Rose Anderson's Blog, page 41

Dowsing is real. Einstein says so

If you’re stopping by my blog for the first time, I’m running a symbols series.  I started a few weeks ago after reading a Huffington Post article on popular names in 2013. Roughly that same week I had an interview on my Romance Books ’4′ Us group blog. Both got me thinking about symbols and I ran with it. Previous posts are filled with all manner of symbolism. Do scroll back and enjoy. 

Yesterday’s post featured the divination practice of augury. Augury is prophetic divination through observation of natural phenomena. Most often this was done by studying the behavior of birds and animals or examining their scat, entrails, blood spatters etc. It’s also done by scrutinizing man-made objects and situations. In my symbol series I’ve mentioned a few of the latter — the divinationsymbols shown through tarot, runes and I Ching. Next week I’ll offer up a few more.  Today I’ll share a personal bit of augury. I’m a dowser.

“I know very well that many scientists consider dowsing as a type of ancient superstition. According to my conviction this is, however, unjustified. The dowsing rod is a simple instrument which shows the reaction of the human nervous system to certain factors which are unknown to us at this time.”

~Albert Einstein

Wait, let me back up a bit…

Augury enters our lives frequently and we’re barely aware of it. It doesn’t always concern entrails and behaviors of birds. Who doesn’t read signs? We do a bit of it every time we see a flock of geese in the autumn sky and say to ourselves winter is coming. We do it on the highway when we see vehicles with lights and wipers on headed in the opposite direction and know there’s rain where we’re headed. We read the high school year book and see someone pegged as “The most likely to succeed”.  We witness our best friend in a heated argument with his/her love interest and predict that’s not gonna last.  People in the medical field perform augury all the time — Mr. Jones looks jaundiced. He has a liver issue. Ms. Reynold’s eyes are bulging. Run a thyroid test. Every time a sailor said that ditty about red sky in the morning…he was doing augury.

Many years ago my husband discovered a pioneer cemetery where we live. He put a call in to our local historical society and was given the contact info for a grave witcher — a person who dowses for unmarked graves. She came here with a set of thin metal L-shaped rods to dowse the small burial ground and determine how many graves there were. She found five small graves that exactly fit the story we’d come to learn about the family that once lived there more than 100 years ago.

So… when he came home from work later that day, he conveyed his amazement to me. We both knew what dowsing was. That’s how the old-timers found wells. Back then, if you want me to believe it, show me. I was a far more skeptical person then than now, but age tends to slap you out of your absolutes. And, some slaps are harder than others. lol Life is extraordinary and there’s always room to be amazed. Phenomena doesn’t often come into my life, but when it does…

Anyway…He cut up a few old wire coat hangers and fashioned a pair of L-shaped rods. Then, as a test, he walked me around the yard with me holding the rods out before me. We were looking for water, he said. He knew where the septic field was. I didn’t. He knew where the old well was. I didn’t know that either. Yet when I walked over those two things the rods crossed in my hands. When I stepped out of those areas, they uncrossed. Needless to say I was hooked. I located a chapter of the American Society of Dowsers not too far away and met some extraordinary dowsers, some very old and from long lines of dowsers back several generations. Through them I gleaned a feast of information. An info hound’s hog heaven.

What is dowsing exactly? That’s the strange thing, no one really knows. Not even the old-timers who were raised with dowsing can tell you. And curiously, not everyone can do it. Some say it has to do with the electromagnetic pull between what’s in the ground and the wire (or forked tree branch). Ok. But that doesn’t explain those dowsers who can tell you were your well should be dug just by holding their hands out to the ground.

At one of the ASD chapter meetings I met an elderly man who was tired of trying to convince skeptics that dowsing works. I’ve found this skill rather hard to explain myself. How do you convince if you can’t explain? The man created a stand (a simple block of wood) and to it affixed a tightly coiled copper spring (picture a Slinky thick enough to stand upright, but flexible enough to bend like an upside-down letter J). To the very end of this spring he had a chunk of quartz crystal wound in. I suppose he was going for electricity by adding the crystal. Anyone who’s ever owned a wrist watch that says quartz on the font knows that quartz gives off enough piezoelectricity to run it.

So he had a wooden base that wouldn’t interfere, a copper coil, and a piece of quartz. He had people stand so there was no way for anyone to touch the table this contraption sat on. He didn’t touch either. You held your open palm three inches below the quartz and focused your thought to make it bounce. As dowsing doesn’t come to everyone, not everyone will get a result. I watched a few of the older dowsers do it. One elderly woman had the thing bouncing fast as if she’d smacked it with her hand. And because seeing is believing, I tried it too. It bounced without my physical influence. I couldn’t explain how were I asked.

