Guest Post: The Queen of Heaven -- Ancient Tales of Venus

Venus, one of the most visible and beautiful of the planets, has been observed and honored since the most ancient of times. The Greeks, Mesopotamians, Chinese, Mayans, Romans, Egyptians—all paid homage to her at critical points in her cycle. She is known as Aphrodite, Isis (Iset), Inanna, Astarte and Ishtar, to name a few.

Venus orbits the Sun inside the orbit of the Earth, traveling at nearly the same speed of our planet. On cloudless nights we can observe her as either the morning or the evening star. As she circles the Sun, she moves either closer to theSun (lower in the sky at sunrise or sunset or further from the Sun (higher in the sky at sunrise or sunset. For a few days every nine months, she is so close to the Sun that we cannot see her; her light is eclipsed by the light of the Sun. Critical in that period is the time when she descends into the Sun to change from the evening star to the morning star, when she reverses direction in the Zodiac for 40 days and emerges from the Sun's rays in the morning sky dimmed and red as if ravaged in the Underworld.

One of the stories of Inanna tells the tale in metaphor of Venus's cycle in the heavens. Inanna, Queen of Heaven, Lady of the Evening and Lady of the Morning, was the great goddess who was married to Dumuzi. She clothes herself in her jewels and shield to enter the Underworld, on her way to the East. She cautions her loyal servant, Ninshubur, to protect her from death while on her journey. Neti, the gatekeeper, leads her through the seven gates of the Underworld, where at each gate she is stripped of her jewels, shield and clothing, one by one. When she reaches the Underworld, she is killed by Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld. After six days, she is rescued by Ninshubur, who convinces Ereshkigal, as she is giving birth, to give to her Inanna's corpse, to whom they give the food and water of life. Once alive, she leaves the Underworld, battered and bloodied, but alive.

Inanna is wed to Dumuzi, the Shepherd/Sun King (she travels always with the Sun). As Lady of the Evening and Morning, she appears sometimes as the morning star, others as the evening star, as she orbits the Sun. Once every 18 months, she descends into the Underworld (turns retrograde) to go from the West to the East (Venus descends the skies changing from the bright, western evening star to the dimmed eastern morning star, during part of which time she cannot be seen and is transformed). She goes through seven gates (seven Moon signs—the Moon passes through seven signs), then she is slain and lays dead for six days (her light is lost in the Sun). She re-emerges brought back to life and ascends to the world of light (rises above the Sun as the morning star, brightens and then turns direct in her motion).

In other cultures, her cycle was also extremely significant. In the Native American Muskogan culture, she is depicted as an eight-pointed (brighter) star in the evening and as a seven-pointed (dimmer) star in the morning. During the time that Venus disappears into the Sun, the Elders of the nation meet in a special enclave. During this enclave, they receive guidance on behalf of the tribe, which they impart at the end of Venus's disappearance.

Every five cycles, Venus returns to the first point at which she retrograded, forming a five-pointed star, which has been used by the Native Americans to make dream-catchers (a hoop with a five-pointed star woven into it).

Venus was a very important planet to the ancients and to currently existing cultures which preserve their heritage. Although much of her significance has been lost to modern Western culture, we may be wise to heed the wisdom of the ancients in this as in so many other things.

For the text of the original poem, translated by Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer, go to
http://www.terrylamb.net/descent_of_inanna.htm.
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*My thanks to Daniel Giamario for his insights into the story of Inanna/Venus and to Tis Mal Crow, Muskogan medicine man for the insights into his nation's customs and beliefs.

© Terry Lamb

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(Loved this post. You can find the original at http://www.terrylamb.net/queen_of_heaven.htm.)

Zen Walking

I took this pic today on my daily walk around the building where I work. I had been thinking that even though each walk is repetitive, some things are always new and different--like when I saw the seagulls in formation (previous post), or when the clouds are incredible and no picture could ever truly capture them.

I went out with just such expectations to see something different again today, and there were two things! The first was a jasmine-like fragrance in the breeze. I had never smelled this before, as this is an industrial area with a 4-lane road in front of the building. I couldn't believe I was smelling something that would be in someone's private garden...and right in the middle of a metropolis. I inhaled deeply as much as I could...and gave thanks for this pleasant surprise.

