking mental notes

on how it was structured and balanced.
The more spiritually inclined usually comment 
that it would make a fabulous alter piece...which it definitely would.
 The less creative, more literal crowd always do the same thing.

They say it's pretty cool, then squat down low to

try and read what book titles are.

That kind of diminishes the magic and point of the

piece, in my opinion, but whatever.

I guess that's how some people process art.
Literally.

It you're going to make a candle sculpture...a few tips.

You will want to build in something metal to use as a

base for the candles so the books don't catch on fire.

Also, the type of candles you use really does matter. 

I found that the cheap package of IKEA tapers

 work the best.  The wax isn't great quality,

so the candles burn faster and the wax runs farther then

the more expensive tapers.

Since I'm planning a burn-a-thon to refresh and

replenish some of the dripped wax on the piece,

I also set it on top of a big piece of wood so the wax

won't run all over my table. 

You should definitely try to make one of your own!
The sculpture will take time, finesse and patience but
the results are well worth it.
The magic and enchantment it generates will
definitely warm your heart, expand your
imagination,  lift your spirits during the
log cold winter months!

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End of the Year

 For the last week plus, the boys and I have been caught up in a blog domain renewal nightmare.  Of course I had no doubt that the confusion was only compounded by Mercury going Retrograde.  I swore to the Universe, over and over, that if I finally got the mess straightened out, I would make sure this blog got back to a more active state...which I think it honestly deserves, especially given the current state of world affairs.  If I couldn't straighten out the mess, then so be it.  This blog has been around since 2009.  It's had a long, productive run.  

Well, we did it.  So instead of this being my last post, it will only be the last one of the year.

I hope everyone has a good new year.  Stay positive and try to be nice to people...even if you are feeling defeated and frustrated.  The world needs your sparkle and shine right now.

Onward and upward!

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The Curious Visitor

 

The first day of October finds me hurrying around preparing for, and I quote, "five days of the most brutal weather that New Jersey has seen in a long time". An upcoming rain storm, followed by a 'Nor'easter wind and rain' and, of course, Hurricane Joaquin.  The date of NJ has already declared a state of emergency.

Well, 'strange things are afoot at the Circle K'.  I went out to pick some last minute flowers before the storm(s) hit, and was immediately greeted by a more intense delegation of my bird friends then usual.  Then this little cutie comes out of the rose bed to say hello.  I've never seen him before...he left as fast as he came, disappearing under the hydrangea.  Glad to see he was wearing a collar.  

Of course I took it as a sign.   Were they telling me about the upcoming storm?  Or letting me know that my first grandchild will be making her grand entrance before long?

I always seem to attract animals around me that I normally don't come in contact with before something happens.  I had crows land next to me and sit outside my studio window for a week straight this summer before my mother passed.  I've had deer run in front of me so close I could have touched them...on our street which is very urban and busy.  

Superstition?  I don't know.  You'd be surprised that what goes on around you once your eyes open and you start taking notice.  I've decided that if I see a third unusual animal related thing today then I'll know something up for sure.

Enjoy your day...

I'll keep you posted.

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Healthy Winter Meals - Busy Day Chicken

To warm your spirit on a cold winter's day!

l.  Spray the bottom of the baking dish with a non stick spray...whatever size dish you have on hand.

2. Layer as many sliced potatoes as will fit in the bottom of the pan.

3.  Layer chicken pieces on top.  Whatever you happen to have.  I had thighs.

4.  Sprinkle with liberally salt, pepper, paprika.  I threw some thyme on top because I happened to have it growing in the kitchen.  You could use rosemary or leave it plain.

5. Cover with foil. (put NO liquid in it)

6.  Bake 350 for around l.5 hours.

Enjoy!

*I wouldn't not recommend chicken breasts for this dish.
They are not juicy enough.  If you do use them, add some water
to the bottom of the potatoes before baking and reduce the cooking time by at
least a half hour...or more.

Your Animal Spirit Guides

Raven Mug by PattyMara on Etsy

I had a birthday recently and one of the gifts I received from my son was a book on spirit animals. I had been planning to write a blog post about spirit animal guides for a long time, but I never quite figured out how to approach the material.  To just list the animals and their characteristics seemed a bit boring to me.  The book served as a gentle reminder that I really should revisit the subject, regardless of how I choose to present the information. 

