tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57194016714108237162024-03-14T05:52:14.708-05:00A Taoist Journey to the StarsTaoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-77949382858784182832015-01-07T23:17:00.001-06:002015-01-07T23:17:55.959-06:00Change of PlansI must apologize. I had planned on a 10 day challenge of insight and intrigue for the first 10 days of 2015.<br />
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Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans, and I came down with the flu on the 1st. We did manage to stick to whole foods the first day, but I didn't want our challenge to be colored by my illness, so I asked him if we could reset and start when I get over this and he agreed. He had his hands full enough with our toddler without also having to make sure everything was whole food.<br />
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So I am just now beginning to feel better. I will report back soon with our new start date.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-56637256733430538482015-01-01T00:17:00.001-06:002015-01-01T00:17:08.654-06:00A new year, a new challengeTypically in years past I have posted a detailed account of my previous year with a few musings along the way.<br />
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This past year has been a crazy one, but I think I'll keep that part short and sweet.<br />
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Events of the year include: Colic, 2 parents having open heart surgery, loss of a few friends, birth of a great niece, my son's first crawl,words, steps, tooth, and birthday.<br />
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All of these things were memorable and impactful, but right now I'm very focused on the future. Here's why. My husband and I have decided to take the <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/take-the-10-day-pledge/" target="_blank">10 Days of Real Food</a> Challenge. It may seem a bit out of left field to some readers, as I don't tend to blog much about food ( I have a friend who does a better job of that than I ever could anyway). But just because I don't blog about it, doesn't mean I don't think about it. In fact, I think about it A LOT!<br />
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While I have often leaned toward the more natural side of things, I never really took it seriously. It's just too easy to give in to temptation, namely for me: chocolate. I think having two parents recently have open heart surgery really made me re-evaluate how I was treating my health - as a low priority. While both parents (my father and my MIL) are doing well, they had a huge wake up call, not to mention some really stressful times for their loved ones. <br />
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I take a step back and think, I'm so glad western medicine was there to save my dad's life, but preventing it needed to start much earlier. It needed to start years ago, when he was, say, my age. I look at my toddler son and I think, if we continue on this path, what does he have to look forward too?<br />
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So, back to the challenge. This is my idea of the healthiest way of eating, it is not necessarily the most scientifically researched, the latest fad, or even well known. Real food is a way of getting away from the processed food of today's world, and sticking with food as nature made it, with minimal cooking or manipulating. The whole idea just makes sense to me. I think closer to nature is a good thing in all aspects of life, so it just makes sense here as well.<br />
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I plan on blogging more about it over the next 10 days, but this will make the next year have a very different beginning. Off to bake some whole grain muffins for breakfast tomorrow... Day 1.<br />
<br />Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-59762083599276337802014-12-21T23:30:00.000-06:002014-12-24T00:10:58.845-06:00A Merry Winter Solstice to YouMerry solstice on the longest night of the year! <br />
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This was an interesting holiday season at our house. We are an interfaith family if you will. Though not in the conventional sense. Both my husband and I come from Christian families, so we will partake in typical Christmas style celebrations with our extended family. We've always done well with it, and then we've kind of done our own thing beyond that. However, this year added a new twist.<br />
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With our son being 1 year old, we felt it was time to include him in some traditions of our own. This is an additional challenge, as I identify as Taoist, and the husband as Pagan. We are lucky in some ways, because these two integrate well, in identification with nature and new beginnings.<br />
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We opted to open our gifts (modest yet fun) on December 21 and spent the day focusing on gratitude and merriment. We lit the tree in the morning and just tried to create a happy atmosphere. Wee one is a bit small for explanations of what the holiday means, so husband and I spent a lot of time in the evening discussing it ourselves.<br />
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For the next few years, we would like to add a few traditions of our own (feel free to offer suggestions) that may or may not be specific to yule/winter solstice. It can be difficult because there is no real guideline for observance. Yet, this can also be freeing, allowing us to create something unique and tailored for our little family.<br />
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I hope you all had a nice observance of Yin in it's highest form. Time to hibernate and rejuvenate. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DMjAbYUKcHQ/VJpUT6l9MWI/AAAAAAAAAMo/9df49oUJFcI/s1600/HappySolstice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DMjAbYUKcHQ/VJpUT6l9MWI/AAAAAAAAAMo/9df49oUJFcI/s1600/HappySolstice.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would love to give credit for this glorious photo, alas I have no idea where I got it in years past, if anyone knows, please let me know.</td></tr>
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<br />Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-35494556033535285942014-07-15T00:24:00.001-05:002014-07-15T00:24:20.452-05:00Positive ThoughtsMy first introduction to Taoism was through a book written by Wayne Dyer called <i>Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life</i>. In the book, he gives his interpretation of the Tao Te Ching. Now I have since learned so much more about Taoism, and realize certain potential shortcomings in his interpretations. I know many on the Taoist forums that don't care for it (don't get me started on dealing with Tao-Trolls), but as my entry point, I can't help but love the book and feel it has a lot to offer me. Because of this book, Taoism and positive thinking are irreversibly linked in my head.<br />
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Recently, my family has been through a lot, much of which I have posted about previously. On top of it all, my mother-in-law recently underwent open heart surgery, throwing an already crazy life into more upheaval. I'm happy to say she is home from the hospital and doing well, but we are still reeling from the emotional roller coaster. <br />
