Author: Paula Cas

I write fiction, non-fiction, verbiage for all our websites, and have been publishing my fan fiction on my various sites for many years. https://paulacas.com I am a Spiritual Medium and use Tarot cards as one my primary tools in doing readings. For 30 plus years have been doing readings in settings from my living room to truck stops. I tell you what Spirit wants you know for your betterment, not what you think you need to know. I’ve worked on computers since before there was such a creature as Windows. A Mountain Maryland native, but have spent years spent living in Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Arizona. My husband, Oro Cas, and I spent 10 years driving tractor-trailer across the 48 contiguous states. Oro Cas and I produced and hosted Internet Radio shows on BlogTalk Radio, video productions on KDCL Media and Oro Expeditions YouTube Channels.

Feel Good Sunday: Old Horse At ‘Kill Lot’ Decides To Rescue Himself | Straight from the Horse’s Heart

by Sarah V Schweig as published on The Dodo

“He was intent that this was his ride out of there.”

An old horse was at a “kill lot” in Texas when he realized he would simply have to save his own life.

So when he spotted a group of people who were there to rescue some mini donkeys in the same life-threatening predicament, he decided to go with them.

“This skinny, grey gelding walked straight up to our trailer, past the gates, disregarding the commands of the kill lot employees,” Becky’s Hope Horse Rescue in Frisco, Texas, wrote earlier this month. “He was intent that this was his ride out of there.”

Sarah McGregor, a spokesperson for Becky’s Hope, explained that the “kill lot” in North Texas where the horse, named Bubbles, comes from is the last place animals get a chance to be rescued before heading to Mexico for slaughter.

“Oftentimes, the horses or donkeys are old, or the owners lost their property, or the owners passed away or simply are unable to care for them and they are sold to auction,” McGregor told The Dodo. “If they are not bought at auction by people or other farms, the slaughter pipeline will buy up all of the animals and resell them.”

This was very nearly Bubbles’s fate — before he decided to adopt his own rescuers. “We stood there staring as this old guy with crumbled ears from frostbite waited patiently for the group of mini donkeys to catch up so he could jump on the ‘freedom trailer’ out of there,” the rescue wrote. “There was just no way we could leave him behind!”

Luckily, the rescuers had just enough money from donations to Becky’s Hope to rescue this old guy — so they did. “This sweet, old man won our hearts the minute he decided it was the perfect time to escape the kill lot,” the rescue wrote. “It seems that he thought nobody would notice him escaping if he simply mixed in with the mini donkeys!”

Now he’s safe and happy at Becky’s Hope, meeting people who want to stroke the nose of the horse who rescued himself. “He is adjusting so well as if he knew that this rescue was where he belonged all along,” McGregor said. “He loves attention, loves grazing and getting special treats.”

Click (HERE) to read more.

Source: Feel Good Sunday: Old Horse At ‘Kill Lot’ Decides To Rescue Himself | Straight from the Horse’s Heart

Astrorisa Moon Blast – Jan.Aquarius New Moon 2017

January 27, 2017

Aquarius New Moon 8° at 7:07 PM EST

in House 6
Aquarius Sun 8°, in House 6

Planetary Energies

Moon (Osupa / Yemoja), Sun (Orun), Mercury (Esu-Elegbara), Mars (Ogun), Jupiter (Obatala), Saturn (Obaluaiye), Uranus (Sango).

Aquarius 8° the archetype of Kabieysi Sango

New Moon Themes:

Leadership, a command of one’s words, self-protection, open invitations, agreements, disagreements, self-defense, and intrigue.

Aquarius, the archetype of Uranus is visited by both the sun and the moon on Jan.27th. The planet Uranus is strongly aspected during this lunar time. Aquarius in the 6th house is unconventional in his diet regime, jumping on new healing or health fads. Or discovering new approaches towards finding a remedy for anything, from health to social injustices. Even the creation of strange out of this world laws.

Uranus Aspects
Jupiter opposite Uranus
Saturn trine Uranus
Uranus square Pluto
Mercury square Uranus
Moon quintile Uranus
Sun quintile Uranus

Another powerful new moon occurring for January 27th through February 24, 2017, let’s welcome this Aquarius new moon as it arrives with a Bang! I’ve always said, “be alert during any Aquarian moon time as it’s power to bring justice and revelations is unequivocal.” Now we’re experiencing both sun and moon in Aquarius, the archetype of Sango at 8° lending to its power and authority, this is a “Justice Moon” and who would not want to be on the correct side of Ose Sango (Sango’s double edged ax)?

