Sunday, July 25, 2021

Summer Solstice 2021 - Part 3

Santa Cruz Mountain chain along the coast of north-central California

Why do massive mountains and relatively small mountains usually look so similar in elevation?

This is one of those questions which one occasionally ponders over, but is afraid to ask! Often mountains which are over 4,000 feet in elevation appear--when gazing at their peaks--quite similar to smaller mountains of about 1,500 feet in elevation. The larger part of the answer is very simple. A person can forget that when looking at many huge mountains, they are already viewing them from a high elevation; whereas when viewing the small mountain peaks from sea level, they both may appear at about the same elevation in our perception.

The skyline of Denver, with stunning Rocky Mountain peaks in the background

A mile is 5,280 feet, therefore Denver, Colorado was built upon a mile high plateau. Lake Tahoe is at 6,234 feet elevation. The level of elevation in which a person views something will affect how something in the distance will appear. I live at about 500 feet elevation, and it does appear like a big drop when looking outward and down at sea level. The skyline of San Francisco appears small, although it's highest buildings are at higher elevation. The buildings themselves appear small at this distance and from this elevation. However, when looking at the skyline from about 1,000 feet (up on the trail beyond where I live), the buildings appear at least twice as large! The nearby peak of San Bruno Mountain is 1,319 feet elevation, taller than the tallest building in San Francisco (the Salesforce Tower is 1,070 feet).

Mt. Kilimanjaro in tropical central Africa

Mt. Kilimanjaro's peak is 19,341 feet elevation. That is nearly four miles high! However, from the above picture, it merely appears "big," and with a simple ice-domed landscape. This is also a false perception. The surrounding landscape must be at a high elevation as well. Although the mountain appears simple in it's landscape from that angle, when a person is walking upon it, 90% of the time they can't even see the surrounding countryside. They're so immersed in it's environment of ice and snow along the rolling hills of it's high plateau, that if a person were blindfolded and flown to the area and dropped off on top, they might think they're in Alaska. It's so massive that there's no possible way to correctly perceive it's dimensions and size by the above view from that distance. Even with small mountains, there could be small groves to trees all about them, but this would not be visible from a distance. It might only look like grass and shrub. Within those groves of trees, one could get the feeling that they're in a flatland forest for certain stretches.

*************************

QUOTE

“Your actions and your thoughts are dictating your future.”

-- Wes Watson

Wes Watson is an ex-con who has become something of a self-help guru for tough guys on YouTube. He uses more four letter words than Tony Montana. He even used one at the end of the above quote which I took off. This great concept is nothing new. I first heard it from Tony Robbins years ago, and many others have their own version of it. There's a such thing as quote-overload, but this one can be almost priceless.

*************************

QUOTE

"What we give to the poor is what we take with us when we die"

-- William Peter Blatty

Actually that quote was from the text of the novel 'The Exorcist'. I believe that it was based on a quote by Peter Maurin (1877-1949), who apparently was some type of French Cathloic socialist activist: "What we give to the poor for Christ's sake, is what we carry with us when we die." I don't believe it's all just so simple. I think there is a type of karmic merit and demerit. I once gave $25 to a donation for a little girl in NYC who had some type of muscle disease where she needed braces to walk, and was traveling to Poland for treatment. The electrical treatment was not yet licensed in the U.S. I donated this at a time when I would have had a good case in saying that I couldn't afford it. I suppose I received a karmic token for that.

*************************

Down 'n Dirty (2000) | Full Movie | Fred Williamson | Bubba Smith | Gary Busey

39,616 views - July 16, 2021

Films 4 You

Dakota Smith is an experienced policeman with a problem: his partner was shot dead, and corrupt cops are responsible. Dak's investigation leads him to widespread corruption in the department, as well as a corrupt district attorney. Smith finds an unlikely ally in timid photographer Nick Gleem. While Gleem unearths clues about the bad guys, Dak fends off attacks on his own life. While he's not in gun battles with these local villains, divorced father Dak has no shortage of lady friends to keep him happy.

Director: Fred Williamson
Writer: Aubrey K. Rattan
Starring: Fred Williamson, Bubba Smith, Gary Busey

************


An 83 year old action film star?

This is one of my fave "good" bad movies! This movie is puuure Fred "The Hammer" Williamson ego! A friend once told me after watching it: "It had no plot!" He's made well over a hundred films mostly outside of Hollywood, so he's only a household name in B-film circles, martial art fim circles, or in Europe. A legend in some circles, sort've like Mel Novak. Also, the film is stocked with veteran actors "his age" that he takes on, such as Tony LoBianco and Gary Busey. If you're 63, you can't be taking on anyone under 40 or so!

Also, cops--even detectives--never operate like lone-wolves such as is depicted here. It was almost as if he was just paid to walk and drive around, hang out, be cool, ask some questions, and have some skirmishes with some of those aged strawman bad guys. He didn't even use a standard issued police handgun, but carried a fancy Israeli-made 44 magnum "Desert Eagle" revolver. He has played this "Dakota Smith" character numerous times over the years. All in pure ego driven films where he wastes the bad guys and literally drives off on a motorcycles with the pretty girl at the end.