There are all manner of dowsing tools out there from futuristic sci-fi-esque gadgets to pendulums and forked tree branches. I’ve also seen people dowse wedding rings over pregnant bellies to determine the sex of the baby. The only tools that consistently work for me are copper rods. As shown in that picture above, I have the short ends (the ends I hold) set into sections of copper tubing so as not to unconsciously interfere with the movement of the copper rods. This way they swing free or spin independent of my influence. I’ve used dowsing to find friends’ misplaced glasses and keys, and over graves, water, and even determined where to put our labyrinth. And I still don’t know why this type of auguring works.

This man does a very good how-to if you’d like to give it a try.

Tomorrow ~ Funday Sunday!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 61 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Scathefire (noun common in 1632 -1796)

great destructive fire; conflagration

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I’m all over the web with satellite blogs this weekend. If two things are listed for one blog, that’s one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Scroll back to see what you’ve missed. 

Seductive Studs & Sirens & Weekend Writing Warriors http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peek Sunday

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday & Sexy Snippets

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Set the Scene in Six http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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Today we have guest author Vijaya Schartz.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest is on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests. http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Free to join in each week

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

Book a spot

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

If you’ve been visiting my blog, you know I’ve been covering symbols and sharing the best of the resources I’ve found. If you’re a writer, I hope you’ve found useful things. If you’re a reader, I hope you’ve been entertained! There’s a lot more to come.

I just love things that represent things and I tuck them into my stories for fun. I’ll play with names and occupations. Sometimes I’ll tuck things here and there in the decor of a room or symbolically color the weather in a scene. Elements of philosophy sit in the background like patterns on wallpaper, and of course, as is the way of all fiction and fiction authors, my books are peppered with elements of my life and personality. I’ll even play with the food on my character’s plates!  It’s a game I’ve created for my readers, but I also do it to amuse myself because I read too and I know I’d love to find things in the stories I read.

Every once in a while, a reader will write to tell they’ve found something and ask did I mean it that way. That brings me such joy.  I like being reminded I’m not the only square peg in this world of round holes. 

As far as things representing things go, observing natural phenomena for clues goes back to our earliest hunter-gatherer-scavenger days. A certain sky could mean poor or favorable weather. A certain animal or food could poison you. Certain animal behaviors could signal great change like earthquakes. These are just a few. Over time, a mantic method arose that was meant to find prophetic significance in this routine observation of the environment. We’ve all heard the terms omens, portents, signs of the times. All this falls under the heading of Augury.

In Ancient Rome, officials known as augurs were charged with observing and interpreting omens for guidance in public affairs. Interpreting the will of the gods was necessary, for whether or not the gods approved upon a course of action determined whether or not you’d do it.

Augurs often looked to the sky and consulted their charts, for it was important to note where an unusual occurrence took place in the dome of the sky, because location held significance. A heavy storm with a lot of lightning was naturally a sign from Zeus or Odin. But a heavy storm with lightning in the west might mean something completely different from a lightning storm in the southern part of the sky.

Aside from weather attributes, the gods and goddesses across cultures all had their animal attributes – Zeus and Odin’s animal was the eagle. Apollo and the Norse god Tyr shared the wolf, Artemis the bear, and so on. It was believed unusual animal behaviors could also foretell the future or hint at which god or goddess might bless or take offense in your governing. Eagles making particular patterns of flight in a certain quadrant of the sky obviously said something. Wolves or bears too near to the village must hold meaning too. This type of observation might also involve a ritual. Animals might be sacrificed or simply scrutinized. The examination of scat, entrails, blood spatters etc just might hint at a deity’s mind.

Crazy stuff, but when “Your guess is as good as mine” doesn’t tell you much, you have to think of something. Everyone knew if you displeased the gods they might hit you with wild weather, or worse, with cataclysmic events like, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. After all, look what they did to Prometheus.

I have a very busy day today, so I’ll leave augury here with a pertinent quote and continue tomorrow. In the meantime, keep an eye on your pets. 

“Again, during a sacrifice, the augur Spurinna warned Caesar that the danger threatening him would not come later than the Ides of March.”

~Suetonius

Tomorrow ~ more!

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With my old dog being as ill as she was, my concentration just flew out the window. I just can’t seem to regain my focus on my works in progress. Cabin fever, arctic temperatures, and endless snow don’t help. In an attempt to keep writing beyond the blogging, I’ve been dabbling in something new — flash fiction with word limits. I’ve never done it before and it’s hard for me (as wordy as I am). I have plans for a book of short stories one day, so this is very good practice.

