Thoughts of the day every day in 2014

[Anthea]

Most people watch TV

If you turn off your TV

Turn off your music

Sit quiet and listen

OK give it 10 minutes

Wherever you are in the world

You will never have complete silence

There might be traffic and other street sounds

Or countryside and animal sounds

Relax and recognise those sound for what they are

You will hear another sound in the background

As you sit and listen quietly

You will hear the faint but distinct sound of

LAUGHTER

Listen

Do you hear it now?

Concentrate

It really laughter

It is the combined laughter of many people

Laughing as Maliki causes turmoil inside Iraq

And leaves Iraq at the mercy of

The happily laughing members of

The Islamic State

[Anthea]

[Anthea]

[Earle]

We are with you Kurds! You are the only good people in Iraq, the American people are behind you in all things. I hope they send some good tanks for Peshmerga and kick some ISIS ass. Go with god.

[Anthea]

We are with you Kurds! You are the only good people in Iraq, the American people are behind you in all things. I hope they send some good tanks for Peshmerga and kick some ISIS ass. Go with god.

Roj Bash Kurdistan thanks you

It is hoped that once Kurdistan declares Independence Kurds will al last be recognised for the great nation they truly are

[Anthea]

@ Earle

I have an important question that perhaps you could provide an answer to:

I am positive that US laws do NOT permit America (probably many other countries have similar restrictions) to provide weapons to groups of fighters such as the Kurdish Peshmerga - because Kurdistan is not yet a country in it's own right

I was given to believe that Kurdistan had to become an Independent country before it would receive international support to protect it's borders - until Kurdistan obtains that independence it does not legally have borders as it is still classified as being part of Iraq

[Anthea]

I know that Massoud Barzani himself wants Kurdistan to become independent

Sadly - he has advisers who are trying to dissuade him from such a move

Over 95% of Kurds in Iraq want Kurdistan to become independent

They Think Kurdish

They Act Kurdish

They Are Kurdish

Until Kurdistan becomes independent it cannot ask for support from or complain to the UN

KURDISTAN must DECLARE INDEPENDENCE

[Anthea]

My houghts on Iraq

For 400 years the Ottoman Empire ruled the three states, Mosul for the Kurds, Baghdad for the Sunnis and Basra for the Shiite. During that period of time the three states were not affiliated with each other, they were affiliated directly to Istanbul the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

In the beginning of last century Mosul, Baghdad and Basra were occupied by the British who created a new state of Iraq. Ruled by the Sunnis, the Shiites and Kurds were seen to be in opposition. The result of such an unwise policy caused the deaths of more than a million Kurds, Shiite and Sunnis.

At the beginning of this century the Americans liberated the Iraq people from Saddam Hussein’s evil regime. However, the situation in Iraqi became more complicated and complex as the Shiites sought to became rulers of both the Kurds and Sunnis.

I believe the result of such policy will lead to the killing of many millions and a great deal more violence than that which took place in the last century, because the Sunnis consider themselves the owners of Iraq and they cannot accept the Kurds and Shiites as partners. The Shiites have sat on the throne of Iraq and tasted the sweetness and power, they are not willing at all to give up. Nor do the Kurds, who have achieved so much in recent years, wish to return control to a central Iraqi government.

[Anthea]

Perhaps it is in light of the actions by the Islamic State against the Yezidis and the Kurdish region as a whole - that there is a marked revival in Zoroastrianisim in Sulaimaniya

It seems that many Kurds are now asking themselves what Islam has actually done for them

Perhaps Kurds are becoming disillusioned with the in-fighting between the Sunni and Shiites

Are Kurds asking themselves where they fit in in the greater scheme of things

Kurds in Iraq are predominately Sunni while those in Turkey are predominately Shia/Shiite - already divided by language (and a love of revolting Turkish music) - with the rise of Islam extremism in the area could it eventually lead to a further division between the Sunni Kurds of Iraq and the Shia/Shiite of Turkey

It is time for Kurds to put their Kurdish heritage first - their religious differences second - and unit before they themselves become drawn into the Islamic divisions now bringing terror to the Middle East

[Anthea]

[Anthea]

Review: Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch

If the word ‘grimoire’ makes you think of a book of dark rites to perform, maybe involving conjuring up the devil, think again. The Grimoire of a Kitchen Witchis more a book of brilliant spells you could do, maybe while conjuring up the odd cake.

