Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Fall has Arrived!

I can't believe summer is over! While the time for picnics at the beach, barbecues may be over, we still have enjoying the fall harvest of juicy apples, leads, grapes and other fall fruits to look forward too; and we can't forget about donning costumes for Halloween fun.

On another note, there have been a score of great astronomical events over the summer culminating in the spectacular the eclipse of the last blood moon last night. Time may tell what portents if will bring. The web has been filled with chatter of the coming apocalypse and with it....doom for humanity. I like to take a hopeful view of the whole thing by saying that humanity has survived for at least  million years through the ice age, hurricanes, earthquakes and massive fluids, we will continue to survive. We are a hardy bunch of hominids. My advice:  Think positively. It is only when we think we are defeated, that we truly are. Blessed be- Helen

How great is man? (Quotation by G. De Purucker)

"A man is not great merely because he thinks lofty thoughts , because his ideas equal in sublimity the loftiest that the human race knows, nor because he is a preacher of beautiful phrases. A man is great only in proportion as these, through his own deliberate will, manifest themselves in his daily life. Such a man becomes a light, lighting not merely his own pathway on the endless pilgrimage of eternity, but shining afar as a star giving light unto his fellows, providing an ever-flowing inspiration into their hearts"-G. De Purucker-Theosophist, 1874-1942

Welcome May!

Garden Flowers

Welcome with your lovely greenwood choir,

Summery month of May for which I long! – 14^th century Welch poem

It’s May Day everyone welcoming in sunlight and blossoms that will seen flourish into the lushness that is summer. Today is the day the ancients celebrated life, growth, and love. The Irish considered it a time of new beginnings. Long ago they would jump between two fires to bring good luck and good health to their livestock and to bring prosperity and celebrated with good food and good company with dancing and song around brightly lit fires and fresh flower garlands. They would use hawthorn branches, ribbon and flowers to make their May bush, along with streamers and colored eggshells. A golden ball was then hung from the bush as the sun. This May bush would be hung in a prominent place in the home.

Fairy Lilies (of course)

A more common theme in celebrations for May Day was the Maypole. While we never practiced it at home, my mum did say in her younger days, they celebrated with a Maypole at school. Traditionally a Maypole was set up in the center of a village with colorful flowers, bows and streamers. Later on they would dance around the pole in a dance called “threading the needle.” The games, dancing and celebration usually lasted long into the night. They would enjoy the seasonal fare with plenty of mead, ales, elderberry wine and Maycup which was a tea made from the sweet-smelling herb Woodruff.

Calla Lily

To make a Maybough to use as a centerpiece or mantle decoration:

Small cut branches or twigs of hazel, holly, elder or rowen, hawthorn, forsythia or dogwood.

Using left-over eggshells from Easter (or plastic ones if that’s all you have), attach strings or ribbons to them for hanging.

Can also place blossoms, ribbons, and bows to make it more festive.

Place in a vase with enough small pebbles or soil to anchor it in place.

Now—Make a Wish!

Hope you enjoy your May Day!

The Emerald Tablet of Hermes

Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus was called the Master of all arts and sciences and considered perfect in all crafts as well as majic. He was considered the ruler of the three worlds, a scribe of the Gods, having invented writing, and keeper of the Book of Life or the Emerald Tablet. He is often confused with the Egyptian Toth and the two have been amalgamated into one person through a merging of mythologies. He was said to be the Universal Mind by the Egyptians. While it is difficult at this stage of the game with so many years having passed, to discern the reality of his existence, in all probability there was in actuality a person named Hermes who once lived and was a  great sage and educator.

He was said to have written 20,000 books, an almost impossible figure for one person to have written in one lifetime. A more likely probability is that many books have been attributed to him after the fact. He is said to have revealed wisdom in all the arts and sciences including medicine, chemistry, law, art, astrology, music, magic, philosophy and others.

A story goes whereby Hermes received knowledge from a vision of a “Great Dragon” after seeking solitude in the forest and meditating. Thus having freed the higher consciousness, he sought to find the meaning of the Great Mystery of Life. After asking Hermes the reason why he sought such knowledge, the Truth was finally revealed to him, stating “learn deeply of the Mind and its mystery, for  therein lies the secret of immortality.”

Although we have no documented written sources for the words of Hermes, a few gems of wisdom have been passed down to us. To most the meaning is still obscure, but to the adepts and seekers of truth, it holds tiny sparkling gems of wisdom, not to be taken lightly.

