I have been tagged by a couple of Flickr mates. I suppose it is time to respond. But I am not content with just writing 10 things about me.

How about if I make it a game? Just so it’s not so boring. Oh, I am so glad you agree.

Here goes:

TEN things that might, or might not, be TRUE about me. You decide.

1.I once rode with the Hell’s Angels OR I once hung out with John Kay of Steppenwolf (he wrote Born to be Wild, the Hell’s Angels anthem).

2.I don’t take drugs of any kind, except a natural drug called, adrenaline, to which I am seriously addicted! OR, I love the effect of drugs, especially illegal ones.

3.I promised myself that before I turned 55, I would have experienced an African safari OR that I would be a millionaire. One of these things will come true.

4.I was once a midwife OR I was once a rock and roll reporter.

5.I am a hard liquor drinker OR I am a very moderate drinker who loves a cold beer in the summer, and a nice room temperature merlot, at any time. Even for breakfast.

6.I have been arrested OR I nearly became a criminologist.

7.I am 5’2” with eyes of blue OR I am 5’7” with eyes of green.

8.I hate signs and regulations OR I embrace structure and rules.

9.I like the look of older men’s hands OR I am smitten by the works of Picasso.

10.I love the music of Dire Straits, Rod Stewart, and Faith Hill OR I like the sound of David humming off-key.

11.Bonus: I am a murder mystery playwright OR I am a children’s entertainer.

12. Freebie: I am the head Mama of one of Flickr's premier flower groups, "Mama's Bloomers."

Want answers? I will post those here after 24 hours have passed. In the meantime, I invite you to give it your best guess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BTW, here are the rules if you are tagged:

Tell your readers 10 things about you that they may or may not know, but are true. Tag ten people and be sure to let them know they’ve been tagged (a quick message will do). Don’t forget to link back to the person who tagged you!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you ready? Here are the answers!

1.Ride with the Hell's Angels? I was a wild child, a teen runaway, but I wasn't nuts. No, no...women were chattels among the Angels, and I belonged to nobody. Especially some stinky biker.

John Kay was one of the nicest, and most brilliantly talented men that I have ever met. Loved talking to this man.

2. I despise chemicals of all kinds, except natural ones. I don't even take aspirin.

3. Millionaire? I wish. No, David and I go off on our African safari (South Africa including Kruger National Park) in January 2010.

4. A bit of a trick question. I once began training to be a naturopath, herbologist, and midwife, but the lure of the media and the rock and roll world won out. Talk about complete opposites.

5. I really dislike hard liquor unless it is in a mixed drink, then it is okay. Otherwise, hand me my merlot. Even for breakfast.

6. I have not been arrested, but I have been "detained," on a few occasions. The cops in my small town just liked me, and didn't want me getting into serious trouble. So, they'd pick me up from time to time.

And, I nearly did became a criminologist. But I was already running our large special events company, and couldn't get my degree part-time, so I told the Dean I had to leave the program.

7. I am 5’2” with eyes of blue.

8. Structure and rules have their place, but I hate signs telling me that I can't do something to which I feel I am perfectly entitled.

9. I like the look of older men’s hands -- to me they are among the most beautiful things the Lord creates. I think Picasso needed art lessons! LOL

10. I love the music of Dire Straits, Rod Stewart, and Faith Hill. The sound of David humming off-key, or anyone humming off key -- that's my personal Hell!

11.Bonus: I was a murder mystery playwright for many years. And, I am a children’s entertainer, now. I make balloon animals.

12. Freebie: I am the head Mama of one of Flickr's premier flower groups, "Mama's Bloomers."

And now you know...but just wait till the next time I get tagged...that's when I will reveal the really juicy details...in a true or false format, of course.

Thanks, my Flickr friends! For playing along.

~~Sheree~~

I am on a three week diet that shuns wheat, dairy and refined sugar. My naturopathic doctor is trying to find out if eliminating them from my diet will lessen my migraines and body pain. I miss dairy the most, anyways, I am surviving, feel the shits, apparently my body is going into withdrawal, but I'm not starving and it feels ridiculous to complain about such a thing when millions are starving, so forget I said anything, just wanted you to know why I've been a tad unattentive and grouchy. Life is good, it rained all night, like really rained and I could hear it while I slept and it is still raining but lighter now. I am going to make bean soup and jambalaya now and hot buttered toast for my husband which will smell so good ... :)

www.maxtutanoronha.com

Hi everyone.

I'm just back from Arizona, it was a fun trip, my daughter had a ceremony at her College, she got her white coat and Monday she'll start clinical work, she's studying to be a Naturopathic Doctor, I guest that she's a bit like me, and she likes to go against the grain, well, I just like to see her growing, facing challenges and who the hell knows what a ND is?

That's my girl, (for me ND is a sort of filter), but it's a little more serious a suppose for her and us now.

She tells me that the 20Th Century medicine is not working for the 21st century.

Quantitatively speaking, we're fatter, we're sicker, we take more pills then ever and the Doctor that we go to

sees us for 7 minutes, takes our lousy insurance, give us some meds and he brooms the problem under the carpet, never finding or fighting the cause.

I loved the ceremony, and their vows, specially, "We'll do no harm" ....

It was cool, interesting at most, mind boggling and very exciting.

To connect us back to nature, with my grand mothers kind of medicine, with organic food, with Chinese Medicine, with Indian Medicine and with a respect for life without stress, without harmful chemicals, with balance and respect for all living things.

Well, to much thoughts for me, I just want to seat and wait, and hope that she'll be happy with her profession

and choice, and regardless, that we'll always stand behind her.

She's an amazing kid.

Now, This place was amazing, we walked down a path, and it was very steep, at about 7000 feet above sea level, the breathing gets a little hard when you are out of shape.

Down we found this huge hole in the mountain, and my 10 mm was not able to register the truthful scale and size of it.

The cold water was hitting my cameras and my face, and it was cold, ( I hate anything cold),

except beer...

If you have a change, pass by one day.

I'll put more info latter.

Now, I'm going to relax.

I've left Arizona yesterday at 10 in the morning.

Got home after delays and more delays today at 3.00 PM.

I'm spent.

Later....

Max

By ANGELINA JOLIE PITT

MARCH 24, 2015

LOS ANGELES — TWO years ago I wrote about my choice to have a preventive double mastectomy. A simple blood test had revealed that I carried a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. It gave me an estimated 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. I lost my mother, grandmother and aunt to cancer.

I wanted other women at risk to know about the options. I promised to follow up with any information that could be useful, including about my next preventive surgery, the removal of my ovaries and fallopian tubes.

I had been planning this for some time. It is a less complex surgery than the mastectomy, but its effects are more severe. It puts a woman into forced menopause. So I was readying myself physically and emotionally, discussing options with doctors, researching alternative medicine, and mapping my hormones for estrogen or progesterone replacement. But I felt I still had months to make the date.

Then two weeks ago I got a call from my doctor with blood-test results. “Your CA-125 is normal,” he said. I breathed a sigh of relief. That test measures the amount of the protein CA-125 in the blood, and is used to monitor ovarian cancer. I have it every year because of my family history.

But that wasn’t all. He went on. “There are a number of inflammatory markers that are elevated, and taken together they could be a sign of early cancer.” I took a pause. “CA-125 has a 50 to 75 percent chance of missing ovarian cancer at early stages,” he said. He wanted me to see the surgeon immediately to check my ovaries.

I went through what I imagine thousands of other women have felt. I told myself to stay calm, to be strong, and that I had no reason to think I wouldn’t live to see my children grow up and to meet my grandchildren.

I called my husband in France, who was on a plane within hours. The beautiful thing about such moments in life is that there is so much clarity. You know what you live for and what matters. It is polarizing, and it is peaceful.

That same day I went to see the surgeon, who had treated my mother. I last saw her the day my mother passed away, and she teared up when she saw me: “You look just like her.” I broke down. But we smiled at each other and agreed we were there to deal with any problem, so “let’s get on with it.”

Nothing in the examination or ultrasound was concerning. I was relieved that if it was cancer, it was most likely in the early stages. If it was somewhere else in my body, I would know in five days. I passed those five days in a haze, attending my children’s soccer game, and working to stay calm and focused.

The day of the results came. The PET/CT scan looked clear, and the tumor test was negative. I was full of happiness, although the radioactive tracer meant I couldn’t hug my children. There was still a chance of early stage cancer, but that was minor compared with a full-blown tumor. To my relief, I still had the option of removing my ovaries and fallopian tubes and I chose to do it.

I did not do this solely because I carry the BRCA1 gene mutation, and I want other women to hear this. A positive BRCA test does not mean a leap to surgery. I have spoken to many doctors, surgeons and naturopaths. There are other options. Some women take birth control pills or rely on alternative medicines combined with frequent checks. There is more than one way to deal with any health issue. The most important thing is to learn about the options and choose what is right for you personally.

