#And how it permeates every aspect of southern life

[thelesbianthespianposts]

“Patriotic Education"

(From Trump’s executive order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”)

“The purpose of the textbooks went beyond facts; the commissioners hoped “to instill in [schoolchildren’s] hearts and minds a greater love of Virginia and a perpetuation of her ideals“. The textbook commission wanted their selected authors to capture the genteel tradition of the Old Dominion known as the Virginia spirit. While the commission never explicitly defined it, one member emphasized the “generous and kindly traits in the Virginia spirit”. I understood. The commission wanted to create educated Christian ladies and gentlemen, who looked at history from a positive point of view without being boastful. The commission told the authors to emphasize Virginia’s right to succeed and above all avoid critiquing slavery. “is the matter of slavery, presented in the very ablest and best light?” they asked. The commissioners directed that the textbook authors “not give the impression that slavery was the cause of the war.“

While the books created an imaginary past, the legislator set its eyes firmly on present difficulties. In 1954, while the authors wrote, the Supreme Court issued his landmark decision in Brown versus the Board of Education, outline School segregation, the Democratic Byrd machines reaction was to lead not only Virginia, but the entire white south in a massive resistance campaign against integration the textbook treatment of the Civil War offered contemporary lessons to all Virginia’s children – Black and white.”

-Robert E. Lee and Me, by Ty Seidule

[devvaani]

Call With Astrologer

Dev Vaani is an App designed to provide guidance and advice from spiritual gurus to help people make important life decisions and achieve success. It focuses on education, profession, life partner selection, and understanding one’s circumstances. If you have any specific questions or need more information about yourself please feel free to contact Dev Vaani.

What is Astrology

Astrology is the ancient science dealing with the analysis of the in-born personality traits of the native, strengths and weaknesses, and prediction of what lies in store for him in life based on the placement of various planets in different houses of his birth chart, which is commonly referred to as his Horoscope or janm-kundali. Though the science of astrology was invented in various parts of the world during human civilization, it attained its highest glory in India in the hands of such legends as Maharishi Bhrigu, Maharishi Parashar, Maharishi Jamini, and others. The most widely practiced system of astrology in north India is the Vedic astrology. A slightly modified version of north Indian Vedic astrology is in vogue in the Southern part of the country, whereas the Western system is practiced in Western countries.

In the modern age, where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, even ancient practices like Dev Vaani Call With Astrologer have found a new platform — the virtual realm. With the advent of video calling technology, seekers of astrological guidance can now connect with astrologers from the comfort of their own homes, transcending geographical barriers and time zones.

Importance of Astrology

THE IMPORTANCE OF ASTROLOGY IN OUR LIFE

In today’s modern and materialistic world, with so much technical advancement, we human beings feel trapped in a rat race to achieve material success. All of us at one point in time, face the following question: -

How to live life? How to face life? and finally, How to conquer life?

Astrology is a ray of light, for those who are groping in the dark, struggling to find answers to their own questions about life. Very few individuals struggle to achieve higher goals in life like [nirvana] or inner peace. And yet a few mortals still struggle with basic problems like family, unemployment, debt, disease, relationships, etc. For some individuals, to whom God has been kind, their basic needs fulfilled, the question of name, fame, power, and position become more important

Astrology is useful in innumerable ways. Some of them are listed below:-

1) It can be used to predict mundane events.

2) An astrologer can give guidance and to counseling to young students regarding which vocation to choose and also bring harmony in what one loves to do and what one is actually doing.

3) Astrologers guide parents in the upbringing of children in the complexities of the present world.

4) Astrologers can give guidance to professionals, in choosing a correct line of work, pointing out periods of rise and fall, and also pinpoint when an individual will receive his or her first salary.

5) Astrologers can time a marriage correctly for a happy life ahead and also for parents to plan the marriage ahead.

(6) An Astrologer can guide an individual, who is a seeker of spiritual life, when the time is suitable so that one has enough savings, for the times that are unfavorable.

It is true, that an honest astrologer can be of immense value to the changing society of our times. Most of the astrologers who study this great science of Jyotisha have only limited knowledge due to the vastness and great depth of this sacred knowledge. One reason can be that it was revealed by lord “Brahma” himself to the great Seers. And from there descends this divine knowledge to us.

Dev Vaani Astrolgers helps people in solving many problems in life.

भविष्य की चिंता हमेशा के लिए ख़त्म करे

UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF YOUR FUTURE! ACCURATE ASTRO PREDICTIONS

Let The Future be Revealed! Unfold Your Life With the Help of Our Vedic Astrologers. Capture What Life Holds For You in the Future.

Marriage, Exam Results, Unhappiness, Conflicts, and Relationships, all can unfold With Vedic Astrology. Want to Correct it?

क्या आप अपने विवाह के लिए परेशान है

परेशान न हों आज ही हमसे जुड़ें और अपने विवाह का योग जानें

We Stand For Trust. Get Accurate Astro Predicts Today!

Have Difficulties in Arranging Your Marriage?

Want a Start a New Chapter of your life with your soulmate?

You are at the right place!

Get a Free Call With Our Vedic Astrologers and find the right way to make your Marriage happen!

घर लेने का सही योग नहीं बन रहा?

Dev Vaani आपकी सहायता कर सकता है

Connect With Real Vedic Astrologers To Find Your Solution

Don’t Worry! Dev Vaani is here to help you & Provide You With Vedic Astrology Solutions.

Get on a 1:1 Call With Our Astrologers on the Dev Vaani App.

Tired of Searching For a Job?

Want to Know About Your Carrer?

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Tired Of Your Life Problems?

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1) Consult Our Trusted Astrologers Regarding Education, Marriage, Wealth, career, Family Conflicts, Negative energies, and Much More.

2) To Connect With Astrologers, Download The Dev Vaani App and get your First Call Free!

Contact Us At:

Website: https://www.devvaani.com/

Download the Dev vaani App, Below the Link:

[drdavidswoopejr]

Unleashing Creativity: The Inspirational Journey of Dr. David L. Swoope Jr.

Introduction: In the heart of Alabama, amidst the rich tapestry of Southern culture, resides a beacon of inspiration and motivation – Dr. David L. Swoope Jr. With a magnetic presence and a passion for empowering others, Dr. Swoope is not just a speaker and author, but a catalyst for transformation. In this blog post, we'll delve into the extraordinary life and work of Dr. Swoope, exploring how his words and wisdom ignite the flames of creativity in all who encounter him.

Meet Dr. David L. Swoope Jr.: A native son of Alabama, Dr. David L. Swoope Jr. embodies the essence of Southern charm and hospitality. Yet, beneath his warm demeanor lies a powerhouse of talent and intellect. As a motivational and inspirational speaker, Dr. Swoope possesses a unique ability to captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Whether addressing professionals seeking personal growth, gifted students yearning to explore their potential, or individuals facing challenges, Dr. Swoope's message resonates deeply, igniting sparks of creativity and resilience.

The Power of Dr. Swoope's Oratory: What sets Dr. Swoope apart is his tailor-made approach to education and inspiration. His speeches are not mere lectures but immersive experiences, carefully crafted to engage and uplift. Drawing from his own life experiences and insights, Dr. Swoope empowers his listeners to tap into their innate creativity and unlock their full potential. Whether in a corporate boardroom, a classroom, or a community center, his words transcend barriers, leaving an indelible mark on all who hear them.

Empowering Through Creativity: At the core of Dr. Swoope's message is a profound belief in the power of creativity to transform lives. He reminds us that creativity is not limited to the realm of artistry but permeates every aspect of human existence. By nurturing our internal creativity, we cultivate the ability to innovate, adapt, and thrive in an ever-changing world. Dr. Swoope's speeches serve as a rallying cry for individuals to embrace their unique gifts and unleash their creative potential, inspiring a ripple effect of positive change in their communities and beyond.

Conclusion: In Dr. David L. Swoope Jr., we find not just a speaker or author, but a visionary leader on a mission to ignite the flames of creativity and inspiration. Through his charismatic oratory and unwavering passion, he empowers individuals to break free from limitations, embrace their authenticity, and pursue their dreams with unwavering determination. As we journey through life, may we draw inspiration from Dr. Swoope's example, daring to dream boldly and create fearlessly in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.

[themoreyouknowz]

[W10] Online harassment.

In the digital age, the pervasive phenomenon of online harassment has emerged as a significant threat to the well-being and mental health of individuals worldwide. With the proliferation of social media platforms, messaging apps, and online forums, the ease of communication has unfortunately paved the way for malicious behavior, leading to profound negative impacts on people's lives.

What is Online harassment?

Definition

Online harassment, also known as cyberbullying or internet harassment, refers to the use of electronic communication platforms such as social media, messaging apps, forums, or email to intimidate, threaten, or belittle individuals or groups. According to Haslop, O’Rourke and Southern (2021), online harassment

"...can take many forms, such as spreading malicious rumors, sending abusive direct messages and the non-consensual sharing of personal content, including sexual images."

It can take various forms such as cyberbullying, harassment, doxxing, sexual harassment, hate speech, discrimination, and trolling. Online harassment can target anyone who engages in online activities, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. However, many studies have shown that women are twice as likely to be targeted of online harassment as men (Vogels, 2021). The reasons behind this gender disparity in online harassment are complex and multifaceted. They often stem from deep-seated societal issues such as sexism, misogyny, and gender-based violence. Women who express opinions, challenge traditional gender roles, or assert themselves in online spaces may face backlash and harassment as a result. Despite efforts by platforms to address it, online harassment remains a pervasive issue, highlighting the importance of recognizing and combating it for a safer online environment.

It more danger than you think...!

One of the most alarming aspects of online harassment is its ability to infiltrate the sanctity of personal spaces. Unlike traditional forms of harassment, which may occur in physical environments, online harassment can permeate into every aspect of an individual's life, infiltrating their homes and safe spaces through the screens of their electronic devices. This constant barrage of hateful messages, threats, and derogatory comments can have devastating effects on victims, leading to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, online harassment can tarnish one's reputation and sense of self-worth. Victims may experience feelings of shame, embarrassment, and isolation as a result of the relentless attacks on their character and integrity (UNICEF, 2024). In extreme cases, online harassment can escalate to real-world consequences, such as job loss, academic failure, or even physical harm, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention and prevention strategies.

How to prevent it?

Of course it's a difficult job, but that doesn't mean we can't do it! Firstly, it is essential for individuals to prioritize their digital well-being by practicing self-care and setting boundaries when engaging with online platforms. This may involve limiting exposure to toxic content, blocking or reporting abusive users, and seeking support from trusted friends, family members, or mental health professionals. Moreover, education and awareness-raising initiatives play a crucial role in combating online harassment. By promoting digital literacy and teaching individuals about the ethical use of technology, we can empower people to navigate online spaces responsibly and respectfully. Schools, community organizations, and online platforms themselves can play a pivotal role in promoting digital citizenship and fostering a culture of empathy, compassion, and tolerance.

