Stranger Danger

Why do strange things happen to me? No, I'm not saying that to be dramatic or justify some kind of "victim" mentality, I'm saying it because it's true. Strange things happen to me. Always. Usually when I'm at my happiest and most relaxed.

Proof positive: this weekend Mom and I were lounging on our front porch in the warm sunshine getting a nice healthy dose of Vitamin D when we decided we wanted to set-up a little picnic. I went inside the house to grab the usual picnic accessories: plates, utensils, drink, etc. Mom had just entered the house to help me carry everything outside when I heard someone open our porch gate. I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind racing as to who it could be. We weren't expecting any visitors.

ME: "Someone's here."

MOM: "What? No, I was just outside. No one's around."

The heavy footsteps hurrying across our porch proved her wrong. I pushed passed her, quickly putting myself between her and the unlatched screen door just as a tall young man wearing a bright orange polo shirt reached for the screen door. His hand dropped and his mouth fell open as I snagged the inside door handle and yanked it back with a decided thud. He obviously wasn't expecting to see me standing there.

ME: "Hello."

HIM: "Um..."

Anyone that knows me, knows my stare can be very intimidating. My eyes are extremely dark brown, they appear almost solid black when I'm pissed off...and I was definitely pissed off.

ME: "Can I help you?"

He licked his lips nervously and peeked over his right shoulder. There was another man (a lookout?) wearing the same exact attire pacing our street corner. The pacing told me everything I needed to know. I crossed my arms, leveled my most intimidating glare at him, and repeated my question: "CAN I HELP YOU?"

Musicmania: Golden State - Save Me

Just heard this on the YouTube webseries Wendy (based on the story of Peter Pan) and have fallen in love with every aspect of this song!!!!!!! :) :)

Can we survive
The heart that’s lost control?
Break all your worries
And make my heart feel whole 

Well there’s nothing in the room
But the shadow of the wall
There’s no place to hide it
There’s no place at all 

Will you save me?
I will believe in you
I’ll give love, I’ll give love
Save me, your arms i’ll fall into
I’ll give love, I’ll give love now 

I believe the world can take
The shadow that’s strong as song
It’s enough for one man to take
Knowing it’s right from wrong 

There’s no room in the darkness
Bring down these walls
With no one to believe in
There’s no sense at all 

Will you save me?
I will believe in you
I’ll give love, I’ll give love
Save me, your arms I’ll fall into
I’ll give love, I’ll give love now 

It’s moving on in me
Oh love, oh love is a wounded heart
You see… 

Save me, I will believe in you
I’ll give love, I’ll give love
Save me, your arms I’ll fall into
I’ll give love, I’ll give love 

Save me, I will believe in you
I’ll give love, I’ll give love
Save me, your arms I’ll fall into
I’ll give love, I’ll give love 

Anywhere, anyway
Through a life without a care
We can sing without a song,
we can hope to sing along
I’ll be there, I’ll be there
I’ll be there, I’ll be there now

—Golden State, “Save Me” 

Deep Thoughts: Guardian Spirit, Panther Power!

Anyone that knows me knows that the Black Panther has haunted my dreams since I was a teenager…

Being part Cherokee and Lenape Indian, I consider it my personal spirit guide and animal totem. I do not flinch in fear from the primal power that imminates from the darkness. In fact, I welcome it, caress it, embrace it and draw a great deal of strength from these gorgeous creatures.

However, I never thought to look up their spiritual significance until recently. What I discovered makes perfect sense to me…

The panther is a very powerful and ancient totem. It is a symbol of ferocity and valor. The Black Panther specifically is a Guardian Spirit that embodies True Power, seduction, and mystery. 

When the Black Panther enters your life as a totem, it awakens the inner passions. This is capable of manifesting in unbridled expressions of baser powers and instincts. It is also capable reflecting an awakening of the kundalini, signaling a time of not just coming into one’s own power. More so, the keynote of the Black Panther is Reclaiming One’s True Power. The panther always brings guardian energy to those to whom it comes. 

Of all the panthers, probably the Black Panther has the greatest mysticism associated with it. It is the symbol for the life and power of the night. It is a symbol of the feminine energies manifest upon the earth. It is often a symbol of darkness, death, and rebirth from out of it. There still exists in humanity a primitive fear of the dark and of death. The Black Panther helps you to understand the dark and death and the inherent powers of them; and thus by acknowledging them, eliminate your fears and learn to use the powers. 

