I am back...back from the recesses of my own self-deprecating hell...the one that I create specifically this time of year...every year! FEBRUARY. I am a Mama now... and I need to focus on RIVER! And THAT alone is what is getting me through these SAD days.
Sunlight Sweet Sunlight... how I long for thee... Can You Empathize? I stare longingly into the advertisements for warm sunny places, and picture myself...(Medium Shot) tanned hide, holding River (Close Up) clad in a delicately placed floppy hat, (Long Shot)laughing and smiling with franks washed in four'o'clock tropical sunshine... (Extreme Close Up) salt water licking at our bronzed toes... (Fade Out)
...I'm back...much to my chagrin, in a cold Room in NJ...inundated with stink bugs... horrific headache, child sleeping, franks snoring, cat scratching in the litterbox between horrific sounds. Alas, I wouldn't want it any other way.
I share an article with you from http://www.sad.org.uk/ because SAD is a REAL THING!
"Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, or the Winter Blues, is officially recognised by Doctors and Psychiatrists as a medical condition that is thought to affect 2 million people in the UK and Ireland and over 12 Million people across Northern Europe."
"Historically we only ever worked outdoors; two hundred years ago 75% of the population worked outdoors now less than 10% of the population work in natural outdoor light. Whilst this is fine in the Summer months when there are longer daylight hours, in the Winter months, people tend to go to work in the dark and go home in the dark and don't get to enough natural daylight.
This modern way of living has dramatically altered nature’s cues. A modern day no longer starts at the break of dawn and ends at sunset. Workdays are getting longer and many people face shift work schedules. Additionally, the advent of electric lighting allows social gatherings and personal activities to extend well into the night. These factors have diminished the body’s natural ability to regulate the body clock and this work/life change has resulted in a dramatic increase in light deficiency symptoms.
In the UK and Ireland we are more susceptible to SAD as we are situated in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere. As a result, we experience large changes in light levels between the summer and winter. We also experience periods of dark, gloomy weather which can reduce the amount of light we receive and therefore have a profound effect on our body clocks.
A combination of a change in seasonal light, our hectic lifestyles and the periods of darker days and poorer weather, can result in dramatic effects on our circadian rhythms. As a direct consequence of these environmental and lifestyle factors more people than ever before are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder."
Interesting, huh? The article continues...
"The human body uses light cues, such as those provided by the sun, to time certain functions.
Properly timed rhythms regulate mood, sleep, wake, appetite, digestion and energy. These daily internal cycles called ‘Circadian Rhythms’ sometimes fall out of time, meaning an unregulated body clock, resulting in the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Circadian Rhythm Imbalance - how it causes Seasonal Affective Disorder
Now with our hectic lifestyles, we often miss critical signals from the sun, and our body clocks suffer. Without proper morning light, our body clocks don’t produce the hormones we need to wake up and feel active. When we miss daytime light, we slump and become less productive. At night, we usually stay up hours after dark, causing sleep and mood problems. In fact, how we sleep, how active we are, and how we feel are all regulated by our body clock.
When your body clock doesn’t get the right light signals, you can feel tired, moody, and sluggish. But when your body clock does get the right type of light, your body produces active, energetic hormones and suppresses the negative, withdrawal ones. These hormones will help reset your sleep, mood, and energy cycles, so you sleep better at night and feel great during the day."
ALthough this website and article is based in the UK and Northern Europe...it certainly applies to us here in the US of A. According to
http://www.psychtreatment.com/seasonal_affective_disorder.htm
St. Louis Psychologists and Counseling Information and Referral website:
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may be the tired feeling and depressed mood that some people commonly experience in the winter time. Seasonal Affective Disorder may be experienced by six of every 100 people in the United States according to statistics by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Another 10% to 20% may experience some mild form of SAD. It seems to be more common in women than men and although some children and teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn’t start in people younger than 20 years of age. For adults, the risk of SAD decreases as they get older. Seasonal Affective Disorder is more common in northern geographic regions.
What to Do...
"Seasonal Affective Disorder: Where does it come from and what are the symptoms?
Physicians and mental health clinicians began to recognize Seasonal Affective Disorder when it was noticed that animals as well as humans react to the changing seasons in mood and behavior. Most people have a tendency to eat and sleep a little more in the winter and dislike the dark mornings and short days. For some, it seems to have a more intense effect in disrupting their lives and causing significant distress. The actual symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder include:
A change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods
Weight gain
A heavy feeling in the arms or legs
A drop in energy level
Fatigue
A tendency to oversleep
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Increased sensitivity to social rejection
Avoidance of social situations
The symptoms tend to start around September of each year lasting until April, and seem to be at their worst in the darkest months. The problem seems to stem from a lack of bright light in the winter. Researchers have proven that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry, although they are not sure by what means that sufferers are affected. It is not psychosomatic or an imaginary illness.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: Is there treatment available?
Find a beach or a place to ski. While going to a brightly-lit climate or snowy slope is indeed a cure, many people do not have that opportunity. As the cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder is due to a lack of bright light, the treatment in many cases may be to use bright light every day using a light box or similar light therapy device. The objective is to allow the light to reach the eyes for between a 1/4 and 3/4 of an hour daily to alleviate the symptoms. If light therapy works you’ll probably need to continue it until enough sunlight is available, typically in the springtime. Caution should be used for individuals with some psychiatric illnesses including manic depression. Tanning beds should not be used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder due to the damaging effects of the ultraviolet rays on both your eyes and skin. Other alternatives may include behavior therapy or medicine to treat symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. If light therapy or medicine alone doesn’t work, your doctor may want to use them together."
