As a Tarot Reader using the "pen" name of Brigid Bishop, many people automatically assume that I am no longer a Christian. They are very much mistaken. I may no longer be a traditional Roman Catholic Practitioner, but I am very, very, very much a Christian.
It makes me sick to think of people out there taking the time out of there busy lives to actually object to having CHRIST be the major focus of CHRISTMAS!!! These fanatics who so heatedly argue that our children should no longer learn Christmas Carols in school, or have public displays of "religious" representations of the holidays are just ridiculous.
This entire country was founded on the search for FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!! Now, nearly 225 years later, we're going to allow a small minority voice (although obnoxiously loud), to dictate how and when we celebrate and honor the greatest religious holiday in Christendom????
Come on! Let's start voicing our opinions!!!! Let's start Christmas Caroling!!! Let's make sure that our cities, towns and communities have displays of our heritage and our spirituality!!!
Let's get by the commercialism that has overtaken our holiday and get back to basics!!
Let's read our children the story of that holy night in Bethlehem BEFORE we read them the stories of Rudolph and Santa......let's TEACH OUR CHILDREN WELL!!!!
If our children are forbidden to sing "Oh Holy Night" and "Silent Night" at school, let's sing it to them at home!!
The birth of Jesus Christ was a blessed and special event that has affected mankind, Christian or not, for the last two thousand years. It will continue to affect us for thousands more.
We are not mixing government with religion when we have a Christmas tree set up in our public schools, we are just sharing our culture!
Some of the symbols of the season of Yule have been adopted by the Christian tradition of Christmas, as is the Christmas tree. It is a celebration of the change of seasons and the hope that spring will return once more. Yes, it has become a powerful symbol of Christianity, however, it is a celebration of the cycle of the year, which is nature, which mankind is a part of.
We cannot renounce Christ out of Christmas anymore than we can renounce the sun out of the summer sky.
Accept it, embrace it and enjoy it, Christian or not, it is here to stay, and we need to start fighting back.
CHRIST IS CHRISTMAS!!!!
Hallelujah!!!
Brigid Bishop
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important Legislation for all Women
If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.
Mastectomy Bill in Congress
It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important...please take the time and do it really quick!
Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.
Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.
There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.
&n bsp; Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.
PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number. Copy and paste the link into your browser if you are not automatically taken to the site.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html
This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS!
Mastectomy Bill in Congress
It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important...please take the time and do it really quick!
Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.
Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.
There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.
&n bsp; Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.
PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number. Copy and paste the link into your browser if you are not automatically taken to the site.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html
This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Free Tarot Reading!
For a limited time only, receive a free, three minute tarot reading from Brigid Bishop, New Age Author and Professional Tarot Reader.
This offer is valid for clients who are new to click4advisor and do not have an existing account.
Sign up today to connect with Brigid, and start your free call today.
You may add to your account if you wish to extend the length of your call, however, reagardless of whether you add to your account or not, the first three minutes are free.
This offer expires on December 14, 2006.
Hope to speak with you soon!
Tarot Myths
Myth: Tarot Cards must be a gift, you should not buy your own tarot cards.
Truth: You most certainly should purchase your own tarot cards. Your decks should be selected based on what you are drawn to, which deck calls out to you, what artwork inspires you, makes you feel good, makes you want to grab the deck off the shelf and open it up before you even get back to your car.........the deck should choose you too!
Myth: You should not read your own tarot cards.
Truth: Tarot was originally developed as a tool for spiritual growth, based on the Qabbalah and the Judeo-Christian Bible and NOT for divinatory usage. Divination using tarot came about because after a time tarot was hidden, esoteric, only religious scholars understood it, therefore, skilled tarot readers did not exist. You actually should read your own cards, and frequently, to develop self-understanding.
Myth: If it comes up in your cards, it will definitely happen.
Truth: If it comes up in your cards it is likely to happen, however, based upon your course of action moving forward, you can change it.
I like to use this example. A man calls me for a reading asking if he is going to get a new job. Up until the time he calls me for a reading, he has been putting his resume out there, networking, etc. I read his cards. I get a strong yes. The timing comes up as about six weeks out.
Reading over. The man decides that since it is in the cards his work is done, he stops aggressively seeking a new job and calls me in seven weeks to tell me he has not been contacted or got any leads on a new position. He changed his course of action and changed the outcome. For a reading to remain "intact", so to speak, you must continue with the same course of action. The reverse is also true, if you do not like the outcome of your reading it is possible to change it.
How To Choose a Tarot Reader
I consider myself a very Professional and Ethical Reader, and as such, I feel it my duty to educate any who are willing to learn, on the practice of choosing a reader that will provide you with a value-added experience, and not false hope or even worse, dark despair.