In conclusion, online harassment poses a significant threat to the mental health and well-being of individuals, perpetuating a cycle of fear, intimidation, and trauma. However, by raising awareness, promoting digital literacy, and fostering a culture of respect and empathy, we can work together to mitigate the negative impact of online harassment and create safer, more inclusive online communities for all. It is imperative that we recognize the seriousness of this issue and take decisive action to address it, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the benefits of the digital age without fear of harassment or harm.

References:

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F. and Southern, R. (2021). #NoSnowflakes: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 27(5), pp.1418–1438. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856521989270.

UNICEF (2024). Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it. [online] UNICEF. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying.

Vogels, E.A. (2021). The state of online harassment. Pew Research Center. [online] 13 Jan. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/01/13/the-state-of-online-harassment/.

[whatsupwanda]

Whose God Won The Civil War?

Abstract: Where was the importance of Christianity during the Civil War? Was the Civil War a moral war? Was it a manifest destiny for an apathetic people? How do we know god was involved. If He was involved, which g/God was it?

Lately historians have been asking the moral questions about the terrible war between the states. But, on June 5, 1864, Samuel Sprecher, a Lutheran minister, addressed the Lutheran General Synod in York, Pennsylvania with a sermon he titled, "The providential position of the evangelical churches of this country at their time." His sermon was a kind of reverse manifest destiny if you will. His inspiration was Esther from the Book of Esther fame. Sprecher couched his analogy in the "commotion" of the current war. [1] The War Between the States of course. The month of June 1864 saw the defeat of the Union army at the Battle of Cold Harbor in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Sprecher called for a manifest destiny in the terms of Esther's declaration, "If I perish I perish." [2] Whose God was the audience in York dying for?

Sprecher urged the synod to make a choice to either greatly promote or retard God's Kingdom in the world. On the surface this admonition was not unusual for this time period. God and Christianity permeated, for the most part, every aspect of ordinary life. The idea of choosing good over evil, being moral or immoral, to follow God or the devil was still at the core of early American life. [3] And yet this fidelity to Christianity seems to have failed under the guise of being able to decide for one's own self, or political affiliation, a choice to indulge wild nationalistic blood lust which contributed to the bloodiest war this country had ever seen. Whose god started the war between the states? Whose god supported the choice to be silent in the pulpits as men massacred each other? Did Samuel Sprecher really mean to admonish those before him with the Esther's of, "If I perish I perish?" Was the War Between the States a Holy War?

Which part of Christianity was responsible for the moral collapse and ensuing chaos of the War Between the States? Christianity was the bedrock upon which this county was founded on. The Revolutionary War was a righteous war against oppression. Esther's mantra, "If I perish I perish," was warranted. Not so with the Civil War. Perhaps the war between the states was a manifestation of a spiritually undecided or apathetic populace. Or perhaps the spiritual apathy of the government fueled the righteous indignation of a make-believe feud between peoples. What I know for sure is that my God is not a God of chaos. So, again, whose god won the Civil War?

Bibliography

Dew, Charles. Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War. Charlottesville, Virginia: University of Virginia Press, 2001.

Sprecher, Samuel. “The providential position of the evangelical churches of this country at this time: a sermon delivered at the opening of the General Synod at York, Pennsylvania, May fifth, 1864.” Gale Primary Sources: Sabin Americana. https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Monographs&resultListType

[1]. [2], [3]

Stout, Harry S. Upon the Altar of the Nation: A Moral History of the Civil War. New York:

Viking Press, 2006.

[samwisethewitch]

The Little Gods: Spirits of Place in Modern Paganism

In a previous post, we talked about gods, goddesses, and the many ways they can be worshiped in a modern pagan practice. However, the gods are not the only group of spiritual beings honored by modern pagans. While building relationships with deities makes up the bulk of practice for many people, a lot of pagans work with other groups of spirits as well, or may even work more closely with these “smaller” spirits than with the gods. One of these groups is the ancestors, the spirits of deceased humans who are part of our lineage — we’ll talk about them in a future post.

The other group of minor spirits commonly honored by modern pagans, and the topic of today’s post, are what I like to call the Spirits of Place. This is a broad category that includes land spirits, spirits of natural objects like trees and rivers, and spirits of man-made locations like a house or office building. Depending on your personal beliefs, it may also include animal guides, spirits of inanimate objects, and/or spirits honored in specific cultures like the fairies or the elves.

The idea that the world around us is spiritually alive and aware is present in some form in almost every culture and religion, and the worship of these Spirits of Place is well-documented in most historic pagan religions. For example, much of Irish folk spirituality revolves around appeasing the fairies, which we can understand as a special type of land spirit — this continued long after the conversion period, even after the worship of the Irish gods had faded into obscurity. Many Norse pagans honor the landvaettir (land spirits) and husvaettir (house spirits), which have survived in more recent Nordic folklore in the form of spirits like the Danish nisse or Swedish tomte, who are still honored at Christmas in some parts of Scandinavia. In Roman paganism, the lares, who are both land spirits and the guardians of man-made homes and are closely connected to the ancestors, are given a place of honor. Eclectic pagans may pull from one or more of these practices, or may honor their local spirits in their own unique way.

Honoring the Spirits of Place is not exclusive to pagan faiths. Practitioners of New Orleans Voodoo honor the ashe, the sacred energy, of the Mississipi River, one of their most prominent local landmarks. In Shinto, places and objects are said to have their own kami, which can be understood as gods or as spirits. Even in Christianity’s strictly monotheist system, God is often understood to be physically present in the world around us, a philosophy known as panentheism. I offer these non-pagan examples not because I think pagans should copy these other religions, but because I want to make a point about how pervasive the belief in Spirits of Place really is.

Connecting with the Spirits of Place can help us to engage more mindfully and in more meaningful ways with the world around us. When we accept that every plant, animal, rock, and building has its own spirit or soul, we interact with those objects in a more intentional way. We learn to think about our home not just as a place where we live, but as a spiritual entity that we have an active relationship with. We learn to think of our gardens not as a plot of dirt filled with plants, but as a community of land spirits and plant spirits all working together to provide us with nourishment. We learn to think of our cities not as concrete jungles, but as huge collections of spirits as diverse and fascinating as their human inhabitants. When we open our eyes to the spiritual world that exists alongside our own, we begin to see how the spiritual permeates every aspect of human life.

Connecting with Spirits of Place also offers a way for us to personalize and localize our practice. The Spirits of Place in Los Angeles will be very different from those of Brooklyn, Berlin, or Mexico City. Your local Spirits of Place are closely related to your local biome, as well as to the cultural groups that have influenced your community.

Because of this, the best way to connect with your own Spirits of Place is to learn about where you live. Research your local flora, fauna, and weather patterns — how is your ecosystem unique? Learn about local history and about the cultures who have influenced your area. All of these influences will give you some ideas for how to honor the spirits in your practice.

For example, I live in a temperate climate with four true seasons, clay-based soil, and lots of rain and humidity. Some of the local plant spirits that I feel closest to are the black locust tree, the magnolia tree, poke weed, and the birch tree. Some of the local animal spirits I feel closest to are the crow, the red-tailed hawk, the coyote, and the white-tailed deer. My local land spirits are as steadfast and strong as the nearby Appalachian mountains.

I live in the South, so our local spirits are also shaped by a history of racial oppression and persecution. They have witnessed the displacement of the Cherokee people, whose stolen land I live on today. They have witnessed the transatlantic slave trade and the continued oppression of Black people with Jim Crow and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. They have witnessed devastating poverty in rural communities, including those of my ancestors. These scars run deep, creating a reverberations that I and other Southern folks still feel today. However, with the trauma of the South comes a rich diversity of influences, creating a unique culture unlike any other in the world. My Irish and Scottish ancestors brought their culture with them when they came to these mountains, where it mingled with the cultural influences of our Black and Latino neighbors, the Cherokee influences of our land, a deeply held Protestant Christian faith, and a special brand of magic that is unique to the South. All of this influences my local Spirits of Place, and I try to keep all of it in mind when interacting with them.

I honor my Spirits of Place by learning to identify local plants, respectfully and ethically foraging from those plants, and using them in my spiritual practice. I honor them by feeding the crows, and by greeting the deer when I encounter them on walks. I honor them by remembering the original inhabitants of this land, by supporting Native rights activists, and by donating to nonprofits that support the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, who originally lived in my area. I honor them by actively working to address the issue of racism in the South, up to and including attending Black Lives Matter protests and campaigning for an end to racialized police violence. I honor them by listening to my Cherokee, Black, and Latino neighbors and following their lead on Cherokee, Black, and Latino issues. I also honor them by practicing sustainable gardening techniques, working to lower my environmental impact, and by giving back to the land whenever I can.

If you don’t live in the same geographic area as me, the way you honor your Spirits of Place may look totally different. Don’t be afraid to make this practice your own — once you connect with your local spirits, they will be your guides.

Types of Spirits of Place

There are many, many types of spirits that fall into this category, and the list in this post is not meant to be exhaustive. My goal here is to give you an idea of some of the forms these spirits can take, so that you can begin to recognize the Spirits of Place that surround you in your own life.

Land spirits: These are spirits of specific geographical locations or features of the land. They may be as big as the Mississippi River or as small as the rosebush in your backyard. As you might imagine, these spirits don’t move around much, as they usually don’t venture far from the location they are tied to. In my experience, land spirits have a very stable, steady, and earthy presence.

Our relationship with the land spirits is a direct reflection of our relationship with the land itself. If we live our lives in a way that hurts the land by polluting it or stripping it of resources, it will be much harder to build a healthy relationship with the spirits of that land. The best way to live in right relationship with the land spirits is to treat the land you are living on with honor and respect.

In my personal practice, I call on the land spirits for help in my garden. I make offerings of food that is safe for local wildlife if they decide to help themselves, such as unsalted peanuts, birdseed, bread, or fresh fruit. When I make offerings, I make sure to thank the land spirits for sharing their home with me and for providing me with abundance. You might honor your local land spirits in a similar way, or you may find that another approach works better for you.

House spirits: It is not only natural places that have spirits — man-made buildings also have a spirit of their own. If you’ve ever stayed in a very old house, you probably felt its unique character while you were there. Every building has its own soul of sorts, which embodies the place, the way it is used, and the different people who have lived there. In my experience, these spirits tend to take on the energy of the people who live in or frequently use their building — the spirits of a happy home may have a kind, friendly presence, while the spirits of a dysfunctional business where employees are mistreated may have a mean streak.