A few years ago I began an interview with a wonderful Native American artist about spirit animal guides from her cultural perspective.  Unfortunately our schedules never seemed to connect and we didn't finished the interview.  Looking back I'll admit I found myself a bit hesitant with the interview though, mostly out of deference for her background, but also because I didn't want to ask too many probing questions and over step my bounds.  She found herself treading lightly too, wanting to be respectful and true to the knowledge that had been passed down to her from her grandmother.  She also did not want to pass on information that she may not have remembered correctly.

As she stated : 
"Animal guides have always been a part of my life.  These are the beliefs I was raised with - my great grandmother would tell me stories about the Spirit Guides.  She taught me that all things have Spirit - animals, rocks, trees, etc. and that all these things have a lesson to teach to those that take the time to listen, that all these things should be honored and respected, that no life is more important than any other life & most importantly that we are all connected.  I didn't realize it at the time but she was sharing a culture that was fast disappearing.  Now I very much regret not having listened more closely & there are many questions I wish I had asked.  She crossed over when I was 11 years old.

...I believe that your animal guide/guides will come to you when needed, some may remain for a lifetime others for only a brief period. Guides can change during your life & most people have more than one at a time.   I believe your guides show themselves when a person needs to hear the message the guide is there to convey or learn the lesson that needs to be taught.  Guides often manifest in dreams and they can be accessed through meditation.  Sometimes they announce their presence in a far from subtle manner - a particular animal may suddenly seem to be everywhere you look.  Regardless of the manner chosen to reveal themselves a guide will show itself several times - usually within a relatively short time span trying to gain the individual's attention."


From my own experiences, every time I have ever found myself contacted by an animal guide there has been no doubt about their presence or the message they were sending me.
In dreams, meditation, or literally standing right in front of me, they have made their existence and their connection to me crystal clear.  They have also invariably sent me scurrying to my stacks of books, as well as the computer, to do more hours of research then I would like to think about.
Every culture and every spiritual tradition has their share of stories, folklore, and spiritual beliefs connected with animal guides.  And, the more you read, the more you will find that their differences eventually become similarities.


I thought I'd share a few of my more memorable experiences with you -

 - Walking down a busy street in a very urban town and a deer runs out in front me.  It dodges traffic, crosses the street and runs up into the back yard of a neighboring house.  Yes, I have seen deer in this neighborhood before, but not during rush hour, and certainly never running so close to me that I could have put my hand out to touched it.  I was completely startled. 
Oh, but did I mention that my 3 dogs, who were also along on the walk, didn't even seem to even see it? 

-  Having dinner and conversation on our deck with a group of friends.  One of them is telling me that every time he thinks about doing something that his gut tells him he probably shouldn't be doing, a huge black bird flys over to him and lands at his feet.  We all have a big laugh at that, and as I'm replying that maybe it has something to do with the birds where he lives, and that that I have never seen a big black bird do that where I live, a huge black raven lands on the deck, right at his feet.
Everyone was so stunned, we just stood there.  Our mouths wide open in shock, we picked up our dinner plates and silently hurried into the house.
After that, we all read up on ravens.

- And speaking of birds, I could write a book about all my bird experiences alone, there are the always the majestic, soaring, swooping eagles; along their friends the brave jaguars, that totally invade my meditation on a regular basis and make themselves the focal point.
Over and over... and over, and over and over.
I know you let the meditation take you where it will...
but honestly...
I got the message ~  

- Then there is Dreamtime. The beautiful dream I had where I walked to my window one night, opened the curtain, and saw the yard full of beautiful Sayomeds happily sitting guard around the house, under the twinkling night sky.
That one still makes me smile.

- How about imagining this one -
 You are in the middle of your front walk taking to a stranger.   All of a sudden the stranger's eyes bug out and she gets a really odd expression on her face.   As you turn around to see what she is looking at, you're shocked to discover hundreds and hundreds of beautiful butterflies in your yard right behind you.
No, it wasn't a dream. 
I still haven't quite figured that one out yet, although the energy from those butterflies was really quite amazing.
Yes, in case you are wondering, I have seen the stranger again.
She just looks at me kind of weird.
go figure

and finally, I'll wrap it up with this one -

- I stepped out of my car into a parking lot, turned around and saw a deer standing right next to me. (close enough to touch... again).
What's so interesting about that?  Well, that is interesting in itself...I know, but that's not the point right now.
I was about to go inside a building into a meeting where I had volunteered to be a 'student' for teachers who were training to become meditation facilitators.
My friend told me in advance -  "Just be honest, but be kind and careful with your feedback...they are just learning".
Unfortunately I know that at times I can really be almost too honest and direct with people, so I think I was getting a very clear message from my guide the deer, reminding me to be 'extra gentle and kind'...like a deer... with the budding, new teachers.


