(Image from here)
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Today's Animal in Need - Gretchen
About
120 Fullerton Avenue Yonkers, NY 10704 (201) 981-3215 or email: Lesliem147@gmail.com Monday - Friday 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM Sat, Sun & Holidays 12:00 - 3:30 PM
Description
Donations to benefit the animals at the Yonkers Shelter may be made to ShelterPetAlliance who collects on behalf of various shelters...Important to note *YONKERS* when online donations are made...SPA is a 501c3 org, so all donations are tax deductible
http://www.shelterpetalliance.org/
Anyone interested in sending an item from our Amazon Yonkers Animal Shelter wish list, please go here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/L514I3Y6FL6H/ref=topnav_lists_1
Thanks to all!
THIS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER RUN SITE..this site is not an official city of Yonkers site
http://www.shelterpetalliance.org/
Anyone interested in sending an item from our Amazon Yonkers Animal Shelter wish list, please go here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/L514I3Y6FL6H/ref=topnav_lists_1
Thanks to all!
THIS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER RUN SITE..this site is not an official city of Yonkers site
Walpurgisnacht - 30 April
Image from here.
WITCHES (in chorus)
Now to the Brocken the witches hie, | |
| The stubble is yellow, the corn is green; | 3745 |
| Thither the gathering legions fly, | |
| And sitting aloft is Sir Urian seen: | |
| O’er stick and o’er stone they go whirling along, | |
| Witches and he-goats, a motley throng, | |
VOICES
Alone old Baubo’s coming now; | 3750 |
| She rides upon a farrow sow. | |
CHORUS
Honour to her, to whom honour is due! | |
| Forward, Dame Baubo! Honour to you! | |
| A goodly sow and mother thereon, | |
| The whole witch chorus follows anon. | 3755 |
Walburga's Symbols and Domains of Action
Of Walburga's symbols or attributes, the bundle of grain is obviously a fertility symbol and is typical of the germanic matron goddesses or demi-goddesses once worshipped all over Europe, including Nehalennia, as well as a being a symbol of goddesses in other Indo-European pantheons, such as Demeter and Ceres. The three-cornered mirror seems clearly related to the Norns and the Well of Wyrd: we can see the three corners of the foreseeing mirror as the three Norns, the mirror as the well itself with the three Norns standing around it. The mirror is particularly a "give-away:" who ever heard of, or would want to make or use, a triangular mirror? It is not a convenient shape for viewing one's face, in the normal usage of mirrors!
Neither the dog nor the shock of grain, the magical mirror or the spindle, are likely attributes of the abbess of a christian nunnery, nor is an abbess likely to have been wandering around the countryside having adventures! On the other hand these symbols or attributes are highly typical of Heathen germanic matrons, goddesses, and holy women. The spindle is the attribute before all others of the norns, wise-women, idises, and other womanly wights associated with fate and fortune in the continental Germanic countries. The use of the spindle and hand-spun thread for May-even spells of women's magic is described by Rochholz and by Grimm. Love-oracles using the spindle and thread, and other means, were said to be sent by Walburga herself. Walpurgistide was also the time to shame lazy farmers into working harder, by making a straw doll named Walburga and presenting it to any farmer who had not yet ploughed his land by that day (Rochholz, p. 40). This is quite reminiscent of the well-known chidings women receive from Heathen goddesses such as Berchta and Holda during Yuletide, if their own work has been skimped.
None of these attributes, activities and symbols can be argued to have anything to do with a christian abbess and saint, but have everything to do with Heathen goddesses and holy women, who have always concerned themselves with fertility and food, love, life, death, and hidden knowledge. Thus it is in the highest degree likely that attributes associated with a goddess celebrated at May-even during Heathen times were later grafted onto Walburga, the christian saint whose holy day is celebrated on the first of May.
You can read the entire article on Walpurgisnacht, excerpted above, by clicking here.
A blog post on Baubo can be found here.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Today's Animal in Need - Millie
About
RSVP Animal Welfare & Rescue Group is dedicated to helping Long Island Pets In Need! Our goal is to stop pet abuse, neglect, & overpopulation in our communities.
Mission
RSVP Animal Welfare & Rescue Group is a proactive grass roots 501c3 animal welfare organization.Dedicated to improving the lives of companion animals while enhancing the communities in which they live by providing low-cost & free spay/neuter assistance, rescue & adoption services, pet care education and continued oversight & support as needed for responsible pet ownership.