In my case, the Eastern and Western doctors I met agreed that surgery to remove my tubes and ovaries was the best option, because on top of the BRCA gene, three women in my family have died from cancer. My doctors indicated I should have preventive surgery about a decade before the earliest onset of cancer in my female relatives. My mother’s ovarian cancer was diagnosed when she was 49. I’m 39.

Last week, I had the procedure: a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There was a small benign tumor on one ovary, but no signs of cancer in any of the tissues.

I have a little clear patch that contains bio-identical estrogen. A progesterone IUD was inserted in my uterus. It will help me maintain a hormonal balance, but more important it will help prevent uterine cancer. I chose to keep my uterus because cancer in that location is not part of my family history.

It is not possible to remove all risk, and the fact is I remain prone to cancer. I will look for natural ways to strengthen my immune system. I feel feminine, and grounded in the choices I am making for myself and my family. I know my children will never have to say, “Mom died of ovarian cancer.”

Regardless of the hormone replacements I’m taking, I am now in menopause. I will not be able to have any more children, and I expect some physical changes. But I feel at ease with whatever will come, not because I am strong but because this is a part of life. It is nothing to be feared.

I feel deeply for women for whom this moment comes very early in life, before they have had their children. Their situation is far harder than mine. I inquired and found out that there are options for women to remove their fallopian tubes but keep their ovaries, and so retain the ability to bear children and not go into menopause. I hope they can be aware of that.

It is not easy to make these decisions. But it is possible to take control and tackle head-on any health issue. You can seek advice, learn about the options and make choices that are right for you. Knowledge is power.

Angelina Jolie Pitt is a filmmaker and special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

NY Article: www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/opinion/angelina-jolie-pitt-di...

Oscar Winner Angelina Jolie is a repainted and restyled Barbie by artist Noel Cruz for www.myfarrah.com.

Jolie has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

You can see Jolie's Bio on IMDB at www.imdb.com/name/nm0001401/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Graphic Layout & web sites ncruz.com & myfarrah.com by www.stevemckinnis.com.

Borago officinalis L.

Common name: Borage, Starflower

Family: Boraginaceae

Traditionally borage was cultivated for culinary and medicinal uses, although today commercial cultivation is mainly as an oilseed. The seed oil is desired as a source of gamma-linolenic acid, for which borage is the highest known plant-based source.

Borage tastes like cucumber and is often used in salads or as a garnish. The flower which has a sweet honey-like taste and is one of the few truly blue-coloured edible things, is often used to decorate desserts and drinks.

Naturopathic practitioners use borage for the regulation of metabolism and the hormonal system, and consider it to be a good remedy for PMS and menopause symptoms such as the hot flash. Borage is sometimes indicated to alleviate and heal colds, bronchitis, and respiratory infections in general for its anti-inflammatory and balsamic properties. The flowers can be prepared in infusion to take advantage of its medicinal properties. The oleic and palmitic acid of borage may also confer a hypocholesterolemic effect.

Tea made from the dried flowers is a traditional calming drink. It has a rich purple colour that turns bright pink after adding a few drops of lemon juice.

On Explore October 18, 2008 at #290

Highest position: 49 on Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Oh, I really stretched my brain's neuroplasticity - more like elasticity - to put this video together.

For a dear friend, who passed away last Sunday week ..

May 24th

Referred by a friend,Travis arrived to me as a kinesiology client years ago.

He had multiple health challenges going on, unfortunately from past lifestyle misadventures, some stories of which would leave my brain fried.

And somewhere along the way, he made an unlucky choice of boyfriend.

I made it clear from the start that I wasn't a Dr and I don't do 'magic cures'… he said, "Oh, I know that, I just really like kinesiology!"

And so it went on from there.

He wasn't exactly local, so he'd rush in, then rush off to work afterwards.

In our early days, he amazed me by taking on a time-consuming home business as well as his job, breeding and hand-raising all sorts of parrots. This involved buying breeding pairs, setting up impressive accomodation for them, and when eggs hatched, special baby boxes with warming lights and hand feeding several times a day through to evenings.

I was surprised, as I think it takes a certain type of person and passion to do it.

I'd handled quite a few parrots over the years, even the big macaws, but never expected him to be so talented.

On top of all that, he did massage at home on a Saturday.

I don't know how he got the washing done, honestly.

Sooner than later, he asked to bring some of his babies for kinesiology, to make sure they were thriving.

Over the years, I think we only lost one, and he brought in alotta birdies !

He'd arrive to the excitement of the Girlz, wagging and weaving around him... even Miss W adored him, which was unusual, being a maremma…. I reckon she picked up on his gentle vibes …

Anyway, he'd be back and forth to the car, always bringing with him at least four bird cages with colourful cacklers and cheepers for some checking over … thank goodness, only the odd screecher... and often baby containers holding tiny featherless fragile goofies, with warm water bottles underneath to keep them cosy.

With everything in the work room covered with old sheets and rolls of paper towels at the ready - 'cos they were all poopers - one by one they'd get to come out, waddle around then be cradled by Travis while I'd use his spare arm for surrogate testing as to the best feed formula, how many feeds per day, time of each feed, supplements, structural, immune system stuff, can't remember what else now, etc.…

Well, much of his consultation was soon getting diverted to the birds, and less time for himself before he rushed off to work, I suggested he start coming on a Sunday, so he could spend more time without rushing.

And so began a few years of nearly every Sunday, the whole place full of birds of all sizes, colours, noises … when the Girlz heard his little car pull up, I'd say,"Girlz! Uncle Travis is here!", and the circus would begin, with Pips just dying to peek into the boxes of mysterious cheeping, and MW wanting to sit and mind them, haha, and ward her off.

He was amazing, how gently he treated his birds, and with such a busy routine of hand feeding times day & night, stuck to all his 'health' regime at home, juices and supplements, Blood Type O diet, kept his house beautiful, had a highly organised life with family and friends, etc..

In so many ways he amazed me… and I'm glad I did tell him so ..

I gave up work in Dec. 2012, to sit with my mother as she dwindled away those last few months before her final departure, and after that was ill myself, so was unavailable to continue working on and with Travis and his wonderful menagerie.

He came to visit 30th November last year, ten days after my accident.

He brought his latest baby macaw, and I snapped a few pics, but Travis didn't want to be photographed like before.

I was shocked at how much weight had fallen off him, but we both expected him to pick up again.

He told me he'd returned 'to the church' and expected from me some sort of 'What the?', judgement and jibes.

Well, he didn't get that.

I said, "Good for you, Travis. Whatever the spirit needs".

Then he told me that he decided to give up all his supplements and didn't want any kinesiology either.

That I found puzzling, as he looked like he'd suddenly deteriorated. Surely this was when he really needed the help..

Had he decided it was no use to him anymore …?

The following week he plunged further and was admitted to hospital.

I wonder now if he actually knew that he didn't have long and chose not to tell me, as I wasn't going too well either.

His whole family had gone for decades to another kinesiologist, who was also a church minister.

He'd retired up north but flew back to perform the funeral service.

There was standing room only by the time I limped into the church. So from my view, way up the back, I dismissed the thought that I recognised him.

Later on, I went to thank him for such a beautiful farewell ceremony, and we both realised that we knew each other from seminars back in the mid 90's.

Now, an elderly, white-bearded man, Ross had been a colleague in the profession and friends with my ex, also a naturopath and kinesiologist.

For decades Ross had a practise in the next larger town, and

was so good at what he did, he was always booked out a year ahead.

The last time we'd met was 10 years ago, but he was often mentioned by Travis.

Near the end of his service, he said that our friend never did anything by halves, referred to both his natural medicines and his former enthusiasm for drugs.

During our talk together, I mentioned my surprise that he included this, as I wasn't aware that side of his life was known to all that attended his funeral.

From the stories Travis told me, I'd say, " Travis ! It's a wonder you're still on the planet !"

(I can still hear Travis say, " Ohhh, I knowwww !!!", throw his head back and laugh, with a bit of disbelief in the horrors of the dangerous lifestyle down in Melbourne, where he'd originally gone to explore the gay scene, but soon found himself an addict, having to sell to maintain his addiction, a cocktail of everything in the book…and running for his life from angry dealers when he failed to pay them for product he was supposed to sell for them.

At least that event was the turning point, when he escaped back to Queensland to take refuge at his parent's…a decision that probably gave him a few more years in life .. he was still living at his folk's when he began to come to me. )

Ross, his minister had been his kinesiologist in his younger years, when the whole family went for appointments. He replied," Well, Travis would never open up to me about any details of that, he kept all that very much to himself.."

That's right, something I'd forgotten in the fray.

Our deceased friend did say he was too embarrassed to share all to Ross in consultation, even though it was private, and even though kinesiology from Ross for all these past traumas could've been so restorative…. the reason being, that he'd become such a close family friend to his parents and also because he was religious..

Travis had searched and came to me because he could talk to me about anything and everything, whatever stresses and shocks that were still lingering and stored in his battered body and nervous system that needed to be de-stressed, cleaned up, balanced out, in order to retrieve and restore health.

