Comment

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 30, 2012 at 10:44am

"You want to know who's a real medicine man? He's the one who doesn't say 'I'm a medicine man.' He doesn't ask you to come to him. You've got to go and ask him. And you'll find he's always there among his own people."

-- Louis Farmer, ONONDAGA

The Medicine Man is a role model of what it is like to live in harmony and balance with the Creator. It takes a long time, a lot of sacrifice and discipline to become a Medicine Man. A Medicine Man is humble and never crass about anything. He knows he lives to do the will of the Great Spirit. He knows he is to help the people. He lives very low key - the more low key he lives, the more people seek him out - and such is life. The more one serves the people and is quiet about it, the more he is sought out. The quieter he is, the more powerful is his medicine.

Great Spirit, allow me this day to be humble. Allow me this day not to seek attention, but to live quietly and keep my focus and attention on serving You

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 29, 2012 at 7:12am

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your attention must be very focused and narrow but appropriately so. When people have problems, give them full regard. What you have to say must be appropriate to them and specifically useful.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You want to do something a bit out of the ordinary today. You dislike being in a subordinate position. You struggle to get out of a rut and out of dependency. You may have to show unaccustomed ferocity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be careful in relationships today. You may want to be close to someone, only for the interaction to turn nasty. Always be encouraging; avoid being critical or vaguely abusive.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You want to take on important and difficult problems today. You want to make more of yourself and you see that the only way is to challenge yourself with greater tests.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The plight of your friends brings out sympathy. This is a good time to console those who are saddened. It may be that goals haven't been reached and ambitions have been cut short.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Disappointments in the personal life find compensation in your drive for success at work. Today, you generally seek to make up for a failure in one part of life by achievement in another.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You're feeling sad today. A hopeful situation is cut short before it can complete. You're thrown back to the beginning. It's a good time to learn from mistakes, to understand more about life and living.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You may put too much emphasis on comparing your level of success or income to others'. It's more important to cultivate happiness and then let others compare themselves to you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Relationships don't feel satisfying today. There can be failure of expectations. It can feel as though someone you want in your life could be leaving. You may have to make extra effort to keep them.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your actions today are geared toward personal independence now. You can save money, get involved in situations requiring decision-making. You want a situation that allows you to think for yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You don't feel like taking a defeat lying down. You're ready to come back for another go-round, although now you're willing to go about it indirectly. You try more clever, more indirect means.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your job creates more anxiety than usual today. Domestic issues may be on your mind, as well. It's important to avoid self-pity and to rise to challenges as they arise.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 29, 2012 at 7:12am

"When we want to talk to Him we burn tobacco and it takes our prayers all the way up to the Sky World."

-- Louis Farmer, ONONDAGA

Our herbs and our medicines are all here for the purpose of serving. Offering tobacco as a gift to the Creator is proper use of our medicine. In this way, we are able to communicate from the physical world to the spiritual world. Sometimes we have a hard time coming up with the right words when we pray, especially if we are really mixed up. The tobacco and the sage will take the intent to the spirit world. The meaning behind the words are more important the the words. The Creator always knows our intent. The tobacco helps us get to the Sky World.

Today, my Creator, I offer You this tobacco. I want to thank You for being in my life. I want to tell You how much I appreciate the honor of being here to serve You. Tell me this morning what I can do for You. You are the reason I live

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 29, 2012 at 7:10am

Jul 29, 1588:
Spanish Armada defeated

Off the coast of Gravelines, France, Spain's so-called "Invincible Armada" is defeated by an English naval force under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake. After eight hours of furious fighting, a change in wind direction prompted the Spanish to break off from the battle and retreat toward the North Sea. Its hopes of invasion crushed, the remnants of the Spanish Armada began a long and difficult journey back to Spain.

In the late 1580s, English raids against Spanish commerce and Queen Elizabeth I's support of the Dutch rebels in the Spanish Netherlands led King Philip II of Spain to plan the conquest of England. Pope Sixtus V gave his blessing to what was called "The Enterprise of England," which he hoped would bring the Protestant isle back into the fold of Rome. A giant Spanish invasion fleet was completed by 1587, but Sir Francis Drake's daring raid on the Armada's supplies in the port of Cadiz delayed the Armada's departure until May 1588.

