River Reeds
River Reeds was a community built for clarinetists in and around Louisville, Kentucky to connect, share, and support one another. It was built for students, teachers, hobbyists, and pros.
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Root Chakra
Activate with red. Balance with black. Associated with comfort, grounding, security, support. [read more]
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Turquoise
calm, change, creativity, dreamwork, empathy, energy, goals, healing, unity [read more]
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Traditional English Yorkshire Pudding
Serve as a side dish with any roast dinner or eat them cold the next day with jam and clotted cream. The secret to Yorkshire puds is hot, hot oil. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Add 1 tsp. of vegetable oil to each cup of a 6-cup muffin pan and put it in the oven for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk flour, salt, milk, and eggs to form a smooth batter without lumps. Carefully remove the muffin pan from the oven. Divide the batter between the 6 cups. Bake for 25 min., until the tops are golden brown.… [read more]
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Spicy Pumpkin Soup
3 lb. eating pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks4 garlic cloves, minced1 large yellow onion, diced1 in. ginger root, grated1 dried ancho chilli, chopped1⁄2 t ground coriander1⁄2 t ground cumin4 T olive oil4 c vegetable stock2 c milk1 lime4 slices chevre1⁄4 c cilantro, chopped finelyBlack pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350°F. Add first 8 ingredients to an ovenproof dish. Mix well. Bake for 60 min. Add pumpkin mix and vegetable stock to a big saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk until incorporated. Cook on medium high for 5 more… [read more]
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Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Harvested more zucchini than you know what to do with? Think dessert! 2 medium zucchini (about 1 c)1 c butter2 eggs1⁄4 c milk1 t vanilla extract1⁄4 c sugar1⁄2 t salt1⁄2 t baking soda2 T all purpose flour Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray. Set aside. Shred the zucchini with a box grater. Pat the shredded zucchini withpaper towels, removing as much water as possible. In a large bowl, mix butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Add cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking soda, and flour. Mix and stir in the zucchini. Fill each muffin cup about… [read more]
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Honey Ginger Basil Lemonade
When life gives you lemons, you W know what to do. Grated ginger and fresh basil leaves make this the perfect summer tonic. 2 in. fresh ginger, peeled and sliced as thin as you can1/2 cup honey (or agave for a vegan op, tion)1 cup boiling water5 lemons1 bunch basil Add the ginger and honey to a small bowl. Pour 1 cup boiling water into the bowl and stir until the honey dissolves. Set aside for 15 minutes. Thenstrain the liquid, removing the ginger. Pour the remaining mixture into a 2,quart pitcher. Juice 4 of the lemons (about 1 cup… [read more]
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Nimona
10/10 will watch this again! My kid made me watch it, and I’m so happy I did. The adaptation was great, but the comic is way better. There’s some amazing queer representation in the storyline and the voice actors chosen. There are also themes about not judging others based on fear, and learning to accept others — and yourself — and all your differences. I loved it. EDIT: go here to get questions answered about what could be concerning in this movie. I think it’s fine for younger viewers, but my kid is a mature 12 and we’ve shown them… [read more]
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Teeth
July 1992: The summer before my junior year of high school, I was in a very bad bicycle accident. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but the gist of it is I was riding down a curve in the middle of town, and my bicycle’s front tire seized up. It stopped, I didn’t. I literally bit the pavement, knocked out my left front tooth, chipped the incisor next to it, and broke the right front tooth. I had bad road rash on all my joints and almost half of my face. Thanks to some family friends in a car behind… [read more]
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Not a Lie if They Make You Do It
“Lie. It’s not lying if they make you lie, if the only truth they can accept is their own.” [read more]
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“Your heart’s no good as a heart until it’s been broken 10 times. There’s something about the scar tissue that makes it stronger.” Emma Thompson [read more]
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Soulmates