These words were said to be found in the Valley of Ebron, after the Flood and are true words of Hermes:

“I speak not fiction, but what is certain and most true”
“What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like that which is below for performing the miracle of one thing”
“And as all things were produced from One by the Mediation of One, so all things are produced from this One thing by adaptation”
“Its father is the Sun, its mother was the Moon, the wind carried it in its belly, its nurse is the Earth”
“It is the cause of all perfection throughout the whole world”
“Its power is perfect if it be changed into the earth.”
“Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, gently and with judgment.”
“It ascends from earth to heaven, and descends again to earth, thus you will possess the glory of the whole World and all obscurity will fly away.”
“This thing is the fortitude of all fortitude, because it overcomes all subtle things, and penetrates every solid thing.”
“Thus were all things created.”
“Thence proceed wonderful adaptations which are produced in this way.”
“Therefore am I called Hermes Trismegistus, possessing the three parts of the philosophy of the whole World.”
“What I had to say concerning the operation of the Sun is complete.”

Marie (contributing Editor)

Source: Hall, Manly P. (1928) The Secret Teachings of All Ages Philosophical Research Society. Los Angeles, CA.

The Wheel of Health and Wellness

I grew up in a family where folk medicine and second sight was not only a possibility but a reality. My mother was of Scotch-Irish descent and the ways of the Celts were strong in her. I learned early about poultice’s ability to draw out the “poison” from a wound and ginger tea for a stomachache. My mother had to argue her methods to the doctors many times, who thought it was just “wife’s tales” and superstitious. But the traditional beliefs of many cultures still remains strong, even in the U.S.

Luckily now the global perspective on alternative medicines, complimentary medicines, natural healing, etc. has changed and we have a wide range of therapies to choose from. Scientists are now learning that many folk medicines do in fact having healing properties. In fact, 85% of all medicines today are plant-based. It is from these folk remedies that our medicines have derived. This knowledge is passed down from generation to generation, usually from mother to daughter, and so on. And so it was with me. 

Starting around the early 80's, I went into the health field. I started out taking a nurse’s aid class, then after my children were older I went to college and earning an associate’s degree in medical assisting and later a bachelor of health services administration.  Given this love of medicine, both the old wisdom and the new as well as a belief in alternative and complimentary medicine, treatments, and therapies, I felt I would like to share them with others. 

Future posts will feature a discussion of  healing methods and modalities, and a review of how well they work. It will explore ten of the popular common healing methods, medicines, or modalities; what the current research says about them, what the people using them had to say about them as to whether they worked and where to find them.

A brief history of the unique form of medicine we have in America: 

Along with everything else, the colonists brought theories of medicine with them. These theories go back to the first school of medicine in Europe around the year 1000 A.D.  and had merged with other earlier beliefs, most notably from Hippocrates. But instead of being based on knowledge, were based on myths, beliefs, and rites. The scholars of the day theorized that everything in the Universe was made up of four basic elements, called “humors” and that the human body also corresponds with these “humors.” Consequently, they hypothesized that good health was dependent upon maintaining a proper balance and harmony between the humors, and that illnesses were caused from an imbalance in them (Starobinski, 1964). These beliefs spread across Europe and England, and eventually to the New World. Most physicians of the day practiced this humeral methodology, until the advancement of rational experimental foundations. Accordingly the practice of medicine in the colonial period was variable and primitive at best. But eventually, interaction between the pioneers and the native inhabitants, changes in theories about disease, and the shift to a scientific approach made significant contributions to the progression of medicine in colonial America. 

Also at that time medicine was considered a philosophy that could neither be proved nor disproved. In addition, as the Catholic Church forbade the clergy from practicing medicine, it fell into the hands of laymen. It was the Church’s belief that the body, being made in God’s image was sacred and should not be violated. Thus they also forbade physicians to practice surgeries, so the job of bleeding and surgeries became the occupation of barbers, who had, in ancient times, been medicine men who believed the hair on the head allowed both good and bad spirits to enter the body. Eventually these barber-surgeons pulled teeth, cut hair, and even removed gallstones without anesthesia The Church’s beliefs also hampered any experimentation with the human body, so little was known about the workings of the body.  By 1795, surgeons and barbers were split into two separate groups, and physicians became one of three distinct groups; physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries. This division worked well in England, but was impractical in America. In the colonies, life was hazardous; disease and sudden death were everyday occurrences. Additionally, physicians were scarce, had little training and treatment was rudimentary at best, barbaric at worst. With no credentials needed, many passed themselves off as doctors, but even the qualified ones had a limited amount of information and skills. For this reason, many colonists used home remedies, which were an admixture of astrological lore, “grandmothers” remedies, and many superstitious ingredients, along with a growing number of patent medicines. (Dary, 2008).

