Stinking Thinking

                                                              

Now that’s one hell of a name for a sermon and, my post. I’ve always felt that thoughts can become tangible and not only have an effect on our emotions, but on the people close to us. My father and the other spirits that visit me, keep telling me that we, meaning the human race, can deflect the evil in the world with positive thoughts. Can this be true? Think about it. I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying, “What you think of, thinks of you.”

I absolutely believe this to be true because we are souls, spiritual beings, residing in a temporary vessel. As spiritual beings, we have power. We forget, while residing in our human bodies that we are connected to the universe and to GOD and that means; “If God is with me, who can be against me.”

The Pastor at the church my daughter attends was talking about discouragement and depression. What are the things that discourage us? It could be many things such as fatigue, disappointment in our jobs, money problems, and relationship problems...the list is long and when we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, we get discouraged. Some things we can’t change because we need that lousy job to pay the bills, or we work long hours and still can’t make ends meet or we’re unhappy with our spouses or children. When we sink into the dark pit of despair...our thoughts turn dark.

                                                             

When only dark thoughts radiate from us, they can become tangible. Darkness attracts darkness. We’re miserable and our mood is making everyone else miserable...the darkness spreading into our daily lives... work life....bedroom. That stinking thinking is like leprosy...attaching onto everything and everyone we care about. We call out to GOD for help. Does HE come to the rescue all the time? No! But, he gives you the strength to go on.

You're probably wondering how we can use the power of our minds. We can send out thoughts of light instead of darkness. Sure, your job sucks, but it is keeping food on the table and a roof over your head. If people sense you to be a creature of joy they move to you and not away. Positive thoughts can stretch into the universal love and pull back healing energy. Remember, “If GOD is with me, who can be against me.”

Conclusion

I was at a meeting recently and the discussion centered on the evil few who are trying to enslave humanity by dehumanizing us, turning us against each other and destroying the world we live in. I’ll call them the Cabal. How do we fight against such powerful people? Don’t get discouraged. We are Spiritual Beings, first and foremost, and we have power. We need to wake up and break free of the Matrix. We need to speak out and, if need be, scream!

                                                           

We need to speak for all souls; male, female, child, elder, all races, all religions, all countries. We need to tell our leaders that we will no longer hate because they say so. We will not listen to them, especially, if they use GOD as a bargaining chip. GOD was never about religion or politics. HE doesn’t belong to us; we belong to him. Stop using him to bully others.

I am sending out powerful and happy thoughts to the world. I am sending out thoughts of clean air, clean water, clean and healthy oceans, food that is not bio engineered, equality for all people male and female, freedom of the press, equal pay, affordable housing and health care, free education for all, respect for teachers, parents, law officials, and poor people (when did it become a crime to be poor?)

                                                        

I am sending out powerful and happy thoughts that our politicians will stop selling this country to the highest bidder, that our politicians put people’s rights before corporations’ greed, that corporations who move jobs overseas to escape paying their fair share of taxes are charged with treason......oops!...just lost my happy thoughts. But you get the gist. Get rid of your stinking thinking.

Think Positive Thoughts And Save the World

Steampunk Granny's Review of Baskets on FX

                                                              

 

I’ve seen the trailers for the new series on FX for Baskets, but until last night, I haven’t had a chance to watch the show featuring Zach Galifianakis, who plays the part of Chip Baskets. Zach not only stars in Baskets, but is the co-creator, executive producer and writer.

Plot

Baskets is a dark comedy about a man who dreams of being a French clown, but after failing to dazzle the French, he moves back home to Bakersfield to work as a rodeo clown. His family’s reaction to his choice of life career is hilarious.

                                                              

Chip has to compete with his siblings while jostling for his mother’s affection. Zach Galifianakis plays a duel role playing Chip and his brother Dale, another loser who promotes his owns business but to tell you the truth, I’m not exactly sure what type of business school this is. Chip is married to Penelope (Sabina Sciubba) a French woman who has no time for Chip and only married him to live in America.

                                                             

There are other characters that are just as enjoyable in their weirdness like Martha Brooks (Martha Kelly) a bottom-of-the-rung insurance agent who becomes Chip’s friend after his scooter accident. She hangs out with the obnoxious Chip even though he is rude with her and uses her. Another character that I love is Christine Baskets (Louie Anderson) mother of Chip and Dale.