For any one who would like to learn more about animal guides, their spiritual nature and folklore, I suggest starting with the classic book "Animal Speak" by the late Ted Andrews.

Although reading back through this blog post I chose to share some of my
experiences through humor, (mostly because sometimes looking back leaves me no choice but to laugh), I really do appreciate all the wonderful encounters that I have had within the natural world around me, and am also very thankful for the guidance that I have been open enough, and wise enough, to receive from the animals I have connected with.

I hope you will start noticing what's going on in the world around you a
little more too.
'Be present'... as they say.
If you do, the natural world and animal kingdom might really surprise you ~


~ diane fergurson

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Positive Affirmation - Live Your Dreams

Take Time To...

Lean against a tree

and dream your world of dreams

Work hard at what you like to do

and try to overcome all obstacles

Laugh at your mistakes

and praise yourself for learning from them

Pick some flowers

and appreciate the beauty of nature

Be honest with people

and enjoy the good in them

Don't be afraid to show your emotions

Laughing and crying make you feel better

Love your friends and family with your

   entire being

They are the most important part of your life

Feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day

and plan what you want to accomplish in life

Find a rainbow

and live your

world of dreams 

~ Susan Polis Schutz

Artwork - "It's All In Your Dreams #17 by Diane Fergurson

prints available on Etsy

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Earthly Mother

Earthly Mother Primal, Pure, Perfect

Wholeness of life - love giving of itself

She is the light of the earth

Ever flowing - all in all

Follow her light from the visible

to the invisible within your innermost self

Then the vastness of your vision

transcends the physical eye

It is then the body becomes suffused

with a light love and beauty

We then know this love light and beauty

To be the Divine Spring within us

The living waters flowing outwards upon all earth life

Your Earthly Mother's law is Reverence for life

Become this law then your body given you

by your Earthly Mother will never know

disease nor death.

                                                                                                WILLIAM RICKETTS

** Hidden deep in an Australian rainforest, the clay sculptures of William Ricketts express the Aborigines’ deep connection with Mother Nature.

Born in 1898, William Ricketts was an Australian sculptor and potter who developed a spiritual bond with the Aboriginal people of Central Australia. The time he spent with them, between 1949 and 1960 inspired his works in Potter’s Sanctuary (now known as William Ricketts Sanctuary).

Earthly Mother photo courtesy of Adam Fergurson 

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Mind Body Spirit Questions and Answers: Your Karmic Reward

The more we read, the more we know,

the more we want to know,
and consequently, the more questions we may have.

 In this new series we will look at questions raised by a variety of topics.

Your thoughts and input are encouraged...

and your questions, of course.

Question:  "How can you tell whether a condition that has come upon an individual, good or bad, is the result of Karma, or direct divine decree"?

Answer:  If at any time we receive a rich reward, blessing, opportunity or advantage, let us be thankful for it and realize that whatever may have been the cause that brought it about, it is our responsibility and duty to use it constructively, lovingly and wisely.

That is the lesson - don't over analyze it.

If sorrow, disadvantage or disappointment come to us, instead of trying to search into your past for a probable cause, we should strive to learn the lesson that the situation may include,
and do our best to work through it and overcome it.
We need to try to master the conditions, strengthen our character, and increase our knowledge base so we do not earn a similar experience through any Karmic action in the future. 

Trying to keep this balance within the Universal Law will turn all our experiences and situations, good and bad, to good advantage.  

It will benefit ourselves as well as mankind.

Yellow Flower Photo courtesy of Joy Glenn Photography

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The Glass, Astrologically Half Empty

My husband and I recently found ourselves cleaning out my mother's apartment so that we could move her into an Assisted Living facility.  As I went through her library, I was amazed to find book after book after book, on how to be positive and live a good life.  I'm talking about old books.  Books that she has had and referred to for at least 50 or 60 years.

As long as I can remember my mother strived to be a positive person.  Considering that she was someone who managed to envision the worst possible outcome for every conceivable seniaro known to man, and that gloom and doom seemed to dominate her outlook on life, and I'm sure there were times when it was very difficult for her to maintain any kind of positive balance what so ever.  Looking back, her attitude often made me quite tired.   But, I really don't think I truly appreciated how difficult her efforts to be positive must have been for her at the time.