Many of us overlook the spiritual importance of our homes. Our home is where we can be most vulnerable, and in most cases it’s probably where most of our daily spiritual practices take place. Our home is the base of operations we come back to at the end of each day. A home that feels safe, comfortable, and welcoming is important to our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. To maintain a healthy home, we need to maintain good relationships with the other people living there — but we can take this even further by striving to have a good relationship with our home itself.

Spirits of objects: Objects also have their on spirits. This applies not only to naturally occurring objects, but to man-made things as well.

Most people with even a passing interest in witchcraft or New Age spirituality are aware that crystals have unique energies and personalities and can act as spiritual allies. What many people don’t realize is that this is not something that is unique to crystals — all objects have a unique spiritual presence, and all of them can be powerful spiritual allies if you take the time to connect with them. A rock from your backyard can be just a powerful as an expensive crystal. So can a favorite sweater, your grandmother’s antique dishes, and even your cell phone.

The best way to connect with the spirits of objects is to talk to them. Tell them that you appreciate the role they serve in your life, and verbally thank them for their help. I find that these spirits don’t typically require offerings in the traditional sense — instead, you can practice reciprocity by keeping their homes in good condition. For example, if you want to connect with the spirit of a favorite stuffed animal, make sure the toy itself stays clean and in good repair.

Plant and animal spirits: Plant and animal spirits are different from spirits of objects because they are physically alive. Plants and animals live and breathe just as we do, which can make them a little easier to befriend and understand than the spirits of inanimate objects. If you’re not quite ready to start talking to your hairbrush, plant and animal spirits can be a good place to start.

Animal spirits are the easiest by far to connect with. Any pet owner will tell you that animals have souls that often seem just as complex as those of humans. Dogs and cats, for example, clearly feel love, joy, sadness, and pain just as humans do. Pets are an excellent way to begin connecting with animal spirits, because you already have a relationship with them in the physical world.

Next time you have a few minutes alone with your pet, try meditating on their spiritual presence. Can you feel their energy? Can you sense the wisdom they carry in their soul?

If you had a pet that died, you might try reaching out to them to see if they want to be involved in your spiritual practice. Dogs especially are very loyal to their owners, and can be called on for protection even after death. If you have ashes or bones from your pet, or if you have items like a collar or a favorite toy, you can include them on an altar or some other special place and make regular offerings of treats or pet food in exchange for their protection.

Some pagans, especially Wiccans and other neopagans, choose to work with familiars, which are a special kind of animal ally. There is a common misconception that a familiar is any animal you feel especially close to, but that isn’t quite how it works. A familiar is an animal that serves as a spiritual ally — traditionally, by helping witches with their magic. The familiar can be a living animal, but it is more often a purely spiritual being.

These animal spirit allies exist in other forms in other pagan religions. In Norse paganism, the fylgja is a spiritual guide that often appears in the form of an animal. The animal form the fylgja takes is closely related to the personality of the person it is attached to, and they are often tied to that person’s fate. In Irish folklore, the fetch is a spiritual double of a human that often appears as an animal. In Kemetic polytheism, one of the parts of the soul is the ba, which often appears as a bird with a human head and which represents a person’s personality. In all of these cases, the animal guide can be understood as an extension of the practitioner, rather than as a separate being like the familiar.

Plant spirits are a little bit different. In my experience, these spirits are quieter and more reserved than most animal spirits, and they tend to work in more subtle ways. Plant spirits are still, steadfast allies that tend to work behind the scenes, so you may not have as many face-to-face interactions with them as you do with animals or land spirits.

The best way to begin connecting with plant spirits is to start keeping a houseplant. As you care for your plant, talk to it! Tell it how much you appreciate it, and thank it for its contribution to keeping your space beautiful and safe. Appropriate offerings for plant spirits are exactly what you would expect: water, fertilizer, and plant food.

Cryptids and folkloric creatures: In the modern era, folklore has given way to urban legends and created a new kind of mythology. Like traditional folklore, urban legends are spread by word of mouth and change organically as they are told and retold. Many urban legends are tied to specific locations, and many of them feature strange and mysterious creatures who can be understood as modern land spirits.

For example, the Loch Ness Monster can be seen as the spirit of Loch Ness. The Jersey Devil is tied to the Pine Barrens in New Jersey. Mothman is tied to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Although these are some of the most famous modern cryptids, most towns have their own urban legends — if you ask around, you’ll likely find stories of some kind of spectral guardian tied to your area. My college campus has a handful of its own urban legends, including one of a female spirit who appears to warn students of coming disasters. Find out who your local cryptids are, and look for ways to incorporate them into your practice.

These different types of spirits are sometimes filtered through different cultural lenses, which changes the way they interact with humans. For example, an Irish fairy is very different from a Japanese kami, even though both technically fall into the larger category of land spirits. If you feel drawn to a specific tradition’s approach to working with the Spirits of Place, I advise you to do your own research into that tradition — including making sure that it isn’t part of a closed cultural practice which you are not party to. Look for sources written by members of the living culture of that tradition, rather than books written by outsiders.

Connecting with the Spirits of Place

Here are some activities you can do to strengthen your connection with the Spirits of Place:

Make offerings. As I mentioned above, you can honor the spirits with offerings. Just make sure that, if you leave offerings outside, you only offer things that are biodegradable and are safe for local wildlife. If you don’t want to leave physical offerings, you can offer acts of service like picking up litter, watering plants, or volunteering at an animal shelter.

Create an altar. Altars are an excellent way to create space in your life for the spirits. My herb garden doubles as an altar to the land spirits, with a small Green Man statue to represent the spirits and a place where I can leave offerings. I also have a table indoors where I keep most of my houseplants, which is also a sacred space of sorts. The type of altar you create and its location will depend on the spirits you want to connect with — the possibilities are limitless.

Start a compost pile. Compost piles make excellent offerings to land spirits and plant spirits. While compost isn’t quite as simple as “just throw all your leftover food in a pile,” it’s not difficult if you know what you are doing. When composting, it’s important to maintain a balance between carbon-rich “brown” material (leaves, undyed paper, cardboard, etc.) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.) — you want about four times as much brown as green in your compost. There are some things you shouldn’t add to your compost, like meat, dairy products, and greasy foods. Start your compost with a layer of brown material — preferably twigs or straw to allow good airflow. Alternate layers of green and brown materials as you add to the pile. Every time you add to your compost, verbally express your gratitude to the land spirits. Your compost should be moist, but not soggy — you’ll know it’s ready when it’s dark and crumbly and smells like soil. Use it on your garden and in your houseplant pots, or donate it to a local community garden.

Hold a territory acknowledgement. A territory acknowledgement is a way to insert awareness of indigenous people whose lands were stolen from them. You can acknowledge indigenous territory at the beginning of public religious events, or at the beginning of your private rituals. This practice will help you develop a deeper understanding of the history of your land, which can help deepen your connection to it as well as honoring its original inhabitants. A territory acknowledgement can be as simple as: “I acknowledge and honor this land, which is called [indigenous name of your area] and is home to the people of [indigenous nation].” Make sure you take the time to learn the correct pronunciation for these indigenous words. You can find out who originally lived in your area and what they called it by visiting native-land.ca.

Donate to conservation efforts. Instead of making physical offerings, make a donation to an environmentalist cause and dedicate it to your Spirits of Place. Look for groups that work in your local area, such as nonprofits dedicated to fighting deforestation and climate change, groups that protect rare and endangered native plants, or wildlife rehabilitation centers. Even volunteering at an animal shelter can be an appropriate offering to animal spirits.

Start a garden with native plants. Do some research into your local ecosystem — what plants are native to your area? Which of them are edible? Which of them have spiritual uses? Buy or forage seeds from these plants and start a 100% native garden. Growing and eating food that is native to your area can help deepen your connection to the land, the local plant spirits, and the cycle of the seasons.

Replace mainstream cleansing herbs with native plants. White sage, palo santo, frankincense, and sandalwood, some of the most popular cleansing herbs among modern pagans, are all endangered due to over-harvesting. Instead of buying endangered plants from far off lands, try to find a native plant you can use instead. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where rosemary or lavender is native, you’re in luck! If not, try researching some of the plants in your backyard — you might be surprised what you find. Most plants in the Salvia (sage) family can be burned as incense to cleanse and consecrate a space. This family includes over 1,000 species spread out over Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Many trees also have cleansing properties, especially coniferous trees like pine, cedar, and juniper. Find out what is abundant in your area and find ways to incorporate it into your rituals.

Go for a hike. While bringing the Spirits of Place into our homes can be deeply meaningful, it’s also important to get out there and meet them on their own terms. Try to make time to get out in nature, and be open to connecting with the spirits you find on these trips. You don’t have to go far — even hanging out in a backyard or city park can allow you to connect with the land.

Feed the birds. And the squirrels, and the deer, or whatever other critters you have. Now, I am not recommending approaching wild animals and trying to befriend them. I am also not recommending feeding animals people food. Nature often rests in a delicate balance, and directly feeding wild animals can make them dependent on humans, which could be dangerous for them. While feeding local animals can be an excellent offering, it’s important to do it in a way that is safe and non-instrusive. It’s best to leave food in a place you know is frequented by animals, then let them find it after you’ve gone. Bird feeders and squirrel feeders are a great way to do this.

Clean your house. One of the best ways to honor house spirits? Keep their living space clean! Try to keep your house tidy and be a good roommate to its spirits. Try not to let clutter pile up, and take time to sweep, mop, and dust every once in a while. You can even ask your house spirits to help you keep the house clean — just make sure you’re also doing your fair share of housework, or they may get upset about the unfair arrangement.

These “little gods” of places and objects are often forgotten, but they are an important part of daily pagan practice. While the gods rule over grand concepts and forces of nature, and the ancestors are tied to our family and community, the Spirits of Place make up the ground we stand on, the air we breathe, and the places we call home. Perhaps more than any other group of spirits, they are truly the gods of the everyday.

Resources:

Water Magic by Lilith Dorsey

Southern Cunning by Aaron Oberon

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

The Way of Fire and Ice by Ryan Smith

A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve

Where the Hawthorn Grows by Morgan Daimler

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

Temple of the Cosmos by Jeremy Naydler

[ancsthctist-archived]

you cling to the faith that innocence lives on — bearing armloads of flowers, white as moonbeams, home. ( apollo )

//. @anamnesiis // hades

     Innocence was a rare commodity to be found in this world so radiant and beautiful, but Apollo was one such soul that hoped against all hope to find it even the most unassuming crevices. And he would express such willfully, knowingly, with acknowledgement of the consequences of such an endeavor, and the pain it no doubt brought with it. The life of Azem wasn’t a glamorous one, and he never once claimed it to be. But long since had he accepted the trials and tribulations that came with the seat, and, colorless eyes glowing with determination, pledged the entirety of his being to every aspect of the job. Whether Hades himself shared his sentiments, Apollo couldn’t say. He’d gently doubt it from what he knew of his partner, but such was the beauty of union.