The second nice surprise was the corona around the sun, around the top half as shown in pic. It was really lovely, and I'm even more surprised my phone camera was able to capture it as well as it did. The picture turned out great. There are even seagulls, and a sunburst in the darkness of the building. There is an odd reflection that looks like an orb, but I know from past experience that it appears when photographing the sun. I like it anyway.

Back to story...so as I started looking forward to my walk today...I was trying to understand why a daily walk in an asphalt jungle (parking lot) could be so peaceful, and so invigorating to my soul. It doesn't make sense to me, but I attempt to explain below.

I read something someone wrote about her meditative walk on the same path each day. The writer said eventually all the points of the path became very familiar to her. This familiarity allowed her mind to relax, as it did not need to go over each detail again after having committed it all to memory and experience from previous walks. She was able to experience her walks as deep meditations then. I had an aha moment when I read her explanation.

Now...it is a bit of a mystery, because in order to find stillness of mind, one has to be mindful, paying attention to everything that one is experiencing. It's goes against logic to think one has to be mindful and aware in order to be free and still. But that is what I seem to experience now. So I still see and experience everything like I always did, except now it's not a "busy-mind" experiencing.

The first few times I walked, I was identifying everything: a tree, a BMW, flower, oh there's a bird, duck, the wind is cold, etc, etc. There was enough variety to keep the mind sort of chattering and distracted from being still. But after a while, as things become repetitious, the mind basically gets bored (I believe)...and does not need to identify and label everything.

I believe that's why certain repetitive motions, words, etc., work to quiet the mind as well. The mind is no longer distracted with newness, so the Observer in us can watch and experience through mindfulness (awareness)...whilst the Judge (ego) stops needing to name or give value to everything. It doesn't have to jump in like a monkey and make a ruckus about everything...lol.

It's really an interesting experience. I must walk every day now, otherwise I feel I've missed some alone time with my soul. :) The other fascinating thing that happens is that because the ego-mind is not busy identifying with its environment (remember it's bored), the observer-mind is watching not only what's outside, but also watching what bubbles up from inside. I do find interesting thoughts surfacing, as well as some amazing self-dialogue.

So maybe this is my way of meditating, as I've been unsuccessful at disciplining myself to sit quietly with eyes closed for any length of time. I suspect everyone has a method of meditating that works for them. They just need to find it.

Will keep you posted on any interesting revelations. :) Thanks for reading.

Love, A.

Order Within Chaos

Flock of Seagulls

I often get messages as I observe nature--especially if something grabs my attention, for whatever reason. I've come to realize this is Spirit's way of saying something to me that I want or need to hear.

Well, yesterday I had to get outside for a walk. It had been a hectic day where nothing seemed to be working...but I finally had a breakthrough, and it was a good time to get some air.

I work in a large building surrounded by an island of asphalt parking lot, and surrounded by more such buildings floating on asphalt. Somehow, over the months, I've learned to enjoy my walks around this building. It has almost become a time of meditation, and I always feel rejuventated. I often have insightful revelations during these walks if I allow myself to just relax and open up.

Anyway, there are several manmade lakes nearby. There are always seagulls about...sometimes a few, sometimes hundreds! There they were above, as usual, circling in random fashion...soaring on the high breeze. I would say there were hundreds this day, but then something caught my eye just beyond the circling mass.

In a perfect V formation, I saw 5 seagulls approaching the circling mass. Not only was their formation perfectly in line, but the distance they kept between each other, and the fact that they were identical clones of one another! Have you seen seagulls? There are white, white with black, brown, beige, and multi-colored variances of these colors. But these were the whitest white, with the blackest black tips on their wings.

I couldn't stop following them with my eyes. They gave me comfort. It was strange...this feeling...I kept watching. They flew into the circling mass, and through it, yet they kept their form. Then they turned back into the mass and headed south at a 90 degree angle, still keeping together.

They exited that mass, with still the 5 of them in form. More and more, I felt peaceful...even joyful. Then they entered another circling mass of gulls...this one even more dense. I saw them wobble in their form, but they still kept together. I think I held my breath, hoping they'd emerge in unity...thinking I'd be distraught if they broke up.

But alas! They emerged from this second circling mass, and once again came together in perfect formation, unscathed! I silenty cheered to them and the Universe. :D But an even more amazing thing? The random, chaotic mass of gulls they left behind? They started to follow the 5, one by one, and in groups.

I followed as far as my eyes would let me see...and then I smiled. So what was it telling me? Well, it gave me comfort to know that a small organized, purposeful force can effect a large, chaotic force without focus. That was the gist of the message for me.

