I Ching Explained

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Angie

Is your horoscope horrible, your crystal ball cracked, and your Tarot cards torn? Maybe it’s time for you to look into another method of divination. Have you tried the I Ching? Along with dowsing and scrying, the I Ching is possibly the oldest method of getting a peek into what the future may hold for you.

I Ching Explained

The I Ching is a book which was written and rewritten for thousands of years. Some people claim that the Emperor Fu-Hsi started the whole process. He was meditating on the banks of a river, when a tortoise clambered out of the water. When the Emperor looked closely at the animal, he noticed some markings on its shell. He was greatly inspired by those shell lines. He saw and understood the meaning of them, and this began the tortoise oracle belief system. From that humble beginning, the I Ching has developed. Now you can buy the I Ching book and an explanation of its sixty four hexagrams in most book stores in North America and numerous other countries.

Page from I Ching Book - Yi Jing, Classic of Changes aka Book of Changes, Song Dynasty, Image Source: Wikipedia

The inscrutable name “I Ching” is its own mystery. The word “I” means “Changes.” But the word “I” has another, equally valid translation. As well as changes, it also means “The Unchangeable,” or “Permanence.” How a word can mean one thing as well as its own opposite is fairly mind boggling to most western minds. Maybe it’s best understood by remembering the French quotation, “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.” The more things change, the more they remain the same.

This juxtaposition of opposites reminds the student of the I Chin that many of life’s experiences are common to all human beings, no matter who they are. We are all born. We will all die. And much of what happens in between, although it seems so personal, is in fact shared by each living person. Certainly, the details vary. But the root experience is identical.

The word “Ching” means book. So, although this book is known as the Book of Changes, its scope is really the universal struggles of mankind. The book sees the world as an orderly system, but a dynamic one in which change is constant. As people struggle with life’s rollercoaster ride, they often try to make sense of the trials which come their way. It’s a short step from there to looking at what will happen next, and to seeking advice and clarification about upcoming events.

Each of the sixty four diagrams of the I Ching has a meaning of its own. The poetic language of the symbols’ explanation is a piece of literature in and of itself. When the language of the symbols is interpreted by a knowledgeable, gifted psychic reader, the person having the reading sees his own particular problem with a new perspective. He sees his struggle as a universal condition, and is more likely to strive to create a balance in his life. That response is more in tune with the I Ching’s teachings, and less likely to be prompted by selfish interest.

Confucius, among others, left an important legacy in his interpretations of the I Ching’s diagrams. But the I Ching cannot be ascribed to any organized religion. It is a gift from the Chinese culture to the whole world.

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Parental Pressure on Child Actors

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Angie

When Noel Coward wrote “Don’t Put Your Daughter On The Stage, Mrs. Worthington” song in 1935, it was really just a comical way of listing the reasons why a young person shouldn’t pursue an acting career. His lyrics suggest that the theatre provides a challenging lifestyle, and that Mrs. Worthington’s daughter probably wouldn’t find success there. Well, things haven’t gotten any better, have they?

The current crop of has-been child celebrities includes many obviously lost waifs. They found acclaim and success early in life and are now trying to enjoy themselves without any of the restraints that regular people have. Some of them flirt with the publicity, while others shun it. Some seem to hurtle headlong through a world rife with temptations and short on love. Their exploits keep the tabloids in business and Hollywood abuzz. Even Noel Coward would probably fail to see the humor in today’s version of celebrity life.

Cast Members of Diff'rent Strokes Lead Adult Lives Plagued by Bankruptcy, Legal Trouble and Drug Abuse, TV Clipping Scan by Shavar Ross, Flickr

Pushy parents still shove unwilling children into the limelight. In many notable cases the parents have succeeded in having greatness thrust upon their children and then plundering their offspring’s fortunes. Many of these young stars complete their major earning years when their contemporaries are dealing with childhood’s more mundane challenges. And when the non-celebrity kids are finishing high school and looking to earning a living, the celebrity kids are busy discovering that their highest grossing years are behind them. Who could blame them for experimenting with their new-found freedom? Who could doubt their bewilderment when they begin to understand their status as ex-child-stars who are not really box office magic now that they’re older?