When we are in a crisis and searching for answers, we need to reach out and seek those answers. This is natural. Perhaps our friends and support network are tiring of hearing our lament, or we want to keep our problems private from those close to us, this is when we reach out to readers. The problem is, there are many so-called "readers" out there who do not have the skills, education or experience to provide you with professional counsel. If you are not careful you could end up on the phone with a "card flipper" who considers reading the insert that came with their tarot deck as an understanding of the tarot, or worse, someone claiming to be psychic who is pulling answers out of the air for you.
When you are looking for a reader, I strongly advise that you steer clear first and foremost of those who claim to use "no tools" and say that they are psychic, clairvoyant, clauraudient, clairsentient, etc. etc. etc. Although some of these claimants may well possess a talent in one or a few of these areas, it is highly unlikely that they are real. Go to any popular "psychic" site, and the sheer volume of those claiming to have these gifts and talents makes them suspect right off the bat, so, to be safe, rule them out immediately. If a reader is using tarot, you know that they are using a tool that mankind has utilized for centuries to tap into the human psyche, and you are able to question them as to how they are divining their interpretation, where a "psychic" with no tools can bluff you to the extreme.
NEVER and I mean NEVER go to someone who claims to be 100% accurate. NO ONE is 100% accurate, it is impossible. You are looking for projections in human behavior, and humans, even the most banal humans, are quixotic at best, and at any given moment can change. A humble reader is going to be honest and direct with you, and state to you that this is what is "likely" to happen, no reading is written in stone. Each interaction you have, or the person you are reading about has, following a reading, can possibly change the course. You cannot possibly ask every foreseeable question, therefore, you cannot know for certain what the chain of events that happen after your reading will cause. The rule of thumb is: If you like the outcome of your reading, stick to the same path, make no changes, if you do not like the outcome of the reading you receive, consult the cards and ask, what, if anything, can be done to change the outcome, and adjust your course of actions accordingly.
Look for readers who are experienced, perhaps they have been reading for many years, perhaps they have written a book (like myself), or have some type of credential or verification to show that they are serious about what they are doing. I recommend seeking counsel from a reader who is at least into their thirties. If you are in your mid-forties and are seeking advice on how to reconcile your marriage or relationship, a twenty-something reader with a fresh tarot deck cannot counsel you beyond a very basic interpretation of the cards, and you will be left wanting more. Choose a reader with life experience, a work history in the mainstream in a position of managing other people, experience as a parent, step-parent, a reader who has been married, perhaps divorced, someone who has lived life and experienced difficulties, not someone who will blow rainbows and unicorns into your ear.
I also recommend staying clear of readers who spout off about hearing their "guides", I would not want anyone who hears disembodied voices giving me guidance. I am not saying that guides do not exist, but, as for me, my conscience is my guide.
Okay, now you've found a reader who seems mature, experienced and educated (and sane).
If at any time, any reader, tells you they can "fix" your problem for a fee, (by burning candles, casting spells, etc.), disconnect immediately and never call them again. They are trying to take advantage of you and they are not ethical. Although the practice of spell-casting is recognized by many religions, as are candle burning rituals, these practices should be done by you, yourself, for maximum potency, and if you have an interest in performing these spells or rituals, many ethical readers will teach you how to do them for yourself as part of your reading sessions.
Now, you found someone who has all of the qualifications we've discussed and is ethical as well. To get the most out of your reading, don't call them up and say "tell me about my love life". You will get what is known as a "cold read". This is not necessarily inaccurate, but it will be very general and not as in depth as you would like. The cards are multi-faceted, and not knowing the nature of your situation will make it much more difficult than it has to be for the reader to tap into your situation. You wouldn't go to a counselor and sit down and say "Tell me how to fix my life", would you? It's the same with a reader.
For instance, you ask a vague question about where your relationship with so-and-so is going and the Two of Cups appears at the base of the reading. The advisor can interpret this in several ways to say the least. This could mean you two are married, were married in the past, are very much in love, or that your current love interest is married to someone else, or that he or she was married in the past.... a lot can be deciphered by the surrounding cards, but why make the reader guess, it takes the focus off delivering clarity and puts the pressure on the reader to "prove themselves".
Instead, when you contact a reader, give them a brief summary of your current situation, and then ask your question. It will save you time and money and you will get a much clearer and concise reading from your advisor, thus, more quickly cutting to the chase of what you may need to do in order to achieve your goals.