     ❝ I... should like to hope that it still permeates our realm to some degree, ❞ he speaks with a gentleness that mirrored his touch, carefully dragging pale hand down along the curvature of Hades’ spine. Spreading digits across the branching planes of muscle, warm, healing aether gathers where he feels the tissue is tightest beneath the skin. ❝ But I suppose it would depend on how you define the concept. Innocence in what way, I would ask? I’m sure at least most of our people have had some less-than-progressive thought at one time or another. Felt selfishness, felt desire. Is it a matter of our nature, or our actions that define innocence? ❞ The words leave him with a smile on his lips. ❝ Is innocence inherent to our nature? Or is it merely a construct invented to build a convincing narrative? A beautiful lie we tell ourselves to ease our own guilt? ❞

    His smile would fade just slightly. Memories and faces of ones bereft of innocence flashed through his mind. Sure enough he had encountered one evil after another on his travels. And while he was thorough enough in the reports he filed, he never once sought to talk about it outside the Capitol.

     ❝ And besides, the flowers I bring back are gorgeous! You cannot deny that not matter how much you might roll your eyes at me, ❞ he perks up, wrapping his arms around Hades’ torso in a surprise hug. Such dark thoughts can be dealt with another day, ❝ I should take you to the southern fields some day. You’d be thankful to know that I actually restrain myself when picking the bouquets I bring back. ❞

[t-bonebunton]

Hello and welcome to “Beowulf Has Left the Building!” The purpose of this blog is really for me to share moments in my life that have been seemingly insignificant or slight at first glance, but turn out to send me in directions I never expected. I am almost 44 years old and for some reason, I think I should share some of these things and at least leave some sort of record. For me personally, it’s the small experiences that take place in the moment, that permeate and grow into greater understandings as time marches on. Oh yeah.... there will be poetry as well!

I didn’t grow up loving soccer. Where I am from, it was played by the more affluent kids from in town. I grew up in the rural county and we played basketball, baseball, and of course.... American football. No soccer loving socialist here! Or so I thought.... I’m pretty liberal, so I would laugh at that if someone said that to me!

Back to the oratory....

If I knew of anyone that played that strange sport called soccer, I made fun of them and would comment about how “I would rather watch paint dry!” Self-righteous to the core.

This went on for years and years and then early in January 2012, I was home sick on a Sunday afternoon and soccer was the only thing that was on that I hadn’t already seen. I was bored with marathon style police and home improvement shows, and the Dallas Cowboys were not on TV that day.

But that Sunday, something caught my attention....

It was the crowd....the chanting and the singing in unison was the thing I didn’t hear in American football...or the traditional “American” sports in general. The fans were also way closer to the field (“pitch” I’d later learn)...As I was laying there with a 100 + temp and trying not to cough up both lungs simultaniously, I perked up just a bit. I didn’t even know who was playing at first...Arsenal and Fulham, I found out after a few minutes. Ironically, Arsenal was playing in the first match I ever paid attention to, but would eventually become a hated rival! I refer to them as just “Arse” now, because who would pull for Arsenal? Ugggh.

I was 36 years old in 2012 and had never given soccer or football a second thought, other than the obligatory glance on ESPN during World Cup. Brazil and Holland seemed cool because of their uniforms (I would later know are called kits), but that’s about it. My friend Wellington had told me a story about visiting his home in Brazil, once during a World Cup qualifier, and hearing a collective roar through the hillside when they scored a goal that would send them on to the next round. Apparently, the folks in the village had pulled their tv sets out into the streets to watch the match communally. I always enjoyed that story, but didn’t really understand what that meant...The collective power of community and sport. In the poorest of areas, the hope of a nation can rest on one simple goal. I’ve grown to understand and appreciate so many things about the healing power of football over the past eight years.

But on that day in January, something awoke from inside me and I had an epiphany.... 36 years in the making. Every sport or sports team I followed has been assigned to me, or I liked them because of a family member or friend. This was like discovering this obscure band that no one else you knew had ever heard of.... but they were yours.... Finding “real” football...was like this.

I was entranced and mesmerized by the beauty, aggression, skill, balance, speed, and lack of scoring! I thought of this as a brilliant chess match...In later years, I love that the lack of scoring is a real problem for “Arse”, but I found it interesting that in traditional American sports, scoring is always the focus. In soccer, a 0-0 draw or a 1-0 (nil) win is just as enthralling because of the flow and strategic patterns of the game. I truly can’t explain that realization any better...it just came to me and with that observation, epiphany, the crowd chanting and singing, I knew I was hooked.... My 100+ temp seemed to break and I was sweating by the end of this prolific 1-1 draw.

Thank God for the internet and Wikipedia....that afternoon, I knew that I had to find a team....and by the grace of God, it was not going to be Arsenal! Their manager Arsene (accent mark somewhere hahaha) Wenger, looked like the old man, Mr. Burns, from the Simpsons. Probably a nice guy, but there was something about him I didn’t like.

I didn’t have a smart phone then and I was teaching English at a local high school. Before school every morning for two weeks, I read the Wikipedia of every team that was in the Premier League in 2012. I started with some criteria:

A. I wanted a team that wasn’t (to my knowledge) a household name in America. I learned later my team was VERY popular and hated! So, no Manchester United or Liverpool off the top. They are both American owned. My team is Russian Billionaire owned, it turns out, and very well supported globally.

B. They had to have a winning tradition (yep...no losers for me)

C. No red teams (my Knicks, Cowboys, Yankees, Duke Blue Devils are all blue)

D. Need to be in the southern or southeastern part of England (where my mom’s side of the family are from)

E. Must have a crazy intense fan base (I knew a little about hooliganism...Unfortunately my team had a past history with that ugly aspect in the 1980’s and more than I knew at the time.)

So with that criteria in place I narrowed it down to five teams...I have forgotten all five sadly, but three of them were Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur (who I fortunately didn’t pick), and Queen’s Park Rangers (who were relegated shortly thereafter). Look up relegation and what it means, if you are mildly bored. I did initially!

I wrote them down and had my 5-year-old son, Rowan, pick them one at a time out of my sweat-stained Yankees hat!

Then on that glorious and beautiful day in January 2012, with his last pick, Rowan picked the mighty Chelsea Blues out of that hat!

It was all over from that point forward...I watched “real” football obsessively from that moment on. I had 5 cable channels devoted to football and European sports, and I learned the chants and songs sung from the terraces at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea’s sacred fortress). I learned the rules by reading all I could (offsides was a struggle to understand), and the points system for the many leagues and tiers associated with global football. I will say, however, that the only way to really learn about football, is to watch a lot of football. I studied the history of Chelsea FC and became educated about the legends and current superstars associated with the club...countless Facebook and YouTube clips of Chelsea’s greatest moments.

This amazing trip I’ve been on, ever since that sick and near-death day in January 2012, has given me so many great moments...Ironically in the first year of my fandom, Chelsea raised the Champions League trophy (look it up) and became the first London based club to ever win it. It’s the quintessential competition to win...It’s like winning 5 Super Bowls at once!

There is so much more that I want to say about this, or about the major moment’s I’ve had watching football with my closest Chelsea loving mate, Andrew Barlow, my 4 Chelsea FC related tattoos, my Chelsea FC adorned office, but blogs are supposed to be short, I know. I’ll close by saying that no matter how old you think you are, you are never too old to change your mind-set about something and, yes, people won’t understand it, and people like “the old me” will make fun of you, but so what?! Your internal passion about something you love intuitively will always be greater than their fear of things they don’t understand!

Next week....Meeting Herbie Hancock in a gas station! Stay riveted!

[stregamystica]

For many, recent events — the police killings of Tyre Nichols, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, for example, and the ongoing controversy surrounding critical race theory, an academic framework stating that people who are white have benefited from ingrained racism in American institutions — look like a recurring pattern in our society.

With the increase in the MAGA cult's supremacist rhetoric, we continue to see the deep-rooted effects of systemic and structural racism not only as it pertains to social justice and policing, but also how it permeates nearly every aspect of American life, including access to education, wealth, human rights, and healthcare.

In pop culture, singer Billie Holiday kept the black struggle in the national spotlight with her blockbuster hit, Strange Fruit ("Southern trees bear a strange fruit, blood on the leaves and blood at the root.").

And so she gets today's #BlackHistoryMonth "Ancestors of the #Resistance" spotlight for me.

[ashesoftheempire]

Prologue

The continent of Eres is a land without history. For uncounted millennia, the Celnian Empire controlled the entire continent. Not a person existed inside its coasts who was not subject to Celnian rule. No person, document, or relic can say how the empire was founded, nor what existed before it. There has only ever been the empire. It has remained so constant that even the inventors of the magitech marvels that permeated every aspect of Celnian life have been lost to the mists of time. The wondrous airships, high speed Lightning Rail network, and dependable Warforged slaves have become such an integral part of day-to-day life that no one knows of a time before they existed. There are no records of life before these creations, even in the oldest, most hidden archives. 

Then, for the first time in recorded history, something changed.

15 years ago, the Ocrest Volcano, long thought dormant, erupted, blanketing the core of the Empire in ash, burying the region in lava, and sending a shockwave through Eres that could be felt on both coasts. For reasons not even the most learned scholar or the Empress herself knows, this instantly killed all magitech across the continent. In one instant, the Celnian Empire was severed from its communication and transportation network, and the structured life that its citizens had grown so accustomed to ended.

Without its network, the Empire’s ability to exert power crumbled. The continent erupted in war as dozens of groups and locales sought independence from the overbearing, iron-fisted rule of the Empire. City-States established their own governments, warlords roamed the countryside, and Celnia fought desperately to hold territory. War was a fact of life for the next decade and a half.

Now things have calmed down a little bit. For the last four years, the southern and eastern coasts of the continent have settled into five nations, collectively known as the Liberated States, existing in an uneasy peace with each other. This is the setting in which the players began their adventure, a chaotic world where no nation has existed for much more than a dozen years.

[kimberlycollins]

NIPPON GA DAI SUKI (JAPAN WE LOVE YOU)

Traveling to an exotic country sounds, well, exotic. And it is. It’s a true adventure in life. It’s also exhausting. And enlightening.

I’ve traveled afar throughout my entire adulthood. All over Europe, The Middle East, Egypt, Central America, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia… Florida. ;)

I give travel (and my parents, *ehem*) credit for keeping me grounded, humbled and modest, in the sense of “I AM BUT A SPECK ON THIS EARTH” or “MY BELIEF SYSTEM IS NOT EVERYTHING” or “I DON’T KNOW AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT I KNEW” or “I REALLY DON’T KNOW HOW I GOT BEST DRESSED IN HIGH SCHOOL” (read: France ;)).

