wandjina

Heya folks....thought I'd share my latest work...there's more in the gallery http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/inde...md=sc&cat=7 some of the colours and definition havent been captured by the scanner, and theres a few oldies in there, hope you enjoy.

hey Folks It is with a heavy heart that I have had to pull out of this years EGA program. I was SOOOO looking forward to giving my talk, but more, to spending time with all you wonderful people, putting some faces to names, soaking up the good vibes. Unfortunately I'm just not well enough for the drive down, it's just too far. I gave a ticket to my travelling companion in exchange for his chaffeuring skills, but as he is no longer going either, we now have no need of the ticket. So it's here is anyone should need or want it - I bought it early bird - $145. PM me if you're interested. Mnwah! x

Thanks for the kind words folks, I wish I could be there too...you have no idea. Who knows, someone with a private jet or helicopter might step out of the woodwork and make me an offer I cant refuse! If you're passing through Sydney on your way up or down, do drop me a line. Bring some of the EGA goodness my way. Love youse :loveheart: Oh, and ticket sold. Thanks

lol, oh man, thanks for posting this...really put a smile on my face as Von Danikens bunkum has been one of my pet peeves for years. One of the things that really bug me about these ancient astronaut theories is not only how preposterously literal they are, but how ethnocentric. It's the height of arrogance, imo, to assume the pyramid builders of ancient egypt or central america did not have the skill, expertise or ingenuity to contruct monolithic architecture - as if humans of the past were too primitive or ignorant...or that a prehistoric rock carving depicts an alien in 20th century-style spacesuit, and dont get me started on the Nazca lines!! (incidentally I think Paul Devereuxs ideas re this are much more interesting - the first edition of The Long Trip: The Prehistory of Psychedelia has a great chapter on this which he later devoted an entire book to). Does anyone still take Von Danikens ideas seriously?

I'm sorry I came across so strong, but having been given a terminal cancer diagnosis, and more recently been referred to palliative care, this is a sensitive issue for me as you might imagine. Also, my own personal experience losing a loved one to overdose, and having to face the judgement of others, especially some peoples views that his death was somehow worth less because he chose to use illicit drugs, also makes this a sticky point for me. There was some bitterness after he died. Some friends and extended family had 'unfinished business' with him, and I ended up on the receiving end. It was very difficult. So I guess I dragged some of that into this thread. Tortsen knows, I hope, that I have a great deal of love and respect for him, but I do feel some posts were overly focused on negatives, or articulated certain things in a way that lacked sensivity and tact. Woodragon managed to capture Wills personality in a balanced way without sounding harsh or mean, just honest and heartfelt. Sometimes it's not so much what someone says, but how they say it. Even with good or 'neutral' intent, words can hurt without heart. And I think of young Oscar, and I wouldnt want him to be reading some of those posts right after his Dad has died. I have to say that from where I stand, coming to terms with the immanence of my own death and losing all I've held precious in this life, knowing I may not see my daughter grow up and not be here for her to protect her, I have raised her on my own and her father is on the other side of the world... I care a great deal about her welfare when I'm gone, and this includes how other people may 'memorialise' me and how this may effect her. Children may not have the insight into adult behaviour you hope your daughter would have if you should die. I dont actually think I've caused anyone that much bother in my life, so I dont imagine there'd be a great deal of bitching. I have myriad flaws and faults, and heaven knows I can be an utter cow...but I dont think I've caused too much hurt along the way....but I stand by opinion that mourning people deserve compassion and a period of grace - and there most definitely IS a time and a place for venting anger and/or unfinished business if you want to spare innocent people unneccesary suffering. In my mind it's a small courtesy we can all afford to extend to our fellow human beings.

