willowmoon16 Offline

willowmoon16: WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND.

Summer has arrived in Rhode Island. Time to slip on your bikini and go so some of the best beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy a boiled lobster dinner freshly caught from the lobster fleet. Go on a tour of the mansions in Newport, or take the ferry to Block Island. Whatever your summer activity from beach volley ball to professional baseball at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, whatever you Summer Fantasy is can be fulfilled here.

willowmoon16: Northeast has hottest July EVER.

Global warming and climate change is definitely happening. In Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay has warmed as much as 1.6 degrees Celsius [2.9 degrees Fahrenheit] in he past 50 years, and for want of cooler water, the state's lobster catch has plummeted 75% in the past two decades. The ocean is reclaiming the beaches. Tony Loura, who has summered in Roy Carpenter's Beach for 15 years, estimates that he used to be 1,00 feet from the water. Now the ocean is only about 150 feet away. One bad hurricane and many summer homes will be lost. With 420 miles of coastline, Rhode Island is particularly vulnerable to the vagaries of the Gulf Stream, a massive warm current that travels up the East Coast from the Gulf of Mexico. This warmer temps have increased the number of shark sightings, biting jellyfish swarms and untreatable body bacteria to our shores. Cape Cod beaches are closed this weekend because of shark sightings. Unfortunately I fear things are only going to get worse.

willowmoon16: I PLEGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

When I was In school we would start our day by standing beside our desks with our right hand over our heart and recite the "Pledge of Allegiance". It was a daily reminder of how fortunate we are to have been born in this great nation, and what this flag truly represents and stands for. For those who have forgotten, or those who have never learned the "Pledge of Allegiance" I will share it with you now:

"I PLEGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."

The first words are: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and the Republic for which it stands,". This means it is our promise to be loyal to our country, our flag and our Constitution, and it is our duty to defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The next line reads: "one nation under God,". This means in the United States of America we have the freedom and the right to believe as we so chose and that no one religion will be held above another. The last line is: "indivisible with liberty and justice for all.". This means that our nation stands for the liberty and justice for all its citizens. Not just the privileged or wealthy, or because of the color of one's skin, or his or her beliefs. No, this nation stands for the freedom, liberty and justice for all its people. Something we as a nation have seemed to forget, including the present president, and his group of Nazi Party, KKK, White Supremacist groups and racist supporters. I am writing this "Pledge O Allegiance" to remind you what this nation truly stands for. I am asking every true American to learn the words of this pledge. To teach it to your children. I am asking you to get out and VOTE come election time because our nation is under attack from within and without and only YOU can change the course of history we find ourselves on. The future of our great nation is in your hands. Please vote. Thank you.

willowmoon16: 5 FAST FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW by Senator John McCollister
"We have a Republican president who continually strokes racist fears in his base. He calls certain countries "sh*t holes," tells women of color to "go back" to where they came from and lies more than he tells the truth." He said in a Facebook post after the initial tweet went viral.

"The time is now for us Republicans to be honest with what is happening inside our party." wrote Senator McCollister "We are better that this and I implore my Republican colleagues to stand up and do the right thing."

AS OF THIS WRITING HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES EITHER DO NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR THE UNITED STATES AND ITS PEOPLE AND EXPOSE TRUMP AS THE IDIOT HE IS, OR PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

willowmoon16: FIRST FEMALE F-35B PILOT
U.S. Marine Capt. Anneliese Satz left her legacy on the Marine Corps F-35B Program when she became the first female Marine to complete the F-35B Basic Course.
Flying is nothing new to Satz- prior to joining the Marine Corps she earned her commercial pilots license flying a Robinson R44 Helicopter which she attributes to preparing her for a career in military aviation.
"At each of my training schools I did my best," said Satz, a Boise, Idaho native. I truly believe that showing up prepared and working diligently are two major keys to success.

Congratulations to Capt. Anneliese Satz for your accomplishments in the Marine Corps and for serving as a model of inspiration to all females with the courage to challenge the positions once considered 'all male'.

willowmoon16: WE NEED TOUGHER GUN LAWS by Barack Obama

First, no other nation on Earth comes close to experiencing the frequency of mass shooting that we see in the United States. No other developed nation tolerates the levels of gun violence that we do. Every time this happens, we're told that tougher gun laws won't stop all murders; that they won't stop every deranged individual from getting a weapon and shooting innocent people in public places. But the evidence shows that they can stop some killings. They can save some families from heartbreak. We are not helpless here. And until all of us stand up and insist on holding public officials accountable for changing our gun laws, these tragedies will keep happening.