Today I was looking on Facebook and took special note of all the beautiful, positive quotes that normally pop up every morning in my feed.  I know, those are the pages that I select.  Who I choose to friend and who I want to see in my feed.   No, I don't care to see who got drunk last night, or what political spew is trending for the day.  The people and pages that I view are the ones who gently remind me to be happy, centered, and hopefully, more enlightened.  I thought about my mother again as I looked through my feed.  How she off handily would joke that I could somehow manage see the sunshine no matter how rotten the situation.  Yes, I suppose there's truth in that, but is it something that naturally occurs within me? What I naturally gravitate towards?  Do I seek out the constant prompts and reminders?  Or, do they seek me?

A few weeks ago I found my mother's natal chart tucked away in a book that I had shipped home.  My mom was a pretty astute astrologer.  Definitely ahead of her time in many ways, especially given that she grew up and lived her life in a conservative area of the Midwest.   Evidently she had commissioned her own birth chart to be drawn up by a respected astrologer sometime in the early 1950's.  As I looked it over, there plain as day in the interpretation, the astrologer had written - "try as they may, this individual will probably always manage to view life through a half empty glass", and that "they should seek to overcome this tendency during this lifetime".

I was surprised, though not surprised when I read that, yet I couldn't help but wonder.  How set in stone are our lives as designated by our birth charts?  Sure, we can strive to live good positive lives and be the best we can be, but if you are given a predetermined set of parameters to function in within this lifetime, with specific karmic constraints in your path, are you still destined to function within the confines of those set measures?  Can an individual only improve so much or progress so far in this lifetime?  Maybe.  It's a very interesting subject if you think about it.  There are certainly a variety of religious and philological beliefs and interpretations that explore those questions, yet alone the opinions of those who study and practice astrology.

As I write this article and my thoughts continue to wonder, I should point out that if you are a student of astrology or metaphysics and have never had a proper chart drawn up by a respected astrologer, you really should.  My mother, of course, had mine drawn up at birth.  I have to say, it has provided invaluable insights into by life over the years.  I have definitely benefited from knowing what my personal sinkholes are, and also when and how to not fly too close to the Sun, so that I do not become my own Icras.
Going through your birth chart when you are in your 20's vs your 50's is also an eye opener.  The years just affirm and reaffirm what was charted so long ago - what you've noticed about yourself and the trends in your life over the passing years. 

Getting back to subject of positive living and half empty glasses -
In my birth chart did the astrologer say that I would also probably view life through a half empty glass?

You can probably guess -

Not hardly.

Here's to you mom.
You certainly get an A for effort anyway ~



enjoy your day

diane

Flower photo by diane fergurson

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Pizza - Gluten Free or Not, Your Choice

When I was growing up, Saturday night was pizza night.  My mom would begin making the tomato sauce early in the morning and let it simmer all day.  She would start the dough in the afternoon, letting it rise at a nice easy pace, then punch it down and let it rise again.  In the early evening she would roll out the dough very, very thin, put it in a round pizza pan, top it with the sauce, some mozzarella cheese and sometimes some ground beef or sausage.  The oregano would go on last.  My mom would bake her pizza it until it was very crispy.  It was so delicious, it honestly was to die for.  Everyone who tasted it was hooked.

Later on when I became older and met my husband, he too fell totally in love with my mom's pizza.  He began making it for us when we got married, using her her original recipe.  He was fascinated with the dough process and how also thin he could roll it and how crispy he could make it.  Our sauce, unfortunately, was never quite the same as my mother's.  It's probably because I did not can fresh tomatoes like she did, so I never could replicate that deep rich taste.  

Eventually we did create a substitute.

A few years ago when our household became gluten free, the pizza was one of the first things that had to go.  We missed it, the kids missed it, and even though we dutifully tried just about every gluten free crust and dough recipe, the pizzas were just never the same.

  The crusts were just too thick, and over all tasted pretty icky.

One day my husband came across my mom's dough recipe and decided he would try to make it exactly as written, only substituting gluten free flour.  No other additions or adjustments.  We had a feeling it might actually work because we were going to use the Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour, which I think is the closest replication on the market to regular white or unbleached wheat flour for baking.

The big difference you'll find when using the Cup 4 Cup GF Flour compared to others is that it's so light.  So many GF flour blends that are used for baking, even by some of the most popular gluten free bakeries, are just way too heavy to be used for a lighter baked good.  The Cup 4 Cup GF flour is primarily a very light rice flour and you use as it is - literally substitute it cup for cup in any type of recipe.  No other additions are required.