Please understand that tarot reading, despite how it has been viewed and how some readers present it, is not a cure-all and end-all as to what is going to happen in your future. It is a guide, a tool, to help you to make the choices that are right for you, to help you to see what the potential of your situation is and to hopefully inspire you to grow and to learn. Tarot should help you to let go of situations that no longer work for you, give you projections of what is likely in store for you, teach you how to be prepared for what is coming down the road toward you and give you insight into other peoples' thinking and their feelings.
So, I hope this helps you the next time you are cruising for a reading to make an intelligent and wise choice in who you choose to let into your psyche.
Peace!
Brigid
When we are in a crisis and searching for answers, we need to reach out and seek those answers. This is natural. Perhaps our friends and support network are tiring of hearing our lament, or we want to keep our problems private from those close to us, this is when we reach out to readers. The problem is, there are many so-called "readers" out there who do not have the skills, education or experience to provide you with professional counsel. If you are not careful you could end up on the phone with a "card flipper" who considers reading the insert that came with their tarot deck as an understanding of the tarot, or worse, someone claiming to be psychic who is pulling answers out of the air for you.
When you are looking for a reader, I strongly advise that you steer clear first and foremost of those who claim to use "no tools" and say that they are psychic, clairvoyant, clauraudient, clairsentient, etc. etc. etc. Although some of these claimants may well possess a talent in one or a few of these areas, it is highly unlikely that they are real. Go to any popular "psychic" site, and the sheer volume of those claiming to have these gifts and talents makes them suspect right off the bat, so, to be safe, rule them out immediately. If a reader is using tarot, you know that they are using a tool that mankind has utilized for centuries to tap into the human psyche, and you are able to question them as to how they are divining their interpretation, where a "psychic" with no tools can bluff you to the extreme.
NEVER and I mean NEVER go to someone who claims to be 100% accurate. NO ONE is 100% accurate, it is impossible. You are looking for projections in human behavior, and humans, even the most banal humans, are quixotic at best, and at any given moment can change. A humble reader is going to be honest and direct with you, and state to you that this is what is "likely" to happen, no reading is written in stone. Each interaction you have, or the person you are reading about has, following a reading, can possibly change the course. You cannot possibly ask every foreseeable question, therefore, you cannot know for certain what the chain of events that happen after your reading will cause. The rule of thumb is: If you like the outcome of your reading, stick to the same path, make no changes, if you do not like the outcome of the reading you receive, consult the cards and ask, what, if anything, can be done to change the outcome, and adjust your course of actions accordingly.
Look for readers who are experienced, perhaps they have been reading for many years, perhaps they have written a book (like myself), or have some type of credential or verification to show that they are serious about what they are doing. I recommend seeking counsel from a reader who is at least into their thirties. If you are in your mid-forties and are seeking advice on how to reconcile your marriage or relationship, a twenty-something reader with a fresh tarot deck cannot counsel you beyond a very basic interpretation of the cards, and you will be left wanting more. Choose a reader with life experience, a work history in the mainstream in a position of managing other people, experience as a parent, step-parent, a reader who has been married, perhaps divorced, someone who has lived life and experienced difficulties, not someone who will blow rainbows and unicorns into your ear.
I also recommend staying clear of readers who spout off about hearing their "guides", I would not want anyone who hears disembodied voices giving me guidance. I am not saying that guides do not exist, but, as for me, my conscience is my guide.
Okay, now you've found a reader who seems mature, experienced and educated (and sane).
If at any time, any reader, tells you they can "fix" your problem for a fee, (by burning candles, casting spells, etc.), disconnect immediately and never call them again. They are trying to take advantage of you and they are not ethical. Although the practice of spell-casting is recognized by many religions, as are candle burning rituals, these practices should be done by you, yourself, for maximum potency, and if you have an interest in performing these spells or rituals, many ethical readers will teach you how to do them for yourself as part of your reading sessions.
Now, you found someone who has all of the qualifications we've discussed and is ethical as well. To get the most out of your reading, don't call them up and say "tell me about my love life". You will get what is known as a "cold read". This is not necessarily inaccurate, but it will be very general and not as in depth as you would like. The cards are multi-faceted, and not knowing the nature of your situation will make it much more difficult than it has to be for the reader to tap into your situation. You wouldn't go to a counselor and sit down and say "Tell me how to fix my life", would you? It's the same with a reader.
For instance, you ask a vague question about where your relationship with so-and-so is going and the Two of Cups appears at the base of the reading. The advisor can interpret this in several ways to say the least. This could mean you two are married, were married in the past, are very much in love, or that your current love interest is married to someone else, or that he or she was married in the past.... a lot can be deciphered by the surrounding cards, but why make the reader guess, it takes the focus off delivering clarity and puts the pressure on the reader to "prove themselves".