Second, while the motivations behind these shootings man not yet be fully known, there are indications that the El Paso shooting follows a dangerous trend: troubled individuals who embrace racist ideologies and see themselves obligated to act violently to preserve white supremacy. Like the followers of ISIS and other foreign terrorist organizations, these individuals may act alone, but they've been radicalized by white nationalist websites that proliferate on the internet. That means that both law enforcement agencies and internet platforms need to come up wit better strategies to reduce the influence of these hate groups.

willowmoon16: WE MUST SOUNDLY REJECT HATE LANGUAGE COMING OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF OUR LEADERS by Barack Obama PART II

But just as important, all of us have to send a clear call and behave with the values of tolerance and diversity that should be the hallmark of our democracy. We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalizes racist sentiments; leaders who demonize those who don't look like us, or suggest that other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other people as sub-human, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of people. Such language isn't new - it's been at the root of most human tragedy throughout history, here in America and around he world. It is as the root of slavery and Jim Crow, the Holocaust, the genocide in Rwanda and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. It has n place in our politics and our public life. And it is time for the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of every race and faith and political party, to say as much - clearly and unequivocally.

willowmoon16: TWEETS BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR MC COLLISTER

"The Republican Party is enabling white supremacy in our country. As a lifelong Republican, it pains me to say this, but it is the truth."

"I am a lifelong Republican and this current version of the Republican Party does not resemble the party I once knew. I reject the notion that ALL Republicans agree with the rhetoric coming out of the Trump administration."

"In light of my recent comments, the Nebraska Republican Party issued a statement. Did they join me in identifying and condemning obvious racism and duplicity inside of our party? Sadly no. "

willowmoon16: TRUMP WAS NOT WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DURING THE VIETNAM WAR,BUT HE IS WILLING SO SEND YOUR HUSBAND, YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR CHILD TO WAR IF IT WILL RESULT IN PROFITS FOR HIM AND HIS RICH BILLIONAIR SUPPORTERS.

willowmoon16: BROWN SKIN GIRL by Beyoncé
With the help from Wizkid, SAINT J4N and her own daughter Brown Ivy Carter, Beyoncé used Brown Skin Girl to tell young and insecure :brown skinned" girls to be proud of their skin and embrace it. Beyoncé is not talking just to brown skin girls from Africa, she is talking to ALL brown skin girls.
We have a president who is extremely prejudice against any race of people who are not white. He publically told a group of four elected AMERICAN black Congresswomen to go back to where they came from. Three of these Congresswomen were born here and the fourth came have when she was very young and became an American citizen and ran for and was elected to Congress.
This nations strength comes from our diversity, from our different cultures, customs, and religions and skin colors. Yes we are all different, but we are also all ONE people who will not allow a prejudice bigot to tell anyone to go back where we came from. We came for he United States of America. This is OUR nation and no temporary president is going to divide our nation over our his bigotry towards other American who do not look like him with his orange hair. The time has come to stand up to this tyrant and speak up in no uncertain terms that he does not speak for the American people. We need to protest in the streets to show the world we do not support Trump of his billionaire friends or his KKK and the American Nazi Party supporters. The time to stand up to the tyrant is NOW.
God Bless America and it People with the courage to Stand UP for our way of Life.

Brittany__:

willowmoon16: I laughed my butt off when I saw this cartoon.

willowmoon16: TRUMP TOLD 4 BLACK CONGRESSWOMEN TO GO BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM [AFRICA].

Trump attacked four minority Congresswomen telling them to "go back" to their "broken and crime infested" countries with their own." [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashide Tiaib and Ilhan Omar] Three of these female Congresswomen were born in the United States, and the fourth is an American citizen.

All Americans are immigrants who have come, or their families have come to America from some other place. So it is this diversity that is our strength and our power, as Nancy Pelosi so elegantly stated. If you are not white then Trump wants you to get out of the United States because he wants an all white America.

How much more are the people of this nation going to take from the idiot in the White House before we revolt and protest in the streets demanding his resignation? His mission is to divide the nation along color, religious and cultural differences and he has the complete support of the Republican party who either remain silent of openly support Trump. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE, AND THAT TIME IS NOW!

willowmoon16: UNITED STATES WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM WINS CHAMPIONSHIP IN FRANCE.