Travel helps us all to get out of our comfort zone and to see what a tiny place we occupy on this planet. It’s a liberating realization, embracing one’s insignificance in this world. It’s not about being small, because none of us are. It’s more about the world being BIG.

Travel puts your life into perspective; your problems and celebrations do not hold as much weight as they seem. It also shows you how much you have or what you don’t have. It’s a healthy reality check.

That’s why travel is good for you.

I am reminded this after a crazy year. My husband and I have been on tour with our music (The Smoking Flowers) for a lot of 2018, in and out of the country. It’s been a healthy year of these reality checks for sure.

That’s why I am writing this post on my health blog, as this type of health is just as important as the physical.

And so I write.

I write to journal.

I write to inspire (myself, if no one else).

I write to remember.

I write because I am bored today, it’s cold outside and my matcha is steaming, infusing me with memories.

I’m also writing because I miss Japan.

Of all my travels, I think Japan smacked me across the head when I needed it most. It made me feel like I was five years old again. Everything, down to using the toilet, I had to relearn/rethink. Yep, it took 43 years off my life. Now that’s a natural youth serum I can live with.

It also made my brain function differently. Trying to learn a foreign language audibly and visually that has no history in the Latin world is truly a foreign language. I now know how to order water, draft beer, sake and vegetarian ramen in Japanese. Basics. (Although a friendly laugh is usually the response to the veggie ramen inquiry). I now know how to tell a Japanese punk band they did a great job after seeing them open up for us at our show. I learned to say just plain “awesome”, and used it a lot. Japanese is pretty “saikou”, after all.

Japan can feel very futuristic, and Tokyo is like being on a movie set at times. They are the future for most of the civilized world seemingly 10 years ahead of us all, yet still remaining ancient and historic at the same time. Eating sushi or having tea can be presented like it was 400 years ago or like something out of The Jetsons (ala conveyor belt computer sushi restaurants).

But beyond the exotic veil, it was the culture and etiquette that really impressed me and made my head spin.

Below are but a few observations of the plentiful Japanese culture I experienced over my month long visit. And of course, they are my own, so they are neither right nor wrong. Just observations from a somewhat worldly gal who grew up Southern in America:

1. The Japanese have manners like I’ve never seen.

They are unwavering in their politeness. Selfless hospitality is a cornerstone of Japanese culture, and you can feel it in everything down to their quiet nature to their cleanliness to the way they package your purchased goods like a present. And that bow! That Japanese bow. It makes you feel special.

2. They are startling quiet and calm.

Given that Tokyo houses more than 13 million people, the sense of order and calm as everyone goes about their responsibilities with concern for others is remarkable. The Tokyo city streets are shockingly silent. You can hear the air, the machinery hums that run a city and the cars passing, but they don’t honk like NYC. I think I heard two honks the entire time in Tokyo, and that’s not an exaggeration. We drove the interstates a ton on our tour, all over the country... aggressive driving doesn’t seem to exist. Could this be from their Zen culture?

Also, they don’t bump into you trying to get on the subway in a hurry. It’s an orderly line and gentle squeeze to fit everyone on the trains, like a can of sardines without the stink.

I want to throw in another aspect of “calm” here; safety.

Feeling safe, stable, and secure is central to our health and wellbeing. How safe we feel at home and in our neighborhood can influence our social habits and feeling of freedom. When we feel safe, we find it easier to relax, do all the things that comfort us, and focus on the work or study we need to do to help ensure our stability.

I’ve never felt safer anywhere in my life than when in Japan. I never worried about my purse or goods being stolen. Never worried about locking our apartment or car doors. Never got ogled at or hit upon. Wowza.

3. There’s no trash on the streets. And I mean zero. Not even cigarette butts. And it’s not like there are janitors sweeping the streets and alleys. To make this fact more amazing, it’s hard pressed to find trash bins anywhere. So where does a city of millions dispose of their goods while walking/biking about? Their pockets… until they reach home to throw in appropriate bins.

RETRACTION: One time we were walking under an over pass in Tokyo and we saw, gasp, trash. The remarkable thing was that this trash was piled neatly in a small pile, waiting anxiously to be picked up properly.

For an interesting article on Japan and the waste culture check out this article: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/07/why-japanese-dont-litter/

4. They seem to really care about the planet.

And don’t just post about it on social media.

You won’t find paper towels anywhere, sans a few nice restaurants. Water waste is thoughtfully considered in everything they do it seems. Yes, even the toilet fill water after a flush is used as a sink to wash your hands before entering the tank. They line dry their clothes (like most of the world except America). They ride bicycles like it’s Amsterdam on steroids. There are even parking lots just for bikes. This eliminates the need for excess taxis on the streets (i.e. “fossil fuels”). I know this goes on all over the world, but I again, I’m sticking to Japan here.

5. Buddhism and Shintoism.

I have practiced Buddhism since my 20’s and see it as more of a mind set and lifestyle than a religion. So for me, I felt right at home in a country that houses over 77,000 temples (No typo there). Incense permeates the air, especially in Kyoto. Smelled like my house and I couldn’t have been happier about that aspect.

But it’s more than Buddhism. The main Japanese religion is Shintoism. Many Japanese people practice both. The beliefs are very compatible and not contradictory.

6. ROBOTIC TOILETS!

Japan has a magic thing called Toto Toilets. And the toilet culture there is really something to behold. I fell in love with their toilets and never once worried to sit on the public toilet seat. I can simply not go back to our classic Kohler again. Trust me, once you experience a heated seat, self-cleaning, massaging, butt-cleaning, “privacy sound”, hand-washing toilet all in one small package, you’ll never go back. Don’t know how to expand on this in a blog… just “go” try it for your self.

7. 7- Eleven heaven!

Yep, you heard this health advocate correctly. When you are looking for a healthy bite on the road or on the quick, there’s a 7-Eleven on every corner. And it’s not the 7-Eleven we know in this country at all! Made fresh daily veggie sushi, veggie rice “sandwiches”, miso soup, raw veggies, healthy drinks, tea, fairly healthy snacks if you are into the packaged food thing. All for super cheap. I cannot tell you what a lifesaver it was on the road for us when there were practically no healthy options. Also, we decided to add fish into our diet while in Japan, and certainly glad we did. I’ve never had better fish in my life. It really felt healthy. My nails are still shiny like they’ve been shellacked. Win win.

8. VENDING MACHINES!

Super convenient and anonymous, there are vending machines all over Japan (even in remote villages) that can get you most anything you need instantly: from fermented bean drinks to green tea to hot or cold coffee to fully cooked meals to used panties. Yep, the Japanese can get weird.

Ok, so maybe the last three points are less about culture, but I had to throw them in for the “wow” factor.

I could go on and on about Japan… it’s as wide and deep and old and beautiful as it’s countryside beacon Mt. Fuji. But it has its pitfalls too. No culture is perfect. I just prefer to focus on the ideals I look up to, rather than focusing on the negatives. Their negatives are no different than America’s: too much sugar and meat in the diet, it’s a highly misogynistic society, cigarettes, stressful six day work weeks with long hours, those darn plastic bags… But we all know those are WORLD WIDE ISSUES.

Japan, you definitely stole my heart. Thank you to all who came to our shows and to those that showed us your rare style of hospitality. And a huge special thanks to my tour manager, Gus Bennett, who introduced my husband and me to this beautiful country, showed us the ropes and helped us navigate into this great unknown that will certainly be with me forever.

Mata, chikai uchini, aeruto iine.

Photo credit: Marley Parker at ML Parker Media

[architectnews]

California Baptist University spotlights ten student architecture projects

A museum dedicated to poetry, an airport with a courtyard and an urban agriculture development are included in Dezeen's latest school show by architecture students at the California Baptist University.

Also featured is an analysis of how daylight transcends through space and a women's healthcare clinic in rural Rwanda.

California Baptist University

School: California Baptist University (CBU), College of Architecture, Visual Art and Design Courses: Architecture programme

Tutors: Krysten Burton, Susan Duemer, Aaron Greene, Keelan Kaiser, Matthew Niermann, David Ogoli, Mark Roberson and Caleb Walder

School statement:

"California Baptist University (CBU) architecture students design for the public good. The architecture programme at CBU prepares students to serve as design professionals rooted in the Christian faith tradition. This unique approach to architectural education encourages students to be inspired and guided by faith as they endeavour to serve the public good.

"The CBU architecture programme offers an accelerated five-year accredited Master of Architecture degree in the Inland Empire of Southern California, which features a variety of opportunities for interdisciplinary inquiry, professional development and global study and engagement.

"The design curriculum within the CBU architecture programme emphasises an analytical and data-driven approach to understanding the impact of architecture on human experience and the natural environment across a range of project types. The work in this VDF school show represents the imagination of a plurality of questions and courses by students who, as a whole, participate in critical investigations of design, material and the ephemeral."

Terminal by Allison Bighouse

"For this spatial concept for a hypothetical airport terminal, I was inspired by courtyard buildings. I wanted to incorporate this into my airport to challenge the assumption that you have to be 'inside a building' when you're in an airport. My design includes a large courtyard area in the centre with outdoor seating. Natural plant elements are visible from all sides of the indoor area through glass walls.

"By including a courtyard was integral to the design concept, a linear terminal building wouldn't work. Instead, I created a closed structure. I tried many different shapes and incorporated convex curves and obtuse angles to maximise surface area for plane gates.

"I decided on a distorted hexagon shape because it naturally worked with my origami-inspired roof plan. The building shape also provided clear areas for the main entrance and security area, plane gates and courtyard."

Student: Allison Bighouse Tutor: Keelan Kaiser Course: SP21 ARC122

Context by Alyssa Lee and Christopher Diaz

"The work of second-year students Alyssa Lee and Christopher Diaz typifies the foundation experiences of CBU students, creating imagined space and objects. The pair of strategies, collage from within, and generating shape, employ primary design principles that are strong in themselves while also serve as formative works.

"Considering imagined space as a place one is drawn into, collages serve to knit together a plurality of materials, volumes, and programmes. Each fragment embodies abstract and intricate messages and meanings, and these are used to explore the quality and nuances of placemaking.

"Shape generation, subsequent duplication and positioning is also a key part of the foundation years. Imaginary and fantastical sites bring these studies to life and stimulate consideration of their possible pragmatic ends."

Student: Alyssa Lee and Christopher Diaz Tutor: Caleb Walder Course: SP21 ARC212

A Poetry Museum by Thamali Natasha Sri Kantha

"I combined methods, information and products from the previous studio projects through a series of design workflows. The starting point for this particular workflow was the earth and sky collage I did previously during the semester. This design includes public areas; on the first floor, there is the gallery, performance space and service areas; the second floor includes a public collection; while a cafe, roof terrace and research collection are on the third floor.