By Paul Susic MA Licensed Psychologist Ph.D Candidate
Small Businesses Rule! Please Keep Them Alive!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Pendulum Pregnancy: Bipolar and Expecting: River Sadie Demeter - So this is what all of the h...
Pendulum Pregnancy: Bipolar and Expecting: River Sadie Demeter - So this is what all of the h...: "The water Broketh...the Moon was fulleth...The River Floweth(ed)... November 21, 2010 at 10:46 PM Under a Snow Moon... The fun hath begun..."
River Sadie Demeter - So this is what all of the hub bub was all about...
The water Broketh...the Moon was fulleth...The River Floweth(ed)... November 21, 2010 at 10:46 PM Under a Snow Moon... The fun hath begun -
Six weeks into manic, magical mayhem. Extremes beyond any description... indescribable beauty...inexplicable madness... all wrapped up into one perfect bundle. She is my purpose. To be continued...
Six weeks into manic, magical mayhem. Extremes beyond any description... indescribable beauty...inexplicable madness... all wrapped up into one perfect bundle. She is my purpose. To be continued...
Friday, November 19, 2010
Pendulum Pregnancy: Bipolar and Expecting: "Aye Me... Sad Hours Seem Long..."
Pendulum Pregnancy: Bipolar and Expecting: "Aye Me... Sad Hours Seem Long...": "Act I Scene I William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (A ripe comparison to the last days of pregnancy... in my humble opinion). LADY MONTAG..."
"Aye Me... Sad Hours Seem Long..."
Act I Scene I William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (A ripe comparison to the last days of pregnancy... in my humble opinion).
LADY MONTAGUE
116 O, where is Romeo? saw you him to-day?
117 Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
BENVOLIO
118 Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun
119 Peer'd forth the golden window of the east,
120 A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad;
121 Where, underneath the grove of sycamore
122 That westward rooteth from this city side,
123 So early walking did I see your son:
124 Towards him I made, but he was ware of me
125 And stole into the covert of the wood:
126 I, measuring his affections by my own,
127 Which then most sought where most might not be found,
128 Being one too many by my weary self,
129 Pursued my humour not pursuing his,
130 And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me.
MONTAGUE
131 Many a morning hath he there been seen,
132 With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew,
133 Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs;
134 But all so soon as the all-cheering sun
135 Should in the furthest east begin to draw
136 The shady curtains from Aurora's bed,
137 Away from the light steals home my heavy son,
138 And private in his chamber pens himself,
139 Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out
140 And makes himself an artificial night:
141 Black and portentous must this humor prove,
142 Unless good counsel may the cause remove.
BENVOLIO
143 My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
MONTAGUE
144 I neither know it nor can learn of him.
BENVOLIO
145 Have you importuned him by any means?
MONTAGUE
146 Both by myself and many other friends:
147 But he, his own affections' counsellor,
148 Is to himself—I will not say how true—
149 But to himself so secret and so close,
150 So far from sounding and discovery,
151 As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
152 Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,
153 Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.
154 Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow.
155 We would as willingly give cure as know.
Enter ROMEO.
BENVOLIO
156 See, where he comes: so please you, step aside;
157 I'll know his grievance, or be much denied.
MONTAGUE
158 I would thou wert so happy by thy stay,
159 To hear true shrift. Come, madam, let's away.
Exeunt MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE.
BENVOLIO
160 Good-morrow, cousin.
ROMEO
160 Is the day so young?
BENVOLIO
161 But new struck nine.
ROMEO
161 Ay me! sad hours seem long.
162 Was that my father that went hence so fast?
BENVOLIO
163 It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?
ROMEO
164 Not having that, which, having, makes them short.
BENVOLIO
165 In love?
ROMEO
166 Out—
BENVOLIO
167 Of love?
ROMEO
168 Out of her favor, where I am in love.
BENVOLIO
169 Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
170 Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!
ROMEO
171 Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,
172 Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!
173 Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here?
174 Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
175 Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.
176 Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
177 O any thing, of nothing first create!
178 O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
179 Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
180 Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
181 Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
182 This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
183 Dost thou not laugh?
BENVOLIO
183 No, coz, I rather weep.
ROMEO
184 Good heart, at what?
BENVOLIO
184 At thy good heart's oppression.
ROMEO
185 Why, such is love's transgression.
186 Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
187 Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prest
188 With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown
189 Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.