I stumbled across a great group of writers on Facebook and they have weekly memes to write for. I’ve joined in for several and yesterday after posting a taster from Loving Leonardo, I learned of another happening today.

Here are my offerings so far:

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/2014/01/tantalizing-tuesday.html

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/2014/02/tantalizing-tuesday.html

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/2014/02/thursday-tasters.html

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/2014/02/flasher-fiction-friday.html

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 61 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Nidifice (noun 1656)

a nest

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Today we have an interview of guest Mageela Troche..

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: J. Rose Allister

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~

In the palm of your hand

If you’ve been following my symbol series then you’ve seen that symbols come in all shapes and sizes. They’re made of all manner of materials and represent generic or personal beliefs. Some cultures put a lot of stock in them from protection against the evil eye to playing lucky numbers on lottery tickets. We’re all 8′s in my family — the number figures prominently in our birthdays and surprisingly our numerology as well. Upon learning that, we played 8′s once in the lottery and won $16.   :)  The ancient practice of numerology is a post for another day.

Today it’s all about the hand.

Hands areelegant features of the remarkable and complex human body. Under the skin and fingernails, the human hand is comprised of 27 bones and an assortment of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and joint fluids, and a delicate array of nerves and sensory capabilities. There are symbols associated with the hand that most of us in the western world know. Gestures for one. Some gestures that are benign to us become grave insult elsewhere in the world. (scroll back to previous posts to see all the hand gestures)  Gestures aside, there are other ways to read the hand.

For example: where we wear our rings tell others we’re married or engaged. The faint color distinction left by a long-worn ring also suggests a break-up, moving on, or a cheat. Bitten nails or torn cuticles hint at a nervous disposition. Weathered or broken hands show they are accustomed to labor or extremes, while  soft smooth hands suggest they aren’t. Hands sum up the dichotomy of us. They create and destroy. They comfort and hurt when they become instruments of love and hate. They speak when voice isn’t possible. They even speak volumes about a person’s health.

A firm handshake has a long association with strength and vitality, but other things can be discerned by giving the hands a once over. I’m a Reiki practitioner. Through my training I know the hands are areas of energy and energy exchange. In Chinese medicine, this energy runs through six of the twelve Primary Meridians that either begin or end at the fingertips and lead to other areas and corresponding systems in the body. The meridians are where acupuncturists and acupressure practitioners go. 

Hands reveal more: Testosterone levels are shown in the length of your ring finger. (If women have long ring fingers, they are candidates for osteoarthritis). Your palms show the health of your liver. Bulls-eye fingerprints suggest the possibility of a stroke in the future. Swollen fingers can signal thyroid issues or allergies, while pale fingernails can be a warning of anemia. Cold hands suggest poor circulation, and bulbous fingertips can be a sign of heart or lung disease. Challenges such as autism, Downs Syndrome, and ADHD can also be seen in the hands of children.

And…Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, through his literary creation Sherlock Holmes, came up with the idea for examining the unique qualities of fingerprints to nab criminals.

Who knew so much information could be gleaned from one’s hands? But there’s more. Hands are thought to hold symbols that divine your future. 

Palmistry a.k.a Chiromancy

Some say palmistry originated in India, spread throughout China, and found it’s way to Egypt and Greece. From there turned up in the rest of Europe. However it started, it was a popular tool among the likes of Aristotle and Julius Caesar, and who doesn’t associate palm readings with mysterious gypsies?

But what is it exactly? If you look at the palm of your hand, you’ll see it crisscrossed with lines and wrinkles. As we’re all human, we all have lines like this. Each one has been given properties that say something about you — your here and now, and about your path in life.

The major lines are:

The Heart Line ~ Represents all matters of the heart (including heart health).
The Head Line ~ Represents the workings of a person’s mind.
The Life Line ~ Represents the person’s vitality, physical health, and general well-being.
The Fate Line ~ This line is said to be tied to the person’s life path.

There are many smaller lines running all over the hand from the tips of the fingers to the wrist, and each has been given a meaning. This woman gives an interesting run-down.

I prefer tea leaves. 

This explanation of palmistry  comes with corresponding charts.

Tomorrow ~ more!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 62 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Privign (noun 1605 -1654)

stepson

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Today is author Tina Donahue’s blog day.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: Martha O’Sullivan

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~

The dynamic balance of opposites

I had no idea when I started my symbol series that I’d have so many things to talk about! Sure, I know symbols are everywhere, but how often do you stop to actually think about them? The last several posts were about divination symbols. Carrying on with that, today I’ll take a look at the I Ching. The I Ching is all about the dynamic balance of opposites — those forces beyond our control. Where have you heard that before on this blog? Luck.