Conclusion

I’m not a big fan of Zach Galifianakis, but this series might change my mind. Zach plays his character as snobbish French performer who suffers from the lack of appreciation he so rightly deserves. His attempts at making his job as a rodeo clown seem more in line with the Cirque Du Soleil is downright funny.

                                                        

I’ve only seen the first two episodes, but when I was trying to explain the show to my husband, I said that Baskets reminds me of one of my most favorite comedy series, Seinfeld. Watch it and tell me if you agree.

What Do You Fear?

                                                        

 

Some people are afraid of heights, while others fear spiders. Some people are afraid of water, while others fear elevators. We all have fears. How we inherited these fears may come from a traumatic childhood event while others have no logical source of origin.

Some fears can be pushed to the farthest recesses of our minds, only to pop up at the most inconvenient times. Some fears are good because they keep us from doing dumb ass stuff that may lead to our premature death. But, there are some fears that keep us from growing spiritually and mentally. We all have a phobia. I don’t like heights, but I’m okay flying on a plane and, I want desperately to be as astronaut...but I hate heights.

Phobia: A phobia is an irrational fear, a kind of anxiety disorder in which the individual has a relentless dread of a situation, living creature, place or thing.

Allodoxaphobia

The fear of other people’s opinions; the fear of confrontation; the fear of arguments. Allodoxaphobia can be caused by unresolved emotional conflicts.

Conflict in itself is not bad and sometimes necessary for growth in a relationship to happen. But is the phobia a fear of conflict only? I think the fear of losing a friendship or a lover, even though that friend or lover is emotionally abusive, is a perfect example. It is a trigger that will make the person suffering from Allodoxaphobia keep quiet and not stand up for themselves.

                                                               

Most cases of Allodoxaphobia begin in childhood with either the parents, siblings or teachers making the child feel that their words or wants or not important. How many children have listened to the words, “That is so stupid.” Even worse to hear, “I don’t care what you think.” You hear these words long enough, you believe you don’t have any self-worth...this opens you to be exploited by people who are really toxic personalities that feed off the weak.

                                                             

People who suffer from Allodoxaphobia will stay in relationships even when they know that they are being emotionally abused just so they don’t have to confront the abuser. If we are talking about spouses, then we need to think long term to see if the marriage is worth saving. If the abuser won’t change; leave.

Cure

Self-awareness that you are suffering from this fear is the first step on the road to recovery. Counseling and group therapy is a great way to work up your courage to say, “Enough is enough!” Role playing with a friend, who is not toxic, is a way to practice speaking out for yourself. Setting boundaries on the toxic friend or friends is another means to control how much time you spend in their presence.

                                                          

Understanding that we’ll never please all of the people all of the time...and that it really doesn’t matter who you please if you are, at the end of the day, unhappy. Practicing to say the word “NO” is the first step in building up your self-worth.

We all have fears. Sometimes, it takes us a long time to stand up to our fears. Some fears like: drowning or snakes, we may never overcome. But, when we become a doormat for others, then we need to take action. What is the worst that can happen? Your toxic friends may stop talking to you, or your overbearing relative will take you off the Christmas gift giving list...but in the end, you’ll be happier.  

Free your mind and the rest will follow.

The Sound of Silence

                                                          

The time of silence has come to an end. People are waking up. We were dreaming that life was good, but it was only a dream. We have been programed to believe that we do not have a voice. We do. The world belongs to all of us and because it does, none of us have claim to it.

We are told to hate others because of their color, their religion, their sex, their origins and we listen. Who tells us to do this? It is the powerful that have everything to reap from our misery. They divide us and confuse us. We have belittled and dehumanized our indigenous peoples, and why is that? Is it because these people know how to protect and work with Mother Earth without raping her and draining her of the ability to give us sustenance? I think so.

                                                              

We have left the farms to work in cities and that was okay, but then mighty corporations and banks began to buy out the little farms, cementing over them to build mansions that would later be repossessed. Corporations have taken over the farming and, the food they serve to us only makes us ill. When we complain, they tell us to be silent. They threaten to hide the ingredients.

                                                           

We are told to be quiet when we see our young men and women sent out to fight a war for greedy old men. We are told to be quiet when our education is circling the drain. We are told to be quiet when our senior citizens who have worked their whole lives are placed in danger of losing the measly social security that they paid into for years. Why haven’t the people on Wall Street been jailed for their crimes? The powerful can only control the people who stay silent and accept the status quo.
                                                              

I will not be quiet. I will not hate another human. I will not follow blindly. We do have a voice and, we have a chance to tell the powerful Cabal that we will not be silent anymore.

