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I dont know about you, but Ive become somewhat more conscientious when it comes to what Im eating and drinking and putting in my body. Time was, when I was in my prime I didnt pay that much attention. Truth be told, as I grow into my advanced adulthood, I try to do the right things for my body to ensure as long and healthy of a life as possible.
When it comes to food, I dont buy a lot of pre-packaged meals, if youve ever read the labels youll know why. There are too many suspect words that are multi-syllabic and I suspect, if I cant pronounce them or dont know what they are; I shouldnt be ingesting them
Most of these things are taste enhancers, artificial colors and additives, preservatives for longer shelf life; and NONE of them are of any benefit to our bodies. If anything, some of them are downright poisonous if ingested often enough.
Whats got me really bent out of shape is a well known beverage manufacture just jumped on the life water band wagon. Prior to just recently they were well known for their drinks that were named after a South Florida Beach. I happened to see the new bottles in the local grocery and decided to buy one of their new Yumberry waters. I tasted it, and it seemed a wee bit too sweet to be made with sugar, but the taste wasnt too awful. Im one of those people who abhor artificial sweeteners. There is nothing real tasting about the after taste that something artificial leaves. But hey, to each his own right? I prefer the 11 calories per teaspoon of sugar to some chemical compound that tastes just like sugar. Yeah, ok if you say so
another article, another time. I digress.
After taking yet another taste of this beverage I decided to check out the contents to see what was actually in this lovely brew
the first thing I see as a component right after filtered water is, Erythritol, well thats enough to make me gag, since its an ARTIFICIAL SWEETNER, made in, ARE YOU READY?? CHINA!!! Lets not forget all the Poisons coming out of China and into this country. Theyve made many of us ill and, in fact have killed others. I read down the label a little further and I see Cochineal extract (for color)
That does it for me folks. I dont know how many of you know what Cochineal is
But I did some checking a while ago on some of the Red dyes used in our food and beverages and this is what Cochineal is: This is directly from Wikipedia!
What is cochineal extract? Not surprisingly it comes from something called a cochineal, which is an insect. This type of insect, a primarily sessile parasite, lives on cacti from the genus Opuntia, feeding on moisture and nutrients in the cacti. The insect produces carminic acid which deters predation by other insects. Carminic acid can be extracted from the insect's body and eggs to make the dye. Cochineal is primarily used as a food coloring and for cosmetics.
Are you kidding me? Im eating and drinking the carcasses of dead parasites? I dont know about you, but Im going to be reading labels from now on. Its time we wrote to the FDA and let them know that just because they mandated that by 2011 all labels must contain what coloring additives are added to our foods, well hell that isnt good enough. The Food and Drug Administration is not, I repeat NOT looking out for our best interests. Whats really sad is many of us believe theyre working on our behalf
yeah and so are the pharmaceutical companies.
It is commonly known that the soil in which our foods are grown has nearly none of the nutrients and minerals that it had just 50 years ago. On top of that, weve become a society of FAST
fast food, fast fun, fast gratification
So we continue to buy CRAP to eat and drink. Prepackaged boxes of chemicals, preservatives and additives that taste great! We wonder why, as the richest country in the world we have rampant obesity, heart disease, cancer and so many other diseases. Yes, other countries have the same diseases, but we are one of the LEADERS IN HEART DISEASE. We are being poisoned by the very foods and beverages that the FDA is allowing us to ingest.
Its ironic that food and beverage manufacturers must list Cochineal as a coloring agent
how many of you knew just what you were eating/drinking? I didnt think so
Get smart America
its time we take back our health, our lives and our futures.
Until next time
Michelle White Willow
In this changing world, we should be prepared for any natural or man-made disaster that may confront us. The world is different and life as we know it now, may not always be...I believe that we should be prepared to face whatever may come to the best of our ability. So with that in mind, I have put together this list for an EMERGENCY CHECKLIST. These items are for a 72 hour "bug out" bag. This is by no means a hard and fast list...Adjust it accordingly. It is merely a guide for those of you who may want to assemble a pack for emergencies, but aren't sure where to begin. Here then is my list for emergency survival.