He's 83 years old now, and will begin filming yet another Dakota Smith film either later this year or early next year. He actually has, at his age, eight acting roles in films that he's going to start filming soon! This man literally believes that he is a living legend right along with Muhammad Ali. In fact, he has said that Ali got his ideas from him and his antics as football player. He went on one of those paranormal programs last year and told an account of when he was in Rome, that he had powerful flashback visions while walking by the Colosseum of him in a previous life as a gladiator. When it comes to ego films, I think he's got Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, and Sylvester Stallone beat. One thing that is true is that he was probably the first really famous "hard-hitting safety" in pro football.

ATOMIC EDEN (2021) David vs. Goliath Clip | Fred “The Hammer” Williamson Action Thriller Movie

************

44 Magnum Desert Eagle

Apparently this 44 magnum is so powerful that it can kill a 600 pound grizzly bear; presumably with a direct shot in a vital area. The above is a standard Desert Eagle, but there are different models; some rather fancy. The cost of a .50 caliber magnum is anywhere from $1,500 to $2,200, depending on the model.

The custom made one to the right with the light blue hexwave grip really caught my eye. Looking at this revolver, I wonder how and why so many home robbers even take the chance? If they broke in and say the owner had this in her hand, it's... over! It's too bad that Ted Bundy, Samuel Little, Gary Ridgway, Rodney Alcala, or Richard Ramirez didn't meet up with a 44 Magnum Desert Eagle.

***********************

Magic and Demons | John MacArthur | 1973

Timesless_teachings

John MacArthur of Grace Community church in Sun Valley California in 1973. Grace to You!

************

More from John MacArthur's soapbox

In the above audio from 1973, the Pastor John MacArthur really outdoes himself; everything is "The Devil." Below are a few other examples of the not-so-tolerant long-time Evangelical preacher from southern California.

Bewitched by False Doctrine

How to Pray in a Pagan World

The Damning Power of False Religion (John 5:1–16)

************

The Virgin Mary as the Goddess Diana

Aside from his denunciation, this is one area where basically Pastor MacArthur is factually correct.

Pastor John MacArthur: Exposing The Idolatry of Mary Worship p1o4

Pastor John MacArthur: Exposing The Idolatry of Mary Worship p2o4

Pastor John MacArthur: Exposing The Idolatry of Mary Worship p3o4

Pastor John MacArthur: Exposing The Idolatry of Mary Worship p4o4

************

The Pastor finally spilling the beans

Pastor MacArthur somewhat sarcastically criticizing the "progressive" Christian Charismatic Movement, while divulging what his believes is the answer for the world. In other words, if you just omit the words "Charismatic Movement," he is just simply confessing his dream for the world.

"If the Charismatic Movement was being produced by the Holy Spirit, the glory of Christ would prevail everywhere. It would be Christ dominated, and everyone in the movement would be bowing the knee to the true Christ in belief of the true Gospel. The people would be humble. They would be joyful. They would be sacrificial. They would be confessional. They would be declaring Jesus as Lord, and themselves his slaves."
-- Pastor John MacArthur, 'Testing the Spirits', 2013

Source: Testing the Spirits (John MacArthur) (Selected Scriptures)

************

Spiritual folk ways

We don't see ourselves as slaves to a cosmic dictator. Our deities are seen as a part of our family clan. Maybe a little bit like a parental figure in some cases.

The very worst type of religious dynamic is one where its fanatical followers live vicariously through their monotheistic god, and simply will not tolerate anyone who ignores them. Their collective-narcissistic ego is flexed through their god.

*************************

Olivia Newton-John - A Little More Love (1978)

1,352,775 views

retroj25

Promo video for Olivia's classic track from the 1978 album "Totally Hot".

This was one of three promo videos made for this song ... it is the rarest and I think the best !

Friday, July 16, 2021

Summer Solstice 2021 - Part 2 - Midsummer

'100 Years Ago in Photos: A Look Back at 1920'

Original caption, from May 29, 1920: "Bare legs and scanty one piece bathing suits were very much in evidence at the opening of Washington's municipal bathing beach today. Officials have agreed to disregard as precedents the prohibitory orders issued at Coney Island and Atlantic City."

*************************

Quotes

"everybody likes you when you're fake,
Nobody likes you when you're real". Bob Marley
-- Capital H healing : Noel

"Don't let other people's opinions distort your reality.

Be true to yourself.

Be bold in pursuing your dreams.

Be unapologetically you!"