Instead, when you contact a reader, give them a brief summary of your current situation, and then ask your question. It will save you time and money and you will get a much clearer and concise reading from your advisor, thus, more quickly cutting to the chase of what you may need to do in order to achieve your goals.
Please understand that tarot reading, despite how it has been viewed and how some readers present it, is not a cure-all and end-all as to what is going to happen in your future. It is a guide, a tool, to help you to make the choices that are right for you, to help you to see what the potential of your situation is and to hopefully inspire you to grow and to learn. Tarot should help you to let go of situations that no longer work for you, give you projections of what is likely in store for you, teach you how to be prepared for what is coming down the road toward you and give you insight into other peoples' thinking and their feelings.
So, I hope this helps you the next time you are cruising for a reading to make an intelligent and wise choice in who you choose to let into your psyche.
Peace!
Brigid
Friday, November 10, 2006
Brigid Bishop On Tarot
Okay, so a lot of people on the internet are interested in the Tarot........and a lot of people just don't understand it, it's shrouded in mystery and superstition..........
I have been using this tool for nearly all of my life and let me explain something about Tarot......it is not a dark tool, it does not open doorways that let demons come in.........it is not going to put a dark spot on your soul.....
The Tarot was developed based on the Archetypical Symbolism on the Human Condition. It is basically a Soul's Journey through this lifetime, and although you can use The Tarot for divinatory purposes (predicting the likely future outcome) of a situation.......it is not written in stone.
The Tarot is best used for personal growth and self-development.
The Major Arcana contain the 21 Archetypical Images of the Soul's Journey through Life, they are seeped in symbolism........combining the symbolism of many, many other esoteric systems. When you look at any ONE card, you are looking at a Qabbalic Meaning, a Numerology Meaning, an Astrological Meaning........the Colors need to be interpretted....there is so much DEPTH to any ONE card that study of the Tarot can last a lifetime. (I know).
Let's explore the word ESOTERIC. The Tarot is ESOTERIC as it was developed to have "hidden meanings", so that not everyone would or could understand the deck. It was developed by monks, as a SPIRITUAL tool......and only these cloistered scholars new the true meanings of the cards. They were a politically charged issue and were hidden deep within the confines of our traditional religions. They carry with them the "Lifeprint" of the Human Condition.
So, it came to be that the Tarot was surrounded by mystery and awe, hence, the title of my book "Uncloaking The Tarot". My personal mission in life is to introduce the New Age to the General Public, and have the general population gain a better understanding of these arts.
My book was born when I got SOOOOO Irritated and those old "Miss Cleo" commercials........she was such a psychic fraud, feeding psychic junkies all over the country, it made me sick.
So, I wrote my book in order to try to get people to truly understand what the cards are meant for.
The best and highest use of the cards is to use them for your own Spiritual Growth........how well are you learning the 78 Lessons of the Tarot as you pass through time, are you learning and growing, or are you repeating past mistakes over and over and over.
Fortunately for you, I have made just about every mistake known to womankind (and mankind) and have understood the Tarot well enough to limit my repetitions of the same mistakes, and I can help you understand yourself and your relationships better (with or without the use of Tarot).
So, scroll down I have posted Lesson One of the Tarot.
The Fool, Represented by the Number Zero......
P.S. All of the writings at this point are based on the Rider Waite and or Universal Waite Tarot for reference.
I have been using this tool for nearly all of my life and let me explain something about Tarot......it is not a dark tool, it does not open doorways that let demons come in.........it is not going to put a dark spot on your soul.....
The Tarot was developed based on the Archetypical Symbolism on the Human Condition. It is basically a Soul's Journey through this lifetime, and although you can use The Tarot for divinatory purposes (predicting the likely future outcome) of a situation.......it is not written in stone.
The Tarot is best used for personal growth and self-development.
The Major Arcana contain the 21 Archetypical Images of the Soul's Journey through Life, they are seeped in symbolism........combining the symbolism of many, many other esoteric systems. When you look at any ONE card, you are looking at a Qabbalic Meaning, a Numerology Meaning, an Astrological Meaning........the Colors need to be interpretted....there is so much DEPTH to any ONE card that study of the Tarot can last a lifetime. (I know).
Let's explore the word ESOTERIC. The Tarot is ESOTERIC as it was developed to have "hidden meanings", so that not everyone would or could understand the deck. It was developed by monks, as a SPIRITUAL tool......and only these cloistered scholars new the true meanings of the cards. They were a politically charged issue and were hidden deep within the confines of our traditional religions. They carry with them the "Lifeprint" of the Human Condition.
