HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Haunted Virginia Nominated for 13th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards
My book, Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales was nominated for the nonfiction category for 13th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards! Got the letter from them yesterday to let me know.
WEIRD WEDNESDAY
To some this may not be weird, but this is an Egyptian house. Not your typical house you might live in.
Friday, December 25, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM PAMELA K. KINNEY
Dawn came in colors of red, green and gold,
The deer pranced out of hiding
While squirrels, rabbits and even a bear cub tumbled about,
Christmas had come once again.
Then a hush filled the glen,
As something wonderful stepped out
A Unicorn,
Its spiral horn of gold glinting in the sunlight.
Magic enveloped them in a thin bubble,
Glowing, sparkling, and incredible
Predator laid next to their prey,
All would be friends that special day.
Magic ruled them,
Calmed all with a gentle hand
Christmas swirled in their hearts,
Wondrous to behold.
The deer pranced out of hiding
While squirrels, rabbits and even a bear cub tumbled about,
Christmas had come once again.
Then a hush filled the glen,
As something wonderful stepped out
A Unicorn,
Its spiral horn of gold glinting in the sunlight.
Magic enveloped them in a thin bubble,
Glowing, sparkling, and incredible
Predator laid next to their prey,
All would be friends that special day.
Magic ruled them,
Calmed all with a gentle hand
Christmas swirled in their hearts,
Wondrous to behold.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas Can Be Scary--Krumpus
Christmas myths and legends are more than Santa Claus with his reindeer or eleves making toys in his workshop. It actually has a lot of scary stories attached to it. Ghost stories are told at this time of year, as often as at Halloween. Remember The Christmas Carol by Dickens? It is dark and scary, with ghosts in it. Other terrifying myths and legends are connected to the holiday also. After all, Christmas has its roots in pagan and Roman and Winter Solstice.
One of these scary myths is about Krampus. In many regions of the world, it is believed that St. Nicholas (another name for Santa Claus)had a companion that traveled with him. This creature was Krampus, though another like him was Black Peter, or Zarte Piet/Zwarte Piet. Black Peter is more a being associated with the Netherlands. Black Peter most likely due to Muslims--hence the dark skin.
But Krumpus, isn't like a man, dark or otherwise. He has horns, goat hair, claws, maybe even hooves--an incubus-like thing. He accompanies St. Nicholas during Christmas to warn and punish bad children, while St. Nicholas gives the good children gifts. Krumpus is sort of like black coal given to naughty kids, except coals can't scare you. Images of Krumpus have him carrying a basket on his back to carry away bad children and toss them into Hell itself.
The word, Krumpus, originates from the Old High german word for claw (Krampen).There is a tradition where young men dressed up in sheep skin, wooden masks amd horns. Much effort goes into the making of these hand-crafted masks. For the first two weeks, especially December 5th, these young men roam the streets, frightening children and women with rusty bells and chains. In more rural areas, some even carry out "birching", mostly on young girls.
Next time you cosy up on the couch before the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa and watch a Christmas movie like "A Christmas Story" remember to make sure the door and windows are locked tight and be sure to stay good. For Krumpus may come a-knocking at your door.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Four Questions Friday
Four Questions Friday is here. Time to answer the questions all about this time of year. And next Friday, there will be no Four Questions Friday, due to it being Christmas.
1. What was your most favorite Christmas memory?
2. What traditions do you follow? (Christmas, Pagan, Hanakkuh, Kwanza)
3. Do you think Christmas is too commercialized?
4. Who or what is your favorite Christmas character?
1. What was your most favorite Christmas memory?
2. What traditions do you follow? (Christmas, Pagan, Hanakkuh, Kwanza)
3. Do you think Christmas is too commercialized?
4. Who or what is your favorite Christmas character?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Four Questions Friday
Four Questions Friday. Do answer the questions.
1. Do you think ghosts freeze during the winter?
2. What is one thing you like to do with snow?
3. What is the one thing you hate doing with snow?
4. Have you ever tried to do a paranormal investigation during the winter time?
1. Do you think ghosts freeze during the winter?
2. What is one thing you like to do with snow?
3. What is the one thing you hate doing with snow?
4. Have you ever tried to do a paranormal investigation during the winter time?
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Blog Tour Stop for Danielle Rama Hoffman & Her Book, The Temples of Light
Today, I am honored to have author Danielle Rama Hoffman as she stops on her blog tour for her book, The Temples of Light. Welcome her, and check out about her book.