If soulmates do exist, they’re not found, they’re made. People meet, they get a good feeling, and then they get to work building a relationship. Michael, “The Good Place” [read more]
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Jim Carrey on Depression
I stumbled upon this video today, and the message is amazing. I would never have pegged Jim Carrey for a Buddhist, but his ideas are spot-on. [read more]
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Moon in Sagittarius
Encourages confidence and flights of imagination. This is an adventurous, philosophical, and athletic Moon sign. Favors expansion and growth. [read more]
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Moon in Aquarius
Rebellious energy. Time to break habits and make abrupt change. Personal freedom and individuality is the focus. [read more]
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Moon in Pisces
The focus is on dreaming, nostalgia, intuition, and psychic impressions. A good time for spiritual or philanthropic activities. [read more]
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Moon in Capricorn
Develops strong structure. Focus on traditions, responsibili-ties, and obligations. A good time to set boundaries and rules. [read more]
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Moon in Scorpio
Increases awareness of psychic power. Precipitates psychic crises and ends connections thoroughly. People have a tendency to brood and become secretive. [read more]
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Moon in Libra
Favors cooperation, compromise, social activities, balance, friendship, and partnership. [read more]
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Moon in Virgo
Favors accomplishment of details and commands from higher up. Focus on health, hygiene, and daily schedules. [read more]
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Moon in Leo
Draws emphasis to the self, to central ideas or institutions, away from connections with others and emotional needs. [read more]
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Moon in Moonchild
Stimulates emotional rapport between people. Supports growth and nurturing. Tend to domestic concerns. [read more]
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Moon in Gemini
Things begun now are easily changed by outside influence. Time for shortcuts, communication, games, and fun. [read more]
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Moon in Taurus
Things begun now last longest, tend to increase in value, and become hard to change. Brings out an appreciation for beauty and sensory experience. [read more]
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Moon in Aries
Good for starting things. Things occur rapidly but quickly pass. People tend to be argumentative and assertive. [read more]
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Waning
Waning, from Full Moon to New Moon, is a time for study, meditation, and magical work designed to banish harmful energies. [read more]
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Waxing
Waxing, from New Moon to Full Moon, is the ideal time to do magic to draw things to you. [read more]
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Energy Amplifier Candle Dressing
This candle dresing recipe can be used to amplify the power of any spell or ritual. Based on a mixture of herbs with lively energy, it will stir up extra magical impact and speed the results of your working. The herbs are chosen for their associations with snappy, quick energy. The key ingredient is ashes from a piece of paper bearing your name. Write your name on a small slip of paper and carefully burn it in a heatproof dish. Gather the ashes after they have cooled and include them in the dry ingredients. For anointing, you will need 1… [read more]
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Lucky Seven Candle Dressing
The number seven is lucky because so many good things come in sevens: the number of colors in a rainbow, the chakras or energy centers in the body, and the continents of the world. The number seven ranks among the most favored numbers by gamblers and lottery players. This candle dressing contains seven herbs, each representing something powerful and positive. Dress a candle of any color and burn it to attract luck in all areas of life. For anointing, use 1 drop mint oil, 1 drop chamomile oil, and 1 drop sandalwood oil. Mix together ½ tsp. crushed dried patchouli… [read more]
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Blue Moon
Blue Moon refers to when a Full Moon appears for the second time in the same calendar month. This Blue Moon happens to fall on Wednesday, the day of Mercury . . . during Mercury ret-rograde. While Mercury retrograde does not lend itself well to important new conversations, it provides ample opportunities to revisit unresolved situations and explore them from new perspectives. It also gives us time to look back on what we might have done differently. While there is an adage that you regret the things you don’t do, the reality is that there are, for all of us,… [read more]
