Welcome to my blog! I don't know how your phones and devices work, but the videos and the links work better when I scroll to the bottom of this page and click on View Web Version. If you don't, you're going to miss out on all sorts of cool stuff that is included in the right sidebar... and it's prettier.

Monday, June 30, 2025

The Baby Shower That Wasn't

 

The one explosive moment of absolute clarity that came to me was the knowledge that these women weren’t really my friends.

[Post from Cyrstal Clear Enchantments]

In the good old days (cough), we belonged to a local Home School Support Group. They were a fanatical group of self-righteous women who pretended to be your friend to suck you in so you would accept Jesus and all that crap. To be honest, when we first joined this group the name of the group was not leaning towards anything religious. They changed the name of the group some time after I joined, at one of our meetings around Ava’s dining room table, where they gave me the impression that I had something to say about it and that my input was important. I didn’t, and it wasn’t.

They wanted to change the name of the group from “Fremont Home Schoolers” to “Christian something-something Home Schoolers”. I told them I didn’t think it was a good idea, and that they would alienate people who were not home schooling for religious reasons, because you could opt out of public school two ways, and religious reasons was one of them.

My opinion didn’t matter. It reminded me of how public schools make you think you have a say in your child’s education, but you don’t really. It’s almost like a salesman’s knack of making you think you need to purchase a product when you don’t need it at all.

Anyway, one of the little things that our hostess, Ava, did for the group was to hold baby showers for its members at her house. I had gone to several, joining the quiet and serious group of women oohing and ahhing over each present that was opened.

I was closest with two of the members, Carol and Jane, ladies that didn’t live far from us.

I attended Carol’s baby shower, for her umpteenth baby, and she had many, thirteen I think before she was done. Her husband was an executive with a local company that produced irrigation systems that were shipped around the world. He was a systems analyst, and when they built their grand house — seven bedrooms and five bathrooms — we got the full tour. Afterwards, the little group that attended were quietly stunned. We had no idea they were so wealthy. Carol was thrilled when she found blue jeans for her boys at $2 a pair at the local Good Will. Crazy.

Anyway, after her baby shower at Ava’s house, at our next meeting, she was proudly telling us about all the wonderful things the church members gave her at yet another baby shower. It was big items too, like a playpen and a stroller, and one other equally impressive item that I don’t remember.

Then it was Jane’s turn. We all gathered at Ava’s house one sunny afternoon for Jane’s baby shower and drank punch with a big block of melting sherbert icecream in it and watched Jane open box after box after box, making sure that she showed equal appreciation for each thing. “OOoohing” and “Ahhhhhhing”.

Then I became pregnant with my fourth child.

Mind you, I had three babies up to this point and — I had never had a baby shower.

I was very excited, but at our next home school meeting, while Ava was in the kitchen getting us coffee and tea, Carol started off by saying to me:

“You should tell Ava that you don’t want a baby shower.”

Her reasoning was that there were so many women in the group, and they were always having babies, and it just wasn’t fair to Ava. This coming from a woman who had multiple baby showers for one baby. Why did Carol think I needed to be the designated expectant mom to stop this tradition?

I was floored.

Part 2

Several months into my pregnancy, another home school meeting came around. This time something happened that had never happened before:

Ava called me before the meeting, she said, “Now, you be sure to come to this meeting, okay? Be sure to come.”

Carol called me before the meeting, and she said, “Now make sure you come to this meeting, Okay? Just make sure you come?”

I was SO EXCITED!! I was absolutely 100% sure that they BOTH were calling me to make sure that I come to this particular meeting, because they were planning a baby shower. Ava would do this quite often. At the end of a meeting, she would say, “Okay, let’s clear the table!” And then she would reset it for a baby shower.

I was on pins and needles for days, and when the evening of the meeting came, I loaded the kids in the car and took off, my heart pounding in grand expectation. When I got to Ava’s house, I went in and noticed immediately that there were no tell-tale signs of a baby shower to come, but I thought to myself that she’s going to wait until the meeting is over.

Half-way though the meeting, I go to the kitchen to refill my coffee cup, and I notice that there is not a sign of all the goodies and treats and punch that’s always been served at the other ladies’ showers. I thought this was rather strange, and this burst my bubble, my tummy went “thud”, and I had that sinking feeling. I began to wonder if I had totally misconstrued those phone calls from BOTH Carol and Ava.

“Now you be sure you come to this meeting, okay? Make sure you come.”

