Signs of the Old Gods: The Winter Solstice

Written by Simon Mitchell


Continued from page 1

The ancient Celtic cycles tierepparttar winter solstice to a time of celebration -repparttar 147748 return ofrepparttar 147749 light - a natural beginning to a New Year, a letting go ofrepparttar 147750 old. There are many activities from ancient times with a positive flavour, and quite frankly its way too cold to go romping about with nothing on. But onrepparttar 147751 longest night, like All-Hallows Eve,repparttar 147752 veil is thin and we only need a tiny nudge to see other worlds.

Here's one based on ancient tree burning, called ' Deamon Fire ': You will need: A strong metal container for a small fire Dried lavender herb or essential oil of lavender Dried pine cones A new white candle

Get your container, preferably silver, and take it out underrepparttar 147753 full moon,repparttar 147754 night ofrepparttar 147755 Goddess (Full Moon is on Boxing Day 2004 Dec 26). Wash it withrepparttar 147756 rays ofrepparttar 147757 moon. Put inrepparttar 147758 dried pine cones and place it safely outside onto a base of local stone if possible. Lightrepparttar 147759 pine cones withrepparttar 147760 wick of a fresh white candle and stand back to let them burn. Sprinkle dried lavender onrepparttar 147761 flames while it burns, or use a sprinkle or three of lavender essential oil.

When it burns down, gaze intorepparttar 147762 embers while they still show lights, and see what you can see.

Then go out intorepparttar 147763 woods and quiet places and see what you can find playing inrepparttar 147764 moonbeams and starlight.

THE LILY by Simon Mitchell (fiction)
THE LILY is the first episode of a magical new Cornish adventure novel. Trapped in time for 2000 years, the spirit of a healer finally tells his story. A giant conspiracy is unveiled and our hero sets out to mend the land. Order this story by visiting:
http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/Lily.html


Thirty positive actions for a sustainable Earth

Written by Simon Mitchell


Continued from page 1

14. Stop using pharmaceutical drugs and chemicals and go natural We are in a culture where medical consumerism isrepparttar norm. Explore some ofrepparttar 147747 alternatives like using your food as preventative and curative medicine, or learn aboutrepparttar 147748 herbs and spices that have traditionally boosted mankind's health for millennia. There are many gentle ways to find, promote and maintain health and you will find some excellent examples atrepparttar 147749 StarFields Network.

15. Join an environmental group Express your energy in a collective way by joining a group that voices your concerns. Put your energy into changingrepparttar 147750 situation forrepparttar 147751 better by directly sponsoring a specific environmental cause.

16. Use natural materials from a sustainable source over synthetic materials The more natural a product is -repparttar 147752 less pollution is usually incurred in its production. Support your environment by valuing natural materials over synthetic, for example (organic) cotton over polyester. Think about where building materials or other resources have come from andrepparttar 147753 processes it takes to make them.

17. Feed your neighbour A quick story based on Dante's Inferno: Dante (or someone like him) visits Hell and finds a room of 'food torture'. The inhabitants are glued to chairs round a large table covered with food, but they all have their arms replaced by 10 foot chopsticks. They lift bits of food high over their heads and drop it down onto their faces in a pathetic attempt to feed themselves. Later, our hero visits heaven and finds exactlyrepparttar 147754 same situation except for one thing. The people in heaven are feeding each other acrossrepparttar 147755 table !

18. Dance, sing and laugh. Look after yourself and have fun If you are happy, fulfilled, in good humour, enjoying life's journey and so on -repparttar 147756 chances are that others around you will be able to feel that way too. This moves us all along.

19. Don't fly in airplanes If possible, take a ship or train for long hauls or holidays. Aircraft are extremely expensive in pollution terms. Enjoyrepparttar 147757 sensation of travelling more slowly. Acceptrepparttar 147758 journey as part ofrepparttar 147759 trip.

20. Take an action holiday Why not donate your energy to a cause like helping indigenous people set up sustainable economies ? There are many companies offeringrepparttar 147760 experience of useful voluntary work overseas. This is a most direct way to contribute to a sustainable world and gives you face-to-face contact with other cultures.