So, it came to be that the Tarot was surrounded by mystery and awe, hence, the title of my book "Uncloaking The Tarot". My personal mission in life is to introduce the New Age to the General Public, and have the general population gain a better understanding of these arts.
My book was born when I got SOOOOO Irritated and those old "Miss Cleo" commercials........she was such a psychic fraud, feeding psychic junkies all over the country, it made me sick.
So, I wrote my book in order to try to get people to truly understand what the cards are meant for.
The best and highest use of the cards is to use them for your own Spiritual Growth........how well are you learning the 78 Lessons of the Tarot as you pass through time, are you learning and growing, or are you repeating past mistakes over and over and over.
Fortunately for you, I have made just about every mistake known to womankind (and mankind) and have understood the Tarot well enough to limit my repetitions of the same mistakes, and I can help you understand yourself and your relationships better (with or without the use of Tarot).
So, scroll down I have posted Lesson One of the Tarot.
The Fool, Represented by the Number Zero......
P.S. All of the writings at this point are based on the Rider Waite and or Universal Waite Tarot for reference.
Things I Will Go To Hell For
Brilliant Disguise, by Bruce Springsteen
I hold you in my arms as the band plays
What are those words whispered baby just as you turn away
I saw you last night out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind and know just what Ive got in this new thing Ive found
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise
I heard somebody call your name from underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame underneath your pillow
Well Ive tried so hard baby but I just cant see
What a woman like you is doing with me
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise
Now look at me baby struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart when out go the lights
Im just a lonely pilgrim I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if its you I dont trust cause I damn sure dont trust
Myself
Now you play the loving woman Ill play the faithful man
But just dont look too close into the palm of my hand
We stood at the alter the gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours maybe baby the gypsy lied
So when you look at me you better look hard and look twice
Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise
Tonight our bed is cold
Im lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what hes sure of
Ok, so perhaps you think that this posting is just an innocuous little tribute to Bruce Springsteen, but, no, it is not. Although Springsteen is one of my favorites, this song may be one of the reasons that when Judgment Day arrives, I will be traveling south!
Here is what happened:
I had just taken my two sons, Justin and Zach to see "The Sixth Sense". They were around eleven and twelve at the time. We were discussing the movie while my Springsteen tape "Tunnel of Love" was playing in the background.
This song came on. And during the chorus where they sing:
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise?
Justin and I replaced the words with:
Is that you baby or just a Bridget Delfine?
Justin had heard me parody the song in this manner (that's my real name), many, many times and was singing along with me. Zachary, age eleven, piped up from the back seat "Hey MOM! Is that YOUR NAME Bruce is singing?!?!?!?"
I could not resist, and this is why I may go to Hell.
I pulled over, turned the music down, winked at Justin and said, "Why yes, Zachary, it is. And there is something I've been meaning to tell you..."
Zach anxiously awaited my answer.
I said, "Well Zach, Bruce Springsteen is your real dad. We met after a concert once, and you are raally his son. He wrote this song about our love affair."
Zach was awestruck.....at the time I didn't feel guilty, I thought it was REALLY FUNNY, and so did Justin. We turned the music back on, pulled out, and traveled homeward singing the New and Revised Lyrics together.
My Bad.
Zach went to school the next day and proceeded to tell all his friends who his "real" dad was! I know, I know, I warped my own kid........he has since gotten over it.........it was funny.
I told Zach the truth, that I was only teasing the very same night......he thought it was a funny practicial joke, thank God my kids' inherited my IQ and not there father's, so he appreciated the humor.
But I still feel guilty for doing it.
It is a family joke now, when I play Springsteen or it comes on the radio, Justin or Zach will inevitably say hey, My dad (or Z's dad) is on. But I still feel guilty.
God, I did not mean to screw with my kid like that, but it was SO funny at the time!
I hold you in my arms as the band plays
What are those words whispered baby just as you turn away
I saw you last night out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind and know just what Ive got in this new thing Ive found
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise
I heard somebody call your name from underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame underneath your pillow
Well Ive tried so hard baby but I just cant see
What a woman like you is doing with me
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise
Now look at me baby struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart when out go the lights
Im just a lonely pilgrim I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if its you I dont trust cause I damn sure dont trust
Myself
Now you play the loving woman Ill play the faithful man
But just dont look too close into the palm of my hand
We stood at the alter the gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours maybe baby the gypsy lied
So when you look at me you better look hard and look twice
Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise
Tonight our bed is cold
Im lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what hes sure of
Ok, so perhaps you think that this posting is just an innocuous little tribute to Bruce Springsteen, but, no, it is not. Although Springsteen is one of my favorites, this song may be one of the reasons that when Judgment Day arrives, I will be traveling south!