Company Overview
RSVP, Inc. is a 501c3, non-profit animal rescue group serving Eastern Long Island, New York since Jan 6, 1996. Originally founded as the “Riverhead Shelter Volunteer Program” their goal was to improve conditions at the Riverhead municipal shelter. This strong group of passionate and dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to reduce the euthanasia rate and find suitable homes for lost, abandoned andsurrendered animals. Through these efforts, they successfully reversed the trend to destroy many adoptable pets and are still active at the Riverhead Shelter today, where the euthanasia rate has been reduced to approximately 6%. The core group has expanded over time and we are now a strong network of passionate animal advocates.RSVP Animal Welfare & Rescue Group is there for pets with no where else to turn and is run entirely by volunteers & donations. There are many ways to donate & all donations are tax deductible. You may mail donations monetary & supplies to us or use the donation link on our Facebook Page or website rsvpinc.org. All sites are secure through paypal.There are several drop off locations as well or we can pick up please call Samantha 631-833-0970 or email smullen161@optonline.net.
Description
Join our mailing list! http://www.rsvpinc.org/contact-rsvp/mailing-list
General Information
RSVP Animal Welfare & Rescue Group Inc is a non-profit, 501c3 founded in 1996, serving Eastern Long Island.
RSVP is unique compared to many other animal welfare and rescue organizations. Our mission is to get to the root of animal overpopulation, abuse and neglect. Often well intended people find themselves in over their heads regarding the proper care of family pets and as a result make poor choices, creating an avalanche of problems affecting not only their pets, but also their own lives as well as the lives of the people in the surrounding community. RSVP provides people with alternatives to surrendering their beloved pets to shelters due to a lack of economic stability, family illness, etc. by offering basic veterinary care, re-homing and temporary foster care. We strongly advocate spay/neuter to pet owners throughout the community, and especially to “backyard breeders” whose puppies frequently end up in neglect situations or tied out on chains for their entire lives. RSVP reaches out to those who may think it profitable to exploit their pets through illegal means and rather than maligning them by contacting the authorities, RSVP helps them understand that there is a better way. By providing them with the tools to promote positive change, many begin to realize how their actions have a direct impact upon the behaviors of their animals. RSVP is a very proactive animal welfare and rescue group continually trying to solve potential problems before they arise.
Although RSVP’s mission statement is dedicated to improving the lives of animals, by its very design, RSVP also improves the lives of the people who own these animals and in doing so, provides the public with the education and resources needed to create a more stable environment. From low cost and free spay/neuter assistance to promoting responsible pet ownership, RSVP continues to improve the quality of the lives of both animals and humans who may find themselves in dire circumstances often beyond their control. While many other animal welfare and rescue groups are forced to say “no”, RSVP steps in and finds a way to say “yes.”
RSVP continues to “push the envelope” and take on the most challenging situations. We take the senior dogs that no one wants or those pets previously owned by an elderly person who passed away. We raise money to take in and treat the dog that came off a chain and has heartworm from being left outside its whole life. We take the sick puppies that were taken away from their mother when they too young, or the dog kept in a crate in a basement while being used as a puppy factory. We help them all.
Our roots have expanded to provide successful outcomes in countless situations. In the end, our only hope is to change the paradigm of animal ownership on Long Island so that all individuals can truly appreciate and benefit from the joys of responsibly caring for an animal for the duration of its lifetime.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Today's Animal in Need - Bella
About
120 Fullerton Avenue Yonkers, NY 10704 (201) 981-3215 or email: Lesliem147@gmail.com Monday - Friday 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM Sat, Sun & Holidays 12:00 - 3:30 PM
Description
Donations to benefit the animals at the Yonkers Shelter may be made to ShelterPetAlliance who collects on behalf of various shelters...Important to note *YONKERS* when online donations are made...SPA is a 501c3 org, so all donations are tax deductible
http://www.shelterpetalliance.org/
Anyone interested in sending an item from our Amazon Yonkers Animal Shelter wish list, please go here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/L514I3Y6FL6H/ref=topnav_lists_1
http://www.shelterpetalliance.org/
Anyone interested in sending an item from our Amazon Yonkers Animal Shelter wish list, please go here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/L514I3Y6FL6H/ref=topnav_lists_1
Thanks to all!
THIS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER RUN SITE..this site is not an official city of Yonkers site
THIS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER RUN SITE..this site is not an official city of Yonkers site
Friday, April 26, 2013
Happy Arbor Day!
Image by blogger - click to enlarge
When I Am Among the Trees
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
~ Mary Oliver ~
(Thirst)
******************************
About Angels and About Trees
Where do angels
fly in the firmament,
and how many can dance
on the head of a pin?
Well, I don't' care
about that pin dance.
what I know is that
they rest, sometimes,
in the tops of the trees
and you can see them,
or almost see them
or, anyway, think: what a
wonderful idea.
I have lost as you and
others have possibly lost a
beloved one,
and wonder, where are they now?