The panther often signals a time of rebirth after a period of suffering and death on some level. This implies that an old issue may finally begin to be resolved, or even that old longstanding wounds will finally begin to heal, and with the healing will come a reclaiming of power that was lost at the time of wounding. Also, the Black Panther is very mystical, she finds the most power in darkness. Black Panther understands death and teaches people not to fear it, for out of death comes rebirth. 

To the Native peoples of North and South America, the jaguar especially in the form of the Black Panther, was endowed with great magic and power. The jaguar panther climbs, runs, and swims, even superior to that of the tiger. For the reason that it is capable of functioning so well in so many areas, it became the symbol of mastery over all dimensions. 

To the Tucano Indians of the Amazon, the roar of the jaguar was the roar of thunder. Thus the Black Panther was the god of darkness and was capable of causing eclipses by swallowing the sun. This reflects the tremendous power inherent within. To those with the panther as a totem, this power will increasingly be experienced. 

Nietzsche once said, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” It is this same idea that is awakened in the lives of those who open to the power of the panther totem. The panther marks a new turn in the heroic path of those to whom it comes. It truly reflects more than just coming into one’s own power. Rather it reflects a reclaiming of that which was lost and an intimate connection with the great archetypal force behind it. It gives an ability to go beyond what has been imagined, with opportunity to do so with discipline and control. It is the spirit of imminent rebirth.” 

The panther has over 500 voluntary muscles that they are capable of using at will. This reflects an ability to do a variety of tasks as he or she wills. It is simply a matter of deciding and putting to use those particular “muscles,” be they physical, mental, psychic, or spiritual. 

Panther people have a broader vision. Panther medicine gives them a deeper insight, both spiritually and psychically. Their enhanced perspective lets them see things in close detail or from a distance. Panthers enter the world enlightened whereas others have to work to achieve that.

This is who I am and what I’m experiencing right now in this stage of my life.

Death.

   Darkness.

     Reflection.

        Awakening.

     Reclaiming power.

Rebirth.

Love Lots,
Miss Mia

Poetry: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

One of my all time favorite poems...

A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky. 

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. 

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom. 

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own. 

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. 

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom. 

—Maya Angelou, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”

Absolutely gorgeous!

XOXO

Diagnosis: Sunshine

Vitamin D. Who would've ever guessed that the chronic fatigue, depression, mood swings, etc. I've been suffering from for almost a decade now were brought on by a severe Vitamin D deficiency? But that's what the blood results say. In fact, my D levels are so low the doctor told me she's surprised I haven't been hospitalized for it.

Here are some common symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression and mood swings
• Joint pain/swelling
• Leg cramps
• Low immunity
• Memory/Concentration problems
• Periodontal disease (including bleeding/receding gums & mouth sores)
• Poor diabetes control
• Psoriasis
• Restless sleep
• Urinary tract infections and bowel/bladder problems
• Weight gain and/or problems losing weight
• Worse asthma conditions

Sound familiar at all? If you have any of these symptoms (or almost all of them, like me) then you may want to get your Vitamin levels checked.

To top it off, I discovered this April 2010 article: Vitamin D Deficiency Associated With Chronic Fatigue in Brain Injured Patients by the European Congress of Endochronology...

They found that 51% of TBI patients were severely fatigued 10 years after the trauma. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 65% of post TBI patients and significantly related with fatigue (P<0.05), with patients who suffered from fatigue more likely to be vitamin D deficient.
This work opens the possibility that correcting the vitamin D deficiency might help to reduce some of the chronic fatigue in TBI patients.

Wow. Just W-O-W! I myself suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in 1996 and have been struggling with chronic fatigue ever since!!! Had I only known then what I know now...

Mimi's Recipes: Tortilla Dogs

Grilled hot dogs wrapped in flour tortillas with melted gouda cheese. Place them into a panini press for 2 minutes and wallah! You can add sauteed onions and roasted bell peppers to this too, or substitute sweet Italian sausage in place of the hot dogs. Yum!

RIP: Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

RIP: Steve Jobs, co-founder and former-CEO of Apple Inc., passed away today at the age of 56.

Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. His failing health forced him to resign his role as Apple’s CEO earlier this year, as he felt he could “no longer meet my duties and expectations.”

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” Apple said in a statement. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have build and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”

Apple is asking fans to send their thoughts, memories, and condolences to rememberingsteve@apple.com.

October 14th was recently designated Steve Jobs Day by Apple fans.

[apple.]