Here is what happened:
I had just taken my two sons, Justin and Zach to see "The Sixth Sense". They were around eleven and twelve at the time. We were discussing the movie while my Springsteen tape "Tunnel of Love" was playing in the background.
This song came on. And during the chorus where they sing:
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise?
Justin and I replaced the words with:
Is that you baby or just a Bridget Delfine?
Justin had heard me parody the song in this manner (that's my real name), many, many times and was singing along with me. Zachary, age eleven, piped up from the back seat "Hey MOM! Is that YOUR NAME Bruce is singing?!?!?!?"
I could not resist, and this is why I may go to Hell.
I pulled over, turned the music down, winked at Justin and said, "Why yes, Zachary, it is. And there is something I've been meaning to tell you..."
Zach anxiously awaited my answer.
I said, "Well Zach, Bruce Springsteen is your real dad. We met after a concert once, and you are raally his son. He wrote this song about our love affair."
Zach was awestruck.....at the time I didn't feel guilty, I thought it was REALLY FUNNY, and so did Justin. We turned the music back on, pulled out, and traveled homeward singing the New and Revised Lyrics together.
My Bad.
Zach went to school the next day and proceeded to tell all his friends who his "real" dad was! I know, I know, I warped my own kid........he has since gotten over it.........it was funny.
I told Zach the truth, that I was only teasing the very same night......he thought it was a funny practicial joke, thank God my kids' inherited my IQ and not there father's, so he appreciated the humor.
But I still feel guilty for doing it.
It is a family joke now, when I play Springsteen or it comes on the radio, Justin or Zach will inevitably say hey, My dad (or Z's dad) is on. But I still feel guilty.
God, I did not mean to screw with my kid like that, but it was SO funny at the time!
The Dating Game
I get this over and over and over again in my professional practice. Women, who are otherwise intelligent and logical beings become irrational and unrealistic and anxiety ridden when the object of their affections becomes ambivalent, or worse, uninterested.
I am not talking about those in "long term" relationships. I am talking about those who are truly single and dating who don't want to give a relationship time to grow or develop naturally, or don't allow the male to take the "reigns" so to speak, of the masculine energy role (the initiator) and jump the gun in oh so many ways.
The advice that I give over and over and over again, which VERY few follow, is to remove their energy and attention AWAY from the gentleman who is behaving in a distant manner. This means, don't call him up, don't text him, don't stalk him online, don't invite him out..........the female (at the dating stage) must allow the male the time and the "room" to decide whether or not he wants to take this further, which is not on the same schedule as the female.
In order to prevent copyright infringement, this blog has been condensed to an excerpt as it currently appears in Brigid's book "The Dating Game, Insights Into Affairs of The Heart" releasing in April 2010 and available at Amazon and fine book sellers everywhere. Ask for it by name!
I am not talking about those in "long term" relationships. I am talking about those who are truly single and dating who don't want to give a relationship time to grow or develop naturally, or don't allow the male to take the "reigns" so to speak, of the masculine energy role (the initiator) and jump the gun in oh so many ways.
The advice that I give over and over and over again, which VERY few follow, is to remove their energy and attention AWAY from the gentleman who is behaving in a distant manner. This means, don't call him up, don't text him, don't stalk him online, don't invite him out..........the female (at the dating stage) must allow the male the time and the "room" to decide whether or not he wants to take this further, which is not on the same schedule as the female.
In order to prevent copyright infringement, this blog has been condensed to an excerpt as it currently appears in Brigid's book "The Dating Game, Insights Into Affairs of The Heart" releasing in April 2010 and available at Amazon and fine book sellers everywhere. Ask for it by name!
My Hero Zero, The Card of The Fool
My interpretation here is based on the Universal Waite Tarot, which I
strongly recommend for beginning students of the tarot. Please note
which deck you are posting your interpretations from as we move
forward, and feel free to add your insights and interpretations! Let's
remember that the beauty of the tarot is that there are no "right" or
"wrong" interpretations, it is entirely individual.
The Fool, the Number Zero, the beginning (and the end). When I look at
The Fool, I think of optimism, naivety, carefree......The Fool strikes
me as infantile in his emotional understanding of the world around him
at times.
In my interpretations, I frequently take The Fool as new beginnings,
the absence of preconceived notions, a blank slate waiting to be
written upon. Based upon the position of the card in the spread, I
look at that area as a fresh start, openness to adventure and
experience.