-- Dr. Steve Maraboli

*************************

Occult Hollywood Unveiled / Open Lines

Date Friday - July 16 2021 Host Richard Syrett
Guests Robert W. Sullivan IV, Open Lines

Author and film researcher Robert Sullivan joins Richard Syrett (Twitter) to reveal Tinseltown's esoteric and dark secrets found in films like The Mummy (1932), The Witch (2015), Lolita (1962), Joker (2019), Dark City (1998), The Red Shoes (1948), Midsommar (2019), Eraserhead (1977), Pan's Labyrinth (2006), Suspiria (2018) Chris Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012), The Shape of Water (2017), and the vast mythology of Twin Peaks (1990-2017). From Gnosticism to Freemasonry, to black magic and Kabbalah, be prepared to have the veil lifted from your eyes. Followed by Open Lines.

Website(s):

robertwsullivaniv.com

Book(s):

************

I had wanted to post this days ago. However, it airs tonight. Even if you miss it, it's something to look into; Robert Sullivan's site, books, and just searching YouTube or other sites on the subject. My opinion is that it's very real. As I've written here before, according to legend, a magick wand is made from the wood of a holly tree... or "holly wood." Hollywood ranges from divulging very occultic knowledge of human history all the way to the most base infantile actions, such as actually putting highly sexualized imagery and messages into Disney films for children. In one of them, nude photographs were spliced in for only one frame so only the subconscious mind could see and process them. All-in-all, the Hollywood establishment has secret knowledge of, for example, the history of our solar system.. which I think is very different than the average person can even imagine. Even if I'm not a fan of the political actions of Freemasons or Kabbalists behind the scenes in virtually every choke point in our society, I still seek the knowledge that one can usually only get by joining with them and rising to their highest degrees. Even then it's no guarantee that they will divulge any of it. Apparently there's a spiritual code that they must live by in which they must inform "those who wish to know."

************

7-19-21 ADDITION: The Friday Coast program with Robert Sullivan can be found at the following link....

'Occult Hollywood Unveiled' (Coast to Coast AM; 7-16-21; Robert Sullivan)

I was actually trying to call in, as they were discussing Stanley Kubrick a lot. Kubrick's final film was 'Eyes Wide Shut', which he was not able to edit; however considering the film's theme, he died exactly 666 days before January 1, 2001. '2001: A Space Odyssey' was perhaps his biggest film. All of his films were ripe with deep symbolism. Also, I wanted to bring up the 911-symbolism on the cover of Supertramp's 'Breakfast in America' album in 1979; a mind-numbing coincidence if it was a coincidence.

*************************

Pondering 50 years: Early 70s music, films, etc.

It's hard to believe that music or films from the early 70s are already a half century old! 'Patton' (1970) is now over the half-century mark. 'The French Connection' (1971) is now fifty. 'Just An Old Fashioned Love Song' (1970) by Three Dog Night, over fifty. Unlike humans, who are children for their first twenty years, music and film define a certain time period in our own minds... so a full half century is very significant; 5% of the total amount of time "since the birth of Jesus" so to speak.

Much to the dismay of many 60s idealists, everything from the 60s is over fifty years ago. 'Suspicious Minds' (1969) by Elvis is well over fifty. '2001: A Space Odyssey' and the original 'Planet of the Apes are both well over fifty; and of course, the Moon landing was over fifty years ago. While the music and films will live on, the time period tends to slip away. On the other hand, films can bring back time periods! For me, looking at this personally, the death of my mother was absolutely the end of an era!

A wise man once said to me that technology (or political technocracy) can ruin us. He argued that once we had automobiles, radio, TV, telephones, and airplanes... that this was all we needed while still maintaining being somewhat down-to-earth. I think that's more-or-less true. If everything from just prior to the advent of the internet and cell phones had not occurred, someone who grew up with them wouldn't even know the difference. All I can say is that before my mother got the MRSA staff infection, after which she began a slow decline, she could really get around. We could go into Home Depot and she would just walk the isles fluidly like a much younger person. She had no qualms about speaking to young people, a trait that many her age shy away from a bit. I think that's a good clue on how to live life. Just try to make the most of every day.

*************************

'Scotland: Hunting the Green Men of Rosslyn Chapel'

A Bad Witches Blog - August 9, 2018

I've long been fascinated by the image of the Green Man - a head surrounded by leaves and often with foliage emerging from the mouth. He seems like a spirit of nature or a Pagan god of all things growing, yet he appears most often in Medieval churches.

There are more than 100 Green Men in Rosslyn Chapel, which I visited while on holiday in Scotland last week.

The Green Man's origins are a puzzle. You can find the face of the Green Man in many churches in the UK, including Salisbury Cathedral as well as Rosslyn Chapel.

Why were Christians so keen on a symbol that doesn't seem to have much to do with Christianity? Sure, Medieval churches also have plenty of carvings of ordinary people going about their daily lives. They also have gargoyles and grotesques of demonic creatures. But the Green Man is neither of these.

con't....