Congratulations to the United States Women's Soccer Team for winning the soccer championship in France by beating the Netherlands 2-0. You played hard, you played with a purpose and you played as a team and you made us all proud of you.

willowmoon16: I DID IT! I COMPLETED THE PS4 GAME TOMB RAIDER
I really enjoy playing Tomb Raider as the character Laura Croft. Laura is a single child, like myself, and she is smart, determined, strong willed and fearless. Plus many other fantastic traits I wish I had. Lol In one game I had such a hard time at a certain point in the game at the Chasm Shrine, that I almost gave up. But I knew Laura would never do that so I kept trying and I did it!!! I know for most of you this is not a big accomplishment, but I am proud of what I learned from a computer game. If you don't give up you can accomplish things you never thought possible.
I love the Tomb Raider games.

willowmoon16: IS THIS WHAT THE UNITED STATES HAD BECOME UNDER TRUMP?
I realize that our Immigration Laws need to be reformed, but in the meantime we must not stoop to the barbaric practices of separating children from their parents. We are a nation of immigrants and until Trump became president, the United States was the shinning light showing the world the way a great nation should be. The video below is a sample of how low we have fallen under Trump.

willowmoon16: What is ESBATS?
Each year there are 13 Full Moons that hold sacred energies associated with the Great Goddess and the Moon. These thirteen full moons coincide with the thirteen Esbats of the year. An Esbat, weather performed solitary or with a group, gives the Witch personal time to link their spirit with Deity. Witches utilize Esbat energy to connect with Spirit, meditate, or work toward personal goals to enhance the Witch's life. Witch's also emply Esbats to perform divinations for the benefit of themselves, friends and family members. Witches perform Esbats indoors and outside depending on the weather and facilities available as well as the type of ceremony planned. Regardless of the format, solitary or group, the consecration of cakes and ale, our communion, is customary at Esbats during the performance of a ritual in a magic circle. Basically these 13 Moon Esbats are for developing and honoring your relationship to the Goddess and asking for Her blessing , and are not to be confused with the 8 Sabbats. I personally love to celebrate the Esbats around a small campfire under the Full Moon along the shore during the warm months.
Enjoy be happy.
Blessed Be,
Willow

willowmoon16: RELIGION VS. SPIRITUALITY

To me religion is a set of beliefs, rules, and rituals particular to a certain religion. Spirituality is how you express your vales in the world and your values may not necessarily be attached to a formal religion. Unlike religion, spirituality can incorporate a variety of belief and values. I was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but my rituals are more in harmony with Wicca and I often refer to my spirituality as Goddess Spirituality.
But Goddess, of Women's Spirituality has no problems crossing religious lines and taking things they can use in their own spirituality from any and all religions and spiritual beliefs while discarding which they cannot use in their belief system at this time. You take what you can use from a variety of sources and reject what you cannot us in your own spiritual beliefs. You will find that what you once rejected as not in harmony with your spiritual beliefs you may later embrace. This does not mean your old beliefs were wrong. Actually they were right for you at that time and allowed you to continue to grow. We have the ability to grow and learn and accept and reject that which is good for our well being, and reject that which we can no longer accept or tolerate and holds us back from reaching our full spiritual potential. Again, this does not mean our old beliefs were wrong. Actually they were right for you at that time. But we have the ability to grow and learn and accept and reject that which is good for our well being. What we reject is that which holds us back from reaching our full potential.
I am not saying that religion does not have some good qualities that we can and should embrace. I guess what I cam saying is that each individual should embrace the good he finds in each religion and reject that which is not in harmony with the individuals spirituality. Each religion has something to offer the spirituality of each of us.
Goddess Bless.
Willow

willowmoon16: THE PENTAGRAM- SYMBOL OF GODDESS SPIRITUALITY AND WICCA- PART II

The Pentagram is more than a symbol it is the key to understanding the secrets of Goddess Spirituality and Wicca. In my first diagram I drew the directions, tools and elements and their location on the five pointed star. In this second diagram I will show the correct position of each Sabbat as it relates to the Pentagram.

THE EIGHT FESTIVALS.
WINTER SOLSTICE- December 19-23. Placed at top point of the Pentagram [Spirit]
Winter Solstice or Yule is celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God, who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun.
CANDLEMAS- Feb 1-2. Candlemas or Ombolc is celebrated as one of the four "fire festivals of the Wheel of the Year. It is a traditional time for initiations.
SPRING EQUINOX- March 20-23. Sometimes called Ostara is characterized by joining of the Mother Goddess and he lover-consort-son, who spent the winter months in death.
BELTANE- April 30-May 1. Beltane is one of the four "five festers" or "greater sabats". This sabbat may use features such as the bonfire but its main ritual is the maypole dancing, enacting a ritual union of the May Lord and Lady.
SUMMER SOLSTICE- June 19-23. Midsummer is one of the four solar holidays, and is the turning point at which summer reaches it height and the sun shines longest.
LAMMAS- August 1-2 Lammas or Lughnasadh is one of the three harvest festivals. It is a feast of thanksgiving for grain and bread, which symbolized the first fruits of the harvest.
AUTUMN EQUINOX- Sept 19-23. This is a time of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessing of the Goddess and God during the winter months.
HALLOWMAS- October 31st. Considered the most important of the four 'greater Sabbats'. Also called Samhain, is considered to b a time to celebrate the live of those how have passed on. In some rituals the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities.