The official prognosis was "Lymphoma".

I wondered if that was to save the public heartache of his family to announce he had that dreaded retrovirus for a very long time.

I really don't know if it was that in the end, or that our bodies simply never truly have the strength to bounce back after being poisoned by so many drugs.

It's been a reflective couple of weeks … and gives me the shivers to realise that when I last left a message on his mobile to catch up sometime, he would've been slipping into the farewell coma..

Naturopathic Herbal Dispensary.

Woodfordia

Garlic... healthy garlic... good as gold. Done for Macro Mondays 'Skin' theme.

Garlic helps purify the blood, and has been used as an aid to lower blood pressure. Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor or naturopath; be sure to consult your health care professional.

Nikon D5100, AF-S Nikkor 50/1.8g, HDR from a single image. Happy Macro Monday!

strong and bright ,a doctor ,martial artist (blackbelt), spokesperson,naturopath,trainer,osteopath goddess..

© All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images

"The Kallawaya are an itinerant group of traditional healers living in the Andes of Bolivia. They live in the Bautista Saavedra region, a mountainous area north of La Paz. They are members of the Mollo culture and are direct descendants of Tiwanaku culture. According to the UNESCO #Safeguarding Project, the Kallawaya can be traced to the pre-Inca period. The Kallawaya performed brain surgery as early as 700 CE and knew how to effectively prevent and treat malaria with quinine before the Europeans. They also helped to save thousands of lives during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Kallawaya doctors (médicos Kallawaya), are known as the naturopathic healers of Inca kings, and as keepers of science knowledge, principally the pharmaceutical properties of vegetables, animals and minerals. Most Kallawaya healers understand how to use 300 herbs, while specialists are familiar with 600 herbs. Kallawaya women are often midwives, treat gynecological disorders, and pediatric patients. Kallawaya healers travel through northwestern Bolivia and parts of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Often they are on foot, walking ancient Inca trails, through the tropics, mountain valleys and highland plateaus, while looking for traditional herbs."

Read more at Wikipedia

Note - "The main Objectives of the #safeguarding project are to:

* Promote the preservation and safeguarding of Kallawaya culture at local, regional and national levels;

* Strengthen the techniques and transmission of traditional medicine;

* Strengthen the knowledge Concerning Natural Healing with medicines;

* Necessary create the conditions to Ensure the transmission of the traditional knowledge;

* Promote Kallawaya culture, as part of the multicultural identity of Bolivia;

* To Promote the practice of traditional medicine in hospitals of the municipalities of the Bautista Saavedra province." Reference

The island in the distance is Isla de la Luna (Moon Island). Inca mythology has it that the island is the location where Viracocha commanded the rising of the moon.

(Between a rock and a hard place)

Young Rock Hyrax (Dassie) trying to hide from the "Big Eye".

Best viewed full screen.

The rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), also called rock badger, rock rabbit, and Cape hyrax, is commonly referred to in South African English as the dassie. It is one of the four living species of the order Hyracoidea, and the only living species in the genus Procavia. Like all hyraxes, it is a medium-sized (~4 kg) terrestrial mammal, with short ears and tail.

The closest living relatives to hyraxes are the modern-day elephants and sirenians. The rock hyrax is found across Africa and the Middle East in habitats with rock crevices into which it escapes from predators. It is the only extant terrestrial afrotherian in the Middle East. Hyraxes typically live in groups of 10–80 animals, and forage as a group. They have been reported to use sentries: one or more animals take up position on a vantage point and issue alarm calls on the approach of predators.

The rock hyrax has incomplete thermoregulation and is most active in the morning and evening, although its activity pattern varies substantially with season and climate.

Over most of its range, the rock hyrax is not endangered, and in some areas is considered a minor pest. In Ethiopia, Israel and Jordan, it is a reservoir of the leishmaniasis parasite.

The rock hyrax is squat and heavily built, adults reaching a length of 50 cm (20 in) and weighing around 4 kg (8.8 lb), with a slight sexual dimorphism, males being approximately 10% heavier than females. Their fur is thick and grey-brown, although this varies strongly between different environments: from dark brown in wetter habitats, to light grey in desert living individuals. Hyrax size (as measured by skull length and humerus diameter) is correlated to precipitation, probably because of the effect on preferred hyrax forage.

Prominent in, and apparently unique to hyraxes, is the dorsal gland, which excretes an odour used for social communication and territorial marking. The gland is most clearly visible in dominant males.

The head of the rock hyrax is pointed, having a short neck with rounded ears. They have long black whiskers on their muzzles. The rock hyrax has a prominent pair of long, pointed tusk-like upper incisors which are reminiscent of the elephant, to which the hyrax is distantly related. The forefeet are plantigrade, and the hind feet semi-digitigrade. The soles of the feet have large, soft pads that are kept moist with sweat-like secretions. In males, the testes are permanently abdominal, another anatomical feature that hyraxes share with their relatives elephants and sirenians.

Thermoregulation in the rock hyrax has been subject to much research, as their body temperature varies with a diurnal rhythm. However, animals kept in constant environmental conditions also display such variation and this internal mechanism may be related to water balance regulation.

The rock hyrax occurs across sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the Congo basin and Madagascar. A larger, longer-haired subspecies is abundant in the glacial moraines in the alpine zone of Mount Kenya. The distribution continues into southern Algeria, Libya and Egypt, and the Middle East, with populations in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Arabian peninsula.

A mammal of similar appearance by convergent evolution, but unrelated, is the rock cavy of Brazil.

Rock hyraxes build dwelling holes in any type of rock with suitable cavities such as sedimentary rocks and soil. In Mount Kenya, rock hyraxes live in colonies comprising an adult male, differing numbers of adult females and immatures. They are active during the day, and sometimes during moonlit nights. The dominant male defends and watches over the group. The male also marks its territory.

In Africa, hyraxes are preyed on by leopards, Egyptian cobras, puff adders, rock pythons, caracals, wild dogs, hawks, and owls. Verreaux's eagle in particular is a specialist hunter of hyrax. In Israel, the rock hyrax is reportedly rarely preyed upon by terrestrial predators, as their system of sentries and their reliable refuges provide considerable protection. Hyrax remains are almost absent from the droppings of wolves in the Judean Desert.

Hyraxes feed on a wide variety of different plants, including Lobelia and broad-leafed plants. They also have been reported to eat insects and grubs. The rock hyraxes forage for food up to about 50 metres from their refuge, usually feeding as a group and with one or more acting as sentries from a prominent lookout position. On the approach of danger, the sentries give an alarm call, and the animals quickly retreat to their refuge.

They are able to go for many days without water due to the moisture they obtain through their food, but will quickly dehydrate under direct sunlight. Despite their seemingly clumsy build, they are able to climb trees (although not as readily as Heterohyrax), and will readily enter residential gardens to feed on the leaves of citrus and other trees.

The rock hyrax also makes a loud grunting sound while moving its jaws as if chewing, and this behaviour may be a sign of aggression. Some authors have proposed that observation of this behaviour by ancient Israelites gave rise to the misconception given in Leviticus 11:4-8 that the hyrax chews the cud In fact, hyraxes are not ruminants.

Rock hyraxes give birth to between two and four young after a gestation period of 6–7 months (long, for their size). The young are well developed at birth with fully opened eyes and complete pelage. Young can ingest solid food after two weeks and are weaned at ten weeks. After 16 months, the rock hyraxes become sexually mature, they reach adult size at three years, and they typically live about ten years. During seasonal changes, the weight of the male reproductive organs (testis, seminal vesicles) changes due to sexual activity. A study showed that between May and January, the males were inactive sexually. From February onward, there was a dramatic increase to the weight of these organs, and the males are able to copulate.

Social behaviour

In a study of their social networks, it was found that hyraxes that live in more "egalitarian" groups, in which social associations are spread more evenly among group members, survive longer. In addition, hyraxes are the first non-human species in which structural balance was described. They follow "the friend of my friend is my friend" rule, and avoid unbalanced social configurations.

Captive rock hyraxes make more than 20 different noises and vocal signals. The most familiar signal is a high trill, given in response to perceived danger. Rock hyrax calls can provide important biological information such as size, age, social status, body weight, condition, and hormonal state of the caller, as determined by measuring their call length, patterns, complexity, and frequency. More recently, researchers have found rich syntactic structure and geographical variations in the calls of rock hyraxes, a first in the vocalization of mammalian taxa other than primates, cetaceans, and bats. Higher ranked males tend to sing more often, although the energetic cost of singing is relatively low.

The rock hyrax spends approximately 95% of its time resting. During this time, they can often be seen basking in the sun, which is thought to be an element of their complex thermoregulation.

Dispersal

Male hyraxes have been categorised into four classes: territorial, peripheral, early dispersers, and late dispersers. The territorial males are dominant. Peripheral males are more solitary and sometimes take over a group when the dominant male is missing. Early-dispersing males are juveniles that leave the birth site around 16 to 24 months of age. Late dispersers are also juvenile males, but they leave the birth site much later; around 30 or more months of age.