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A few nights ago, I found myself overwhelmed. Little one is teething, and not sleeping well, or eating well, he's pretty fussy all the time really. Hubby was gone (understandably) and I was lost in what seemed a never ending spiral of crying, clinging, screaming, and fussing. <br />
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Luckily, my husband is the master of positive thinking, and once he was home, he pointed out to me that even with all that was happening, it was still better than when we were dealing with colic 24/7. He was right, of course, an annoying habit of his. <br />
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I read an article online some time ago that aptly described the horror that is colic. Something only someone who has dealt with it can understand (we're pretty good at spotting each other too, perhaps we don't hand out the cliche's quite as readily as most). I wish I could find the article again, because it was so good and to give credit, but alas, I can't seem to find the same rabbit hole I had found that night. This author coined a term we have begun using: Post Colic Stress Disorder.<br />
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This is not meant to minimize or compare to PTSD in any way. I have a cousin who suffers, and I would never dream of claiming to understand his pain. It does, however, refer the fact that my husband and I both tend to over-react to almost every sound our son makes. Believe me, if you've ever had to keep a colic baby quiet while in public, you really have to see the fit coming and head it off at the pass (or fly like the wind and get out of there). It appears to many that we are over-protective, or uptight, (and boy people aren't afraid to tell you so) but believe me, it's a habit formed of necessity, not choice.<br />
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It took that moment, being so overwhelmed that day, to sit back and realize, that while that day was bad, the days around it were not so bad. There are so many ways we are able to enjoy our son now that we weren't when we were "in the trenches" so to speak. <br />
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I am returning to my beginning (full cycle if you will) and reminding myself of the power of thoughts. If I don't think of all the wonderful things, I can easily dismiss them and focus on the negative or more difficult things. I hope this is a skill that can help all the members of our family appreciate all that we have, and continue to face the challenges knowing it does get better.<br />
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Now off to visit Grandma! Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-9039389297827840402014-06-15T11:38:00.001-05:002014-06-15T11:38:49.170-05:00Happy Father's DayToday is a day to celebrate all the father figures out there. I am always careful to include not only those who have officially sired children, but also those whose hearts have the capacity to accept and love those sired by others. The world is such a better place because those men exist as well.<br />
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For me, today is a day of gratitude. First, we are celebrating having our child that the universe took so long to bring to us. My hubby waited a very long time for the title of 'Daddy' and he wears it so well. I could not ask for a better partner on this new journey of parenting.<br />
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I will consider my job as a parent successful if our little man becomes half the man his father is.<br />
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Parenthood has been a greater challenge than I ever thought possible so far, and this amazing man has been there the entire way. Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-15765853256489365872014-05-29T23:20:00.000-05:002014-05-29T23:20:58.340-05:00Change AboundsA reader pointed out to me that the Tao is change. How incredibly true. A familiar quote states something along the lines of: The only thing that never changes, is that everything changes.<br />
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Well, there are many changes occurring in our household at the moment.<br />
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Change #1<br />
My dear husband is home for the summer. He is a teacher and will not have to return to work for 3 months. This means drastic changes for this stay-at-home mom. A little more help and a lot more company just to start. He has a long list of things he'd like to accomplish this summer, but having another person here makes me feel a lot less alone. He is even making it a point to give me some time to myself each day to use as I please. I have amazing plans for this time: cleaning (I know exciting, but so many things have been put off), sewing, writing, working some odd jobs, reading books, doing Tai Chi, meditating, and maybe even playing some mindless games. We'll see how much of this actually happens, but I look forward to giving it a try.<br />
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Change #2<br />
We made the controversial decision to take our little one to a chiropractor. I had never heard of such a thing, and the initial idea made me uneasy. Turns out is not as uncommon as I once thought. Once I began talking to people, I found several people I know who did the same. We carefully choose a practice that specializes in pediatrics and made an appointment. I have to say, from the first visit, our boy changed dramatically. She found that he was "out" in three separate places. Even that night, we noticed how much more comfortable our little man seemed. After several visits, he is finally aligned normally, and his demeanor is changed dramatically. He spends much more time happy, he puts himself to sleep at night, and sleeps for longer periods on a regular basis. Can I hear a hallelujah chorus?<br />
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Change #3<br />
A distant relative of mine just lost their child to cancer. She was only one and half years old. I didn't know her personally, but followed her and her family's struggle closely on facebook. Words cannot describe the heartache they must be feeling right now. My own heart bleeds for their loss. It has given me a pretty big smack over the head though. I have had a rough first 7 months with my son, and I won't apologize for saying it's been hard. But the difficulty of that journey has paled in comparison to this family's reality. I'm not normally one to compare my difficulty with others, but I can't help it this time, and I think it's an okay thing. I can cherish every moment with my son, even the difficult ones, because he his here and healthy, and I should never stop being grateful for that.<br />
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So with all these changes, I find myself looking to the Tao again. Even just taking time to think about it makes me feel whole again, like myself. For some time, the Tao has helped me to deal with hardship, and even come to terms with the unthinkable.<br />