A “Justice Moon” cuts away at the pillars of any falsehood, it will expose and punish, as well as offer healing, and justice. We will see this and other current lunar themes play themselves out throughout the next 28 days. This moon time can spark the encouragement of entrepreneurship, and the championing of some outlandish adventure. It’s an action oriented moon time that can give fire and devotion not only to one’s personal causes but to group causes. These causes can be as minuscule as feeling dedicated to beginning or maintaining a work out regiment or can be as grand as joining, funding or creating an activism for humanitarian rights.

This is that moon time which influences our collective consciousness to develop or manage high standards and morals, because its the right thing to do, as suppose to doing it because one feels like it. This moon time brings the message of a “Sense of Duty,” and it awakens situations surrounding partnerships, business connections, and marriages. The moon semi-squares Venus, Oshun’s planet. This transit definitely encourages the tightening up of any loose ends which previously floated around. What we got away with before, in the aforementioned institutional areas, won’t continue, at least for now. Also with this transit, any marriage, or business partnership that is not up to par, will likely be thoroughly investigated, an the use of every available means will likely be requested.

Though anxiety and combative energies surround us at this time, the higher octave of Aquarian vibrations brings people of all walks of life and backgrounds to gather in solidarity, for the upliftment of humanity, and that was self evident during the Women’s March on January 21, when the sun was in Aquarius. An energy field was created by that event which shifted some of the intense, angry, and combative vibrations which were current at the time. We can harness that divine humanitarian love-energy and work with it this month by way of mediation, prayers, lightening candles, and or sharing our good inner light with others.

We may even experience this Aquarian Universal love, through situations of inspiration. This is because this moon time also carries a tone of “Inspiration.” Look within yourself and around yourself. Are more people feeling inspired to step out of their comfort zone?Are there more acts of inspirational support and encouragement towards the creation or completion of something occurring? This moon time at its highest octave encourages “Group greatness.”

During this moon time (28 day cycle)

During this moon time, at its lowest octave, cunningness lurks in the air. Aquarian moons activate humanitarian love, personal greed, and comradery amongst groups. Be mindful of deceptive behaviors and self-deception, instead balance thought and logic.

Example: You left something at the house, and decide to return home to get it, but you’re in a rush. You quickly dash upstairs forgetting to close the front door, then for whatever reason, you get distracted, and stay upstairs longer than planned. At this point you’ve left yourself vulnerable, and lost focus.

During this moon time some people may need to be extra attentive to what they say or do, so to avoid legal problems. Resolve the issue quickly if you can.

During this moon time some people will experience confrontations and combativeness that is likely created through gossip.

During this moon time involving oneself in another person’s personal affairs or sharing their business is not good, it can lead to confrontations or violence.

During this moon time keep trying to get your projects, plans, and work off the ground, as our determination is likely to be tested.

During this moon time, some people’s business will get exposed. Protect yourself interests, keep your personal business personal, and secure what needs to be secured.

Moon Semi-square Saturn (Obaluaiye’s planet).

This transit can bring up challenges triggered by our thoughts of the past. There could be father-mother complexes surfacing which need attention. Even our focus and concentration can become weak. We could find ourselves day dreaming more. But with the semi square, we maybe more aware of our personal challenges than before. And this transit though challenging can offer us a stronger chance to work through them.

Maneuvering Through this Aquarius Moon towards blessings (ire)

1. Receiving a personal readings is helpful.

2. Receiving rogation, eboleri, ibori is helpful, to open awareness and insight.

3. Listen to your instincts.

4. Good time to do new moon meditations to enhance or encourage perseverance of spirit and to lessen or eliminate emotional fatigue.

5. Encourage the higher octave of Aquarius in you. Be the leader and voice you wanted to have in your life.

6. Lock, secure property, avoid gossip, avoid crowds, avoid contracts without thorough investigation. Avoid fights, avoid destructive personality types.

7. Good moon time to avoid depressive thoughts, again, use meditation.

8. Good moon time to build positive relationships 1st with Self, and with others. Create the protective, safe space needed to make decisions. Then set the tone for how you want the rest of your year to look like.

9. New Moon Exercise: Use this moon time to begin the process of building and fortifying (fill in the blank) ____________________ Then place a rose quartz in one fist and an amethyst stone in the other fist. Speak your desire as a mantra.

Have a Universally Loved, and Self Honoring New Moon Time!