About The Temples of Light (summary):A guide to the open-heart wisdom and secret rites of passage of thirteen sacred temples in Egypt• Provides information on how to thrive as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age• Offers guided meditations and rituals that connect to the ancient power of the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar, the Ka, the energy body, and more• Includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey to the Sphinx and to The Temples of LightThe Temples of Light guides the reader, as the initiate, on a spiritual journey through thirteen of Egypt’s sacred temples--a journey into the sanctuary of the open heart. Each sacred site is a portal to ancient wisdom that can assist the modern-day pilgrim with everyday life issues and struggles--love, purpose, money, and health--and the deeper questions of enlightenment and our divine origin.Danielle Rama Hoffman opens up sacred rites of passage that historically have been kept secret to forge a relationship with the temples of Egypt as allies and spirit guides. For example, the temple of Sakkara is associated with abundance; the temple of Abydos with remembering. The initiations in this book awaken intuition and the Sahu--the fully realized self--allowing connections to the power, magic, and wisdom of such sacred symbols as the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar (the backbone of Osiris), the Ka, and the energy body. Hoffman’s guided meditations, rituals, and exercises also raise the reader’s vibration level, as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age. Embodying the wisdom of the open heart of these temples imparts a shift in consciousness from fear to bliss, from powerlessness to empowerment, opening the body, mind, and spirit to the infinite possibilities within. The book also includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey of the Sphinx.
Excerpt from Sakkara - Sacred Symbology - Your Birthright of Abundance:Sakkara, located some fifteen miles south of Cairo, is the necropolis, or burial ground, of Memphis. The temple complex of Sakkara is grand in scale, and its known use spans from early dynastic to Christian times.1 This necropolis, or “city of the dead,” is best known for being home to the oldest pyramid in Egypt, the Step Pyramid, believed to have been built for King Djoser by the architect Imhotep (see plate 3). More remains have withstood the test of time at Sakkara than at Memphis, including multiple pyramids in various states of ruin. One of particular interest is the underground burial chamber of Unas’s pyramid, where the earliest version of the Pyramid Texts was found. “The Pyramid Texts, the most ancient body of literature known, were inscribed on the walls of pyramids and pharaonic tombs during the fifth and sixth dynasties. . . . They were supplications to the gods that a man might achieve unity with the deities in heaven.”The Pyramid TextsVersions of the Pyramid Texts were included in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which Egyptians referred to as The Book of Coming forth by Day. Perhaps this reference to coming forth by day comes from the symbolic translation of the ancient Egyptian roots of the word pyramid. World renowned Egyptologist Emil Shaker explains it as follows: pr means “go forth,” mit means “road,” and ra is “the sun” or “light.” So the whole word can be interpreted as “go forth into the light.” Many of the utterances in the Pyramid Texts describe the process of the soul becoming the awakened Osiris. Shaker goes on to explain that one translation is “the flesh becomes the star.” The constellation of Orion represents Osiris—the human becomes the awakened Osiris.A common Egyptological interpretation of these texts is that they were part of the funerary rites and believed to aid the deceased in unifying with the Divine in Heaven. However, the initiatory aspect of these mystery school rites, as enacted by the living to attain enlightenment, has historically been kept secret. Jeremy Naydler, in Shamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts: The Mystical Tradition of Ancient Egypt, suspends the funerary presupposition of the texts and explores the phenomenological implication of the Pyramid Texts: “The aim is to allow, as far as possible, the texts to speak for themselves . . . the rituals themselves were designed to accompany and to promote certain experiences. It is in these inner experiences that the meaning of the texts resides.In the second journey of mystery school initiation at Sakkara, you will experience the Pyramid Texts as a rite of passage, one which symbolically represents your process of renewal, of becoming the awakened Osiris, of uniting with your divine self. This process of going toward the light, of moving from the dismembered self, or darkness, to light and unifying with the Divine describes the journey of enlightenment. This process of elevation, or ascension, also involves the descension of the constellation Orion/Osiris to become the divine human, for it is essential that the expansion occur in both directions. This spiral pathway of expansion is one of ascension and descension: as above, so below; as within, so without.You will receive the gift of symbology at Sakkara in the underground chamber of the pyramid of King Teti. The ceiling of this chamber is pyramid shaped, and hieroglyphs on the wall comprise the Pyramid Texts (see plates 4, 5, and 6). Five-pointed stars on the ceiling symbolically represent human beings; if you were to extend your arms up and your legs out, you would look like a five-pointed star. In this initiation you work with your pituitary gland, where the nectar of the Divine resides, as well as your spinal column, where the cerebrospinal fluid rises and falls in response to the heavenly and earthly flow of chi.The second initiation at Sakkara is an important step on the ladder of consciousness into the open heart because it awakens your subtle senses and enables you to understand the synchronicities and symbols of your life. This helps you to make decisions and utilize the intrinsic wisdom in your life, including the power of hieroglyphs and sacred geometry…Your life is overflowing with symbols, and as you awaken your gift of symbology you will be able to let your life be your message, following the guidance that is inherent in its textures, patterns, and symbols. Sakkara is the perfect place to awaken your gift of symbology because the oldest version of the Pyramid Texts was found there, and it was also the place where the ancient initiates came to lift the veils, to awaken psychic awareness.Drawing ExerciseDrawing the Pyramid TextsDraw or copy the Pyramid Texts over and over again to spark your awakening. Direct the energy from your heart to move down through your arm and hand to guide your pen. Breathe deeply during this process and allow your focus to be light, even dreamy, as you create a personal connection with the Pyramid Texts (refer back to plate 6 for a close-up image of Pyramid Text symbols).Sakkara is a very deep and rich temple complex, and it would be beneficial to repeat the initiations several times. Every time you work with Sakkara, you are able to tap in to a deeper level of connection and a different facet of the broad band of energy available here.