Actually, Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch is a lot more than just a book of spells. It is really a complete handbook of witchcraft and magic, but with an emphasis on things that can be done in the kitchen or at least while sitting at your kitchen table. If you are a complete beginner looking for a big book on how to do magic, then this will serve you very well. If you are an experienced witch wanting to widen your expertise, you are bound to find something new to try out in this nearly 300-page tome.

Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch starts with the basics – explaining what a witch is: “...someone who is in tune with the Earth, with the changing of the seasons, someone who connects with the elements and works with all the energies around them.” As a kitchen witch, author Rachel Patterson says that her magic is centred around her home and garden, while the big oak kitchen table “is where everyone ends up sitting with cups of tea and slices of cake…”

Rachel goes on to describe the importance of her kitchen when creating sacred space for doing magic. For her, that room is the heart of the home and also the place where most of her magical tools are kept – from herbs hanging to dry, to knives to cut them, to bottles and jars for potions, to the cooker for stirring up a bubbling brew and even the freezer for some chilled-out enchantments.

Those new to witchcraft can learn how to raise energy, how to celebrate the seasonal Wheel of the Year and work with the phases of the moon as well how to use herbs and crystals. The book then moves on to explaining how to work with animal spirit guides, fairy magic, astral travel and even a bit of hoodoo. As you would expect, it includes a large selection of spells as well as recipes for potions, oils, incense, candles and witch bottles. Thrown into the mix are numerous guided visualisations and projects for things to do and make over the seasons.

Rachel’s enthusiasm for kitchen witchcraft shines through the entire book. As you read it, you feel you might just be sitting at Rachel’s kitchen table with her as she tells you the secrets of her spellcraft and magic.

As publisher Moon Books says on its website, Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch is: "A personal and all encompassing guide to what it is to be a Witch, how to live and work within the Craft... essentially a Book of Shadows."

Rachel Patterson is also the author of Pagan Portals - Kitchen Witchcraft.

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/search/label/ ... %20Shadows

[Anthea]

I have been thinking (something I try not to do much of recently)

I have been trying to work out why the Islamic State want the dam???

When they had control they did not destroy it

If stories are to be believed IS actually started to repair the dam

So far many whom the Islamic State have killed have been those who could offer little if any resistance

So why is the dam so important that they are prepared to risk the lives of so many of their fighters?

Support for IS is growing fast within Syria and also among the Sunni population within Iraq

(mostly due to the Baghdad's treatment of the Sunni population)

I believe IS plan to use the dam as a bargaining tool - turning vast swaves of the Iraqi population hostages

I have very little doubt that IS intends to use the Mosul Dam in such a way

And as IS propaganda shows them to be ruthless barbaric killers

I also believe that IS is capable of carrying out any such threatened actions

Let us hope IS do not manage to retake the dam

[Anthea]

Shocking that the execution of James Foley was

To me his death is of LESS importance than the deaths of all those innocent Yazidi children

There is something SERIOUSLY WRONG with people

If the execution of one man - who was a journalist and well aware of the risks he was taking when he went to Syria

takes precedence over the deaths of all the innocent Yazidi children

who did not voluntarily enter a war zone and did not voluntarily put themselves in harms way

Question:

The deaths of how many Yazidi children = death of one American journalist ???????????

[Anthea]

And by the way:

The more publicity surrounding James Foley's execution

The happier the Islamic State will be

As IS thrives on propaganda

Now IS have achieved such unprecedented publicity

The Islamic State has seen the value of hostages

They will no doubt kidnap even more foreigners

ALL foreigners have now been put at risk in Syria and Iraq

There are THOUSANDS of foreigners working in the area

The shocking occurrence of James Foley's execution

Should have been publicised respectfully

Instead of playing into the hands of the

publicity seeking Islamic State

[Piling]

http://earlymodernengland.com/2014/08/w ... r-are-you/