The I Ching, with the trigrams involved, is considered the oldest book of divination that came into being before recorded history. It’s believed the book was conceived by the first of the Three Sovereigns, Fu Xi.

The Three Sovereigns, said to be god-kings or demigods, were mythological rulers of China from approximately 2852 B.C.E. to 2205 B.C.E. In that respect, Fu Xi is like the Egyptian proto-god Thoth. Like Thoth, Fu Xi also taught his people writing, among other things.  And, just as Odin received his runes from Yggdrasil the World Tree, Fu Xi also received his insight into the I Ching supernaturally. Legend has it that he discovered the arrangement in markings on the back of a mythical dragon-horse that emerged from the river Luo. Some versions of this myth say the I Ching appeared on the back of a turtle.

A side note: calligraphy showed up the very same way.

Another side note: When so many cultures share striking similarities in their mythology, it shows you just how ancient the stories are. (Compare the lives of Jesus to Osiris/Dionysus and even Buddha, sometime.) Fascinating.  

So… back to I Ching. Traditionally, yarrow stalks were used as I Ching staves. Coins are are often used today. These are cast and the symbols, or kua, are read. You start with hexagrams comprised of six stacked horizontal lines. The various combinations of lines in each hexagram represent states of change. These lines are either a Yang –a solid line, or a Yin — a broken line with a gap in the center. The yin (female energy) and yang (male energy) represent the duality in life. 

When these lines are stacked, you get 64 possible combinations leading to 64 hexagrams. Like the runes (see yesterday’s post), each one means something. Basically, an unbroken line symbolizes the positive/yes and the broken line symbolizes the negative/no and these two primary forces in the universe affect the energy of all living things.

This is an excellent step by step example of I Ching being read:

Just for fun ~ Get your I Ching read.

Tomorrow ~

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 63 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Quotientive (adjective 1871)

indicating how often

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It’s Wednesday and time for Hump Day happenings around the web.

Hump Day Hook

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Books Hooks NEW!

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Horny Hump Day

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

First Kiss Wednesday

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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First Kiss Wednesday!

Over on the Exquisite Quills blog we have a day dedicated to kisses. In 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novels, authors share their smackeroos.

Come join us today!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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Today is author Paris Brandon’s blog day.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: Chelle Cordero

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Coming soon~

Hanging from the World Tree

It’s my day to blog on Romance Books ’4′ Us and I’m talkin’ Cupid and there’s more in that quiver than arrows of love.  I’ll be there on and off all day for questions and comments. Come see!

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com

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In the Old Norse eddic poem Hávamál (Translated: the sayings of the high one), the story goes that Odin sacrificed himself for knowledge by hanging from the world tree, Yggdrasil:

I know that I hung On the wind-blasted tree All of nights nine, Pierced by my spear And given to Odin, Myself sacrificed to myself On that pole Of which none know Where its roots run. No aid I received, Not even a sip from the horn. Peering down, I took up the runes – Screaming I grasped them – Then I fell back from there.

Before I continue, it’s important to note just what the world tree represents. Cultures all around the world have a symbolic tree. The tree is generally said to support the heavens. Among shamans, the tree can be climbed to ascend there. To the ancient Norse, Yggdrasil is a symbol of the realms of existence — nine to be exact — the roots in the lower realms, the crown in the upper realms, and the trunk where life as we know it exists. To go after the knowledge flowing through the tree is quite the quest.

So to do this, the god prepared himself for this ordeal by fasting and thirsting for nine days. Odin often speared himself or starved himself, for no sacrifice is too great for knowledge. He even plucked out his own eye in exchange for water that held the wisdom of the ages. On this occasion he hung himself and, according to the edda written above, made a sacrifice of himself to himself.

Click here for runes of all sorts and personalized rune readings from an actual Rune Mage.
Tell him Rose Anderson sent you.
Maybe you’ll get a discount! :)

In this agonizing hanging, Odin grew mindless and thirsty. It was made worse by the fact the Well of Urd lay below the tree — the same well he eventually gave up his eye to drink from. In his debilitated state, Odin began to see repeating symbols where twigs crossed in the branches. Before long their meanings became clear. He had found the runes.