Recent posts about Will upset and angered me also. I wholeheartedly believe in a period of grace, it's not much to ask for. A modicum of respect as Incognito put it. As for not saying anything if you've nothing nice to say...well, having been to more funerals and wakes than weddings in my life, it is one thing to bitch and be nasty, another to discuss a persons flaws and inadequacies with honesty, compassion and kindness. None of us is perfect. In my opinion it's just plain mean and vindictive cataloguing the failings of someone who has just died in, of all places, their memorial thread! To be perfectly honest, I am appalled. There is a way to talk about, express, our complex and at times conflicting views and feelings about others in a balanced way. We can talk about them as the whole person, warts and all, neither focusing exclusively on the positive or negative...though the former will fall into sharper relief for the people who truly love(d) that person. Let them have that grace. They deserve it. Being close to the deceased person they, more than anyone, are aware of their faults and flaws...sniping in a memorial thread, especially given any unresolved tension or 'controversy' during the persons life, is simply unfair and unwarranted. I agree with other posts above - people can purge their resentment and unresolved issues elsewhere, and learn to practice some self-restraint. Would you deface a grave or cenotaph? Well on the net, for some people, memorials are just as meaningful. There are plenty of other ways to vent your spleen. No need to cork it up - but in my view there's a time and a place. I hope when I shuffle off this mortal coil, which given the docs prognosis may be alot sooner than I had anticipated, that my beautiful daughter doesnt log on here and find posts blathering on about some unresolved petty shit from years ago or saying what a terrible person I was. Sorry to not be more diplomatic here folks, but ffs.

Hey folks, I have an extra EGA ticket. It was bought at earlythe bird price - just want what I paid for it $145 PM me if you're interested

Ticket sold, thanks folks Ob and Naja....hell yes, I'll be there with bells on. Looking forward to seeing you guys too

Why the Dog Could Not Drink (Sufi teaching story) Shibli was asked: "Who guided you in the Path?" He said: "A dog. One day I saw him, almost dead with thirst, standing by the water's edge. Every time he looked at his reflection in the water he was frightened, and withdrew, because he thought it was another dog. Finally, such was his necessity, he cast away fear and leapt into the water; at which the "other dog" vanished. The dog found that the obstacle, which was himself, the barrier between him and what he sought, melted away. In this same way my own obstacle vanished, when I knew that it was what I took to be my own self. And my Way was first shown to me by the behaviour of - a dog." Idries Shah

Ahoy hoy friends. Over the last coupla years I've collected quite a few supplements - amino acids, herbs etc - which I do not currently have any use for (currently on TCM-based regimen). I don't want them to go to waste or pass their use-by dates till I get around to taking them...so I'm hoping someone might benefit from using them now. Some are unopened, most I've only used a few caps/pills and they are basically full bottles, all are well within their use by dates (EXP 2013-2015) and of good quality. I've calculated the value for the lot at around $180 - this includes 'costing' opened bottles at 1/2 of what I originally paid even when they are close to full, discounted full price for unopened bottles (e.g. 'Stone free' $5 instead of $7.27), and less still the for vitamins and minerals because I just want to them to go where they'll be used! And I havent even factored in what I paid for postage! - most of the supplements were imported from the U.S. So this is a huge bargain and worth alot more than my estimate!!! As I'm recovering from a pretty hairy health crisis - I simply dont have the energy to divvy all these things up and post them all over the country, and hence need to sell them as one lot. I'm also currently unemployed and could really use the cash to be perfectly honest So I'm asking $100 for the lot - as follows.... Amino acids 5-HTP 200mg ~50 caps GABA 750mg ~90 caps L-Glutamine 500mg ~110 caps 'True calm' (amino acid blend) unopened 90caps + 10 extra caps http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-True-Calm-90-Capsules/841?at=0 DLPA (DL-phenylalanine) 500mg ~70 caps (includes 1 unopened bottle +M ~10 caps) Herbs Rhodiola 500mg ~80 caps (including 1 unopened bottle) 'Relora' 300mg ~80 caps http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Relora-300-mg-120-Vcaps/3340?at=0 Chanca Piedra 500mg 2 x 100caps unopened 'Stone Free' 820mg 4 x 90 caps unopened http://www.iherb.com/Planetary-Herbals-Stone-Free-820-mg-90-Tablets/1609?at=0 Vitamins & minerals 'True Balance' ~230 caps Ostevit-D (vitamin D3) 1000 IU ~180 tablets Zinc 220mcg ~80 caps Assorted B vitramins (1, 6, 12) Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate 2.8mg) ~120 caps Miscellaneous Rose tissane (rose bud tea) Japanese black tea in fancy tin - unopened 'Bojenmi' herbal tea in fancy tin Chrysanthenum drink sachets Organic Rosehip tea ~ 20 teabags Assorted green tea bags (including fruit-infused and green chai) ~100 tea bags 1 bottle veggie caps Plus free mystery lucky dip prizes from wandjinas magical pantry!! PM me if you're interested