The accomplishments of medical science were part of this scientific revolution that furthered new ideas about nature and how science could benefit man. It gave thinkers confidence in the power of the mind, and this new critical spirit lead them to doubt the literal truth of the Bible and look at the workings of nature in new ways. (Perry, 1997). 

To understand how modern medicine in colonial America evolved into the science that it is today, one has to take into account the many distinct elements and ideas that were evolving and developing in the New World. The interactions of the colonists and the Native Americans, along with new ideas spurred on by experimentation and knowledge, evolved into the unique blending of older traditions, folk medicine, and scientific thought, which is Medicine today. these will be in order of effectiveness. While for many years, science had balked on going back to the “old ways” with their primitive remedies and folk medicines, there is increasing acceptance of them with many specialists incorporating them into their practices in order to treat people wholistically and not just as a disorder to be cured. 

Next week: Chapter One: Of old remedies, charms and “potions”

One of the oldest sources of nutrition and dietary codes was the Bible. From it we have obtained the knowledge  that simple foods were actually quite nutritious and healthy. These healing foods were considered the diet of the common people and consisted of foods such as apples, barley, lentils, whole grains and seeds. It is now well known that consuming whole grains and consuming fruits and vegetables are healthier than a rich diet of gravies, sauces, and heavy meats as the wealthier classes typical consumed in days gone by. Gout was one common problem that the rich classes had to contend with. So all in all, the simple diet of the common people was probably what kept them healthy. But they were known to have their potions, charms and remedies for the times when ill health did knock on their door. The elderly women of the village always had a concoction or two to help ward off “chilblains” or stirring up a salve to sooth the pains of arthritis. As we move fully into a new age, we have once again begun to realize the importance of some of the old wisdom that served our ancestors  for millenniums and incorporating them into our health care and lives.

I'll be posting more on the concept of “The Wheel of Wellness.” Hope to see you again! If you have a question or a comment or would like information on ad placement, email me-Marie

Source documents:

Dary, D. Frontier Medicine. From the Atlantic to the Pacific 1492-1941. (2008) New York, NY:  Borzoi Books. Pgs. 7, 18, 19, 28, 29, 30, 31, 106-107, 152-153. 247

Perry, M. (1997). Western Civilization. A Brief History. Vol. 2. From the 1400s. 3^rd Ed. Boston, NY: Houghton Mifflin Co. Pgs. 288, 639-646, 662.

Starobinski, J. (1964) A History of Medicine. New York, NY:  Hawthorn Books, Inc. Pgs. 1, 12, 13, 43. 57. 68.

A Rose by any name: Or Where do flower names come from?

Most of us have heard about the Garden of Eden and how Adam was given the task of naming the plants and animals. While the Bible doesn’t specifically name all plants, rest assured that many plant names go back to pre-history. At the very beginning plants, trees as well as flowers besides being used for food, were used in rituals, charms, and talismans, derived from myths, legends within the cultures that surrounded them. Many healing plants are named for the diseases and ailments they sought to heal, such as all-heal, liverwort, etc., perhaps also based on the shape of the leaves or petals. The very names give one the clue to their healing properties.

From the 16^th century and on, herbals attempted to categorize flowering plants based on these identifiers and attributes. When trade routes opened up, especially into the New World, explorers would introduce these new species and name them after their “discoverers.” Within a few hundred years, there were thousands of new species introduced, especially in the British Isles and America. Theories and experimentation began to show that indeed many plants and flowers were beneficial to man as medicines.

Towards the end of the 19^th century, many botanical gardens “sprouted” up around the world (pun intended). Effort was made to continue to categorize plants and their uses. Additionally new plants continued to be named for people instead of their attributes of healing properties. Unfortunately emphasis on their healing properties fell to the wayside. At this point, plants and animals both began being named by genus and species.

