High Mesa Happenings

Agora: a Movie Recommendation

Cindy Wilson/Oly of Temple of Hekate's Torch would like to recommend the movie Agora  from famous film director Alejandro Amenabar and recently released in Europe.  Cindy writes:

”The Spanish movie 'Agora' is released this week.  There isn't an American company as yet to sponsor it in the US.  I hope one will soon.  I would very much like to see this history-based movie.”

The movie recounts the story of Hypatia, the last great philosopher and mathematician of the Hellenistic Age, who was brutally assassinated by a fanatic Christian mob in 415 a.D.

Agora was a public place of assembly in ancient Greek city-states. Read more>

Hypatia of Alexandria (350 and 370 – 415) was a Greek scholar from Alexandria in Egypt considered the first notable woman in mathematics, who also taught philosophy and astronomy… Read more>

“Unfortunately,” continues Cindy, “ the nay Sayers  are already out in force:   Civil Groups Protest

The comments seem to fear this movie as an attack upon their religious institution. 

I have a different attitude...history should not be silenced simply to keep ignorance intact.  The movie as I understand it is not an attack on any particular religious organization, but rather the mob mentality which used religion as the excuse and right to murder and destroy. Surely that message is worthy of repeating again so we can learn and not suffer through it again - regardless of religious preference.

Spread the word...let's see the movie Agora.”

Thank you Cindy, for sending this recommendation. I find Amenabar’s choice of a heroine, of the film cultural context, and of religion as the catalyst of the end of an era most interesting and a-propos.

Nadette

 

 

Never Too Late to Heal

Last year when I went to renew my drivers license I was totally bummed that I could not pass the vision test. Try as I may I could not make out those letters. This event seemed to start me on a downward spiral of the aging process; or, at least, my thoughts on that process. I was convincing myself that I might as well just hang it all up and go into retirement. Well, that option was not very attractive to me, but what was I to do when this body would not do what I wanted it to do? I was diagnosed with dystrophy of the cornea many years ago and it just got progressively worse. I had cataract surgery several years ago and that did not do that much for my vision.

As synchronicity would have it, someone came into my life only long enough to tell me about her doctor and teacher at the Eye Associates of NM. and then she was gone, off to do other things. I did get in to see the doctor who founded the clinic and he immediately referred me to the corneal specialist who looked at my eyes and said you will have to have surgery sometime and you might as well do it now. Well, he is one of the few doctors who are doing this new corneal surgery and I found him right here in Albuquerque. I had the first implant in April, which did not take but the one in May did take. The vision improvement was slow and I was still wondering if I would ever be whole again. Slowly I began to regain my vision and I began to become more hopeful for an active life again.

I guess on some level I set an intention to continue to heal for the next thing I knew I was going to a sweat lodge with my friend Lydia and she mentioned that her new TurboSonic machine was in and wouldn't I like to come try it out.  Well, sure, I am always open to experience the newest and the latest. When I went in to use the TurboSonic, Lydia asked if I had any condition that might qualify this treatment for Medicare to pay for some sessions. Well yes, I had this white water river accident 22 yrs ago that left me with a right arm and shoulder that had restricted movement. Following an evaluation we began PT treatment 2 -3 times a week. We were both amazed that this body wanted to heal after all these years.

So these two events proved to me that it is NEVER too late to heal; it is a life long process.  And to think that I was beginning to believe that it was over and time to throw in the towel! Well I did not, and I am back in the game of life to it's fullest.

Then in January I get this invitation from Dr. Barbara Dossey to be a part of a Holistic Nursing Delegation to China. I read it and put it aside until Kate came in and I showed it to her. Her remark was "and you are going of course" ? No, I can't go and spend all that money, that's my kids inheritance. Actually, in retrospect, it was more about me still feeling too old to go to China. I am so grateful that Kate responded with "and how many more times do you think that you will be invited to go to China this lifetime?" That was my wake up call, the light bulb went on and I saw things differently. I no longer saw myself too old or too unworthy to take this wonderful opportunity.

So off to China I go with 18 other holistic nurses and what an experience that was for me. The time was just right for I returned with an inner calmness and self confidence.

Barbara Mader

9/25/09

 

Image courtesy X-ray: NASA/CXC/JHU/K.Kuntz et al.; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/JHU/K. Kuntz et al; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI/K. Gordon

 

They Used to What ?!!