Danielle Rama Hoffman’s Bio: Danielle Rama Hoffman is a spiritual teacher, author, energy intuitive and ancient wisdom keeper. Her passion is to transmit innovative and ancient wisdoms that inspire personal growth and elevate consciousness. Her areas of expertise include moving into and living from the Aquarian age of the open heart, initiatory rites and passages from ancient Egypt and manifesting health, wealth and happiness.Danielle is a conduit of infinite intelligence and divine transmissions that create a quantum field ofinfinite possibility. Since 1994 she has shared her expertise in the areas of metaphysics, the healing arts, energy medicine, massage therapy, counseling and the Egyptian Mysteries to assist 1000’s of people to enhance their quality of life. Danielle provides high vibrational wisdom and cutting edge practical tools that uplift consciousness and inspire you to lead your best life.EDUCATION2001 Member of a Lineage of Thoth2000 Certified Alchemical Healing Practitioner/Teacher through Nicki Scully1999 Kundalini Yoga Instructor1998 Flower Remedy Practitioner1996 Reiki Master1994 Massage Therapist1991 BA in Psychology & Women’s Studies/Counseling Practice
We are extending the bonus offer for one more day -- Temples of Light by Danielle Rama Hoffman, is being offered, along with $3000 in bonus gifts, beginning on December 8th at 12:01 am. We invite you to visit - www.thetemplesoflight.com/promotion and then click on the “order” link, order the book on Amazon and return to the promotional page. Enter your name and email address to reach the bonus page. The bonuses are not available until December 8th.
About The Temples of Light (summary):A guide to the open-heart wisdom and secret rites of passage of thirteen sacred temples in Egypt• Provides information on how to thrive as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age• Offers guided meditations and rituals that connect to the ancient power of the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar, the Ka, the energy body, and more• Includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey to the Sphinx and to The Temples of LightThe Temples of Light guides the reader, as the initiate, on a spiritual journey through thirteen of Egypt’s sacred temples--a journey into the sanctuary of the open heart. Each sacred site is a portal to ancient wisdom that can assist the modern-day pilgrim with everyday life issues and struggles--love, purpose, money, and health--and the deeper questions of enlightenment and our divine origin.Danielle Rama Hoffman opens up sacred rites of passage that historically have been kept secret to forge a relationship with the temples of Egypt as allies and spirit guides. For example, the temple of Sakkara is associated with abundance; the temple of Abydos with remembering. The initiations in this book awaken intuition and the Sahu--the fully realized self--allowing connections to the power, magic, and wisdom of such sacred symbols as the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar (the backbone of Osiris), the Ka, and the energy body. Hoffman’s guided meditations, rituals, and exercises also raise the reader’s vibration level, as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age. Embodying the wisdom of the open heart of these temples imparts a shift in consciousness from fear to bliss, from powerlessness to empowerment, opening the body, mind, and spirit to the infinite possibilities within. The book also includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey of the Sphinx.