Written by Iya Olusoga ~ Bisi Ade

For Astrorisa Moon Forecaster

January 24, 2017

Source: Astrorisa Moon Blast – Jan.Aquarius New Moon 2017

Four Thieves Vinegar – Good Witches Homestead

From what evidence we have, infused vinegar have existed almost since we first discovered vinegar. It’s so useful by itself, and infusing it increases its effectiveness and potency. Its many functions include:

– culinary
– preservation
– beauty regimes
– cleansing
– disinfection
– anti-infestation

Herb-infused vinegar is natural, organic, non-toxic, inexpensive, traditional technology that used to and still can replace so many of our modern products. They can be full strength for cleaning and disinfect, as an insect discouragement or anti-fungal. With the proper ingredients, they are remarkably effective against bacteria, as well as an efficient cleanser, which leaves a refreshing scent. I personally have used the diluted spray to cure my apple trees of a debilitating fungus that had been plaguing them for years. I also got rid of the aphids on my Virginia Creeper and created a scent barrier against ants getting into my house.

Diluted, often with rosewater, it was used as a cosmetic, to tone the face, clear up eruptions, refresh clothing, and in a sponge nosegay, was kept near the face to ward off the Plague. Certain physicians are still called quacks due to the medieval practice of wearing a duck-like mask with a sponge of aromatic vinegar resting in the beak when visiting areas of contagion. Perhaps it’s currently an insult to call a doctor a quack because it implies their techniques are right out of the Middle Ages.

*It should be used only with extreme caution during pregnancy, * as some of the herbs are abortifacient. I used it when I was pregnant with my son to no ill effects, but I took care not to get any on my skin.

Four Thieves Oil is a very modern invention, and not the same thing at all. It usually contains essential oils of similar herbs, but oils and aqueous infusions do not often share the same properties. It cannot be used for all the same purposes as the vinegar formulations, and are often far more expensive. Though it apparently can be used for similar magical purposes, such as banishment, in Vodun and other systems…

The first actual record we have for the version known as Four Thieves is not medieval. If it is indeed an actual record. Most of the “documentation” is really stories. I will take the liberty to re-post this excellent history. (I’d credit it if I knew the original source, but this exact version is all over the ‘net.) :

“The famous French aromatherapy doctor, Jean Valnet, has two recipes in his book. He claims corpse robbers who were caught red-handed in the area around Toulouse in 1628-1631 revealed the original recipe. His story is the more credible of the many ones can find. Given the virulence and deadliness of the plague, the judges were astonished by the indifference of the thieves to contagion. Valnet quotes the archives of the Parliament of Toulouse:

“During the Great Plague, four robbers were convicted of going to the houses of plague victims, strangling them in their beds and then looting their dwellings. For this, they were condemned to be burned at the stake, and in order to have their sentence mitigated, they revealed their secret preservative, after which they were hanged.”

Here’s one of the versions stated to be original.

Four Thieves Formula

3 pints white wine vinegar
handful wormwood
handful meadowsweet
handful juniper berries
handful wild marjoram
handful sage
50 cloves
2 oz. elecampane root
2 oz. angelica
2 oz. rosemary
2 oz. horehound
3 g camphor

Dr. Valnet has a variation of his own described as an antiseptic vinegar.

Marseilles Vinegar

40 g. greater wormwood, Artemesia absinthium
40 g. lesser wormwood, Artemesia pontica
40 g. rosemary
40 g. sage
40 g. mint
40 g. rue
40 g. lavender
5 g. calamus
5 g. cinnamon
5 g. clove
5 g. nutmeg
5 g. garlic
10 g. camphor (not synthetic camphor)
40 g. crystallized acetic acid
2500 g. white vinegar

Instructions: steep the plants in the vinegar for 10 days. Force through a sieve. Add the camphor dissolved in the acetic acid; filter.

Years of experimentation using historical and modern recipes have helped create my interpretation of this legendary liquid. My version is an amalgam of several different recipes, taking into account what was commonly available, especially in England, during the medieval period, and what was in my garden fresh. It is a concoction of white wine vinegar steeped in aromatic and antibacterial herbs such as garlic, rue, and wormwood for a number of days, then filtered and used for dilution with water for cleansing the house and other areas.

Remember: Only use real, brewed vinegar for all infused vinegar recipes. Ordinary store-bought white vinegar is just lab-created Acetic Acid diluted to 5%. It doesn’t have the same richness of composition or balance of acids as real brewed vinegar or the same sustainability. Try these recipes with other base vinegar, too, such as apple cider and rice wine!

