View From a MAC

Wow, so this is what technology, speed, comfort, and freedom from cords is like. I am impressed. I always knew I had a different operating system from everyone else. I finally caught up to me.

Virtues and Vices is coming to an end on Halloween. Do you like intelligent horror? Do you like open endings, things that make think, questions about life, the after life, the before life? Do you love demons and angels?

I love all of those things and more. I am looking for horror that is bright, intuitive, something I can get lost in and something that makes me want more.

Do you have the grit, the temerity and the soul wrenching prose to enlighten...or endarken people?

Give it a shot. You never know which angel or which demon might be encouraging you forward.

Email: spellboundbookspress@gmail.com until Midnight October 31, 2015

The Demon in my View

Halloween is the best 10 weeks of the year. I love the decorations, the spirit, the Magic that exists within the air, spreading its nebulous fingers around our bodies, weaving thoughts of what lives on the other side. 

Christmas has its own vibe as well, but it is of a lighter nature. Halloween is dark. This time of year I like to wander by myself sensing the trees, smelling the air, and I am reminded of all that is past and gone.

It is a melencholy state of mind, but at the same time I reminded of what could be and what could change. We are in control of our own lives. We make choices every single day that reflects what our futurres could be. It starts with thought. 

What you think, you create. What you create, you dwell on, What you dwell on, you bring into existence. There: Wicca 101. It's not rocket science, but so few people are aware of what their intentions are bringing into their lives. 

We all know people who live crisis to crisis. Step back for a minute and see where all this starts from. Are they the cause of their own crisis? What benefits do they get from this? And we all know people who have misfortune in their lives, but seem to be happy and positive most of the time. 

Where are your demons and what are you feeding them?

I have not been as others were

I have not seen what others saw

But in the dawn of a stormy life

When the rest of Heaven was blue

I did see the Demon in my view

EAP

Guardian Angels: Souls, Animals, Prosperity

That every individual soul has a guardian angel has never been defined by the Church, and is, consequently, not an article of faith; but it is the "mind of the Church", as St. Jerome expressed it: "how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it." (Comm. in Matt., xviii, lib. II). *

Do you believe in Guardian Angels? Or is it a mind construct to console us in our time of need? Do animals have souls, or is this something that only is given to humans? And what about Angels? Do they have souls? 

In Buddhism, every life is sacred, from the humble fly to that of humans. Their belief system deals with Karma and the teachings, or Dharma. Being kind to all living creatures ensures good karma, because what you do, returns to you. Buddhists believe that if you live a good, kind life, you will reincarnate into a human, but if you are cruel by intention, you come back as an animal.

I have a problem with that. Animals are the kindest creatures I know.  But then again, maybe they have it right. Maybe that is what that human soul needed to learn. Unconditional love. All I know is that when I look into my dog's eyes, I see a soul. A living, breathing, life affirming angel on earth.

Today's Guardian Angel: Archangel Ariel  Message: Prosperity

I provide you with prosperity in terms of opportunities and brilliant ideas.  We will work together to realize your highest dreams and I ask that you give all worries over to me. 

Ariel works with Divine Magic. Rose Quartz is the stone that is attuned to Ariel. Work with this stone to send and receive positive help which leads to a better life.


Virtues and Vices Open for Submissions August 25 to October 31, 2014 at spellboundbookspress@gmail.com

*http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07049c.htm

Fallen Angel Number Two

I have been researching all kinds of things because of Virtues and Vices, an anthology I am putting together. There are seven Virtues, each with a Guardian Angel, and seven Vices, each with a Fallen Angel. A lot of research seems to indicate that the major organized religions have angels as a focal point in the God story.

The Fallen Angels were the ones that followed Lucifer and God banished them from Heaven. Both Fallen and Guardian Angels are messengers; Guardians, the messengers of love, and Fallen, the messengers of fear. It's at this point my mind immediately explodes with the classic scene in Donnie Darko where the teacher screams "I'll tell you what he said! He asked me to forcibly insert the lifeline exercise card into my anus!"

Love that movie, but I digress as is the gift of ADD. So there you have it, fear and love. It all comes down to two simple emotions.People commit acts out of love that incite fear and commit acts out of fear that incite love. Does that mean we have angels around us all the time, sitting on our shoulders telling us how to behave, think, act? Or do we have free will? I don't know. But it is something I ponder on a warm summer's day.

FALLEN ANGEL:  Forneous  Message:  Honesty

Forneous represents the art of rhetoric, including fluency in other tongues. This, combined with honesty leads to a good reputation, even with enemies. The totem for Forneous is the sea monster signifying deep knowledge, subconscious beliefs and the understanding of our shadow side........