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It is time for that cycle to begin again.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-68657115199189679192014-05-12T15:51:00.001-05:002014-05-12T15:51:10.632-05:00A Quick EmergenceI'm not sure whether to apologize for my absence, or simply accept that it is what it is and people can guess why I've been preoccupied.<br />
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I gave birth to my first child on November 2nd of last year.<br />
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My new found status of mother has not been an easy one. I cannot even begin to explain the world I've been living in for the last 6 months. But I can say that the Tao has been all but forgotten. More to the point, the person I was before has also been forgotten.<br />
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Along with the normal challenges of caring for a newborn, I have had numerous other obstacles thrown in my path such as jaundice, colic and a high needs baby.<br />
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I love my son beyond measure, but I am in desperate need of finding myself again. I need the position of mother to be one of the things that describes me, not the thing that defines me. It will be a struggle, for sure, but my happiness and sanity requires it.<br />
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So here's to a new challenge for this blog. Writing is something I've always found cathartic, so I am going to try my best to venture back here. I hope no one will mind that my posts will likely be different, because I am different.<br />
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But my journey continues...Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-10969646181723406992013-07-06T17:42:00.001-05:002013-07-06T17:42:57.771-05:00Life's Little TestsMy online temple had a very interesting discussion last week. While discussing a verse of the Tao Te Ching, the talk turned to tests that life may give you.<br />
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A test of adversity is tough, no doubt about it. Many turn to faith in these times, and offer support to others in a similar situation. It's true that for many, their adverse times are truly character building.<br />
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What of the opposite though? The Tao proposes that there is an equal and opposite test we all face (yin yang anyone?). <br />
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A test of prosperity seems like a test we'd all be glad to take. The trouble is, it may not be as easy as it sounds. When things are going well in your life, it becomes easy to take things for granted, to get priorities mixed up, and many other unwanted outcomes. <br />
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I feel as though I am experiencing such a test right now. After almost 5 years of adversity, things are really going well for me now. It's strange, I almost don't know how to act. I had almost made infertility a part of my persona. Now I'm switching that persona to pregnant, and eventually to mom. It's surreal, as I spent so much time dreaming about it, and here it is. <br />
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I have vowed not to take it for granted. I am so happy to have my little man growing inside me. I love him with all of my heart already, and am thankful for his growth and health every day. I have also continued to reach out to my fellow infertile community. A success story alone can be a great source of hope to many. <br />
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I am also making sure to reconnect with the Tao. Focus on the three treasures of compassion, humility, and simplicity.<br />
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I have to admit, I do prefer this test of prosperity. But it helps to take a step back and remember that it too is a test.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-48532338394542168712013-06-04T11:34:00.001-05:002013-06-04T11:34:23.888-05:00My Nephew the Chicken WhispererYesterday my brother paid us an impromptu visit. This doesn't happen very often. He brought one of my nephews with him this time. It's the first time any of his younger kids have been here since we got the chickens in October of last year.<br />
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Nephew had to stop and say hello to the cats, his mom was a cat hoarder before moving in with my brother so he has lots for kitties. Then it was immediately, "I want to see the chickens."<br />
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We headed outside. They'd already been on their walk for the day (what we call letting them out to roam free for awhile) but I opted to let them out again so he could really see them at their best. The chickens were confused but delighted at their second chance for freedom. They immediately came out and began exploring, offering nephew plenty of chances to interact.<br />
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It was fun watching him play with them. He's older so there wasn't much chasing. But he would mimic their sounds and they would return them. After herding them back in the coop, the adults stood around talking about boring stuff like gardens and solar panels. When we looked back, nephew had sat in front of the coop and had all the chicken's attention.<br />
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/468595_10200801603594085_54111201_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/468595_10200801603594085_54111201_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
He was squawking at them and they were squawking back, it was a very entertaining sight.<br />
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It strikes me how naturally in tune with nature this kid was. I never told him how to interact with the chickens, he just started doing it in his own way, and it worked well.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-18139686655248308262013-05-22T13:38:00.000-05:002013-05-22T16:22:43.270-05:00A short rantI try not to rant to much here on my blog, and instead bring you informed and thoughtful posts that relate to the Tao. I'm afraid this is one exception, I will keep it short, though.<br />
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I was asked yesterday if I would be attending my nephew's graduation. This seems like a simple question, what could be wrong with that? The problem is, my nephew is 5 years old and "graduating" from pre-school. I was baffled. I innocently asked, "What was the criteria for them to graduate?" The answer was a simple, "Nothing, he's 5, what do you expect?"<br />
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I am all for celebrating accomplishments, achievements, etc. But I cannot imagine sending my kid through this ceremony where they had all the typical graduation ceremony fare. I didn't go, but I've seen pictures. They were all dressed up, lined up and received a diploma, giving their teacher a hug.
Perhaps someone can tell me the positives of something like this. My nephew did not have to accomplish anything in particular, did not have to be able prove what he learned. Not a single student failed to "graduate." Some of these parents had parties, gave gifts and did all the typical graduation things.<br />
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Call me cynical, but I can't help but think that celebrations like this might be contributing to the bloated sense of entitlement I see running rampant in younger generations.