************

Rosslyn Chapel (Wikipedia)

Green Man (Wikipedia)

The Green Man of Rosslyn Chapel

************

Rosslyn Chapel - Secrets of the Templars

110,547 views - October 1, 2016

Philip Dean

The legend of Rosslyn Chapel, located about seven miles from the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, helped to inspire a best selling novel and a block buster movie called The Da Vinci Code. The publicity led to a rebirth of sorts and helped pay for a major restoration that's brought the chapel back to what it looked like when it was built in the mid 1400's. Could it be the final resting place of the Holy Grail? What was the connection to the Knights Templar?

************

Jacques de Molay

Again, weren't the Knights Templar Christian? Why the interest then in the pagan Green man? Just for decor? To acknowledge regional folklore? Also, why are there griffins and gargoyles on the front and tops of Cathedrals such as Notre Dame? Aren't they sort've devilish-looking? This was a Medieval culture which had no tolerance for anything pagan or any idols, and burned heretics at the stake. Seems so strange if you think about it.

What history has known as the Scottish Sinclair family was actually the powerful Saint-Clair Templar family from France who escaped to Scotland during the persecution of the Knights Templar by King Philip of France and the Catholic Church. The head of the Templars, Jacques de Molay was burned at the stake, and apparently as he was burning he cursed them with revenge, and that may have been the origin of the rift between the Catholic Church and the Knights Templars (later known as the Freemasons).

Back then, as it is now, the Church's business was banking. After the Templars returned from the near east, legend has it that they uncovered ancient knowledge which helped them set up their own banking empire. First they got into shipping, and became incredibly wealthy almost overnight. The King was up to his eyeballs in debt to them, and the Church wanted to get rid of their main banking rival. They got to them before they became too powerful, as they were expanding to other countries. Scottish Rite Freemasonry is the direct heir to the Knights Templars.

De Moley was burned on a "Friday the 13," which is why this day is considered bad luck to many. Since the number 13 was a sacred number to the Templars, I think that King Philip and the Catholic Church had a definite point to make. Basically it was a gangland thing between two powerful factions. Even though the confessions were forced due to torture, and of course what could be a worse way to go than being burned. Still, I know other stunningly evil things that the other side has done as well that I would rather not go into now.

Temple of the Supreme Council

33rd degree Freemasonry

Washington D.C.

Isn't it so strange that with all the strife that there is in this country, these people of staggering power have absolutely nothing to say about it?

De Molay Youth organization

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was a De Molay Youth. A Freemason once insisted to me that Clinton was not a Freemason, and since there doesn't seem to be any absolute proof that he was, there was nothing further to say. 80% of Masons do not go beyond the first three degrees.

Two men riding on the same horse

A well known Masonic symbol. All I know for certain is that George Washington himself penned letters expressing his concern about the new Illuminated Freemasonry that had taken root in Switzerland and was spreading throughout Europe.

*************************

Just An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night (lyrics) HD

Eric Faw

"An Old Fashioned Love Song" is a 1971 song written by Paul Williams and performed by the American pop-rock band Three Dog Night. Chuck Negron performed the lead vocal on this track. Taken as the lead single from their 1971 album, Harmony, the song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1971, becoming the band's seventh top-ten hit. It was Three Dog Night's first record to top the U.S. easy listening chart. It reached number two in Canada. Its lyrics suggest the straightforward and melodic nature of the tune: Just an old fashioned love song / Comin' down in three part harmony / Just an old fashioned love song / One I'm sure they wrote for you and me. (Wikipedia)

Just an old fashioned love song
Playing on the radio
And wrapped around the music is the sound
Of someone promising they'll never go

You'll swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on and on
No need in bringing 'em back
'Cause they've never really gone

******

'Just An Old Fashioned Love Song'

Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony

To weave our dreams upon and listen
To each evening when the lights are low
To underscore our love affair with tenderness
And feeling that we've come to know

You'll swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on and on
No need in bringing 'em back
'Cause they've never really gone

Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me

To weave our dreams upon and listen to a song
Just an old song coming down
Just an old song
What I'm sure they wrote for you and me

Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me

******

Music in this video
Song: An Old Fashioned Love Song (Album Version)
Artist: Three Dog Night
Writer: Paul Williams

*************************

Full Buck Moon

The evening of Friday, July 23rd (or the early morning of Saturday July 24th)

July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month’s Moon was the Full Hay Moon.

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

'The Many Faces of the Occult'

The Many Faces of the Occult

180,823 views - December 23, 2019

The Atlantic

An intimate glimpse into a diverse community of witches, druids, wizards, sacred drummers, and Christo-pagans. Read more: https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/604084/pagans/

"Pagans" was directed by Iqbal Ahmed (https://www.iqbalahmed.com). It is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries from independent creators, curated by The Atlantic.

Subscribe to The Atlantic on YouTube: http://bit.ly/subAtlanticYT

************

"Witchcraft is in my blood line I can’t leave it alone I love it"
-- Elissandra Weidermann

Thursday, June 24, 2021

2021 Full Strawberry Supermoon tonight

It's been a very difficult 17 days since losing my mother. I just felt compelled to post this late, since this Supermoon will occur in just a couple of hours as far as seeing it in the night sky. This will be the last Supermoon of this year. It's also known a a Full Mead Moon, an equally energetic name with meaning. Also a Full Rose Moon and a Full Hot Moon.