Excerpt from Sakkara - Sacred Symbology - Your Birthright of Abundance:Sakkara, located some fifteen miles south of Cairo, is the necropolis, or burial ground, of Memphis. The temple complex of Sakkara is grand in scale, and its known use spans from early dynastic to Christian times.1 This necropolis, or “city of the dead,” is best known for being home to the oldest pyramid in Egypt, the Step Pyramid, believed to have been built for King Djoser by the architect Imhotep (see plate 3). More remains have withstood the test of time at Sakkara than at Memphis, including multiple pyramids in various states of ruin. One of particular interest is the underground burial chamber of Unas’s pyramid, where the earliest version of the Pyramid Texts was found. “The Pyramid Texts, the most ancient body of literature known, were inscribed on the walls of pyramids and pharaonic tombs during the fifth and sixth dynasties. . . . They were supplications to the gods that a man might achieve unity with the deities in heaven.”The Pyramid TextsVersions of the Pyramid Texts were included in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which Egyptians referred to as The Book of Coming forth by Day. Perhaps this reference to coming forth by day comes from the symbolic translation of the ancient Egyptian roots of the word pyramid. World renowned Egyptologist Emil Shaker explains it as follows: pr means “go forth,” mit means “road,” and ra is “the sun” or “light.” So the whole word can be interpreted as “go forth into the light.” Many of the utterances in the Pyramid Texts describe the process of the soul becoming the awakened Osiris. Shaker goes on to explain that one translation is “the flesh becomes the star.” The constellation of Orion represents Osiris—the human becomes the awakened Osiris.A common Egyptological interpretation of these texts is that they were part of the funerary rites and believed to aid the deceased in unifying with the Divine in Heaven. However, the initiatory aspect of these mystery school rites, as enacted by the living to attain enlightenment, has historically been kept secret. Jeremy Naydler, in Shamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts: The Mystical Tradition of Ancient Egypt, suspends the funerary presupposition of the texts and explores the phenomenological implication of the Pyramid Texts: “The aim is to allow, as far as possible, the texts to speak for themselves . . . the rituals themselves were designed to accompany and to promote certain experiences. It is in these inner experiences that the meaning of the texts resides.In the second journey of mystery school initiation at Sakkara, you will experience the Pyramid Texts as a rite of passage, one which symbolically represents your process of renewal, of becoming the awakened Osiris, of uniting with your divine self. This process of going toward the light, of moving from the dismembered self, or darkness, to light and unifying with the Divine describes the journey of enlightenment. This process of elevation, or ascension, also involves the descension of the constellation Orion/Osiris to become the divine human, for it is essential that the expansion occur in both directions. This spiral pathway of expansion is one of ascension and descension: as above, so below; as within, so without.You will receive the gift of symbology at Sakkara in the underground chamber of the pyramid of King Teti. The ceiling of this chamber is pyramid shaped, and hieroglyphs on the wall comprise the Pyramid Texts (see plates 4, 5, and 6). Five-pointed stars on the ceiling symbolically represent human beings; if you were to extend your arms up and your legs out, you would look like a five-pointed star. In this initiation you work with your pituitary gland, where the nectar of the Divine resides, as well as your spinal column, where the cerebrospinal fluid rises and falls in response to the heavenly and earthly flow of chi.The second initiation at Sakkara is an important step on the ladder of consciousness into the open heart because it awakens your subtle senses and enables you to understand the synchronicities and symbols of your life. This helps you to make decisions and utilize the intrinsic wisdom in your life, including the power of hieroglyphs and sacred geometry…Your life is overflowing with symbols, and as you awaken your gift of symbology you will be able to let your life be your message, following the guidance that is inherent in its textures, patterns, and symbols. Sakkara is the perfect place to awaken your gift of symbology because the oldest version of the Pyramid Texts was found there, and it was also the place where the ancient initiates came to lift the veils, to awaken psychic awareness.Drawing ExerciseDrawing the Pyramid TextsDraw or copy the Pyramid Texts over and over again to spark your awakening. Direct the energy from your heart to move down through your arm and hand to guide your pen. Breathe deeply during this process and allow your focus to be light, even dreamy, as you create a personal connection with the Pyramid Texts (refer back to plate 6 for a close-up image of Pyramid Text symbols).Sakkara is a very deep and rich temple complex, and it would be beneficial to repeat the initiations several times. Every time you work with Sakkara, you are able to tap in to a deeper level of connection and a different facet of the broad band of energy available here.
