text:
Some people think it is religion. Some people think it is absolutely not religion. Some people think it is the law of attraction, being positive, being kind, nice or loving. Some people think it is about getting to heaven after this life or avoiding hell. Some people think it is about knowing there is something bigger than us… something guiding us. What it is is very personal.
I do think spirituality is partially about a force bigger than us and developing a real relationship with that force, which is beyond intellectually knowing it exist. For me, spirituality is also about discovering that you are in fact also that force. The force is you and yet bigger than you at the same time. It is in you and beyond and outside of you at once. Spirituality is about being fully alive.
The piece I see missing in most religion and spirituality is the second part. The part where we meet our deepest selves and at the same time meet God. The question might then become: How? How do we meet our deepest selves? The answer is not easy or simple, which is hard for us to accept in our hurry up, quick fix culture. For most people it involves removing the many masks we wear even for ourselves. It requires that we feel deeply even the painful stuff that we like to ignore and pretend doesn't exist. It requires that we make space to turn off the show and meet what is real. We, in essence, take ourselves to ourselves and allow what actually exists to exist exactly as is it. And when we do we have mercy on ourselves. That is a huge statement and worth repeating. We have mercy on ourselves.
I don't know of any class on this kind of mercy in traditional schooling, so it takes learning. We let up on the pressure to feel a certain way and to be a certain way. We stop sending the wounded parts of us away, and we instead begin inviting those very important parts into our embrace. Many of those parts have been locked away for so long we barely remember them if at all. They often make their presence known in our dreams and body symptoms and in our triggers… the things and people that set us off. They also make their presence known in the things that mesmerize us. They are waiting, yet afraid. Afraid because we have demonized, analyzed, try to fix or rid ourselves of them. We have done absolutely everything except turn to them and say, "I am here. I am listening. You are loved." We have instead said, "Go away. You are not welcome. You should not feel the way you feel. You should not exist. You are not worthy." and a host of other not so merciful things. We tend to keep ourselves in a stronghold and not let up even though, these parts are saying, "Mercy! Mercy! Please let up! Please stop!". We do what we do to our bodies and force them in directions they don't want to go.
Did you ever play the game Mercy as a child? You and a friend face each other, grab hands with fingers interlocking and see who hands can overpower whose. The one who can't push back any longer says, "mercy" and the other one stops and is the winner. This is how we deal with ourselves except parts of us are crying "mercy", and we don't let up.
Spirituality is about letting up. It is about re-membering ourselves and calling back the parts we have dismembered and sent into exile. We step into the darkness and find pieces of us there. We discover a whole new kind of light. We learn a new way of being with ourselves and ultimately each other. It is painful and liberating simultaneously. It is overwhelmingly moving. I can honestly say when I have done this I have met God. The experiences have been devastatingly beautiful. That is how I know it is God. Only God is capable of that level of paradox being so clear in a moment.
I have a lot to say on this subject, but it takes me time to grapple with my writing and these big questions that ultimately have no answers. There has to be room for Mystery though. If there is no Mystery it isn't God or Spirit, Great Spirit in the Sky, the Force, the I AM, the Big It, Nature or whatever you might call It. This writing is the beginning of what Spirituality means to me, which I think speaks to a huge void in the spiritual, religious and personal development arenas. Today's writing at least allows me to begin.
by julie
I was so stuck and closed off I couldn't even accept a loving gesture from my husband, and he was perfect in the way he offered it. This was new territory. I knew he was really trying something new for us, but I could not meet him there. I couldn't let myself receive the gesture, which made me feel worse. Why? What was here for me to see and learn? At least I was aware enough to ask these questions. Still, I felt so vulnerable and embarrassed.
It had been a challenging few weeks including a major surgery in the family and a family death. That evening I had gotten into this terrible mood for reasons he couldn't understand, and my inner torturer took over convincing me that I had yet again failed to take care of myself. It was relentless, and I was stuck in the suffocating shame of it all. This was not by any means the first time I had experienced this feeling. I have experienced this since I was a little girl. In this particular shame I feel closed off, and something has convinced me that I am bad. Something has convinced me that I am difficult. Something has convinced me that my husband must think so too.
In the past, my husband might have agreed with the torturer. Sometimes this was because he was stuck in his own crap, and sometimes it was because I was actually difficult. I would send mixed messages and not say what I really meant. I was less skilled. We both were. Sue me! I am human. Nevertheless, when I am in this place I want to be alone and not the kind of alone where I want to enjoy some quiet time in my own company. It actually feels more like a need- a desperate need. I need to be alone. I need to have time to be quiet and not have to explain myself. I need time to have my bad mood, and I can't let anyone cast a gaze upon me in this space.
I had been convinced that if he didn't see the issue the way I see it then receiving comfort from him would not be enough. I was also convinced that if he did not see it my way I must be wrong, and wrong equals bad. Bad then equals shame, and shame sends me to my room. And if he did not see it my way, how could he really even comfort me?
What an absurd notion that if someone does not see what I see then I must be wrong! It was also not helpful to think that if my husband (or someone) did not understand exactly why I was upset he couldn't possibly comfort me – a lie that I had bought for years. He had already said, "I don't understand, but I want to be a soft place for you to land". We weren't always that for each other. There wasn't always room for me to be in a bad mood. He would have been too uncomfortable with my discomfort and would not give me my space. He would get flat out angry at my sensitivity and silence. We had both come a long way though, and that day he was on it. He was aware and attempting to create new ground. I wanted that so badly. I have wanted that my whole life, but I couldn't let myself have and receive it. I could not let myself really be seen and sensitive here.
Ah…being seen – the thing many of us really want but are unconsciously scared to death of. By this time, I had grown myself up enough to have this awareness in the moment. I had done enough inner work to confront the part of me that was hell-bent on convincing me I couldn't accept this – that I shouldn't accept this. The torturer loves to use words like should and shouldn't. Those words have become great clues for me. They let me know the torturer has barged right in unbeknownst to me. He/She typically doesn't knock and ask for permissions to enter! I had been convinced that I should only accept a loving gesture when I looked good, and I don't mean physically. God forbid I accept this kind of love when I was actually hurting. Am I only deserving of love when I am behaving in a way that feels good or "right"…when I have it so called together? This is a deeply ingrained side effect of bad religion, but regardless of the cause, it was my job to break this vicious cycle. I was working on it.
I felt like a big baby, and my torturer was ready and armed to make me feel awful about that. The torturer was pounding away at me, and I was so enmeshed with him (or her) that I did not even realize it was him talking. I did not realize I was being emotionally beaten. Luckily, my inner teacher, adult self, big self or whatever you want to call it was much more present in my life these days. Perhaps I am simply more open to her. She was showing up more and more. My inner teacher had taught me that my child self was not bad. She let me know that when I felt like a big baby it meant I was feeling vulnerable and needed care. My inner teacher and my child self have had many conversations teaching me the value of my younger self and the wisdom of her. The two of them were teaching me that my younger self did not need to be marginalized and criticized. She needed to be nurtured, loved. She needed me to respect her feelings. They taught me that I truly value sensitivity and softness, and that was a wonderful thing. She needed to be protected not tormented. This younger self was desperate for something better…for me to show up better. She was ready for me to stop perpetuating the world's marginalization of being sensitive. Turns out that doing this inspired my adult self to be more accountable and strong.
My husband fully respected where I was that night, and left me to myself. After a few minutes alone and full realization of the torturer's presence, I had the space to confront it. This is what that sounded like: "I make a decision that did not work out exactly the way I wanted, and you take the opportunity to pounce on me in my disappointment. That is exactly like you – chicken shit bully!! I can't even accept an embrace from my husband because you've got me in a chokehold, and that shit stops now! You can #### all the way off! You will not keep me from love." Five minutes later I got up, went downstairs and joined my husband for a movie. Once again, I was able to give myself the space and nurturing I needed to care for myself and understand what was going on more deeply. In that space I was also able to have an awareness of the torturer and confront it. At the end of the day, I was gaining traction. What a night!
Lessons from Louise – Boundaries
Louise and I were sitting at a table at an outdoor mall. Ok, I was sitting at the table. She was sitting on the ground. A man walking into the store saw Louise and started admiring her. When he got to about 15 feet from us, Louise stood up and started growling. The man respected her limit. He stopped at the 15 feet mark to tell me about his boxers. Louise, still on alert, made sure he knew she did not want him to come closer. After saying a little more, the man went about his business and proceeded into the store.
On our way home, I found myself comparing Louise to other dogs who let people come right up to them. I said, "Louise, why were you not friendly to that man?" As soon as I said that, I heard, "My dog has great boundaries!" I immediately apologized to her for questioning her. The man totally respected her. Why didn't I? I was like one of those parents who make their kids hug or kiss relatives or family friends when they don't want to. Oh no! Ok, well, not really, because I did not make her do anything. But still!
The general cultural lesson for young boys and girls when I was a kid was that being polite was more important than following your instincts. This was the unspoken rule when we were encouraged to hug people we really did not want to hug. What a terrible lesson! Fortunately, this has changed a bit since I was a child. The side effects of such a bad lesson are far reaching. How were we supposed to know the limit of this? What was the limit of this rule? When did we get to honor how we actually felt and honor our instincts over politeness? Sadly, many people are still following this rule.
I had worked to unlearn this myself and have worked with many clients on this exact topic. Here was Louise showing me where I still needed to learn – showing me that I still potentially had a potentially unhealthy expectation. Namely, that she should be friendly and polite to any seemingly friendly person who wants to come up to her regardless of how she feels. I wondered if I still had that expectation of myself. She makes it clear that people are gonna meet her on her terms. Her motto is don't you touch me until I have sniffed you out and I am comfortable!! She made it clear that it wasn't her job to please this man. It was her job to set boundaries and allow herself to determine her comfort level and her limits. It was my job to back her up. This was all so interesting, because I imagine it was actually me she was guarding in the first place. This baby girl is a great teacher! She reminded me to pay closer attention to how I actually feel when people I don't know, and even those I do, want to approach, hug or kiss me. She reminded me that following my instincts is more important than being polite! This is a lesson I hope every young boy and girl learns early on. Deep bow to you, Louise! Thanks for helping me remember. Maybe later, if I am brave enough, I'll share how she taught me the dog bark method! 🤪🤪🤪
This one is dedicated to those who so bravely teach us how die. May we learn how to die before we die so we can truly live. It is called "Basking in Death". I wrote it months ago after a hospital visit to a family friend. Tonight I post it in honor of her, other dear friends lost and my husband's sweet aunt who passed away just minutes ago.
Basking in Death
There she was lying there hours away from dying. She was still breathing but not conscious. Her mouth was hanging open much like a person in deep sleep. My husband wanted to go and say goodbye to this kind woman he has known his whole life. Death is always hard to see. Watching someone who is usually so full of life even in her illness lying there, still breathing but mostly gone is jarring. Death feels like a haunting presence. It brings up a lot of questions, emotions and mystery.
After saying our goodbyes we ran into some family downstairs at the hospital. We visited for a while and for a few minutes talked about life after death each of us sharing our musings. One of our relatives talked about her belief in reincarnation and how right now our friend's soul could be traveling to enter a baby about to be born. One of my in-laws said, "That baby already has a soul. Maybe it's a baby about to be conceived". I added, "Yeah, maybe someone is taking a pregnancy test, and the result is confusing". Everyone was taking comfort in the idea that our friend lives on and laughing a little about exactly how that happens as if anyone really knows. After taking it all in I said, "Man, I hope she gets a long beach vacation or something first. It seems like a lot of work to have to immediately begin again". Everyone erupted in laughter. It was hilarious especially because I was serious.
The next morning we found out she passed away. In my sadness I giggled thinking about the pregnancy test possibly being clearer today. Then I found myself thinking, "I hope she gets to bask in death for a while." Death – the point at which we stop completely. We are so afraid of it we make any kind of stopping the devil including stopping to simply to rest. We've got to keep moving, proving and producing. We have to make our mark. We have to LIVE! Why is it that we don't wish people would "rest in peace" until they die? It is as if living and resting in peace can't coexist. Here on Earth it is all about doing for the humans anyway! At least that's the case where I live on Earth.
Have you heard the old adage, "A body in motion stays in motion. A body at rest stays at rest"? I don't understand what is wrong with that. Yeah, yeah, I know the saying is meant to promote exercise, but I am more concerned that it promotes "rest and you will die". You must keep going no matter what!! What the hell? A body that rests is a healthy body. Think about it. You get sick, you are told to rest. I have never heard of rest causing harm. To the contrary rest often cures what ails us when even traditional medicine won't. It's rest AND motion not rest OR motion. They are both necessary, but we marginalize rest. We have made real rest an unproductive thing, and I could not disagree more. Even phrases like "power through" marginalize rest even though they may not mean to. Producing and doing are revered and resting is lazy or somehow not enough. We walk around trying to prove how much we have to do as if it legitimizes us. Sadly, it does to many people. It places us higher in some strange hierarchy that we seem to accept as true.
Learning how to truly rest is one of the most productive things I have ever done! I am not only talking about rest when I actually stop, get still and breathe, play dead, nap or sleep. I am also talking about the rest that comes when I allow things to happen instead of reacting to every little thing and living in a state of brace. When I get my mind out of the way and die to the idea that there is certain way of doing things, I am able to tap into my own way of doing things (my own nature) and things happens so much more effortlessly. I get way more done in smaller amounts of time, and it often feels like my everyday self isn't the one doing things. It is like I have tapped into a bigger self. None of this would be possible without stopping.