Hello folks! As some of you already know, just before New Years I found out that I have neuro-endocrine cancer. Dont freak out, I'm not I've had time to come to terms with this. Without going into too many details, the cancer has moved to my liver...which isnt great according to conventional prognosis, but it's early days. I'm on chemo and have had two 'cycles' so far. before the chemo I was very sick; the chemo quite literally saved my life. I feel and look better now than I have in years - except for some fatigue and new 'do a la sinead o'connor, finding out that I have a life-threatening illness has been profoundly life-affirming. The healing that has taken place within me, and between myself and my loved ones, has been incredible. Cancer has been an unexpected gift and teacher. I'm tolerating the chemo very well. Just a few days of feeling shitty and then I'm fine. I'm having reiki, taking milk thistle, and exploring my options. There are so many. I plan on starting tai chi or qi gong classes in the fortnight, perhaps acupuncture. So here I am extending my feelers for information, advice and experience. I know I'm not the only member of the community to have cancer or other serious illness. I also know there is so much knowledge and expertise - and if you would like to share yours, I would be grateful and interested. Unfortunately the chemo has had an effect on my ability to concentrate and focus which has changed the way I would usually research a topic. There's only so long I can spend online...so I guess I'm also asking for some help which I am usually loathe to do to be honest. I like to know, to be independent...but I need to learn to ask for help sometimes too. Please note - I dont want to be rude, but as I have made very clear elsewhere - conspiracy theories are a pet peeve, so thank you, but no thank you. I've decided on conventional medicine in conjunction with 'alternatives', a holistic approach, - so I would really appreciate the absence of negative stories about what's wrong with 'Establishment' or allopathic medicine. I would however be very interested in information about liver cancer relevant to our shared interests (wouldnt you know it, but until recently I worked specifically in liver health lol). My knowledge is pretty good re herbs used for liver health, so I guess it's more specific information i'd be looking for in regards to liver regeneration. Also anything on herbs and interactions with chemo. Plants and cancer generally. Links to reputable websites or sources of good but not-too-detailed info would be great, especially on medicinal mushrooms as my understanding on those is limited. I've been sent some great references for healers - and warmly welcome ideas and infromation on different healing modalities or practices, especially those that people have personally experienced. I'm all tuckered out now and am off to the beach with a friend. I havent swum in the ocean yet this year. Thank yous in advance. Pen x

SOLD!! Thankyou muchly

hello everyone Last Friday I got the good news that after 6 months of gruelling chemo my liver in clear and there's no sign of anything anywhere else! No mean feat considering that in January I was close to liver failure - but now my liver looks normal. No spots! My oncologist, and current conventional biomedical 'wisdom', says that the cancer will most likely return - but they also admit that really they dont know what will happen because it is a very very rare kind of cancer (hence not much data, relatively speaking), the way it manifested in my body was unusual, and my response to treatment exceeded expectations. I suspect they're writing up a paper on my case - every med student in Sydney seemed to be sent my way at some point. Seems I'm a curiosity lol Anyhoo, I'm finally starting to feel human again and slowly getting my energy back after the chemo. It was pretty brutal towards the end. blech I've found a wonderful Traditional Chinese doctor who specialises in oncology and using herbs as an adjunct or on their own to help build ones immune system. I'm also exploring a few other avenues - on multiple levels. I've come to more fully appreciate what I need to do so as to heal myself - whether or not I am cured...which has meant more deeply acknowledging the possibility I may very well die. Phew - hairy stuff. But then we never know when we're gonna go...or how. So much more I'd like to say but I'm just too pooped atm! Thankyou from the bottom of my heart to everyone who offered support, advice, compassion and love. The kindness and consideration shown me has meant so so much, I'm so grateful. Thank you. I'll keep ya posted. Loads of love x