The trees, anyway, are
miraculous, full of
angels (ideas); even
empty they are a
good place to look, to put
the heart at rest – all those
leaves breathing the air, so
peaceful and diligent, and certainly
ready to be
the resting place of
strange, winged creatures
that we, in this world, have loved.
fly in the firmament,
and how many can dance
on the head of a pin?
Well, I don't' care
about that pin dance.
what I know is that
they rest, sometimes,
in the tops of the trees
and you can see them,
or almost see them
or, anyway, think: what a
wonderful idea.
I have lost as you and
others have possibly lost a
beloved one,
and wonder, where are they now?
The trees, anyway, are
miraculous, full of
angels (ideas); even
empty they are a
good place to look, to put
the heart at rest – all those
leaves breathing the air, so
peaceful and diligent, and certainly
ready to be
the resting place of
strange, winged creatures
that we, in this world, have loved.
~Mary Oliver~
Thursday, April 25, 2013
41 Questions
Want to take 5 minutes, answer 41 questions and see what personality type you might be? I did this and it was very similar to the Myers Briggs test, although on this one, I was a smidge more on the extrovert side. Yeah, sometimes it happens!
I'm a "spontaneous idealist."
Here's the link to the questions.
***********************************
Your personality type: "Spontaneous Idealist"
Enthusiastic, idealistic and creative. Able to do almost anything that interests them. Great people skills. Need to live life in accordance with their inner values. Excited by new ideas, but bored with details. Open-minded and flexible, with a broad range of interests and abilities.
Careers that could fit you include:
Actors, journalists, writers, musicians, painters, consultants, psychologists, psychiatrists, entrepreneurs, teachers, counselors, politicans, diplomats, television reporters, marketers, scientists, sales representatives, artists, clergy, public relations, social scientists, social workers.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Walking on lion colored hills...
(Image from here)
"Today I walked on the lion-coloured hills
with only cypresses for company,
until the sunset caught me, turned the brush
to copper
set the clouds
to one great roof of flame
above the earth,
so that I walk through fire, beneath fire,
and all in beauty.
Being alone
I could not be alone, but felt
(closer than flesh) the presence of those
who once had burned in such transfigurations.
My happiness ran through the centuries
in one continual brightness. Looking down,
I saw the earth beneath me like a rose
petaled with mountains,
fragrant with deep peace."
Elizabeth Coatsworth, On the Hills, 1924
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Life
Reshaping life! People who can say that they have never understood a thing about life—they have never felt its breath, its heartbeat—however much they have seen or done. They look on it as a lump of raw material that needs to be processed by them, to be ennobled by their touch. But life is never a material, a substance to be molded. If you want to know, life is the principle of self-renewal, it is constantly renewing and remaking and changing and transfiguring itself, it is infinitely beyond your or my obtuse theories about it.
—Boris Pasternak, "Doctor Zhivago"
Image: Tadashi Namba, "Mount Hiei," Japan, 1986
http://tmblr.co/ZjYlFyi_6fW0Text and image found on Parabola's FB page.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Woman Shaman - trailer from Max Dashu
Published on Apr 15, 2013
A new video by Max Dashú explores the rich cultural record of medicine women, seers, oracles, healers, trance-dancers, shapeshifters, and dreamers, around the world. Her double dvd set on order at:
To experience the beauty, power and wisdom of these spiritual legacies is medicine for the spirit. Trailer includes the music of Suzanne Teng, Emmalee Crane, and Tiokasin Ghosthorse; scores of other musicians are featured on the dvd, including archival world music from Smithsonian Folkways. See link above for music credits, chapter listings, and more info.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Today's Animal in Need - Tucker
Making life better for homeless and unwanted animals ♥
Description
We Are Shelter Connecticut
We network needy and homeless animals in the state of Connecticut and beyond.
We network needy and homeless animals in the state of Connecticut and beyond.
We lend our voice to the ‘invisible’ animals who languish, forgotten, in our shelters.
We adopt these animals in our hearts and advocate for them as our own.
We embrace and promote the personalities of each animal individually.
We facilitate the adoption and rescue of these animals, and celebrate with abandon when said occurs.
We foster the spirit of guardianship of all animals.
We delight in the joy our animals bring us, and indulge the sentimentality that joy yields.
We affirm that even the smallest compassionate act can transform the lives of the most helpless among us.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Weekend Sky Show
Skywatchers this weekend will get treated to some beautiful close encounters when the Moon glides past bright clusters of stars and planet Jupiter.
Up first on Saturday, April 13, look towards the high western sky after local sunset for a waxing crescent Moon. Look to its far upper left and you will see a super-bright star – that is planet Jupiter- visible easily even from within heavily light polluted city limits. (Related: Jupiter and Moon in super close pairing)
As the sky darkens -about an hour after local sunset – look to the Moon’s immediate left and you will notice a distinctly orange-tinged, twinkling star. Aldebaran represents the red eye of Taurus, the bull constellation and is 65.1 light years from Earth. A true monster compared to our little Sun- Aldebaran’s diameter would reach beyond the orbit of Mars if it replaced our Sun at the center of the solar system.