YOUR EMERGENCY CHECKLIST
WATER -
I have an old army surplus canteen that has a deep aluminum cup that fits on the bottom. But I suggest you grab a water filtration bottle that has the water purification filter inside. They range in price from $35.00 on up, but they will provide you with at least 50 gallons of bacteria free, safe drinking water. If you end up with a regular water bottle or canteen, you MUST obtain some water purification tablets or another means to purify your water. You can boil it for 10 minutes to remove bacteria and cysts. But whatever you do
provide for enough water. Most sources tell you to store 3-5 gallons per person for a 3 day period. You must have a MINIMUM of 3 individual water packs per person, per day
just for basic consumption. This does not allow for cooking or washing. This is for hydration purposes only. You can go a long time without food, but your body MUST have water to survive. Oh I almost forgot, 16 drops of plain ole bleach will purify a gallon of water. Put the drops in the water and then wait 30 minutes before drinking.
FOOD
72 hour supply of food. Can include MREs, Power bars, dry soups, granola, easily stored and carried items like nuts, dry fruits, etc. Food items should be easy to carry. i.e. in baggies or small containers that are water proof. Dont forget coffee and tea bags and bullion. These can keep you going when the rest of the food is gone.
WARMTH & SHELTER
Waterproof Matches
AND a second method to start a fire. i.e. magnesium bar and striker
there are small fire starter kits in Wal-Mart, sporting goods stores and survival sites
They are inexpensive and can virtually save your life. A lighter and tinder
you decide.
Tent
This goes without saying
however, if in an emergency situation you dont have a tent
a tarp with some rope, several large, or heavy duty plastic garbage bags will serve as temporary protection from the elements. Large construction plastic bags can serve as water collectors, ground cover, and also shelter from inclement weather.
Sleeping Bag
Again kind of a no brainer
but once again, if youre in a dire situation without a sleeping bag, a wool army blanket will keep you warm even when wet. Its a good idea to have one of those emergency silver reflective blankets as well. They cost about 2 bucks and will retain approximately 80% of your body heat. If put over a wool army blanket you will retain body heat, and keep the damp and wet off of you.
Hand and Foot Warmers
Another low cost item that will fit inside your gloves, or shoes/boots
they can keep you from getting frostbite if you find yourself in a cold/frigid environment. They only last about 12 hours each
But the cost is about 2-3 dollars a pack. Not a lot if you consider the alternatives.
Rain Poncho
If youve got nothing but a rain poncho with a hood
you can tuck under the poncho
put the hood up and wait out inclement weather. The plastic of the poncho should help you to keep your body heat in and dampness out. Its not ideal, but hey, were talking survival here.
LIGHTWEIGHT STOVE AND FUEL -
Again, if you need to bug out in a hurry and havent accumulated all the items on this list
At the very minimum you should have a can or two of Sterno type fuel
You can put a small campers tin on it and warm water for coffee, tea, broth, etc. Theyre small enough to fit in a bug out pack and they make all the difference when youre cold and damp and maybe frightened
theres something about a warm beverage or broth that can lift your spirits even in the worst of circumstances.
LIGHT SOURCES
Light sticks will give you a good glow, but youre limited in how far you can see with light sticks. Theyre good to hang around your neck on a string
but you dont want to go foraging in the rough with just a light stick. Get a couple to have in case, but youll need a flashlight with extra batteries and probably a slow burning candle. You know those white 6 or 8 chubby white candles that are sold for hurricane preparedness? Theyre light weight and they can also be a help if your tinder is wet and you need to start a fire
its easier to light the candle, and light the fire with the candle. Theyre slow burning, so only use it when you need to AND, always make sure you light a candle in a safe environment
no forest fires or self immolation please.
TOOLS
At the very least you should have a multi tool in your pack. One of those pliers/knife/screwdriver/awl/ can opener things. They range in price from a few dollars to the super-duper commando kind that cost a bundle. Something strong and durable is the key and with a few different functions. Many lists say to have an ax and a shovel. This is your decision, if you have the room in/on your pack and feel you can shoulder the pack without too much strain, by all means. 25 of nylon rope should be a standard, it can help you build shelters, snares, keep your pack up in a tree away from critters
help scale rough terrain. You get the idea. Its inexpensive and lightweight.