Webster defines graduation as, "the award or acceptance of an academic degree or diploma" and I just don't think this qualifies. What must my nephew think of the fact that his dad recently graduated college?<br />
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Okay, I'm done. Sorry for those who love these things, it just bothers me. Now that I have a little one on the way, I wonder how I will handle this type of thing.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-33428757109339275692013-05-14T13:05:00.001-05:002013-05-14T13:32:03.209-05:00Forgive meI hope you will all forgive the indulgence, but I'd like to have a countdown to my due date. I was trying to find one that would go on the side bar, for so far this is the best I could do.<br />
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<a style="text-decoration: none; color:#F9F9FF;" href="http://mycountdown.org/Special_Day/New_Baby/">New Baby Countdown</a></div>
</noscript> <script src="http://mycountdown.org/countdown.php?cp3_Hex=0F0200&cp2_Hex=040244&cp1_Hex=F9F9FF&ham=0&img=&hbg=0&hfg=0&sid=0&fwdt=500&lab=1&ocd=New+Baby&text1=Baby Arrives In&text2=New Baby!&group=Special Day&countdown=New Baby&widget_number=3003&event_time=1384041600&timezone=UTC" type="text/javascript"></script> </div>
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Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-47130482651703624652013-05-07T00:37:00.000-05:002013-05-07T00:37:15.890-05:00Learning to Let Go<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It may not be the central theme of the Tao Te Ching, but
learning to let things go is certainly a topic of choice throughout the pages.</div>
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I will offer a few examples from the popular Stephen Mitchell
translation:</div>
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"The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead.</div>
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She is detached from all things; that is why she is one with
them.</div>
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Because she has let go of herself, she is perfectly
fulfilled."</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>~
Verse 7 Excerpt</div>
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"If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job,
then let go."</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>~
Verse 24 Excerpt</div>
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“If you want to be a great leader, you must learn to follow
the Tao.</div>
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Stop trying to control.</div>
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Let go of fixed plans and concepts, and the world will
govern itself.</div>
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The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people
will be.</div>
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The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be.</div>
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The more subsidies you have, the less self-reliant people
will be.</div>
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Therefore the Master says:</div>
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I let go of the law, and people become honest.</div>
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I let go of economics, and people become prosperous.</div>
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I let go of religion, and people become serene.</div>
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I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good
becomes common as grass.”</div>
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~ Verse 57</div>
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“Nothing is impossible for him.</div>
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Because he has let go, he can care for the people's welfare as
a mother cares for her child.”</div>
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~ Verse 59 Excerpt</div>
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Now with all that being said, it is clear to me how important
learning to let things go is to the process of Tao cultivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, this is one thing I struggle
with on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have attempted
meditation, which works for some things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Practicing Tai Chi seems to help me center and be in the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, it seems everything I have let
go comes crashing back eventually.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Because I believe this is important, when I saw a tool that
was designed to help me let go, I had to have one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tool is called a Buddha Board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simple, yet so profound.</div>
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<a href="http://lillstreetgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/buddhaboard_max.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lillstreetgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/buddhaboard_max.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The main idea is that you may use water to paint on the
canvas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It creates a lovely ink style
brush stroke that can create beautiful pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a quote unquote “art person”, this is
right up my alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the trick
though: That masterpiece disappears just minutes later, revealing another blank
canvas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s poetic, and I find myself
using it often.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When something is bothering me, I either paint a symbolic
representation of my troubles or just write out a word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watch the canvas and think about whatever
it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that moment, I allow myself to
obsess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, as the ink fades, I
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<br />Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-65075033518765520362013-04-21T01:38:00.000-05:002013-04-21T01:38:16.354-05:00The Pitter Patter of Little FeetWell, bloggers. The time has finally come.<br />
<br />
Many of you have been following my trials with infertility for some time. I opted to share this journey in my blog because it is not spoken of much among any but the closest of friends. But the blog gave me a place to vent and document the trials, though I still kept things vague.<br />
<br />
I am so happy to tell you all that my journey with infertility is finally at an end. I am pleased to announce that I am currently 11 weeks pregnant. We opted to wait to tell people, because we've had some issues we wanted to be sure everything was alright. Our estimated due date is November 10, 2013.<br />
<br />
I have used Taoism to help me through the tough times infertility brought me, and I am really looking forward to using the teachings to help me be the best parent I can be. I am in awe of the miracle that is growing inside me, an amazing illustration of nature at its finest. I try to stay positive, though morning (noon and night) sickness hit pretty hard at 6 weeks and the fatigue is unparallelled. Luckily the nausea has eased up and I'm beginning to feel myself again.<br />