"This design has a linear perspective that opens up the entire floors from the south to the north of the site. The use of grid lines to determine each space and programme also allowed me to place an atrium and a huge skylight in the middle of the building.

"In addition, the overlapping shapes created unique spaces in both interior and exterior of the building that will shape the experience. In order to determine the placement of the building on the site, I referred to the site analysis done in a previous project. I examined the circulation diagrams and decided to place the building close to Orange and 6th Streets since there is more pedestrian circulation around those streets."

Student: Thamali Natasha Sri Kantha Tutor: Caleb Walder Course: SP21 ARC212

Lighting Analysis by Mark Denison

"Light is an elusive yet critical aspect of designing transcendent spaces. Any impactful incorporation of natural light requires a technical understanding alongside an artful vision. This requires intentional experimentation. The student developed light studies aiming to exemplify one specific characteristic effect of natural light through apertures of various types, sizes, and materials.

"The student combined techniques creating taxonomies of evidence, documenting the design with sequential photography for analysis and adaptation. Direction, intensity, colour and quality were examined over the course of a day. The resulting choreography of light uncovered possibilities for framing architecture as an experience of the transcendent."

Student: Mark Denison Tutor: Matthew Niermann Course: SP21 ARC212

School of Ecology by Gerald Portea

"The envelop system complements the structural and environmental systems to enhance both the occupant experience and aesthetic design through sustainable strategies.

"It is designed as a composite of cladding and sun-shading devices: a layered network that contributes to the resilience of the building. The machined aesthetic of the envelope is meant to inspire and stimulate the learning, craft and collaboration that occurs inside.

"Using a highly refined sleek material and incorporating the natural landscape of the park around it, the architectural expression becomes that of a connection and dynamic of technology and nature, understood and enjoyed by the students who attend the school.

"The school then becomes a statement for the city of Riverside, a city of art and innovation. Overall, the aesthetic of the exterior envelope aims to become a part of the building networks and begin to express their level of integration."

Student: Gerald Portea Tutor: Caleb Walder Course: FA20 ARC410

Christian Study Centre by Andriani Sugianto

"The Christian Study Centre moves the passerby with its glowing presence, prompting longing into the viewer beckoning them to venture towards an enchanting world. The Christian Study Centre's intricate, natural form hints at something captivating – something beyond the physical world.

"The centre questions the ordinary and leads its viewers to transcendent thought. The experience parallels our pursuit to satisfy this constant longing with a physical experience from a garden space to the prayer chapels and reading room to finally reach the central chapel.

"This image highlights the reading room, which offers other moments to dwell in contemplation both in community and individually, and extends the representation of the intermediate space between humanity and God.

"The reading room is met with diaphanous lighting from the chapel and lighting communicating absolute time from the East façade. The reading room tenders an ethereal vantage of the chapel that beckons longing to reach that central space."

Student: Andriani Sugianto Tutor: Matthew Niermann Course: SP21 ARC412

Urban Oasis by Ulysses Hermosillo and Enzo Vliches

"Urban Oasis is an affordable housing and sustainable hybrid housing and urban agriculture development. It is based on a Biblical passage where God instructs the Israelites through the prophet Jeremiah saying, 'build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce'. Residents of Lake Elsinore are provided with a pleasant and dignified space to live and prosper regardless of their financial situation.

"Neighbours and visitors can share and enjoy communal spaces with exceptional views of the lake and mountains where they can mingle together and tend their gardens. Urban Oasis provides opportunities for life skills around healthy food consumption by integrating community farm management and harvesting with the facility as a significant part of the architectural and operational program.

"Through the art and craft of growing their food, taking care of vegetation, and motivating people to work together, Urban Oasis aims to make a dwelling and farming a synthetic experience in an increasingly urban future."

Student: Ulysses Hermosillo and Enzo Vliches Tutor: Caleb Walder Course: SP21 ARC514

Health Services in Rural Rwanda by Courtney Mitchell

"Exploring the contextual application of evidence-based healthcare design, this thesis project aimed to synthesise the best practices of disease-focused healthcare with established methods of patient-focused healthcare into a proposal for a women's health care clinic in rural Rwanda.

"This hybrid healthcare approach was augmented by intentional program development and spatial delineation that empathetically supported rural women's needs and patient family needs during extended maternity stays."

Student: Courtney Mitchell Tutor: Matthew Niermann Course: SP21 ARC511

Media lab by Jacob Arellano

"Culture, community, materiality and technology permeate nearly every facet of our lives and are both the catalysts for and generating proponents of the physical manifestations and boundaries of space we call architecture.

"These four aspects contribute in varying degrees to the success and/or failure of works of the built environment. Collectively these variables simultaneously span from intangible to tangible-between art and science-and determine aesthetics and functionality.

"The relationship of their interconnectivity are tethered to reconciliation and empathy – two additional factors of architecture that designers increasingly find themselves grappling with.

"The instructive Media Lab at Leimert Park in Lake Elsinor provided an opportunity for students to explore design through focusing on these four architectural variables with reconciliation and empathy requiring students to consider the culture and communities served and sustained."

Student: Jacob Arellano Tutor: Aaron Greene Course: FA20 ARC510

Chapel by Samuel Soine

"The chapel space is the culmination of a broader architectural gradient, experienced through space and time, contrasting the orthogonal and the organic. This highlights the juxtaposition between the human-made and the God-made.

"Through organic form and the implementation of natural materials and space echoes the grandeur of God's design and his interpersonal relationship with humankind. As daylight floods the space below, users are encouraged to pause, to look up and reflect God's character.

"The chapel consists of a central multi-usable space on the ground floor, with stepped balconies forming the outer edge. These balconies offer users intimate spaces to pray, worship and gather. The singular skylight further encourages a vertical view as opposed to horizontal, as all otherworldly distractions fade away in the presence of God."

Student: Samuel Soine Tutor: Matthew Niermann Course: SP21 ARC412

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the California Baptist University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post California Baptist University spotlights ten student architecture projects appeared first on Dezeen.

[orbemnews]

Covid? What Covid? Taiwan Thrives as a Bubble of Normality TAIPEI, Taiwan — As the coronavirus has upended lives and economies around the world, Taiwan has been an oasis. Every day, droplets fly with abandon in packed restaurants, bars and cafes. Office buildings hum, and schools resound with the shrieks and laughter of maskless children. In October, a Pride parade drew an estimated 130,000 people to the streets of Taipei, the capital. Rainbow masks were abundant; social distancing, not so much. This island of 24 million, which has seen just 10 Covid-19 deaths and fewer than 1,000 cases, has used its success to sell something in short supply: living without fear of the coronavirus. The relatively few people who are allowed to enter Taiwan have been coming in droves, and they’ve helped to fuel an economic boom. “For a while, Taiwan felt a little empty. A lot of people moved abroad and only came back once in a while,” said Justine Li, the head chef at Fleur de Sel, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the city of Taichung, which she said had been booked up for a month in advance since the fall. “Now, some of those once-in-a-while guests have moved back.” These Covid migrants are largely overseas Taiwanese and dual nationals. They have included businesspeople, students, retirees and well-known figures like Eddie Huang, the Taiwanese-American restaurateur and author. About 270,000 more Taiwanese entered the island than left it in 2020, according to the immigration authorities — about four times the net inflow of the previous year. Taiwan’s borders have been mostly closed to foreign visitors since last spring. But highly skilled non-Taiwanese workers have been allowed in under a “gold card” employment program, which the government has aggressively promoted during the pandemic. Since Jan. 31 of last year, more than 1,600 gold cards have been issued, more than four times as many as in 2019. The influx of people helped make Taiwan one of last year’s fastest-growing economies — indeed, one of the few to expand at all. There was a brief slowdown at the start of the pandemic, but the economy grew more than 5 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the same period in 2019. The government expects 4.6percent growth in 2021, which would be the fastest pace in seven years. Steve Chen, 42, a Taiwanese-American entrepreneur who co-founded YouTube, was the first to sign up for the gold card program. He moved to the island from San Francisco with his wife and two children in 2019. Then, after the pandemic hit, many of his friends in Silicon Valley, particularly those with Taiwanese heritage, began to join him — a reverse brain drain, of sorts. He and colleagues like Kevin Lin, one of the founders of Twitch, and Kai Huang, a co-creator of Guitar Hero, have traded coffee meet-ups at the Ferry Building in San Francisco for badminton matches and poker nights in Taipei. Taiwan’s leaders say the infusion of foreign talent has given a shot of energy to its tech industry, which is better known for manufacturing prowess than for entrepreneurial culture. “That whole chain that you have in the Silicon Valley — the entrepreneurs who are willing to take a risk, the investors that are willing to write an early check — all of those folks have actually come back and are in Taiwan now,” said Mr. Chen, lounging on a couch at his office in a government-backed co-working space in Taipei. “I feel like it’s a golden era for tech,” he said, “and it’s dawning on the government that they should really take advantage of this time now.” The surge of returning citizens has put a squeeze on the short-term rental market. One property manager estimated that the number of dual nationals or overseas Taiwanese looking for apartments was twice as high in 2020 as in most recent years. Updated  March 13, 2021, 3:49 a.m. ET Not all of Taiwan’s industries have been flourishing. Those that depend on robust international travel, like airlines, hotels and tour companies, have taken big hits. But exports have been on the rise for eight straight months, fueled by shipments of electronics and surging demand for Taiwan’s most important product, semiconductor chips. Domestic tourism is also booming. Taiwanese who had been used to taking short flights to Japan or Southeast Asia are now exploring their home. Sightseeing destinations like Sun Moon Lake and the Alishan mountain resort area have been swamped with tourists, and at least one upscale hotel outside Taichung is booked through July. Orchid Island, a small, coral-ringed island off Taiwan’s east coast, had so many visitors last summer that hotel operators started a campaign encouraging them to take two pounds of trash with them when they left. Some aspects of pandemic life have permeated Taiwan’s borders. Temperature checks and hand sanitizing are common, and masks are required in many public places (though not schools). But for the most part, the virus has been out of sight and out of mind, thanks to rigorous contact tracing and strict quarantines for incoming travelers. Some returnees, like Robin Wei, 35, are dreading their eventual departure. “We just feel very lucky and definitely a little guilty,” said Mr. Wei, a product manager for a Bay Area tech company who returned to Taipei with his wife and young son last May. “We feel like we are the ones who benefited from the pandemic.” For many, coming back has meant a chance to reconnect with Taiwan. After getting a master’s degree in computer science in Australia, Joshua Yang, 25, a dual Taiwanese-Australian citizen, decided to return in October. The job market in Australia was looking bleak, he said, so he took the opportunity to do the military service required of all Taiwanese men under 36. Mr. Yang wasn’t the only one with that idea. When he arrived for basic training in December, Mr. Yang said, he found himself bunking with an assorted group of returnees and dual nationals, including an American, a German, a Filipino and an overseas Taiwanese who had been studying in California. Since completing two and a half weeks of training, Mr. Yang has been allowed to finish out his service by volunteering at an Indigenous history museum in a remote town in southern Taiwan. “It’s something that I have always wanted to do, but I don’t know if I would have had the opportunity if it weren’t for the pandemic,” Mr. Yang said. “I’ve been able to understand my homeland in a different way through a different lens and learn what it’s like for the Indigenous people of Taiwan, who are the traditional owners of the land.” Many are wondering how long Taiwan’s status as a Covid-19 outlier can last, especially as vaccine rollouts surge forward elsewhere. So far, officials have been slow to procure and distribute vaccines, in part because there has been so little need for them. The government announced just this month that it had received its first batch, to be given to medical workers. Some people, like Tai Ling Sun, 72, are already making plans to leave the bubble. In January, Ms. Sun and her husband came from California to the city of Kaohsiung, where she grew up, at the urging of friends and family in Taiwan. They were concerned about her safety in Orange County, where coronavirus cases had been on the rise. After two weeks in quarantine, Ms. Sun stepped out into a Taiwan that — aside from the masks — looked and felt almost exactly as it had on previous visits. She has since been making the most of her stay with a series of routine medical checkups, something that many in the United States have been delaying since the pandemic started. But a virus-free paradise doesn’t provide immunity to all ailments. Ms. Sun said she had begun to feel homesick. She longed to see her five children and breathe pristine suburban air. And, she added, she wanted a vaccine. “It’s been great to be here,” Ms. Sun said. “But it’s time to go home.” Source link Orbem News #Bubble #Covid #Normality #Taiwan #thrives