I sat back down at my spot at the table, and as I listened to the women’s voices, they sounded tinny and far away. My own thoughts were filling my head, and I was feeling worse and worse, sadder and sadder, and extremely disappointed. Part of me still rebelled and kept thinking — Ava’s going to wait until the meeting is over and pull everything out like she does for the other women; okay, now that they’ve put away these notebooks, now she’s going to surprise me… and so my thoughts went like this for the rest of the evening, and still as I was leaving, all the way out the front door.

I felt absolutely crushed. I cried all the way home.

The one explosive moment of absolute clarity that came to me was the knowledge that these women weren’t really my friends.

If anyone is wondering, I had a total of seven children, and no, I have never had a baby shower.







Introducing:


This is my new blog that will contain posts and topics that might not be appriopriate or fitting for my other blogs or websites. There are a handful of posts up at Crystal Clear right now, and there will be more in the future.

Enjoy!









Friday, June 27, 2025

Starseeds

 

What are starseeds?

Starseeds, within the framework of some New Age beliefs, are individuals whose souls are believed to have originated from other planets or star systems before incarnating on Earth. They are thought to possess a deep cosmic connection and a unique spiritual purpose related to planetary evolution and human enlightenment.

Basic concepts of Starseeds...

Extraterrestrial Origin:

Starseeds are believed to be souls that have had past lives on other planets or star systems before incarnating on Earth.

Cosmic Connection:

They often feel a strong affinity for the cosmos, stars, and other celestial bodies, sometimes experiencing a longing for a home they can't quite place.

Spiritual Purpose:

Starseeds are thought to be here with a specific mission to help humanity evolve, raise consciousness, and heal the planet.

Forgotten Origins:

While starseeds are believed to possess innate spiritual wisdom, they often incarnate with a veil of forgetfulness, unaware of their true origins and purpose.

Awakening:
 
Starseeds may experience an awakening process where they begin to remember their true nature and their mission.


What types of Starseeds exist?

Various belief systems propose different classifications of starseeds based on their origin:

  • Pleiadian: Believed to originate from the Pleiades star cluster, known for their focus on love, harmony, and well-being.
  • Arcturian: Believed to come from the Arcturus star system, often associated with wisdom, healing, and technological advancements.
  • Sirian: Believed to originate from the Sirius star system, associated with a strong presence and leadership qualities.
  • Lemurian: Connected to the ancient civilization of Lemuria, often associated with healing, spiritual knowledge, and connection to the Earth.
  • Indigo, Crystal, and Rainbow Children: These categories are often associated with starseeds who are thought to be born with specific traits and missions related to spiritual awakening and planetary healing.


What are the characteristics of Starseeds -- and do you have any of these characteristics yourself?

Feeling different from others, a sense of being an outsider.

Strong intuition and psychic abilities.

Deep empathy and compassion for others.

A desire for knowledge and spiritual growth.

A tendency to question societal norms and traditions.


Starseeds do have their critics and are surrounded by a healthy dose of scepticism.

  • The concept of starseeds is rooted in New Age beliefs and is not supported by mainstream, scientific, or academic research.
  • Some critics view starseed beliefs as a form of pseudoscience, or a way to feel special and unique.
  • There is also the concern that some individuals may use starseed beliefs to justify harmful or unethical behaviors.


Star people, or starseeds, are a variant of the belief in alien-human hybrids in New Age belief and fringe theory. Introduced by Brad Steiger in his 1976 book Gods of Aquarius, it argues that certain people originated as extraterrestrials and arrived on Earth through birth, or as a walk-in to an already existing human body.

Steiger described Star People in his 1976 book on contactees as... "humans who come from a special gene pool linked to visits by extraterrestrials".

They claim to channel human lifeforms and suffer helplessness and total amnesia concerning their identity, origins, and life-purpose. The awakening process claimed to be experienced is described as either a gradual series of realizations over time, or an abrupt and dramatic awakening of consciousness. Through the awakening process, they regain memories about their past, origins, and missions.

Washington Post journalist, Joel Achenbach, interviewed people who said they were starseeds from the Pleiades for his book Captured by Aliens: The Search for Life and Truth in a Very Large Universe, and noted the contrast with ufologists..."the starseeds are precisely the kind of New-age figures the traditional ufologists can't stand. Ufologists look outward, toward the universe, for answers to the alien enigma. New-agers look inward."




