Trina Spillman's Blog

Did ancient people use greenhouses to grow plants and herbs? If so, then there is no doubt that ancient societies from all over the world understood the importance of growing many different types of plants, many of which were very specific to the location where they grew. Not only that, but ancient societies built these greenhouses to serve multiple purposes, not just for plants and herbs, but also for fruits, vegetables, fish, dairy products, and wine.

The earliest known example of a greenhouse was discovered in China. Although it is not clear how old the Chinese greenhouses were or how they were used, they do date them from roughly the first century B.C. and are similar to the modern greenhouses used by most people today. The Chinese built the greenhouses on poles, probably to keep them from freezing during the winter.

These ancient Chinese greenhouses were constructed not only to protect plants but to also serve as homes. They were large, often made of wood, and had multiple rooms inside. They would have a door at the front and interior doors built into the walls. One room would have a door, while another would have a window. This would allow some light into the house and facilitate heating and cooling.

The walls of the ancient structure were usually made of clay, and the roof was made of what was probably flax paper. The sides of the building were either made of or included plaster. The floors were of natural stones. Roofing consisted of tightly joined laths attached to poles. The walls were sealed with sealants of wax paper. If you want to recreate the ancient look, you can certainly use stone, plaster, and shutters.

Greenhouses in ancient times were constructed for many reasons. They were used to grow plants or to store them until they were ready to be harvested. In addition, they would be used to house livestock such as sheep and pigs. They may have also been used to keep exotic birds or animals.

Today’s greenhouse is more advanced. Modern technology has allowed them to be made of plastic, glass, and even steel. The floor of the modern greenhouse is made of lightweight materials so that it is easy to move around. They are designed to have the appearance of being handmade out of clay or stone. Some even employ the use of driftwood to give them an authentic ancient look. Today’s greenhouses look very similar to what they did in ancient times.

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Today in America we are facing numerous divides; economic divides, cultural divides, racial divides, and don’t even get me started on the political divides. But there is a divide that I didn’t mention and that is the generational divide. Older adults, age 65 or older, comprise 14.9% of the total population in the United States with projections that this population will continue to grow in the decades to come.

At least 10% of adults age 65 and older will experience some form of elder abuse each year, with some older adults simultaneously experiencing more than one type of abuse.

What exactly is elder abuse? Elder abuse is defined as “An intentional act or failure to act by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult”.

Under this definition, the following are types of elder abuse:

Caregiver NeglectFinancial Fraud & ExploitationPsychological AbuseSexual AbusePhysical Abuse

The trauma of elder abuse is something that we need to shine a spotlight on so we can come together and bridge this divide. We owe it to this population to recognize that elderly abuse exists and develop common-sense solutions to help protect this vulnerable population. But to do that, we must fully understand some key factors that lead to elder abuse.

Key Factors to Elder Abuse:

Family stressors play a major role in elder abuse. Family stressors that can create discord include a history of violent interactions within the family, lifestyle adjustments and accommodations to living in a multigenerational household, and social isolation. In some instances, the financial burdens of cramped, multigenerational households, can lead to stress that can trigger elder abuse. Such a situation can be especially difficult when the adult child has no financial resources other than those of the aging parent.

Sometimes there may be marital stress between an older couple when they are forced to share a home with their adult children. When problems and stress mount, the potential for abuse or neglect increases When an older parent who is frail or who has physical or cognitive limitations moves into a family member’s home, the lifestyle adjustments and accommodations can be staggering, and the associated stress can lead to elder abuse.

Social isolation can provide a clue that a family may be in trouble, and it can also be a risk factor for abuse. Social isolation can be a strategy for keeping abuse secret, or it can be a result of the stresses of caring for a dependent older family member. Isolation is dangerous because it restricts family members from receiving outside help that they need in order to cope with the stresses of caregiving. Isolation also makes it harder for outsiders to see and intervene in a volatile or abusive situation. The risk of elder abuse becomes even greater when the caregiver is responsible for an older person who is sick or physically or mentally impaired. Caregivers in such stressful situations often feel trapped and hopeless and are unaware of available resources and assistance. If they have no skills for managing difficult behaviors, caregivers can find themselves using physical force. Particularly when there is a lack of resources, neglectful situations can arise.

Sometimes the caregiver’s own self-image as a “dutiful child” may compound the problem by causing the caregiver to feel that the older person deserves and wants only his or her care and that considering respite or residential care is a betrayal of the older person’s trust.

Dependency is a contributing factor in elder abuse. When the caregiver is dependent financially on an impaired older person, there may be financial exploitation or abuse. When the reverse is true and the impaired older person is completely dependent on the caregiver, the caregiver may experience resentment that leads to abusive behavior.