We separate life and death just like we do everything else. We make one good and one bad. If one is happening then the other is not, which nature consistently disproves with her seasons. Nature, with her seasons, shows us life and death happening simultaneously all year long. In her own way she reminds us that, "Death is not the end. It is the release". [1]
[1] Hampl, Patricia, Virgin Time (Ballantine Books), p.14
Conscious Conversations: Short stories and other musings.
Inner Persecutor vs. Julie
I got so sick of reading other people's stories. I had reached a point where I really wanted to connect more deeply to my own…to hear myself. I looked to books and "experts" for confirmation more than I looked inside myself. I knew I finally had to stop looking for confirmation and insights outside and start spending time inside. It had been a year since I shut down my counseling practice, and it had become glaringly clear that spending time inside my house did not equal spending time inside myself. Or maybe I was spending time inside myself and realizing how very chaotic it was in there. I quickly learned that having nothing to do was not exactly stress free. In some ways it was a little harder. There was not much to distract me from me. I came face to face with some really harsh voices that before now I just thought were common sense or smart. One in particular was actually quite mean and full of torture.
Constantly spouting off what I should do, what makes the most sense and questioning every move I made the Torturer (or Inner Persecutor as I sometimes call it) was abusing me. It was constantly telling me I could do better, I could be wiser, I should be doing more, I could say things differently, which were all ways of saying that nothing I said or did was good enough. I learned that the Torturer was truly with me 24/7. It got into EVERY SINGLE MOVE I made, every feeling I had and every decision. It was a devil cloaked in angel's clothes convincing me it had my best interest in mind all the while keeping me captive.
I started to write down things that would go through the mind that were torture. These were common thoughts I had since I could remember, but this was the first time I was realizing they were torturing me. This list was constantly growing. The Torturer wasn't interested in what I wanted or what felt good and free to me. It was concerned with "rules" or what made the most "sense" or what was the smartest and most logical. Even though I had ignored it many times in my life when it came to the big things like switching careers, moving to Michigan, marrying into a different culture, opening my own practice, closing my practice and others, I did not realize the Torturer was working non-stop on every other detail of my life all the way down to whether or not I should eat something for dinner if I had it for lunch. The Torturer never consulted my body. It only consulted the rules of the world – none of which were my creation. This Inner Persecutor was constantly on my case. It found every opportunity to beat me up. It even beat me up if I tried something new and didn't like it whether it was food, clothing, a class or whatever. Anything that didn't work out perfectly was a fail and a shameful waste of money in the Persecutor's eyes.
Good thing my eyes were becoming my own and no longer one with the Torturer. It was no wonder my body was often so tender and sore. It was the Persecutor's punching bag. Sometimes I felt like I had literally been beaten up. One thing was for sure: It was time to become the boxer. "Float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee" in the words of Mohammed Ali.
Two of my uncles were boxers, and I had boxer dogs most of my life. I figured my ancestry and my dogs had somehow prepared me for this. When the torturer started jabbing I had to learn how to duck and float. When it locked its stare, boxed me into a corner and started whaling on me I had to sting that bastard. There were times when I actually shadow-boxed around my house (which my boxer, Louise, really loved). I was training for one of the biggest fights of my life. My biggest moments happened after I studied its moves. I learned its patterns and shut it down at the first whiff of even a jab.
My favorite punch of all times was inspired by a "Grace and Frankie" TV episode. A character on the show told her domineering jerk of a husband who was always on her case to shut the f### up in the most amazing way I have ever witnessed. (The video is called Shut F##k Mountain and can be found on YouTube.) Watch it! I watched it over and over again until I could recite it in unison. I added several of my own lines, and this was the knock out punch that night when the Torturer tried to get in my head – which was the beginning of its pattern. I was victorious. The bastard was down, and my arms were up…literally my arms were up!!!
Is the Inner Persecutor part of me? It is part of a cultural voice? It is probably both, and where it comes from manners less than how it made me feel (emotionally and physically). I have heard many healers say, "you can't dislike parts of yourself", which I find useless because it takes people away from what they are actually feeling. The feelings are the guide. Either way, like people, parts of me sometimes need to be confronted and put in their place. After all, the parts are not the whole. No one part is in charge even though this might have been the case for a long time. We have other parts that are dying (sometimes literally) to have a voice. When conflict between the parts comes up the conflict needs to be facilitated. We need to learn how to be facilitators and orchestrate a smoother dance.
A final note: As I was writing this, I noticed when I wrote the words "Inner Persecutor" or "Torturer" I wrote them capitalizing the first letter in each word. Logic made me change that at first because capital letters are only reserved for God, names or proper nouns. This Inner Persecutor was a tremendous force, so the caps stayed. For good or bad this force called me to the carpet (or into the ring) over and over again. One way or another it was gonna teach me to stand up and fight. I was beginning to see it as neutral – rather than good or bad. I simply see it as existing. It simply is. Trying to label it as good or bad immediately limits the wisdom. We spend too much time labeling things as good or bad, which immediately gets in our way of really knowing experiences or people and discovering any wisdom that may be present. Don't get me wrong the "torturer" can still be a real pain in the ass, but I've got its number.
I had become obsessed and hyper focused on a creative project. I could only focus on this one thing and other things were getting a little lost. At least it felt like it. I couldn't do anything else until I figured this out. I realized I was stuck and having trouble taking a break. I realized I was caught in the grip of some strange yet familiar pressure telling me, "Figure it all out now. Take care of it all now." Then this conversation ensued.
Small Self: I hate myself right now. Why do things that seem so simple to others feel so damn hard and overwhelming for me? Why do I have to struggle so much about things that really aren't urgent at all? Why do those things feel so urgent and create this terrible anxiety? Why can't I change this when the issue is so clear to me and has been for so long? I hate feeling this way. I don't know how to fix it.
Big Self: Julie…show this side of you more especially with your close friends.
Small Self: What!! Are you crazy? Wait, that actually gives me a little relief. I could feel myself breathe more deeply. It also terrifies me. I do feel relieved though in my body. I feel like I need to write this down.
Big Self: Wait, Julie. Stay here. It is not about fixing. It is not about telling the world things. It is not always about helping others. It is not always about what would make a good blog. Sometimes it is about YOU, Julie, despite what you have learned about sacrifice and helping. It is about your presence to you. It is about giving yourself the same compassion you give when you know someone is struggling. It is about the struggle and sitting in it rather than struggling with struggle or resisting struggle. It is about what you need right now in this very moment. It is about you feeling this relief and terror at the same time and holding the paradox. It is about you having this experience and simply being in it and letting it breathe…letting you breathe. Let yourself feel the relief and terror and wait. It is for you. It isn't for others. You don't have to run and leave yourself so quickly. You don't have to give yourself away. There is wisdom in this, but it requires you staying here for you first otherwise you will always be running. Give yourself some space and tenderness. The anxiety is awful to feel, and it can also carry important information.
Small Self: I know, but it can creep up and snatch me and make me forget. I forget myself. I forget that it (the anxiety) is often the thing notifying me that I need tenderness. I forget because I am too busy struggling against it or buying its lies.
Big Self: That is certainly understandable.
Small Self: It consumes me and pounds away at me until I realize what is happening and can create a separation. At first I feel like it is trying to convince me I have to get in the race NOW. I have to hurry up and share my writing. I have to prove i know things… that I am worthy, worthwhile and relevant.
Big Self: My dear, you are those things already whether you ever write another word, see another client, give another speech or teach another class in your life or not. If you write because it gives you life, then by all means write. If you are writing to hurry up and put something out there or solely to help others you are building a house on sand that so easily gets blown over by every little wind. Write because of what it does for you. If it ends up helping others then fine, and if it doesn't that is fine too. Pay attention to what energizes you. Do what brings you life. Helping others hasn't always brought you life. It has exhausted you at times, because you were more aware of the needs of others than your very own. Be in your own space. Be with you and let this learning take root a bit longer and a bit stronger. There will be time for the rest. You know how to engage with anxiety and create a space of tenderness. So, remember, dear Julie. Remember you.
Date: Monday, September 25, 2017
Time: 7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: Margot European Day Spa
Price: $35.00 – half of this cost will go to DRAW http://www.drawbuckets.org helping those impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
Has the world been stressing you out lately?
This reality is a challenging place to be lately. In addition to regular day to day stress which can be hard enough there are outbursts of hate, terror, storms, fires, earthquakes and more. It has been a really unsettling time, and now it's time to process what's happening and settle yourself. Please join me for a night of conversation and relaxation.
Cost $35 – half of cost per person will go to DRAW – a local non-profit doing great work helping those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Join me for an evening of conversation and relaxation. Decompress from the current chaos and find peace in the middle of it all.
Let's face it, when you see people show up with torches and Nazi flags professing their hate it can ignite anger, hate, disgust and a host of other emotions in you. How can you handle these emotions responsibly?
First, be mindful. When you see images of angry torch bearing protestors you may think, "What is wrong with these people? They are so ignorant, uncultured or evil." Yes, it is awful, but we can't stop there. What are you really saying? Are you saying you are smarter, more evolved and better? Are you saying they are beneath you and you are superior? Superiority is superiority. Yours is not better than theirs. This mentality is the root of the problem in the first place. We have to do better. We have to look deeper at this.
If you spend a few seconds on social media, you are quickly immersed in people telling other people what they need to do about this. You see people pointing fingers in every direction, which actually gets us nowhere. All it does is relieve the ones pointing the fingers from doing anything about it. Blames tricks people into believing they are powerless. The fact is there is something each of us can do about it, and it might be the last thing most people are actually willing to do – deal first and foremost with your own feelings. No one else is responsible for your feelings. They may be responsible for their behaviors, but your feelings are yours. Spewing them all over social media, the office or your home might feel good for a minute, but venting is much different from healing.
There is power in anger, which is why feeling angry can feel good. It is also why it can be addictive. Think about it. When you don't own your anger and decide it is always someone else's fault you feel righteous and superior. It feels powerful, but that power always requires making someone else wrong. Just ask the protestors in Charlottesville.
What does it mean to own your anger? In my office it means expressing anger unfiltered and on purpose. This is incredibly challenging for people. They like to jump right into analyzing and fixing and right over being with what they actually feel. What they don't understand at first is the fix is in the feeling.
Noticing what is here now and being present with that takes learning and practice. I invite people to say whatever they want regardless of how petty, mean or childish it may sound. This is when they drop the act completely and have one goal: to be real and raw. We pause, notice and feel deeper into moments. Old wounds that need to be mourned might show up. They might meet face-to-face with a situation in which they feel oppressed that needs attention and action. The experience is different for each person, and it is often surprising.
I must tell you being with yourself this way requires bravery. I am thankful to those who embark on this type of journey. They are moving themselves forward and in the process inching the world forward. Peace in the world is actually an inside out kind of job. The war within is where you begin. Are you brave enough to go there? Will you do your part in moving the world forward?
Date: Friday June 2, 2017
Time: 6:00 – 8:30pm
Location: Artloft Downtown Birmingham
Price: Free
Body Focused Counselor and Motivational Speaker Julie Booksh Presents at Artloft Event Featuring Shopping, Food, Fun and a New Way at Looking at Your Mind-Body Connection
Artloft in Downtown Birmingham will be opening its doors for a first ever, FREE event designed to improve the mind, soul and body while featuring fun and shopping. On Friday, June 2nd from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, learn an energy psychology technique which combines conventional and Eastern wisdom. Learn more about this and get hands on tips showing how to use it with Licensed Professional Counselor and Motivational Speaker, Julie Booksh.
Julie is an expert with a strong focus on Body-Oriented Psychotherapy and Process-Oriented work. She also has studied Reiki and Energy Psychology.
There is no fee for this event, which includes light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments and 20% discounted shopping on most items. Come meet with Julie to understand how you can better connect to yourself to live a clearer and healthier life. "I see people go from hopeless to empowered just by making the connection. I help teach this everyday and I look forward to helping you," Booksh says.
Please RSVP if you would like to attend, call Artloft at (248) 647-4007. Visit Artloft website.
Date: Monday's of May – May 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd
Time: 6:30 – 8pm
Location: Margot European Day Spa
Price: $150.00
Join me for this four-week series and step into a whole new level of stress reduction and problem solving. Your body is always communicating with you. Take time to hear its wisdom. You will connect more deeply to your true self and discover the direction that is hidden in plain view. Rather than getting mere information, you will be practicing techniques for real transformation.
Learn how to:
• Transform pain into power.
• Release limiting beliefs around money, health, relationships, emotions and more that are holding you back.
• Find freedom from the chatter of your mind and the deluge of "shoulds" constantly bombarding you.
• Feel more peace in the midst of life's chaos.
• Live with courage and confidence even in challenging situations.
This series will be held in the relaxed atmosphere of Margot European Day Spa. We will meet from 6:30 – 8pm on the first four Monday's of May – May 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd.
This series is being offered at an introductory price of $150.00.