That’s the story. Mythology aside, the runes are very similar to old italic alphabets found throughout the Mediterranean such as Greek, Etruscan, and Roman. Like other peoples, the Norse didn’t stay put. They were as shifting as the knowledge they gleaned from their travels. Able seamen, the Norse went everywhere. They were also big on destiny. They believed the runes were an extremely potent means of redirecting one’s charted course.

Each rune has esoteric meanings and properties associated with it. And being an alphabet, runes also have phonetic values. For divination, each represents the forces of nature and the mind. With slight variations, the oldest form of the runic alphabet is the Elder Futhark that was used by the Germanic tribes of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Northern Germany. The name futhark is derived from the first 6 letters in the runic sequence: F, U, Th, A, R and K. Just like we refer to our alphabet as the ABC’s.



Just for fun:

Tomorrow ~ more symbols

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 64 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Rhodologist (noun 1911-1924)

one who studies and classifies roses

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New today on the Exquisite Quills blog! In 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novels, authors gather to share a snippet that will bring you a smile, incite a giggle, or make you laugh out loud.

Tickle us today!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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It’s Tuesday and I’m taking part in Tantalizing Tuesday again. I had fun with it last week. The idea is to take a personal picture prompt write a 200 word teaser for it. It’s up on my satellite blog. Come see. http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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The February contest is up and running on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden here and there across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: Marie Lavender

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Coming soon~

A 1000 words for snow

I’ll start today’s post with enough already! Upon checking today’s weather I see another big storm headed my way.

 

 

 

 

On a theme, that just happens to fit with my symbol series because words are symbols for thoughts, did you ever hear the phrase Eskimos have a 1000 words for snow? Knowing another storm is rolling in, I have a few words for snow myself. But seriously, that first statement is only partially true.

First off, the indigenous peoples of the icy north are the Inuit and the Yupik and they speak a variety of languages with multiple dialects that fall under the umbrella of “Eskimo–Aleut”. I don’t know about 1000 words for snow, but there are a heck of a lot of words for ice. And the curious thing about it all, there are really just a handful of root words used.

Many Native American languages are polysynthetic, meaning they tend to be long because their root word is added onto with descriptor words and extra bits of nuance (picture the word blackberry. It’s a black berry. It’s also a polysynthetic word.) So how many roots for snow do the Inuit have? Contrary to the myth, there are basically two: qanik for snow in the air, and aput for snow on the ground. To these add descriptors for fluffy snow, slushy snow, clumping snow, snowdrift snow, igloo-building snow, and so on. Some snow/ice words can be very long when all is said and done.

Linguist K. David Harrison, a leading specialist in the study of endangered languages, has written several books on the subject. I’ve read two and found them fascinating reads. In The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World’s Most Endangered Languages, he talks about how the Yupik peoples have words for at least 99 distinct sea ice formations. 99! All I can think of is iceberg. The Lake Michigan ice balls now come to mind too (scroll to see previous post). He states, “the number of snow/ice/wind/weather terms in some Arctic languages is impressively vast, rich, and complex.”

In The Last Speakers, he refers to their language as packaging. Imagine them as words built up with the added details of experience. I suspect those differences are ultra important when your environment is that harsh. The slightest difference to the quality and tone of snow/ice/wind/weather could cost you big time.  I found this BBC documentary that shows you just how harsh.

By packaging words, you get the whole picture down to minute detail and all presented in a useful and useable form. Where we might say melting ice pack, according to K. David Harrison, they’d offer a single word that means something like: “crushed ice beginning to spread out; dangerous to walk on. The ice is dissolving, but still has not dispersed in water, although it is vulnerable for one to fall through and to sink. Sometimes seals can even surface on this ice because the water is starting to appear.”

Language is truly amazing. I just might do a whole blog series on that sometime. 

Tomorrow ~ I’m back on divination symbols.

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 65 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Yelve (noun common 1000-1886)

dung-fork; garden-fork; to use such a fork

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Wash Line Monday!

My friend and fellow author E. Ayers, came up with a very cute idea for the Exquisite Quills blog last week and it’s worth mentioning again. We have a day dedicated to clothing. In 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novel, authors can describe what a character is wearing.  Come join us today!

 http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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Today Jayne Ann Krentz is our guest.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: Jana Richards

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Coming soon~

Funday Happenings

That’s not a typo.

To have one less mentally-busy day and still have a good time on this blog, I’ve decided Sundays will be all about wonder and smiles. In honor of mentally kicking back once in a while, Sundays will be Fun Days! Each Sunday, I’ll post a short, fun or unusual something here. I’m a nerd with a complex sense of humor and absurd wit. It literally could be anything. lol

The drummer I am just loves this one ~ (if you can’t watch it in your email subscription, do stop by my blog to watch there.) It makes me want to go buy some rutabagas. 