The down side of The Fool to me is foolish behavior, selfish in nature,
like a child who wants immediate gratification and cares only about
accepting things on their own terms. As represented in the Universal
Waite deck he gives me the impression of having a cavalier attitude and
being a totally self-centered adult......he is unaware and unconcerned
about his surroundings and if he is not careful he may just wander
right off the end of the precipice he is approaching.
I find the number zero to be important here as well. Zero is
assoiciated with the element of air, and this card is ruled by the
planet Uranus, which also rules the sign of Aquarius. For this card,
the elemental influence of air seems to create a vaccuum, the vaccuum
can either pull knowledge and experience in, or remain in suspended
animation in the self-centered hedonism of the card. If The Fool
remains inattentive he is headed to self-destruct, if The Fool IS
attentive, he can learn all that the elements of Fire, Water, Earth and
Air (depicted by the sun, the wand, the water and the flower in his
hand on this card) have to teach him.
The attire and color scheme of The Fool is important to his message as
well. The red feather in his hat (red for fire, feather for air),
showing a consciousness that is willing to analyze and take
action....the cloak, which if you look very closely, bears a red heart
embedded in the pattern printed over his chest, his heart is
open.........the white dog, is he playing along with The Fool, or is he
trying to warn him that he is approaching a cliff and to watch his
footing??? He wears a white tunic under his many-colored cloak, white
representing purity and innocence, can the innocence of The Fool help
your querent, or is the innocence just a form of being naive?
*This is actually a brief excerpt from my book "Uncloaking the Tarot"
copyright 2001, please feel free to add your impressions and
interpretations, as stated above, there are no right or wrong
interpretations as tarot reading is as individual as a thumbprint.
Masculine and Feminine Energy, Nature vs. Nurture
Last night, while still under the horrible umbrella of insomnia, I came upon a very interesting documentary on TLC (The Learning Channel). It was called "Born a Boy, Raised a Girl".......it caught my eye because in last year's Law and Order SVU TV Series, there was an episode that was eerily similiar, so, curious, I began to watch.
What I found was, even though the TV Series stated the story was "fictional", it was based on the real life story of David Reimer.
David Reimer was one of a set of male twins born in 1965. During his circumcision there was an "accident"........due to the disfiguration of his genitalia, the doctors and his parents, decided to alter his gender.........raise him as a girl, give him hormone treatments and psychotherapy in order to "assign him a gender that would match his physical condition".
Dr. John Money used both David, and his twin brother as subjects for his study in "Nature vs. Nurture", (the title of the SVU episode). Money forced the twins into sexually oriented positions during the "counseling" in order to establish which was the female and which was the female twin. The twins were seven.
Money touted the study as a great success, published books on it and continued to pontificate about his great accomplishments in overcoming nature. It was all a lie.
David never adjusted to being a "girl". He grew up as a misfit in his own social circle, and by the age of thirteen he was threatening suicide.
At that time David's parents felt they needed to come clean and tell him his history......David IMMEDIATELY assumed the male gender he was born with, unfortunately, the psychological damage done to he and his brother could not be repaired.
David's brother Brian never accepted what had happened, and became a psychotic, he committed suicide shortly after he and David went public with their story.
David, upon becoming a male, wanted nothing more than to become a husband and father. He was physically unable to produce children as his testciles were removed during infancy, but he did meet and marry a woman with three children..........and for a time, he was happy.
Dr. Money continued to exploit the case of the gender assignment as a success, despite the obvious failure.......this forced David to encourage his brother to come out about the case with his brother Brian..........
Shortly after the exposure and Brian's suicide, David's marriage failed. On May 4, 2004, David also committed suicide.........
This is a sad story of how forcing a gender identity on a human being and going against nature destroyed a multitude of lives (thanks to Dr. Money), but this exemplifies the need for us as humans to live out our lives as nature "assigns" our gender.
It could mean that we are naturally inclined to have the traditional energies assigned to our sexes, or it could mean that we are "Masculine Females" or "Feminine Males". What it does prove without a doubt, is that if we try to go AGAINST our natural inclinations, to please our families, our loved ones, or our society, we will suffer great psychological and spiritual harm.
In my next post we will discuss masculine and feminine energies within relationships........how they can build or destroy any pairing if not defined and understood completely.
I truly believe that we must self-actualize by embracing who and what we are, no matter what that may be, in order to fulfill ourselves emotionally, pyschologically and spiritually. Any disruption of that process will lead to our unfortunate demise.
To read more about David Reimer here is one link to his story, and of course you can search him out on the web.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/reimer/
What I found was, even though the TV Series stated the story was "fictional", it was based on the real life story of David Reimer.