Sources & Recommended Reading:



What are Starseeds & How to Know if You Are One
www.gaia.com

What is a starseed & Determing what type of starseed you are


Gods of Aquairus
by Brad Steiger


Captured by Aliens
by Joel Achenbach


The Pleiadian Starseed Handbook
by Campbell Quinn McCarthy


 





Indigo, Crystal, & Rainbow Starseeds
by Campbell Quinn McCarthy



 






Thursday, June 12, 2025

YouTube Videos ~ How to play them on this blog

 

If you all haven't noticed, you can no longer play YouTube videos on most other platforms except YouTube, including this blog.  When you click on a video, a strange gray screen comes up and it tells you that you have to log in to continue, but I've found that there's no link included to log in.  It might just be me.  However, when you bring up a blog post containing a video, you'll see the video sitting there in all it's glory, as though waiting to be clicked on so it can play.  Do this instead...

1.  Look in the upper right hand corner of the video, see those three vertical dots?  Click on them.

2.  The word "Share", with a rounded arrow will appear.  Click on that.

3.  A blue highlighted link will come up -- Click on that.  The video should play.

Thank you for watching, subscribing, and liking my videos.  You'll find over 800 videos at my channel, Phoenix Rising, as well as other videos at my newest YouTube channels, The Mystic Crone and Spirits n' Stuff.  




Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Doppelgangers ~ Have you seen yours?

 

Well, I have seen mine. It was in sixth grade at Longfellow Elementary School, and we had a man who was a bit older than average as a student teacher. He was very thin and tall.  He had a receding hairline with black hair and a small thin black mustache, and he looked like he came from another era.  He resembled the actor David Niven.  

He liked me. I liked him. So, as we were walking together on the play ground during a recess and chatting, he told me about this amazing coincidence. He said that in the previous school he'd been student teaching at, there was a girl who looked exactly like me, and he showed me her school picture, one of those tiny little photos that come with your school pictures package, the ones you hand out to classmates.

I was stunned.  It was like looking at a photo of me, and I'm not kidding you when I tell you that even I could not say that the image was not me.  I've never seen anything like it.  It was spooky, eerie, and all those other adjectives of this nature.

So, have you seen your doppelganger?  And what exactly is a doppelganger?  I had always thought that it was simply a living double of yourself, like the girl who looked like me.  But there are other more supernatural and nuanced meanings behind doppelgangers...

In a paranormal context, a doppelganger (German for "double-walker") is a ghostly or spectral double of a living person, often considered an omen of misfortune or death. It's a wraith or apparition that appears to be a replica of the person, sometimes seen as a harbinger of bad luck or even impending death.

Let's dive deeper...

The Original Meaning:

The term doppelganger originated in German folklore, referring to a spirit double of a living person. It was believed that seeing one's doppelganger was a sign of something bad about to happen, possibly even a portent of impending death.

The Evil Twin

Doppelgangers are sometimes depicted as evil twins, or sinister shadow selves, linked to malevolent intentions and death.

Omen of Bad Luck

Seeing a doppelganger is often seen as a warning or omen of misfortune. If a relative or friend sees a doppelganger of someone, it was said to signify that person would experience illness or danger.

In Fiction

Doppelgangers have been used in literature to explore themes of identity, mortality, and the dark side of human nature.

Modern Usage

While the original paranormal meaning is still recognized, the term doppelganger is also used more broadly to describe someone who looks remarkably similar to another person, sometimes even to the point of being mistaken for a twin.


Is there a purpose behind Doppelgangers?

Doppelgängers have been portrayed in various ways:  as benevolent beings warning of danger or guiding lost souls, or as sinister shadow selves, often linked to malevolent intentions and death. In literature, doppelgängers have been used to explore themes of identity, mortality, and the dark side of human nature.

Are doppelgangers demonic?

No, doppelgangers are not typically considered demons. A doppelganger is a look-alike or double of a living person, often associated with folklore and superstitions, while demons are supernatural beings typically associated with evil according to various resources.

What is the myth behind the doppelganger?

In German folklore, a doppelganger is a wraith or apparition of a living person, as distinguished from a ghost. The concept of the existence of a spirit double, an exact but usually invisible replica of every man, bird, or beast, is an ancient and widespread belief.

The scientific low-down on doppelgangers:

Science has revealed that doppelgängers, individuals who share an uncanny resemblance to someone else but are not related, may also share DNA and behavioral traits. Research suggests that the more similar two individuals are in appearance, the more likely they are to share genetic variants and exhibit similar lifestyle traits.