190 Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;
191 Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
192 Being vex'd a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears:
193 What is it else? a madness most discreet,
194 A choking gall and a preserving sweet.
195 Farewell, my coz.
BENVOLIO
195 Soft! I will go along;
196 And if you leave me so, you do me wrong.
ROMEO
197 Tut, I have lost myself; I am not here;
198 This is not Romeo, he's some other where.
BENVOLIO
199 Tell me in sadness, who is that you love.
ROMEO
200 What, shall I groan and tell thee?
Poor Romeo has fallen out of favor with Rosalind and heartache is an impenetrable sadness. I know...I know, you're thinking "get over yourself Romeo (insert my name here). Stiff upper Lip!" And under your breath "...self-absorbed little whiner..." -
Take three steps back and remember...I am sure that you can empathize that the "sad hours" description is most apropos in describing the desperation... the waiting. It is Prison-like, really. Romeo is debilitated by heartache while we very pregnant mommas are debilitated by longing, braided with immobility/insanity and lack of patience(I'll speak for myself). I AM Mary Queen of Scots...locked in the tower. I can see the beautiful green vista beyond the window, but cannot feel it... cannot bear another waddle to the bathroom for an ungratifying pee coupled with cramps... cannot fathom another yank of my maternity trousers over the bulbous lump housing the treasure. Elastic is the enemy. Bras need to be burned! There is no need for extra support... the swollen girls rest beautifully on the bowling ball,where my lungs once resided, housing her fetal positioned bottom, knees and feet. She's floating in salty suspension, simply awaiting the perfect wave, I suppose. Little surfer.
Three trips to maternity triage later... one preterm labor with passing out spells that kept me on monitors and IV for 24 hours, one 4-1-1 contractions session that seemed the real deal (fizzled after about three hours), and one concussion-stimulated contractions session (soup pot fell off the pot rack and warped my forehead)... I have sworn off ANY midnight hospital trips until I am absolutely sure; only, I still don't really know what that means. "Aye me." These truly are sad hours.
The sweet irony here, as pointed out by my dear friend Jean Jeanie is simply this: after all of the complications that threatened premature labor, low birth weight, placenta previa, losing consciousness coupled with plummeting blood pressure, she now seems to feel right at home. All sevenish perfect pounds of her, nestled against a 90% effaced cervix with no dilation... may need to be gently evicted.
Check out this read to research natural ways to induce labor... keeping in mind that NOTHING will work until the little one is ready, and it is safe. The body knows.
And while you are at it... may I recommend an AWESOME, affordable camera to capture all of life's delectable moments... the Holidays ARE upon us (I just came to this realization having escaped the "woe is me" shroud for one, sweet second). Check it out:
Fondly, on fragile knees...
Amanda xo
LADY MONTAGUE
116 O, where is Romeo? saw you him to-day?
117 Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
BENVOLIO
118 Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun
119 Peer'd forth the golden window of the east,
120 A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad;
121 Where, underneath the grove of sycamore
122 That westward rooteth from this city side,
123 So early walking did I see your son:
124 Towards him I made, but he was ware of me
125 And stole into the covert of the wood:
126 I, measuring his affections by my own,
127 Which then most sought where most might not be found,
128 Being one too many by my weary self,
129 Pursued my humour not pursuing his,
130 And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me.
MONTAGUE
131 Many a morning hath he there been seen,
132 With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew,
133 Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs;
134 But all so soon as the all-cheering sun
135 Should in the furthest east begin to draw
136 The shady curtains from Aurora's bed,
137 Away from the light steals home my heavy son,
138 And private in his chamber pens himself,
139 Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out
140 And makes himself an artificial night:
141 Black and portentous must this humor prove,
142 Unless good counsel may the cause remove.
BENVOLIO
143 My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
MONTAGUE
144 I neither know it nor can learn of him.
BENVOLIO
145 Have you importuned him by any means?
MONTAGUE
146 Both by myself and many other friends:
147 But he, his own affections' counsellor,
148 Is to himself—I will not say how true—
149 But to himself so secret and so close,
150 So far from sounding and discovery,
151 As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
152 Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,
153 Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.
154 Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow.
155 We would as willingly give cure as know.
Enter ROMEO.
BENVOLIO
156 See, where he comes: so please you, step aside;
157 I'll know his grievance, or be much denied.
MONTAGUE
158 I would thou wert so happy by thy stay,
159 To hear true shrift. Come, madam, let's away.
Exeunt MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE.
BENVOLIO
160 Good-morrow, cousin.
ROMEO
160 Is the day so young?
BENVOLIO
161 But new struck nine.
ROMEO
161 Ay me! sad hours seem long.
162 Was that my father that went hence so fast?
BENVOLIO
163 It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?
ROMEO
164 Not having that, which, having, makes them short.
BENVOLIO
165 In love?
ROMEO
166 Out—
BENVOLIO
167 Of love?
ROMEO
168 Out of her favor, where I am in love.
BENVOLIO
169 Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
170 Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!
ROMEO
171 Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,
172 Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!
173 Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here?
174 Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
175 Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.
176 Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
177 O any thing, of nothing first create!
178 O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
179 Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
180 Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
181 Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
182 This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
183 Dost thou not laugh?
BENVOLIO
183 No, coz, I rather weep.
ROMEO
184 Good heart, at what?
BENVOLIO
184 At thy good heart's oppression.
ROMEO
185 Why, such is love's transgression.
186 Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
187 Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prest
188 With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown
189 Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.