Virtues and Vices Open for Submissions August 25 to October 31, 2014 at spellboundbookspress@gmail.com

Archangels

Archangels are thought to be powerful messengers who were created to help us through life. They have been gifted with the ability to steer us in the right direction, offer us insight, and to protect us.....if we pay attention. Every major religion has a form of these beings, and each religion has different categories of angels. They are everywhere. Do you believe in Divine Intervention?

Some people believe that their entire lives are run by these mystical beings. And angels are easier to accept than demons. Can you have one without the other? Is it like that adage that says 'if you believe in God, you have to believe in Satan'. I don't know. What I do know however, is that there are many things in this vast universe that cannot be easily explained; some call it Magic, others call it Chaos Theory, and others are placing their bets on angels. 

I believe in patterns and synchronicity. The entire universe is full of patterns if you watch. Three days ago I was in a small town an hour away from home, and I was in a store. I overheard a conversation between a young mom with a newborn and an older lady. The mom was saying how excited she was to be going to college in the city and taking a program. It turns out it was the same program I took, so I walked over to her, handed her my business card and told her how and where to do her internship so she could make a decent living. Most people don't think clearly about the big picture. The class I graduated from, only two of us went on to government positions. Everyone else went private sector. The pay is vastly different. In the private sector you are lucky if you make minimum wage, whereas in the government you have a higher pay grade, benefits and some protection. She was a young, single mom and I offered her advice. I don't know if she will take it, but at least I know I offered her a better chance at life for her and her baby.

There's the patter; being out of town 100 miles away, being in the store at the same time she is talking about education that I had done ten years ago. 

Okay, time to pick an angel.........

Archangel Sandalphon: Gift of Gentleness Associated with music

His aura is a calm, tranquil blue and he bestows peace. Play soft music, talk quietly, engage in slowrhythmic  movements. Do not engage in battles, delay decision making. You will know what to do when you come out of your retreat.

Fallen Angels

What, or who are the Fallen Angels? According to Nigel Suckling, "these angels were banished from Heaven for various reasons: some because when Adam was created they refused to bow before him and accept him as a superior being, others for almost the opposite reason, because they fell in love with the beautiful daughters of men and took them as wives." 

Others apparently fell to earth by accident.  King Solomon used the Fallen Ones to build a temple and, according to legend, Archangel Michael gave King Solomon a magical ring with 7 vigils which subdued the Fallen Angels. Once the temple was built, he locked the Fallen Angels in a magical brass vessel and threw it in the lake.  Babylonians, thinking there was a mighty treasure in the vessel fished it out of the lake, broke it open and the Fallen Angels flew free.

MARCHOSIAS: Element is water, Moon is the planet. This totem of this Angel is the She-Wolf and is thought to be one of the first Fallen Angels to be tamed by Solomon. Marchosias bestows strength and courage, particularly in defence of family and friends. She represents selfless and fearless maternal instincts and protectiveness. Ally yourself to a cause and you will find the strength you need for the struggle ahead.

Attribute: Partnership

Tomorrow we will look at a Guardian Angel

From Fallen Angel Oracle Cards Nigel Suckling

Magic, Moonlight, Virtues and Vices

Spellbound Books Press is a brand new venture, something different for the author and hopefully, the readers. 

I am a different kind of publisher. I want to pay professional rates for top stories in anthologies.* See Guidelines.

I am also looking for stories with meaning, the meaning of life and death, the meaning of religion, the philosophy of what it means to be human......or unhuman. I want stories with grit, but will also make you think.

Do you remember the Twilight Zone Magazine? Those were brilliant stories, well written, engaging and usually had an 'oomph' at the end. I lived for that magazine, and I would read it cover to cover. Or how about Ray Bradbury, Robert Block, or Richard Matheson.....those were incredible writers that told a story and sucked you in.

That is what I am looking for; I want intelligent horror, philosophical horror, funny horror, erotic horror....you get the gist. Now go create some magic!

Writing is an art. To be able to weave words into something that makes a reader feel lost is a craft unlike any other. Where can you create magic out of thin air and lose a person so completely that they willingly give up hours of their life for you? And all they did was throw some words on a page.

Brilliant! What a gift. Some people have this in spades and some of my favourite authors can be found on the Solstice List. These are books that are soaked in magic. They transport you to another world, another life, another place, and for a a few precious hours, nothing else exists.

That is the essence of writing. And that is the magic of Spellbound Books. When I think of the great ones, Robert Bloch, Richard Laymen, Bentley Little, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman and many, many more, it brings me a great fondness. 

Over the years, however, I have discovered many others. And most of these are unknowns. How unfortunate. Not just for them, but for the rest of us. You have no idea what you are missing. And that is what I want to bring to the world. So, if you will allow me to, I shall bring you more great minds.....and more magic.