David Reimer was one of a set of male twins born in 1965. During his circumcision there was an "accident"........due to the disfiguration of his genitalia, the doctors and his parents, decided to alter his gender.........raise him as a girl, give him hormone treatments and psychotherapy in order to "assign him a gender that would match his physical condition".
Dr. John Money used both David, and his twin brother as subjects for his study in "Nature vs. Nurture", (the title of the SVU episode). Money forced the twins into sexually oriented positions during the "counseling" in order to establish which was the female and which was the female twin. The twins were seven.
Money touted the study as a great success, published books on it and continued to pontificate about his great accomplishments in overcoming nature. It was all a lie.
David never adjusted to being a "girl". He grew up as a misfit in his own social circle, and by the age of thirteen he was threatening suicide.
At that time David's parents felt they needed to come clean and tell him his history......David IMMEDIATELY assumed the male gender he was born with, unfortunately, the psychological damage done to he and his brother could not be repaired.
David's brother Brian never accepted what had happened, and became a psychotic, he committed suicide shortly after he and David went public with their story.
David, upon becoming a male, wanted nothing more than to become a husband and father. He was physically unable to produce children as his testciles were removed during infancy, but he did meet and marry a woman with three children..........and for a time, he was happy.
Dr. Money continued to exploit the case of the gender assignment as a success, despite the obvious failure.......this forced David to encourage his brother to come out about the case with his brother Brian..........
Shortly after the exposure and Brian's suicide, David's marriage failed. On May 4, 2004, David also committed suicide.........
This is a sad story of how forcing a gender identity on a human being and going against nature destroyed a multitude of lives (thanks to Dr. Money), but this exemplifies the need for us as humans to live out our lives as nature "assigns" our gender.
It could mean that we are naturally inclined to have the traditional energies assigned to our sexes, or it could mean that we are "Masculine Females" or "Feminine Males". What it does prove without a doubt, is that if we try to go AGAINST our natural inclinations, to please our families, our loved ones, or our society, we will suffer great psychological and spiritual harm.
In my next post we will discuss masculine and feminine energies within relationships........how they can build or destroy any pairing if not defined and understood completely.
I truly believe that we must self-actualize by embracing who and what we are, no matter what that may be, in order to fulfill ourselves emotionally, pyschologically and spiritually. Any disruption of that process will lead to our unfortunate demise.
To read more about David Reimer here is one link to his story, and of course you can search him out on the web.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/reimer/
There Will Be Wolves
There Will Be Wolves
by Bridget J. Delfine
by Bridget J. Delfine
She looks up to meet his stare - she knows this is no answer to her prayer.
She lays back, gives it up again.
Holds tight, contaminates her heart again.
He knows his way around a woman. He knows some secrets just unfold. He knows that lies belie compassion. He knows his heart has not grown old.
She always chooses the windy road. He always takes the wrong turn. Without a challenge, her imagination explodes. He knows he's driving away. She can laugh, say he's her friend. He knows that truths belie compassion. She spends the night playing pretend. He knows he'll give it one more day.
He knows she's just a daydream. She rides around remembering his touch. He hears the fear inside his mind. She knows he can't care too much. He sometimes hopes she'll disappear. She decides - she chooses. He wants her to unwind. She knows there will be wolves.
She looks at him, she feels his eyes, sees the simile in his desire. He knows he can't stay too long. Life awaits him back at home. She lays back, revels in his arms, let's him in to her rebel heart. He drives away thinking of her scent, and, did she meant the words that she said?
She knows that lies belie compassion. She knows that boredom breeds contempt. Did she waste her night tonight: Or was it time well spent? She wonders if she's seeping in, she shouldn't see anymore of him. Confusion and collusion, the mist falls over her judgment.
She decides - she chooses - she has to play, she never loses. she knows the rules and she laughs them off - she knows there will be wolves. They're running down that darker path, laughing in the face of the aftermath. They decide - they choose - they know there will be wolves.
He knows that desire's it's own emotion. He knows his way around a woman. He smiles his best disguise, ladens his lies with compassion. He decides - he chooses - he has to play, he never loses. He knows the rules and he laughs them off - he knows there will be wolves.
She lays back, gives it up again. He smiles, he's her best friend. She smiles, gives it up again. She contaminates her rebel heart again. They know desire's it's own emotion. They run down the darker path. The wolves are running beside them, they see the wolves and laugh.
They love to run with the wolves. They love breaking the rules. They know that lies belie compassion, they love sharing their truths. They're racing down that darker path, laughing in the face of the aftermath. They run faster, because they know there will be wolves. They know - there will be wolves.
Copyright © 1997 Bridget J. Delfine
No Part of This Poem May be Reproduced without the Express Written Permission of the Author
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