Julie K. Rose

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
jade In China jade, like gold, is closely associated with the yang principle and thus symbolizes vital energy and cosmic forces. It is an image of perfection and a symbol of the union of the five heavenly virtues (i.e., purity, immutability, clarity, euphony, and kindness) as well as the union of moral qualities and beauty. Jade was used as a universal medicament, was valued as nutrition for immaterial beings, and was the medicine that granted immortality or long life and protected the bodies of the deceased from decay.

In Central America jade symbolized the soul, the spirit, the heart; because of its green, transparent color, it was also related to vegetation, water, rain, and blood (because of the occasional interchangeability of the symbolic meanings of green and red). (Herder)

First, the first set of Team Cassiebug auction items close in 14 hours (7 p.m. Pacific). Visit

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtappymlp

to bid on some fantastic stuff, and help raise money to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Second, my friend Crystal and I are doing the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, here in San Jose on May 17.

Crystal, and my other friend Michele, were both diagnosed with breast cancer within a few months of each other last year; they’re in their late 30s/early 40s. After surgery, chemo, radiation, and medication, they’re doing great - thank goodness for the American Cancer Society and their funding of research.

If you’ve got a few extra bucks lying around, please help support me in this important cause by making a donation.

Thanks!

Myths, symbolism, and folklore

“This sign is said to be one of the alchemists’ signs for honey.”

Learn more at symbols.com

My full interview with Darin Bradley is now up at the Writers & Soundtracks podcast. Check it out!

This week’s word-hoard feature: contumely, amaritude, and amyctic.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week’s word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, you can add the feed to your LiveJournal Friends page.

If you’d like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for “Julie K. Rose” or “Word-Hoard” in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the “subscribe button”; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

The auction to raise money for Team Cassiebug for the Great Strides walk (to help find a cure for CF) are now live.

Please, bid early and often at:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtappymlp

There’s some great stuff: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume oils, hand-crafted jewelry by, some fun Disneyana, an awesome Jayne Cobb knitted cap, and some gorgeous watercolors by Catrina Horsfield.

100% of the proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Spread the word!

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
Calamus: It is the sweet flag, a variety of arum growing next to water in Asia and Europe, from which is extracted oil for anointing and for medicines. In the Middle Ages it was sometimes associated with Mary. (Herder)

Hooray! The next Writers & Soundtracks podcast is live. This time, I interview author Darin Bradley. Check it out!

I want you to do something.
It will take less than a minute and is something you do unconsciously every minute of every day.

Take a long slow deep breath. Feel the way the in-rush of air tickles your nose, moves through freely your trachea and bronchial tubes, filling your lungs. Feel the way your lungs receive the air, graciously and effortlessly.

If you have something to eat or drink nearby, take a sip or a bite. Chew it slowly and think for a minute about how easily your body accepts that food or beverage and how readily your digestive system starts to absorb nutrients and transform that bite of food or sip of beverage into energy-giving, cell-rejuvenating, life-sustaining fuel.

It’s not easy for everyone.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that affects the lungs, sinuses, pancreas, liver, intestines, and male reproductive system. CF is caused by a genetic mutation. In healthy people, a gene, referred to as CFTR, produces a protein that regulates the movement of salt and water through the cell walls.

This process directly affects how the body makes sweat, mucus and enzymes for digestion. In people with CF, this protein does form properly, which impedes normal cell activity. A thick, heavy mucus develops that clogs the internal organs, impedes digestion, makes the patient susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, and makes taking a simple breath a moment-by-moment challenge. CF is the most common life-shortening disease diagnosed in children.

There is no cure.
My friend Jenn’s daughter Cassie was diagnosed with CF three years ago. Cassie is a beautiful little girl, and I think she deserves a fighting chance to grow up to be a beautiful woman.

Jenn is participating in the CF Great Strides walk, and is holding a number of auctions on eBay to help raise money for Great Strides and the CFF. 100% of proceeds from each auction will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Please take a moment to visit http://cassiebug.jcracek.com/cf_auctions.php for links to the eBay auctions, which begin on April 1. Auction items include original artwork, signed books, collectibles, gift baskets, jewelry, crafts, and more.

Please take a moment to bid, and to pass this on.

Original post by Yaaresse on LiveJournal

This week’s word-hoard feature: blash, pooster, and tumbies.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week’s word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, if you’d like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for “Julie K. Rose” or “Word-Hoard” in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the “subscribe button”; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.