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My cat knocked over the Christmas tree three times this year before she finally got the message to leave it alone. She likes to chew on the ends of the branches, but the flocking always makes her sick. Luckily, she didn't break any ornaments. Do your pets mess around with the Christmas tree?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dawn Pisturino
December 22, 2022
October Prayer for Children and Parents:
Father, we pray that the heart of the parents will be toward their children, and the heart of the children will be toward their parents. Give our children obedient hearts that they may obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right. Grant them the will to honor their father and mother that it may go well with them and that they may enjoy long life on the earth in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Based on Ephesians 6:1–3.
From Prayers.org
Dawn Pisturino
I’ve visited many art galleries and museums, including the De Young Museum in San Francisco, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the Metropolitan Art Museum in New York City, and seen many wonderful and inspiring paintings, but what really stands out in my mind is Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Its brilliant blue and yellow colors, active night sky, and peaceful ambience (in spite of the strong brush strokes and turbulent sky) provoke speculation, mystery, and fascination, in my mind. What was Van Gogh thinking? What was he feeling? Most importantly, what was he seeing?
It’s well known that he suffered from mental illness and attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the chest. He later died of the wound. His death surprised people who believed that he was actually in a more positive frame of mind at the time of his death. But who knew what was really going on in his mind and in his heart?
(People who have decided to kill themselves often appear more positive and energetic because they have made the final decision and no longer feel conflicted about their actions. In fact, people can feel so depressed that they lack the energy to actually harm themselves. Appearances are deceiving, and it’s important to remember this if you are dealing with someone in your life who suffers from depression and suicidal ideation.)
Sometimes, people ask if persons who are mentally ill are more artistic than others. When I worked in mental health, I met scores of patients who were phenomenal artists. Not only did they possess an exceptional natural talent for art, but engaging in art helped them to concentrate their attention, focus their thoughts, freely express their ideas and emotions, make sense of the larger world around them, distract them from troubling thoughts and feelings, and help them to cope with anxiety and depression. (When I worked in Flagstaff, we had an actual art therapist who would come in and do art projects with the patients.) I cannot say that their mental illness made them more artistic. In some cases, their lack of self-esteem and confidence actually caused them to suppress their talent. On the other hand, people who are intimately in touch with their emotions make great artists because they can freely express themselves without regard to social convention and self-constraint. But people who are over-sensitive and cannot manage their own emotions can be more susceptible to mental health issues.
So, it’s a conundrum. Did Vincent Van Gogh’s mental illness make him a great artist – or did his mental illness interfere with his natural artistic talent? I don’t know.
What do you say?
Dawn Pisturino, RN
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
1. Matsya, the giant fish: A young fish suddenly appeared in Manu's hands. He advised Manu to build a boat, in preparation of a huge flood. When the flood came, the fish appeared from the ocean and pulled the boat to the top of a large mountain. In this way, Manu was able to save seven Vedic rishis, the Vedas, and many plants, seeds, and animals.
2. Kurma, the giant tortoise: Indra, lord of the heavens, was cursed by a sage and called on Vishnu to help him. Vishnu advised him to churn the ocean of milk and command the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) to gather the elixir of life from the milk. Using Vasuki the serpent, the mountain Meru, and Vishnu in the form of a tortoise, the companions churned the ocean.
3.Varaha, the giant boar: The Mahabharata tells how the earth sank into the cosmic depths and Vishnu, in the form of a wild boar, raised up the earth with his large, powerful tusks.
4. Narasimha, the half-man and half-lion: In his fourth incarnation, Vishnu appeared in the body of a half-man and half-lion. Vishnu then defeated and killed Hiranyakasipu, the brother of Hiranyaksha, who had gained immortality, grown arrogant and cruel, mistreated the people, and defied the gods.
5. Vamana, infinity in a dwarf body: To aid Indra and defeat Mahabali (a demon king), Vishnu appeared as Vamana, a dwarf Brahmana. Vamana vanquished the king and banished him to the nether world.
6. Parashurama, the warrior with invincible axe: In this incarnation, Vishnu appeared as a human warrior. After performing penance to Shiva, he was granted an invincible axe. When a king named Kartavirya Arjuna stole a cow from his father, Parashurama defeated the king's army and then killed the king. The king's sons killed Parashurama's father in retaliation, and Parashurama killed all the Kshatriya (warrior) kings in turn.
7. Rama, the prince of Ayodhya: The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, another incarnation of Vishnu. Rama and his wife, Sita, lived a simple life in the forests of Dandarakanya. Sita was kidnapped by King Ravana. Rama rescued her by building a bridge with the help of a monkey army. Rama killed Ravana and freed Sita. The couple returned to Ayodhya and Rama was crowned King.
8. Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna: Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, grew up to be a cowherd. When his uncle sent demons to kill him and Krishna, Balarama killed them. During the Kurukshetra war, Balarama trained Duryodhana and Bhima to fight with maces. He did not participate in the war, however.
9. Krishna, the Sutradhar of the Mahabharata: Krishna lived a remarkable life, performing miracles and acts of heroism. He killed his uncle, Kamsa, who tried to murder him and his brother, Balarama. Krishna became a philosopher and adviser to the Pandavas during the Mahabharata war but did not fight himself.
10. Kalki: A common belief is that Vishnu, at the end of the Kaliyuga, will return in the form of Kalki, riding a special white horse and carrying an invisible sword, and defeat all the evil rulers on earth.
"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet."
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
Gandhi was a spiritual man full of wisdom and keen insight. What exactly does he mean here?