Names

They are known as dassies in South Africa, and sometimes rock rabbits. The Swahili names for them are pimbi, pelele and wibari, though the latter two names are nowadays reserved for the tree hyraxes. This species has many subspecies, many of which are also known as rock or Cape hyrax, although the former usually refers to African varieties.

In Arabic, the rock hyrax is called "wabr" or "tabsoun". In Hebrew, the rock hyrax is called "shafan sela", meaning rock "shafan", where the meaning of shafan is obscure, but is colloquially used as a synonym for rabbit in modern Hebrew. According to Gerald Durrell local people in Bafut, Cameroon, call the rock hyrax the n'eer.

Naturopathic use

Rock hyraxes produce large quantities of hyraceum—a sticky mass of dung and urine that has been employed as a South African folk remedy in the treatment of several medical disorders, including epilepsy and convulsions. Hyraceum is now being used by perfumers who tincture it in alcohol to yield a natural animal musk.

In culture

The rock hyrax is classified as non-kosher in the Jewish Torah. Nonetheless, it is also included in Proverbs 30:26 as one of a number of remarkable animals for being small, but exceedingly wise, in this case because "the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs".

In Joy Adamson's books and the movie Born Free, a rock hyrax called Pati-Pati was her companion for six years before Elsa and her siblings came along; Pati-Pati took the role of nanny and watched over them with great care.

The 2013 animated film Khumba features a number of rock hyraxes who sacrifice one of their own to a white black eagle.

The species was introduced to Jebel Hafeet, which is on the border of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Dikhololo

Rural Area

Brits

South Africa

My naturopath said I should add lemon to my water and just happened to be a sale on lemons today so 'cutting them fine" Happy Friday!

copyright M. Fleur-Ange Lamothe

I succeeded in making a soup similar to the one my friend Ginette made from scratch. Her secret was to add parsnip to the carrots to make it yummy.

I used this recipe and then sauteed shitake mushrooms to add something chewy to this pureed soup.

Lentil Soup (from Carol Morley, Naturopathic Doctor, Delicious Detox

Yield: 8 cups

Make soup when time permits. Freeze in individual containers. Healthful. Ready to reheat in less than 5 minutes!

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

½ tsp chili pepper flakes

1 large yellow onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 large carrots, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

2 large parsnips, diced

1 cup lentils

2 sweet potatoes, diced

6 cups vegetable or chicken stock

½ cup chopped fresh parsley, or

1 Tbsp dried parsley

½ tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp freshly ground pepper

1.Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the chili pepper flakes, onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

2.Add the parsnips and cook, stirring, for an additional 5 minutes.

3.Add the lentils and sweet potatoes and 1 cup of the stock and cook for 10 minutes.

4.Add the rest of the stock, parsley, thyme, cumin, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 45 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

5.At this time, you can leave the soup as is or, using a food processor, blender or immersion hand blender, puree until smooth.

* original "name" was img_9643_small, which explains Neil's comment :D

-- Blogged, blogged and here, then here, and there.

© All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images

"The Kallawaya are an itinerant group of traditional healers living in the Andes of Bolivia. They live in the Bautista Saavedra region, a mountainous area north of La Paz. They are members of the Mollo culture and are direct descendants of Tiwanaku culture. According to the UNESCO #Safeguarding Project, the Kallawaya can be traced to the pre-Inca period. The Kallawaya performed brain surgery as early as 700 CE and knew how to effectively prevent and treat malaria with quinine before the Europeans. They also helped to save thousands of lives during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Kallawaya doctors (médicos Kallawaya), are known as the naturopathic healers of Inca kings, and as keepers of science knowledge, principally the pharmaceutical properties of vegetables, animals and minerals. Most Kallawaya healers understand how to use 300 herbs, while specialists are familiar with 600 herbs. Kallawaya women are often midwives, treat gynecological disorders, and pediatric patients. Kallawaya healers travel through northwestern Bolivia and parts of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Often they are on foot, walking ancient Inca trails, through the tropics, mountain valleys and highland plateaus, while looking for traditional herbs."

Read more at Wikipedia

Note - "The main Objectives of the #safeguarding project are to:

* Promote the preservation and safeguarding of Kallawaya culture at local, regional and national levels;

* Strengthen the techniques and transmission of traditional medicine;

* Strengthen the knowledge Concerning Natural Healing with medicines;

* Necessary create the conditions to Ensure the transmission of the traditional knowledge;

* Promote Kallawaya culture, as part of the multicultural identity of Bolivia;

* To Promote the practice of traditional medicine in hospitals of the municipalities of the Bautista Saavedra province." Reference

I added a video to a @YouTube playlist t.co/M6Wf1E4XJl Dr Sorr's Better Approach to Naturopathic Medicine | 480 361-4005 (via Twitter twitter.com/SohNaturalAZ/status/801477119071125504)

In this figure of a reclining man, the liver gave people information about their medical conditions and cures that were contrary to the accepted medical procedures of his day. Today some of these have become more commonplace in holistic medicine and today are among commonly used naturopathic practices. He has been therefore called the father of holistic medicine. A man before his time for certain. Some called Edgar, a man out of time for he seems to have reinvigorated albeit through the unconscious trance state, the practices of ancient physicians once again. In addition to his medical readings, he also gave life readings upon request. In most of those readings people were astonished to find that they had lived before. While most were found to be average people, in a handful of cases individuals were reported to have been persons of historic significance. In even a few cases these souls had lived lives during the time that Jesus walked the earth and it is these few upon which this picture is focused. Their roles in Jesus life were varied. There were teachers, acquaintances, friends and personal relationships. In addition, a good number of these people were part of the Essene community, which he knew about prior to the surprise discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls which occurred after his death and which then introduced them to the world at large after being translated painstakingly for years. The sculpture of Rouen spoke of these people on the shores of the Dead Sea and northern Palestine, today's Israel,

The Tree of Life is a universal symbol found in many spiritual and mythological traditions around the world. In various cultures it is known as the Cosmic Tree, the World Tree and the Holy Tree. The Tree of Life symbolizes many things, including wisdom, protection, strength, bounty, beauty, and redemption. This wise and holy Tree is like the Creator as it sustains creation with its abundant fruit, protection and generativity. The Tree is also like human beings, as we develop roots, strengthen our trunk and branch out to a wider vision of life as we grow.

Trees provide many analogies to human development. They are amazing microcosms of exchange and flow of water, nutrients and gases. With sustenance from the earth, cooling water, refreshing air and the light of the sun, they grow in stature and strength and eventually blossom into full flower and fruit. They are earth-bound and yet reach up toward the heavens, trying to touch back to the source. Their three main systems of roots, trunk and branches parallel human development of body, psyche and spirit.

The following are some examples of how the Great Tree is understood around the world. These examples demonstrate why so many cultures use the Tree of Life to describe the Divine and our journey back to the Divine.

Kabbalah – In Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition underlying Judaism and Christianity, two different Tree of Life symbols are used: one is upside-down and the other right-side-up. The original Tree of Life emanates out of the divine world of unity and is depicted as upside-down, with its roots flowing from the divine place of unity and infinite light. The trunk and branches reach down towards us, penetrating the worlds of spirit, psyche, and physical existence. This is said to be the Tree of Emanation, which flows downward from the source. The other Tree of Life symbol flows upward, back towards the source, with roots in the ground and branches growing up to the sky. This is the Tree that the initiate climbs to return to the source and is the Tree of evolution or initiation. It is the initiate’s responsibility to evolve and awaken, climbing the Tree and penetrating the worlds of psyche, spirit and divine unity, reconnecting with the divine source.

Depth Psychology – From a depth psychology perspective, the tree is seen as a powerful symbol of growth, as the tree is the only living thing that continues to grow throughout its lifetime. The tree is also a symbol for the true self and serves as a positive, healthy model for the unfolding development of both psyche and spirit. As we grow and develop, a larger and more mature personality emerges and begins to flower and fruit, providing its gifts and bounties to the wider world.

Christianity – In Christian art, Jesus is often depicted as standing in the branches of the Tree of Life, presented as the living fruit of the Tree. In this capacity he is the bridge between the Divine and humanity and between heaven and earth. He is a vision of enlightened humanity and our potential to bloom and bring forth abundant fruit. The image of Christ on the cross is another depiction of the World Savior on the Tree of Life, redeeming humanity through his death and subsequent rebirth.

Buddhism – It was beneath the great Bodhi tree, the great Tree of Enlightenment, that Buddha was said to redeem the whole universe under its protective branches. Under this World Tree, the Buddha transformed all negative temptations and energies and achieved perfect enlightenment. In this story, as in the Christ story, we have the archetypal World Savior and the World Tree themes together.

Nordic – In Nordic mythology, Odin is the god who rules all magic and guards the great well of wisdom and knowledge at the root of the World Tree Yggdrasill, whose strength supports the entire universe. Here, under the branches of Yggdrasill, Odin becomes an initiate magician and discovers a Shamanic vocation, obtaining inner sight and healing capacities.