Here is my exact recipe, for those that want to try it at home.

My Four Thieves Vinegar Recipe:

Approximately the same sized twig piece of each:

fresh peppermint
fresh thyme
fresh rue
fresh rosemary
fresh wormwood
fresh sage
four cloves garlic (slightly crushed to release the allicin)
3 bay leaves
4 cloves
4 small pieces cinnamon bark

Place ingredients in old, clean, spaghetti jar. Fill remainder of jar with white wine vinegar, stir to get rid of bubbles. Add lid, and place in sunlight, like windowsill. Herbs will lose color after a few days. Then you filter and can add a bit more herbs for a really strong batch.

Filter out completely in a few weeks; bottle and label.

Source: Four Thieves Vinegar – Good Witches Homestead

Crystal of the Week: Snowflake Obsidian – Holistic Experiment

Snowflake Obsidian is a gorgeous jet black colored stone with white or gray snowflake patterns on top of it. In addition to carrying the genetic properties of Obsidian, it’s considered a stone of purity, bringing balance to the body and mind as well as spirit.

This stone makes the user receptive before bringing them to their attention any ingrained pattern of behavior and gently releases emotional blockages. It makes isolation and loneliness empowering and teaches how to surrender in meditation and to value mistakes as well as successes.

Snowflake Obsidian shows the gift in every experience and promotes dispassion and inner centering.

Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Purposes

On a physical level, Snowflake Obsidian is often used by people who have arthritis, joint pain, hardened arteries, cramps, injuries, pain, bleeding, circulation issues and can warm extremities. This stone can also be used for any issues with the veins and can also be used for detoxification and wound healing.

It can also be used for abdominal pressure, it balances the digestive system and can help with anything that has to do with ears and hearing as well skeletal issues. Snowflake Obsidian promotes a smooth skin.

On an emotional level, this stone can remove not only negative experiences in the environment but also one’s own negative emotions (anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, etc).

It’s often used for releasing “wrong thinking”, stressful mental patterns and fear, promoting compassion and soothing energy.

This stone helps to keep the user centered and focused when any type of chaotic situation presents itself. It removes negativity from a space or person with ease. Snowflake Obsidian draws emotions to the surface and helps examine harmful thought pattern. It’s a soothing stone and it’s often used by people who suffer loneliness and are in dire need of soothing energy.

On a spiritual level, Snowflake Obsidian is used to heal old karmic patterns and to dispel negativity. It’s a wonderful stone for those who are clairaudience and can be used for astral travel. Once you meditate with this stone, you’ll feel calm and centered and it will increase your sensitivity to energy. It’s also used as a protection stone during psychic work, promotes synchronicity, and positive transformation.

It’s often used for healing and releasing energy blockages and has a tendency to work quickly to move truths to the surface to be resolved in a positive manner. It’s often used for issues in the Root, Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras.

Disclaimer: Crystal of the Week are a spiritual support to healing and are not prescription or healthcare information.

Source: Crystal of the Week: Snowflake Obsidian – Holistic Experiment

Dragon – secretsoftheserpent

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I love the symbol of the dragon. The Greeks saw the dragon as enlightenment. The Gauls saw the dragon as sovereignty. The Chinese saw the dragon as good fortune. Christians made the dragon sinister and meddlesome because they were against learning. They made the keeper and bringer of wisdom a heretic. Stay tuned to this blog and you will see that christians did this quite often. Dragon comes from the Greek “draken”, meaning serpent. It is clearly seen in the word edraken, which means to clearly see. So serpent means one who sees clearly. Having clear vision meant you were wise.

The Dragon is a symbol of the four levels of consciousness. There are four levels of consciousness represented by the elements. Earth(body), wind(thoughts or mind), water(emotions) and fire(intellect). The wings of a dragon represent air. The claws represent earth. The scales represent water and the blazing breath represents fire. When you have mastered all elements of consciousness, you release, slay or control the dragon.
Whenever you see a dragon in a story, it has to do with enlightenment. You slay or release the dragon, so now you have mastered your consciousness. Save the girl (which is the feminine side of your brain) from the dragon to reach enlightenment. Slay the dragon that is guarding the treasure and the riches of enlightenment are yours. My favorite is to release or train the dragon by becoming enlightened. When you become enlightened, you are the dragon rider. Anyone who is a student of magic should see why magic and dragons are usually in the same story. I love myth. Really. I can’t get enough of it.