<br />
Thank you to all of you who supported us through this journey, I feel so lucky to count you among my friends.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-46365372735745135242013-04-09T01:16:00.000-05:002013-04-09T01:16:06.818-05:00Roaming FreeWe are new to the chicken raising thing, and boy has it been a learning experience. <br />
<br />
Our girls are doing well. All 9 survived the winter and seem happy to bask in the new found sunlight. We are doing some thinking about how well the tractor coop works. The idea is sound, the chickens always have new ground, so they can hunt, dig and peck to their hearts content. There was something I just wasn't happy with, though.<br />
<br />
One day, I accidentally left the coop top open when I went to get more feed and such. When I came back three chickens had hopped out and were foraging around in the nearby leaves. Rather than being frustrated that they got out, I sat on the steps and watched them. This was natural, chickens being chickens. The behavior was different than any I had seen in the coop though. Then I decided to try and put them back in the coop. Two went rather easily, but one, who I have nicknamed Queenie because she is obviously at the top of the pecking order, took off.<br />
<br />
She ran circles around the coop with me stalking after her. She clucked and ruffled her wings as she ran. I grew tired and stopped to catch my breath. I almost burst out laughing when she looked behind her and stopped and waited for me. Then it hit me, she wasn't running from me out of fear, or even because she was avoiding being put back in the coop. This was a game, and she was enjoying every minute of our chase. <br />
<br />
Chickens like to run and play, and our girls were not really afforded that opportunity in the small area we were giving them to graze on. Over the winter the tractor served us well, but I decided that day that I needed to afford them more space on a regular basis. <br />
<br />
A few days ago, I fashioned a ramp (we intend to put a more permanent door in soon) to allow the chickens an easy in and out of the coop. Once a day, after the eggs are laid, I go and open it up. Slowly the girls hop out and begin to explore. At first, they stuck really close to me. But on the second day, they got a little braver and ran around in two groups. By the weekend, we let them out and they traveled halfway across the yard to the other side of the shop just to see what we were doing.<br />
<br />
I have no doubt that they are happier. I was a little shocked that egg production went up almost immediately. They are a bit nosier when first put back in the coop, but not for very long. I love sitting and watching them running around, though. They really are chickens being chickens, and I love being witness to nature at its finest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMJt7jBbkLk/UWOxRjxy7AI/AAAAAAAAAK0/RUw-PerJtg0/s1600/chickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMJt7jBbkLk/UWOxRjxy7AI/AAAAAAAAAK0/RUw-PerJtg0/s320/chickens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now if only we could figure out a safe way to get those peepers off...<br /><br />Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-60996952759842004512013-02-20T02:05:00.000-06:002013-02-20T02:05:00.185-06:00An old wive's taleAfter attending a lengthy and insightful talk about Feng Shui, I have been evaluating my own views a little. This talk, based in Taoism, explained that Feng Shui is far less mystical than it is practical. The rules line up with logic that would have been used at the time.<br />
<br />
For example, much of Feng Shui is concerned with good flow in the space. Logically, in the days before air conditioning, the flow in the house would have been vital to keeping the dwelling at a manageable temperature, thus improving the comfort and even health of those within. This is a very broad example, but the talk went into great detail about how practical the ideas of Feng Shui really were. <br />
<br />
This got me thinking. Many people scoff at ideas such as Feng Shui as complete nonsense for the weak of mind. They easily dismiss old wives' tales as unproven, unscientific hokum. I must admit that I count myself among them, as someone who easily dismisses many things that have no scientific backing and always insist on sources for arguments. <br />
<br />
The talk of Feng Shui got me thinking though. Perhaps it is nearsighted to simply dismiss an idea that is not proven. Perhaps we should keep an open mind about traditional ways of thinking. We may not agree with the logic behind it, but perhaps there is still something to learn, a basis in truth if you will.<br />
<br />
For example, the superstition of not walking under a ladder, is at its heart, pretty logical. Will it bring you terrible luck? Most likely not, but it will put you in danger of falling tools, or increase your chances of knocking over a person standing on said ladder. So while the superstition itself is a bit silly, the practice is somewhat understandable, just for a different reason. <br />
<br />
I read once that ancient peoples soaked their beans overnight to ward off the evil spirits contained within (perhaps a metaphor for the gaseous emissions beans are known for?). Indeed, for centuries our ancestors soaked their beans, perhaps for similar reasons, or perhaps simply because they were taught that way. In modern times, research has shown that not only does soaking the beans deactivate many of the chemicals that cause noxious gas, it also makes the nutrients more bio-available and it's really the healthiest way to prepare them.<br />
<br />
How interesting that the reason ancient people soaked the beans is easy to dismiss, however the practice turns out to be very valuable. I wonder what other traditions, ancient wisdoms, or practices have been similarly dismissed.<br />
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I will still place value on science, evidence, and logic, however I will attempt to keep my mind open to ideas, and think more deeply about the possibilities of a piece of truth in the most unlikely places.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-21969814523629729762013-02-10T02:16:00.000-06:002013-02-10T02:16:19.642-06:00Year of the Black SnakeThe Chinese New Year celebrations begin today. 2013 is the year of the black snake.<br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The
influence of water continues this year, and the snake brings steady
progress with focus and discipline. Known as the "little dragon" the