As you can see the Pentagram is more than just a symbol of Wicca and Goddess Sprituality, it is the key to knowledge and understanding or this ancient spirituality that continues onto this day.

willowmoon16: WE MUST FREE OURSELVES AND MOVE BEYOND PATRIARCHAL DUALISM

Patriarchal Dualism is thinking in terms of either/or, split, of divided thinking. This type of thinking sets up everything in opposition to one another. For example, light vs. dark, good vs. evil, male vs. female, old vs. young, radical vs. conservative. This system can be seen in all of our institutions and traditions of society. It is a type of thinking that moves along a straight line, which is then divided in two. One against the other.

What I am suggesting is s return to the Maiden/Mother/Crone metaphor which is a wonderful symbol-system for replacing the linear dualisms of the patriarchy.

Patriarchal dualities are built along a line, one on each end. The mind moves back and forth between them, generally selecting one and denying the other.

Maiden/Mother/Crone thinking moves in a circle, each stage evolving into the next. Birth leads to life which leads to death, which lead to new life again, and on forever. It is an open, loving, flowing system that integrates all of its parts rather than dividing them. Each aspect comes in its own time and has its place in the whole... This was the manner of thinking before the creation of Patriarchal thought, and unless we make an effort to return to the Maiden, Mother, Crone system of thought the human race, the Earth and all of us are doomed.

Included is a diagram that will help you to understand and see how these two methods of thought nor only are in opposition to one another but one leads us to doom while the other to salvation and a better world.

Goddess Blessing

willowmoon16: THE PENTAGRAM- SYMBOL OF GODDESS SPIRITUALITY AND WICCA
The Pentagram is the symbol of Wicca, just as Catholics have the cross, Jews wear the Star of David, and the Crescent Moon represents the Islamic faith. But it is much deeper than that because it is a symbol that actually symbolizes the secrets of the Craft when drawn correctly. Many Wiccans place the different elements at different points on the pentagram than I do, and while that is acceptable, it keeps hidden the vast knowledge that the pentagram revels when the elements are placed at the proper points. My intent is to reveal to you the secrets of the pentagram in a series of posts. This being the first.
Each Point on The Pentagram Represents Important Knowledge.

ELEMENTS DIRECTION TOOL COLOR
Spirit Top or Center Cauldron Multicolored
Air East Censor Yellow
Fire South Wand Red
Water West Chalice Blue
Earth North Pentacle Green

My next pentagram illustration will show how the pentagram, when properly drawn, shows the different Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year.

The first illustration is how I draw the pentagram and its meaning.
The second Illustration is how some modern Wiccans draw the pentagram.

willowmoon16: THIS IS MY FIGHT SONG by Rachel Platten
I love this song as it captures the way I feel sometimes, "Like a small boat on an ocean". Life is full of daily challenges and just when you feel you have navigated your way through the storm, along comes another storm to deal with. But when I listen to this song it empowers me, and I know that whatever comes my way I will survive and be stronger when I come out the other side of the storm. Thank you Rachel Platten for the wonderful song that inspires me to fight and never give up.

willowmoon16: I AM WOMAN by Helen Reddy
I have always loved this song, and it has always served as an inspiration to me. It is an old song, but contains valuable insights and lessons about how to cope with people who attempt to put you down. I hope you like it as much as I do.

willowmoon16: HAPPY2 ROOM has a new drawing to represent the essence of the room. The Happy2 room does not have a particular focus or subject that we discuss. Instead it is a room where people come to meet people, make friends, discuss subjects of interest, listen to music, dance, and in general enjoy one another's company. It is a room where everyone is welcome but trouble makers will not be tolerated. I selected the drawing for the room because I thought it best represented the concept and attitude of the room and must thank Zhyanthan [Wireclub Moderator] for his help without which I would never been able to post the drawing. To all the regulars, thank you for your continued support. To people who have not visited our room yet, come check it out. It is free, so nothing to lose. To jojowe thank you for your help and support for without you the Happy2 room would not be the same.

willowmoon16: We All Come From The Goddess
Thousands of years before patriarchy there was the Goddess, who was worshipped around the world by ten thousand different names but all were the names of the One Goddess, the great Creatress of all that was, is, and ever will be.
Just as every human has a belly button which is indisputable evidence that he was born of women. So too did the first humans created by the Goddess also have a belly button, because we all came from the Goddess.