Thank you so very much everyone for the links, information, advice, wise words, well-wishes and good vibes. Also thanks to those generously offering gifts. Expect a big hug when we meet in person. Sylbacon, Alchemica, Synchromesh, Herbal Hindsight, Woodragon - WOW! I really appreciate you taking the time to conduct this research on my behalf. Thank you. This is really helpful to me and I am very grateful. Some excellent information. Great to find out how much I could benefit from increasing my intake of cannabis (which is currenlty zero so easy to do ;)) Mucho gracias muchacho Thank you for sharing your experience Magic Dirt - much appreciated. Pm'd I've also shot you one Faustus. Evil Genius, Mescalito, Blowng, Zen Peddler and PH - your kind and thoughtful words mean a lot. A heartfelt thank you. Besides some tiredness, I've been feeling well. It's been lovely having time to be, to heal, to be with the people I love, cuddle my cats, really appreciate all that is beautiful. It's funny though...because I'm feeling so well it's easy to take forgranted that I have a life threatening illness. maybe that's a good thing? But I dont want to fall back in to bad habits either. Uh oh, kid's home...and she'll want to 'puter. Much love muchachos. Big hugs x

http://www.iajv.org/ http://ijvcanada.org/ijv-vji-positions/ http://jfjfp.com/?page_id=2