Now that you know what the dragon means in myth, I will give you the occult meaning. In Lemurian Magic I showed you that the Sphinx was created to show exactly when Egypt originated. The Sphinx was the head of a goddess and body of a lion. Showing the time between Virgo and Leo. Later the Patriarchs of Lower Egypt did not like the goddess symbol so they adopted the lion as their logo. Lower Egypt is also the red crown. This is why you see a red lion as a logo for royalty, religions and corporations. Yes the Judah lion is pointing to Egypt. They are showing the people in the know where their loyalties lie.

As I have said before, everything comes out of Egypt. Upper Egypt had the Cobra as their symbol and they also had the white crown. The Cobra refers to the goddess Wadjet. So the Lion refers to Lower Egypt and the Cobra refers to Upper Egypt. When the sides decided to work together out of necessity they combined the lion with the cobra and made the dragon. When you hear about or see a white dragon it is referring to Upper Egypt and the red dragon is Lower Egypt. Same goes for red and white serpents.

Source: Dragon – secretsoftheserpent

Knowledge & Experience …

Logical thinking cannot

yield us any knowledge of

the empirical world;

all knowledge of reality

starts from experience

and ends in it.

Propositions arrived at by

purely logical means are

completely empty of reality.

~ Albert Einstein

The Life of Albert Einstein ~ At Emily’s Quotes or her page of Albert Einstein’s Quotes

English: Albert Einstein Français : Portrait d’Albert Einstein (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

via Knowledge & Experience — Apanache

Our National Mammal Under Fire: Bison Slaughter | Straight from the Horse’s Heart

by the Buffalo Field Campaign

“Here at Wild Horse Freedom Federation our primary concerns lie with the government’s full blown assault against our free roaming wild horse and burros on public lands and trust me, that in itself is a full time job. But with that being said we are not blind to the similar plights of other fellow passengers on Spaceship Earth such as whales, dolphins, wolves, coyotes and in the case of this information Bison.

Right now, there is massive concern over what is happening to the wild Bison in Yellowstone and the information below speaks to this issue. We share this story, not to dilute our work with the wild equines but to further demonstrate the abject stupidity of government be it local, state or federal. It is a shame that the court system does not allow us the capability to sue such entities for the simple cause of just being “STUPID”. If that were possible the courts would be clogged beyond imagination and I would be first in line with case in hand. Keep the faith.” ~ R.T.

The horror of what is happening daily to these buffalo families are events that could fill thousands of pages…

The very same government who declared the American bison our National Mammal with such pomp and ceremony is hell bent on destroying the last wild, migratory population. Approximately 190 Yellowstone buffalo have been trapped by Yellowstone National Park employees who wear the image of buffalo on their badges. These and hundreds more of the world’s most beloved and important buffalo are destined to be reduced to meat within the cold walls of slaughterhouses. Just this week, however, Montana Governor Steve Bullock issued an executive order prohibiting Yellowstone from moving buffalo through Montana to slaughter until Yellowstone finds a “temporary home” for the forty young buffalo who have been held captive in Yellowstone’s trap since last February. These buffalo don’t need a “temporary home.” They have a home, the Yellowstone Ecosystem, where they roamed freely until last winter. While this executive order may stall the slaughter, it will not prevent it, and will likely result in the nearly 200 buffalo who have been captured for slaughter being confined in the trap for a longer period of time. This is a game of political chess being played with the sacred buffalo used as pawns in an attempt to push a quarantine (domestication) plan through. Quarantine is not a solution, and does not prevent slaughter; it is part of the larger problem of control and manipulation of wild, migratory buffalo which results in buffalo being repeatedly tested, many slaughtered, and survivors living behind fences until they are reduced to meat or die in captivity. Some quarantined buffalo have even been sent to zoos. Yellowstone’s trap serves a livestock model paradigm — quarantine and slaughter — and is an extreme danger to these wild gentle giants, the last of their kind. Buffalo who are able to evade capture by slipping past the trap face another imminent danger just a mile north of the trap at Yellowstone’s north boundary, and also along the park’s west boundary, in tiny portions of southwest Montana where so-called hunting is taking place. At least 185 buffalo have been stopped dead in their tracks with bullets. By the time you read this, that number will likely have risen.

he horror of what is happening daily to these buffalo families are events that could fill thousands of pages, and while we can’t share every detail, here is some of what has been happening to the buffalo:

The other morning we supported a solitary bull buffalo who was walking along dangerous part of U.S. 191. Following at a safe distance with our hazards on, we stayed with him to warn traffic. There is so much snow piled up on the sides that it is very difficult for any buffalo to vacate the highway, so on he went. Unfortunately, a group of passing state hunters spotted him too, and they immediately positioned their truck just ahead of the bull, moving at his speed, their exhaust blowing in his face. This part of the highway runs through Gallatin National Forest, so the hunters only needed to get him to move a few feet off the road in order to kill him. Their opportunity came when he got spooked by a passing vehicle. The bull jumped into the snowbank and the hunters — if you can call them that — parked their truck (illegally, it turns out) and the man with the tag grabbed his rifle and post-holed though the deep snow after him. We mistakenly thought they needed to be much further off the road before they could shoot, and we told them so. They yelled at us, saying we were interfering, and the man with the rifle screamed “I’ve waited fifty-seven years for this!” and pressed on, trudging a few more feet after the bull who had moved a little deeper into the tree line. But the bull got away. At least for the moment. Authorities arrived and gave the hunters a warning for parking illegally, and asked us to move on. We were elated in thinking that this handsome bull who had struggled so hard to just walk down the road had escaped with his life. Disaster narrowly averted. Or so we thought. Afternoon patrols took over, and when they came home they shared the bad news that the hunter had gone after the bull again, shooting and injuring him without pursuing him. Instead he sat in the warmth of the truck waiting for him to emerge from the forest. How could the hunter anticipate where the wounded buffalo might go and how could he not pursue him? The bull did emerge again, limping. He kept falling and getting up, disoriented and badly hurt. He was heading down a road that leads to the town dump, where he could not legally be shot. Authorities arrived, and, because the bull was so badly wounded, the hunter was given special permission to kill him in the road. He took four shots at close range to finally end the life of this bull he had injured earlier…(CONTINUED)

http://buffalofieldcampaign.org/bfc-news/our-national-mammal-under-fire-act-now

gave the hunters a warning for parking illegally, and asked us to move on.

Source: Our National Mammal Under Fire: Bison Slaughter | Straight from the Horse’s Heart

What Are Adaptogens? – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

As always when using herbs … Check for contraindications for any prescription drugs.

Adaptogens are natural substances that work with a person’s body and help them adapt; most notably, to stress. Adaptogens are a natural ally in dealing with persistent stress and fatigue because they work with regulating important hormones.

Adaptogens offer several other health benefits, including…

A boost for the immune system
Support for managing a healthy weight
Increased physical endurance and mental focus
Reduction in discomfort caused by poor health
Encouraging a balanced mood

All these benefits can come from something as simple as adding adaptogens into your regular diet. While there are a number of ways to increase your adaptogen intake, consuming adaptogenic herbs is arguably one of the best.

14 Powerful Adaptogenic Herbs

There are a number of naturally adaptogenic herbs that you might consider trying on for size. They can be taken in capsulated supplement form, brewed in teas, or simply cut up and used to spice up a meal. For maximum health benefits, it’s best to include a healthy variety of these herbs in your diet. Here are some of the most popular adaptogenic herbs and their traditional uses.

1. Asian Ginseng

This herb, also called Panax Ginseng, supports physical endurance, mental clarity, and has antioxidant properties that support heart health and your immune system. Studies show it’s safe to consume.

2. Holy Basil

A member of the mint family, this herb has soothing properties and has been used for centuries for good health. Its antioxidant properties support heart health and normal lipid profiles. It’s also a powerful weapon against stress.

3. Milk Thistle

The active compound in milk thistle, silymarin, supports liver health and metabolism that helps manage the hormones associated with stress.

4. Ashwagandha

Also called Indian Ginseng, studies from India shows that those who take this herb enjoy dramatic improvements in how they handle – and feel – stress. It’s also taken to keep the mind sharp, and for energy.

5. Rhodiola Rosea

This herb is popular among the Sherpas who work on Mt. Everest because of the way it supports regular energy levels and fights altitude sickness. Studies also show it helps encourage normal cortisol levels as well as energy levels.

6. Ginseng Eleuthero

Commonly called Siberian Ginseng, the Eleutherococcus senticous is known for not only its adaptogenic properties but also as a natural energy booster.

7. Rosemary

You’ve probably used rosemary in your cooking, but this herb does a lot more than add flavor and fragrance to your meals. Research shows two of its compounds, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid, support heart, digestive, and liver health. Traditional medicine from around the world has used it for centuries to relieve stress.

8. Aloe Vera

Researchers have taken renewed interest in aloe vera as a powerful herb and superfood. Two of its compounds, acemannan and aloctin A, support immune and adrenal health.