text:
Espresso Coffee
The Best Coffees from Italy
Cerini Coffee offers a wide variety of authentic gourmet coffee and Espresso Coffee Beans. One of well known stores in Little Italy, Bronx, we opened an online coffee store to let you buy finest espresso beans from anywhere in US. We are striving for being the top place to buy coffee online.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lighten Up Your Summer Sleeping
Here in the northwest our weather has been on the warmer side. When I say warm I actually mean H-O-T! Did you know that a lot of homes here do not have air conditioning? It's true! Most of the year it's definitely not necessary, but these last few weeks (maybe even month?) have really had me wishing for it. Trying to stay cool at home has been a fine balance between art and science. Knowing when to keep your blinds shut and when to open the windows, to the strategic placement of fans. We've got our little system in place.
Most importantly is how we keep our bedroom cool and comfortable during these hot days. From the ac unit in the window (we had to for our sleeping sanity!) to a lighter set of sheets and some soothing scents. A few tweaks here and there make all the difference to a good nights sleep despite the summer heat.
Here are my must haves and tips 'n' tricks to achieving a cool and restful sleep during summer months.
Fresh sheets from Parachute (Luxurious sheets that also make a worldly difference)
Cooling Pillow (Definitely a luxury)
Lavender vanilla pillow mist (I don't go to sleep without a quick spritz on my pillow)
Striped Chemise (Anthropologie is my favorite place to shop for lounge and sleepwear)
How to be Parisian Wherever You Are (I keep this on my nightstand as a light read before I drift off to sleep)
AC window units (A must have to keep temperatures cool)