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Love & Sweetness Candle dressing
Not all candle dresings have to include oil. There are many other creative and meaningful ways to make your herbs stick to your candle, like in this recipe. Instead of using oil, the candle will be coated with maple syrup. As a sugary liquid, maple syrup is associated with sweetness and attraction. If you find it too sticky, try mixing it with a few drops of water to dilute it. For anointing, you will need ½ tsp. maple syrup. For dry ingredients, use ½ tsp. white sugar, ½ tsp. crushed dried rose petals, and 1 pinch orris root powder. This… [read more]
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Grounding Candle Dressing
This candle dresing is meant to be used when casting grounding spells, while decompressing after a challenging day, or when you are struggling to keep your mind firmly planted in reality. The dried plant ingredients are best found in your own backyard or park because they’re directly connected to the earth spirits where you live, which makes their energy more immediate and accessible. For anointing, use 3 drops patchouli oil. You will also need ½ tsp. dirt from your yard or nearby area, ½ tsp. dried flower petals of any kind from near your home, and ½ tsp. dried crushed… [read more]
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Banishing Candle Dressing
This mixture is best used or black candles, but any color will do in a real pinch. The combinations of ingredients in this dressing create a strong odor that may be less than pleasant. Remember, its purpose is to repel unwanted energy, people, or things–not to attract them with lovely aromas! You can use this dressing in conjunction with any banishing spell or on its own. You can also dress a black candle and simply sit near it while it burns when you feel negative vibrations or entities are clinging to you. For anointing, use 1 drop rosemary oil and… [read more]
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Intuitive Guidance Candle Dressing
Often in life we find ourselves in situations where it’s difficult to separate a gut feeling from facts. Life is full of contradictions, and sometimes it can be impossible to know which way to turn, which course of action to take, or what is really right for you. This candle dressing can be used whenever you’re facing a hard choice or when outside opinions are at odds with your inner feelings. For anointing, use 1 drop sandalwood oil, 1 drop lavender oil, and 1 drop frankincense oil. You will also need 1 tsp. dried crushed mugwort, 1 tsp. dried crushed… [read more]
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Sunshine Power Candle Dressing
This candle dressing harnesses the power of the Sun and is best used on a yellow or orange candle. This recipe can be included in spells for success, in-spiration, and growth of all kinds. It can also be put on a candle and burned in a space that simply needs a boost of joy. For anointing, you’ll need 1 drop sunflower oil and 1 drop cedar oil. Dry ingredients include 1 tsp. dried crushed sunflower petals, 1 tsp. hot chili powder, and 1 tsp. dried marigold or calendula petals. Combine the dry materials in a bowl or on a plate.… [read more]
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Strength and Hope Candle Dressing
Evergreens of all kinds are brought indoors for decoration during the winter months because they are symbols of hope and a reminder that growth will prevail. Trees like pine, cedar, and spruce stand strong and sturdy even in the harshest climates, displaying resilience and an amazing ability to thrive in the face of adversity. This candle dressing can be incorporated into winter rituals or used on its own in spells for strength and endurance during difficult times. You might be able to find all the plant materials of this recipe in vour own area. You will need 1 drop pine… [read more]
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Spiritual Cleansing
My spirit has become heavy, my burden too great. The earthly and the divine meet to cleanse my spirit. From the center of my heart I release these heavy stones;I release unwanted thoughts;I release all that I have outgrown. I am free of spiritual traps;I am cleansed of my confusion;I am balanced and purified;this pain and stress become illusion. So mote it be, 3x3x3. [read more]
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Unprocessed trauma doesn’t have an expiration date
This resonates with me so much. And, I heard it in a TikTok, of all places. [read more]
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This is 47.