************

'When Is The Next Full Moon?'

[FarmersAlmanac.com]

This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!

************

'The full Strawberry Moon, the last supermoon of 2021, rises tonight! Here’s what to expect'

*************************

UFO expert: This is the scary part | George Noory on Rob Schmitt Tonight

39,881 views - June 21, 2021

Newsmax TV

1.91M subscribers

Syndicated radio host and extraterrestrial expert George Noory speaks to Newsmax about the Senate report which is set to be released in the coming days, and what the nation could possibly learn about life outside of Earth. - via Rob Schmitt Tonight, weeknights at 10PM ET on Newsmax

************

George Noory's Newsmax Interview on UFOs

June 22, 2021

George Noory recently appeared on Newsmax's Rob Schmitt Tonight talking about the Senate report on UFOs which is set to be released in the coming days, and what the nation could possibly learn about life outside of Earth.

*************************

Comely Canadian actress Stefany Mathias

49 year old Native American from British Columbia, daughter of the late Chief Joe Mathias

*************************

Police called to summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge due to Covid rules

10,960 views - June 21, 2021

Evening Standard

Subscribe to the Evening Standard on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RQ...

English Heritage pulled a live feed of the summer solstice sunrise at Stonehenge after people disregarded advice not to travel to the site.

The organisation said safety reasons were behind the lack of an available live feed of the neolithic Wiltshire monument at sunrise at 4.52am.

Video from the scene showed around a hundred people inside the stone circle and a banner reading “Standing for Stonehenge”.

Thousands of people tuned in to English Heritage’s Facebook and YouTube pages for the solstice and saw pre-recorded footage of the stones.

Read more: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/summer-solstice-stonehenge-police-called-b941655.html

************

'Video: Revelers Defy Stonehenge Shutdown, Storm Site for Solstice

Tim Binnall - CoastToCoastAM.com - June 22, 2021

Dozens of individuals wishing to celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge stormed the ancient monument in defiance of the site's caretakers, who had closed the iconic location to visitors to help thwart the spread of the coronavirus. For the second year in a row, the annual June celebration had been cancelled by World Heritage, the organization that oversees the historic location, because of concerns regarding the pandemic. However, around 100 to 200 people apparently would not be denied as, shortly before 5 AM on Monday morning, revelers reportedly began arriving at the outskirts of the famed standing stones on the Salisbury Plain in England.

A small metal fence surrounding the site was no match for the throngs of people, who quickly scrambled over the barrier to find a place within the monolith for the forthcoming sunrise. The subsequent gathering had something of a circus-like atmosphere as costume-clad individuals played drums and a 'Standing with Stonehenge' banner was unfurled. The chaotic scene proved to be too much for World Heritage as they actually wound up cutting their livestream of the solstice just minutes before it occurred. Disappointed viewers around the world who had hoped to see the sunrise at Stonehenge were, instead, treated to a pre-recorded video of the monument and, by the time the feed resumed, the big moment had sadly passed.

As for the people who stormed Stonehenge, they were met by cadre of police officers who did their best to disperse the group and, presumably, protect the monument from any ne'er-do-wells. Fortunately such miscreants seemed to be few and far between as, to their credit, the unauthorized visitors to the site were largely peaceful individuals simply celebrating the solstice and so officers mostly just milled around the area keeping an eye on things. That said, cops did arrest one particularly jubilant woman for public intoxication, which is a rather remarkable feat on her part considering that the incident unfolded at five o'clock in the morning.

*************************

The Red Tree House

Vincent van Gogh

************

You can almost feel the warmth if you imagine maybe when you were a child, walking along a path behind some fencing amid an open prairie.

*************************

B.J. Thomas (I Just Can't Help Believin')

37,969 views - July 15, 2017

L.A'S CLASSICS

1.73K subscribers

Here's B.J. Thomas with ( I Just Can't Help Believin'). A true Stereo Mix. Taken from the original first Generation Stereo Master Tape.

Monday, June 7, 2021

My mother passed away today

'I Was Young Once'

by Bida (AllPoetry.com)

Once upon a time
I was but a kid
After other things
In the games hid

Once upon a time
I was but a teen
To me the life
Seemed ever green

Once upon a time
I was in my youth
Each opportunity was
Of the heights booth

Once upon a time
Was a man young
Songs of romance
Were by me sung

Of teen and youth
Now gone are days
Each age has beauty
My heart now says

************

So often people have said over the ages: "There wasn't enough time." I think that's true, but also we just wish there could be more time. Somewhere I heard, I don't remember where, that "if life was fair, mother's would last forever." Only two months ago, there she was sitting out on that deck behind her home, beyond the six-foot fence along the steep hillside, which is directly connected to the northern Santa Cruz Mountains. There was a little heat wave here, it was probably about 75 degrees, still, sunny, no clouds, a perfect morning. She was sipping a small glass of Lamarca wine and speaking to me. She was healthy in mind and body, although a serious health issue had arisen recently, but more of a long-term problem. That was her final day in the sun, literally and figuratively speaking, and now she's gone from this world... at least for this incarnation. She didn't suffer for long. Many languish for years in her state of the past weeks. She is free, but I will especially miss all of the laughs we had together.