text:
Your basket is currently empty
Girvan 50 Year Old 1964 vintage Lowland single grain Lowland Scotch whiskey. Single first fill bourbon barrel #0002 distilled September 1964 and bottled March 2015 by A.D. Rattray for the Whiskies of Distinction Vintage Cask Collection series. 255 bottles.
Girvan Distillery
Girvan Single Grain Whiskey
Girvan Distillery is a Scottish Lowland grain whiskey distillery situated on the Ayrshire coast. It looks out to the island of Ailsa Craig the source of granite from which curling stones are shaped. William Grant and Sons Ltd opened this distillery in 1963 to supply grain whiskey to their blends of scotch but with careful maturation in quality casks Girvan is also able to produce excellent single grain whiskies.


text:
Hairdressing salons are being reminded of the VAT changes for 'Chair Rentals' enforced on October 1st 2012. If you are a salon owner renting chair space to self-employed hair stylists you are no longer VAT exempt. Chair rental is now taxable at the standard rate of VAT under measures announced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
These changes reflect the additional services related to hairdressing that stylists receive other than just a licence to occupy their chair space. These services include;
- A hairdressers assistant or cashier
- The booking of appointments
- The laundering of towels
- The clearing of facilities
- The making of refreshments
If you require any further information regarding this change please do not hesitate to contact us or take a look at this VAT Information Sheet.


text:
Simply looking for a visit to SEA LIFE Blackpool? Our great value online saver is here.
Visit SEA LIFE Blackpool in a group of 10+ and receive great discounts!
Snorkel with sharks. Feed the turtles, or become a keeper for the day.
From Early Years all the way through to Key Stage 3, we have the perfect package for your school trip…
Our exclusive parent and toddler midweek ticket gets you and the little one in for the price of one
12 months unlimited entry into 32 of the UK's top attractions. Including the London Eye, Thorpe Park, Alton Towers Resort and many more.


text:
RogueKiller 12.8.1 Keygen with Key Archives Free Download [Mac + Win]
RogueKiller Keygen – is one of the best malware removal software. This application that has been written in C++ It is able to find threats other anti-malware can't find because of the very deeply scanner . This application is able to remove the generic threat and some advanced malware which very harmful for PC. Roguekiller finds malware threat by using a different tennis in which all types of threat can b show and removed is very easy by one click. People like this security tool because its security technique is much different from other. its give you full access and solve all the device problems which make your device slow. RogueKiller Keygen Free generate Licence key and registered it.
RogueKiller Keygen Key Free Download (64-bit/32-bit)
Many people face the hangup problems, these tools solve this problem, Million people recommend this for its good flexibility. This tool scans your device very quickly and shows you all hidden malware in your computer then remove it immediately. It's the latest technology software that manages all type of threat. The user does not worry about any malware and device issue. Its daily scanner scans everything and solves in a background process. RogueKiller License Key is maintained by a small team. It also reacts very quickly to integrate new detections and bug fixes.
Why Use RogueKiller Premium Keygen Edition:
- Maintain the settings and create scan to your needs.
- It Easy and Fast support for you, don't hesitate to bother us.
- To help us maintaining the software manage it very easy for everyone.
Key Features:
- Kill malware processes.
- Unload malware threat DLLs from processes.
- Find/Kill malware hidden processes
- Stop malware services.
How To Active?
- Download RogueKiller Keygen 12.8.1 From below links.
- Install it.
- After Install Run it & Click on Generate Key
- Now Copy License Key and Paste.
- Enjoy Latest Version Free.


text:
How to grow Borage: Article first published in Grow Your Own Magazine September 2015 growfruitandveg.co.uk
My vegetable garden is a beautiful rambling polyculture where edible and beneficial plants happily co-exist. Bee friendly plants, edible flowers and aromatic companions happily nestle alongside my perennial and annual vegetables. This way of growing helps deter pests, maximizes your growing space and leaves less bare earth for the weeds – occupied by useful plants instead.
I first started growing the medicinal herb Borage, Borago Officinalis for its amazing vivid sky blue clusters of star shaped edible flowers to add to my salads. Continue reading How to grow Borage


text:
If you are interested in the RESS program, but aren't quite sure where to start or how to go about figuring out what to do next, read on - you are in the right place!
First - consider your alternatives
There are several paths that you can take as part of the RESS program. Depending on your background or situation, one of these possibilities may work best for you:
- Professional Master's Program: This is the 32 credit program that gives you a Penn State Professional Master's degree in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems. Admission to this highly regarded program is competitive, and completion of the degree is a distinct achievement that will set you apart in the workplace. As part of this degree, you will be able to select an "option" whereby you focus your studies on one of four RESS tracks: bioenergy, solar energy, sustainability management & policy, or wind energy. Your final course for the degree involves completing a semester-long capstone project that synthesizes your skills as a RESS student.
- Graduate Certificate: Many people find that they need advanced education in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems but are not in a position to pursue a full master's degree. That's where the RESS Graduate Certificates come in. These certificates require completion of 3 or 4 prescribed courses in that subject area, and result in the student receiving an official graduate certificate in that specific track from the university. We have available Graduate Certificates in Bioenergy, Solar Energy, Sustainability & Management Policy, and Wind.
- Try a Single Course: Sometimes you might not be sure if you are cut out for the Professional Master's Program or even the Graduate Certificate, or aren't sure if your schedule can handle the additional task of taking a graduate course. In this case, it's often a great idea to register as a "non-degree student" for a single course to try things out. That way, you'll be able to find out how you are handling a graduate course and also how useful the RESS program is without committing to a multi-year program.
Keep in mind that it is possible to apply to the full master's degree after completing a graduate certificate, or even after completing one or two courses as a "non-degree" student. Also, it is possible to apply for the graduate certificate even if you have already taken one or two of the certificate courses as a "non-degree" student.
Second - Ask some questions
You probably have some questions at this point. We'd love to hear them! Whether it's about scheduling, course content, finances, or some other issue, you can email us at email@example.com.
- You may also want to take a look at the class schedule to see which courses are offered when. While you are on that page, click on a course name to take a look at the syllabus for that course.
- The credits and options page gives more information about the program curriculum, including an example schedule for students.
- The RESS FAQ page is another great place to learn more about the program.
Third - Go for it!
If you're ready to apply to the RESS program, then great! Step-by-step instructions on applying for the Master's or Graduate Certificate can be found on our "Apply" page.
If you would like to register for a single course as a "non degree" student, see "Taking a Single RESS Course."


text:
I am fascinated with how people choose an adoptive family when they go forward with an adoption. I can debate about decisions to the point of paralysis – I'm just sitting on the fence going nowhere until someone forces a decision upon me. This decision is huge, and it can be a difficult and emotional one. What makes a connection through pictures and a letter?
I want every person to have the opportunity to plan for the adoption they want. In the last couple months, I've worked with several people who have made adoption plans with me before. They are pregnant again and need to go forward with adoption. Sometimes people have a strong desire to place siblings together – they want their children to have that biological connection connection. But just as many times, people want to choose another family who has no children. There is something about the "blessing" of adoption that feels right to them, or they would prefer their child be the only child for as long as possible. And I've had people tell me that they want to choose a new family, but feel guilty thinking about it. As if adoption doesn't bring enough feelings of guilt by itself.
I don't know the answer – there are a lot of people who work in child welfare who believe the best outcome is for siblings to be together based on research. If that's not what the first parent wants, is that really the best practice?