snake is enigmatic, introspective, and intuitive.</span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">For the first time, my husband and I will be celebrating the Chinese New Year together. We have started observing traditions from both of our belief systems this year. I find these observances help me to bring my spiritual side forward, even if only for a few moments. </span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">We are going to make traditional style dumplings, which is said to bring prosperity through the new year. We have already observed the tradition of cleaning house beforehand by tidying up our place to clean out the old year and welcome in the new. We will discuss the many meanings of the year of the black snake over our dumpling dinner (and maybe add some wonton soup and fish). Here is a compilation of what I have found so far.</span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The 2012 water dragon makes way for the 2013 water snake. The snake is akin to a fire sign in traditional astrology. This puts it at odds with the water influence of this year, but the Taoist knows that these opposites are complimentary rather than contradictory. The two elemental influences will balance each other nicely ensuring the year will be full of both highs and lows. </span></span><br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The snake is calm, inward directed and even shy. It never attacks unprovoked. Because snake is the 6th sign of the Chinese Zodiac, it is considered to be yin in nature. This is generally shown by portraying the snake as a female, the gender most associated with yin. </span></span>The snake is a financial wizard, and brings strong business and financial influences for the year.<br />
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Wishing you all the best for the year of the black snake!Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-6696016332136056932013-01-28T01:08:00.000-06:002013-01-28T01:08:16.945-06:00The elusive inner peace<b>Inner Peace</b><br />
Could there be a more lofty goal? Could there be a more worthwhile one?<br />
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A true cultivator of the Tao has unparallelled inner peace. Today I have been contemplating what it will take for me to obtain inner peace. Obviously this is a long and intensive process, as I'm not feeling very peaceful at the moment. I think striving for this kind of peace during turbulent times in my life is quite valuable. If I can keep some semblance of it now, then I can have confidence that I can find inner peace any time in my life.<br />
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Here are the steps I'm currently working on:<br />
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~ Embrace Change<br />
It is a very difficult thing to do, as we humans are hard wired to resist change. Remaining flexible (flowing like a river) allows inner peace to flourish because the struggle to resist change is let go.<br />
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~ Detach from Outcomes<br />
Not being attached to outcomes is something the Tao talks of often. My actions should come from within, not based on the potential outcomes I see. I should be motivated by simplicity, compassion, and humility in all that I do. By letting go of perceived "correct reactions" to my actions, I can keep inner peace regardless of the outcome of any situation.<br />
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~ See Truth<br />
This is perhaps the one that I struggle with the most. I recently asked a Taoist master how I could work on my confidence. He answered simply, "See the authentic truth." This means looking at myself in a truly honest and objective manner. I tend to be quite hard on myself in all aspects, boarding on self-loathing. My husband often points out that I think everyone is better than me, even people I've never met. If I look at myself from an authentic truth, however, I know that I am no more or less worthy of anything than someone else is. Seeing truth erases judgements and allows me to accept everyone and everything as it is, even myself. <br />
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I decided that these three things will be the first steps of my thousand mile journey to inner peace.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-51266690547483906482013-01-17T22:02:00.001-06:002013-01-17T22:02:30.795-06:00ContemplationsI recently got started attending temple again, and boy am I glad. It seems that I get pulled away from my path more easily than I would like to admit. I've been going through some tough times, and sometimes it's easier to feel sorry for myself instead of work through it. Undoubtedly, every time I log into temple (its a physical group in California that also broadcasts online) the topic is something that hits home. <br />
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Here are a few things that have really gotten me thinking recently. <br />
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The yin/yang partner of love is not hate, but fear.<br />
This is something that really speaks to me, as someone who has battled anxiety for some time, fear is a very real emotion that is felt every day. The point was made that hate almost always comes from fear in some way, which I find mostly true as well. It really got me thinking because if I am fearing something, I am doing the opposite of loving it. I try to walk a path of love, so this is jarring, thinking that I am perpetuating the opposite.<br />
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The Tao Te Ching can be interpreted in a personal manner.<br />
On the surface, this is something I already knew, but hadn't thought of in this specific context. They took the first verse of the Tao Te Ching and applied it directly to you as an individual. This is possible because the book is about the Tao, and the Tao is part of all of us, therefore each statement is about us. Pretty deep, I know, so it got me thinking.<br />
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You are responsible for everything that happens to you.<br />
This one is really hard for me to swallow, mainly because of the tough times I am experiencing with starting a family. I feel so incredibly helpless in this area, it seems preposterous to say I am responsible for what is happening to me. They explained that it is not so much that I am always in control, because some things are out of my control. The thing I can control is my reaction to what happens, therefore I am responsible for that.<br />
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So these are the things I'm thinking about at the moment. Feeling very contemplative. Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-1932842610501179922012-12-27T23:37:00.002-06:002012-12-27T23:37:34.133-06:00End of Year 2012Typically at the end of the year I do a small breakdown of the goings on and whatnots that occurred in my life for the last 12 months. This year, I'd like to do something a little different, as there isn't much to report in the personal life. I'll do a quick summary paragraph and then move on to a tribute to two amazing people that I lost this year.<br />
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I graduated with a Master's Degree last December and have now spent an entire year looking for a way to make it earn me money. Turning out not to be the best investment. We have gotten nowhere on starting a family, but did start costly and invasive treatments in June. My brother married the love of his life in September, and I finally got to be in a wedding other than my own. I was also put in charge of the bridal shower which I drafted much needed help from friends, as I was clueless. <br />
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The biggest change in my life this year involves losing my last remaining grandparents. At the beginning of the year, I lost my Grandma H, who was my mother's mother. Then a few months back, I lost my Grandpa D who was my dad's father. I'd like to tell you about these two amazing people.<br />
