Continuous….

 

“Do not let you fire go out,

spark by irreplaceable spark

in the hopeless swaps of the not-quite,

the not-yet, and the not-at-all. 

Do not let the hero in your soul perish

in lonely frustration

for the life you deserved and

have never been able to reach.

  The world you desire can be won…

It exists… it is real…

it is possible…

it is yours.” 

-Ayn Rand-

Celtic Tree Lore - The Medical and Magical Uses of Ivy

vy is associate with the Goddess because it grows in a spiral, which is one of her symbols. In winter we follow the spiral of energy down and within, and in the spring we follow it back up to the light, therefore it is also a good symbol for ones journey through the Wheel of the year.

Women were known to carry ivy as a means to aid in fertility as well as bring one luck. They also carried it to ensure fidelity. This is where the custom of the bride carrying ivy came from. It is said if ivy grows near where you live it guards one against negativity and disaster. Wands used in nature or fertility rituals were often entwined with ivy.

Dreaming of ivy is said to foretell of a broken engagement. If ivy is growing on a tree in your dream, grief may be in your future. If ivy is growing on a house, you will have wealth. It ivy is growing on a friend’s house it means that they will have good health. And lastly if you dream of ivy as a potted plant, you will have happiness.

Medicinally there are few remedies to be found as most ivy is poisonous. Yet there are some that claim to remove sunburn it is recommended to smear the affected area with tender ivy twigs which have been boiled in butter. It has also been used for toothaches, as an astringent , and as an aid to bring on menstruation. It also calms the nerves.

In regards to poison ivy, although it is quite irritable to humans, it serves a useful purpose. The small berries found on poison ivy fees a number of birds and small animals. They also use the tangles which the ivy form as shelter and for building nests. The oil found in poison ivy does not affect most animals yet to humans it can cause an irritating rash. It is so potent that an amount the size of a pinhead could make 500 people miserable.

This oil is not a water based fluid and therefore does not evaporate and can linger for as long as a year. Because it is an oil if it is burned it will vaporize and to those who are sensitive to it, they can get the rash simply by the smoke which would come from the vapors.

Celtic Tree Lore - Medical and Magical Uses of Vine

ictures of grapes were once drawn or painted on garden walls as a symbol to promote fertility in one’s garden. It was also thought that if one at grapes or raisens that this act would increase fertility.

Intoxication from wine was thought to be the possession of the self by the spirit of the vine. It is often used in spells for grounding, working with the faery realm and reaching deeper levels of consciousness.

Dreaming of blackberries or grapes on the vine are said to speak of abundance to come. If the vine has green leaves it means one will have success soon. If you are walking through a vineyard in your dreams it indicates coming prosperity.

When it comes to medical used of vine there are many. A common cure for burns was to dress the wound with nine bramble leaves which had been dipped in spring water. Each leaf had to be dipped three times to make it work. The Greeks used blackberries as a remedy for gout . They were also used to treat insect bites, sore throats and teeth issues. The bark and root of the blackberry is still used for their astringent properties.

In reference to grapes the medicinal uses are even more. Grape juice is said to have restorative powers that aid well in cases of exhaustion and anemia. The cuttings of the grape vine in spring can be boiled with sugar into a syrup and then taken. This syrup is good for pregnant women and their longings.

The grape is also a good source of laxative and diuretic. Fasting using grape juice and grapes has been suggested by naturopathes to help with chronic diseases.

Believe... And Maybe You Too Could Fly

Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you

All they show is limitation

Look with your understanding

Find out what you already know

And you will see the way to fly.

-Richard Bach-

I have often marveled at the making of a successful person. Many times it is the sheer luck of being in the right place at the right time. Yet more than that I think the need for the attribute of perseverance needs to be present. You know the ability to continually get up after being knocked down again and again.

Although many times it can appear that the one who has reached their goal of success seemed to just waltz their way through life and suddenly there they are; more times than not there is a story behind that journey. Usually the story is a long one. I once read that in order to be a success at something you need to have completed the task at least a total of ten thousand times. This doesn’t really sound like much yet when you start to apply it to whatever it is you are wanting to master you realize the time and dedication that is needed to truly do such a thing. It is not something that will happen overnight and without some trials.