Take as an example, James. James is a financially secure 85-year-old man who has been healthy and active until last year. He has finally agreed to allow his oldest son, Tom, to help him manage his daily affairs. Tom now believes his father “owes him” more of his money than his brother and two sisters are entitled to because he is helping his father. He talks his father into giving him power of attorney for his bank accounts “as a convenience” and then writes himself large checks that he rationalizes are for “expenses.” Soon Tom has come up with excuses to transfer a significant portion of his father’s investments into his name. James has no energy to oversee his finances and is totally trusting that his son has his best interests at heart.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not here to suggest this happens to everyone 65 and older. In fact, most family caregivers provide excellent care and a supportive environment, but we must remember, caregiving is extraordinarily challenging and often, family members find themselves in uncharted waters. Family members may unintentionally fail to ensure that the older adult has adequate and appropriate food, clothing, medical care, supervision or social stimulation. A caregiver’s unknowing failure to provide care and support because of his or her lack of understanding or lack of skills can threaten the safety and well-being of the older adult. So, what can family members do to ensure proper care is being administered?

With the advances in technology, there are agencies that can find a suitable caregiver for your family member, but it is important to thoroughly vet a caregiver before allowing them to care for an elderly loved one. Consider this, would you leave your baby with just anyone? Or would you research their credentials and ask for references before entrusting a stranger with your child? Keep in mind, a caregiver’s personal problems can result in abuse.

For example, caregiver stress, mental or emotional illness, addiction to alcohol or other drugs, job loss or other personal financial crises, can lead to the abuse of an older person. Sometimes the older person may be physically abusive to the caregiver, especially when the older person has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, resulting in the caregiver having to use force to restrain the person. This could lead to unintended injuries, so it is important the caregiver has the credentials to work with those suffering from afflictions like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Drug and alcohol abuse is strongly associated with elder abuse. Thus, a caregiver who is addicted to drugs or alcohol is more likely to become an abuser than one who does not suffer from addiction. Indeed, caregiving can lead to greater use of alcohol and drugs as a way of managing stress.

In fact, if someone has been abused for year’s he or she may turn their rage on their spouse when their health fails. If there has been a history of violence in the family, an adult child may take the opportunity to “turn the tables” on the abusing parent by withholding nourishment or medications.

Unfortunately, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to place an aged loved one in a facility that can best tend to their needs.

We often hear horror stories about nursing homes and have no desire to send our loved ones to a facility where they may suffer at the hands of those running such facilities. Legislators need to consider whether these facilities are safe havens for our loved ones or places where institutional neglect of the elderly is the direct result of corporations placing profits over the resident’s well-being.

It has recently been noted that there has been a preponderance of foreign corporations opening elder care facilities in the United States. Many of these corporations have placed profit ahead of care by hiring cheap, unskilled labor when what these patients need are caregivers who are well paid, which helps eliminate several caregiver stressors, and who have the proper credentials to care for a vulnerable elderly population.

When older people are regarded as insignificant, society fails to recognize the importance of assuring dignified, supportive and non-abusive care for every older American. If society is led to believe that what happens at home, or in a private facility, is not in the public domain, then this population will continue to experience abusive and/or neglectful situations.

It is our duty as citizens to report any suspected abuse or neglect, and it is also the responsibility of the state to ensure those corporations and companies providing care to our elderly population, adhere to the strictest standards in order to prevent abuse.

Older individuals who are ethnic minorities, particularly recent immigrants, may face language barriers and financial or emotional dependence that influence their ability or willingness to report abuse.

Although definitions of abuse may vary across diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious communities, it is important not to ignore signs of abuse by attributing the behaviors to cultural differences. For example, some cultures do not honor the basic rights of women, and older women in these cultures may not realize they are being abused. They probably would not call for help outside the family and may not even know that help is available.

Persons working with older people in potentially abusive situations need to be sensitive to cultural differences and intervene accordingly. Formulating culturally sensitive prevention and intervention efforts requires an understanding of roles and responsibilities within the family and help-seeking behaviors. When the demands of daily care for an older person are thrust onto caregivers who have not been given training or information about how to balance the needs of the older person with their own needs, they frequently experience intense frustration and anger that can lead to a range of abusive behaviors.

Earlier, I referenced the various divides facing our country, but there is one divide I failed to mention, and that is the division between elderly abuse being reported among rural Americans versus their urban counterparts.

Consider some of the reasons for the disparity. Baby Boomers are migrating to rural communities. In the coming decade, there are projections that the number of rural older adults will continue to increase as baby boomers migrate from the big city to rural communities and small towns across America. Studies suggest the rate of reporting elderly abuse is lower in rural communities when the population is factored in, with a ratio of 26:1 among rural elderly abuse victims compared to 24:1 among urban (per 1000) residents.

Solutions:

We can start by providing area agencies on aging, and other entities serving the aged to provide multifaceted systems of support services for family caregivers and for older relative caregivers. Services that should be provided include things like individual counseling, support groups, caregiver training to assist in the areas of health, nutrition, and financial literacy, and in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles. Respite care needs to be available so a caregiver can be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities.

First, any corporation in violation of providing standards of care would be heavily fined on their FIRST offense. It is unfortunate that corporations only seem to respond to financial pressures when making moral decisions, but when greed is the primary motivator then we need to say enough is enough. Corporations can make profits AND provide quality care, and quality care is what our seniors not only need but deserve!

Additionally, costs can be cut by providing trained volunteers and, if possible, work in coordination with organizations that have experience in providing training, placement, and stipends for volunteers or participants in community service settings.