Tomorrow ~ the symbols series resumes!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 66 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Gipseian (adjective 1749)

belonging or pertaining to gypsies

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I’m all over the web with satellite blogs this weekend. If two things are listed for one blog, that’s one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Scroll back to see what you’ve missed. 

Seductive Studs& Sirens & Weekend Writing Warriors http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peek Sunday

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Set the Scene in Six (open author promo – come leave yours!) http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday & Sexy Snippets

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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Today is Cynthia Arsuaga’s blog day.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: Stephanie Cage

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Coming soon~

Sunrises & Shadows

I saw a breathtaking sunrise yesterday. It was so full of flaming color, I could never do it justice with my simple camera, so I just stood at the window and watched. All the while I was thinking, uh oh.

I was a child the first time I heard the old adage red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Red sky as night, sailor’s delight. Back then, I wondered how the heck old sailors would know something like that without benefit of weathermen and science to figure it out for them.

There are many sayings like that around the world. Through observation, experience,  and the passage of time, they’ve become general truths which, more times than not, come to pass. These things are divination tools like tarot and tea leaves. We look for their symbolic meanings.

The few weather adages I know:

A ring around the sun or moon, means rain or snow is coming soon.
When leaves show their undersides, be very sure that rain betides.
Evening red and morning grey, two sure signs of one fine day.

Old farmer adages also ring true…

Plant when the oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear.
The corn should be knee-high by the 4th of July.
Make hay while the sun shines.

A few other observations to divine with.

Few foxes this year mean more rabbits next year.
Gold fish and toads act strange before an earthquake
Thick coats on animals is a sure signal for cold winter.
Some people even look to wooly bear caterpillars for their forecast.

Throughout mankind’s time on earth, people who live close with their environment need to know things like when to plant and harvest, when animals might be leaving their dens, and when weather might turn bad. They watched for subtle signs around them and deduced information from them. Example: If winter hibernating animals were suddenly making an appearance, you knew spring was officially in the air. Funny thing about spring, it has a mind of its own. Sometimes spring is very much underway in March, sometimes winter pushes us all the way to June. That sort of observation led to the origin of a long-held tradition here in the states. It originated with German farmers and the first recorded reference of it turns up in 1841. Diving with groundhogs. (lol that’s such a funny typo I’ll leave it) I meant to say divining. 

Forty-six years later, on February 2, 1887, a group of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania businessmen and groundhog hunters met…yes, you did read that correctly, businessmen and groundhog hunters. Were they business men who also hunted groundhogs, or groundhog hunters who joined the businessmen? I may never know. lol Anyway…they called themselves the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and met on Gobbler’s Knob with a publicity idea in mind.

Their stunt was based upon an old country German observation regarding animals leaving their dens early. They’d wake up a hibernating groundhog and if he saw his shadow, they figured he’d be frightened that winter was still upon him. Naturally he’d return to his burrow. They determined this would mean winter would last as long as winter generally lasts at that point on the calendar — another six weeks. But, if the groundhog wanted to sniff around and eat, then his hibernation period was ending anyway and winter was officially over.

Tomorrow is the big day. Given the humongous storm headed toward Pennsylvania, I think the groundhog will say we’re going to have an early spring. We can only hope. I’m getting six more inches of show today and cabin fever is definitely setting in.

Tomorrow ~ Funday Sunday!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 67 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Affuage (noun 1753-1847)

right to cut wood in a forest for family fire

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I’m all over the web with satellite blogs this weekend. If two things are listed for one blog, that’s one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Scroll back to see what you’ve missed. 

Seductive Studs& Sirens & Weekend Writing Warriors http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peek Sunday

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Set the Scene in Six (open author promo – come leave yours!) http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday & Sexy Snippets

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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Today is Nicole Morgan’s blog day.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: Zrinka Jelic

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~

Luck of the Draw

As part of my symbol series, I’m delving into the interesting and curious symbols of luck and fortune. Today ~ cards.

I like cards. My parents played pinochle and poker with their family and friends, their pots of coffee at hand and ashtrays piled high with cigarettes that clouded the room in smoke. 

My mom’s best friend Rose (who I’m named for) always came to play. Aunt Rose devised the rules for what she called pauper poker — $5 limit and one last game to win something back if you lost it all the hand before. My aunt was a keen penny ante gambler — always small amounts bet and always with the fun in mind. I was ten the year she took me to the race track and I won a staggering $22.22 on a horse I chose for her because I liked the name and the fact it came in second the last time it ran. She said I was her luck charm.  :)  In Aunt Rose’s later years she found bingo and had a little bag of other luck charms to take along to the games.

