femme fatales

I recently came across an article on vintage Valentine postcards that featured nasty anti suffrage beliefs of those times.

Being anti suffrage, it meant mostly nasty remarks against females. Declared mostly from the male perspective, of course.

Glorified goddess or deified demon? Angel or temptress? Wife or whore? How the world defines its women throughout the ages has not changed radically enough.

Hunter S. Thompson on our purpose in life

Discouraged and distressed over the current political climate and media coverage in our world today, I find solace in a letter of advice by 22 year old Hunter S. Thompson to his friend Hume Logan on finding your purpose.

Written in 1958, it is timelessly insightful, especially given that Thompson and the world had no idea then that he would become one of the most important writers of the 20th century - gonzo journalism godfather, pundit of media politics, dark philosopher. 

options | potential | possibility

I just finished reading "All Who Go Do Not Return" by Shulem Deen.

The book blurb reads: A moving and revealing exploration of Hasidic life and one man's 
struggles with faith, family, and community.

While it offers an intriguing peek into the secretive world of one of the most restrictive sects of the Hasidim, I was struck more by the parallels and similarities this world shared with our provincial equatorial hometown half a world away. 

when worlds collide

This February holds the distinct experience of celebrating several crucial occasions at the same time.

Starting with Valentine's Day on Feb 14, followed by the Aquarius New Moon of Feb 18, then Chinese New Year of the Wood Sheep on Feb 19 and finally the Hieros Gamos (sacred marriage of Venus/love and Mars/desire) in the heavens on Feb 20.

Thus it truly claims to be a time when worlds collide - the dawning of a new age.

making whoopee!

October 31 is Samhain or Halloween - also known as All Hallows Eve - the celebration of the end of the year and the beginning of the year's last season. Straddling the line between fall and winter, harvest and follow, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition.

Pagan or Christian, ancient or modern, young or old - the world over, we all come together to share and celebrate on this special day. As the wind grows chill and the days shorten, we bundle up around our hearths and get warm and cozy.

Preparations for the holidays are picking up all around - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and the New Year.

Apart from the scares and treats set to happen this Halloween, astrologers are saying that everyone should be aware of the increased possibility of challenges and obstacles getting in our way between Oct 21 and Nov 10 - when Mercury goes retrograde for the third and final time in 2013.

Do what you can to minimize ill effects and increase good luck whenever possible. Stay alert and aware - focusing on you and what is going on for and around you.

Be well all!

martyrs, mystics, monsters

"There is no way on the spiritual quest to avoid demonic forces. At the very least the seeker carries them within himself, in the form of his own passions and illusions. At various stages of the path, he must confront and deal with each of them in one way or another." - "Wrathful Deities" by Edwin Bernbaum, Parabola Magazine [Volume 6: Number 4]

The age old debate over fate and free will has wound from discussion to debacle between friend and foe. 

The overly righteous purport them self as idealist, believer or victim transforming mere mortal into maligned martyr.

The masses seek and elect their hero and assign mysterious mystical magic upon often too human a being.  

Such leaps of faith often disappoint at the least and at its worst lead to massive misfortune when monsters of their own creation break their molds.  

Rather must we each embrace our shadow self [the demon within] and acknowledge all of who we truly are.

The path to our enlightenment involves moving past our demons to honor our own divinity.

family - bonds, beliefs, baggage

new World Trade needle

While no one can discount the value of family - emotional models, belief patterns, relationship filters - can greatly influence the bonds we eventually form. As adults how clear, free and independent are we of our past and our patterns? Are we present to our needs, wants, and drives? More importantly, do we know what dictates and influences these needs, wants and drives? Are they really our own or are they merely a product of our upbringing and environment? Do we even question and explore these territories?