From Ripples to Waves

With the Washington Mutual having troubles all are keenly turning an ear to the financial news here in the USA.

Across the pond the ripples are being felt as well.
This week saw the Bank of Scotland being taken over by Lloyds of London.

The Bank of Scotland has been around for 300 years an always seen as a pillar of the realm ...the way of life and independence of the Scottish people. Robert Burns conducted his business with the Bank of Scotland, (next year will see the 250th Anniversary of R.Burns birth).

The media in Scotland has called for the people to calm themselves in the wake of this event and realize that "it's not 'a take over'....but 'a merger' of the two banks".

Aye, .... that's what they said when the Act of Union was passed in 1707, when the Parliament in Scotland was 'shut-down' and the power was moved down below the border to Westminster. And we've seen the results of the Act of Union down through the centuries that followed.

With the Parliament in Scotland just being brought back (by popular vote of the Scots in 1997), and the topic of Independence of Scotland from England, on the minds and lips of those on both sides of the border, ....this has got to be a hard thing for those in the homeland to swallow, ....this 'merger'.

There is talk of shareholders having a lawsuit against those that made these choices and it will be an interesting thing to see how this unfolds.

Here's a Thought

I found this in my documents this morning and thought I'd share it with all of you.




Are You All That?

To all those that believe "they are" somehow a cut above other people that walk this globe:

That don't smoke,

don't drink,

don't eat meat,

don't drive,

have wealthy parents,

nicer cars and houses,

a better education,

better looking,

better jobs,

the better religion,

the better country,

the better sports team,

the better neighborhood,

the better organization,

or secret society,

better children,

the better idea of life,

better politics,

better clothing,

better friends.

I say to you all that your "better-ness", ...worsens the whole of the world and those that live in it.

You've "bettered" those that are “not you” into a life of no tolerance and lacking of civil liberties.

There's nothing "better" than freedom. The freedom to make your own choices in life.

My attitude is

It's up to a man or woman to make their own choices in life and live with the ramifications of those choices, whether good or bad. You may not agree with what others do in "their" lives, but the point is ...it's their lives not yours. And you should spend some serious time expecting more from yourself, ...and less of others.

The worse sin in life is to interfere with someone else's life path. You could be eliminating the next great hero to the world, by your unneeded efforts to stymie their choices. You are usurping yourself into the position of being the judge of all that cross your path. In the past that was a position to be filled by the maker, the god , the greater..all seeing-all knowing entity. Wow ..... are you all that?

August 2007

Something must have stuck in my craw that day.

Slainte,
Linda

Celtic Designs and the meaning of them

I will try to answer one of the most asked question in my shop.

"Can you tell me of a book or website that has a list of the Celtic Designs and what they each mean?"

Unfortunately, I don't have a site. Nor do I know of one, that is correctly done.

Most of the info on the Internet is not 'spot-on' when it comes to the meaning or what things are traditionally called. People tend to make-it-up-as-they-go-along, instead of putting the time and effort into the study of the realm.

I've had people come into the shop and say, "Do you have a Celtic design that is for sisterhood ?" I respond "Well, THAT (sisterhood) would not have been an issue!"
I mean...think about it...these designs are thousands of years old. Sisterhood ???
Sounds like a 20th century thing to me! Survival, protection, direction, the stars, moon and sun, migration of herds, the hunt for food, harvest,and pro-creation, ....yep, ...those would have been issues.

All Celtic or any other ancient cultures'(for that matter) have created designs that depict the cultural beliefs of the people in that realm or race. In the case of the Celts these beliefs changed from Pagan to Christian, but, the designs stayed the same, bringing more confusion to the matter.

I've been studying the Celtic Race of people and their beliefs and arts for many decades now....and have accumulated a lot of knowledge. But there are things that myself and others still don't have a clue on, like the 'Pictish designs' from Scotland. Still I have found those that have "made-up" meanings for them...funny thing that; when the experts back in Scotland don't know. Much of the knowledge of the race of people called the Picts has disappeared from our knowing, because they became "one with the Scots", and the influence of their culture was woven in with the beliefs and practices of the Scots.

Jewellry designers and sellers know that the public will purchase more if there's a story that can be attached to the items, so they attach a story that they think sounds "cool" ....
and thus ...their income is secured,...and public is confused by the misinformation.

On the other hand many things have not been lost to us because of the constance of the presence in daily life, ...like the Claddaugh and Brigit's Cross of Ireland or the beastie images of the Book of Kells, and many other things.

When you make a purchase of Celtic or Norse designed jewellry or other artistic items in my shop, be assured that I have used my knowledge to first ...buy the correct images that are traditional and true, and second ....will and do tell you what the image represents (if I have that knowledge of it, I mean...I'll be the first to admit that I don't know everything, but then again...I do know a heck of a lot).
I urge people to write these things down and have paper and pens available at the counter for that purpose.
I also won't and never have, written these things down for people myself unless the person is older and needs the help.

I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Linda

For the Leprechaun

And all those that knew him:


Goodbye Leprechaun, off to Summerland with ya!



We met so long ago that I can't remember the details of it. But the gleam in your eye and the shine of your smile will never fade away. I never could understand how one person could contain so much happy-go-lucky energy within one single human shell.
But there you were ...shining a light ... from out your face that could only have originated in the land of faeries.
Always ready for a pint, a laugh, and a 'right good time', you'd drag my weary self,
out of my shop and into the pub, for a session of frivolity ...and rightly so.
I always looked forward to your magical appearances, when you'd step inside the door. And now regret the time I said, "Sorry John, ...I have too much on my plate today...to meet up with you."
One should never lose the opportunity to hang out with a Leprechaun, such as yersel'.
Now I'll have to bide my time to see you again ...
Keep the brew flowing on the flip-side ...while you're dancing with the faeries...to the auld tunes of that magical realm. I'm sure that there was a greeting committee waiting there for you and wondering what kept you so long in the world of humans.
You've left your "pot-o-gold" in the form of memories, for all those that knew you and grew to love your way of floating in and out of their lives.
So long John....
kiss the sky for me on your way.
You will be sorely missed....

Lost and Found-----Sept.

There was a couple in my shop on Thurs. this week. Man and woman.
One was wearing a cap with a Navy emblem and bought a Caduseus (Healer's Staff) pendant. And you left a bag of goods in my shop...luckily there was a photo booth
picture set ....so I was able to identify who it was...fate eh?

Please make contact through the comment section in this blog site, so I can return these items to you.

Good luck with your schooling for nurses license.
All the Best, Linda

Shop Hours and Days Update

Greetings to those visiting cyberspace.

I will continue to be open at the shop on Thursday through Sunday
from 10am-3pm throughout the month of September.

I will be closed the week of Oct. 2nd - Oct. 5th
Then back at it on Oct. 9th (Thursday).

Depending on the weather and flow of people into town, I will re-assess at that time and post hours and days for the Fall season.

I'm presently ordering merchandise for the holidays season with gift items in mind.

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom book is in the production phase (still) in Edinburgh. (There's a bit of a snails pace with 'lay-out' just now, but hopefully....that will kick into high gear soon.) Once I've been notified that it's 'gone to the printer' I will post more on the availability and content.

And will be scheduling a book release event at the shop as well as other locations
around the Northwest.

I've had quite a bit of interest in a seminar on history, folklore, and mythology of Scotland. If you have interest in attending such an event ...let me know through the blog comment section and once enough have made contact I'll schedule an event here, maybe at the Shilo Resort on the Waterfront.

Now, ...back to the reality of groceries, laundry, and such.

All the best to you,
and those that care for you!!
Linda