In life that translates to an analogy of purposeful individuals unifying with others of like mind and making a difference in this world of chaos. Too often I feel like chaos and disorder are so difficult to work against, that I become dejected and on the verge of losing hope.

Then Spirit comes along and sends me a message, like this one...and I can keep on going to fight yet another day.

So...let's not allow ourselves to give up easily, just because we are tired and so much is going on around us that makes no sense. There is a thread of order emerging which is slowly infiltrating the chaos. We must never give up hope; it will sustain us through thick and thin.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to all those who give me hope and inspiration every day by persevering in your quiet ways.

Love, A.

Dream: Old House & Water

The Stump, the Windmill, and the Old House

Another house dream....as I seem to dream often about houses and/or mansions. Usually there are numerous rooms, sometimes the homes are dilapidated, sometimes very elegant...often lots of wood and paneling. I get the feeling that sometimes they are colonial and/or plantation style homes--long hallways, wood moulding, high ceilings, sweeping stairs with bannisters, multilevels. Often large open rooms connecting to other rooms.

Well, in this dream, the home was smaller, and very run down. The tone of the dream seemed blue...the pale blue walls with peeling paint, the bluish cast of poor lighting, from bulbs in the ceiling with no covers.

I walk from one room into a bathroom. I think I may live here, as there seems to be some family around as well. However, I am concerned with the fact that there is leaky plumbing. The bathroom faucet is leaking; the porcelain sink shows rust stains from it. It's an old faucet...porcelain handles, and an old mirror is above it. I'm not worried about it too much...it's a slow leak.

There is also a tub to the right, clawfoot type. It has a leaky faucet as well, but the tub is about to overflow. I gather that the drain is clogged and I need to do something otherwise it will start to spill over on the floor. I look at the floor...the vinyl flooring is cracking and peeling from the edges of the walls. I can't let water run over the tub...it will flood the house....I think to myself.

Then I remember the shutoff valve on the wall near the tub. I turn it, and stop the faucet from leaking. I have no idea what to do about the water that's in the tub. By the looks of it, it's been there for a while...it's cloudy and getting stagnant.

All of a sudden, my brother is there. But he's NOT my brother. He looks like my brother (who passed away 6 yrs ago), but this being is devoid of life...cold, uncaring, even sinister. He presses against me from behind in a lewd way. I don't like it. I say "No! Stop!" He keeps pressing...again, I say "No!" By sheer will of resistance I am somehow able to make him/it stop...and the thing vanishes as quickly as it showed up.

Next, I hold up both of my palms, and I see there are black slimy globules in each palm, about the size of a cherry tomato (sort of a half globe shape). They are attached to my skin, on the palm where the thumb and forefinger meet...in that fleshy area. I am disgusted by them. I start to peel the one off my left hand first, but I end up tearing it and leaving the part that's rooted to my palm. I throw the piece I removed into the stagnant tub water, knowing it will die. I notice that the remaining piece is a dark/blackish red...like raw meat almost. I dig in my fingernails and pull the rest away; I feel it uprooting from my palm...it hurts a little, but I get the rest and toss it into the water.

Next I do the same to the right palm. It won't detach easily either, but I manage to pull it away and toss into the tub.

For some reason, I then look at the bottoms of my feet, and I have two more there--blackish-purple, one on each arch...closer to the inside of the foot. It seems they find the softest flesh to root into. I do the same for each foot that I did for the palms. I remove them and toss into the stagnant water. Good riddance you slimy bastards!

After that, I don't remember much else. I woke up with all of it very vivid in my mind. I knew I had cleared some sort of attachments from my etheric body. I don't know a lot about this subject, but I had heard of these types of attachments over the years.

I started to google, and found a very interesting post on Montalk.net. Read it here. There is one paragraph that basically states that negative thoughtforms attached to a person in the etheric can appear as many things, one of them being black globules. These are easily seen by clairvoyants.

The next day after this dream, I contacted Sandra Walter of Creative Evolution. I asked her:

Do you know of etheric attachments/devices on the palms and bottom of feet? Dreamt of removing slimy "creatures" from myself.

She answered with the following:

Feet and palms are strong receiving/giving energy areas. Sounds like you cleared some shadows or entities. Bind 'em to the Sun. "I bind all uncomplimentary thought forms, energies and entities up and out of my body vehicle, all layers, levels & dimensions of me. I bind them to the Sun to be repolarized, never to return, for the highest good of all concerned. Be gone. So be it."