190 Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;
191 Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
192 Being vex'd a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears:
193 What is it else? a madness most discreet,
194 A choking gall and a preserving sweet.
195 Farewell, my coz.
BENVOLIO
195 Soft! I will go along;
196 And if you leave me so, you do me wrong.
ROMEO
197 Tut, I have lost myself; I am not here;
198 This is not Romeo, he's some other where.
BENVOLIO
199 Tell me in sadness, who is that you love.
ROMEO
200 What, shall I groan and tell thee?
Poor Romeo has fallen out of favor with Rosalind and heartache is an impenetrable sadness. I know...I know, you're thinking "get over yourself Romeo (insert my name here). Stiff upper Lip!" And under your breath "...self-absorbed little whiner..." -
Take three steps back and remember...I am sure that you can empathize that the "sad hours" description is most apropos in describing the desperation... the waiting. It is Prison-like, really. Romeo is debilitated by heartache while we very pregnant mommas are debilitated by longing, braided with immobility/insanity and lack of patience(I'll speak for myself). I AM Mary Queen of Scots...locked in the tower. I can see the beautiful green vista beyond the window, but cannot feel it... cannot bear another waddle to the bathroom for an ungratifying pee coupled with cramps... cannot fathom another yank of my maternity trousers over the bulbous lump housing the treasure. Elastic is the enemy. Bras need to be burned! There is no need for extra support... the swollen girls rest beautifully on the bowling ball,where my lungs once resided, housing her fetal positioned bottom, knees and feet. She's floating in salty suspension, simply awaiting the perfect wave, I suppose. Little surfer.
Three trips to maternity triage later... one preterm labor with passing out spells that kept me on monitors and IV for 24 hours, one 4-1-1 contractions session that seemed the real deal (fizzled after about three hours), and one concussion-stimulated contractions session (soup pot fell off the pot rack and warped my forehead)... I have sworn off ANY midnight hospital trips until I am absolutely sure; only, I still don't really know what that means. "Aye me." These truly are sad hours.
The sweet irony here, as pointed out by my dear friend Jean Jeanie is simply this: after all of the complications that threatened premature labor, low birth weight, placenta previa, losing consciousness coupled with plummeting blood pressure, she now seems to feel right at home. All sevenish perfect pounds of her, nestled against a 90% effaced cervix with no dilation... may need to be gently evicted.
Check out this read to research natural ways to induce labor... keeping in mind that NOTHING will work until the little one is ready, and it is safe. The body knows.
And while you are at it... may I recommend an AWESOME, affordable camera to capture all of life's delectable moments... the Holidays ARE upon us (I just came to this realization having escaped the "woe is me" shroud for one, sweet second). Check it out:
Fondly, on fragile knees...
Amanda xo
Friday, October 22, 2010
Under the Blood Red Moon...
I apologize for my twenty day lapse of reason and insight, but life has thrown me some lemons... and you can rest assure that I have made a most remarkable vat of lemonade with them. Things to discuss at another time and another place.
Right now, in this moment... there is an incredible full moon this evening. According to one of my favorite reads... riddled with folklore and neato pagan stuff,"The Witches' Almanac" ... it is the Blood Moon; most appropriate to the Halloween season. Alas, there is an interesting story that I will grace you with that explains the history behind the "blood" title...and I feel that there is a significance to childbirth, too; with the waxing moon, my belly has been waxing SIGNIFICANTLY, along with my insanity, impatience, irritability, and labor-like symptoms.
So I gently ask the fates...
"could the cramping in my lower abdomen, nausea, and pelvic pain be a sign from the Blood Moon that the little girl in my womb is ready to venture onto Mother Earth?"
I haven't received an answer as of yet... only a few sharp kicks to the rib cage and increased pressure on my pelvis. I'm not quite sure how this translates.
In the interim, let me share some fun stuff about the Blood Moon with you, coupled with cool, correlating sights to peruse:
The Blood Moon
http://www.midnightmoonchild.com/moonchild12thmoonpage.html
"This is a time for Sacrifice. In this, the time of first frosts and final harvests, this is a time of letting go and clearing away. This is a time of inner cleansing to make way for the justice of karma and a time for seeking shelter in friendship and community. In the calendar system we have provided as an example, this moon is typically named the Blood Moon. This name reflects the final harvest of livestock and the ultimate sacrifice of the harvest King as he leaves the world above for the mysterious transformation to be found in the underworld.
In many other belief systems there are already time-honored traditions for the establishment of a calendar. We have included a few examples here for you to consider.
In the Celtic Tree Calendar this moon is Ngetal (Reed) which runs from October 28th through November 24th.
The Runic Calendar of Nordic traditions, (which is governed by half months rather than full months), divides this moon of the year by Wyn (Joy) from October 13th through October 27th and Hagal (Constraint) from October 28th through November 12th.
The Goddess Calendar names this moon of the year after Hathor or Samhain and runs from October 3rd through October 30th.
The American Backwoods Calendar refers to this moon of the year as the Beaver Moon and is determined by whichever full moon falls in November.
This is a time for moving beyond sacrifice to find the pathway to justice, balance and harmony. This is a time for moving beyond sacrifice to seek renewal. This is a time for moving beyond sacrifice to accept your place in the endless spiral of karma. This is a most appropriate time to lament all your losses. Just as the Summer King has sacrificed the fullness of the harvest to ensure the survival of his land through the coming winter, the aftermath of your sacrifices will provide the shelter of warm friendships to nurture and fortify your spirit through whatever darkness may lie ahead.
Perhaps you know this as the Cold Moon, the Blood Moon, or St. Martin's Moon. However you name this moon, you know it as a time of endings and beginnings. The necessity of accomplishing tasks before the coming winter makes them impossible is highlighted by increasing darkness and apparent decline. In this increased darkness the link forged between the world of the living and the world of the dead is strengthened just as the veil between these two worlds is pierced on All Hallows Eve, Samhain, The Feast of the Dead, all of which are celebrated on October 31st.