One of the first practices we learn on the spiritual path is to protect ourselves from the negative influences of the material world. A Hindu tenet is to live in the world but not of the world. In other words, although we have to live, work, love, and function in material society, our minds should be focused on our own spiritual growth. We protect ourselves from the influences of negative energy by wrapping ourselves in a cloak of blue or white light (or some other form of spiritual purity). We eat healthy, wholesome foods. We clear our minds of negative thoughts and accentuate the positive. We practice patience and forgiveness and push those dark feelings of hatred and anger from our hearts. We take care of our bodies in ways that honor and promote LIFE. We avoid hateful, chaotic, negative people. We surround ourselves with beauty, cleanliness, aromatic fragrances, peace, tranquility, and serenity. We remain calm in the face of danger and adversity. We strive to help others. We extend our hands in friendship and kindness. We turn off the noise, the hate, the violence, the chaos, the insanity directed at all of us by the media and loud, angry, hateful people.
And it does not matter whether we are Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Wiccan, or any other spiritual affiliation. The principles remain the same. Meditation and contemplation; prayer; trusting in a higher power; opening up our minds and hearts to the positive flow of energy; cleansing our minds and hearts of negative thoughts, feelings, and influences; striving to be a constructive force in the world instead of a destructive force; projecting light and a ray of hope in a dark world - all of us have the capability to shine like the brightest star in the night sky. But it takes commitment and work and a sincere belief that we all contain a divine essence inside ourselves.
May the divine spark in you shine brightly!
Dawn Pisturino
July 16, 2022
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
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Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women anthology officially launches on Amazon and Kindle on Saturday, June 18, 2022.
Here's the official Amazon description:
“Award-winning
authors, Pushcart nominees, emerging poets, voices of women and men, come to
the fore in this stunning, powerful, and unique anthology. Their poems testify
to the challenges that women face in our society, and to their power to
overcome them. A memorable collection of over 200 poems by more than 100
authors, this anthology is a must-have for anyone. We all can benefit from the
poetry of survival, and of healing. We all can benefit from the experiences so
beautifully evoked in this book. We can all come together to emerge triumphant
from pain.”
Editor and Curator: Gabriela Marie Milton
Publisher: Experiments in Fiction/Ingrid Wilson
Artwork: Nick Reeves
Get YOUR copy soon!
Dawn Pisturino
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What is Polarity Therapy?
The human body is made of energy that radiates outward and forms an aura that reflects our moods and physical condition. At the same time, energy flows through our body in electromagnetic impulses that affect the overall functioning of our blood, nerves, cells, and organs.
Many researchers believe that when the human body is exposed to electromagnetic radiation from outside sources, such as electronic and electrical devices, this exposure can place undue stress on the body and cause illness.
Randolphe Stone invented polarity therapy to re-balance the negative and positive electromagnetic energy flow in the body, remove blockages, and keep the energy flowing freely. Along with a healthy diet, exercise, and counseling, polarity therapy can be used by experienced practitioners to restore good health.
Polarity therapists use their hands or polarity devices to relieve pain and tension and to stimulate a feeling of overall well-being. The therapy is particularly helpful in stress management regimens. It can also be used to alleviate fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and osteoarthritis. It has not yet been determined if polarity therapy can be safely used during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
This therapy is not meant to replace medication and physical therapy prescribed by your primary physician.
(Always consult your doctor before trying alternative medicines, herbs, and therapies. Interactions can occur between herbs and medication. Alternative therapies may interfere with the recommendations of your physical therapist.)
Dawn Pisturino
May 9, 2022
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
One of the beautiful Ukrainian Easter traditions is the making of Pysanky eggs. It's a time-consuming process that requires patience and creativity.
1. Start out with clean white eggs that have been, preferably, hollowed out.
2. In pencil, mark out grids on the eggs and draw your design.
3. Desired white areas should be covered with beeswax. Then, outline the pencil markings with beeswax.
4. Using special dyes, dye the eggs, going from lightest to darkest.
5. Carefully remove the wax without leaving streaks behind.
6. Spray your eggs with Krylon to achieve a glossy surface.
Display and enjoy!
Scholars believe that pysanky eggs are an old tradition that dates back to pre-Christian times when Ukrainians worshipped the sun god, Dazhboh. In Spring, eggs were a symbol of rebirth and new life. They were thought to have magical powers. After Christianity became the dominant religion, the eggs commemorated Christ's resurrection every Easter.
This Easter, please pray for the people of Ukraine.
While St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity, the four-leaf clover has long been associated with good luck. As far back as 1640, people believed that finding a four-leaf clover was a good omen for children and adults alike. In 1869, it was reported that witches gathered four-leaf clovers beneath the silvery light of the full moon to mix with herbal concoctions. But young girls could find "perfect happiness" by hunting and finding four-leaf clovers in the light of the day.
In 1877, an eleven-year-old reader wrote to St. Nicholas Magazine: "Did the fairies ever whisper in your ear that a four-leaf clover brought good luck to the finder?" The idea that a four-leaf clover brings good luck to the finder has stuck ever since. The ability to see fairies is also associated with finding a four-leaf clover.
In reality, the fourth leaf represents a rare mutation that occurs in one out of 5,000 clover leaves. The odds of finding one are rather stiff. But dedicated searchers spend hours looking for that good luck charm. Five- and six-leaf clover are also possible although much, much rarer and harder to find.
Entrepreneur and CEO Elon Musk has even incorporated a green four-leaf clover on many of his embroidered space patches. He knows the importance of a good luck charm!
Health is the greatest gift,
Contentment is the greatest wealth,
A trusted friend is the best relative,
Liberated mind is the greatest bliss.
~ Buddha ~
Krishna represents Divine Love. His flute represents the human heart. When the heart is empty, like the flute, it is receptive to Krishna's Divine Love. And when Krishna plays his flute, the whole universe is filled with his Divine Love.
Dawn Pisturino
January 20, 2022
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