Shamanic – In many Shamanic cosmologies, the Cosmic Tree is said to connect the Underworld, Middle world and Above world. During initiation, the Shaman learns to travel comfortably in all three realms. In some traditions the Underworld contains power animals and helper guides for healing. The Above world consists of ancestors, spirit guides and spirits of plants and diseases to whom the Shaman can speak and engage their help in healing others. During initiation, Shamans are often instructed to make and climb a ladder to symbolize their ability to access the three zones of the Cosmic Tree.

Minoan – From the ancient Minoan culture of Crete, the Tree of Life is connected to the Mysteries of the Labyrinth. The Tree of Life is said to occupy the very center of the labyrinth. The goal of initiation is to claim your own self by winding into the center of the labyrinth, climb the Tree of Life and connect with your own divinity as well as the divine source.

Alkahest is a term used in Renaissance alchemy for the theorized "universal solvent", which was supposed to be capable of dissolving any other substance, including gold, without altering or destroying its fundamental components.[1] Among its philosophical and spiritual preoccupations, Hermeticism was more anciently concerned with the Panacea, but (in the context of reformed understandings of human physiology) the emergent Latin alchemy associated with European humanism was itself transmuted into a new medical and pharmaceutical philosophy. The Swiss physician and alchemist Philippus Paracelsus (1493-1541), who gave his name to the early modern school of medical theory known as Paracelcism, first made mention of the Alkahest as a chemical which could fortify the liver, and (in instances where the liver failed) could act as a substitute for its functions (see De Viribus Membrorum Spiritualium, Cap. VI, "De Cura Epatis", at p. 10). By reducing or dissolving substances into their fundamental virtues and properties, it was hoped to gain control of those invaluable medical healing properties (see also Azoth), and for this reason the Alkahest (also known as the ignis gehennae[2]) was earnestly sought for, and the reality (or otherwise) of its existence was debated among the alchemists and philosophers.

Contents

1History

2Etymology

2.1Other names

3Structure and mechanism

4Uses

5Recipe

5.1Paracelsus

5.2Jan Baptist van Helmont

5.3Seventeenth century alchemists

6Issues with the concept

7References

History

Alkahest became very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries through J.B. van Helmont, after which it was taken less seriously over time. Its prevalence in the 17th and 18th centuries, despite its otherwise absurd and extreme qualities, was likely due to the popularity of alchemy at the time and the lack of an adequate alternative theory of chemistry.[3] Those who followed and trained under Paracelsus did not think of the alkahest as van Helmont did, but slowly built upon the ideas posed by their teacher.[3] Tobias Ludwig Kohlhans (1624-1705) suggested in his dissertation of the spleen, that alkahest could be found in the lymphatic vessels of animals.[2] This was then contested and doubted by Helmont, Henry Oldenburg (later in 1661), and Goddard, who raised questions about the lymph's "sweetly acidic" quality, the necessity of a hypothetical universal solvent to explain the acidity in empty animal lymphatic vessels, its ability to be generated within the body, and how it differed from that of the other fluids or humours in the body.[2] The German alchemist Johann Kunckel (1630-1703) and others in time began to see the alkahest as merely fantasy and wishful thinking.[4] Ladislaus Reti, a 20th-century historian of science, investigated alchemical recipes involving alkahest and found that no chemical was sufficient in breaking down the wide variety of materials Helmont supposed. Reti points out that in such recipes, an alcohol solution of potassium hydroxide could have been used instead.[4]

Etymology

There is no consensus on the origin and etymology of the word alkahest, as Paracelsus left no trace or history of the word. George Starkey argued it came from the german word al-gehest (all spirit).[4] Johann Rudolph Glauber posed that it could have come from the words alhali est, the german word al gar heis, or Al zu hees, meaning "very hot".[4] Cleidophorus Mystagogus in England[5] argued for its root being of Belgian or High Dutch.[4] Paracelsus believed that alkahest was, in fact, the philosopher's stone, whereas Henry Oldenburg in 1661 made experimental connections between the legendary alkahest, and the liquid discovered in the lymphatic vessels of animals introduced by Kohlhans.[2] Boerhaave in his textbook Elementa Chymiae (1732), did not think Alkahest was the philosopher's stone but that it was in fact of greater importance and value than the stone.[2]

Other names

Helmont considered the alkahest to have never-ending reusability, calling it an "immortal".[2] He also used the term "maccabean fire" because of its similarities to the "thick water" in the deuterocanonical Book of Maccabees in the Old Testament.[2] Another name for the Alkahest termed by Helmont was ignis gehennae.[2] Other names include Latex (or "clear water reduced to its minutest atoms"), and primum Ens Salum (or "salt exalted to its highest degree").[2]

Structure and mechanism

The theory of alkahest was conceived in terms of alchemy, Helmontian theories, and the physical theory of corpuscularianism.[3][6] According to Helmont and Robert Boyle, the alkahest had a "microstructure", meaning it was composed of extremely small, homogeneous corpuscles.[3][7] This structure allowed the alkahest's corpuscles to move between the corpuscles of all other materials and mechanically separate them without altering their base materials or itself, conforming with the idea that it was infinitely reuseable.[3][7] It was these qualities which made the alkahest distinct from ordinary corrosives, which are altered by the substances they act upon and thus are not infinitely reusable.[7]

Uses

George Starkey and his mentor Helmont (by their report) used mercuric sulphide to dissolve gold, and informed Boyle about it in a series of letters. The alkahest, according to Starkey, was able to remove sulphur from the natural mercury leaving a quicksilver resistant to corrosion.[7] Moreover, because of the credited power of alkahest to break down substances into their occult qualities, it was sought after for its potential to cure incurable diseases at the time.[7] For example, the breaking down of Ludus could provide a cure for urinary calculi.[2]

Recipe

The recipe for the theorized alkahest was often kept secret, as many alchemical recipes were.[4] There were many alchemists attempting to obtain the universal solvent, and thus many recipes, some later rejected by their creators, have been found.[7]

Paracelsus

Paracelsus's own recipe for alkahest was made of caustic lime, alcohol, and carbonate of potash; however, his recipe was not intended to be a "universal solvent".[3][8]

Jan Baptist van Helmont

Following Paracelsus, it was the chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont who expanded on the alkahest, believing it was a universal solvent.[3] Helmont claimed that knowledge of the recipe was granted by God and was therefore known by few, and he had many dreams during which he believed he had been gifted the recipe, only to find them inadequate.[3][4] Given the difficulty of obtaining alkahest, Helmont suggested the use of other, inferior substances that they believed were capable of similar tasks.[7] Volatile salt of tartar, also known as pyrotartaric acid or glutaric acid, was considered both a substitute for alkahest and a component of alkahest.[7][1] Helmont's writings also referred to a fourteenth century alchemical manuscript which discussed sal alkali, which may have been caustic potash or lye, that was capable of dissolving many substances and may have been an ingredient for Helmont's alkahest.[3][8][9]

Seventeenth century alchemists

During the seventeenth century, many alchemists were working on obtaining the alkahest, some being Johann Rudolf Glauber, George Starkey, Frederick Clod, Thomas Vaughan, Thomas Henshaw, Johann Brun, Robert Hamilton, Hugh Piatt, and Robert Child.[3] Glauber believed that the alkahest was a class of substances, rather than one, particular substance.[3] Glauber believed he had discovered alkahest after discovering that volatile niter (nitric acid) and fixed niter (potassium carbonate) were able to dissolve many substances.[7] Starkey described alkahest as a circulated salt that is neither acid nor alkali.[3][10] Moreover, Starkey believed that, because acid saline liquors are destroyed by alkalies and urinous spirits, they cannot be ingredients of the immortal alkahest.[7] He believed instead that non-acidic substances could be ingredients of the alkahest, some of these suspected substances being urinous spirits, spirit of alkalies, and sulphureous vegetable spirits.[7] In particular, Starkey believed that alkahest's secret ingredient laid within urine.[3][7] Clodius believed that mercury could convert salts into "ponderous liquor", which he believed was needed to make the alkahest.[7]

Issues with the concept

A potential problem involving alkahest is that, if it dissolves everything, then it cannot be placed into a container because it would dissolve the container. This problem was first posed by German alchemist Johann Kunckel.[4] However, the alchemist Philalethes specified that alkahest dissolved only composed materials into their constituent, elemental parts;[10] hence, a hypothetical container made of a pure element (say, lead) would not be dissolved by alkahest. The old remark "spit is the universal solvent" satirizes the idea, suggesting that instead of a solvent that would easily dissolve anything, the only "real" solvent to anything is a great deal of hard work. In modern times, water is sometimes called the universal solvent, because it can dissolve a large variety of substances, due to its chemical polarity and amphoterism.