Cindy W., a long time friend of HMHC sent this interesting and entertaining piece. Thanks Cindy for this edifying talk into the past!

They used to use urine to tan animal skins , so families used to all pee in a pot and then once a day it was taken and sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were Piss Poor.
But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot.They didn't have a pot to piss in and were the lowest of the low.

Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water , then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all, the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying: don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying: it's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying: dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

Getting quite an education , aren't you?

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could , bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food , causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that's the truth. Now , whoever said History was boring ! ! !

2012

A lot is written, said and prophesized about 2012. As always, the truth lies within.

Peter S. is a long time friend of HMHC and always sends thanks after receiving High Mesa Happenings, the HMHC newsletter.

 Thank you! Peter.

Recently, Peter also sent an invitation to watch a video called Illusion of Reality (1) because “it’s fascinating and [he] thought you would enjoy it. [He] knows many of you know of this already but for those who might be questioning certain things, this might help.”

There is a follow-up video, Illusion of Reality (2) which is included here as well.

Thank you Peter for sending this along and thank you for being a faithful friend!

Illusion of Reality (1)

 

Illusion of Reality (2)

 

Posted by NWH

A Soothing, Summer Voyage into the Fantastic: a Must See

Summer is here! In past times, the car was loaded for a Summer vacation. Maybe not this year. We are watching that gas tank. Here is a proposal:

* secure a comfortable position in front of your screen

* rest your mind in knowing this trip will not add to pollution, road rage or stressors

* take a deep breath of anticipation

*  click Download FantasticTrip.pps, wait a couple of seconds,  enjoy!

(... and maybe you just get a still screen after clicking "open" in the dialog box; breath in; go to your taskbar, all the way down of your screen, to the right side and surf over the icons; click on the one that says: slideshow)

It's awsome!

Posted by NWH

Precise and Swift Moves: Recognizing Signs of Stroke

A while back, HMHC Happenings & Heartstrings posted a video about The Singin' Scientist , a woman narrating what she felt physically and spiritually during her own stroke.

Several friends of HMHC have forwarded news on how to recognize signs of a stroke during an event. Thank you, friends!

Here is what to remember and how to proceed:

STROKE: a first thought If you witness a person becoming suddenly ill, or falling or such, immediately think  S-T-R. STROKE IDENTIFICATION:  a story During a BBQ,  Ingrid stumbled and took a little fall. She assured everyone that she was fine, declining a call to the paramedics. She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.  All cleaned up and with a new plate of food, Ingrid appeared a bit shaken up, but went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital.  That evening,  Ingrid passed away.  She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ.  Knowing  how to identify signs of a stroke, perhaps would have saved Ingrid ‘s life, or in another case would avoid someone to  live on in a helpless, hopeless condition. A neurologist reports that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours, he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke, - totally . The trick is to recognize signs of stroke and get medical care within the next 3 hours. RECOGNIZING A STROKE: what to remember Remember the '3' steps to take, S-T-R,  in asking the following three questions: S - Ask the individual to SMILE. T - Ask the person to SPEAK and SAY a simple sentence (it is sunny out today).Verify that the statement is coherent. R - Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If the individual has trouble with ANY of these tasks, call 999/911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. ADDITIONAL SIGN OF A STROKE:  the tongue Ask the person to 'stick' out the tongue. A crooked tongue or a tongue going to one side or the other of the mouth, is also an indication of a stroke.  So here it is, dear readers, how one can, in a modest way, help another in distress. Being aware, remembering and caring.   Posted by NWH

Solstice Moon Illusion

Whether you’ve seen it on June 18^th of this year or not, the picture below is true to the awe filled eyes we get when looking at a Solstice Moon Illusion.

 

The full Moon beams through trees in Manchester, Maryland. Credit: Edmund E. Kasaitis. Copyright 2008; all rights reserved

Pretty amazing view, uh? It is said that we humans are the only ones to see the Moon blown up, (and likely other deformed stuff, too.) There are oodles of scientific, cultural, spiritual and more explanations. In fact, it is an optical illusion, like the Ponzo Illusion .

 Wait a minute, what fact and says who? Beauty, or in this case the unusual or the peculiar, lies in the eyes of beholder, doesn’t it? What if….

Here is another optical illusion, created by humans, for fun…

Elevator in Hong-Kong

Posted by NWH