I'm glad you found it interesting. The article raises many interesting points. Though I would be worried about how the ability to be a good parent is defined; by whos standards? "The trouble is, they say, the rules deal with problems after the fact." Sterilising 'addicts' can be seen as preventative, but from another angle it is merely a bandaid. It's not addressing why people become addicted - which is not to say every public health intervention has to, or can, address broader structural issues. I find the idea of preventing 'junkies from breeding' quite disturbing. Working in drug and alcohol for many years, the vast majority of 'addicts' I have known didnt grow up with addicted parents, they grew up with maladjusted arseholes...who themselves had grown up with maladjusted arseholes...and so on and so forth. So, should we be offering sterilisation to arseholes then? - and if so, how do we define what constitutes 'arseholeness', and who gets to decide? Why single out addicts for spaying? And what of the damaged people DOCs workers encounter - should they only be offered sterilisation if they're addicted to drugs? What about alcoholics or problem gamblers? Do you think other people who neglect and abuse children would be as open to being neutered as a desperate, withdrawing opiate habitue essentially offered a free shot? I'm all for birth control, but this is taking it to another level. I'm reminded of that purse-lipped harpy Bronwyn Bishop who wanted to remove children from parents who used drugs. Some people might see this as a good thing when it comes to 'evil junkies' - but again, who gets to set the standards for what a 'junkie' is, and what constitutes 'problem drug use'? "The father had been regularly consuming potent mind-altering substances including noxious fungi, raw opium and cannabis, innumerable prohibited plants grew in the garden to which the children had unrestricted access, chemicals used in the extraction and manufacture of illicit drugs were found on the property, and both parents expressed delusional beliefs related to the use of intoxicants as part of their 'religion'..." The civil rights of all people who use drugs matter. Offering desperate people money, who may or may not be able to give informed consent, to have major operations - which in the case of vasectomy can involve general anaesthesia - crikey, there's nothing straightforward about this at all. Most of the 'hard-core' opiate or stimulant dependent people I've met have survived terrible abuse and neglect, research has demonstrated most long-term users are 'self-medicating' for anxiety, depression, PTSD, psychoses. Many women have been sexually abused, men brutalised. Not everyone who has survived an abusive childhood grows up to become a 'junkie'of course, either they were lucky enough to not be exposed to certian drugs, or maybe they've just a 'better' class of people eh? So does that mean 'flawed' humans dont deserve a fair go? People who've made mistakes/poor choice/committed crimes/prisoners have no rights? Or is there something just inherently 'wrong' with being an addict? Are all 'addicts' bad parents or 'junkies'. Of course we should be responsible for the consequences of our actions, but who are we to pass judgement or condemn others? And yes, it's fucked that your car stereo/tools/DVD player was stolen by 'junkies' - wouldnt it great if they could get off the drugs, get a haircut and get a real job? Fuck them, they should...wtf is wrong with them? Lock them away, that will solve the problem! Send them to jail where they'll be beaten and brutalised, with the added bonus of swapping notes with other disadvantaged people (check out the stats on the socio-economic/demographics of the people in our jails) learning new and better ways to commit crime! Bloody hell - we're long overdue for change in law and policy - prescription heroin is a good start - far superior to methadone, and clinical trials overseas have shown it works. People begin to heal - they get jobs, reconcile with family, disengage from criminal activity. But it seems we'd rather punish junkies and treat them like sub-human zombies. not all 'addicts' fit the stereotype anyhoo. One guy I know has a truly massive habit, but he's never resorted to crime. You might hate window-washers at traffic lights, but I admire him. He works his arse off and though he has to contend with regular police harrassment, he earns his money. Or a former colleague of mine who worked full time in womens refuges and shelters helping others, then did sex work all night because it was the only way she could make enough money to stave off the agony of withdrawal. Or the physician who becomes addicted to pain killers after an accident and leads an other wise normal life as an 'upstanding' member of the community and family man. People who use drugs, addicted or not, are capable of being good parents - which is not to say all 'addicts' are good parents. People who dont use drugs are not all good parents, and are just as capable of being bad parents. So we target the most vulnerable and ignore the rest? And what about alcoholics - the source of more violence and abuse than anything else? These 'Project Prevention' people should be out the front of the local bottlo or pokies-parlour on pension day. 'Why dont these people just go and get help', 'why dont they just get off the drugs', 'go get the help you desperately need you scum bag'.... Know where most discrimination occurs against drug dependant people? - in the health care system. No, not because they're just trying to score some prescribed drugs - but because injecting is pretty much the most stigmatised behaviour in our culture. Right up there with pedophilia in some peoples minds. Great way to ensure people do not return, or even access health care services. It's hard enough getting people into a NSP....and even then many dependent people dont feel entitiled to health care, and believe they deserve everything that's coming to them, whether its liver cirrhosis, heart failure, blood poisoning, sleeping rough or a painful lingering death. The garbage of society - irredeemible. Money would be, and is, better spent on programs that help people to heal themselves, not punish them or single them out. I'd just like to add that i fully support birth control for people who do not want, or whos lives are too 'chaotic', to care for children. But I do not agree offering people money to get sterilised is ethical. Sorry to bang on and derail the discussion, this is something I feel quite passionate about.

Perhaps, but sometimes the dodgy ones win the race...and poor health = poor quality sperm. Male obesity has recently been linked with health problems in big guys offspring. But that said, the real issue is more likely the co-morbidities associated with opiate-dependence and the luxurious lifestyle the War on Drugs affords. (NB sarcasm) A habit can be all-consuming; things like eating well, sleeping and generally taking care of yourself tend to slip down the list of priorities. A high proportion of long-term opiate users also smoke, experience respiratory/cardiovascular problems, bacterial infections (e.g. endocarditis, absesses), digestive 'issues' (e.g.faecal impaction) and heightened risk of contracting blood borne viruses (especially hepatitis C - over 50% prevalence chronic infection is some groups of people who inject drugs)etc. As a recreational drug, di-acetyl morphine is actually pretty 'inert', toxicity-wise. Constipation yeah. Erectile dysfunction for some. Respiratory depression. etc Chronic use has been shown to cause hyponatremia, which can lead to pneumonia, heart/kidney or liver failure. Opiates also have complex effects on the immune system that are not fully understood. General health will impact upon the health of sperm, and hence increased potential for a 'substandard' or 'compromised' spermatozoa fertilising the egg. I guess the main point I was trying to make by posting those two papers was that responsibility for conception shouldnt rest exclusively on the shoulders of drug dependent women. The health of both men and women who use drugs matters.