text:
Our Team
Singapore is such a beautiful place to go, whether if you are a tourist or local, there are things for you. PT Festival would give you all you need to know about this exciting country. From festivals to the places to go and the things to try, we will always guide you. We give tips on how to prepare for a travel, especially on Singapore and what to expect once you arrive. Of course, with a new place, is a new culture, we will give you the basic know-hows on how to live like a local.
513 Serangoon Road #04-01,
218154 Singapore, Singapore


text:
Appaloosa tea cups
Little Appaloosa tea cups are perfect for that endless pot of tea that you just keep replenishing from.
These items have been made with love and care, for you and the planet.
Approx 5.5cm h x 8cm w
Lead-free and dishwasher safe although when possible I would recommend gentle hand washing. Please avoid exposing it to extremes in temperature and do take care when handling and storing.
PLEASE note shipping is a flat fee of $12 in Australia. At this stage the only other countries I ship to are the USA & UK and charges are calculated at checkout. If you would like me to post somewhere else international please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com All items are wrapped and packed in eco friendly materials. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to email me


text:
Get a Story Each Month
Want to get a brand new, original Cat Rambo story in your mail each month for as little as $1? Check out Cat's Patreon campaign.
This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Tag Archives: diane wynne jones
Pages Breathing Fire: 10 Books About Dragons
Dragons, dragons, dragons – so many writers have written about them in one form or another. Here's ten books featuring dragons for fellow lovers of the form. Continue reading


text:
Since we last 'checked in' Choir 61 have been touring through New South Wales and have had an amazing time! We have had the opportunity to perform at different schools, churches and venues and had a great response. We have made many new friends in this wonderful state and had lots of new experiences. It was such an incredible, fun-filled and varied few weeks that it was difficult to pick highlights to share with you!
Whilst in New South Wales, Choir 61 had the opportunity to visit the Blue Mountains and see spectacular scenery including the Three Sisters. The team loved this experience!
Choir 61 is full of cuties that don't mind posing for the camera!
Did you know that two of the children, Ambrose and Gloria, who are touring with Choir 61 are brother and sister? They are from Watoto's Laminadera Village in Northern Uganda and they have the privilege of traveling together on the same tour. If you have seen the Beautiful Africa performance in 2013 you would have heard their heartbreaking stories, but also the hope they have found in Jesus and the love they are now surrounded by in their new Watoto home.
Choir 61 travels with 10 'aunties and uncles' who care for the children and are responsible for 2 or 3 children. The love between the children and their aunties and uncles is so incredible to watch! Choir 61 really are family!
While in Sydney, some of the Choir 61 children, Uncle Ronnie & Uncle Mark had the opportunity to be interviewed on the Open House program on Hope 103.2. This program is played on Hope 103.2, but also nationwide on over 500 relay stations as well as most Christian radio stations in Australia.
They had the chance to share their stories and journey on air and Sheila, one of the girls, was able to share what she has enjoyed most on tour – which was seeing how much the concerts have impacted people in different places the choir has performed. Sheila commented, "I like dancing because it transforms people." Hear the rest of the inspiring interview here!
Also, while in Sydney, Choir 61 had the opportunity to perform at the annual Watoto Gala Dinner & Concert held in Sydney for the first time. Watoto Australia host these dinners to raise awareness in the corporate sector about the different Watoto projects. It was a phenomenal night as the choir sang, danced and shared their life changing stories. Almost half of the guests present had never seen the choir and many had never even heard of Watoto prior to the dinner. There was barely a dry eye in the place and no one left without being impacted by the Choir.
From Sydney, we made a quick and eventful trip to Canberra where we were met by Auntie Fiona & Uncle John who looked after us for the time we were there.
We performed at Canberra Girls Grammar School where the Head of Senior School Jason Corbett-Jones shared, "They danced, sang and spoke with joy and had all of us on our feet dancing (badly in my case) with them. One could not help be touched and moved, especially when they hugged and thanked us before leaving." Six of the students even tested out their dancing skills on stage with the choir!
We also had the opportunity to perform at a Westpac lunch which was attended by Gail Kelly, Westpac CEO, and many other Westpac executives. We loved having this incredible opportunity to share about the love of Jesus and the incredible work of Watoto with influential Australians.
While in Canberra, the team were taken to the Questacon Science Museum which we loved! We were also taken out to a Chinese restaurant for dinner where the children (and adults) had a chance to learn how to use chopsticks!
Thank you so much for loving us New South Wales! We are now heading across to Tasmania and can't wait to make more friends and have more fun there! Make sure you check out the Choir Itinerary to find out where we are performing!
Send us your love at any time by leaving a comment below!
Love Choir 61


text:
Imagine Mr. Torgue in a tight pink shirt and hair curlers, it's as unsettling as it sounds. That, plus a love of indie games is basically Grandma Flexington, the newest character in Borderlands 2's latest Thanksgiving-themed DLC.
The DLC itself is only about an hour long, dropping you into Mr. Torgue's Hunger For Violence Extravaganza to survive an encounter with the "Ravenous Wattle Gobbler, The (Actually) Invincible". It's fun, but not too difficult, even while playing on a character I've never used before.
Grandma Flexington's stories make up just under half of the hour-long DLC, but it's not a bad offering for $3.
Oh, and when you finish the mission, you get a new head skin, so you can make your own version of this pretty little thing:
Didn't get the references in the video? I'll leave the answers down in the comments.
The Horrible Hunger Of The Ravenous Wattle Gobbler is available today on all of your favorite Borderlands 2 DLC delivery services.


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
Mens Danner Mountain 600 4.5" Hiking Boot - FREE Shipping & Exchanges fb-root
$111.99 $76.61
Product Code: fb-root
Availability: In Stock
Availability: In Stock
Qty: + -
Danner Mountain 600 4.5" Hiking Boot
Product Description Inspired by Danner's Mountain Light from the 1970s, the Mountain 600 takes a retro, simple design and combines it with modern comfort and performance. Perfect for use on rugged terrain.
- Danner's original Mountain Light-inspired upper
- Waterproof suede upper with Danner® Dry protection
- Nylon shank
- Open-cell polyurethane OrthoLite® footbed
- TPU heel frame enhances support and stability
- Vibram® SPE midsole enhances rebound, comfort and support
- Vibram® Fuga outsole features self-adapting lugs and MegaGrip compound for optimal grip on wet and dry surfaces
Mens Danner Mountain 600 4.5" Hiking Boot - FREE Shipping & Exchanges fb-root


text:
Everybody knows how useful dining chairs are. Now they can be both functional and nice looking, thanks to the site that you are about to see. Feel free to spend here all the time that you want to, and tell us about your thoughts. Have we convinced you to make a purchase?
Now you can enjoy the ideal blend of style and practical use with this amazing set of two arts and crafts chairs that will give a contemporary twist to your modern home. It provides the rubber wood structure of the frame and is sure to be a part of your home for years.
A set of two side chairs that offers the traditional design and a strong rubberwood and steel structure that will withstand the test of time, while providing your home with a touch of style and beauty for you to enjoy.
This set of two side chairs will surely provide a contemporary twist to your modern household with its stylish and functional design. It offers the folding mechanism and can be easily stored away, while you're not using them.
A set of two side chairs that will surely make your dining room pop with style and visual appeal. They are both functional and stylish and come in multiple color options to make it even easier to blend with your decor.
This simple and elegant set consists of two traditionally styled folding wooden chairs that will surely offer a perfect and at-home seating arrangement. It features a back panel lattice design and the astounding rubber wood construction.
The wood and understated silhouette of this chair recall the simplicity of Danish furniture. The lightly padded leather seat adds comfort, while the slim frame means this chair can fit at even the smallest dining table. Price varies;
Drop Leaf Dining Table w/ 4 Hideaway folding chairs!! THIS IS THE COOLEST THING EVER! Who want to make me one??
Lazy Liz on Less: How to build and upholster dinning chairs - - - - Found the chairs I want to make! Think I will do them a little different... I don't like the idea of having them with so much fabric.
Tim and Hannah's Affordable DIY Self-Sustainable Micro Cabin.... clever.... just use a hole drill bit on a wooden chair.
This set of two wood and iron dining chairs offers a unique split back and seat design and is just a striking blend of rustic and contemporary appeal. It offers plenty of natural beauty and is just the most suitable way of upgrading the look of your home.
Both elegant and rustic, our "X" back dining chairs are crafted of oak with a distressed finish and a comfortable, woven rattan seat finished with a graywash.
Buy various cheap single (not part of a set) dining chairs, paint and upholster the same color, and put them around a dining table. Save on the chairs, splurge on a custom table.
A set of two dining chairs that may look simple but provide incredible comfort for any user and are extremely easy to match with most decors. They will shine with style especially when combined with a modern setting.
Comfortable dining chairs will be key. My parents come over alot and will need chairs that pad and are comforable for longer periods of time.
How to Reupholster a Dining Chair Seat: DIY Tutorial full of tips and tricks. Gotta love this "no-mess method" that eliminates the most grueling steps of any reupholstery project! Keep the original seat intact and simply add a new cushion and fabric atop
Beetle Dining Chair - Designed in 2013 and first presented at Milan's annual Mindcraft exhibition, the Beetle Dining Chair is the creation of young design duo, Enrico Fratesi and Stine Gam, and is inspired by the shape, shell and structure of the eponym
This is a super stylish dining chair which is a unique change to traditional chairs The Midas Chair is created in a antiqued gold metal and features
thedesignwalker: Beetle Chair: Gamfratesi Gubi, Chairs Armchairs Seats, Dining Chairs, Gubi Beetles Chairs, Comfiest Chairs, Chairs Stools, Furniture, Folding Chairs, Chairs Gamfratesi
A small balcony furnished with a foldable table and three foldable chairs, all in solid acacia with black steel legs. Completed with a grey steel shelving unit filled with green plants in galvanised plant pots.