The first and most important step toward preventing elder abuse is to recognize that no one — of whatever age — should be subjected to violent, abusive, humiliating or neglectful behavior. In addition to promoting this social attitude, we can take positive steps to:

Educate the public about elder abuse

Increase the availability of respite care

Promote increased social contact and support for families with dependent older adults

Encourage counseling and treatment to cope with personal and family problems that contribute to abuse.

Education is the cornerstone of preventing elder abuse. Media coverage of abuse in nursing homes has made the public knowledgeable about — and outraged by — abusive treatment in those settings. Because most abuse occurs in the home by family members or caregivers, there needs to be a concerted effort to educate the public about the special needs and problems of older adults and the risk factors for abuse.

Respite care — having someone else care for the elder, even for a few hours each week, is essential to reducing caregiver stress. Every caregiver needs time alone, free from the worry and responsibility of looking after someone else’s needs. Respite care is especially important for caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia or of older people who are severely disabled. Area Agencies on Aging are a local resource for services that will be able to help family caregivers find respite and in-home help with difficult care tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and cooking.

Social contact and support can be a boon to older persons and to family members and caregivers as well. When other people are part of the social circle, tensions are less likely to reach unmanageable levels. Having other people to talk to is an important part of relieving tensions. Many times, families in similar circumstances can band together to share solutions and provide informal respite for each other. In addition, when there is a larger social circle, abuse is less likely to go unnoticed. Isolation of elders increases the probability of abuse, and it may even be a sign that abuse is occurring. Sometimes abusers will threaten to keep people away from the older person.

Counseling for behavioral or personal problems in the family or for the individual with mental health and/or substance abuse problems can play a significant role in helping people change lifelong patterns of behavior or find solutions to problems emerging from current stresses. If there is a substance abuse problem in the family, treatment is the first step in preventing violence against the older family member. In some instances, it may be in the best interest of the older person to move him or her to a different, safer setting. In some cases, a nursing home may be a more appropriate living environment than living with adult children who are not equipped emotionally or physically to handle the responsibility. Even in situations in which it is difficult to tell whether abuse has really occurred, counseling can be helpful in alleviating stress.

Conclusion:

Let’s bridge our divides and come together on this issue and provide seniors with the dignity and quality of life they not only deserve but have earned as hard-working Americans.

Resources:

Acierno, R., Hernandez-Tejada, M., Muzzy, W., & Steve, K. (2009). Final report: National elder mistreatment study (PDF, 7.3MB). Source: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/g...

Beach, S. R., Schulz, R., Williamson, G. M., Miller, L. S., & Weiner, M. E. (2005). Risk factors for potentially harmful informal caregiver behavior. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53, 255-261. doi:10.1111 /j.1532-5415.2005.53111.x

DeLiema, M., Gassoumis, Z. D., Homeier, D. C., & Wilber, K. H. (2012). Determining prevalence and correlates of elder abuse using promotores: Low-income immigrant Latinos report high rates of abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60, 1333-1339. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04025.x

Dong, X., Simon, M., Mendes de Leon, C., Fulmer, T., Beck, T., Herbert, L., . . . Evans, D. (2009). Elder self-neglect and abuse and mortality risk in a community-dwelling population. Journal of the American Medical Association, 302, 517-526. doi:10.1001/ jama.2009.1109

Horsford, S. R., Para-Cardona, J. R., Post, L. A., & Schiamberg, L. (2010). Elder abuse and neglect in African American families: Informing practice based on ecological and cultural frameworks. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 23, 75-88. doi:10.1080/08946566.2011.534709

Laumann, E. O., Leitsch, S. A., & Waite, L. J. (2008). Elder mistreatment in the United States: Prevalence estimates from a nationally representative study. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63(4), S248-S254. doi:10.1093/geronb/63.4.S248

MacNeil, G., Kosberg, J. I., Durkin, D. W., Dooley, W. K., DeCoster, J., & Williamson, G. M. (2010). Caregiver mental health and potentially harmful caregiving behavior: The central role of caregiver anger. Gerontologist, 50, 76-86. doi:10.1093/geront/gnp099

National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. (2003). The role of culture in elder abuse. Source: http://www.preventelderabuse.org/issu...

U.S. Administration on Aging. (2011). A profile of older Americans: 2011 (PDF, 436KB). http://www.aoa.gov/aoaroot/aging_statistics/Profile/2011/docs/2011profile.pdf

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Spices provide insight into the relationships between cultures and the expansion of human knowledge across the globe.

The history of spices often examines the manner spices from the ancient world were gathered, grown, processed, and transported. For instance, spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, which are most often associated with the early world were actually more common among the ancient civilizations because these particular spices did not need to be ground into a powder to transport or consume. In the modern world spices ground into a powder have actually added to their cost.