On May 19, the Invincible Armada set sail from Lisbon on a mission to secure control of the English Channel and transport a Spanish army to the British isle from Flanders. The fleet was under the command of the Duke of Medina-Sidonia and consisted of 130 ships carrying 2,500 guns, 8,000 seamen, and almost 20,000 soldiers. The Spanish ships were slower and less well armed than their English counterparts, but they planned to force boarding actions if the English offered battle, and the superior Spanish infantry would undoubtedly prevail. Delayed by storms that temporarily forced it back to Spain, the Armada did not reach the southern coast of England until July 19. By that time, the British were ready.

On July 21, the English navy began bombarding the seven-mile-long line of Spanish ships from a safe distance, taking full advantage of their long-range heavy guns. The Spanish Armada continued to advance during the next few days, but its ranks were thinned by the English assault. On July 27, the Armada anchored in exposed position off Calais, France, and the Spanish army prepared to embark from Flanders. Without control of the Channel, however, their passage to England would be impossible.

Just after midnight on July 29, the English sent eight burning ships into the crowded harbor at Calais. The panicked Spanish ships were forced to cut their anchors and sail out to sea to avoid catching fire. The disorganized fleet, completely out of formation, was attacked by the English off Gravelines at dawn. In a decisive battle, the superior English guns won the day, and the devastated Armada was forced to retreat north to Scotland. The English navy pursued the Spanish as far as Scotland and then turned back for want of supplies.

Battered by storms and suffering from a dire lack of supplies, the Armada sailed on a hard journey back to Spain around Scotland and Ireland. Some of the damaged ships foundered in the sea while others were driven onto the coast of Ireland and wrecked. By the time the last of the surviving fleet reached Spain in October, half of the original Armada was lost and some 15,000 men had perished.

Queen Elizabeth's decisive defeat of the Invincible Armada made England a world-class power and introduced effective long-range weapons into naval warfare for the first time, ending the era of boarding and close-quarter fighting.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 28, 2012 at 7:09am

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You're apt to express yourself non-stop and dramatically. You tend to speak and act for effect, not out of truth or meaning. A lot of what you say is intended to extend your influence.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You feel the strong pull of tradition but also the need to think for yourself. It's not easy reconciling the two but important insights can develop from the intellectual effort.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're apt to latch on to one person today as an associate but open up to having many friends and contacts. The more sociable you are, the better you're likely to meet the right people for your needs.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your security and your possessions are very important to you now. You're concerned about volatility; your investments also come under scrutiny so that you know what you will be getting.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): This is a day where your abilities to learn and adapt are highlighted. Don't think anything will be easy or can be done through habit. Get your brain in gear and be prepared to meet new challenges.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are very confident but you need to reach out and get people on your side. Many won't see the need for agreement or approval but they are very helpful in social situations.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): This is a good time to expand your social circle through clubs, especially those that let you meet face-to-face. Physical company and direct interaction are favored now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Some are called upon to make a public appearance. Others may be due for public recognition. What you have to say today can get a lot of attention. Don't be shy now.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your fears of meeting new people are unfounded. Find the courage to engage them in conversation. You will quickly find topics for discussion, if not agreement. You can find your place as an equal.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): This is a good time spent in quiet study or introspection. Something is troubling you and it's a good time to think about it so as to understand it and to do something about it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): An important relationship comes together now. Effective communication skills bring significant people into your life. Express yourself clearly so as to attract the kind of people you want and need.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You tend to set yourself up against harsh authority, emphasizing the need for humanity and compassion. You are very aware of ethical dilemmas and are likely to opt for altruistic solutions.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 28, 2012 at 7:08am

"A good heart and a good mind - those are what you need to be a chief."

-- Louis Farmer, ONONDAGA

The combination of heart and mind is very powerful. The Medicine Wheel teaches that two worlds exist - the seen and the unseen. The seen world is the physical and the unseen is the spiritual world. Both of the worlds are necessary to discover true reality. The seen world is easiest seen by the male side. The unseen is easiest seen by the female side. The heart is the unseen and the mind is the seen. Blessed is the leader or person who has developed the heart and the mind. Truly, the person is of tremendous value to the Creator and the people.