Many of us do not have the ability to do this. There are many reasons that keep us from accomplishing such a goal. Slothfulness is probably the biggest. The procrastination bug has bit us all at one time or the other. Some of us are much more susceptible to its bite then others and its symptoms linger and never completely leave. It can be a tough disease to recuperate from. It seems that there is always something that we need to do and thus we postpone taking the extra time to work on our dream. We fool ourselves by telling ourselves that we will do it when we finish what we feel is so pressing at the time. Yet in reality we know that at the end of the day that time will not be there for one reason or the other. Either we found more things that needed our attention or we have given all our energy to the things before, leaving none for ourselves and our wishes.

There is also the doubting bug. Its bite can become just as troublesome. Planting ideas into one’s mind to question the need for such devotion to be given to something that one may never ever accomplish and even if they eventually do, the success they seek may not be what they wanted in the first place. Such a bite has the ability to cascade into a series of questions in one’s mind that can leave them confused as to whether their actions are really even worth the effort and even more so the cost. This eventually causes stagnation and in many times a total shut down of any activity towards the desired destination. A feeling of guilt can also accompany; which can itself manifest into a whole other issue.

The ability to sacrifice is also a trait that one must possess. One can juggle the many tasks that may be in front of them for so long until finally a decision will need to be made as to the priority of each one. When this is finally done, there will be things that will fall to the side. Many times when this happens, the things that must be limited are things that can possibly be of great importance. One must realize though that this limitation should not last forever. Usually it is for a time period in order to accomplish a given task. When this occurs in regards to people it can be a trying thing. I often think that it is more difficult for an overly emotional person to travel this road as they are often pulled between their desire for their goal and the need to tend to those who feel that they are being ignored. Too often when this occurs, they will side with the individual or situation at hand as it is present - then and now as compared to their task which may not be something that is concrete and in front of them yet.

Regardless… we all have dreams and aspirations in us. Some lie dormant for years and never see their fruition into reality. It is easier to hold it back and look at it fondly as a dream. In this way we can see it as we think it ought to be and not how it may actually be. Seldom in ones dream do we have any of the negativity that may occur if we were to truly take the actual journey. Also we can say to ourselves, if I had truly wanted to I could have done…… You fill in the blank. We have all been there and done that.

Others strive towards their dreams all their lives never actually getting to the final point. It always seems that there is something that has precedence over it. Constantly we place it on the back burner until we feel we can give it the time we feel we truly need to give to it. When in truth, such a time seldom comes. Some are content with this method. Much like the continual dreamer, it allows them to hold on to the reality they wish they could achieve. Others form a foul taste in their mouth for the dream that in the beginning was everything. Now it only leaves them yearning and regretful.

There are even those who choose denial as a means to deal with their aspirations for themselves. They tell themselves that really it is not that important to them. They are quite content with an occasional dabble in it yet they never really wanted to give the full energy that it would require to see if they had it in them to accomplish it. It was a silly notion of youth and that was all. Definitely it was nothing that a serious adult would ever consider. They have too many other responsibilities that they feel are much more important than any silly dream they may have held in their heart since they were a child.

Then there are those who have a dream, a desire to reach something. It is stronger than anything they have ever felt. They start on their journey towards what they hope to be their final goal. They falter along the way of course. There are setbacks and unforeseen obstacles at times. Sometimes they occur more often they wished. There are even times when they sit and contemplate the option of giving up. Yet each time this comes up they ultimately reach the conclusion that it is not an option. There may be times that they slow their cadence yet always they continue. They know that to stop would only hinder the cause. They always have their eye on the final point they see clearly in their mind. It is not necessarily success but to finish the journey; to complete that which they have started. To see what the outcome of their commented endeavor brings.

I would bet that there are many out there who have chased a dream. And when they accomplished all that they had wished to do, they are not necessarily a famous rock star or a bestselling author. They are someone who pursued their dream and took the steps to accomplish their goal. It is a good feeling to say that you completed a task, even if the end result was not exactly what you had wished it would have been.

So I urge you out there with a dream in the back of your mind. The secret wish you have inside that you may have never shared with anyone in fear that they would think you foolish to think such thoughts. I urge you to start that journey; whether it is from the very beginning and taking your first step or starting back up again on something that you sat to the side for whatever reason. Follow with vigor the path that leads towards your wishes. Give to your journey the time and energy needed to help bring it to full view. Delight in the experience of your travels and the experience it will bring into your life. Allow yourself to be happy in being good to you.

There will be those of course that will still scoff at you. There always are those kinds. Yet much like the saying above, look not with your eyes or listen with your ears… for they do all have limitations. A true dream gives your foresight inside; something that cannot be seen or heard but felt. If we could all but trust our intuition and believe in what we know deep down to be true….. Maybe we all could fly.