Earliest Recipes

The history of spices wouldn’t be complete without examining some of the world’s oldest spice recipes. In ancient China, a spice blend was developed to represent Wu Yi (the five tastes). This spice blend encompasses all five tastes—sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami—and uses five different spices to symbolize each of the five tastes. This Chinese 5 spice is a mixture of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan (Szechuan) peppercorns, and fennel seeds. In ancient Egypt, a similar blend was developed based on the colors of the desert and featured black pepper. The Romans used black pepper studded with red peppers. The Greeks developed their own special blend of spices, which included red pepper, juniper berries, and cinnamon, while the Persians used nutmeg, cardamom, anise, and turmeric.

Food Preservation

Spices also played an important role in the preservation of food in the ancient world.  Both Egyptians and Romans used Coriander seed oil to preserve foods needing to be kept cold. These spices also helped promote the consumption of fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes throughout the ancient world. Salt has also been used as a preservative for ages and works to preserve food by drawing water out of food and dehydrating it. All living things require water and cannot grow in the absence of it, including the bacteria which can cause food poisoning.

Salt also kills microbes. High salt is toxic to most (not all) microbes because of the effect of osmolarity, or water pressure. Water diffuses between cells in the environment so that the concentration of solutes (such as salt) is the same on both sides of the cell. In very high salt solutions, many microbes will rupture due to the difference in pressure between the outside and inside of the organism. High salt can also be toxic to the internal processes of microbes, affecting DNA and enzymes.

Spices and the World Economy

Spices, and the routes they traveled, most notably the silk road, helped launch a world economy. The Silk Road was and is a network of trade routes connecting the East and West, and was central to the economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions from the 2nd century BCE to the 18th century.

The Silk Road derives its name from the lucrative trade in silk carried along its length, beginning in the Han dynasty in China (207 BCE–220 CE). The Han dynasty expanded the Central Asian section of the trade routes around 114 BCE through the missions and explorations of the Chinese imperial envoy Zhang Qian, as well as several military conquests. The Chinese took great interest in the security of their trade products, including rare spices, and extended the Great Wall of China to ensure the protection of the trade route.

The Silk Road trade played a significant role in the development of the civilizations of China, Korea, Japan, the Indian subcontinent, Iran, Europe, the Horn of Africa and Arabia, opening long-distance political and economic relations between the civilizations. Though silk was the major trade item exported from China, many other goods and ideas were exchanged, including religions (especially Buddhism), syncretic philosophies, sciences,  technologies like paper and gunpowder, and of course spices. So in addition to economic trade, the Silk Road was a route for cultural trade among the civilizations along its network.

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The Encounter

The red orb hovered above the tree line. The thick blanket of inky darkness enveloped the surrounding forest. The light from the nearby campfire provided little sense of safety. A wolf howled in the distance. The sky revealed a million pinpoints of light, each dot representing the possibility of extraterrestrials. The plot of land they chose for their makeshift campsite was isolated and bordered by the Ocala National Forest. The floating ball was a deep crimson red. The light emitted by the orb didn’t flicker, it simply hung in the air, suspended like a silent century protecting the forest.  Then, as unexpectedly as the light appeared it sprung to life and hopscotched across the star-studded sky where it disappeared. This is an eyewitness account of an unidentified flying object. These heavenly apparitions are real, and for years governments spanning the globe have concealed the truth about their existence, until recently.

Pentagon Releases UFO Videos for the Record

After years of UFO subterfuge, the Pentagon has finally admitted to the existence of UFOs. Most people, on some level, believe in UFOs. If they didn’t, Hollywood would have stopped making alien movies long ago in a galaxy far, far away. Humans gaze upon the stars, wondering if life exists among those twinkling stars of light.

NASA news: Millions of planets ‘might be habitable’

In an exciting announcement, NASA revealed the existence of millions of habitable planets prinkled throughout the universe.  It would, after all, be disappointing to think humans are as good as it gets. But, are these unidentified crafts that visit Earth from other galaxies, or are they interplanetary? Did a catastrophic event force an advanced group of humans underground eons ago resulting in the development of advanced technologies like spacecraft. Imagine the possibility.

Why Earth?

Perplexed by the truths behind aliens, humans grapple with understanding the significance behind an alien visit. Simply put, why would a race of advanced beings traverse the stars and visit Earth? Is it possible they visit because Earth is the galactic Humane Society? If a vast universe of assorted life forms exists,  humans would be banned from joining such a galactic collective.  Imagine, an Earthling running into a half blue and half green species that glowed yellow when happy that species would be discriminated against by the Earth human. At the present, humans are too primitive and superstitious to engage with advanced species. However, there could be another explanation.  Perhaps Earth is restricted because it is a prison planet for a dangerous, galactic, criminal named Lucifer, Luc to his friends. This scenario is examined in the book The Fablecastle Chronicles.

It Doesn’t Matter Where They Come From, They Are Real

Regardless of where UFOs originate, the fact is they are real and they are not weather balloons. What a ridiculous, nonsensical explanation for an unidentified flying object. It’s as if the powers that be loathe and detest the public so much, they’re not even willing to come up with a believable lie. Like a politician who says he’s leaving office to spend more time with his teen children. No one wants to spend more time with a house full of hormonal teenagers. Humor the public and come up with a better cover story. If not, don’t be surprised when groups like Q Anon arise from the swamp, like a malignant Kraken.