In history it is the tradition to share of the Samhain feast with the spirits of the dead by leaving some out on the doorstep for the spirit world to enjoy. It was thought that the spirits would come masked and therefore giving to the masked has become a western tradition in this season. Today it's the stuff that makes happy childhood Trick or Treat memories but in the old days this was a way to give or get charitable offerings without the humiliation of identification.
So, with all that information to guide you, think of this moon as the ultimate opportunity to ensure that your sacrifices find renewal by honoring the spirit of sacrifice with your attention and gratitude.
If you select a personal name for this moon, let it be one which reflects the spirit of sacrifices well-made to you."
Coincidentally, there is a frost warning this evening!
Visit the website (above) for more reading and a complete, lunar calendar.
...and now for something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (thank you, Monty Python). Check out the beginning of this article... a completely different look of the derivation/significance of The Blood Moon. I will post a portion. To read more go to the following website and enjoy:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=63076
TESTING THE FAITH
Blood moon eclipses: 2nd Coming in 2015?
Minister uses NASA forecasting to study signals of Jesus' return
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: April 30, 2008
11:49 pm Eastern
By Joe Kovacs
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
"Total lunar eclipses often make the moon appear red -Will Jesus Christ return to Earth in the year 2015? And can studying NASA's website provide evidence for such a scenario?
A minister who promotes the Old Testament roots of Christianity suggests a rare string of lunar and solar eclipses said to fall on God's annual holy days seven years from now could herald what's come to be known as the 'Second Coming' of Jesus.
'God wants us to look at the biblical calendar,' says Mark Biltz, pastor of El Shaddai Ministries in Bonney Lake, Wash. 'The reason we need to be watching is [because] He will signal His appearance. But we have to know what to be watching as well. So we need to be watching the biblical holidays.'
In a video interview on the Prophecy in the News website, Biltz said he's been studying prophecies that focus on the sun and moon, even going back to the book of Genesis where it states the lights in the sky would be "be for signs, and for seasons."
'It means a signal, kind of like 'one if by land, two if by sea.' It's like God wants to signal us," he said. "The Hebrew word implies ... not only is it a signal, but it's a signal for coming or His appearing.'
Biltz adds the word "seasons" implies appointed times for God's feasts and festivals.
'When we hear the word feast, we think food. But the Hebrew word has nothing to do with food. It has to do with a divine appointment, as if God has a day timer, and He says, 'OK, I'm gonna mark the day and the time when I'm going to signal My appearance.'
Yes, the Bible is completely true, but you may never have heard the spectacular, ultimate destiny God has in store for you. It's far more glorious than just floating around on clouds in heaven! Find out what you've never been told, direct from your very own Bible!'
In the Old Testament, the prophet Joel states, 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.' (Joel 2:31)
In the New Testament, Jesus is quoted as saying, 'Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light ... And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.' (Matthew 24:29-30)
Gary Stearman of Prophecy in the News noted, 'When we think of the sun being darkened and the moon not giving her light, we usually think of some astronomical catastrophe – perhaps the sun sputtering and the moon being affected by all this. But maybe it's time to rethink this a little bit and think of it as a natural cycle, the cycle of the eclipses.'
Phases of lunar and solar eclipses on NASA's eclipse website
Thus, Biltz began focusing on the precise times of both solar and lunar eclipses, sometimes called 'blood moons' since the moon often takes on a bloody color. He logged onto NASA's eclipse website which provides precision tracking of the celestial events.
He noted a rare phenomenon of four consecutive total lunar eclipses, known as a tetrad.
He says during this century, tetrads occur at least six times, but what's interesting is that the only string of four consecutive blood moons that coincide with God's holy days of Passover in the spring and the autumn's Feast of Tabernacles (also called Succoth) occurs between 2014 and 2015 on today's Gregorian calendar.
'The fact that it doesn't happen again in this century I think is very significant,' Biltz explains. 'So then I looked at last century, and, believe it or not, the last time that four blood red moons occurred together was in 1967 and 1968 tied to Jerusalem recaptured by Israel.'
He then started to notice a pattern of the tetrads."
Now... check this out!" Full Moon, Gravitational Pull and Childbirth!
(http://www.birthsource.com/Scripts/article.asp?articleid=409)
"Have you ever heard of someone say, 'Wow, the emergency room was hopping last night. It must have been a full moon.' Or 'If your due date comes close to a full moon, that is when you’ll have the baby.' Is this documented and evidence-based or simply Urban Legend?
While it is very unlikely that we as humans know all that there is to know about medicine and science, some studies do show that SOMETHING is going on. Dr. Leiber's study (J Clin Psychiatry. 1978. May 39(5): 385-92)6, postulates 'the existence of a biological rhythm of human aggression which resonates with the lunar synodic cycle.'
Does that explain the erratic behavior of people during a full moon? Probably. Does it answer our question about childbirth and full moon?
Is there any relationship between the times when babies are born and the lunar cycle?
There are published works that show that there is such a relationship. One study looked at 5,927,978 French births occurring between the months of January 1968 and the 31st December 1974. Using spectral analysis, it was shown that there are two different rhythms in birth frequencies: --a weekly rhythm characterized by the lowest number of births on a Sunday and the largest number on a Tuesday and an annual rhythm with the maximum number of births in May and the minimum in September-October. A statistical analysis of the distribution of births in the lunar month shows that more are born between the last quarter and the new moon, and fewer are born in the first quarter of the moon. The differences between the distribution observed during the lunar month and the theoretical distribution are statistically significant.