She apparently didn't seem perplexed or even surprised. But if you review her blog, you'll understand why. So once again...many thanks Sandra! By the way, I uttered the statement above, even though I was confident I had already drowned them.

Anyway, the day after the dream was a Sunday. I woke up with a clear head, and a desire to get some things done that I'd been struggling with tackling the past few weeks. I didn't even "need" my coffee that day, which is unusual. But I was so busy focused on what I wanted to do that I literally forgot.

Incidentally, negative thought forms could be created by one's self or by others, but they keep us in an impaired functioning state. We can be tired, depressed, foggy-headed, have negative self-talk...etc., when we have these attachments. So I found it quite interesting that after this dream I actually seemed not to have the same mental sluggishness and procrastination issues that I had been experiencing previously. I even experienced a burst of productivity at work the following week!

So that was my strange dream, which I also see as a foray into the astral plane. It's not a place that I had requested to go to...but maybe that was where I had to go in order to clear more debris from my psyche.

Thank-you for reading.

A. :)

Retro Website: Female Nudes by Robert McGinnis

Found a cool website called Retronaut that is all about retro or vintage types of items, artwork, photography, culture, etc.

I loved this page on the site with paintings of women/nudes by Robert McGinnis. Now you've probably seen his paintings on vintage paperbacks, maybe posters, etc. But I particularly admire this painting below. Have not discovered its name yet.

I suspect I like it because its style somehow reminds me of the many Aphrodite & Venus paintings and sculptures that I've seen.

Hope you enjoy the site! Love, A.

Love is the New Religion / A Spiritual Conspiracy

Found this inspirational piece of writing as I find most things...by complete random clicking! Anyway, there are no accidents, so we're told. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do. :)

Anchored in the essence of the One, the heart, the mind & body is the instrument & God is the musician. -Brian Piergrossi Official homepage: http://thebigglow.com/

Love Is The New Religion / The Spiritual Conspiracy

On the surface of the world right now there is war and violence and things seem dark
But calmly and quietly, at the same time, something else is happening underground
An inner revolution is taking place and certain individuals are being called to a higher light
It is a silent revolution
From the inside out
From the ground up

It is time for me to reveal myself
I am an embedded agent of a secret, undercover
Clandestine
Global operation
A spiritual conspiracy
We have sleeper cells in every nation on the planet

You won't see us on the T.V.
You won't read about us in the newspaper
You won't hear about us on the radio

We don't seek any glory
We don't wear any uniform
We come in all shapes and sizes
Colors and styles

Most of us work anonymously
We are quietly working behind the scenes in every country and culture of the world
Cities big and small, mountains and valleys, in farms and villages, tribes and remote islands

You could pass by one of us on the street and not even notice
We go undercover
We remain behind the scenes
It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit
But simply that the work gets done

Occasionally we spot each other in the street
We give a quiet nod and continue on our way so no one will notice

During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs
But behind the false storefront at night is where the real work takes place

Some call us the "Conscious Army"
We are slowly creating a new world with the power of our minds and hearts
We follow, with passion and joy
Our orders from the Central Command
The Spiritual Intelligence Agency

We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no one is looking
Poems
Hugs
Music
Photography
Movies
Kind words
Smiles
Meditation and prayer
Dance
Social activism
Websites
Blogs
Random acts of kindness

We each express ourselves in our own unique ways with our own unique gifts and talents

"Be the change you want to see in the world"
That is the motto that fills our hearts
We know it is the only way real transformation takes place
We know that quietly and humbly we have the power of all the oceans combined

Our work is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains
It is not even visible at first glance
And yet with it entire tectonic plates shall be moved in the centuries to come

Love is the new religion of the 21st century

You don't have to be a highly educated person
Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it

It comes from the intelligence of the heart
Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings

Be the change you want to see in the world
Nobody else can do it for you

We are now recruiting
Perhaps you will join us
Or already have....
All are welcome...
The door is open

-Brian Piergrossi

From the book: The Big Glow: Insight, Inspiration, Peace and Passion pg. 35
http://thebigglow.com/thebook
http://thebigglowcommunity.com/

Recipe: Bacon-Potato Corn Chowder

One of my favorite soups to make for several reasons. It's delicious, filling/hearty, AND easy to make. Hope you give it a try and let me know how you like it. :)

