Too confusing for you, was it now?

Although I have a special way with horses and feel closer communion with them than with many

humans, it was the Shaman who noticed and told me my spirit guide was actually Bear. Proof? After an extended harrowing period later in life, not even a handmade dream catcher hung over the bed helped. Then one day I happened upon a sheet set with bears all over it. First good night's sleep I had in months, when before I was afraid of losing my mind. Yes, of course auto-suggestion played a role, but then how do we arrive at a place where we can benefit from that?
................................................

PS: I think what scares some people is the necessity of completely letting go of oneself enough to trust the Universe. But when we can, it's quite a ride.

Me too; with a strong dose of animism thrown in. I used to astro-trip stone cold sober,

and it couldn't have been entirely under my own power. There has to be a universal power flowing through all creation, even inanimate objects and materials. My own personal spirit guide is Bear, btw. If it had been left up to me, I'd have chosen Horse - but it is what it is what it is. And yes, I've often been accused of being poly-theistic or even heretical. Doesn't bother me a bit. One of the greatest blessings of my life has been association with a wide variety of people, including a Native American healer who was generous enough to share a bit of knowledge with a pesky Irish-American kid.

Oh, I agree entirely. The slap joke is directed at hypocrisy, not at Jesus himself. I'd have a

problem with the latter. Even though it doesn't speak too highly for the development of my own soul, I love nothing better than jabbing anything remotely GOP. When I can spare time from ranting about them, that is.

Even (especially?) as a lifelong liberal RC, I enjoy the Republican Jesus cartoons.

Sorry I don't have a graphic to share, but I'm sure you're all familiar with the depiction of the Sacred Heart. I saw one with the caption 'The Original Bleeding Heart Liberal'. On JesusIsNotARepublican.org, I think. Good site anyway.

Rand also hated Social Security;

but thank the good Lord she wound up dependent on it in her later years. Sweet Karma, right?

Sorry, unbecoming as it is to laugh at anyone's misfortunes, I can't help it with her. She was evil personified, and her legacy haunts us still.

60 Minutes had a nice story on tonight about a city where they've figured out

that it actually costs taxpayers less to simply give the homeless decent furnished apartments than it does to have them dropping dead on the street. The matter of cost is not foremost to many of the people running the program, but they can cite that as a fact. Should appeal to the GOP's head if not their heart. What the hell, they have neither and never will.

But - but - it's the capitalist way!

Well, actually that's true. They deserve that and even worse.

I love someone else's sig line: Daddy, what were Republicans?

Besides many other achievements and qualities,

Ms. Sykes is also highly educated, from what I understand. Didn't she even once work in military intelligence, or does memory fail at the moment? I'm also pretty sure Tracy Chapman has a degree in anthropology, one my favorite subjects. At least that's what she was studying before people heard her sing.

First time I heard her was surprisingly over the PA system in a department store. Low volume, but the opening notes of 'Give Me One Reason' grabbed me like a vise and I stood still in the middle of the floor for the entire song. People looked at me weird, but I was in a pure trance. It hasn't lifted since.

I even got to meet Angela Davis once and make her laugh at my joke; no easy matter, from what I'm told.