A few weeks ago, I leveled up. I hardly ever wear makeup. In this photo, I’m not wearing any. I still deal with acne. You can see a little spot just above my lip. I don’t do my hair, unless you count adding a leave-in conditioner some level of styling. I tend to let it air-dry in the car on the way to work. I don’t do filters in photos, unless using portrait lighting on my iPhone counts. I don’t look old for my age, I don’t look young for my age. This is what my version of 47 looks… [read more]
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Equality Act
I don’t know why, but I am on Mitch McConnell’s email list. Here’s the email I received and the reply I sent back. [read more]
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Hope
This brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Lush, for standing with trans people in Kentucky. [read more]
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Waning Crescent Moon
healingsoothingsurrender Irish: Caidreamh Gan Fás Represents rest, rejuvenation, and introspection also called the Balsamic Moon Begins: 10.5 days after Full Moon, continues to beginning of New Moon What to do: Ask yourself: [read more]
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Last Quarter Moon
re-evaluatebalancetrust Irish: An Chéad Chrua Associated with forgiveness, closure, and preparation for new beginnings Begins: 7-10.5 days after Full Moon What to do: Ask yourself: [read more]
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Waning Gibbous Moon
relaxacceptregroup Irish: Bruíon Caidreamh Symbolizes release, letting go of what no longer serves you, and reflection also called the Disseminating Moon Begins: 3.5-7 days after Full Moon What to do: Ask yourself: [read more]
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Waxing Gibbous Moon
tweakhoneadjust Irish: Óir Caidreamh Represents abundance, fertility, and the fulfillment of goals Begins: 10.5-15 days after New Moon What to do: Ask yourself: [read more]
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First Quarter Moon
challengesconfidencecommitment Irish: An Chéad Chuar Associated with taking action, making decisions, and moving forward Begins: 7-10.5 days after New Moon What to do: Ask yourself: [read more]
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Waxing Crescent Moon
couragemoving forwardfaith Irish: Caidreamh Fás Represents increased energy, creativity, and manifestation of desires Begins: 3.5-7 days after the New Moon What to do: Ask yourself: [read more]
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All that is gold does not glitter
All that is gold does not glitter,Not all those who wander are lost;The old that is strong does not wither,Deep roots are not reached by the frost. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring [read more]
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Lush
So, I’ve been looking into hyaluronic acid. I know, most of you just went 🥱😴💤. Anyway…. [read more]
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Kentuckians oppose law on gender-affirming healthcare
I thought our representatives were supposed to, you know, represent. Apparently they don’t care what we want. [read more]
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Year 12
Just finished a day of clarinet (and 2 oboes) judging. It’s my favorite non-dayjob job. ❤️ [read more]
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New Year
This year, 2023, will not be about making any major resolutions, I’m not vowing to accomplish something big, I’m not looking to prove anything to anyone. [read more]
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One day, the mountain that is in front of you will be so far behind you, it will barely be visible in the distance. But the person you become in learning to get over it? That will stay with you forever. And that is the point of the mountain. Brianna West [read more]
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Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. Brené Brown [read more]
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Quote from, “Letters to a Young Poet”
“I beg you to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet [read more]
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Homebrew and ImageMagick
This post goes into the details of setting up ImageMagick with Homebrew for use with a WordPress install. [read more]
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Motivated Monday
I experience quite a large mood shift in the colder months when the days get shorter. I noticed it pretty severely last year, and this year I’m making positive changes to help better cope with it. [read more]
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Seeking Equipment Recommendations
I am asking for equipment suggestions. I’m ok with my sound but feel like it could definitely be better. Being so far removed from the college scene, I feel I’ve been somewhat stuck in a rut (not really) using the same equipment recommended to me by my absolute favorite clarinet professor, the late Dallas Tidwell, but that was 2006-2008. Even so, I feel it’s time to upgrade. [read more]
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I love you.
to those of you i see every day, i love you. i love that you’re part of my life and i love that we’re able to share bits and pieces throughout our days. to those i see occasionally, i love you. we don’t spend as much time together as i’d like, and i wish it were more. but, every moment we do get to spend together is precious, and i cherish it. to those i haven’t seen in a long time, i love you. we sure do try to stay in touch, and even though we don’t live close enough… [read more]
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Relationships with negative people are simply tedious encounters with porcupines. You don’t have the remote knowledge how to be close to them without quills being shot in your direction. Shannon L. Alder [read more]