[xtruss]

OPINION // RACISM

America Cannot Lecture Africans on Human Rights

George Floyd's death demonstrates just how little America cares about Black lives at home and abroad.

— By Tafi Mhaka | Sunday May 31, 2020 | Aljazeera.Com

Police in riot gear prepare to advance on protesters rallying after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, US on May 30, 2020.

Seated in the unenviable squalor of my modest, sparsely furnished living room, deep in the southern end of "shithole" Africa, as American President Donald Trump casually described it in January 2018, I have come to the firm conclusion that America is not qualified to lecture my continent on human rights and democracy. I have watched the video of the tragic, untimely death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota and have remained appalled at the brazen inhumanity demonstrated by the police in a "first world" democracy.

I have read in horror countless social media posts, penned by pained Black, brown and white folks on the latest controversial death of a Black man in America, which came on the heels of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky.

Each post has been inundated with an obvious abundance of silent, peaceful rage and despondency at the violent racism permeating every aspect of life in the world's leading democracy. Utterly shocked at what I have been seeing, I have had to repeatedly remind myself that this is America.

This is the same country that reacts with immediate moral outrage whenever something goes terribly amiss and somebody dies at the hands of the police and in full view of the public in Africa.

Whenever the spectre of governmental injustice lords over Africa, America always makes its boisterous, unapologetic voice heard on a continent purportedly starved of human rights.

America is always proud to condemn the "brutal violence by cowardly and vicious armed groups" and the "disproportionate use of force" by security forces in Africa. In fact, a predictable stream of condescending diplomatic self-righteousness is certainly the lifeblood of America's ubiquitous presence in Africa's young and still-developing democracies.

However, it is not just America that is forever indulging in this made-for-TV moralising crusade, whenever a life is regrettably stolen. The rest of the West also chimes in with a chorus of splendid, choreographed integrity.

So, since Monday, when news of Floyd's death first surfaced, I have been anxiously waiting to hear a deluge of condemnations from these highly respectable Western nations.

I have hoped to see France's President Emmanuel Macron hold a news conference, imploring the American authorities to uphold democracy and put an end to the spate of tragic deaths of Black people.

I have hoped to catch a reassuring soundbite from Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressing disapproval of America's systemic abuse of African-Americans.

I have hoped to watch Germany's Angel Merkel declare her profound unease with America's long and shameful record of violating the human rights of its Black citizens.

But I have heard nothing: not a statement, not a tweet has come out of the world's "leading democrats" and human rights proponents.

The truth is the West does not really care about human rights, especially the human rights of African-Americans and Africans; it just cares about preaching about human rights and striding the world stage with hypocritical pride and a pompous air. For, if it really did care, at all, America would not be witnessing nationwide protests today and its fellow "first world" nations would not be so silent about it.

George Floyd's tragic death is not an isolated incident, not a mistake or an exception. It is a sign of a systemic failure in upholding the human rights of minorities and migrants in America.

Minority and migrant communities face more socioeconomic precarity, inadequate healthcare, shorter life spans, and higher incarceration rates than white Americans. Yet the response of the US government to these systemic problems has been to increase policing, not to try to resolve them.

Large numbers of minority voters, particularly African-Americans and Latinos, have also struggled to participate in national elections and have their voice heard on the political scene. Voter suppression in these communities is rife and certain political forces have continued block efforts to enfranchise these voters.

Yet the American megaphone diplomacy in Africa has always insisted on free and fair elections and brandished the American system as a model to follow.

That America is facing such a human rights crisis at home perhaps should not come as a surprise. For decades, despite what it has been preaching, it has purposefully undermined international law and the establishment of a robust international human rights regime which would have pressed governments around the world (including the US one) to uphold human rights at home and abroad.

This has served America well, as it has ensured immunity for its soldiers and political agents committing violent crimes abroad and supporting and abetting dictatorial regimes which have victimised their own citizens. America has done nothing to prosecute grave human rights violations and killings by its soldiers in Iraq and has gone as far as threatening the International Criminal Court, which has opened an investigation into US crimes in Afghanistan. It has also consistently overlooked grave human rights violations by its closest allies - Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Indeed, the leading nation of the "free world" has no moral high ground from which to lecture Africans on human rights.

Yet as disappointed as I am with America's dubious modus operandi and deplorable human rights record, I have found Africa's strong and unequivocal condemnation of Floyd's agonising death a truly welcome and positive development. Without a shadow of doubt, Africans are increasingly convinced that the way forward for their countries does not uphold the American system as a model but as a cautionary tale.

— The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.

[mountaindelta]

Surrender

This is text I was asked to submit for a Rx Opioid and Heroin Awareness Toolkit for Southern West Virginia. It was an honor.

Total surrender. Those two words were in my vocabulary but I refused to recognize them. I’d tried everything that the world had to offer in order to get clean and sober. Cold turkey, 12-steps, new relationships, geographical relocations, self-help, and church. Nothing worked until I  totally surrendered my life and will over to Jesus Christ. 

I grew up in Vicksburg, MS, in the South Mississippi Delta. I was adopted into a good traditional Southern Baptist family when I was a baby and never really wanted for anything. We lived in a nice neighborhood, attended church every time the doors were open, and I attended public schools. There were substance abuse issues within my family but it was kept quiet and never confronted. As a teen, I only processed the “fun” stories of drinking, and they intrigued me. I got drunk for the first time on a camping trip with friends and immediately knew I was set apart. While everyone else had passed out, I was still awake, sitting on the cooler alone -- pounding beer. If I had only known then what I know now. 

Over the next 20 years, my drinking affected every aspect of my life, whether it was my military service, a career in the oil/gas industry, my relationship with God and man, everything. Towards the latter part of my drinking career, anger, shame, hate, and suicide were permeating my thoughts and affecting my actions. I honestly don’t know how many 28 day programs, detox centers, AA groups, jail cells, and therapists  I went through. I exhibited  all the symptoms of somebody who was losing their mind, so I was prescribed psych meds to combat the effects of my self-induced demise. That made things progressively worse. 

In 2012, I realized that I had lost all control and couldn’t even breathe without some sort of substance flowing through my body. Through the urging of some close friends and family members, I made the journey to Ruston, Louisiana and enrolled in Louisiana Adult and Teen Challenge. For the next 8 months I learned to totally surrender ALL of my life to God. That’s something that I do daily. I think of Mark 10:28 when Peter speaks of surrender:

"Behold, we have left everything and followed You."

My wife and I moved our family from Mississippi to Southern West Virginia in 2016, and we are both in public service. Shannon is the Communities in Schools liaison at Welch Elementary, and I am the  manager at the only residential recovery home in McDowell County: Sound Mind Inc. in Welch.

Founded in 2014, Sound Mind, Inc. is a Christ-based, not-for-profit, sober-living program for men and women that offers an environment free from the influence of alcohol, drugs, and derogatory influences under 24/7 supervision. We have facilities in Lester, Mullens, and Welch. Sound Mind, Inc. teaches the principles of the Bible as a way to live a sober, productive, victorious, and educated life. In addition, Sound Mind, Inc. offers opportunities for a person to study and test for a GED, explore additional educational opportunities, work with and learn from Peer Recovery Coaches, and learn career skills such as writing a resume and preparing for a job interview. Also, relapse prevention,  anger management, parenting, and healthy relationship classes, combined with  one-on-one counseling with a licensed professional counselor help prepare men to be successful in recovery.  Above all, Sound Mind, Inc.  seeks to provide the skills necessary for individuals to completely surrender themselves (including their addictions) to Christ and to walk in freedom for the rest of their lives and eternity. https://www.soundmindwv.org/

I have to always be sober and on alert. When I let my armor down, the bottle is right there waiting. Addiction is the only ailment I’ve ever had that constantly tries to convince me that I’m not sick. 

1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

[auskultu]

San Francisco: The Flourishing Underground

Richard Goldstein, The Village Voice, 2 March 1967

SAN FRANCISCO — Forget the cable cars; skip Chinatown and the Golden Gate; don't bother about the topless mother of eight.

The Bay Shore area is the Liverpool of the West. Newsweek says so. Ramparts says so. Crawdaddy says so. And thousands of scenieboppers all over the nation are craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the newest pop acropolis. The most fragile thing to maintain in our culture is an underground. No sooner does a new tribe of rebels skip out, flip out, trip out, and take its stand, than photographers from Life magazine are on the scene doing cover layout No sooner is a low-rent low-harassment quarter discovered than it appears in eight-color spreads on America's breakfast table. The need for the farther-out permeates our artistic involvement. American culture is a store window which must be periodically spruced and re-dressed. The new bohemians needn't worry about opposition these days; just exploitation. The handwriting on the wall says: preserve your thing.

The new music from San Francisco, most of it unrecorded at this writing, is the most potentially vital in the pop world. It shoots a cleansing wave over the rigid studiousness of folk-rock. It brings driving spontaneity to a music that is becoming increasingly classical, conscious of form and influence rather than effect. It is a resurgence which could smother the Monkees, drown the casual castrati who make easy listening, and devour all those one-shot wonders that float above stagnant water.