I grew up in a neighborhood full of boys and very few girls (two), and there I learned how to play blackjack and poker with outrageous wildcard combinations.  I still enjoy playing poker, though my husband teases me about wanting to play wildcard games.  Now I ask you, what’s wrong with wildcards when you name them Ace-y Duce-y (aces and 2′s), boxcars (6′s), or puppy toes(the 3 of clubs)? In his neighborhood they played cutthroat poker, not a puppy toe among them.

Interesting thing about cards, people also use them to divine the future. My husband’s grandmother read fortunes off a deck of regular old playing cards exactly as though they were a Tarot deck. She told him a person with red hair was going to change his life. Now that’s an understatement!

Card reading is called Cartomancy or seeing with cards

In a previous post I mention that I have a friend who is an accomplished tarot card reader. One afternoon she read for me. I had no grand question in mind, but I asked if I’d publish my magnum opus that year (the MO is the as yet unnamed series I’ve been writing for 6 years now). The cards said no. I asked about publishing my children’s books. No. I asked about my historical youth novels. No. She said perhaps I’d publish a book I hadn’t written yet. I was knee-deep in the 5th book of the MO. In my mind, the only book I’d be writing next was book 6.

She read the cards again with that new question and they said yes. She then did a different spread that showed the passage of time and learned I’d be contracted with a publisher at the very end of the year, but not for anything I’d written up to that point. Like I said, I only saw book 6 in my future. Several months later, I had that synchronistic week that put me on this romance author’s path. In three days time I’d crafted an edgy novel designed to get noticed and submitted it. On December 29th, I received my contract. A true story and just plan odd.

The Tarot

When we think of fortunetelling we often go to the Hollywood version where Gypsies turn over the Hanged Man or Death cards and act like you’re doomed. But the history of tarot is much more interesting than that. The tarot, or tarocchi, tarock as it was once known, popped up in Europe in the mid-15th century. The decks themselves were symbols of the Renaissance, that cultural movement that sought to shake off an over-reaching and corrupt church and return to the philosophical glory of classical Greece and Rome. Hidden in the cards’ were references to the societal ideals of those times. Later, they became associated with esoteric groups like the Rosicrucians and Freemasons. And after that, the Victorian era, so steeped in romanticism, mysticism, occultism, spiritualism and seances,  saw them become the classic tarot cards we recognize today.

Mind you, there are many styles out today and authors have dreamed up just as many interpretations –everything from angel decks to animal decks and more. Some have no similarities to the original decks and card meanings whatsoever.

The tarot deck has two types of cards in the deck called the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Arcana, in case you’ve never heard that word before, comes from the Latin Arcanum meaning things hidden. The 56 cards called the Minor Arcana are divided into four suits that correspond to conventional playing card suits of hearts, clubs, spades, and diamonds. Each tarot suit has fourteen cards consisting of four face cards and ten pip cards numbered from ace to ten. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards rife with symbolism and allegory. Together they make up a 78 card deck. I’ve had a deck known as the Rider-Waite deck since I was a teen. The Rider-Waite was first published in 1910.

There are many ways to read tarot. Simple methods like drawing one card from the deck to complex spreads across a table. It’s as fun as reading tea leaves. 

American Tarot Association

http://www.ata-tarot.com/

The cards and their meanings

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/

Julie and I were involved in living history together. She’s an amazing artist who’s written several books on the subject as well as created incredibly striking tarot decks.

http://www.newmoontradingco.com/home.html

Tomorrow ~ More!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 70 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Welmish (adjective 1688)

of a pale or sickly color

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Today is guest author Nikki Lynn Barrett.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Only two interviews left on the RB4U. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author: Christa Jeanne

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~

Slings & Arrows of Outrageous Fortune

What does that title mean anyway? Shakespeare coined it. Personally, I’ve always associated that bit from Hamlet with luck. Good luck, bad luck, you can’t prevent luck from happening so go with the flow.

Luck. From lucky rabbit’s foot to a horseshoe nailed over the door, symbols of good fortune come in all shapes and sizes and can be anything really. Some are deeply rooted in culture and represent generic or personal beliefs. Some are just for fun. For the next few days, I’ll be delving into these interesting and curious symbols of good luck.