People are 80% water. And the changes in barometric pressure changes tides…does that change how we act or react? Some say yes, others no. Those that say no site the power of folklore/tradition/urban legends, misconceptions and cognitive biases (all bad events don't occur during the full moon and all events that occur during the full moon aren't bad!). Talk to nurses who work labor and delivery on a regular basis, midwives, busy doulas or experienced childbirth educators and they will all tell you that they believe in the power of the full moon plus changes in barometric pressure from cold/warm fronts (but that is another article!)
Another such study seems to verify this. Examined was the relationship between lunar position and the day of delivery and the synodic (in astronomy, length of time during which a body in the solar system makes one orbit of the sun relative to the earth) distribution of spontaneous deliveries, especially in relation to the presence of a full moon. A retrospective analysis of 1248 spontaneous full-term deliveries in three-year period (36 lunar months) was done at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Civil Hospital, Fano (Marche, Italy). The results showed a connection between spontaneous full-term deliveries and the lunar month. The effect of the phases of the moon seems to be particularly relevant in mothers who had birthed before."
... we shall see -
"...and dance by the light of the moon."
Amanda xo
Right now, in this moment... there is an incredible full moon this evening. According to one of my favorite reads... riddled with folklore and neato pagan stuff,"The Witches' Almanac" ... it is the Blood Moon; most appropriate to the Halloween season. Alas, there is an interesting story that I will grace you with that explains the history behind the "blood" title...and I feel that there is a significance to childbirth, too; with the waxing moon, my belly has been waxing SIGNIFICANTLY, along with my insanity, impatience, irritability, and labor-like symptoms.
So I gently ask the fates...
"could the cramping in my lower abdomen, nausea, and pelvic pain be a sign from the Blood Moon that the little girl in my womb is ready to venture onto Mother Earth?"
I haven't received an answer as of yet... only a few sharp kicks to the rib cage and increased pressure on my pelvis. I'm not quite sure how this translates.
In the interim, let me share some fun stuff about the Blood Moon with you, coupled with cool, correlating sights to peruse:
The Blood Moon
http://www.midnightmoonchild.com/moonchild12thmoonpage.html
"This is a time for Sacrifice. In this, the time of first frosts and final harvests, this is a time of letting go and clearing away. This is a time of inner cleansing to make way for the justice of karma and a time for seeking shelter in friendship and community. In the calendar system we have provided as an example, this moon is typically named the Blood Moon. This name reflects the final harvest of livestock and the ultimate sacrifice of the harvest King as he leaves the world above for the mysterious transformation to be found in the underworld.
In many other belief systems there are already time-honored traditions for the establishment of a calendar. We have included a few examples here for you to consider.
In the Celtic Tree Calendar this moon is Ngetal (Reed) which runs from October 28th through November 24th.
The Runic Calendar of Nordic traditions, (which is governed by half months rather than full months), divides this moon of the year by Wyn (Joy) from October 13th through October 27th and Hagal (Constraint) from October 28th through November 12th.
The Goddess Calendar names this moon of the year after Hathor or Samhain and runs from October 3rd through October 30th.
The American Backwoods Calendar refers to this moon of the year as the Beaver Moon and is determined by whichever full moon falls in November.
This is a time for moving beyond sacrifice to find the pathway to justice, balance and harmony. This is a time for moving beyond sacrifice to seek renewal. This is a time for moving beyond sacrifice to accept your place in the endless spiral of karma. This is a most appropriate time to lament all your losses. Just as the Summer King has sacrificed the fullness of the harvest to ensure the survival of his land through the coming winter, the aftermath of your sacrifices will provide the shelter of warm friendships to nurture and fortify your spirit through whatever darkness may lie ahead.
Perhaps you know this as the Cold Moon, the Blood Moon, or St. Martin's Moon. However you name this moon, you know it as a time of endings and beginnings. The necessity of accomplishing tasks before the coming winter makes them impossible is highlighted by increasing darkness and apparent decline. In this increased darkness the link forged between the world of the living and the world of the dead is strengthened just as the veil between these two worlds is pierced on All Hallows Eve, Samhain, The Feast of the Dead, all of which are celebrated on October 31st.
In history it is the tradition to share of the Samhain feast with the spirits of the dead by leaving some out on the doorstep for the spirit world to enjoy. It was thought that the spirits would come masked and therefore giving to the masked has become a western tradition in this season. Today it's the stuff that makes happy childhood Trick or Treat memories but in the old days this was a way to give or get charitable offerings without the humiliation of identification.
So, with all that information to guide you, think of this moon as the ultimate opportunity to ensure that your sacrifices find renewal by honoring the spirit of sacrifice with your attention and gratitude.
If you select a personal name for this moon, let it be one which reflects the spirit of sacrifices well-made to you."
Coincidentally, there is a frost warning this evening!
Visit the website (above) for more reading and a complete, lunar calendar.
...and now for something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (thank you, Monty Python). Check out the beginning of this article... a completely different look of the derivation/significance of The Blood Moon. I will post a portion. To read more go to the following website and enjoy:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=63076
TESTING THE FAITH
Blood moon eclipses: 2nd Coming in 2015?