The adults who put their children in these positions are frequently living their own dreams vicariously through their kids. And they have a lot to answer for. Their own celebrity obsession and twisted take on life make them the least likely mentors to guide the young people through the inevitable transition to normal life. When they abdicated their power and influence over their children to studio “teachers” and directors, they lost any chance of keeping their children’s filial respect. The struggling young celebrities are left to swim in a shark infested pool where they are frequently found, mauled and regurgitated, broken, bruised, or dead.

This doesn’t have to happen and many of Hollywood’s sadder and wiser products labor tirelessly to curb the baby pushers and prevent them from robbing their kids of their formative years.

There is a Non Profit Society in California called “A Minor Consideration”. This watchdog group was founded by Paul Peterson who started his acting career on the Donna Reed Show. But his years on the show left him typecast and ill prepared for regular life. His organization is dedicated to improving the working conditions of child actors, and to helping them make good transitions after their child star career is over.

He writes about the illegal and hurtful practices in Hollywood, even today. He shudders to think what goes on in the lives of young actors whose employers are less scrutinized than those on his beat.

There will always be child actors in our culture, as entertainment is never going to lose its appeal. I don’t doubt that there are many children who will be able to dance across the Theatre’s treacherous boards and make good choices for their later lives. But when I look at the self absorbed, self destructive, lost souls currently adorning the front pages of the tabloid newspapers, my heart goes out to those unfortunate young people who were never given the chance to be themselves before they had to start portraying their interpretations of other people.

How can parents put this pressure on their kids? It’s a telling point that most adult stars readily admit that they actively discourage their kids from getting into acting.

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Astrology Animals of the Chinese Zodiac

Posted on February 12, 2012 by YellowFrog

Chinese New Year is an upbeat and optimistic time for Chinese people, and for many others who choose to follow the Chinese astrology system instead of the western tradition. This ancient zodiac system is based on the lunar calendar, which was in use in China until 1911. Although China adopted the western New Year at that time, the ancient Chinese zodiac is still revered. It currently has a multitude of ceremonial and other emotionally meaningful uses among Chinese people worldwide. Many Western people today also turn to the ancient Chinese lunar cycles for clues about their own personalities, and to try to see what their New Year may hold.

Chinese Astrology - Circle of 12 Animals of the Zodiac, Photo by GanMed64

The Chinese Lunar New Year occurs between late January and early February. The years are arranged in 12 year cycles, each year in the cycle is associated with a specific animal. Babies are believed to have the characteristics of the animal associated with their birth year.

How Does the 12 Year Cycle Work?

The year 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. By subtracting 12 years at a time, we can see that recent Dragon years were 2000, 1988, 1976 and 1964.
The same system will reveal when each of the other animals’ years occurred.

A student of the Chinese system can identify the animal associated with a given year, as long as he knows the most recent occurrence of that animal’s year. For example, if a person tried to find out what animal is associated with 1959, his birth year, he could add to 1959 in increments of 12 years. When he arrives at the year most recently past, along the 12 year continuum, (not 1971, 1983, or 1995,) 2007, he must identify which animal is associated with 2007. Any listing of Chinese Lunar years will show that 2007, just like 1959, was the Year of the Boar. Now that he knows his birth year’s animal association, he can find out Chinese astrology’s view of how this animal’s characteristics are expressed in humans.

Chinese Zodiac Animals

The animals revolving throughout the Chinese zodiac cycle are repeated in the following order:

Dragon: 2012
Hare: 2011
Tiger: 2010
Ox: 2009
Rat: 2008
Boar: 2007
Dog: 2006
Rooster: 2005
Monkey: 2004
Ram: 2003
Horse: 2002
Serpent: 2001

When a student of Chinese astrology turns 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, or 96 it is a lucky and momentous year for him. That’s the year when the outer and inner worlds join to bring him special success and personal fulfillment. He will naturally assess his progress since his last 12 year milestone. He may resolve to recommit to the goals he set for himself on past birthdays. There is regular twelve yearly assessment of progress, to date, and a self examination at the same time. The 96 year old may work diligently toward achieving his goals before he is 108!

What are the attributes assigned to each of the above animals by the lunar calendar?

The neophyte student of Chinese astrology might be surprised at the qualities assigned to each of the animals in the 12 year cycle. There’s quite a difference between what Westerners and Easterners think of animals.