Danielle Rama Hoffman’s Bio: Danielle Rama Hoffman is a spiritual teacher, author, energy intuitive and ancient wisdom keeper. Her passion is to transmit innovative and ancient wisdoms that inspire personal growth and elevate consciousness. Her areas of expertise include moving into and living from the Aquarian age of the open heart, initiatory rites and passages from ancient Egypt and manifesting health, wealth and happiness.Danielle is a conduit of infinite intelligence and divine transmissions that create a quantum field ofinfinite possibility. Since 1994 she has shared her expertise in the areas of metaphysics, the healing arts, energy medicine, massage therapy, counseling and the Egyptian Mysteries to assist 1000’s of people to enhance their quality of life. Danielle provides high vibrational wisdom and cutting edge practical tools that uplift consciousness and inspire you to lead your best life.EDUCATION2001 Member of a Lineage of Thoth2000 Certified Alchemical Healing Practitioner/Teacher through Nicki Scully1999 Kundalini Yoga Instructor1998 Flower Remedy Practitioner1996 Reiki Master1994 Massage Therapist1991 BA in Psychology & Women’s Studies/Counseling Practice
We are extending the bonus offer for one more day -- Temples of Light by Danielle Rama Hoffman, is being offered, along with $3000 in bonus gifts, beginning on December 8th at 12:01 am. We invite you to visit - www.thetemplesoflight.com/promotion and then click on the “order” link, order the book on Amazon and return to the promotional page. Enter your name and email address to reach the bonus page. The bonuses are not available until December 8th.
Weird Wednesday
Since I am a Star Wars fan, I think this is kinda weird for a Christmas picture. I mean, the dark Lord and ho, ho, ho?
Friday, December 04, 2009
FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY
Four Questions Friday is here! Time to answer the questions.
1. They're threatening snow here in Virginia: do you like snow?
2. Would you like to see snow for Christmas?
3. Have you ever made a snowman?
4. Your most favorite thing to do with snow is_________?
1. They're threatening snow here in Virginia: do you like snow?
2. Would you like to see snow for Christmas?
3. Have you ever made a snowman?
4. Your most favorite thing to do with snow is_________?
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Weird Wednesday
Today's Weird Wednesday picture starts the Christmas season with a bizarre Christmas decoration. Someone took a skull of a cow or maybe even a camel, and did something strange. What do you think?
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Obsession With NaNoWritMo
Well, it's done and over with. No, not Thanksgiving!
I am talking about Nanowritmo. What is it? It's where many people hopefully write a minimum of 55,000 words for a novel, durng November.
Mine was not the original one I started (but will finish this month), but another, an erotic urban fantasy.It has a title: Obsession. Whether, if accepted anywhere, it keeps that title, is another thing. It's dark and erotic, and has a werewolf hero and a human heroine. It has a werewolf villianess and a human villian. And the hero is obsessed with the heroine--hence the title. Due to the erotic content it will be by my pseudonym, Sapphire Phelan.
I mentioned to another author the other day, asking why Nanowrit is during November. At the end of the month is Thanksgiving and the approach of Christmas shopping--unfortunate real world things that can block a writer from her/his appointed goal. The first year I did this I finished. After that, I had manuscripts due, making it hard. The holidays didn't help, either. But this year, I finished beyond my expectations.
Now onto finishing it to be 80,000 to 90,000 words, then editing. But my obsession with Obsession is done--least for Nanowritmo. Just not for the rest.For writers who have not attempted this, do so. If nothing else, it will teach you to work toward a deadline, something you will have to do with publishers. And if you don't want to wait until Nanowritmo 2010, then in January start your own private Nanowritmo. After all, what is in January to stop your obsession?
For information on Nanowritmo, here is the website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/
I am talking about Nanowritmo. What is it? It's where many people hopefully write a minimum of 55,000 words for a novel, durng November.
Mine was not the original one I started (but will finish this month), but another, an erotic urban fantasy.It has a title: Obsession. Whether, if accepted anywhere, it keeps that title, is another thing. It's dark and erotic, and has a werewolf hero and a human heroine. It has a werewolf villianess and a human villian. And the hero is obsessed with the heroine--hence the title. Due to the erotic content it will be by my pseudonym, Sapphire Phelan.
I mentioned to another author the other day, asking why Nanowrit is during November. At the end of the month is Thanksgiving and the approach of Christmas shopping--unfortunate real world things that can block a writer from her/his appointed goal. The first year I did this I finished. After that, I had manuscripts due, making it hard. The holidays didn't help, either. But this year, I finished beyond my expectations.
Now onto finishing it to be 80,000 to 90,000 words, then editing. But my obsession with Obsession is done--least for Nanowritmo. Just not for the rest.For writers who have not attempted this, do so. If nothing else, it will teach you to work toward a deadline, something you will have to do with publishers. And if you don't want to wait until Nanowritmo 2010, then in January start your own private Nanowritmo. After all, what is in January to stop your obsession?
For information on Nanowritmo, here is the website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/
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