Look carefully between Aldebaran and the Moon in a darkened sky and the Hyades star cluster will come into view. Binoculars may help make out the distinctive V-shape of this 250 light year distant star association – one of the closest to Earth.
Now scan to the lower right of the Moon and a tight hazy patch of little stars can be glimpsed even with the naked eye from suburban skies. Known as the Seven sisters, the Pleiades is one of the better known sky targets for backyard stargazers. This rich open cluster actually has more than 40 young stars as members – no more than 10 million years old - and most can be seen with binoculars and small telescopes, however with the unaided eye will pick out the brightest five to seven of its stars.
At evening twilight on April 14th the Moon will be in a pretty conjunction with Jupiter. Credit: A. Fazekas/Starry Night software
By Sunday night, April 14th, the Moon will have risen higher in the western evening sky for a striking visual pairing with brilliant Jupiter. The cosmic duo will appear to be separated by only a couple of degrees – less than the width of your two middle fingers held at arm’s length. (See also: Jupiter, Venus, Moon Make ‘Frown’)
While Jupiter may look close to the Moon in the sky, their proximity of course is due only to a chance alignment from our perspective here on Earth. While our nearest celestial neighbor is on average only 380,000 km away, Jupiter lies at a whopping 850 million km !
Up for an extra observing challenge? Try and track down Jupiter during daytime this weekend. Remember never to look at the sun with or without optical aids as it may cause permanent eye damage.
With the Moon acting as a convenient guidepost and a handy pair of binoculars, Sunday may be your best shot at actually hunt down and view the gas giant with your naked eyes in broad daylight. It won’t be easy-scan for a bright star against the blue background sky. How soon can you spot Jupiter before sunset?
Weekend Sky Show: Moon Joins Stellar Gems - above text and pictures found there.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Today's Animal in Need - Bob
About
HHER is a 100% volunteer 501(c)3 rescue. Please click on "about" for full info. Please consider a donation via paypal: hheartsequine@optonline.net
Mission
Our Goals:(1) Accept into our program equines in need;
(2) Assist in the placement of equines under the care of private owners who can no longer maintain them;
(3) Provide necessary management, veterinary and farrier care for those equines under our protection;
(4) Rehabilitate and adopt out equines to suitable homes as sport-horse prospects; pleasure riding prospects or as retirement/companion animals;
(5) Obtain sponsorships for those equines who maintain a permanent residency within the auspices of our organization;
(6) To provide all animals under our care with a comfortable and dignified existence without pain or suffering. If and when physical and medical circumstances no longer allow that comfortable life; to let them go gently and kindly with a humane veterinary-assisted euthanasia.
Company Overview
Helping Hearts Equine Rescue is a 100% Volunteer Rescue.
All funds go to the horses in our care.
Please consider a donation to assist our work:
Via Mail: Helping Hearts, PO Box 342, Perrineville, NJ 08535
or
PAYPAL: hheartsequine@optonline.net
“Alone we can accomplish a little, together we can accomplish a lot for horses in need”
All funds go to the horses in our care.
Please consider a donation to assist our work:
Via Mail: Helping Hearts, PO Box 342, Perrineville, NJ 08535
or
PAYPAL: hheartsequine@optonline.net
“Alone we can accomplish a little, together we can accomplish a lot for horses in need”
Description
Mission Statement:"Helping Hearts Equine Rescue is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit animal welfare organization incorporated in the State of New Jersey. We are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of equines in need; assisting equines in situations of neglect, abuse or threat of slaughter located in, but not necessarily limited to Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean Counties - in our home state of New Jersey. To educate the public regarding the standards of care required to maintain an equine as a riding partner and/or companion animal in a humane manner."
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Secret, sacred dancing
(Image from here)
Secret, sacred dancing
inside an orange petaled poppy tent.
Bee emerges, ecstatic.
Yesterday, I was reminded of this poem I wrote when I lived in Walnut Creek, California. I was sitting out on the patio with my 2 dogs in the late afternoon. My patio was like a jungle, filled with pots of flowers, fruit trees, orchids and herbs - I loved it and loved being outside puttering around in it or just relaxing in a chair.
Late one afternoon, the dogs and I heard loud buzzing coming from the poppy plant. It seems that a bumblebee was in the poppy, dancing around and the poppy was beginning to close as they do when the sun starts going down. The 3 of us stood transfixed, bent over the poppy watching the bee. I wondered if it was going to get out before the poppy actually closed.
It did.
This poem was my way of remembering how privileged I was to have had the experience of watching the bee dance in the poppy tent.
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