Designed in 2013 and first presented at Milan's annual Mindcraft exhibition, the Beetle Dining Chair is the creation of young design duo, Enrico Fratesi and Stine Gam, and is inspired by the shape, shell and structure of the eponymous insect.

"Originally designed in 1859, this timeless, curvaceous classic is produced in one of the original Thonet bentwood chair factories. Mint lacquer finish gives this stylistically versatile and strong chair a pop of contemporary color. -Bent beechwood frame
Who said you have to settle for a boring chair for your dining room? This piece is just sublime when it comes to both comfort and style and is just ideal for outdoor dining even in the warmest climates.
Simple yet elegant and extremely durable, this folding chair features a UV stabilized resin, slatted seat and a white frame finish, making it comfortable while sitting, dining and relaxing in the yard.
Chanel Licorice Dining Chair - Dining Chairs - Article | Modern, Mid-Century and Scandinavian Furniture
The 2011 Kitchen of the Year with Tyler Florence - House Beautiful. Mismatched upholstery fabric sets an unfussy, informal mood in the dining area. "The kitchen is designed to move from a small dinner party to a big huge holiday gathering," Florence say


text:
- PLEASE NOTE: The strip light is dimmable. However, required dimmer is NOT included.
- Each Kit Includes:[1 X Pre-installed 3' Standard Power Cord with Power Connector] [1 x End Cap] [2 Mounting Clips each 3.3ft]
- [60 Standard Output SMD5050 LED's Per 3.3 Feet] [ 4.36 Watts Per Feet ] [Standard Output, Sufficient In Most Indoor Application. ] [Size: 0.57 Inch Width x 0.33 Inch Thickness] [19.685 inch cutting intervals]
- [Cool To Touch When Lit and Flexible and Easy Installation.] [Voltage: 120V . Can Be Plugged Direction Into House Power Out. Safety Fused Plug For Over Current Protection. No Transformer Is Needed.] [Water Resistant]
- [12V VS. 120VLED SMD Rope Light: (Both Are Exceptional Energy-Efficient)] [12V Advantage: Low Voltage, Smaller Pprofile, High Brightness And Flexible To Use In Many Application. Disadvantage Is, Transformer May Be Need Needed, And Max Length Is Only 16'.][120V Advantage: High Brightness And Flexible. Can Plug Directly Into Household Power Outlet. Thicker Profile For Better Durability. Max Run Is 164'. ]


text:
Proverbs 2:2 (msg) Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding.
I think the way the message bible translates this is brilliant. Tune your ears, set your heart.
In today's cultural and moral relativistic society many have decided to create their standards based on what they want. Not believing in any absolutes causes us to rationalize and justify our behavior by making our wants the central figure in life. If we are the center there is nothing greater than us and we can justify ourselves with the thought that the greatest aspiration in life is to please ourselves. What a mess of things we make when we subscribe to such thinking.
This scripture is saying there is a wisdom greater than you, you can not tune it to you, you must tune to it. If we will have fulfilling life we must realize that God and His infinite wisdom are the center not ourselves. We must bend to God and His way of thinking not our own.
We can't set our radio on any frequency and demand that the radio station come to us, we must tune our radio to the station if we want to hear the music.
We can't mold God to fit us, we must tune in to His wisdom and let Him shape us.
I encourage you to tune in and listen to the sweet music of fulfilled life.


text:
This is the final paper written for a Fall 2018 course with Nancy Jacobs called Southern African Frontiers. I have given the first three paragraphs below — for the rest, please see my full paper here!
In February 2018, the Parliament of South Africa established a committee to explore whether and how to "make it possible for the state to expropriate land in the public interest without compensation." In order to hear testimony from across South African society, the committee organized public hearings in all provinces from 26 June to 4 August 2018. Many spoke of how white farmers — less than 9% of South Africa's population — still own 67% of the land a quarter-century after the end of apartheid. Redistributing this land, for many, is a clear step toward redress of historical injustices perpetuated by white settler colonialism. Others invoked the specter of Zimbabwe, where land seizures led to economic freefall and long-term political instability. While few testifying before the committee opposed land reform in principle, many argued against the arbitrary abrogation of property rights and the concomitant sprawl of government power.
On 6 September 2018, the committee heard seven hours of oral submissions in Cape Town. One of the first to testify was the head of Indigenous First Nation Advocacy South Africa (IFNASA), Anthony Williams, who claimed to represent the Khoi-San community. Williams argued in favor of land expropriation without compensation. For him, this meant not just amending the constitution to correct for the injustices of apartheid (which only really began after World War II) but also to allow for land claims prior to 1913. Williams decried the focus on Bantu-speaking communities and further asked why his submission was the only one heard from the Khoi-San community. Committee members in turn expressed skepticism over Khoi-San claims to indigeneity, concern over racial stratification, and suggestions of alternative recourse for the redress sought.
This vignette serves to frame my paper. I will attempt to corral a teeming mass of evidence to provide some kind of response to two questions prompted by Williams' testimony. First, when and why are Khoi-San land claims expressed? Second, how and why are they received? The framework of my investigation follows the three concepts mentioned in my title: continuity, representation, and redress. The first section will thus explore the history of South Africa from 1652 to 1994 to help understand the kinds of continuity and rupture experienced by the Khoi-San. The second section will focus on representation of the Khoi-San in the quarter-century since the end of apartheid in 1994. In each section, I do not want to reproduce the wealth of scholarship that has preceded me. Instead, I illustrate several examples that will help guide us back to the testimony of Anthony Williams before the Constitutional Review Committee. Through these examples, we will begin to discern common tropes that undergird discussions about the Khoi-San: allochrony, continuity, "truth and reconciliation" nationalism, and strategic essentialism. I contend that to understand Anthony Williams' testimony, and hence the situation of the Khoi-San in contemporary South Africa, we must be sensitive not just to immediate cause-and-effect (as with political debates over the Khoi-San today) but also to alterity and the longue durée of history. This process of talking and listening to the Khoi-San sheds light on questions of redress in South Africa and around the world.
Continue reading here!


text:
My experience buying my first home with Beyond Bank
Thank you to one of our customers, who has let us know of her experience buying her first home with us.
I recently purchased my first home – a two bedroom unit, twelve kilometres west of Adelaide CBD, and in close proximity to a shopping centre, a gym, public transport and beaches, all of which are important to me.
Like most people, I started my conversation with the bank before I started looking for my new home. I specifically wanted to meet someone after hours and so I contacted Ian Berryman, Beyond Bank's Mobile Relationship Manager, to obtain the best advice on how I was going to enter the real estate market.
Although I hadn't saved a full deposit, Ian worked out a way to increase my buying power. And with the assistance of my parents, I qualified for a Parent Equity Home Loan, which meant my parents were able to help me by using their property as security against my purchase.
The benefits of Ian's advice and the parent equity home loan were such a saving – almost $20,000, as I didn't have to pay mortgage insurance. I also found out that I was eligible for the first home owners grant – which at the time of my purchase was $5,000.
Ian also offered me a property report so I could see how much the unit I was interested in purchasing had previously sold for, as well information on other properties in the area and their selling prices.
Being armed with this knowledge helped me make my decision and after viewing the property twice, I made the owners an offer, and moved into my beachside apartment in late February.
I am really grateful to Ian for all his help and the fact that he saved me thousands. He couldn't have made this any easier and I couldn't be happier!
Here are my top tips for first home buyers:
- Speak to your local Beyond Bank Branch Manager or Mobile Lender first;
- Check with the Office of State Revenue in your local State to see what you are eligible for;
- Work together with Beyond Bank to find the right loan that suits your circumstances;
- Start searching and get a free report on the house that catches your eye;
- Make an offer; and
- Let Beyond Bank manage the rest.
For more information on becoming a home-owner or on any of our home loan packages, visit us at any branch or give us a call on 13 25 85.


text:
This website uses cookies. By navigating around this site you consent to cookies being stored on your machine. Learn more Hide this message from view
Please enter your email address to be alerted when this item is back in stock.
Harry Potter Replica Universal Remote Control Wand
Magically control your music, TV, DVD or any IR remote controlled device
Practice different wand gestures - each movement has a different effect- on/off, volume etc
The wand chooses the wizard- is this the wand for you?
Harry's wand was made by Ollivander of holly wood with a phoenix feather core
Full instructions included


text:
I'm Ruani Ribe, a member of the first cohort of the Hoesley program. Initially, I joined the program in order to sharpen my skills with various software programs, and to learn more about design and online collaboration tools. I was also interested in being able to work with and learn from a small group of other students who shared similar interests. I like that the Hoesley Program allowed me to get my feet wet. Microsoft Excel and website-building, for example, both seemed fairly daunting, but introductions to the basics of each of these things and their capabilities gave me working knowledge of both and a level of comfort that I was able to use as a jumping off point to explore each further.
I was most excited to have the opportunity to build my own professional website, a chance to apply and showcase my interests and skills that I learned throughout the program, and with the information we were given on various design elements and website hosts, I was finally able to create a website that I feel successfully conveys who I am. Before the program I had been familiar with HTML and CSS, and with the resources that we were provided, I was finally able to put them to use.
The skills I have picked up and sharpened over the course of the Hoesley program can now be displayed confidently on my resume, and in the future, I know where to look for resources if any of my skills need brushing up. Further, my professional website will be a great resource in my upcoming job search, and I plan to continue to develop it as time progresses.
To see my completed website, follow the url below!