She was indeed young and beautiful once, growing up in the rural Midwest, relatively poor but happy. Of course, being my mother, we are part of the same "soul group family." Although apparently roles change from life to life, I wish she could be my mother many, many times again. I couldn't have asked for a better mom. Now I have lost my mother Janet, my older sister Katherine, and my fiance Rachel. I guess they make something of a perfect spiritual trifecta for me. I wish they all could be here still, but this was what fate gave me. Maybe next time it will go better, happier, and a lot longer. In that instance, I would also have my father as well, and there would have been children and all the rest of it in this daydream. It could have gone very differently for us.

Novelist and TV personality Brad Meltzer--known for his knowledge of ancient codes, the occult, legends, and folklore--when asked about "the end of the world" within religions, legends, and folklore... started out by saying that when his mother passed away, it was "the end of the world for him," or felt like it. During my nightly exercising during these difficult last weeks, I saw the cherry blossoms blooming in the area. Even in the dim light I could make out the pink coloring, emerging in a thick pink mass on the trees. I remember from the film 'The Last Samurai', two scenes about cherry blossoms; in particular, "the perfect cherry blossom." One of her best friends was Japanese.

"The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life," Katsumoto said. Near the end of the film, dying, he saw a beautiful cherry blossom tree in full bloom amid the carnage of the battle. "Perfect. They... are all... perfect..." he finally stated. On the hallway outside of my mother's room was hanging a small painting of a cherry blossom tree. The painting depicted the tree in the dark of night, with trees and hills in the background... much like the ones I saw on those nights.

At the end of the film, the Emperor asked Captain Algren in regards to Katsumoto: "How did he die?" Algren responded: "I will tell you have he lived." The Emperor also said during that scene: "We cannot forget who we are, or where we came from." In the bylaws of profession sports, there's what they call a "franchise player," where a team can declare a player or two to be off-limits to be signed and taken away from the team. Life and fate, of course, offer no such thing. Perhaps it was still dark out when she passed, in an unpleasant building of strangers; however the light from the gentle spirits of her family on the other side swooped down to claim their own.

Birth.... Life.... Death and to a New Arising....

~She is now the morning and the spring~

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

The Roman Ritual, the dark side of life, & the redemption of spirit

During this challenging time in my life, being largely busy during the days, I find myself walking for about an hour and 20 minutes in an old industrial park at night. Sometimes it's late, and beyond the lights along those very wide outer streets, I can see the absolute blackness of the mountains and sky... probably appearing more so due to the mild glare of these lights on my eyes. These street lamps are maybe about thirty yards apart, but illuminate the streets fairly well. If they suddenly shut off, the area would be in near blackness with just a few lights emanating from the mostly very old one-story industrial structures; constructed from a time when materials would be brought in by train, as up until about fifteen years ago there were train tracks zig-zagging through the area. There's still the old tunnel which connected the these tracks to the rail line which is still over there and operational. Somehow these streets have a dated look to them, despite being well-maintained. However, there's a certain ominous look to that outer blackness from my current perspective.

Probably due to certain health problems in recent years, my mother has unexpectedly been befallen by something called 'rapidly progressive dementia'. Two months ago during a small heat wave here, she was sipping on a little glass of Lamarca wine on her deck along the hillside behind her home. She was fine at that point. In just weeks, she regressed mentally, and I kept thinking it was temporary. The condition moved so quickly that she was unable to take care of herself, and she just kept regressing, to the point of not always remembering me. It took about seven weeks from her sitting in the sun contently, and talking on that deck, to being taken to a assisted living facility. Yes, that quickly!

Strictly by chance, while walking those streets and listening to YouTube audio on my iPod, I have listened to just whatever the order of programs I downloaded onto it. There are 85 of them I racall; some long and some short. The past couple of weeks I was listening to many hours of old episodes of the 'Opie & Anthony' radio program, most of them with Joe Rogan. As I walked along the empty streets, although there is always at least some activity going on, I didn't think of them as ten or fifteen years old programs, but I somehow imagined them as current. I visualized the traffic or work days in NYC, Chicago, LA, or anywhere else where the popular radio program was aired, as I listened to the wild humorous conversations, filled with unexpected dialogue and opinions. It helped me get my mind off of things, and I even laughed some.