Corn Chowder (pic from another recipe)

Bacon-Potato Corn Chowder

Best/easiest 6 ingredient soup ever! Ingredients:
6-8 strips of bacon,
1 yellow onion (diced),
6-8 medium potatoes (peeled and cut into large chunks),
1 qt. (32 oz.) chicken broth,
1 can sweet kernel corn,
approx 1 cup (heavy) whipping cream or half-and-half
(salt/pepper of course)

Heat soup pan over medium heat. Cut up bacon into bits (scissors work the best) and cook until crisp. Add onion and cook until soft. (Note: Your preference to skim off some bacon fat or not. Leave enough in to saute the onions though!)

Then add broth, potatoes, and corn (no need to drain corn). If the broth is just covering the potatoes...you're good! If not, add more potatoes until they're just covered.

Simmer till potatoes are fork soft (about 20 min); turn off burner, and add cream, stir. Do a light mash on the potatoes to thicken the soup--but still leaving enough potato chunks to make it hearty.

Add salt/pepper to taste and serve!

Sourdough bread/butter go great with this soup. It's not a "low calorie" soup by any means, but it's sooooo good. :)

Enjoy! Love, A.

HNT: Bootie in Sweat Pants

Pretty much a slow day at work...so took a pic of my bootie while my system is being upgraded. Got some new Reebok yoga pants. I love the way they fit!

Enjoy! Love, A. :)

Cleansed

Shoreline

I dreamt of the shore

and beautiful gems

smoothed by eons of being caressed

by the ocean's heartbeat...

...and I collected them

built a small mound

displayed them in particular order

it was a work of Love...

As I admired their beauty

they sang to me

and I was purified...

their own act of Love...

in return.

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I had this wonderful dream last night. The most gorgeous rocks/gems on the seashore--a pristine seashore...clear waters, warm...white beautiful sand, perfect sun and air...

I had been sick for a few days, but this morning I woke up feeling renewed. I had read about the healing properties of certain gems and crystals just the last couple of days, and had also asked Mother Earth to connect with me, and allow me to be of assistance to her, as she would be to me.

I really think I was healed through this dream! It was so beautiful, so vivid. These were not regular river pebbles I saw. They were all types of precious gemstones...all polished, perhaps minerals, too.

Anyway, either way, I feel better and I had a wonderful dream that I can carry with me.

Thanks for reading, Love, A. :)

Guest Poem: An Offering

Aphrodite by Robert Fowler

An Offering

He stands before the Goddess

Allured by her wonder

Naked as he should be

In her presence.

Though her form is veiled

Within fine ivory linen

He still feels intense arousal

For her feminine aspect

The very presence of Woman

Makes his cock turgid

Open with no barriers

Between them she nods her head

Thankful for the assent

He bows before her wonder

And begins to slowly stroke

his pulsing shaft

Hoping she's pleased

With his offering act

He drinks in her beauty

While caressing his manhood

His weakness builds

And he surrenders.

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This is so lovely, so spontaneous. I'm truly honored to have it written for me by a long time acquaintance.

We ran into each other again after a long time with no contact. We chatted a while about nothing specific and drifted into his admiration of women. We have never been intimate, though I know that he has always adored women, and still does.

In our discussion I had told him about the type of man he is. There is a particular type that adores and worships women, truly loves them...all. But not in a submissive or subservient way. In a reverent, adoring, accepting way. He doesn't know how to be any other way. I've only met a few men who are truly this way.

I said this on Twitter: "I find it very flattering & an honor when a man finds a way to worship the female without wanting something from her."

I see that to be the case here. That is what is different with this type of man. He expects nothing. His joy is in the worship.

Hope you enjoyed. Love, A.
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I have decided to post two additional poems from the same writer below in order to keep all the writings together. These two were added on January 19, 2012, and I think they're just as lovely, just as powerful in their reverence.

Release

(January 11, 2012)

Naked and vulnerable

She's seen me at my weakest

Nothing left to hide

My gift - expressing adoration

Letting her view that

Most private of moments

As my seed finds release

Nurtured by her glory

Aftermath

(January 12, 2012)

The Priestess is pleased

With my adulation

And submission

To the Femininity

She represents

Her words of Woman

In response to my act

Make my masculinity

Sing forth once more

In praise and honor

Of All that She is

I relish the warm strength

And rigidity her Power

instills in this flesh of man