FIRST AID
A basic first aid kit at the very least
but, I have a kit that is almost like a Doctor bag. It contains not only the basics, but some additional items for almost any non-life threatening medical emergency
AND, dont forget the first aid booklet or information to keep with your medical supplies. Please remember to include burn cream and dressings in case you or someone else has a campfire/candle accident burn.
COMMUNICATIONS
A good solid radio with batteries and alternative power sources is vital. It will keep you abreast of what is happening in the outside world. I prefer those hand crank radio/flashlight/emergency flasher self powered items. Theyre turbine operated, so that no matter what happens, youve got power
the more you turn the crank
the more power and the longer it will last.
PERSONAL SANITATION
This includes TP, (toilet paper), hand sanitizer and some moist toweletts. Thats the very least you should have in your pack. Think in terms of keeping clean as much as possible to prevent germs/bacteria and disease. How about a travel toothbrush and paste? Feminine hygiene products, a comb or brush? Again, think in terms of need and then what you can easily carry.
EXTRA CLOTHING
Socks, underwear, gloves, and if theres room additional pants and shirt. A sturdy pair of hiking boots, all weather shoes, or anything comfortable and extremely sturdy.
MONEY
When we get to the place in time when TSHTF
ATMs, banks, etc. will most likely be closed. You should have at least $20.00 in your kit. Make sure that its in small bills, preferably ones and make sure that you have plenty of change
DO NOT, let outsiders know that you have cash. Desperate times often cause people to act desperately. Id like to also say that if you have lots of important papers
that could perish in a disaster, it is a good idea to make copies of everything
birth certificates, social security numbers, wills, titles to vehicles, credit card information AND insurance information for homes, vehicles and yourself.
These are the basics of an Emergency Checklist. I would like to add a few things to this ever growing list.
First, use common sense when preparing a pack for an elderly person or child. Their needs will be different, they may need prescriptions, have special diets, etc. You may need to adjust this list for their specific needs. Also, in the case of small children
make sure to include a special toy or stuffed animal, (small toys), or a special wubbie (blanket) so that the child will not feel so disoriented and afraid. AND
it will be easier on you as the care giver to have the child feel safe and if theyre occupied.
Some survival packs include a few fish hooks, 25 feet of 10 lb. test fishing line rolled and kept in an Altoids tin along with a couple split weights, a few needles, a roll of dental floss taken out of the plastic container and several safety pins. Dental floss can help keep clothes together
be used as a heavy duty sewing thread. It is waterproof and easy to carry. Theres about 50 feet on that one small roll. Add a few waterproof matches and a plastic whistle and youve got a basic survival kit all packed in a 3 inch tin. Neat huh?
You may want to add a small sunscreen and insect repellent to your list of items
and dont forget
aluminum foil, it can be used as a water collector, for cooking food, etc. Take a few feet off the roll at home, fold it up neatly, slip it into a plastic zipper bag with a spoon, fork and knife. If you have room, toss in a campers mess kit or at least one of those small aluminum camping pans. You can pretty much make soup, heat food, drink beverages all from the same little pan.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Your kit should be in a portable container
i.e backpack, duffel bag, etc. It should be made of durable material and should be easy for you to carry. It should be located somewhere in a place where you can easily access it in case of emergency. DO NOT OVERLOAD YOUR KIT. You may have to carry it a long distance to reach safety. Each family member should have their own kit. In case of children, distribute heavy items between other adult kits.
Put clean socks, underwear and other clothing inside plastic zip bags. Those bags can also be used later as water collection devices and to keep things clean.