Learn the truth behind UFO’s, aliens, and much more in the fantasy novel that questions everything, The Fablecastle Chronicles.

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Trina Spillman Author.

I have an idea as to how we can get rid of gerrymandered congressional districts. We can make those districts open seats. What do I mean by that? I mean seats that are available to, and will be filled by, John and Jane Q. Public via a lottery system, a draft, if you will. These draftees will be provided housing in the Trump Hotel Washington, which the government will soon own under RICO, and it will level the playing field for the constituents in these districts. It’ll be like a box of chocolates … you never know what you’re going to get. Let’s at least try it, because honestly, I don’t think it could be worse than what we have now. It may also encourage voters in these districts to learn more about our government, in particular, the Constitution.

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Hey, Donny boy, I’ve had an epiphany. In case you don’t know what that means, I’ll ex— … never mind. Let me just simply say that I have had an idea I would like to share with you. Agree to resign the presidency and in exchange, you get to become king of Trumlandia. Sound too good to be true? Not in the least, but there are a few caveats you may want to have your best lawyers review. Do you have any left, or are they all in prison?
First, you get your wall, but the WALL will need to be built around the state of Indiana that will then be re-christened, Trumplandia. This will be the new homeland of your supporters. It will likely displace a number of minorities, but don’t worry, they can seek asylum in more progressive states. You will be crowned King of Trumplandia, ruling from your golden throne, high atop the Trump Tower Indianapolis. Mike Pence will act as your Ambassador of Goodwill, spreading happiness and good cheer throughout the land. Your biggest trading partner will be Russia. You won’t be allowed to travel to the United States, though; a travel ban has been imposed because the majority of your kingdom are coronavirus super spreaders. But don’t let this cause you any concern. Because of the big, beautiful WALL you built around your kingdom, your kingdom is secure, but it has no ventilators and very few doctors. Again, no problem. We’ll get all of the pastors that have joined you to pray the virus away. That should work!



 


This is the win you have been looking for, and if you are still on the wall about what to do next, let me mention another selling point. Trumplandia does not plan on entering into an extradition treaty with the United States, so when you do leave office and the New York Attorney General issues a warrant for your arrest, you’ll be safe. Please consider this offer. Your resignation will save lives, and get you what you want. This is not fake news. It’s a real offer; take it, for the love of all things holy , take it!


 


Sincerely,


A Very Stable Smartass

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The following post was graciously contributed by Spelcastor. For more information that is beyond fascinating, visit http://www.spelcastor.org/
Today’s post will be centered around Wizards

Wizards are not all old. They are not all male. And some are young.  They are not all fictional. But there is fiction about them. Some are our community heroes. And some are more local.  Some come from myth. Some are quite charming. And some are pure fantasy. The label Wizard came into being with the rise of Christianity. For previous centuries, the Druids had been the educated class of the European Celts and provided the doctors, lawyers, scientists, advisors, diviners, story tellers, and poets of that civilization. Some of the Druids blended into the new culture as monks or scholars. Those who continued to stand apart as diviners, advisors or scientists became known as Wizards.  Even though there were women in prominent positions among the Druids, wizards are now seen to be male, and have thus received better press than witches, who are assumed to be female. Both perceptions are false, but they go along way in feeding the stereotypes of both groups. Examples of Wizards in our popular culture are Albus Dumbleldore and the other faculty at Hogwartz School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Harry Potter. And then there is Merlin in the legends of King Arthur. Examples of modern day wizards are Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein. There are other wizards of lesser fame, some of them female, and we shall go about how to spot them.

Wizards appear when least expected, are always in a hurry, and don’t stay long. Wizards prefer standing to sitting, and pacing to standing. Wizards fear few things, and are equal to most of them. In modern fashion, since Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, Wizards wear pointed hats with brims, especially when they are outside traveling and desire protection from the weather. Thus they were easy to spot, unless they were in disguise. But being a Wizard has far more to do with attitude and abilities than with styles of dress. A modern day Wizard might appear quite “normal” in a crowd.

It used to be that a Wizard would wear a conical hat with no brim, in contrast to Witches in their pointed hats, with brims. The Wizard’s hat was decorated with moons and stars. A mocking evolution of this is the “Dunce Cap.” Once upon a time in school, a loud and unconventional child would be made to do a time-out by sitting in the corner and wearing the Dunce Cap. Other labels for Wizard have been magus or magician. In contrast, sorcerer and sorceress are merely the French words of Witch. The term Wizard can be confusing in conventional gender roles. Not all wizards are male, just as not all witches are female. Witches might be secretive, but a wizard can keep a secret. Wizards tend to be solitary by choice. In contrast, Witches are said to prefer to gather in groups for instruction, social life, or magickal workings.

Wizards are not into healing. They apply themselves over hot crucibles, pouring over scrolls, tomes, tablets, and tracts. They bend things to their will. A Wizard uses powers of observation, and deals with forces mysterious and/or unsavory to others, in order to produce results. The key word here is “observation.” A wizard is highly educated and might specialize in alchemy, mathematics, astrology, obscure knowledge, or in foreseeing the future. This particular wizard was named Maria Salomea Sklodowska. Born in Poland in 1867, she worked mainly in more tolerant France as a physicist and chemist doing pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only woman to win a second in a second field. Pretty good for a girl? History clouds her memory in the shadow of her husband, and calls her Madame Curie. But, that’s a wizard!