9. Gotu Kola

Long used in both traditional Indian and Chinese medicines, this herb stimulates blood flow, helps reduce swelling, and is a powerful antioxidant.

10. Astragalus

The Chinese have used astragalus traditionally to encourage good health and fight stress. Its active compound, called TAT2, protects against aging, supports detoxification, and is nutrition for the kidneys.

11. Moringa Oleifera

The seeds, leaves, roots, and oils of the Moringa Oleifera plant are used throughout Southeast Asia an ingredient in many common dishes. As part of traditional medicine, it supports the immune response, eases swelling, and promotes energy and adrenal health.

12. Schisandra

This herb has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine to promote good health and overall wellness. Research shows it has powerful antioxidant properties that help your body stay balanced.

13. Bacopa

This popular Ayurvedic herb has been used for centuries to support brain health like memory, focus, and thinking.

14. Licorice Root

This herb has traditionally been used to promote many aspects of wellness, including normal metabolic function.

How Do Adaptogens Work?

Now that we’ve mentioned some common herbal sources for adaptogens, let’s take a look at how adaptogens actually work. First of all, it’s important to understand that stress is only meant to exist in short bursts. It is a hormonal response that may have been responsible for helping some of your own ancestors escape from hungry lions (or maybe even face them!). Think about stress as what is commonly called your “fight or flight” response.

Today, most of us don’t have to worry so much about lions. However, most modern-day stresses are ongoing. When your adrenal system remains in a constant active state, it throws your body out of balance. Constant stress can wreak havoc on your body, especially on your digestive system and energy levels.

Adaptogenic compounds help mitigate the stress response. They work to bring the hormones of your adrenal system back into balance and overcome adrenal fatigue, a common condition of chronic stress. Studies show adaptogens like Rhodiola Rosea and Schisandra reduce the presence and effect of stress hormones. In this way, they help endurance during physical stress like exercise and return your body to normal when you’re faced with chronic stress.

Think of adaptogens like a thermostat. The keep your body’s stress response at a desirable level, much like the way a thermostat keeps the temperature from becoming too high or too low. They’re good for you all the time, not just when you have a high level of stress.

Adaptogens have broad-ranging effects, but this is mostly because they affect adrenal hormone secretion. In general, we can think of adaptogenic herbs this way: they set an “upper limit” on the signals the nervous system can send to the adrenals, making it harder for the body to crank adrenal response up to 100%. Some herbs, like licorice, keep adrenal hormones in the bloodstream longer: this lets the brain know that there’s plenty of response happening, and it doesn’t need to stimulate more. Others, like Rhodiola and eleuthero, help balance out excessive adrenal stimulation while at the same time containing chemistry that supports the activity of attention- and alertness-enhancing brain pathways. The net result: we feel more alert, but at the same time don’t produce excessive, unhealthy levels of adrenal hormones. Contrast this to the action of stimulant drugs (like amphetamines, or even caffeine): they increase brain alertness, but also crank up adrenal secretions. This is why stimulants make us feel awake, but also sometimes jittery, cold, and clammy: these last effects are the result of excess adrenal hormone secretion, and you’ll never feel them from adaptogens like Rhodiola or eleuthero.

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Other adaptogens are more calming in nature: they still help set an “upper limit” on adrenal hormone secretion, but also encourage deeper, more refreshing sleep and lack any of the activity on alertness pathways in the brain. By supporting more effective recovery during times of rest, adaptogens such as ashwagandha and Schisandra allow the body to bounce back and we can really notice this during the day: a balanced mood, energy level, and inflammatory response. It’s interesting to note that these herbs won’t ever make you “sleepy” directly: their effects, due in part to limiting the body’s ability to “overdo” the stress response and make sure our adrenals secrete hormones at balanced, healthy levels, are to get us into a more restful place during the evening and nighttime hours, so recovery and sleep can actually take place.

Source: What Are Adaptogens? – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Stop Operation Soros (SOS): Massive Movement To Overthrow George Soros Explodes In Macedonia – The Geller Report

A major new initiative called Stop Operation Soros (SOS), a movement dedicated to stopping the evil machinations of Nazi collaborator billionaire George Soros, has taken off in Macedonia.

The SOS founders called on citizens around the world to “fight against one-mindedness in the civil sector, which is devised and led by George Soros.” The movement has been set up to expose the ‘subversive activities of all of George Soros’s organizations. Hungary has also taken to steps to clamp down on Soros funded organizations by banning them from the country.