Minister uses NASA forecasting to study signals of Jesus' return
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: April 30, 2008
11:49 pm Eastern
By Joe Kovacs
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
"Total lunar eclipses often make the moon appear red -Will Jesus Christ return to Earth in the year 2015? And can studying NASA's website provide evidence for such a scenario?
A minister who promotes the Old Testament roots of Christianity suggests a rare string of lunar and solar eclipses said to fall on God's annual holy days seven years from now could herald what's come to be known as the 'Second Coming' of Jesus.
'God wants us to look at the biblical calendar,' says Mark Biltz, pastor of El Shaddai Ministries in Bonney Lake, Wash. 'The reason we need to be watching is [because] He will signal His appearance. But we have to know what to be watching as well. So we need to be watching the biblical holidays.'
In a video interview on the Prophecy in the News website, Biltz said he's been studying prophecies that focus on the sun and moon, even going back to the book of Genesis where it states the lights in the sky would be "be for signs, and for seasons."
'It means a signal, kind of like 'one if by land, two if by sea.' It's like God wants to signal us," he said. "The Hebrew word implies ... not only is it a signal, but it's a signal for coming or His appearing.'
Biltz adds the word "seasons" implies appointed times for God's feasts and festivals.
'When we hear the word feast, we think food. But the Hebrew word has nothing to do with food. It has to do with a divine appointment, as if God has a day timer, and He says, 'OK, I'm gonna mark the day and the time when I'm going to signal My appearance.'
Yes, the Bible is completely true, but you may never have heard the spectacular, ultimate destiny God has in store for you. It's far more glorious than just floating around on clouds in heaven! Find out what you've never been told, direct from your very own Bible!'
In the Old Testament, the prophet Joel states, 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.' (Joel 2:31)
In the New Testament, Jesus is quoted as saying, 'Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light ... And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.' (Matthew 24:29-30)
Gary Stearman of Prophecy in the News noted, 'When we think of the sun being darkened and the moon not giving her light, we usually think of some astronomical catastrophe – perhaps the sun sputtering and the moon being affected by all this. But maybe it's time to rethink this a little bit and think of it as a natural cycle, the cycle of the eclipses.'
Phases of lunar and solar eclipses on NASA's eclipse website
Thus, Biltz began focusing on the precise times of both solar and lunar eclipses, sometimes called 'blood moons' since the moon often takes on a bloody color. He logged onto NASA's eclipse website which provides precision tracking of the celestial events.
He noted a rare phenomenon of four consecutive total lunar eclipses, known as a tetrad.
He says during this century, tetrads occur at least six times, but what's interesting is that the only string of four consecutive blood moons that coincide with God's holy days of Passover in the spring and the autumn's Feast of Tabernacles (also called Succoth) occurs between 2014 and 2015 on today's Gregorian calendar.
'The fact that it doesn't happen again in this century I think is very significant,' Biltz explains. 'So then I looked at last century, and, believe it or not, the last time that four blood red moons occurred together was in 1967 and 1968 tied to Jerusalem recaptured by Israel.'
He then started to notice a pattern of the tetrads."
Now... check this out!" Full Moon, Gravitational Pull and Childbirth!
(http://www.birthsource.com/Scripts/article.asp?articleid=409)
"Have you ever heard of someone say, 'Wow, the emergency room was hopping last night. It must have been a full moon.' Or 'If your due date comes close to a full moon, that is when you’ll have the baby.' Is this documented and evidence-based or simply Urban Legend?
While it is very unlikely that we as humans know all that there is to know about medicine and science, some studies do show that SOMETHING is going on. Dr. Leiber's study (J Clin Psychiatry. 1978. May 39(5): 385-92)6, postulates 'the existence of a biological rhythm of human aggression which resonates with the lunar synodic cycle.'
Does that explain the erratic behavior of people during a full moon? Probably. Does it answer our question about childbirth and full moon?
Is there any relationship between the times when babies are born and the lunar cycle?
There are published works that show that there is such a relationship. One study looked at 5,927,978 French births occurring between the months of January 1968 and the 31st December 1974. Using spectral analysis, it was shown that there are two different rhythms in birth frequencies: --a weekly rhythm characterized by the lowest number of births on a Sunday and the largest number on a Tuesday and an annual rhythm with the maximum number of births in May and the minimum in September-October. A statistical analysis of the distribution of births in the lunar month shows that more are born between the last quarter and the new moon, and fewer are born in the first quarter of the moon. The differences between the distribution observed during the lunar month and the theoretical distribution are statistically significant.
People are 80% water. And the changes in barometric pressure changes tides…does that change how we act or react? Some say yes, others no. Those that say no site the power of folklore/tradition/urban legends, misconceptions and cognitive biases (all bad events don't occur during the full moon and all events that occur during the full moon aren't bad!). Talk to nurses who work labor and delivery on a regular basis, midwives, busy doulas or experienced childbirth educators and they will all tell you that they believe in the power of the full moon plus changes in barometric pressure from cold/warm fronts (but that is another article!)