During its heyday, plant discovery and exploration was done by botanists at great risk to themselves, many even dying for their efforts, the flower being the only way we remember them, their story being long forgotten. Fortunately plant exploration became safer, although now is considered a science done in labs and not the fore of brave explorers, tramping through jungles in search of that mysterious and prized flower unknown to the world until they found it.

One of our most prized flowers is of course, the Rose. We think of it especially on Valentine’s Day or to give to someone we love for those special moments of our lives. The botanical name for rose is Rosa of the family Rosaceae. To put it simply, the flower was named for its most common color “red” in Latin. Because they represent love, the heart and life, roses are the flower most frequently thought of around Valentine’s Day. It has been a symbol of love since the earliest times. The Greeks associated it with Aphrodite and her love Adonis; while the Romans used it in their elaborate feasts as well as their beloved orgies. The Christians developed their symbol of spiritual love from the earlier Pagan symbol for love, the rose. Over the centuries, thousands of hybrid have been developed of the beautiful red rose, and in recent years attempts at creating a blue rose have been quite successful.

Having a heady fragrance that can often be carried on breezes far and wide in the evening hours, is the Petunia. Its botanical name is Petunia. Family name is Solanaceae. The Petunia hails from South America, being “discovered” by French botanists commissioned by Napoleon in 1823. All hybrid Petunias now currently in existence have descended from plants taken to Glasgow, Scotland in 1831 to place in their botanical by James Tweedie. He was the head gardener at the Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburough. The name Petunia comes from the root word “petun”, which is the Brazilian word for “tobacco” and Petunias can actually be cross-bred with tobacco plants.

Another fascinating flower is the Dahlia. Its history and manner of distribution throughout the world is a bit obscure, perhaps leading to the aura of mystery surrounding it. Dahlias grew in Mexico and were cultivated by the Aztecs. The Aztec name for them was cocoxochitl”, translation is unknown, although it is known that they were used as a food substance, although Europeans decided it was quite distasteful as a food source. Although it originates from Mexico, it was named for a botanist: Dr. Anders Dahl. In Europe they are called “georginas” for the botanist Johann Georgi. Dahlias were not a popular flower until the late 1800s when a prized “blue Dahla” sold for over 1000 pounds. The “Black Dahla” was the nickname for Elizabeth Short, a youngstarlet who came to an unfortunate end in the early days of Hollywood, and to most people this is the most connection to the word Dahlia, although to be fair to the flower, its comes in many beautiful and colorful hues and varieties.

While this article only touches upon the intriguing and fascinating history of flowers and flowering plants, and the scope of this subject is much too broad for this post, there are many interesting and informative sites on the web to explore. The Kew Royal Botanical Gardens gives an estimate that there are currently over 352,000 species of flowering plants! Phew! How wonderful to have such beauty and wonder in the world as flowers. I am in awe of them. As my blog progresses, I will also add more posts about herbals and flowers and their mystical and healing properties. Stay tuned. Happy Valentine’s Day. 

Additional Source: Wells, Diana. (1997). "100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names" Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill, NC.

Welcome to The Fringy Blogger

Hello World. After a lifetime of research into all things weird, wonderful and fringy, I thought it time to start publishing some of my research. While some subjects are of course, well covered at numerous other sites, if you are a seeker like me, just one more piece of the puzzle may be all that is needed....to answer, hopefully, some questions into who we are as humans, what our purpose is, and what our true history is. Posts will be on a weekly basis in the future.

About me: I am a 50-ish age women, who has delved into many, many subjects that most people are very often skittish about researching; ghosts, occult subjects, ancient wisdom, spiritual culture and belief systems, historically and otherwise, ancient architecture, U.F.O., etc. I have been a Tarot card reader, professional astrologist, numerologist as well as being a certified investigator for MUFON International for almost six years.

Why did I start this site? I may only be one more voice to the idea that things are "not as they seem" but maybe eventually there will come a tipping point to where some Truths will be revealed for the good of mankind. Also, I feel that there is an increasing backlash against anyone voicing their opinions online if it does not conform to the status quo of the general population. I hope this site can become a sort of meeting place and a place where people can visit and know that their questions and their belief systems, will not be ridiculed or otherwise made fun of for it. I have been called "weird" on many occasions, because of my work with MUFON or for being an astrologer. While granted there are some erroneous belief systems that are the result of mental illness, in my experience just having the experience of seeing a UFO or researching into the possibility that humans are not alone does not constitute one being "crazy." Thank you for visiting-

Namaste-Helen