According to Chinese Astrology the Rat is ambitious and honest. He is known to be a spendthrift. He has a short fuse, gets angry easily, and should seek companionship among Dragons and Monkeys. He shouldn’t get involved with horses.

Characteristic of Each Animal of the Chinese Zodiac

The Boar is a shy fellow, but, like the rat, has a hair trigger temper. He is impulsive and honest, but very affectionate and kind to loved ones.

The Dog is honest and shows great loyalty. He is generous but stubborn. He is programmed for success. He should seek out companionship with Horses and Tigers.

The Rooster is a pioneer spirit, questing after knowledge, and willing to work. He can be both selfish and eccentric.

The Monkey is an intelligent fellow, and he can influence others easily. He would make a great politician. He loves to learn, and is talented and inventive.

The Ram is described as an elegant and creative type, best suited to a life in the Arts. He is timid but passionate. The Ram should socialize with Hares and Boars. He should steer clear of Oxen.

The Horse is popular and cheerful, despite being impatient. He’s skilled with money, and always a winner. He should socialize with Tigers and Dogs.

The Serpent is vain, intense and wise. He’s great with money, as well as passionate and determined. He should get cozy with the Rooster and the Ox.

The Dragon is very excitable, and although he’s stubborn, he has a soft heart. He can lead with great expertise. Dragons get on well with Monkeys and Rats.

The Hare is the luckiest of all the signs. He’s shy, despite his many talents. He’s very affectionate, and craves a peaceful life. He should team up with a Ram or a Boar but avoid all Roosters.

The Tiger has a fighting spirit. He is aggressive and brave. He’s a sensitive deep thinker who will support his friends through thick and thin. He does well when spending time with Horses and Dogs.

An elementary search of the internet will yield huge and detailed amounts of information about this fascinating subject. I am a Rat, married to a rat. Apparently we’re of the “pack-rat” variety. We’re both spendthrifts, as per the chart. What I don’t understand is, in Western astrology I am under the Sagittarius sign. My Western astrology charts just rave about my love of horses, and my special affinity for them. My Chinese astrology investigations suggest that I should avoid horses, at all costs. Maybe those are why I find myself living in a ranching area, but have yet to conquer my sheer terror of horses!

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Robert Bateman – The Power of Negative Thinking

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Angie

In Strathcona county, near Edmonton, the tar-sands are yielding to twenty-first century demands. The valuable fuel which has been present there for so long cannot fight back against investor hunger and consumer waste. Enter Gateway Initiatives. Their plan to ship oil from the Athabaska Region to Kitimat has prompted some near panic in the Environmental movement. Because the oil doesn’t stay in Kitimat. The plan is to ship it in oil tankers south through the Douglas Channel’s spectacularly awesome waterway.

Robert Bateman Unveiling a Sign Naming a Parkette in Toronto, Ontario After Him, Photo by Paul Henman, Flickr

People who care about preserving the pristine wilderness areas of Canada are worried that oil spills are inevitable, and following them, habitat comprise and wildlife extinctions are inevitable. Earth lovers have nightmarish visions of oil spills happening on average every three years. The Dogwood Initiatives website serves as the repository of much of the statistical and anecdotal pictures of the harm that could be unleashed by regular oil tanker traffic.

Robert Bateman is one of Canada’s treasures, blessed with the gift of bringing wild creatures and scenes to life on canvas. His pictures are stunning, as is the price of his creations. The public cannot ever get enough of his work, and many are willing to pay steep prices to acquire a genuine Bateman. So, when Bateman loaded up his black paintbrush on March 24th 2010, and obliterated a beautiful scene with orcas swimming freely, it made no sense to me. This was his protest against the proposed Gateway initiatives. He fears oil spills and their aftermath, and obliterated one of his pictures in protest. It was a sad sight.

Broadcast on the Dogwood Initiatives website, the video shows Bateman engaged in smearing his breathtaking artwork with stroke after stroke of ugly blackness. This form of protest is lost on many people who feel that two negatives do not make a positive. I am one of them. It just makes no sense.