The tree of life is a diagram used in various mystical traditions.[1] It usually consists of 10 nodes symbolizing different archetypes and 22 lines connecting the nodes.[2] The nodes are often arranged into three columns to represent that they belong to a common category.[2]

The nodes are usually represented as spheres and the lines are usually represented as paths.[2] The nodes usually represent encompassing aspects of existence, God, or the human psyche.[2][3][4] The lines usually represent the relationship between the concepts ascribed to the spheres or a symbolic description of the requirements to go from one sphere to another.[2][4] The nodes are also associated to deities, angels, celestial bodies, values, single colors or combinations of them, and specific numbers.[3][5] The columns are usually symbolized as pillars.[2] These pillars usually represent different kinds of values, electric charges, or types of ceremonial magic.[2][5] It is usually referred to as the Kabbalistic tree of life in order to distinguish it from other concepts with the same name.[1][6] In the Jewish Kabbalah, the nodes are called sephiroth.[2] The diagram is also used by Christian Cabbala, Hermetic Qabalah and Theosophy.[5][6][7] The diagram is believed to be derivable from the flower of life.[3]

Scholars believe that the concept of a tree of life with different spheres encompassing aspects of reality traces its origins back to Assyria in the 9th century BC.[1][6] The Assyrians also assigned values and specific numbers to their deities similar to those used by the later Jewish Kabbalah.[1][6] The beginnings of the Jewish Kabbalah are traced back by scholars to the Medieval Age, originating in the Book of Bahir and the Book of Zohar.[5][6] However, the first historical instance of the modern diagram appeared centuries later in the cover of the Latin translation of Gates of Light in the year 1516.[5] Scholars have traced the origin of the art in the Porta Lucis cover to Johann Reuchlin.[8]

Contents

1Evolution

2Interpretations

2.1Chassidist

3See also

4References

5External links

Evolution

A version of the Kabbalistic tree of life

The first historical instance of the modern tree of life was designed by Johann Reuchlin.[8] Paolo Riccio's son, Hyeronomius, had actively exchanged letters and shared his father's work with Reuchlin before publication.[9] Thus, in the year 1516, Reuchlin's diagram came to appear on the cover of the Paolo Riccio's Latin translation of Joseph Gikatilla's Gates of Light. The diagram only had 17 paths and, at the time, the concepts of 10 spheres and 22 letters were still distinct in the literature.[10] In 1573, a version sketched by Franciscus Zillettus appeared in Cesare Evoli, De divinis attributis.[11] This version introduced several innovations that would reappear in later versions: all the spheres were of the same size, the lines became wide paths, the spheres were aligned into 3 distinct columns, Malkuth was connected to three spheres, and astrological symbols for the known celestial bodies were used in conjunction with the Hebrew names to label the spheres. However, it also had only 17 paths, albeit distributed differently. Reuchlin's version was reprinted in Johann Pistorius' compilation of 1587. Finally, several versions from unknown artists introducing 21 and 22 paths appeared in the posthumous print editions of Moses Cordovero's Pardes Rimonim between 1592 and 1609.[12] However, the diagrams with 22 paths lacked consistency with each other and none of them had the 22 letters.[13] Between 1652 and 1654, Athanasius Kircher published his own version of the tree in Oedipus Aegyptiacus. Kircher might have designed his diagram in a syncretic attempt to reconcile several distinct ideas. This heavily annotated version, self-termed Sephirotic System, introduced more innovations: abstract concepts, divine names, the 22 Hebrew letters for each path, and new astrological symbols.[14] Between 1677 and 1684, Christian Knorr von Rosenroth published Kabbala Denudat. He designed several new versions of the tree of life, introduced the first version with 11 spheres, placed Daath between Kether and Tiphareth, and attempted to derive the tree of life from elemental geometry.[15][16][17]

Consequently, to modern day, two versions are widely circulated: one where Malkuth has 1 path, owing to Reuchlin's original; and another where Malkuth has three paths, owing to several later versions; both having 22 paths in total, corresponding each to a Hebrew letter, owing to Kircher's syncretism.[18] With the resurgence of occultism in the 19th century, many new versions appeared, but without major innovations.[19] In the 20th century, Aleister Crowley might have resurfaced the idea of Daath as an 11th hidden sphere between Kether and Tiphareth in his book Liber 777, syncretizing the concept with Kircher's symbols and von Rosenroth's diagrams.[20][21] With the discovery of new planets, people might have tried to introduce more astrological symbols to their own versions of the diagram. As a result, there is no general agreement about the position of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.[22][23] However, in particular, it has been noted that Pluto bears resemblance with Daath: Pluto is a former planet, the last traditional celestial body to be discovered, and Daath is a hidden sphere, the last to be introduced.[24] In the 21st century, enthusiasts might have rushed to attribute these collaborative works spanning centuries and involving several people through complex interactions to single authors. Thus, sometimes, the version where Malkuth has 3 paths is termed the Tree of Emanation, and the version where Malkuth has 1 path is termed the Tree of Return.[5]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkahest

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life_(Kabbalah)

The Lovell (Health) House, a house Neutra designed for Dr. P.M. Lovell in 1928, gained him international recognition. It was also called the Health House because “the structure was brought into a close relationship with the health factors of nature.”

Architect: Richard Neutra

Architectural style: International style

The Lovell House or Lovell Health House is an International style modernist residence designed and built by Richard Neutra between 1927 and 1929. The home, located at 4616 Dundee Drive in Los Angeles, California, was built for the physician and naturopath Philip Lovell. It is considered a major monument in architectural history, and was a turning point in Neutra's career.

It is often described as the first steel frame house in the United States, and also an early example of the use of gunite (sprayed-on concrete). Neutra was familiar with steel construction due to his earlier work with the Chicago firm Holabird & Roche. Neutra served as the contractor for the project in order to manage the cost and quality.

Aesthetically, the house follows many of the principles of the International Style, and was in fact included in the 1932 Museum of Modern Art exhibit that retrospectively defined that style. In essence the house reflects Neutra's interest in industrial production, and this is most evident in the repetitive use of factory-made window assemblies. In fact, Neutra's apprentice Harwell Hamilton Harris suggested that Neutra was drawn to America because of Henry Ford.

The interior reflects Neutra's interest in Cubism, transparency, and hygiene. The "minimal" detailing shows the influence of Irving Gill. In another nod to industrial production, Neutra installed two Ford Model-A headlights in the main stairwell. (The headlights were provided by Neutra apprentice Gregory Ain.) The Historic American Buildings Survey described the Lovell House as "a prime example of residential architecture where technology creates the environment."

Philip Lovell was enchanted with the house and praised his architect publicly. Lovell had previously commissioned architect Rudolf Schindler to build the landmark Lovell Beach House in 1926. Neutra and Schindler were contemporaries in Europe and the Neutras lived with the Schindlers when they first settled in Los Angeles in 1925. Dr. Lovell chose Neutra instead of Schindler to build his Los Angeles home while they were living under the same roof. Neutra was known for his relationships with his clients—he thought of himself as a therapist and the client his patient. He spent time getting to know his clients and analyzed their needs.

The Lovell House was added to the list of Registered Historic Places in Los Angeles in 1971.

The house was used in the 1997 film L.A. Confidential as the home of Pierce Morehouse Patchett, played by David Strathairn. It was also depicted in the film Beginners (Mike Mills, 2010) as the home of Oliver (Ewan McGregor) and his father Hal (Christopher Plummer).

(Explore in/out 6/11/2013) Thank you very much for the visit and comments. Cheers.

Hoverfly on Borage (Borago officinalis), also known as a starflower, is an annual herb. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has naturalized in many other locales. It grows satisfactorily in gardens in the UK climate, remaining in the garden from year to year by self-seeding. The leaves are edible and the plant is grown in gardens for that purpose in some parts of Europe. The plant is also commercially cultivated for borage seed oil extracted from its seeds.

Traditionally borage was cultivated for culinary and medicinal uses, although today commercial cultivation is mainly as an oilseed. The seed oil is desired as source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3, cis 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid), for which borage is the highest known plant-based source (17-28%). The seed oil content is between 26-38% and in addition to GLA contains the fatty acids palmitic acid (10-11%), stearic acid (3.5-4.5%), oleic acid (16-20%), linoleic acid (35-38%), eicosenoic acid (3.5-5.5%), erucic acid (1.5-3.5%), and nervonic acid (1.5%). The oil is often marketed as "starflower oil" or "borage oil" for uses as a GLA supplement, although healthy adults will typically produce ample GLA through dietary linoleic acid.

Borage production does include use as either a fresh vegetable or a dried herb. As a fresh vegetable, borage, with a cucumber like taste, is often used in salads or as a garnish. The flower, which contains the non-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid thesinine, has a sweet honey-like taste and is one of the few truly blue-colored edible substances, is often used to decorate desserts. It is notable that the leaves have been found to contain small amounts (10 ppm of dried herb) of the liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids: intermedine, lycopsamine, amabiline and supinine. The levels are extremely low (2-10 ppm). Leaves contain mainly the toxic lycopsamine also amabiline and the non-toxic saturated PA thesinine (the only alkaloid found in seed contained thesinine and amabiline in a ratio of 10:1). No alkaloids have been found so far in seed oil.