Another such study seems to verify this. Examined was the relationship between lunar position and the day of delivery and the synodic (in astronomy, length of time during which a body in the solar system makes one orbit of the sun relative to the earth) distribution of spontaneous deliveries, especially in relation to the presence of a full moon. A retrospective analysis of 1248 spontaneous full-term deliveries in three-year period (36 lunar months) was done at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Civil Hospital, Fano (Marche, Italy). The results showed a connection between spontaneous full-term deliveries and the lunar month. The effect of the phases of the moon seems to be particularly relevant in mothers who had birthed before."
... we shall see -
"...and dance by the light of the moon."
Amanda xo
Saturday, October 2, 2010
...falling into place
Today I am standing outside of myself...just watching. I am some weird film within a film caught between yawns and the flickering blue light of 3 am television. I don't know who I am, or why I am... and there is a baby dancing in my swollen, achy abdomen. She is no longer the pollywog, but the real deal; this I finally feel. And this I am trying desperately to understand. There is no nursery to rock in to speak of... but it is a safe place to hang our hats. For this, I am grateful. And for this, I am frightened. I don't like who I am today, but I like who I hold inside and want her to swim in optimism...hope. I dream of an easier way and ask the universe to take away my unrest. I am... she is... we will be. This is a universal truth... and this I know. Everything else will fall into place as it will.
Below is a quick ditty on third trimester blues...which could simply be what I am experiencing, exacerbated by mental slough and life stuff. Perhaps you can relate to this.
Blues In Third Trimester Of Pregnancy
http://www.pregnancy-baby-care.com/articles/299/pregnancy-stages/pregnancy-third-trimester-blues.html
The third trimester of pregnancy is probably the most difficult period, in the entire nine month duration, mainly because your hormones will be rampant. Most women go through pregnancy third trimester blues, which includes insomnia, boredom and anxiety. Of course, factors like being big enough to have difficulty in sitting up and getting up without help, as well as the severe back aches and swollen feet, do not make things any better. As the third trimester gradually progresses, most women say that they wish the pregnancy were over and that they could hold their babies in their arms. However, this feeling occurs mainly because many women literally struggle to pull through the last three months. As the baby grows within them they experience physical and mental discomfort. Emotional fears too usually increase in pregnant women at this time. Getting through pregnancy third trimester blues is possible, especially if you are not alone. Given below are some tips to deal with the blues:
• If you have a good support system, get your spouse or a family member to take over a portion of your household chores and duties.
• Avoid making any visits to the doctor on your own. Ask either a spouse, or a close family member (someone you are very comfortable with) to join you during every visit.
• Try to get as much rest and relaxation, as possible. If you find it difficult to do so, try some relaxation techniques like meditating, listening to calming music or soaking in a hot tub. Also get yourself pampered occasionally, with a professional massage or foot rub.
• Spend some time in preparing for the baby’s arrival and concentrate on how you would like your life to be, after the baby is born. Practicing birthing techniques, setting up the baby’s room, staring a baby book and reading prenatal books are all a part of preparing for the baby. Not all pregnancies last for their full term and therefore planning for the baby’s arrival well in advance should always be helpful.
• Many people who suffer from pregnancy third month blues also face post-partum depression. Read up on it so that you can plan ahead and be prepared to deal with it effectively.
As you approach your due date, the amount of help and support you need, will probably increase. Apart from your family and friends there are several online programs for pregnant women that you may find useful too.
xo Amanda
Below is a quick ditty on third trimester blues...which could simply be what I am experiencing, exacerbated by mental slough and life stuff. Perhaps you can relate to this.
Blues In Third Trimester Of Pregnancy
http://www.pregnancy-baby-care.com/articles/299/pregnancy-stages/pregnancy-third-trimester-blues.html
The third trimester of pregnancy is probably the most difficult period, in the entire nine month duration, mainly because your hormones will be rampant. Most women go through pregnancy third trimester blues, which includes insomnia, boredom and anxiety. Of course, factors like being big enough to have difficulty in sitting up and getting up without help, as well as the severe back aches and swollen feet, do not make things any better. As the third trimester gradually progresses, most women say that they wish the pregnancy were over and that they could hold their babies in their arms. However, this feeling occurs mainly because many women literally struggle to pull through the last three months. As the baby grows within them they experience physical and mental discomfort. Emotional fears too usually increase in pregnant women at this time. Getting through pregnancy third trimester blues is possible, especially if you are not alone. Given below are some tips to deal with the blues:
• If you have a good support system, get your spouse or a family member to take over a portion of your household chores and duties.
• Avoid making any visits to the doctor on your own. Ask either a spouse, or a close family member (someone you are very comfortable with) to join you during every visit.
• Try to get as much rest and relaxation, as possible. If you find it difficult to do so, try some relaxation techniques like meditating, listening to calming music or soaking in a hot tub. Also get yourself pampered occasionally, with a professional massage or foot rub.
• Spend some time in preparing for the baby’s arrival and concentrate on how you would like your life to be, after the baby is born. Practicing birthing techniques, setting up the baby’s room, staring a baby book and reading prenatal books are all a part of preparing for the baby. Not all pregnancies last for their full term and therefore planning for the baby’s arrival well in advance should always be helpful.
• Many people who suffer from pregnancy third month blues also face post-partum depression. Read up on it so that you can plan ahead and be prepared to deal with it effectively.
As you approach your due date, the amount of help and support you need, will probably increase. Apart from your family and friends there are several online programs for pregnant women that you may find useful too.
xo Amanda
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