Bateman wants to protest an action which he feels may harm the environment. So he destroys something that is a depiction of that environment in an effort to draw attention to his condemnation of the imminent threat. But the painting he destroyed was probably worth a considerable sum of money. If he had auctioned it, or raffled it, or simply sold it, he could have used the money to set up his own campaign against the Gateway Initiative. The result of this type of protest is usually lost on those not present when the deed was done. To counter this disadvantage, the whole thing can be seen on the Dogwood Initiatives site at any time. But it still rings hollow for me.

When all’s said and done about this protest, we’re left with an intact oil tanker shipping plan and a very ugly canvas. If the picture had been used as a money-making tool to swell the Anti-Gateway lobby’s coffers, we would still have the picture, and the funds to hold public information events, debates and presentations which would inform the public about the Dogwood agenda.

I feel that Bateman’s actions, though well-intentioned, were ultimately ineffective. I quite understand the symbolism involved in obliterating that lovely, natural scene with an oily overlay. I do not understand how Bateman’s actions will help change government minds or in what way it will increase public knowledge about a perceived environmental danger.

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3 Riveting Historical-Fiction Authors

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Mark

The old saying goes, “An opinion is like a nose – eveyone’s got one.” The three authors listed below are some of the best authors in the historical-fiction genre (in this writer’s humble-yet-biased opinion) who create riveting stories and have published more than one story. While there are surely other incredible historical-fiction authors out there, few have written as many stories and enjoyed as much success as these have.

James Clavell

Most famous for Shogun which was turned into a mini-series, James Clavell is an absolute master at storytelling. He makes this list because not only are his stories riveting, but they are faithfully accurate and do an incredible job of educating the reader without sacrificing any of the plot. With many historical-fiction authors, it seems like you’re reading one of two parts of the book – the one that tells the story or the one that explains a certain historical fact. With Clavell, you can never tell between the two. In revealing the culture or chronology during the story, he weaves it invisibly into the plot itself so you never feel like you’re reading about history at all.

Louis L’Amour

L’Amour became famous for his Westerns, but perhaps one of L’Amour’s greatest books wasn’t a Western at all. The Walking Drum was about a Celtic boy who fought his way through Moorish Spain, across Medieval Europe, and into the East. What puts L’Amour on this list is – regardless of whether he was writing a Western, a simple short story, or about European history – his stories were accurately detailed and captivating at the same time. His characters aren’t one-sided heroes; they’re usually down-to-earth individuals whom readers can relate to.

Michael Crichton

Okay, Michael Crichton is really more of a science-fiction writer than historical-fiction. He makes this list because he does his homework thoroughly on each subject he’s going to write about, and then lets the facts of the subject dictate the story – not the other way around. With Crichton, you almost feel like you’re listening to the most fascinating science teacher you’ve ever dreamed about tell you a riveting story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Although known more for Jurassic Park and The Lost World, Crichton does have a few pure historical-fiction books to his credit, such as The Great Train Robbery, Eaters of the Dead, and Pirate Latitudes.

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3 Classic Business Books

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Mark

Rich people read – that’s a fairly general, yet fairly accurate statement. When you read interviews with entrepreneurs or their biographies, you’ll notice that they were influenced by a number of business books. This list comprises the 3 business books that nearly every successful businessperson or business owner said were the best sources from which they learned about business.

Think and Grow Rich

Written by Napoleon Hill, this book is the result of interviews with 500 of the richest people in the United States from around the beginning of the 20th century, such as Andrew Carnegie. It is one of the most widely-read books on business thought because its message is timeless and (seemingly) easy. We become what our minds dwell on. Thus, if we want to become rich, we should dwell on riches.

As a Man Thinketh

This book is really more of an essay because it’s so short. Yet it’s declared as one of the most influential books in business history (and beyond). James Allen’s primary idea is taken from Proverbs 23:7: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” It echoes Hill’s sentiment in stating that we become what we think about – what pervades the innermost places of our heart. By constantly plodding down the same path in our mind day after day, we create a path in our lives fulfilling the dreams in our heart.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

This classic by Dale Carnegie examines our relationships with other people. Successful business people know that working with other people – be they clients, employees, bosses, or friends – is the key to success. Carnegie’s book gives some fundamental advice on how to treat others the way they want to be treated and, in doing so, achieving what you want at the same time.

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I Ching Explained