Vegetable use of borage is common in Germany, in the Spanish regions of Aragón and Navarra, in the Greek island of Crete and in the northern Italian region of Liguria. Although often used in soups, one of the better known German borage recipes is the Green Sauce made in Frankfurt. In Italian Liguria, borage is commonly used as a filling of the traditional pasta ravioli and pansoti. The leaves and flowers were originally used in Pimms before being replaced by mint or cucumber peel. It is used to flavour pickled gherkins in Poland.

Borage is also traditionally used as a garnish in the Pimms Cup cocktail, but is sometimes replaced by a long sliver of cucumber peel if not available. It is also one of the key "Botanical" flavourings in Gilpin's Westmorland Extra Dry Gin.

In Iran people make tea to relief cold, flu, bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney inflammation. It is warm in nature and alleviated symptom that caused by using food that is cold in nature like cucumber and fish. People with heart problems can benefit using the borage tea, since it promotes reaching more oxygen to the heart, thatâs why one should use this herb in moderate amounts.

Traditionally Borago officinalis is used in hyperactive gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, such as gastrointestinal (colic, cramps, diarrhea), airways (asthma, bronchitis), cardiovascular, (cardiotonic, antihypertensive and blood purifier), urinary (diuretic and kidney/bladder disorders).

Naturopathic practitioners use borage for regulation of metabolism and the hormonal system, and consider it to be a good remedy for PMS and menopause symptoms such as the hot flash. The flowers can be prepared in infusion.

One case of status epilepticus has been reported that was associated with borage oil ingestion.

A methanol extract of borage has shown strong amoebicidal activity. The 50% inhibitory concentration (LD50) of the extract for Entamoeba histolytica was only 33 µg/mL.

(Source: Wikipedia)

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mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

The health benefits of the seaby NAOMI COLEMAN, femail.co.uk

The sea is an excellent source of nutrition. Believe it or not, half of seaweed is made up of carbohydrate and around one third is protein, vitamins and fibre. Even better, seaweed contains only two per cent of fat.Seaweed is a form of marine algae that grows in the upper levels of the ocean. Out of the hundreds of types of seaweed available, there are around ten different kinds that we can actually eat. And, according to naturopath Dr Gillian McKeith, author of Living Food for Health, plants from the sea contain more minerals than any other plant source. This is because they contain a variety of important elements. Typical ingredients are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and many trace elements.In fact, one type of seaweed called Wakame contains ten times more calcium than the amount found in milk. There is eight times more iron in Kombu - a type of kelp - than beef.In addition, Dr McKeith claims the protein in seaweed is more easily absorbed by the body than protein found in meat or fish.'This is because protein in meat is a complex structure that the body finds difficult to break down,' she says. 'By comparison seaweed has a simple structure which the body can easily absorb.'Not only this, but the alkaline content of seaweed makes our bodies less acidic. 'Too much acid in our bodies can make us slow and sluggish,' she says. But eating alkaline foods such as seaweed speeds up our metabolic rate and gives us more energy.'Although it is possible to eat too much seaweed because it has a cooling effect on the liver, Dr McKeith recommends eating a small handful of seaweed sprinkled on soups or stews three times a week.Here, we look at the nutritional properties of four different types of seaweedNori for healthy bones and teethThis popular type of seaweed found along the coast of Japan is an excellent source of nutrition. It contains 48 per cent of protein - the equivalent to meat or eggs. It also has the same amount of beta carotene as carrots and twice as much vitamin C as oranges.Nori is a rich source of B vitamins and minerals including calcium - used for building bones and teeth, iron - essential for the formation of red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body, phosphorus - for energy metabolism and iodine - essential for the formation of thyroid hormones, which regulate the body's energy production and promote growth.It is also said that Nori can reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure due to its high levels of essential fatty acids (EFAs). Essential fatty acids are essential to health because they reduce high cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots and help brain and eye development.Dulse for joint painThis reddish purple seaweed found in America and Canada contains eight times the amount of iron as beef - making it the richest source of iron in any food. Its high levels of iron help the body to produce red blood cells and keep our blood healthy Dulse is also rich in B vitamins and the minerals calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and manganese. Manganese is important for relieving arthritis, osteoporosis - a bone-thinning disease - and joint pain because manganese is thought to encourage protein production involved in repairing cartilage and bones.Kombu or kelp for weight loss, thyroid problems and skin problemsA type of kelp that is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, iron and iodine - Kombu - is claimed to improve our body's metabolism and immune system. Kelp can also help with obesity linked to thyroid deficiency because it boosts levels of endocrine hormones, increasing metabolic rate, thus helping with weight loss. Kelp is also said to help with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema thanks to its anti-fungal properties. Blue-green algae for brain function and preventing hair loss

Although most algae are found in the ocean, edible algae actually grows in lakes. Scientific studies show that this plant vegetable is good for brain function. Researchers have shown how academic results improved when school children took algae daily. Other evidence published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medical Society, shows that algae can reverse - or even prevent Alzheimer's from developing into the full blown disease. According to Dr McKeith, the body finds algae particularly easy to absorb - thanks to its simple molecular structure. Unlike other foods such as beef, of which where we absorb just 20 per cent, the human body can absorb 90 per cent of algae making it a nutritious source of food.

Algae is also a richer source of beta carotene, vitamin B12 and chlorophyll than any other plant. It is also an excellent source of B vitamins - essential for the production of red blood cells and creating energy. In addition algae is rich in iodine, a mineral that's crucial for hair growth. According to John Mason, president of The Institute of Trichologists in London, one of the main reasons for hair thinning in women is due to the sluggish working of the thyroid gland, which needs iodine to function correctlyRead more www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-102694/The-health-bene...

What the heck? Explored? Okay, but if I had of known I would have at least done my eye make-up! Thanks to all my Flickr friends who decided to take a look!

December 29, 2008 - #181

So two of my Flickr friends tagged me over Christmas, but I was just too bagged to give this a good effort. But I am ready now.

I took my new Canon 50D, stood at a mirror, and snapped this. Here I am for all the world to see, whether you like it or not.

And now for 16 things about myself:

1) I wear a pink toque and yellow boots (I have added sparkles to both - one can never have too much bling, can one?)

2) I talk to inanimate objects, especially cheeky garden gnomes.

3) I love the movie, "Moonstruck," especially the part where Cher slaps Nic Cage and tells him to, "Snap out of it," or when Olympia Dukakis tells her father-in-law, "I'll kick you till you're dead," if he feeds any more of her food to the dogs. (I am laughing just thinking about it).

4) I have the best husband on the planet. He's my third and last. Thank goodness, I finally got it right. We're going on 22 years.

5) I love striking up conversations with old men, anywhere in the world. It freaks my poor husband right out, because I don't care if they are ragged street people or surly men with machine guns. If I want to meet them, I walk up to them and start a conversation. It's true!

6) I take photos in my pyjamas. Some photo ops just can't wait.

7) I was thrown from a horse when I was 12; I should have been killed. I lost my memory (temporarily) and tore through 3 strands of barbed wire. (Ouch!)

8) I am a born again Christian. Jesus came to get me in my shower one day; yep, my shower with soap and shampoo, and dripping hair. (Me, not Him.) It was one of the darkest days of my life. When I walked out, I knew I would never be the same again. That was 12 years ago.

9) I can milk a cow, kill, pluck and draw a chicken, drive a tractor, candle an egg, squish potato bugs, and make the best damn risotto you've ever tasted.

10) I have been a writer since I could first hold a pencil. When I was 8, one of my stories was picked as one of the best on a CBC radio show. It was called, "How Fire Came to Be."

11) I was once a rock 'n roll reporter. 'Nuff said on that, trust me.

12) I studied holistic medicine and nearly became a naturopath. But I chose the wild life of an entertainment reporter instead.

13) I love God. I have always loved God. And everything He has created.

14) I love Florence, Italy, too. I had the most wonderful encounter behind Dante's house with a classical actor. His voice was like a melody, and my ear wanted to get off the side of my head and lay down on the ground to forever hear his voice.

15) I am who I am. And that's all that I am. Said Popeye the sailor man.

16) Oops, J.D. pointed out that I missed 16, but I never said I could count. LOL!

And now you know . . .or do you?