However, again strictly by the chance of how these programs were ordered, I began listening to the audiobook of the 1971 novel 'The Exorcist' by the late author William Peter Blatty, a Maronite Catholic from NYC. The book is very similar to the film, except it goes deeply into the internal psychological struggle of the protagonist Damien Karras, a young Greek-American Jesuit Priest. Despite being extremely open-minded and considering all remotely rational explanations, he struggled to comprehend the evil he was involved in. I don't even know exactly how far into the book I am now, but the early heated confrontations between the very learned Jesuit Priest and the ancient Sumerian demon Pazuzu have already occurred. Must of the book has revolved around the progression of the deep psychological struggle of the main protagonist.

The novel would be a bit tedious if not for me having such brisk and long walks trying to get my mind of off things. In this instance, it's actually relaxing for the most part. Still however, the ominous nature of the peril which has befallen my mother, and the ominous darkness of the terrain there (under the circumstances), makes the experience somewhat eerie as well. The streets being so empty and dark at that time--outside of an occasional truck, car, or loud noise from one of the distant loading docks--I sometimes see something dark move, or a light flash, that's mostly just a trick of light and shadow as I move along the streets. I do sometimes see a coyote or raccoon moving in the distance. In my current state of mind however, listening to the malignant Pazuzu speak--both deeply intellectually and with great malice--while walking in that location, is a legitimate reason to border on certain hallucinations. For the most part, the novel is relaxing, but this is not an experience that I would have expected or planned.

If there is any conflation between the novel and my mother's current misfortune, it's with me only. I mean, I could attach metaphors to it, I just choose not to except for the character of myself perhaps. So one could say that there's an eerie parallel in that way. Of course, the pandemic adds yet another ominous dimension to the current state of things here. Yesterday at 10:45 AM I arrived at the entrance of the barely par care facility, which officially opens at 11 AM. Usually there's a certain protocol for just entering, however the glass door was just wide open as the weather was probably close to 70 degrees at that point. I just walked in and made my way to her second story room. Being that the structure was once a sanitarium, the path up or down are not stairways but long ramps. It was very quiet, with only an occasional sound of activity.

As I got to the room, the door was open wide, my mother was on the bed, undressed on her stomach, half asleep, and largely unresponsive. Maybe she was to be bathed soon, I don't know. There were random visitors in the hallways as she just lay there with the door open. Even beyond that, some of the care workers are male, and they probably wouldn't even understand her if she could speak. That she would be in this situation, I know to her, would have been unfathomable only a short time ago. However, her body may be alive, but she's basically gone now, cared for by strangers who never knew her. A victim of a sudden horrific condition. Gone is any real communication, thought, or interests, and certainly none of the good energy and sense of humor that I remember so well; just a shell of her former self. Mentally, at least she isn't aware of her degradation as a person. At one point she looked up at me, and as her blue eyes focused slightly, I wanted to believe that she recognized me. She did speak to me on the previous visit a little, holding my hand, and asking if I would be back to visit her... and waving goodbye. That may have been, for all practical reasoning, her final goodbye.

As I listened to the audiobook yesterday evening, mentioned somewhat prominently was a text entitled 'The Roman Ritual', a very old writing which over the centuries has had many volumes added to it. "The Roman Ritual (Latin: Rituale Romanum) is one of the official ritual works of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. It contains all of the services which may be performed by a priest or deacon which are not contained within either the 'Missale Romanum' or the 'Breviarium Romanum'. The book also contains some of the rites which are contained in only one of these books for convenience." Apparently unusual rites such as exorcisms are only a part of these volumes. Curiously, the Milanese Rite of our culture from Lombardia has a similar ritual. The Ambrosian Rite has its own ritual (Rituale Ambrosianum, published by Giacomo Agnelli at the Archiepiscopal Press, Milan). Again, any parallels between our situation here and lets just say the audiobook is just with me and my own mental state; however, this is indeed my own real life horror. I suppose her death would be easier to accept.

I noticed last night a "Moon-Mars-Venus trifecta" in the sky. The moon had the slight appearance of a half-moon at about 75% fullness. Close over to its left side was Venus, and up aways over to it's right side was Mars... from my perspective. Perhaps the Moon was my mother, Venus was my late sister Katherine, and I was Mars; as the Moon and Venus were so close together in the sky. When my mother finally passes away in body, she will be reborn again in spirit, such as when she was the little girl with red-brown hair walking though the horse pastures back in Gogebic County. Her name, Janet, originates from "Little Joan" (also Jane or Jeanne) in Scottish, with the Italian equivalent being Gianetta... meaning "God is Gracious." There is always a plan..

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain." -- Rev 21:4

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Summer Solstice 2021 - Elysium & Blood Red Supermoon!

Elysium

Elysium or the Elysian Fields is a conception of the afterlife that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philosophical sects and cults. Initially separate from the realm of Hades, admission was reserved for mortals related to the gods and other heroes. Later, it expanded to include those chosen by the gods, the righteous, and the heroic, where they would remain after death, to live a blessed and happy life, and indulging in whatever employment they had enjoyed in life.