Most important, if the sound succeeds, it will establish a new brand of culture hero with a new message: pop mysticism.

Talent scouts from a dozen major record companies are now perusing the scene, and grooving with the gathered tribes at the Fillmore and the Avalon. Hip San Francisco is being carved into bits of business territory. The Jefferson Airplane belong to RCA. The Sopwith Camel did so well for Kama Sutra the label has invested in a second local group, the Charlatans. The Grateful Dead have signed with Warner Brothers in an extraordinary deal which gives them complete control over material and production. Moby Grape is tinkering with Columbia and Elektra. And a bulging fistful of local talent is being wined and dined like the last available shikse in the promised land.

All because San Francisco is the Liverpool of the West. Not many bread-men understand the electronic rumblings from beneath the Golden Gate, but they are aware of two crucial factors: the demise of Merseybeat created a doldrums which resulted in the rise of rhythm-and blues and milquetoast music, but left the white teenage audience swooning over an acknowledged fraud: the Monkees. Youth power still makes the pop industry move, and record executives know a fad sometimes needs no justification for success except its presence in a sympathetic time. There is the feeling now, as pop shepherds watch the stars over their grazing flock, that if the San Francisco sound isn't the next Messiah, it will at least give the profits a run for their money.

"The Important thing about San Francisco rock 'n' roll," says Ralph Gleason, "is that the bands here all sing and play live, and not for recordings. You get a different sound at a dance, it's harder and more direct."

Gleason, influential Jazz and pop music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, writes with all the excitement of a participant. But he maintains the detachment of 20 years' experience. It is as though Bosley Crowther had set up headquarters at The Factory. Gleason's thorough comprehension of the new sound is no small factor in its growth and acceptance by the city at large. He is a virtual tastemaker in the Haight and even when the hippies put him down they talk to him, and he listens.

That Ralph Gleason writes from San Francisco is no coincidence. This city's rapport with the source of its ferment is unique. Traveling up the coast from the ruins of the Sunset Strip to the Haight is a Dantesque ascent. It is no accident that 400 miles makes the difference between a neon wasteland and the most important underground in the nation. San Francisco has the vanguard because it works hard to keep it. Native culture is cherished as though the city's consuming passion were to produce a statement that could not possibly be duplicated in New York. Chauvinism in Southern California runs to rhetoric about the grandeur of nature, but up north it is all have-you-seen-the-Mime-Troupe? and Haight-Street-makes-the-Village-look-like-a-city-dump.

Ten years ago, San Franciscans frowned on North Beach, but let it happen. Now, the city is prepared to support the rock underground by ignoring it. The theory of tacit neglect means a de-facto tolerance of psychedelic drugs. San Francisco is far and away the most turned-on city in the Western world. "The cops are aware of the number of heads here," says Bill Graham who owns the Fillmore and manages the Jefferson Airplane. "The law thinks it will fade out like North Beach. What can they do? To see a cop in the Haight... it's like the English invading China. Once they own it, how are they going to police it?"

With safety in numbers, the drug and rock undergrounds swim up the same stream. The psychedelic ethic—still germinating and still unspoken—runs through the musical mainstream like a current. When Bob Weir, rhythm guitarist of the Grateful Dead, says "the whole scene is like a contact high," he is not speaking in fanciful metaphor. Musical ideas are passed from group to group like a joint. There is an almost visible cohesion about San Francisco rock. With a scene that is small enough to navigate and big enough to make waves, with an establishment that all but provides the electric current, no wonder San Francisco is Athens. This acropolis has been carefully, sturdily built, and it is not going to crumble because nobody wants to see ruins messing up the skyline. • • • "I didn't have any musical revelation when I took acid. I'm a musician first. My drug experiences are separate." The speaker is a member of the Jefferson Airplane, the oldest and most established group in the Bay Area. With a cohesive, vibrant sound, they are the hip community's first product. Their initial album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, was weak enough to make you wonder about all the noise, but the new release, Surrealistic Pillow, is a fine collection of original songs with a tight and powerful delivery. The hit single, 'My Best Friend', is a pleasant enough ballad, but much better to 'White Rabbit', which is Alice in Wonderland with a twist of psychedelic lemon. Grace Slick's vocal wobbles deliciously and the lyrics are concise and funny. Especially worth repeating is the song's advice: "Remember what the dormouse said: feed your head."

The mouse la sometimes employed to symbolize psychedelic "enlightenment". In Los Angeles, the same realization is expressed by the Flower. A concern with and an expression of turning on is an aspect of Bay Area rock, but it is by no means central to the music. The secretive reserve that characterizes every other hip community is unnecessary baggage here. There is open talk of drug experience. When references appear in the music they are direct and specific. While some groups seem impaled on a psychedelic spear ("How do we talk about drugs without getting banned from the radio?" is a key question of every Byrds album), San Francisco music says "pot" and goes on to other things. Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead insists: "We're not singing psychedelic drugs, we're singing music. We're musicians, not dope fiends."

He sits in the dining room of the three-story house he shares with the group, their women, and their community. The house is one of those masterpieces of creaking, curving spaciousness the Haight is filled with. Partially because of limited funds, but mostly because of the common consciousness which almost every group here adapts as its ethos, the Grateful Dead live and work together. They are acknowledged as the best group in the Bay Area. Leader Jerry Garcia is a patron saint of the scene. Ken Kesey calls him "Captain Trips." There is also Pigpen, the organist, and Reddy Kilowatt on bass.

Together, the Grateful Dead sound like live thunder. There are no recordings of their music, which is probably just as well because no album could produce the feeling they generate in a dance hall. I have never seen them live, but I spent an evening at the Fillmore listening to tapes. The music hits hard and stays hard, like early Rolling Stones, but distilled and concentrated. When their new album comes out, I will whip it onto my meagre record player and if they have left that boulder sound at some palatial LA studio and come out with a polished pebble. I will know they don't live together in the Haight anymore.

But, right now a group called the Grateful Dead are playing live and living for an audience of anybody's kids in San Francisco. Theirs is the Bay Area sound. Nothing convoluted in the lyrics, just rock 'n' roll lingua-franca. Not a trace of preciousness in the music; just raunchy, funky chords. The big surprise about the San Francisco sound has nothing to do with electronics or some zany new camp. Musicians in this city have knocked all that civility away. They are back in dark, grainy sounds that are roots.

"San Francisco is live," says Janis Joplin, singer for Big Brother and the Holding Company. "Recording in a studio is a completely different trip. No one makes a record like they sound live. Hard rock is the real nitty-gritty."

Ask an aspiring musician from New York who his idols are and he'll begin a long list with the Beatles or Bob Dylan, then branch off into Paul Simon literacy or the Butterfield Blues bag (which means sounding like you've got a Ph.D in spade music) or a dozen variations in harmonics and composition.

Not so in San Francisco. Bob Dylan is like Christianity here: they worship but they don't touch. The sound of the Grateful Dead, or Moby Grape, or Country Joe and the Fish, is jug band music scraping against jazz. This evolution excludes most of the names in modern pop music. A good band is a "heavy" band, a "hard" band.

Marty Balin, who writes for the Jefferson Airplane, declares: "The Beatles are too complex to influence anyone around here. They're a studio sound." Which is as close as a San Francisco musician comes to hissing. Their music, they insist, is a virgin forest, unchanneled and filled with wildlife. There is a fear, a dread, of the A&R man's ax. This refusal to add technological effect is close to the spirit of folk music before Dylan electrified it. "A rock song still has to have drive and soul," Balin maintains. "Jazz started out as dance music, and ended up dead as something to listen to. If you can't get your effects live, the music's not alive."

Gary Duncan, lead guitarist for the Quicksilver Messenger Service, adds: "Playing something in a studio means playing for two months. Playing live, a song changes in performance. In a studio, you attack things intellectually; onstage it's all emotion."

San Francisco musicians associate Los Angeles with the evils of studio music. This is probably because almost every group has made the trek south to record. And the music available on record is anything but hard rock (the Sopwith Camel, for instance, earned everyone's disfavor with a lilting good-timey rendition of 'Hello, Hello'. "They give us a bad name," says one musician. "They're a diversion," says another. "They smile nice.")

But resentment of Los Angeles goes much deeper than the recording studio. The rivalry between Northern and Southern California makes a cold war in pop inevitable. While musicians in Los Angeles deride the sound from up north as ''pretentious and self-conscious" and shudder at the way "people live like animals up there," the Northern attitude is best summed up by a member of the Quicksilver Messenger Service who quipped: "L.A. hurts our eyes."

Part of the Holding Company puts down the Byrds because: "they had to learn to perform after they recorded. Here, the aim is to get the crowd moving." A Jefferson Airplane says of the Beach Boys: "What Brian Wilson is doing is fine but in person there's no balls. Everything is prefabricated like the rest of that town. Bring them into the Fillmore, and it just wouldn't work."

The technology involved in putting on a lightshow doesn't seem to bother San Franciscans, however, because what they're really uptight about is not artificiality but Southern California. There is a sneaking suspicion in this city that the South rules and The Bay is determined to keep at least its cultural supremacy untarnished. Even Ralph Gleason has little sympathy for Los Angeles music. "The freaks are fostered and nurtured by L. A. music hype," he says. "The hippies are different. What's going on here is natural and real." The question of who is commercial and who is authentic is rhetorical. What really matters about San Francisco is what mattered about Liverpool three years ago. The underground occupies a pivotal place in the city's life. The Fillmore and the Avalon are jammed every weekend with beaded, painted faces and flowered shirts. The kids don't come from any mere bohemian quarter. Hip has passed the point where it signifies a commitment to rebellion, it has become the style of youth in the Bay Area, just as long hair and beat music were the Liverpool Look.

San Francisco is a lot like that grimy English seaport these days, in 1964. Liverpool rang with a sound that was authentically expressive and the city never tried to bury it. This is what is happening in San Francisco today. The establishment has achieved a much greater victory here than on the Strip: integration. The underground is open, unencumbered, and radiating. The rest of the country will get the vibrations, and they will probably pay for them.

Which everyone thinks is groovy. The Grateful Dead are willing to sing their 20-minute extravaganza, 'Midnight Hour', for anyone who will listen, and if people pay, so much the better. But Bob Weir insists: "If the industry is gonna want us, they're gonna take us the way we are. If the money comes in, it'll be a stone gas."

It will be interesting to visit the bay area when the breadmen have glutted every artery. It will be fascinating to watch the Fillmore become the Radio City Music Hall of pop music It will be a stone gas to take a greyhound sightseeing tour through the Haight.

But that's another story about another San Francisco. Right now, give or take a little corruption, it is new ideas, new faces, and new music.