Sincerely,

Sheree (Canada)

Keiko is one of my three cats and is the most mellow and carefree. Unfortunately, she has a mysterious skin twitching condition that is hard to diagnose or treat. She has been to a dermatologist, internist, naturopath, neurologist, had MRI, and still no real answer. They want me to treat her with an anti-depressant drug-I give her the lowest dose. I also chose to try some unconventional treatments too. Thus the acupuncture. Hope it helps over time. Update: photo switched 4/26/07.

via Instagram ift.tt/1Os6HAN

© All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images

"The Kallawaya are an itinerant group of traditional healers living in the Andes of Bolivia. They live in the Bautista Saavedra region, a mountainous area north of La Paz. They are members of the Mollo culture and are direct descendants of Tiwanaku culture. According to the UNESCO #Safeguarding Project, the Kallawaya can be traced to the pre-Inca period. The Kallawaya performed brain surgery as early as 700 CE and knew how to effectively prevent and treat malaria with quinine before the Europeans. They also helped to save thousands of lives during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Kallawaya doctors (médicos Kallawaya), are known as the naturopathic healers of Inca kings, and as keepers of science knowledge, principally the pharmaceutical properties of vegetables, animals and minerals. Most Kallawaya healers understand how to use 300 herbs, while specialists are familiar with 600 herbs. Kallawaya women are often midwives, treat gynecological disorders, and pediatric patients. Kallawaya healers travel through northwestern Bolivia and parts of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Often they are on foot, walking ancient Inca trails, through the tropics, mountain valleys and highland plateaus, while looking for traditional herbs."

Read more at Wikipedia

Note - "The main Objectives of the #safeguarding project are to:

* Promote the preservation and safeguarding of Kallawaya culture at local, regional and national levels;

* Strengthen the techniques and transmission of traditional medicine;

* Strengthen the knowledge Concerning Natural Healing with medicines;

* Necessary create the conditions to Ensure the transmission of the traditional knowledge;

* Promote Kallawaya culture, as part of the multicultural identity of Bolivia;

* To Promote the practice of traditional medicine in hospitals of the municipalities of the Bautista Saavedra province." Reference

Surya Chikitsa or Color Therapy is a drugless method of treating the diseases by using different colors from sunlight. The rays of the sun contain all the essential elements needed to reestablish and maintain the health of the human body. Sun rays are made-up of seven colors – (1) Red (2) Yellow (3) Orange (4) Green (5) Blue (6) Indigo (7) Violet.

These colors can be seen in rainbow. These seven colors have different qualities. In the other words there are only 7 medicines for all the bodily ailments. The law of nature is that where there is light, there is energy and there is life. There is coolness, heat and weight in colors. Place a thermometer in a glass of water and throw rays over it. Red rays will show heat and blue rays will show coolness. This proves the above fact.

The history of color therapy is very ancient. Indian Vedic scriptures have mentioned the significance of these colors. This system was first practiced in India by Indian Rishis (Indian Saints). Then slowly this knowledge reached to China, Egypt, Greece and spread throughout the world. According to the basic principles of Surya Chikitsa or Color Therapy, human body is composed of different colors and lack of any color in our body gives rise to disease. A man is said to be in a state of health as long as the colors of the spectrum are in a harmonious state in his body. The body parts, which are visible, have different colors and so have the internal organs. The brain, eyes, lungs, heart, liver, intestines, kidney, bones, blood have different colors. When closely examined, even the smallest cell of the body is found colored.

During the state of disease, there is a disturbance in the balance of colors in the human body. When a disorder arises, besides its chemical balance, its color balance too is affected. Surya Chikitsa or color therapy restores the chemical and color balance of the body and cures the disease. Color therapy removes the foreign matter from the system that causes disease. It removes the disorder from the root cause and permanently suppress the disease.

This is a universally accepted fact that development of all living forms of life depends mainly on solar energy. Today solar cells can produce electricity and can run cars, trains etc. When the sun is the life force of all living things, the efficacy of colors, which are emitted from the sun rays, can hardly be doubted. An experienced naturopath can use seven colors for curing different ailments, but for the ordinary person, following four groups will be helpful for treatment:-

Red, Orange and Yellow

Green

Blue, Indigo and Violet

White Solar Charged Water

Red, Orange, Yellow Charged Water

Nature: Stimulating, expanding and heating property.

Properties: Orange color mainly affects the stomach, liver, spleen, kidney and the intestine. It improves the blood circulation and tones up the muscles. It is helpful in cold, anemia, low blood pressure, rheumatism, sexual weakness, sprains, polio, paralysis, constipation, brain disorders, indigestion, diabetes and eye defects. This water removes weight and removes weakness. It also increases milk in nursing mother's breasts. It enhances mental power, willpower, intelligence and courage.

Precaution: It is injurious in cases of fever, boils, inflammatory disorders, when nerves are very active and in case of high palpitation of heart.

Green Charged Water

Nature: Neutral, harmonizing and eliminating.

Properties: It builds up muscles and gives energy. It strengthens the nerve center and purifies the blood. And it helps to expel foreign matter from the body and helps to perk up body and mind.

Benefits: It is a mixture of yellow and blue color. It is the king of colors. It keeps the body chemistry well balanced. Being highly medicinal and depressive, it is of great help in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, fevers like typhoid and malaria, liver trouble, eye trouble, indigestion, small pox, boils, pimples, skin trouble, eczema, nightly seminal ejaculations, diabetes, boils, ulcers, headache, nervous trouble, dry cough, cold etc.

Blue, Indigo, Violet Charged Water

Nature: Contracting, cooling and soothing.

Properties: It is a good antiseptic. It removes swelling caused by wind and help in curing burning sensation of any kind. It affects mostly the mouth, throat and the above part reaching the brain. It increases and stimulates the hormones and the antibodies. This water increases the resistance of our body from bacterial diseases. This color is related to human mentality.

Benefits: It is useful in skin diseases, high blood pressure, old ulcers, abdominal colic, dysentery, arthritis, over fatigue deafness, migraine etc. It is as helpful medicine in easing childbirth. It is very effective in high fever and headaches, and removes burning sensation from the body. It cures excessive bleeding during menstruation, and is an effective medicine in tonsillitis, swelling of gums, toothache, pyorrhea and other aliments of the throat. If one gets burnt on any part of the body, pouring blue waters or oil and giving blue rays on the affected part, will give him a quick recovery and will also help in removing the burning sensation.

Precaution: Injurious in paralysis, colds and anemia.

White Solar Charged Water

It can be prepared by keeping the water for 8-10 hours in direct sunlight. A liter of this water should be taken every morning. Those who are sick and sensitive can first start with 1 glass of water and gradually increase the amount. This water should be taken empty stomach in the morning. Without brushing your teeth. Nothing should be taken (tea, coffee, or breakfast) with in one hour after taking this water. Other color charged waters could be taken after 45 minutes if needed.

Method To Prepare Colored Water

Colored water (water treated with different color rays of the sun) can be prepared, by exposing water in transparent glass bottles of desired color in sunlight for 6-8 hours. To prepare blue water, use blue color bottle. If colored bottle is not available warp white bottle with transparent colored sheets. After treating the water keep it for 1-2 hours to cool and then use it. Color combination described in ancient Hindu books Red, yellow and blue are the original natural colors. By mixing these colors other colors are formed. Red color when mixed with yellow color in equal proportion produces orange color and yellow color. If mixed with blue produces green color.

Color Combination

Red and yellow make orange, blue violet make indigo. Yellow and green make lemon. Green and blue make turquose. Red and violet produce magenta. Magenta and red make scarlet. Blue and red make purple/ violet. Yellow and blue make green. Orange and violet make brown. Green and orange make olive. Green and violet make slate.

Sun Bath

The exposure of body to sun rays at a particular time is termed as sun bath. It has many medicinal values. Sunlight is of prime importance for maintaining good health. Out of the five naturopathy. Sun bath should be taken early in the morning. Sun showers three types of rays upon us. These are:-

Rays of visible (white) light: Sunlight has seven different colors, which can be seen during rainbow. They are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Each color has an effect on the body.

Infra red rays: These rays generate heat, and are beneficial in the winter. They have a good effect on the body. It relaxes the muscles, reduces swelling and removes pain.

Ultra violet rays: When these rays are exposed on the skin, vitamin D. is produced. Sunlight is the best available source of vitamin D. Ultraviolet rays keep the skin healthy, cures disease of the bone known as ‘Rickets'.

Sunlight is beneficial for the whole body. Sunlight destroys certain bacteria and disease spreading germs. It increases red blood corpuscles and white blood corpuscles in the blood and helps to increase the natural resistance of the body. It is beneficial in rheumatism, lumbago, backache, gout, cramps and loss of appetite. Sunlight helps to develop the size and the strength of the muscles. It is also useful for pregnant lady. She gets relief from fatigue, backache, over stimulation etc.

Points To Remember While Taking Sun Bath

During sun bath, minimum possible clothes should be worn. The mild sunlight of morning and evening is to be taken. The intense sunlight of the mid day should be avoided. Do not look directly into the sun. Eyes should be closed and head should be covered during sun bath. Initially, the duration of sun bath should be 5 minutes. This time can be increased gradually. In summer, it should be taken for 15 minutes and for 50 minutes during winter. It is advisable to take a cold water bath after sun bath. If cold water bath is not possible, body should be wiped by a piece of cloth dipped in cold water. Sun bath should be taken in a place, which is sheltered from direct wind. It should not be given to patients suffering from fever or acute pulmonary tuberculosis.

DESCRIPTION SOURCE:

naturopathy.co.in/colortherapy.htm