My Great Spirit, help me this day to develop both my female side and my male side. Let me know all the feelings of each, let me develop and grow my intuition and my mind. Let my development only serve You

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 27, 2012 at 7:09am

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Today you become aware of interests or feelings that are unusual. Trust your instinct. What doesn't feel right for you should be rejected until you're left with a direction that's right.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A new interest has the promise of generating income, whose nature can be so unusual that many might consider it in bad taste. Some can opt for secrecy, while others choose to flaunt their non-conformity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You're sensitive to issues of corporate corruption and you may feel something has to be done about it. Some can be serious but most take a light attitude, preferring tricks and over enforcement.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You're liable to feel as though you can't control your destiny today. Resentment builds as control over you increases. You're challenged to break the cycle and take greater control over your life.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are in a sticky situation where it seems someone must lose. It's important that the solution involves a release of something that is unwanted in order to get something even more valuable.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are ready to take a great risk in your career. The motivating force is probably out of love for family, seeking to improve your income or your future career path.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You want the truth to see the light of day. You may be blinded by personal self-righteousness, however. Others won't share your outrage unless genuine crime or fraud is involved.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are sensitive to inordinate pressure being placed upon you. You can begin to question issues of power and permission. Who has set up the rules being played by? What are your rules?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You may see that relationships today need a heavy supply of approval. It's hard to get unconditional acceptance but you may want to push people in that direction if their conditions get too onerous.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're feeling helpful and determined to make reforms. You can be too naive, however, and someone could try to take control of you. It's important that you retain control of your activities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You're willing to take extraordinary risks for a cause today. Some may endanger themselves for a greater purpose. It's important to assess its true importance; choose your battles.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are willing to make important changes in your life now. The just use of power is an important issue for you. Practice what you advocate and use the power of moral persuasion.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 27, 2012 at 7:07am

"Let us put our minds together as one."

-- Irving Powless, Sr., ONONDAGA

If we sat in a circle and put an object in the center of the circle and we all described what we saw, everyone would see different points of view from each other. Some would even see opposites because they would be sitting on opposite sides of the circle. In other words, you don't have to see what I see for you to be right. In fact, everyone in the circle is right based on their own point of view. If we are willing to listen to everyone's point of view, then we can get a more accurate description of the object in the center. This is one way to put our minds together. When we get the clarity from each other, we should give thanks and be grateful to each other.

Grandfathers from the four directions, guide me today with Your wisdom from the east, from the south, from the west and from the north

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 26, 2012 at 7:21am

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Some relationships are broken today, while others are formed. You're readjusting associations to be in conformity with new perspectives. You should show old friends how you're changing and improving.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You're apt to feel nagged and that you're being harassed. You can be resistant to learning so be open to instructions and suggestions, even of the most mundane sort.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You prefer a peaceful path to the top today. You build allies, cultivate consensus. This is a generally beneficial approach but you could be blindsided by unexpected resistance or betrayals.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You can be extremely in tune with a partner today. In some cases, few or no words may be necessary to communicate complex thoughts and instructions. For some, it becomes important to know people's motivations.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Something old and cherished loses its hold on you. If feeling regrets, accept that you're becoming aware that it's time to move on, to grow, to explore some more. A shelter becomes confining instead of nourishing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You can become intensely interested in spiritual or obscure topics. At this point, it may not be clear how any of it can be practical, but with further pursuit and development that will become clear.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You can learn something new and exciting, yet also a bit esoteric today. You pursue an interest that brings emotional calm but spiritual excitement. You want to be involved in something meaningful.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are conflicted over your path to success. Give people what they want or stand out with your uniqueness? With careful thought, you can find where these two needs meet and generate favorable attention.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You generally avoid conflict and confrontation. You prefer to be around people who don't challenge you but who already pretty much agree with your point of view and beliefs.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You're feeling sensitive and shy today. It's useful to turn outward and be sensitive instead to the needs of those around you. Be inquisitive and find out what's going on with them.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You learn a lot about people by interacting with them against your inclination to stay away from them. There is much to criticize but also much to understand that you didn't before.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You're in a situation where it's hard -- but necessary -- to stick to your ideals. You can be under a lot of pressure to be expedient or to yield to temptation. Find the strength to say no to wrongdoing.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on July 26, 2012 at 7:21am

"These are our times and our responsibilities. Every human being has a sacred duty to protect the welfare of our Mother Earth, from whom all life comes. In order to do this, we must recognize the enemy - the one within us. We must begin with ourselves..."

-- Leon Shenandoah, ONONDAGA

The outside is merely a reflection of our insides. My mind is designed to tell me that I'm not crazy for thinking what I am thinking. Even if I have angry thought, my mind is giving me excuses and reasons why it is OK to think what I'm thinking. I need to be knowledgeable about the laws of harmony and balance. I cannot twist the laws to serve me, but I can adjust my life to serve the laws. This is the law - I am here to serve the Earth. The Earth is not here for me to misuse and abuse.

Oh Great Spirit, allow me the insight and knowledge of how to live in harmony and balance with my surroundings. Grant me change from within

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