If you have been gifted with the Spanish language, you know the distinction between Mago and Bruho. A mago, or the female maga, is a Wizard, and likely a worker of good. A brujo, or the female bruja, is a Witch, and likely a worker of evil, or so it is said. The Wizard of Oz es El Mago de Oz. The Three Wise Men es Los Reyes Magos. But the Wicked Witch of the West es la Malvada Bruja del Oeste. South of the Border, herbs are sold in a Witches Market or un mercado de las brujas. And what do British imperialists call a raucous clamor over some minor or ridiculous cause? A brouhaha!

Wizards are not fond of working with their hands, but will fabricate magical objects if no apprentice is available. . Wizards are always a little overworked. Remember, Wizards are not into healing. That is a province of the Witches. It is Witches who are gifted with herbs, animals, and divining with tools. Thomas Edison (born 1847) was known as the Wizard of Menlo Park, New Jersey. A Wizard may take on a few apprentices to do menial tasks in exchange for training. Wizards do not suffer well incompetence or stupidity in others.

Wizards use their skills to build or tear down, reveal hidden objects, or create illusions and apparitions. They set good forces against evil. How can we talk about Wizards without naming Albert Einstein?  Here was a man with a PhD, brilliant enough to flee academia and take a government job in the US Patent Office. Wizards may belong to Councils, but they are not gregarious or sociable. Wizards may be fond of holding appointments such as “Royal Wizard in the Court of the King,” but if they remain in residence, they will require a small private tower near the postern gate. In the patent Office, Einstein had plenty to time to think and theorize without the distraction of teaching class, dealing with grad students, or going to meetings. It was early in life that Einstein came up with his theories of relativity. At that time, he looked like a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn. These glories, served him well through life, as his long white hair added to his image as the stereotype of genius.

In Greek legend, perhaps you remember Jason and the Argonauts? Jason was a Ulysses kind of guy on his way back from a war and traveling across the Mediterranean. There was a big deal movie back in the 1960s. Then there was the Lady Medea. Medea is described in most stories as an enchantress and is often depicted as being a priestess of the goddess Hecate. That would be another name for clergy. She lived on an island, was very bright, and clever, and she did not hang around with gal pals. All was well until this ambitious guy, Jason, showed up, and Medea fell in love with him. Jason was looking to advance himself by retrieving the Golden Fleece. What’s a Golden Fleece? It’s a sheep skin, not just any sheep skin, but one that is golden. Medea offered to help Jason, if, in return, he would marry her. This legend sounds a lot like a guy entering graduate school looking to earn a PhD. Like many a grad student, Jason was assigned a burdensome thesis project. First, he had to plough a field using fire-breathing oxen. Medea gave him a magick unguent with which to anoint himself, to protect him from the bulls’ fiery breath. This does sound like a graduate school thesis project to me.  Then, Jason had to sow the teeth of a dragon into the ploughed field. The teeth sprouted into an army of warriors. Medea warned Jason, however, and told him to throw a rock into this crowd. Unable to determine where the rock had come from, the warriors attacked and fought among themselves. In graduate school, you select a committee to evaluate your research, your thesis project, and they must agree to approve you. Sounds like a successful thesis defense to me. Finally, there was a watchful dragon that guarded the Golden  Fleece. Jason had to fight that too. With Medea’s help, he put the

beast to sleep with narcotic herbs. Sounds like encountering objections from the University Registrar who blocks your graduation until you give them missing paperwork. (Toke up) So they hand over your degree and then go back to sleep. So Jason got his Golden Fleece and sailed away with Medea. Our story would have ended happily, except that upon arriving on the next island, Jason got hired by the king. To advance himself, he saw an opportunity to marry the king’s (read that the boss’s) daughter. To do this, Jason had to dump Medea. She got really angry about this, ran off with their children, and worked a lot of magick against him.

Some say these Greek legends are all made up, and have nothing to do with real life. But in them I look for parallels to our own modern world, and look to spot a wizard. Medea was a Wizard!  Wizards can be tricked. Wizards can trick you. A Wizard can be corrupted by the forces she or he wheels. Such a Wizard begins to believe that she is better equipped to run the world than anyone else. The very elements that she once controlled will then turn

against her. Her stature will diminish until she becomes a lesser being.

So what does all this Wizard talk have to do with Unitarian Universalism?

We UUs do have our Seven Principles. This is as close as we come to a religious creed. How about Principle Number Four: “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” That sound like something we see our Wizards doing.  How about Principle Number One? “The inherent worth and dignity of every person.” Well, Wizards can become a bit impatient with a slow apprentice, and they do not suffer fools gladly. And then there is Principle Number Seven: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” They do seem to understand that one, as they work their magick. How about our own Unitarian Wizard: Ralph Waldo Emerson? (His friends called him Wally.)