21. Grow more plants indoors Enhance your pact with nature by turning your home into a plant haven. Even simple spider plants can improve your space by bringing nature in and cleaningrepparttar 147761 air. Plants are pretty undemanding compared to pets and they bring life in and produce air. Gorepparttar 147762 whole hog and grow some trees.

22. Consider changing your employment What does your 'means of income' do in energy terms ? Ifrepparttar 147763 'ethics' of your employment is distant from your own values then you have essentially sold your soul for money. Think carefully aboutrepparttar 147764 consequences of your employment. Consider finding employment that is near to your core values and you will find a more fulfilled 'you'.

23. Review how you are investing in your own future Concerned about pensions ? It is certainly looking like someone has pulledrepparttar 147765 plug on that one. Anyone under 45 should be looking to exactly what they want in older years and finding ways to achieve it that may not involve money. There are serious flaws in our investment systems that are becoming more and more evident. Co-operative or communal solutions to support in older years will be an increasing solution to lack of money.

24. Review your usage of water If you have metered water, review how much you use and where savings might be made. For example bath water (without chemicals) can be used to water plants, a brick inrepparttar 147766 water cistern saves flush water. Can you userepparttar 147767 water that lands on your roof that you pay forrepparttar 147768 privilege of having removed ? Water butts are cheaper than ever and some local councils offer price reductions to residents. There are many water filters onrepparttar 147769 market that improverepparttar 147770 quality of tap-water and water is a key issue in health, we are mostly made of it ! Water is a key issue on planet earth inrepparttar 147771 21st century.

" Nearly 97% ofrepparttar 147772 world's water is sea water or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2% is locked up in ice caps and glaciers. This leaves 1% to meet all of humanities growing needs, including agriculture, manufacturing, community and personal household needs. Of that 1%, one quarter ofrepparttar 147773 world's fresh water is found in Canada's lakes, rivers and streams." (CPS June 2004)

25. Cut down on noise and light pollution Many birds in cities sing at night as it'srepparttar 147774 only way they can make themselves heard. Generally birds in cities have to sing louder andrepparttar 147775 stress this causes gives them shortened life spans. Listen for a moment now - what can you hear beyondrepparttar 147776 hum of computer fan? How much of this noise is really needed? Wouldn't just some 'quiet times' be nice? Get together with your neighbours and see if you can negotiate a local 'quiet time', like a Sunday morning. Unnecessary light also interferes with wildlife and even worse - it blocks outrepparttar 147777 stars - a source of wonder tillrepparttar 147778 end of time.

26. Start your own herb garden Grow your own medicinal and culinary herbs. Many of these are easy to grow on a windowsill, in a window box or tub somewhere. The direct growing and use of plants ties you into natural cycles and rhythms - you could even learn about 'moon gardening' cycles and biodynamics !

27. Grow your own food Even simple growing such as mustard cress or delicious sprouting seeds contributes to a good diet. A surprising amount of your own food can be grown in a little space by using 'potato stacks' or climbing fruits. There is no better feeling than harvesting your own crop and eating it with friends. There are many dwarf bush varieties of fruit, some even have more than one fruit type onrepparttar 147779 same bush.

28. Downsize Think about how you can work less and keep a good quality of life. Balance quality of life with standard of living. Contribute less to GDP andrepparttar 147780 national/global economy and more to a wholesome local and global ecology. Think global and act local.

29. Go organic Whatever you consume, source it from a place that values natural processes over industrial ones. There are many enterprises providing organic food, drink, clothing or materials from sustainable sources. Take pride in tracking these down and using them in preference to more exploitative practices.

30. Spend time with nature Takerepparttar 147781 time to visit nature and spend time relating with it. Find and adopt special places where you can go to feelrepparttar 147782 cycles and forces of nature and know that it is an aspect of you, and you of it. Many people are forming 'collectives' to protect or improve special places they value.

SECRETS OF CREATIVITY by Simon Mitchell
A revolutionary ebook from a top internet author. This ebook gives you the ULTIMATE POWER TO CREATE with structured courses to improve your personal creativity. Unleash your SECRETS OF CREATIVITY at:
http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/secrets.html


    <Back to Page 1
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use