‘Stop Operation Soros’ movement begins in Macedonia

RT, 19 Jan 2017 15:36

A new initiative, Stop Operation Soros (SOS), dedicated to countering the influence of American billionaire activist George Soros, has been launched in Macedonia.

In a press conference on Tuesday, the founders of the group called on all “free-minded citizens,” regardless of ethnicity or religion, to join them in the “fight against one-mindedness in the civil sector, which is devised and led by George Soros,” the Vecer newspaper reported. The movement says it will first focus on uncovering ‘subversive’ activities by Soros-funded NGOs.

According to Nikola Srbov, a columnist for pro-government news portal Kurir and co-founder of SOS, Soros-funded NGOs have monopolized civil society in Macedonia and used their position to suppress dissenting views.

“We’ve witnessed the takeover of the entire civil sector and its abuse and instrumentalization to meet the goals of one political party. That is unacceptable and goes beyond the principles of civic organizing,” Srbov said at the press conference.

“The Open Society Foundation, operating under the Soros umbrella, used its funding and personnel to support violent processes in Macedonia. It has monopolized the civil society sector, pushing outside any organization which disagrees with the Soros ideology,” he stated.

Another co-founder, Cvetin Cilimanov, editor-in-chief of the state-run MIA news agency, accused Soros’s Open Society Foundations of undermining Macedonian sovereignty by working not only with the opposition center-left SDSM party, but also with outside interests. By cooperating with foreign embassies and organizations such as USAID, Cilimanov believes Soros-backed groups have interfered in the political process of Macedonia.

“This is unacceptable and has largely contributed to a feeling in the public that the traditional relations of partnership Macedonia enjoyed with some countries are being undermined,” Cilimanov told journalists.

A third founder of the initiative and editor-in-chief of the Republika news portal, Nenad Mircevski, declared that the group would work towards the “de-Soros-ization” of Macedonia, echoing a speech made by former prime minister and leader of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party Nikola Gruevski in December. In the speech, Gruevski accused foreign powers and Soros-backed organizations of meddling in Macedonian politics.

Opposition figures have expressed concern at the rhetoric used by Gruevski, fearing the start of a crackdown on dissent and advocacy groups.

The Open Society Foundation (OSF) was set up by Hungarian-born Soros between the mid-1980s to early 1990s with the stated aim of helping former Eastern bloc countries transition from communism. However, aside from its support for progressive causes such as drug policy reform, the OSF has also been involved in political activities and Soros publically supported the violent overthrow of the legitimately-elected government in Ukraine during the ‘Euromaidan’ revolution. This has earned him the ire of Russian authorities, which in 2015 banned Soros and his foundations as a threat to national security.

Soros and his foundations have come under scrutiny elsewhere as well. In an interview with the internet portal 888.hu in December, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that 2017 would bring about “the extrusion of George Soros and the forces symbolized by him.” Orban has accused Soros of undermining European borders and values by helping facilitate the flow of refugees and asylum seekers from the Middle East and elsewhere. During a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange also blasted the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, funded by Soros, for focusing “exclusively on negative stories about Russia and former Soviet states.”

Source: Stop Operation Soros (SOS): Massive Movement To Overthrow George Soros Explodes In Macedonia – The Geller Report

Update on ISPMB Wild Horse Hearing | Straight from the Horse’s Heart

By Elaine Nash

The hearing regarding final resolution to the ISPMB case- which was first scheduled for January 27 and then changed to January 26 and 27, has now been canceled. The State Attorney decided to make a deal with ISPMB, allowing them to keep some of the horses- from 12-30, we’re told. The terms will be official by the close of business today, we’re told Fleet of Angels and our partner organizations didn’t participate in the deal making, and had no voice in the negotiations. We will release an official statement as soon as we receive our copy of the new court order, so that we’ll be providing the most accurate information possible. In the meantime, the final points of the deal are being worked out between ISPMB attorneys and State Attorney. Anything said by others in the press or on social media right now is based on speculation.

We’re preparing to pick up the rest of the horses and relocate them to a new, much more appropriate adoption hub. That’s our big news, really, and we’re eager to share the details ASAP!

Although this new deal comes as a surprise to us, we are pleased that by the end of this mission, we will have been able to save approximately 96% of the ISPMB horses. Think about that- 96% of the horses will be leaving ISPMB very soon. With YOUR help, we’ll keep them fed and cared for while we work to get them to their new adoptive homes!

Source: Update on ISPMB Wild Horse Hearing | Straight from the Horse’s Heart