To begin, the origin of the word Luck pops up in old Dutch sometime in the middle of the 1400′s. Back then it was known as luc, gelück, or gelücke. Etymologists lean toward luck being a gambling term. The interesting thing about luck, to me anyway, is it’s considered a force. Think about that. Forces are the forte of Sir Isaac Newton. They’re gravity and magnetism. Forces are things out of our control. They are the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. They influence good and bad and there’s nothing we can do about it. Except carry a talisman in our pocket and hope for the best!

So how did luck symbols even come into being? I suppose it’s the same way we figured out which mushrooms were poisonous and which were edible. Experience. Sort of trial and error. Here’s a little story to imagine….say it’s 10,000 years ago and you’re out and find yourself in a downpour. On your way to take cover under a tree, a glittering stone on the ground draws your attention. You stop only long enough to pick it up, when suddenly a lightning bolt strikes and explodes the tree right before your eyes. That’s one lucky stone in your hand! From here on out, those glittering stones protect against lighting. And everyone wants one. 

A while back, I read a story online about a man in Africa whose son was dying. Hopeless, he went out one day and came across a stream filled with water-smoothed pebbles. He stood at the water’s edge and prayed for anything that would help his son. One nondescript pebble caught his eye and he picked it up and brought it home. I don’t know what the son’s illness was, but after receiving the stone, he got better. The man’s neighbors couldn’t believe it and they asked about this miraculous recovery. The man attributed his son’s return to health to the stone he had found. Some people asked him to find them stones for loved ones who were ill. He did, and those people got better. It made the local news. It made the regional news. And it made international news and that’s how I found the story. But get this, people from all over the world send money to this man to go find a pebble just for them! He has a regular cottage industry now — Pebble luck charms.

 Today’s symbol ~ Guiding Stones

The idea that forces are attributed to stones goes way back in history, so I’m going to touch upon that briefly. I can’t recall  the name of the odd glass-like yellow stone in some pharaoh or another’s headpiece, but it was considered extraordinarily rare and powerful. The Stone of Scone a.k.a. the Stone of Destiny is the rock upon which the kings of Scotland were crowned. The Black Stone of the Kaaba is a stone set into a tower and devout Muslims circle it in the Hajj pilgrimage. It’s was revered long before Mohamed became a prophet and is considered by some to be a meteorite . 

Everyone knows about the Blarney Stone in Cork, Ireland. It’s set in the battlement of Blarney Castle and kissing it gives you the gift of persuasive speech. In Jerusalem, the Foundation Stone and the site it sits upon under the Dome of the Rock influences three major world religions. Doing research for my magnum opus (scroll to previous posts to learn about my work in progress), I discovered legends that say that huge stone hovers over the Well of Souls and doesn’t touch the ground. Ah my mind just marvels at that and my story potential soars.

However it was these stones became symbols of force, they guided and still guide a lot of people.

On a smaller scale, precious or semi-precious stones have long been considered symbols of wealth and power. The more rare, the more coveted. Crowns and sword hilts were studded with them, eggs and other trinkets encrusted with them, people conquered for them. Because of scarcity, giving such rare stones was considered a token of high esteem — a rare gem for a unique person or as a symbol of unique sentiment that person arouses in you. Example: It’s thought that when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a love token of a diamond-studded ring to Mary of Burgundy, he started the “diamonds are forever” symbology that connect diamonds to one’s fiancé today.

How many of you know what your birthstone is? Some of the following are more rare than others. The list has me wondering if it goes back to the days of alchemy. I’m curious now and I’ll have to go find out!

January: Garnet

February: Amethyst

March: Aquamarine

April: Diamond

May: Emerald

June: Pearl (does not apply)

July: Ruby

August: Peridot

September: Sapphire

October: Opal

November: Topaz

December: Turquoise

Mine is the diamond. It’s supposed to be a stone that brings me luck and good fortune. The person of conscience I am can’t help but wonder about those child slaves toiling in the world’s diamond mines so some fiancé can have a rock on her finger, or so I can have a lucky stone. I suppose like the rabbit foot being lucky to the person who owns one, the rabbit must have had other ideas.

I have to take my old puppy to the vet, so I’m leaving off here. This link leads to a very interesting site if you’d like to know more about some of the world’s most famous stones. Some are very unlucky. But that’s a post for another day.

http://www.internetstones.com/famous-gemstones-of-the-world.html

Tomorrow ~ More!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 70 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Alabandical (adjective 1656 -1775)

barbarous; stupefied from drink

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Today is author Suzanne Rock’s interview.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Only two interviews left on the RB4U. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

I’ve changed it. Coming soon on the EQ ~ Tickle Us Tuesday ~ come share bits of hilarity from your novel.

Today’s author: Jan Meredith

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Coming soon~