As requested by friends, below is my mom's dough recipe. 

You'll have to work your own magic for the rest of the pizza.

Gluten free or not gluten free, enjoy!

This recipe will make 2 pizzas.

Pizza Dough

2 1/4 c. flour

3/4 c milk

1 Tb. sugar

1 pkg yeast

2 Tb. oil

1 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 c lukewarm water.  Scald milk, add oil, sugar and salt to milk.

When lukewarm add dissolved yeast and mix.

Put part of flour in milk and mix really well.

Then add the rest of the flour.

Grease top of dough and cover.

Let rise up to 1 1/2 hours.

Roll dough out very thin. 

Transfer to greased cookie sheet.

Add sauce and toppings.

Bake 15 - 20 minutes

Notes: If you use GF flour, your dough will not rise very much.  It also will not have the elasticity when you roll it out, so it may take some finesse on your part to learn how to manipulate it.

In addition, they do sell a Cup 4 Cup Pizza Crust Mix.  It think it's less expensive however, to buy a bag of the flour and make the dough recipe.

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The Artist Awakens

Dispersing New Flavor by Adam Fergurson

The artist knows, up to a point, what he or she wishes to express but also feels it, senses it - feels and senses it so strongly that something like awakening has occurred.  The ordinary self that entered the studio is still there, but there is someone else in there as well.

...The theme, the task at hand, is clear and unclear.  The mind may conceive it precisely or, on the contrary, feelings and the body in motion may have a sense of direction that the mind hardly knows.  The forces must come together to serve the theme:  the sheer energy and closeness to materials dwelling in the body, the sensitivity to small differences dwelling in the feelings, the organizational clarity and the critical capacity of the thought.

...Entering more deeply into the creative process, the artist begins to receive spontaneous gifts; signs and meanings suggest themselves "from nowhere" - forms previously unimagined, new themes or motifs that seem remarkably fertile.  The working faculties and the companion self have come to life, shedding seeds with abandon and generosity....A degree of spontaneous ability has made itself known, always a gift however one reaches for it.

  ~  Roger Lipsey, from the book

"An Artist's Book of Inspiration"

Compiled and Edited by Astrid Fitzgerald



Artwork courtesy of Adam Fergurson

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Angel Unaware

You’ve been an angel more times than you know.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  ~ Leo F. Buscaglia

Close in Heart

Let me explain why I call you an angel unaware, and why I believe that I get to be one now and then too.

Have you had someone call you just when you needed a friendly voice, had a stranger simply smile or say something kind when you’d had a hard day, or someone slow up to let you in front of them in traffic? Have you received an email that contained helpful information that you needed, a handwritten note, or caring message, that lifted you up? And then, perhaps it was you who made the call, or smiled, or sent the message.

I’m sure you can think of many kindnesses, and many ways they can arrive. Maybe you think of them as random acts of kindness, which is lovely, though I believe there’s more than that going on. It’s not random at all.

The reason I call you an angel is because one of the meanings of angel is divine messenger.

Informal angels are all around. Contact with them is always positive. Being this kind of angel is a casual position, on an as needed basis. Sometimes others are angels for us, and sometimes we get to be the angels; both are a gift, and a joy.

When you get to be the angel, you may not be consciously aware, especially at the time, that you’ve had this honor. You might notice on those occasions that you do find out how much what you did meant to another person, that it felt like you really did nothing extraordinary, in that it was effortless and done lightly, a spontaneous expression of the peace, joy, and love you were experiencing within.

When you’re feeling loved, you’re naturally loving, and in this state, you’re also in tune with the Divine. If you are the nearest tuned in person, to the one who needs the message, then you have the opportunity to deliver it. It’s that simple.

So tune in first, then heed those gentle promptings, make that call, say those kind words that just now came to mind, to your friend, or that someone you haven’t been introduced to. Being in tune with the Divine is a wonderful place to be anyway, and then too, you have the delightful privilege of being available to be an angel.

It’s a brilliant delivery system!

Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.  ~ Scottish saying

En Pointe

Thank you, thank you, to all you angels. Never underestimate those seemingly small acts of kindness; they really do make a positive difference. Please appreciate yourself, just as much as you appreciate each angel in your own life. ♥

~ Karen Casey-Smith 

Thank you to Karen Casey-Smith for sharing this beautiful post with our blog.

Karen's lovely photography can be found in her shop on Etsy.

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Healing With Gemstones - Getting to Know Aquamarine

Welcome to this month’s installment of Healing with Gemstones.  This month, we will take a look at the beautiful stone Aquamarine.