Mr. Emerson was a giant among intellectuals. He discarded the use of the Christian Holy Communion, when mainline Unitarians were still doing it. When asked to sum up his work, he said his central doctrine was “the infinitude of the private man.” Ah, the rugged individual! Born in 1803, Emerson was an essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendental movement in the mid 1800s. Born in Boston and the son of a Unitarian minister, he attended Harvard and was ordained a Unitarian minister in 1829. Three years earlier, when faced with poor health, Emerson went to seek out warmer climates. He came down here to Florida, St.Augustine to be exact, where he took long walks on the beach, and began writing poetry.  While in St. Augustine, he made the acquaintance of Prince Achille Murat. Murat was the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Revolutionary. They became extremely good friends and enjoyed one another’s company. The two engaged in enlightening discussions on religion, society, philosophy, and government. Emerson considered Murat an important figure in his intellectual education.

Also while in St. Augustine, Emerson had his first experience of slavery. At one point, he attended a meeting of the Bible Society, while there was a slave auction taking place in the yard outside. He

wrote, “One ear therefore heard the Glad Tidings of Great Joy, whilst the other was regaled with ‘Going, gentlemen, going’!” Perhaps it would be more true-to-life to remember Emerson as he looked in his 30’s. It was in this era that Emerson resigned from his Unitarian congregation and did his most prodigious writings. Emerson is claimed as a hero in our Unitarian Universalist circles. He was ahead of his time, in espousing values that are now mainstream to UUs.

Within the world of the occult, there are many specialties that you might choose to take up. There is astrologer, alchemist, astronomer, magus, shaman, adept, bard, magician, enchantress, and maven. These titles tend to get lumped together by the uninitiated.  If you are going searching for a Wizard, do take a look behind the curtain. Wizards appear when least expected, are always in a hurry, and don’t stay long. Wizards may take new names from time to time. When traveling, they are often disguised in a cloak. A Wizard will use a staff with some sort of talisman at its tip, but never ride a broom. And if you are really searching for a Wizard, take a look in the mirror.

That Wizard – just – might – be you!

The post All About Wizards appeared first on Trina Spillman Author.

During Maggie’s interview with Lucifer in the new book The Fablecastle Chronicles, she asks for specific examples of human depravity resulting from the mutation Luc unleashed on Earth’s inhabitants. His reply is chilling.

“Their’s no limit to human depravity.”

Maggie sighed, frustrated with Luc’s diversionary tactics. “Then limit it to this region.” 

With a look of pity Luc replied, “You really are naive. Limiting depravity to this region doesn’t narrow it down. Most stories on this continent begin, ‘In the news, a Florida man was arrested for, fill in the blank. The possibilities range from having sex with an alligator to marrying and then defiling a corpse.”

Maggie, visibly disgusted, forged ahead. “Can you elaborate on the story concerning defiling a corpse?”

Picking an imaginary piece of lint off his black Armani slacks, Luc replied, “If you insist. This unseemly tale involves one Elena Hoyos, who had no idea that her beauty would attract the unwelcome advances of a man twice her age. During the roaring twenties Elena was enjoying all life had to offer. She often attended dances at the Cuban Club, wearing her signature red rose behind her right ear. In the late nineteen twenties tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in Key West. The horrible illness claimed the lives of one of Elena’s sisters and eventually her parents. In April of 1930, after receiving x-rays at the marine hospital, Elena discovered she too had contracted the illness. While at the hospital she was treated by a fifty year old technician by the name of Carl von Cosel. He claimed to be a German count and a trained medical doctor, but he was neither a count nor a doctor, but something much more sinister, as is the case with most humans. The day Carl met Elena an unnatural obsession consumed him.


 


“He was determined to have Elena as his wife and in her desperate state to escape the ravages of tuberculosis, Elena saw Carl as the only man who could save her. Ultimately, there was no miracle cure. Elena died on October 25th, 1931 at the age of twenty two and was buried in Key West Cemetery. In any normal tale, that would have been the end of it, but you wanted a specific example of depravity caused by the mutation. Carl had been suffering the ravages of the mutation for years, until one day he snapped. Two years after the girl died,  Von Cosel built an elaborate mausoleum for his beloved Elena.With her families permission Carl had her exhumed and placed inside. Von Cosel visited the mausoleum that held the corpse of the woman he considered to be his bride, even though they were never legally married. Every day for eighteen months, Von Cosel visited Elena until one day he decided to steal Elena’s body and make her his bride, in every sense of the word.”

Maggie stopped writing and looked at Luc, “What are implying?”

“You’re the one that wanted a disgusting story of the macabre. I didn’t want to have such filth cross my lips, but you insisted.  According to the memoirs of Carl Von Cosel, the ghost of Elena was with him every step of the way as he wrestled her decaying body from the cemetery. He returned to his home with his prize and painstakingly peeled back Elena’s rotting shroud and began the laborious task of rebuilding her putrefied flesh. Through a series of pumps and chemicals Von Cosel was able to slow the process of decay that gave him the time he needed to reconstruct Elena’s skin and other parts of her anatomy so their union could be consummated.”