text:
Guide to MS001 The University of Texas at El Paso Bhutanese Style Architecture Collection
Created by Senate Bill 183, the State School of Mines and Metallurgy was founded in 1913 due to El Pasoans' requests for a school to train mining engineers and metallurgists to help support the local mining and smelting industries. In 1914 the State School of Mines opened on land and buildings east of Ft. Bliss that were formerly occupied by the El Paso Military Institute. University of Texas Regents named Stephen Worrell as the first dean. Later that year a fire destroyed the School's main building and the campus relocated to land donated by El Pasoans in the Sunset Heights area. After viewing British explorer's Jean Claude White's photographs of the Kingdom of Bhutan in the April 1914 issue of National Geographic, Kathleen Worrell, wife of the dean, recommended that the new campus adopt Bhutanese-style architecture because of the similarities between Bhutan's and El Paso's landscapes. The UTEP Bhutanese Style Architecture Collection dates 1910s – 2008, bulk 1967 – 2000s. Types of records include photographs, publications, correspondence, drawings of UTEP buildings, and other printed material.


text:
Manu Feildel Extends Partnership with Murray Valley Pork for a third year
Sydney, January 2015 Rivalea, Australia's largest pork producer, is proud to announce today that Manu Feildel, acclaimed chef and co-host on Channel 7's popular 'My Kitchen Rules', is continuing his role as ambassador for Murray Valley Pork. This will be Manu's third year as ambassador for the brand, which is a testament to the strength of the partnership with Murray Valley Pork.
As part of the ambassador role, Manu has been actively engaged with public to share his views about the quality of this 100% Australian grown product. The most recently concluded event at Highpoint in Melbourne, 'Summer Tastes with Manu' resulted in hundreds of shoppers gathering to watch Manu live in action; cooking his favourite summer pork dishes. Fans were able to see Manu whip up a range of delicious pork dishes and taste Manu's creations first hand.
"We are thrilled that Manu is back on board with us, third year running. Manu's personable and charming personality, along with his established reputation as an acclaimed chef has been instrumental in helping grow awareness of the brand. We want to continue to work together to communicate the same message: we strive only for the best quality taste and experience when it comes to pork," said Paul da Sliva, Marketing Manager for Rivalea Australia.
Manu is definitely no stranger to Murray Valley Pork, as he used the product both professionally and at home. "Murray Valley Pork is a great brand that produces the highest quality of meat. They do this, ethically and responsibly. I love the consistency of the pork, as it delivers depth of sweetness and tenderness that is present in all of their wide range of cuts. It really shines as a quality product," said Manu Feildel.


text:
- Home
- CHAMpS Study
CHAMpS Study
The CHAMpS study aims to gain a better understanding of factors that impact a person's risk for future stroke. Traditional risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, provide us with a good idea of future stroke risk, but do not tell the whole story. Newer research suggests that people with poor artery health may also be experiencing "silent strokes" that result in deterioration of thinking and memory. These silent strokes can lead to higher risk of a full stroke in the future.
This study involves individuals with stroke and a comparison group of older adults without stroke. Simple, non-invasive tests are used to look at how much stiffness has occurred in a person's arteries, and assessments of physical function and thinking abilities provide information about their mobility, activity levels, and brain health. These novel tests of artery health, physical mobility, and thinking ability will help provide a more complete picture of a person's health and function.
Dr Ada Tang, physical therapist and Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science, is the lead investigator. She is collaborating with Dr Maureen MacDonald and the Vascular Dynamics Laboratory to conduct these novel tests of vascular health and function, and Dr Jennifer Heisz of the Neurophysiology and Fitness Laboratory to examine the relationship between cognition and cardiovascular health in older adults with and without stroke.
- Active Living Leaders
- CHAMpS Study
- CHOICES Program
- Exercise and Arthritis: The MOBILE Study
- Exercise Dose and Cognition in Older Adults
- Exercise Study recruiting NOW!
- Regulatory Mechanisms of Vascular Structure and Function
- The Canadian Disability Participation Project
- Using Exercise and Nutrition to Optimize Health in Older Men


text:
Series: An edited adaptation of the book Prayer, Power, and Proclamation by C.L.Peppler published by Chrispy Publications in 2009 (ISBN 978-0-620-43583-3). Part 3:
Before I get into the actual subjects of prayer, power and proclamation I need to deal with five interrelated underlying issues that subvert and undermine our efforts to minister as Jesus did. They are, lack of awareness that we live in an inverted kingdom, our thoroughly materialistic mindsets, fear of change, dis-ease with mystery, and a misconception of who we are.
It is hard to run when you are walking on your hands! What a strange thing to say. What I mean by this is that it is very difficult to move fast in a world that is up-side-down. This would be very much like walking on our hands in a normal world. It would be even harder if we could use our legs but we had to run on the ceiling. Yet, actually, we are living in a world that is up-side-down. From a spiritual perspective, it is completely inverted; it is up-side-down, and in-side-out, and back-to-front!
Before explaining what I mean by this, let me share with you a personal account. As a young man, I did a spell in the navy. After basic training, my commanding officer sent me on a course on radar and communications. After that, he assigned me to one of the fleet's frigates. My task was to operate either the aerial or the surface plot in the ship's control room. The aerial plot was a large circular Perspex grid, which stood perpendicularly between the ship's skipper and me. I had a pair of earphones through which I could hear the voice of the radar operator calling out the location and speed of incoming hostile aircraft. My job was to plot these on the grid. I had to show each position as a dot joined by arrows. Next to each dot, I had to write a coded identifier for the aircraft, as well as its speed. I had to write this so that the skipper, standing on the other side of the Perspex grid, could read what I had written. I therefore had to write from right to left. When I operated the surface plot, things were even more complicated. The surface plot was a large white enamel table. In the centre was a symbol representing our ship. My task was to listen to the sightings reported to me by the radar operator, and to plot these on the table. These radar contacts represented other ships in the area. I had to plot each ship, and next to it write its code, its friend or foe identifier, and its surface speed. The skipper stood on the opposite side of the table. For him to be able to read what I was writing I had to write, not only from right to left, but also upside-down! It took a lot of time and practice before my brain was able to make the adjustments and enable me to write accurately and rapidly.
Many years ago, some psychologists conducted an experiment with a group of volunteers. They gave them each a special pair of spectacles which turned everything they saw upside-down. The poor guinea pigs had to wear these spectacles all the time. In a sense, the spectacles turned them on their heads. I can imagine the confusion, frustration, and physical discomfort they must have experienced. After many days, something wonderful occurred. Their brains made the adjustment and simply turned the visual inputs 180º. Suddenly their worlds were the right way up again. Of course, you can guess what happened next. The researchers took away their spectacles, and the world once again turned upside-down!
It occurred to me that, in a sense, we are born with spiritual inversion contact lenses. We don't know we have them, and we have no idea that the world we see is actually upside-down. Because we are born with these lenses, we feel at ease and we operate reasonably well. Then, later in life, we start to realise that things are not as they should be. We become aware of a spiritual world, parallel to and interwoven with the material world. We observe that this spiritual realm seems to operate entirely differently to the world into which we were born. Our discomfort becomes intense when the Holy Spirit regenerates us and we are born again. As we read the Bible and learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, we become painfully conscious of the differences between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. The values, principles, and priorities of these two kingdoms are inverted in relation to each other. For instance, in the Kingdom of God, victory is through surrender not conquest. In the material realm, we live and then we die; in the spiritual realm, we die in order that we may live. In the world, we focus on getting, but in the Kingdom of God, we focus on giving. Jesus teaches us to love our enemies instead of hating them. It is all so much in contrast to the way the material world operates.
Enlightenment, in this sense, is the experience of taking off those spiritual contact lenses and perceiving the world as it really is. Spiritual transformation, again in this sense, is the process of adjusting to the new reality, and learning to live differently. At first, it is disturbing and disorientating, but after a time we are able to make the adjustment. Our reality flip-flops, and we become conscious that we are walking the right way up in a world that is upside-down. Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world…" (John 18:36). He also said that "the Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is', or 'There it is', because the Kingdom of God is within (among) you." (Luke 17:20-21)
The problem occurs when we still live as if the world is the right way up; as though it were the same as the Kingdom of God. We try to apply physical laws to spiritual realities – and we fall off the ceiling! We attempt to apply business principles to church life, and we end up with a church that looks, feels, and is … just like a business, not a church.
So, the first thing we need to do as we start the journey into P3 is to realise that the principles of the Kingdom of God are very different to the principles of the kingdoms of this world. We also need to acknowledge that our thinking needs to change radically, if we are to operate successfully in the realm of the spirit.
What is up in the material realm (MR) is actually down in the spiritual realm (SR).
Finally, we need to commit to speaking and acting differently, and then diligently practicing until the 1800 shift occurs. I have written this series in an attempt to help us all to come down off our spiritual ceilings and walk tall through the Kingdom of God.
To subscribe to Truth is The Word, click here.