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Your joy can fill you only as deeply as your sorrow has carved you. Kahlil Gibran [read more]
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If I’ve learned anything from video games, it’s that if you run into an enemy, you’re going in the right direction. [read more]
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If you are willing to look at another person’s behavior toward you as a reflection of the state of their relationship with themselves rather than a statement about your value as a person, then you will, over a period of time cease to react at all. Yogi Bhajan [read more]
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The only thing to be scared of is tomorrow. I don’t live for tomorrow. Never saw the fun in it. Denny Crane [read more]
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Full Moon
resultsforgivenessgratitudeassess + align Irish: An Ghealach Mhór Considered the most powerful phase, representing enlightenment, intuition, and heightened spiritual energy Begins: Use the full moon to process: Ask yourself: [read more]
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New Moon
new beginnings, clean slategrowing light, potentialdream + manifest Irish: Lá Mhór Beginning of the lunar cycle Begins: 1-3.5 days after the Balsamic Moon What to do: Ask yourself: [read more]
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Getting healthy
I get prompts every day at 10am to write in my blog. I’m never sure what to write, so I haven’t been. However, I do want to journal and start being better about putting my feelings and activities into words, so here goes… I’ve started a health program. This is not something I would normally do, but I’ve gained so much weight in the past 10 years and have not found anything that will help get or keep it off. So, when my friend Danielle started showing signs of weight loss and an amazing increase in confidence and happiness, I… [read more]
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Pippin’s Pop-up Pancakes
Ingredients: 4T butter 3 eggs 1/2 c egg whites 1 c milk 1/2 t salt 1 c flour Directions: Add butter to 9×13 pan and place in 400° oven. In a mixing bowl, add eggs, egg whites, milk, and salt and blend. Add flour and mix till lumpy. Take the pan out of the oven, spread the butter evenly, pour the mix into the pan and bake 400° for 15 minutes. [read more]
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Love yourself, friends, all your quirks, idiosyncrasies, psychoses, worries, frets, obsessions, anything and everything that makes you you. [read more]
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Person 1: I’ll keep observing Columbus Day, thanks. Person 2: What do you do to “observe” Columbus Day? Get lost in a grocery store looking for spices? Below is what the White House posted on October 12, 2020 (for context, this was from during the end of the Trump Administration). Someone on Facebook fixed it. Sadly Thankfully, in recent years, radical activists thoughtful citizens have sought to undermine contextualize Christopher Columbus’s legacy. These extremists mindful people seek to replace broaden discussion of his vast contributions with talk of by recognizing his failings, ^evaluating his discoveries with alongside his atrocities, and… [read more]
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None of us know how long we’ve got, which is why we have to make each day matter. A life well-lived, that’s the most any of us can hope for. Nate Fisher, “Six Feet Under” [read more]
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Salmon Quinoa Bowl
Ingredients: 1 c quinoa 6 baby red potatoes, diced 3 stocks celery, diced 1 med. white onion, diced 12 oz. wild caught salmon olive oil Himalayan pink salt black pepper garlic powder Old Bay seasoning Directions: Follow cooking instructions for quinoa… Typically add 2 cups of water and 1 cup of quinoa to pan. Bring to a boil, then cover and lower the temperature to simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the water is absorbed and the quinoa produces halos. While quinoa is cooking… Add 1 T olive oil, potatoes, onion, and celery to a skillet over medium heat. Stir… [read more]
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Overkill
I can’t get to sleepI think about the implicationOf diving in too deepAnd possibly the complications Especially at nightI worry over situationsI know will be alrightPerhaps it’s just imagination Day after day it reappearsNight after night my heartbeat shows the fearGhosts appear and fade away Alone between the sheetsOnly brings exasperationIt’s time to walk the streetsSmell the desperation At least there’s pretty lightsAnd though there’s little variatiosIt nullifies the nightFrom overkill Day after day it reappearsNight after night my heartbeat, shows the fearGhosts appear and fade awayCome back another day I can’t get to sleepI think about the implicationsOf diving… [read more]
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Green Calcite
Green Calcite is a stone close to our hearts — and it should be close to yours, too. It’s essential for your heart chakra, allowing you to release negativity, doubts, and old patterns. You’ll find yourself opening up to new opportunities that serve you. Use this stone daily during meditation practice, or just when you’re in need of a boost. Hodl it tightly in your hand above your heart chakra and breathe in, breathe out. [read more]
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Indonesian Amber
Indonesian Amber is the perfect stone to take you out of that winter funk for good. Known as the joy and positivity stone, this gem is excellent in all aspects of the word. It has healing powers for both mental and physical ailments, and will surely supplement even the most well0rounded self-care practices. Bring out this stone whenever you feel the need for a mood shift. Let it guide you into positive thinking, feeling, and doing throughout your day or your meditation. Keep it close at hand when sadness strikes, on your altar or even in your pocket. [read more]