Maggie audibly gulped as the gruesome image of Carl mounting that poor dead girl consumed her mind’s eye. She shook her head but couldn’t dispel the mental picture.

 


Luc took notice of Maggie’s discomfort and laughed devilishly. “Rumors began circulating around Key West that Elena’s body was no longer in her mausoleum. Elena’s sister confronted the count and demanded she be taken to her sister’s casket because she did not believe her body was still there. Von Cosel agreed to show the sister where Elena was and took her to his home where she found the reconstructed corpse of her sister.


 


“On October 5th, 1940 the body of Elena Hoyos was seized by authorities and Von Cosel taken into custody. A viewing of Elena’s body was held at the Lopez funeral home where 8,500 people came to see the body. School was even cancelled for the day so children could witness this “curiosity.” During this time a hearing was convened to decide what crimes Von Cosel had committed. It was decided that he had committed the willful and wanton destruction of a tomb. However, he was released as the statute of limitations had expired on that particular crime. In order to protect Elena’s corpse from the clutches of Von Cosel, Elena’s body was secretly interned at the Key West Cemetery. Only a select few to this day know where the body is buried. Heartbroken, the count left Key West in 1941. Two hours after his departure a mysterious explosion ripped through the cemetery, destroying the mausoleum that once held the remains of his beloved Elena.


 


“Many locals report hearing unnatural cries and unexplained apparitions roaming behind the locked gates of Key West’s Cemetery. Over one hundred thousand souls are interred in the cemetery, and many, like Elena, have no marker, albeit for a different reason. “


Maggie knew there was no way she would be able to report on all of the threads interwoven in Luc’s overarching story, but she hoped her words could somehow help humans see the truth. Only time would tell.

The post Man’s Depravity Knows No Limits appeared first on Trina Spillman Author.

Is the pen mightier than the sword?
“People under a dictatorship, it has been well said, are condemned to a lifetime of enthusiasm.” This quote is from an article written in 1937 by author Eugene Lyons, and begs the question, who keeps the enthusiasm going? Writers do. Throughout history, rulers have never been able to silence the social advocates, orators, or court jesters. In fact, jesters throughout history from countries like France, England, China and India have had the unique freedom to speak honestly, without fear of reprisal. Unfortunately, other scribes throughout history haven’t fared as well.


 


In 1937, Russia and Germany put restrictions in place to control the flow of ideas and tagged anything they didn’t want exposed as fake news. The similarities between now and then are astounding, and those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. 


 


In Mr. Lyons article, he writes,“Censorship of the word is more rigid in Russia than anywhere in the world, with only Germany as a runner-up within hailing distance. Every book, before it is even considered by one of the government publishing organizations, must be read and passed by Glavlit, the literary censorship office. Ditto every play. Magazines and newspapers, besides being subject to a series of political checks and counter-checks to eek out possible heresy, have special persons on their staffs charged with the responsibility of detecting and casting out anything faintly off-color politically.”


 


While this external censorship from the state was bad enough for a writer, the psychological toll was even more sinister. These controls lead to self-censorship, and as every writer knows, they are their own worst critics.
What happened to writers that believed the propaganda?


The article explains, “Censorship of course does not affect the writers whose views are identical with those of the censors. Certain Russian writers of my acquaintance have insisted that the pressure is so light they scarcely feel it. But these were, in every case, hundred-percenters for whom compliance with the official catechism was second nature. The relative freedom of press and conscience in any nation must be judged by those out of step rather than by the ardent goosesteppers.”


 


Authors in Russia that towed the party line were well compensated. Their works were published by state sponsors of propaganda. Royalties for these authors ranged in the neighborhood of 10-15 thousand rubles a month, compared to the average Russian citizen who earned a mere 200 rubles monthly. But alas, not all writers sold out. Many kindred scribes found writing the truth much easier than keeping track of all of the lies. In 1937 Russia, authors who disagreed with the state were dissidents, many of whom were brutalized and imprisoned for speaking the truth, a truth that would be labeled as fake by the state. It is hard to wrap your head around the irony.


In the Today’s News
The history of how writers were brutalized under this regime is eerily similar to what is happening around the world today. The following quote from Mr. Lyon’s article was so close to today’s reality, that the year it was written, had to be double checked.


 


Read for yourself and see if you agree, remember, the following excerpt was written in 1937:



“For reasons of international diplomacy Russia, which is eager to be accepted into the company of democratic nations like France and England, is seeking to create the impression that it has accepted democracy. How any one-party system in which political thinking that deviates from the prescribed “Party line” is punished as treachery can be made democratic is a mystery.”


 


It appears Russia has expanded their sphere of influence by attempting to control the thought process of writers on social media. History allows us to put our present into focus while offering 20/20 hindsight. If today’s scribes see history repeating itself, it is their duty to shed light on reality not propaganda.


In the novel, The Fablecastle Chronicles, the main character is an investigative journalist who truly believes words matter and that the pen is mightier than the sword. This conviction is challenged when Maggie traveles to a place called Earth to conduct an interview with someone claiming to be Lucifer. Find out why.

The post Words Matter appeared first on Trina Spillman Author.