The Elysian Fields were, according to Homer, located on the western edge of the Earth by the stream of Okeanos. In the time of the Greek poet Hesiod, Elysium would also be known as the "Fortunate Isles", or the "Isles (or Islands) of the Blessed", located in the western ocean at the end of the earth. The Isles of the Blessed would be reduced to a single island by the Theban poet Pindar, describing it as having shady parks, with residents indulging in athletic and musical pastimes.

The ruler of Elysium varies from author to author: Pindar and Hesiod name Cronus as the ruler,[9] while the poet Homer in the Odyssey describes fair-haired Rhadamanthus dwelling there. "The Isle of the Blessed" is also featured in the 2nd Century comedic novel "True Story" by Lucian of Samosata.

Classical literature

In Homer's Odyssey, Elysium is described as a paradise:

"...to the Elysian plain...where life is easiest for men. No snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain, but ever does Ocean send up blasts of the shrill-blowing West Wind that they may give cooling to men."
-- Homer, Odyssey (4.560–565)

************

"Fratres! (fraternal brothers) Three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so. Hold the line. Stay with me. If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled; for you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"

-- Maximus Decimus Meridius, 'Gladiator'

************

'Gladiator' & 'The Last Samurai'

Recently on the Paramount channel I believe, on a few evenings there was a double-feature of these two films. One of the things that occurred to me about 'Gladiator'--a film with so many profound quotes--was the demoting of Maximus from a general who issued epic quotes such as "Strength and Honor" and "Brothers, what we do in life, echoes in eternity" in support of what he believed in: The Roman Empire.... to a slave forced to fight and risk death or maiming for the mere entertainment of others; Maximus after throwing the sword at the elites in the luxury box: "Are you not entertained!?"

Proximo's somewhat less-than-awe-inspiring quote to rally his gladiators during training put an exclamation point on that demotion: "Ultimately, we're all dead men. Sadly, we cannot choose how but, what we can decide is how we meet that end, in order that we are remembered, as men." Maximus' later quote in Rome's Colosseum was almost like a belated response to Proximo. Maximus: "Marcus Aurelius had a dream that was Rome, Proximo. This is not it! This is not it!" Just like the Samurai, Maximus was not afraid of death nearly as much as dishonor. The heroic ethic is long gone from this world, replaced by capitalism, communism, materialism, attention seeking, pleasure seeking, greed, self-worship, self-interest, rootless universalism, and baseless overt sex and violence.

Katsumoto: "The way of the Samurai is not necessary anymore"

Nathan Algren "Necessary? What could be more necessary?"

-- 'The Last Samurai'

' Jules Brunet, The Military Officer Behind The True Story Of ‘The Last Samurai’ '

*************************

Summer Solstice 2021

Most often the 21st of June is considered the first day of summer. The celebration occurs between June 19th to the 23rd.

'Sing the Song of the Apple Tree'

Come lay beneath my leafy boughs

At this verdant time

When nature is so lush and bright

Flourishing in her prime

The land is warming rapidly

And summer is on its way

There is a magic in the air

The shimmering touch of fay!

************

Planets Visible

Morning: Jupiter & Saturn

Evening: Venus from mid-month & Mars

************

The time to celebrate the Life Force, fertility and creative energy in all its manifestations. It is the time of the maximum expansionist energy of the waxing years before the Sun reaches fullness at the Summer Solstice. Celebrate natural growth and fertility by the wearing of the green, reverencing well and springs, staying up all night to jump the fires and to welcome the dawn.

*************************

Blood Red Supermoon

A Full Flower Moon will occur on the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 26... or in other words: "Tuesday night" the 25th. It will be just as full the next evening.

Lunar Eclipse

This Supermoon will occur in the AM hours and will max out at 4:18 AM pacific time. So this is will be a Full Blood Red Flower Supermoon!

There was an Eta Aquarids Meteor shower on the 6th and 7th, but if you focus on one area on a clear evening you can always see them.

*************************

DARK SIDE OF FOOTBALL (Series Trailer)

April 16, 2021

VICE TV

1.74M subscribers

DARK SIDE OF FOOTBALL explores the tension between America’s undying love of the game, and its ability to corrupt and damage those who live and die for it.

DARK SIDE OF FOOTBALL premieres May 13 on VICE TV.

con't....

************

This should be interesting. It premieres tomorrow evening; Thursday, May 13 on Vice (271 on DirecTV).

New episodes of 'Dark Side of the Ring' premiered on Thursday, May 6. 'A Haunting' is now airing new episodes on Tuesday evenings on the Travel Channel.

*************************

Tattoo'd text on Canello Alvarez's shoulder

The famous boxer had a tat put on his left shoulder in the form of a block of text:

“Destiny is not a matter of chance It's a matter of choice Life is hard but never give up Keep on fighting & always believe in yourself to achieve your Dreams.”

'Canelo Alvarez’s Tattoos: What Do They Mean?'

*************************

Whitesnake - Is This Love

21,448,291 views

kopit

Music Video Of Whitesnake - Is this love