Aquamarine is an Astrological birthstone for Scorpio as well as the October birthstone in Arabic, Hebrew, Polish and Roman cultures.

Aquamarine Origin

Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin words “aqua” (water) and “marina” (of the sea).  It is from the beryl family (which included emeralds and morganite).  It ranges from a blue-green color to a pale blue.  The clear, almost colorless blue are the most sought after and valuable of the aquamarine stones.

Aquamarine stones are found in many places, such as Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar.  The most valuable aquamarine stones come from Brazil.

Aquamarine History

In Ancient Rome, an aquamarine was given as a gift from the groom to the bride the morning after the marriage was consummated.  It was  believed to absorb the energy of young love.  The Roman legend stated “When blessed and worn, it joins in love, and does great things.”  They would also carve a frog into the stone because they believed it would help reconcile relationships, and turn enemies into friends. 

Because its name was derived from the sea, it was often gifted to, and worn by, sailors, who believed it would help them traverse the deep waters safely.  Roman soldiers would also wear it in battle, as they believed it would make them invincible and bring them victory.

The Hebrew, Egyptian and Sumerian people all looked to the stone as a symbol of happiness and everlasting youth. 

In the late 14th Century, the stone was thought to be a good antidote to poison.  Since poisoning monarchs was a common practice in those days, many of them took to wearing aquamarine.  Unlike other times in the past, when the practice would be to crush and ingest a stone to get its full power, the belief was that just wearing this stone would be enough to protect you.

The Ancient Roman belief that the stone absorbed the energy of young love was carried through to the Middle Ages.  Married couples would gift the stone to each other to help them rekindle their earlier passions.

During this time, the stone was also used in crystal balls, as the clarity of the stone was thought to help with the clarity of vision.  Famous mystic John Dee used an aquamarine crystal ball to help Queen Elizabeth I look into the future and decide the perfect date for her coronation.  

A secondary divination method was used during this time as well.  A pointed stone would be suspended on a thread and held over a bowl of water, with the tip of the stone barely touching the water.  Inside the bowl, around the edge, there were letters of the alphabet.  Questions were asked, and, as the stone moved throughout the bowl from one letter to another, it would spell out the answers.  In that way, it acted as the ouija board of its time.

Ancient Healing Properties

According to ancient folklore, in addition to the beliefs already mentioned, aquamarine was also thought to assist in the treatment of yawning, belching, and in curing ailments to the stomach, liver, throat, jaws, and even toothaches.

Because its name is a connection to water and the sea, it was also used in rituals to either bring rain, or, for malevolent purposes, to help cause drought to your enemies.

As it was used often in divination, it is also thought to help people clear their perceptions and sharpen their intuition, as well as help them with their own clairvoyance.  This makes it a great stone for meditation.

Charging Your Aquamarine

If you are bringing an aquamarine crystal home for the first time, you will want to clean it of all the energy it had absorbed up to that point.  There are two ways to do this.  One would be to hold it under running water.  If there is a point on the stone, hold the point towards the running water.  Do this until you feel the energy change.  If you are unsure what that feels like, you can also soak it in sea salt for 24 hours, so that the salt has a chance to draw out the energy.

As it is a stone connected with the sea, you can also charge it by leaving it out in the rain for 6 hours, and let it heal and recharge naturally.

Once that is done, you should finish the charge by carrying or wearing the stone, so that it tunes to your personal energy.

Aquamarine Jewelry

Although it is not a stone that I use often, I do have a few pieces made with aquamarine. 

For lovers of bold, chunky pieces, I have this great piece made from faceted aquamarine rondelles and round amethyst:

Amethyst and Aquamarine Necklace

For those who love a cleaner, more delicate look, I also have a set made with aquamarine and cultured freshwater pearls:

Aquamarine and Pearl Set

I think you would agree with the philosopher Pliny, who was a fan of this stone.  He once said “The lovely aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid’s treasure house, in the depths of a summer sea, has charms not to be denied.”

Cleanse and Purify Your Stones

For information on how to cleanse your stones, see this  article published recently here on Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.


Thank you Giani!

You can read Giani's Tarot reviews in the Review section of this blog.

This is the first article in this wonderful series, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more

 in the upcoming months!  I thank Giani

 for his wonderful continued contributions to Mind Body Spirit Odyssey. 

The beautiful jewelry pictured above can be found in Giani's website and on CraftStar.

                                                                                  

 ~ diane

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