Genetic Similarity
Studies have shown that unrelated look-alikes share more genetic variants than less similar pairs. This suggests that genes influencing facial features may also contribute to shared behavioral traits.

Behavioral Similarities
Researchers have observed that doppelgangers are more likely to share lifestyle traits like smoking habits, weight, height, and educational attainment.

Role of DNA
While shared DNA can explain some of the resemblance between doppelgangers, other factors like epigenetics (chemical modifications to DNA) and microbiome (microbial community in the gut) also play a role in shaping individuals. 
 
*I could've looked further on "microbial community in the gut", but I didn't, I don't feel like diving any deeper into this aspect of doppelgangers, but feel free to explore on your own.

Facial Recognition
The human brain's ability to recognize faces can be influenced by the overall arrangement of features rather than individual details. This can make it challenging to differentiate between individuals with similar facial features, potentially contributing to the doppelganger phenomenon.
  

Personal Experiences

Personal accounts of encountering doppelgangers, or people who strikingly resemble oneself, range from uncanny coincidences to more unsettling experiences. These encounters often involve physical similarities, but can also include shared interests, professions, or even life events, creating a sense of being a twin stranger. Some individuals have described feeling a strange sense of familiarity or kinship with their doppelganger.

Let's look at some personal experiences.

Bob Brody and Allan Ripp...

They met through work and have become friends despite a brief separation. They share numerous physical similarities, including height, weight, baldness, and age. Their professions are also similar, leading them to consider each other "doubles".

A Reddit user...

Saw a doppelganger on a Twister game box as a child, which they later confirmed through image search. This person also described seeing a doppelganger walking a dog, and another instance where their brother saw a "shinier" version of himself.

A family's experience

A doppelganger of the family's mother was seen by the children while the mother was away, and a doppelganger of the father was seen by the uncle.

A user on Reddit...

Found their doppelganger on Facebook, and this doppelganger also shares similar traits and has a matching life path, including marriage to someone with the same name and naming a son the same name.

Possible Explanations

While some suggest paranormal or supernatural explanations for doppelganger encounters, more practical explanations can be considered:

Shared DNA
Doppelgangers may share DNA, leading to physical similarities, even between unrelated individuals.

Chance Encounters
The probability of finding someone with a striking resemblance is higher than one might think, especially in a large population.

Psychological Factors
Our brains are wired to recognize patterns, and seeing someone who looks like us can trigger a sense of familiarity, or even a perceived "glitch in the matrix".

Note: Doppelganger experiences can be subjective and vary greatly. Some people find them unsettling, while others view them as intriguing, or even comical.




Sources &
Recommended Reading:



Doppelganger
by Femi Oyebode


The concept of doppelgänger, or 'double' – a conceived exact but sometimes invisible replica of a living person – has fascinated and intrigued people for centuries. This notion has a long history and is a widespread belief among cultural groups around the world. Doppelgängers have influenced literature and cinema, with writers such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Robert Louis Stevenson, and directors like Alfred Hitchcock exploring the phenomenon to great effect. This book brings together the literary and cinematic with empirical scientific literature to raise fundamental questions about the nature of the self and the human mind. It aims to establish the experience of the self and unravel the brain processes that determine bodily representation and the errors that make possible the experience of the doppelgänger phenomenon. This book will appeal to psychiatrists, neurologists, and neuroscientists, as well as interested general readers.


Doppelganger Phenomenon
by Wilhelm Scheel


Uncover the secrets of the Doppelgänger Phenomenon, a realm where the lines between reality and illusion blur. This captivating book delves into the enigma of doppelgangers, exploring the uncanny encounters that have fascinated humanity for centuries. With expert insights and real-life accounts, you'll question the boundaries of perception and identity. Embark on a journey of intrigue and introspection as you uncover the psychological, cultural, and spiritual significance of doppelgangers. This comprehensive work unravels the mystery, leaving you pondering the depths of our own human existence. Secure your copy today and immerse yourself in the Doppelgänger Phenomenon, an extraordinary exploration of the duality that resides within us. Let the pages guide you towards a deeper understanding of the enigmatic connections that weave the fabric of our world.


Sunday, June 1, 2025

It's time to find your voice...

 

Link: click HERE

For my tarot people, there's a new post up at The Mystic Crone...

Sometimes you've tried as long as you can try, and now it's time to find your voice and your courage.





Audio Version