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<b>Grandma H</b> was not your typical Grandma. She was a party animal! She'd drink any of her grand kids under the table if given the chance. I spent 1 week of every summer staying with her and my little cousin. We always had a blast going shopping at Younkers and hanging at the Moose. Grandma had a heart of gold, and it always amazed me how people I'd never met would come up to me and tell me how wonderful she was. It just goes to show how she was able to have an impact on so many people. She was outgoing and fun, but not afraid to threaten to kick your ass either. She loved us grandkids, we never had any doubt. She succumbed to Alzheimer's in the last decade of her life, which was hard to watch, but she always kept her kind and compassionate demeanor. I miss her terribly!<br />
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<b>Grandpa D</b> was a no nonsense kind of guy. He expected the best of his kids, and was only marginally more lenient with us grandkids. No one worked harder than my grandpa, of that I have no doubt. He built up multiple businesses, and even took playing board games to a whole new level by making his own boards and pieces like Trionimos out of counter top (which I have to this day). He built decks and ramps and garages, you name it, he could build it, roof it, or side it. He was competitive and took playing games seriously. Be it pingpong, shuffleboard, Rummikub, or Skip-Bo, if you won the game, you won it fair and square because he wasn't going to let you win. While his body failed him, his mind stayed sharp until close to the end. He was obsessed with coming to see my new house, and loved hearing stories of home improvement projects like our new roof. I miss his expert advice.<br />
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So 2012 wasn't the best year for me, but it did have some up moments. I'm hoping and praying for more up moments in 2013, since there will be a 2013.<br />
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Peace and love to you all.<br />
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<br />Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-59897650896531788712012-12-25T14:21:00.000-06:002012-12-25T14:21:09.236-06:00Happy HolidaysWell here I am. It's Christmas Day and we've made it through another year of celebrations, family gatherings, and doomsday predictions.<br />
First of all: <b>Happy Yule, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, and Merry Christmas</b> to all who celebrate any or all of it.<br />
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<b>A short rant:</b><br />
Something drives me a little crazy this time of year. I try to be a tolerant person, and let anyone do whatever they feel is right for them, after all I prefer for others to do the same for me. But the last few years there has been a thing people keep going on about called the "War on Christmas".<br />
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It seems that Christians are up in arms about people switching their greeting to Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas and they have interpreted this as an act of war. It baffles me that anyone could say that including more people in your good wishes is equal to the violent act of war. Tolerance is a wonderful and peaceful thing in my book. Besides this illogical conclusion, everywhere I went people said Merry Christmas to me, so if it is a war, the other side is losing.<br />
End of rant.<br />
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Enough of that. I really enjoyed this holiday season and I'd like to share why I think that is. For the first time this year, I erased all expectations before any of the holiday celebrations. It could have been a tough year since I lost two grandparents this year and that drastically changed how we celebrated the day, not to mention unpleasant medical procedures happening between festivities. I still treasure the traditions that I grew up with and will always have those wonderful memories, but I opted to "go with the flow" for how things would go this year. I didn't expect certain reactions to gifts, I didn't plan in my head how things had to be in order to be perfect. Instead, I made it my mission to try and make everyone who was around me as joyful as possible, and it worked pretty well.<br />
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<b>Fun Christmas Story:</b><br />
I was reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss to my niece and nephews (13, 8, 7, and 5), they gathered around and listened really well. It was a wonderful feeling to have them piled around me clambering to get a look at the pictures in the book. I was reaching the end of the story and got to the part where the Grinch's heart grew 3 sizes that day. I read the line:<br />
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"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."</div>
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"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"</div>
As soon as I finished, my 5 year old nephew looked at me with his hand thoughtfully placed on his chin and said, "I can see that." I smile just thinking about it, what a wonderful moment to experience, a child thinking about how much more Christmas means to him than presents. Priceless! For our family Christmas means love, giving, and sharing memories.<br />
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Happy Holidays everyone, however you celebrate, I wish you joy and peace!Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-40659405399577725852012-12-09T23:01:00.002-06:002012-12-09T23:01:44.447-06:00Revisiting an Old FriendSo it is December now, and another NanoWrimo is behind me. As with every other year I've done it, I am sick to death of my winning novel from this year. It's a pattern I tend to have. While I am working on something, it seems like total poo to me. But then, once I've given it a break, and not even thought about it for awhile, I can revisit and be more objective. Usually I'm quite surprised at how well I like the story at this later point.
In that spirit, I decided to shelve my young adult fantasy novel from this year and revisit the title I won with last year. It's called Journey to the Mysts, and has distinct Taoist inspirations. At this time last year, I was newly invigorated by some Taoist authors I had found, and was heavy into the philosophy. Other things have stolen my attention from such spiritual pursuits, although my faith is strong as ever.
As I popped open the document and began to read it, I was touched. Not so much by the writing itself, but by the honesty. This book is about my journey, and one I believe most modern followers of the way can relate to, assuming they have a mostly Western upbringing like myself. I'm not claiming to have written the next great Taoist work, far from it, but I am pleased that like many times before, I find myself enjoying the fruit of my labor.
No one else has read this story so far, so I have no one's perspective but my own. And perhaps it will remain that way, but how great is it for me to be able to revisit my own journey and my own revelations. I'm proud of the philosophy I managed to weave into a somewhat romance heavy (though not a romance novel by any means) book. I find my words and interpretations relevant and even eloquent at times. It amazes me that I wrote these words, and sends me back to the spiritual way of thinking that I lost somehow over the last year.