I think so, yes The online etymology dictionary has this to say: O.E. sur, from P.Gmc. *suraz (cf. O.N. surr, M.Du. suur, Du. zuur, O.H.G. sur, Ger. Sauer), from PIE base *suro- "sour, salty, bitter" (cf. O.C.S. syru, Rus. syroi "moist, raw;" Lith. suras "salty," suris "cheese"). French sur "sour, tart" (12c.) is a Gmc. loan-word. The verb is attested from c.1300. Sense in whisky sour is from 1885. Sour cream is attested from 1855. Now if we can just get someone to translate - LOL I assume 'Gmc' means Germanic. Sauerkraut anyone?

A combination of common symbols: The 'vesican pisces' or 'mandorla', essentially an ancient symbol of wholeness: "This symbol, called the vesica pisces (piscis) or “Jesus fish,” has an unusual history. Used almost exclusively today to denote membership in the Christian religion, the symbol once held a very different meaning (even to the early Christians who adopted it). The word usually found inscribed within, IXOYE (Ichthus), is Greek, meaning fish. The emblem became significant to Christians after St. Augustine, who extracted the word from the acrostic prophecy* of the Erythraean Sibyl, and applied the kabbalistic technique of notarikon (acrostic) to the word to reveal “Jesus Christ, God’s son, savior." "The custom of early Christians to communicate by drawing a portion in the dust was carried over from the practice of the ancient Pythagoreans, who discovered the shape’s unique properties and made it an important part of their teachings. In earlier times, this glyph was associated with the Goddess Venus, and represented female genitalia. Early depictions of Christ depict him as an infant within the vesica (In this context, it is usually referred to as a mandorla, meaning ‘almond shaped.’), which represented the womb of Mary, and often, the coming together of heaven and earth in the body of Jesus (part man, part god). As such, it is also a doorway or portal between worlds, and symbolizes the intersection between the heavens and the material plane." The symbolic meaning of the dove is well known (in this case the holy spirit/and the UCCs Methodist heritage). The red cross is the cross of St Andrew rendered as an 'X' for Christ. Then you've got a bible, the burning bush (here representing UCCs historical links to Presbyterianism), and the alpha & omega symbolising 'the eternal living God, in the fullness of creation' (Revelation 1:8). The Latin words surrounding the symbols ('ut omnes unum sint') mean 'That all may be one' (John 17:21) - and are a reference to unification and hence the 'uniting' church. The Ordo Templis Orientis (OTO) 'lamen' is also a combination of ancient symbols (e.g.'all seeing' wedjat eye, chalice, cross) though the meanings attributed are more interesting/esoteric. There are members here far more knowledgable than I re Western Occultism who may be better placed to explain their significance, but I'd be surprised if they did ;)

Lyserg + Saure ('acid') + Diethylamid

It think it has some merit in regard to females/mothers but the drugs are irrelevant biologically in a males/fathers case. "Opiates and cocaine both have effects on adrenal and gonadal function. Opiates suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, whereas cocaine leads to HPA activation. Opiates also cause gonadal dysfunction in both men and women...in addition, opiate administration is also associated with abnormal spermatogenesis in men and has been associated with reduced sexual performance." http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/ajid/ajid23130-135.pdf "Semen analyses from all of the heroin addicts and from the dual heroin-methadone users were abnormal, whereas only 10 out of 22 (45%) of the methadone takers were pathological. In all cases asthenospermia was one of the abnormalities (100%). Twenty-four per cent also showed teratospermia and hypospermia and 17% showed oligozoospermia. Such seminal pathology, especially of forward motility, even in combination with normal hormone levels, might be an early indication of heroin toxicity to the male reproductive tract." http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2605.1988.tb00984.x/abstract

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