DONT DESPAIR if youve got nothing set aside, you can start now
a little at a time. I realize this list can be daunting if youre low on cash and have nothing prepared. Hunt thrift stores for back packs
camping supplies and other items you need in your pack. Also go to dollar stores for medical supplies, dental floss, bullion, coffee, tea, aluminum foil, plastic bags. If you take this list with you and keep a copy handy, you can check off the things as you go, and before you know it
youll have your own pack all set for any emergency. Cant afford a $35.00 filtration water bottle? You can afford a bottle of liquid bleach
find a small screw top jar or bottle, clean it out carefully then put your bleach in that bottle for water purification.
And one final word, the world is changing and I, along with many others in this country feel the winds of change touching our faces
we must be prepared for anything that may come; for to do otherwise is folly. If when all is said and done, these preparations are not needed
then we have the makings of a wonderful family camping trip. But I fear that before too long, we will be glad that we took the steps to prepare for our survival and the survival of our loved ones.
Until Next Time
Whyte Willow
Patrick was a Christian priest whose job it was to convert the population of Ireland to Christianity. The Druids, however, stood in his way. The Druids were very important people in Ireland at that time, and their symbol was the Snake of Wisdom. Druids
could be priests of the old religion of Ireland, but there were also much more.
One part of the Druid class were the "Bards", whose job it was to remember all of the history of the people, as well as to record current events. Because the Irish Celts did not rely on a written language, everything had to be memorized. Bards were poets and musicians, and used music and poetry to help them remember their history exactly.
Because of this, Bards were highly respected members of the Irish society.
The Irish believed that history was very important, for if you didn't remember what had happened in the past, you couldn't safely plan for the future. Bards, therefore, held the future of the people in safekeeping.
Another important part of the Druidic class were the "Brehons". Brehons were the Judges and the Keepers of the Laws. The Celtic people had a highly complicated society, and with it, a highly developed set of laws. Brehons trained for many years to learn the laws of the people, so that whenever there was a dispute, the Brehon could fairly decide the matter and make peace. The laws were there to make sure that everyone; man, woman, and child, were treated fairly and with respect. Because of the wisdom that the Brehons held, and the knowledge of the laws of the society, they too, like the Bards, were held with
much respect.
And, of course, there were the Druid Priests. This branch of the Druid set were the keepers of the knowledge of Earth and Spirits. It was their responsibility to learn the Spirit World, in order to keep people and Earth in harmony. Priests performed marriages and "baptisms", they were healers, and psychiatrists. The Priests were the wise grandparents to whom you could go with a problem. They were there to help you solve
them, with the help of the Earth and the Spirit World.
Into this world of the Irish Celts entered a highly energetic and devoted Christian Priest named Patrick. Because he believed so strongly in the tenets of Christianity, he thought that anyone who was not Christian had to become one in order to be "saved".
He came to Ireland to convert the Irish people to Christianity.
The Irish people at that time were happy and doing quite well without Patrick and his ideas, but he was persistent. He noticed that the Druids were really the important people of the society. He thought that if he could convert the Druids to Christianity, the rest of the people
would follow. Patrick's main problem was that the Druids were very comfortable with what they had already learned, and were not willing to change. Druids had spent their entire lives learning the ways of the people, and were the last people who were willing to change.
Although Patrick was not willing to abandon his vision of a Christian Ireland, he was getting desperate. He knew that because the strength of the people rested with the Druids, he had to get rid of them in order to get the people to listen to him.
Patrick was not alone in his efforts. He had brought many people with him from Britain to establish the new religion. Patrick began to destroy the influence of the Druids by destroying the sacred sites of the people and building churches and monasteries where the Druids used to live and teach. Gradually, the might of the Druidic class was broken
by a bitter campaign of attrition. Instead of hearing the teachings and advice of the Druids, the people began to hear the teachings of Rome.
Because the Druids were the only ones who were taught to remember the history, with the Druids dead and their influence broken, the history was forgotten.
Patrick won.
By killing off the teachers and the wise ones, his own religion could be taught.
For this mass conversion of a culture to Christianity, and for the killing of thousands of innocent people, Patrick was made a Saint by his church. Now you really didn't want to go out and drink green beer after all did you???