I hope as I continue to read through the book, I'm still as inspired, because if I remember correctly, I did not finish the novel last November. I reached the word goal of 50,000 and stopped. I had good reason, mind you, because I was also working on my Master's Thesis at the time. I really hope that reading through it now will inspire me to at least bring the story to a close and finish the journey for my characters.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-29723246798499979302012-11-01T22:36:00.002-05:002012-11-01T22:36:39.248-05:00NanoWrimo 2012It is once again time for National Novel Writing Month where I will attempt to write an entire novel (of 50,000+ words) in the month of November.<br />
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I have accomplished this task 3 times in the past, and the result of the first two can be found for purchase at amazon.com or through any ereader. (Liberty Springs & Shades of Magic).<br />
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Wish me luck on this now traditional crazy adventure.<br />
<br /><img src="http://www.nanowrimo.org/widget/LiveParticipant/taoistrose.png" />Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-76889380859968479112012-10-01T00:41:00.002-05:002012-10-01T00:42:29.141-05:00The great chicken experimentI have wanted to have chickens for a while now. I knew when we moved out to the country that it was a much bigger possibility. Captain came around to the idea recently and we decided to buy some chicks in the spring and give it a go.<br />
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We told my wonderful niece about our plans, as she has previously raised chickens she is a go to gal for info about it.<br />
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Well, yesterday, she texted first thing in the morning because she saw an ad in the paper for year old red laying hens, for only $1 a piece. Typically, hens of this age cost way more than this, or so we are told. We consulted several people and decided the value was too great to pass up. So boom, we now have a small flock of laying hens.<br />
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Captain called up his first mate and they got to work building an amazing tractor coop that allows the chickens to constantly have fresh ground to peck at and a super comfy place to live.<br />
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A similar sized pre-made bought coop could easy cost over a thousand dollars, and they spent only a fraction of that. They got it together last night well enough to keep the hens safe.<br />
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The next morning, they removed the hens to a small fenced area to work on the coop some more, adding nesting boxes and hinged panels for easy access to get the eggs. The birds loved their new home so much they kept jumping over the fence and up onto the coop. Finally the guys just let those determined ones stay inside while they worked.<br />
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We were told that because of the stress of relocation, we shouldn't expect any eggs for the first few days. Imagine our surprise when there were 4 eggs waiting for us in the morning, and 3 more throughout the day! We are SO excited. You just can't beat farm fresh eggs.<br />
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So far, this adventure is turning into a crazy whirlwind success story!Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-70520297745327409412012-08-23T01:00:00.000-05:002012-08-23T01:00:20.392-05:00Roof QuandryThe workers arrived at 7:30 AM today to begin installing our new roof. I would prefer they let me sleep a little longer, but for me, the inconvenience is worth finally having that new roof on the house. The cats don't agree, however. The large one hides in a corner behind the couch, using a low crawl if she has to emerge for food or drink. The small white one is unnerved as well, which is odd because nothing usually phases her. She sticks to me like glue all day long.<br />
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Choosing the roof was an interesting experience. They have several styles and colors to choose from, I began to agonize almost at once. This is a VERY permanent fixture, and far to expensive to replace if I don't like the color, so choosing the right one is vital. I enlist my usual techniques which involves photographing the roof and applying different colors in photoshop until I'm completely overwhelmed.<br />
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As I'm sitting there, I wonder how anyone could makes such a decision easily. Then, as I'm driving along in the car, I begin to notice the roof of every house I pass. Many houses in Fremont now have metal roofs (like I soon will), and I had no idea. How could I have missed this new trend? I thought my husband was nuts when he first proposed it.<br />
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Well for starters, the hailstorm a few months back ensured new roofs for most of the town. But then, the answer is obvious. No one looks at your roof. Sitting here now, I could not tell you the color of my parent's roof, and that's the house I grew up in. Not a single roof comes to mind. And slowly the agonizing wanes, even if the color isn't perfect, it isn't likely to matter much anyway, because no one pays attention to your roof.<br />
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A sigh of relief.<br />
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PS: Why do I have an instinct that the plural of roof is rooves? Spellcheck assures me otherwise. :PTaoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5719401671410823716.post-67150712427634130302012-08-03T13:10:00.001-05:002012-08-03T13:10:50.216-05:00Weston A. PriceOne of my latest obsessions has been finding the right view on food. I sympathize with vegetarians, marvel at vegans, and end up right back with the carnivores I started with. I get a little frustrated with some Taoist groups I attend, because even if they claim not to push vegetarianism, they spend so much time talking about it, it gets pretty old pretty fast. Top this off with the fact that no matter what argument I've read (and I've read a lot), I'm just not convinced.<br />
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Enter into the picture the Weston A. Price foundation. They have some pretty radical views on things, but then again, some of the views of Western medicine are pretty radical in my opinion, too. From what I gather, WAP has a view that cows should eat grass (I wholeheartedly agree) and that we should eat butter. Among other things, they have a different view on saturated fats, feeling they are a vital part of a healthy diet. They also advocate making raw milk available, something I have long felt to be a good idea.<br />
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I am only beginning to explore what they say, but it all makes sense to me so far (similar to when I came across Taoism). I saw there is a chapter in my hometown, but a quick email resulted in no response. It's a shame, because I'd love to meet some people who practice this way of life and talk to them about it. Perhaps I'll keep my eye out for signs of WAP at the local farmer's market.Taoist Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08648854000296375466noreply@blogger.com1