text:
Welcome to this week's edition of The Friday Five! The Friday Five is a feature that I post every Friday in which I give my thoughts on a topic that's related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games, as well as the real NBA, and other areas of interest to our community. The feature is presented as either a list of five items, or in the form of a Top 5 countdown. This week's Five is a list of what I believe are the five biggest developments in modding.
I've said it many, many times before, but our modding community has done some great things over the years. Of course, creating all those amazing mods hasn't always been easy, and in the case of some games, it's taken a while after their release to develop all the necessary tools. Even today, there are obstacles that make modding difficult at times, and there are some things that we used to be able to do that we presently cannot. Obviously, the goal here is to do the best we can with the tools at our disposal, and keep trying to develop new methods and resources that will help us to tinker with basketball video games as desired.
With that in mind, we only need to look back at the major developments in modding to find inspiration. As a community, we've been able to overcome a lot of obstacles in being able to modify NBA Live and NBA 2K, and in one or two instances, the developers themselves have helped us along the way. In the spirit of recognising all the advancements in modding, and hopefully providing some inspiration to keep doing what we're doing, I'd like to discuss five major milestones that I believe have marked some of the most important developments in the hobby. Without them, modding would certainly be far more limited, if not impossible.
1. Tim, Lutz, and Brien's Modding Tools
Ah, the early days of modding NBA Live on PC! When I went back and made my Definitive Updates for NBA Live 95 and NBA Live 96, the experience was just as nostalgic as dusting off the games to play them. As I mentioned in a Wayback Wednesday feature though, editing NBA Live 95 in particular was fiddly, even with the amazing tools that Tim, Lutz, and Brien developed. Without them, it would've been an absolute nightmare, and arguably close to impossible for novices to accomplish. Fortunately, we did have those tools, and they were a driving force in establishing both the NLSC and the modding community we have today.
I know that I've recounted the tale before, but I was amazed when I discovered the NLSC back in 1997, and the tools that our three founders had made. Suddenly, I was able to do so many things that I'd dreamed of doing since getting into NBA Live on PC. Roster editors allowed created players to be assigned full bio data, and original players to be modified. The minimum and maximum height and weight values could be bypassed. Current rosters, NCAA rosters, concept rosters…we could modify the games in all sorts of ways. Simply put, those tools made modding happen, and surely contributed to the popularity of PC basketball gaming early on.
2. Switch to DBF Files
While the tools that Tim, Lutz, and Brien made opened up a world of modding possibilities, the first three games in the NBA Live series could still be a little cumbersome to tinker with. Although NBA Live 97 added the ability to save and load separate roster files, data for all the original players was still stored in the game's executable. This didn't stop the development of retro season or foreign league patches, but there were limitations and inconveniences. This changed in NBA Live 98 PC as the roster data was now stored in DBF files, which could be edited with spreadsheet and database software such as Microsoft Excel and DB Commander.
Player data, team names, pointers to art files…pretty much everything we wanted or needed to change in terms of roster data was accessible. The process was made easier by the development of the NBA Live Toolkits, which were Microsoft Access modules that allowed the databases to be edited in a GUI environment with full explanations of all the fields and values. It was also possible to make those changes to the database directly if you knew what you were doing, so even though specific roster editing tools were handy, they were no longer essential for modding. Specialised tools or not, DBF files made roster modding easier than before, and the results were fantastic.
3. Implementation of CustomArt
Once NBA Live made the jump to full 3D with individual player faces and more detailed textures in general, there was a lot more interest in modifying the art files. The development of tools such as the EA Graphics Editor allowed modders to extract, manipulate, and import textures, while utilities such as Blotch aided in the installation of mods. This could be a problem of course, as default files needed to be overwritten. This ran the risk of damaging files, and made it difficult and tedious to remove and reinstall mods. For gamers who weren't particularly computer savvy, instructions beyond "take these files and put them in this folder" could be quite confusing.
In NBA Live 2000 and 2001, EA Sports experimented with a special folder for modified files that the game would load instead of the originals. They expanded upon this concept with CustomArt in NBA Live 2003, and even provided us with a guide on how to use it! Originally, CustomArt needed to be enabled in a configuration file, but in NBA Live 2005 onwards, this was done by default. The process would also be simplified, no longer requiring the creation of additional art folders as in NBA Live 2003 and 2004. Some customisation functionality was lost when that happened, but we still made great use of the method right through to NBA Live 08 PC.
4. Creation of REDitor/RED MC
To be frank, we'd probably been a bit spoiled by NBA Live's use of DBF files when it came time to edit rosters in NBA 2K PC. All of a sudden, we were back to roster files that we couldn't externally manipulate with readily available commercial or freeware programs. As I mentioned before, even though the NBA Live Toolkits had been developed to make the process of editing DBF files easier, roster editing didn't end when they were discontinued. We had a viable alternative in DB Commander, which required a little more knowledge of the databases to use, but was more than capable of getting the job done. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case with NBA 2K's roster files.
There have been a few roster editors for NBA 2K over the years, but none have been as comprehensive, or as instrumental to 2K modding, as Vlad's REDitor (later RED Modding Center, or RED MC for short). Suddenly, we were able to do everything that we once could when we had DBF files to work with, going far beyond the in-game editing functionality. Later versions even included utilities to work with IFF files, making RED MC the ultimate modding tool. The process of decoding the roster files wasn't easy, which is why new versions of the tool took a while to create. Once they were developed though, it led to the creation of some truly amazing mods.
5. External File Plugin
As noted above, the introduction of CustomArt in the PC versions of NBA Live was huge because it meant that textures and models could be easily replaced without being overwritten, reducing the risk of corrupting files and making it easier to remove or replace mods. Although we've had tools to modify the textures and models in NBA 2K games pretty much since the series came to PC, we ran into the same problem we had in the early days of NBA Live modding: files must be replaced. This meant that the cautious NBA 2K gamer had to back up their original files, keep copies of the installation for different mods, or use mod management software such as JGSME.
Since the PC began receiving a port of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One version of NBA 2K, our modding community has faced several challenges in making some of the updates that we're accustomed to seeing. However, thanks to Limnono's External File Plugin for NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17, the aforementioned issue of needing to overwrite files is – for the most part – no longer a problem. It's essentially added CustomArt-like functionality to the past couple of NBA 2K games, making it far easier for gamers to install mods. Hopefully future games can offer that functionality by default, but in the meantime, it's been a huge development for NBA 2K modding.
Big developments in modding, the major milestones that mark new chapters in the history of our community, are great examples of how far we've come. Every so often there will be an obstacle that forces us to take a step backwards, but when that happens, hopefully we'll continue to rise to the challenge of creating the necessary tools, and in turn, more great mods. Which modding developments stand out the most to you? Have your say in the comments section below, as well as take the discussion over to the NLSC Forum. That's all for this week, so thanks for checking in, have a great weekend, and please join me again next Friday for another Five.


text:
Virtual Program Highlights:
DCP Debut
Monday, June 24 – Thursday, July 4, 2013
To further highlight our new DCP projection system – which we recently installed alongside our trusty 35mm and 16mm film projectors with the assistance of a Kickstarter campaign – we offer this series of classic film favorites. We've tried to include a range of films that can be thought of as a visual litmus test for cinephiles. Reportedly, all of these digital transfers – many of them in new restorations – look beautiful on the big screen. We are excited to explore the look and feel of this new technology with you! All Digital Presentations
Buy Tickets
Brattle Membership is a great way to support the non-profit Brattle Theatre and see great films like these for free! Learn more about membership »


text:
Dr. Livingstone I Presume?
by Stephanie Colman |Africa, Famous Missionaries
Have you ever considered the lengths that some missionaries have gone for their passion to reach the lost? While exploring and discovering the interior of a "Dark Continent" isn't an option today, there are still people that have never heard about salvation to be found. David Livingstone was one of the great missionary explorers of the past.
"Death alone will put a stop to my efforts!" is a famous and powerful quote of missionary David Livingstone. David Livingstone's life spanned the years from 1813 and his birth in Scotland to 1873 and his death in Africa. From simple and difficult beginnings David Livingstone persevered and in 1840 he was ordained and received his medical diploma. While waiting to travel to China to become a missionary he met Dr. Robert Moffat who was a missionary to Africa, Dr. Moffat said that "I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been" in Africa. Immediately Dr. Livingstone decided he would go to Africa instead to be a missionary.
He began his work at Dr. Moffat's missionary station and then he began traveling deeper into the heart of Africa. Dr. Livingstone found that his medical skills provided him with many opportunities to share his faith and were a great benefit to his missionary work. One of his many great missionary works might be considered his time spent with Chief Sechéle who eventually became a convert even though his faith brought him many trials with his tribe. Dr. Livingstone explored much of Africa sharing his faith as he went. Indeed it was only in death that Dr. Livingstone stopped exploring and sharing the gospel. While Dr. Livingstone chose Africa to serve as a missionary his strength of conviction to share God with the lost can be a testimony to us all in our everyday lives.
Photo by Chris Martin Studios