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I recently attended the wedding of a dear friend of mine and was asked to perform a ceremony to bless the hand fasting cord that would be made that evening from a collective of 6' lengths of ribbon, cord, chain, scarf, etc. that each of the female attendees were to bring to the ceremony. There were at least 20 women there, each bearing their own contribution to be added together to make the handfasting cord.
There were women from all ethnicities, geographic locations, backgrounds, ages and of course religious beliefs. When I first started to smudge the outside deck with sage, sprinkle some sea salt in a circle and light the candles, there were a few whispered murmurs. Several of the older participants with European roots got a wee bit nervous. They were assured by those who knew me that I would not be conjuring a devil, or sacrificing a baby.
When the ceremony started, you could have heard a pin drop...everyone was silent. It soon became clear as I spoke the words that simple faith was at work here. That same simple faith had brought us together in love and joy to make something magical for one of our own. Regardless of our religious beliefs, we were gathered as willing participants to imbue our strand with the magic of all our best emotions and feelings for our dear friend.
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Nuthin' says lovin' like sumpthin' from the Coven...to steal a phrase from the old Pillsbury commercials. But I have a couple of interesting recipes that come out of a cook book I received from one of my Witchy friends in Merry Ole' England..."The Cauldron Cook Book"...offers some unique recipes and I wanted to share a couple of them with you.
Following is the recipe for MOON CAKES: You can make this recipe for your group or whenever you want something special for the "cakes and ale" portion of your next ritual. I've made these and they're pretty tasty...Please be careful when baking...they will crisp and burn quite quickly...
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Lughnasadh (loo-na-sah) is the first of 3 harvest festivals. Derived from an old Irish word Lunasa (meaning August), it honors the old sun god Lugh (Loo), but for all intents and purposes it is primarily a grain festival, often called the Sabbat of First Fruits.
Most of the ritualistic celebration and symbolism used by todays pagans was given to us primarily by Irish Tradition. But lets not forget, across the world there were other celebrations taking place. Native Americans celebrated in early August in honor of the Corn Grandmother, which is called the festival of the green corn. Ancient Romans honored Ceres, who was their grain goddess. In ancient Phoenicia, this Sabbat honored the grain god Dagon and a great amount of the harvest was sacrificed to him.
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Animal Guides, Allies and Totems
Have you ever watched an eagle soar above the tree tops and feel an exhilaration you cant explain? Are you drawn to certain animals without knowing why? Do you want to run with the wolves, swim with the otter, or do you fantasize about dragons??? All of these animals whether real or imaginary make up a long list of Animal Guides, Allies or Totems.
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"Religious Freedom," do those two words make you twitch, do you break out in a rash, and are you sitting there saying..."Yeah right?" If you're a pagan like myself, you've probably had at least some experience with "good Christian folk" trying to convince you that you're doomed, will most certainly burn in hell and worse. If you're one of the luckier ones, you've only been the butt of a few derogatory and hurtful remarks. However, on the other side, you may well have been subject to personal persecution including hate mail, harassing phone calls and even physical assaults and discrimination.
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Did you know that July 4th has been celebrated for centuries? While this country has been celebrating it's independence on this date for the past 232 years, people in Rome have celebrated July 4th as The Day of Pax, the goddess of peace, and Concordia the goddess of harmony and agreement and goodwill in the home.
The month of July is full of lesser known religious and pagan festivals, and celebrations. Here are a few that you may not have been aware of.
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Comment by Witch Willows Wanderings
on Christians -VS- Pagans Round 200,000
Alternative Faith
Why Aren't You Pissed Off?
.. It makes not one iota to me what you believe or don't believe...You found MY Site...I didn't go looking for you. But I choose my battles, my anger is reserved for those things that are worth getting angry over.
I'm always willing to discuss "reasonable alternatives" with resonable people. You have a chip on your shoulder, and it is clear that no conversation with you would end on a satisfactory note for either one of us. There's a lot more I'd like to say, but why bother..clearly it is a waste of my time and yours...so with that I wish you a happy life. I'll take my "invisible flying pink unicorn" any day...
Blessings to you...
Michelle Whyte Willow