                                   VOTE Like Your Life Depended On It

                                                              It Does!

                                

Steampunk Granny Interviews the People of Cométe Complexion

                                                             

Granny makes friends everywhere she goes and, to tell the truth, I've met such talented people in my journey through this life. I had the pleasure of dealing with the people at Comete Complexion and I even used one of their products. I was pleased with the results and promised them an interview.

                                                               

Steampunk Granny: Tell my readers a little bit about the company

Comète Complexion: We here at Comète Complexion believe in the power of the stars, the moon, and the earth to bring out the most sparkling you. This is a labor of love - all items are handmade by one Potions master and their apprentice. Our products are composed of organic and naturally occurring materials to help fight acne, frazzled hair, and dry skin.

Steampunk Granny: Why did you start the company?

Cométe Complexion: There are multiple reasons why we decided to start Cométe Complexion, for starters we think it's important to have ingredients that naturally grow on our planet, we wanted products that used the highest quality materials, and we wanted to make a company that sells affordable skin care. 

                                                                  

Steampunk Granny: What are your goals for the company?

Cométe Complexion: We want to build a clientele that can trust our products. We also know how important healthy looking skin is for self-esteem and would like our customers to know that they can rely on our products to keep their skin looking cosmic. Lastly we strive to have great communicating with our customers and look forward to them sharing their questions, concerns and experiences with our products.

Steampunk Granny: Tell us a bit about the products?

Cométe Complexion: We design products to take care of everything, from your hair to your face! A reoccurring ingredient in our products is manuka, an excellent plant that really brings out the sparkle in your skin! We currently have a face scrub that cleans and exfoliates, a hair serum that keeps your scalp and hair healthy, a facial moisturizer that keeps your skin tone even, an astringent that balances your PH level and keeps acne at bay, and hair rinses for both dark and light hair that soothes your scalp and conditions the hair, all while enhancing your natural highlights.

                                                                 

Steampunk Granny: What can people expect when using your products?

Cométe Complexion: Our customers should expect lavish products, from the packaging design to the formulas! We create our skin care with the highest quality, natural and organic materials that we can purchase. To take it a step further, we use dark, cobalt blue glass packaging, which protects photosensitive ingredients. Our packaging is just as important as our formulas. Our very own planet and solar system was a huge inspiration in our packaging. We adapted the astrological symbols of our earth and sun into the aesthetic of our company. Then, to take the cosmic inspiration a step further, we attached a ribbon adorned with a Swarovski crystal to the bottles, resembling a soaring comet." 

Steampunk Granny: Tell us about the people behind Cométe Complexion.

Cométe Complexion: We would like to keep the creators a secret, but we'd like our customers to understand we take customer service serious and they can always contact us with concerns and questions.
       
                                                       

        

Steampunk Granny: What products can we expect to see in the future?

Cométe Complexion: Because there are only two busy people involved, we are keeping our store at a minimal right now. We don't think we will make any advances in the near future, but we would like to mention that we are working on one product to add to our store! We have been working on an exotic manuka honey mask for the skin, filled with skin loving ingredients that are unique. 

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me and, for my readers, you can purchase your products here and here.

Follow the Cards

                                                            

I use Angel Cards & Mother Mary Cards do give inspirational psychic readings. I’ve decided to share the messages of a few of the cards that I pull with my readers. The messages are concise and help us look within to search out the faults in ourselves before we attempt to help others change.

Clear Yourself

Ask the Angels to release any toxic energy that you may have absorbed. This message is important because we live in a global community and in our daily lives we come into contact with people who tend to be very negative. They could be family, friends, coworkers or strangers. These negative people, or emotional vampires, enjoy sucking the life out of happy people. Whenever I encounter one of these vampires, I quickly ask GOD for protection then, and this is very important, I pray for the vampire. Always send out good vibes and energy because what you send out...returns with a revenge.

It’s essential that we also look within ourselves to make sure that we are not feeding the toxic energy. Are you the type of person that starts a conversation with a list of your woes? When other people are excited about a project or event in their lives, do you make unkind remarks? Does your envy ooze from you like a wave of toxic vapers; bringing down everyone else? If this is the case then.....

Release

Work with GOD and the angels to let go of your anger, your pettiness, your envy and concentrate on all the good things that you do have in your life. LET IT GO!

Enjoy what you’ve accomplished in life. We can’t all be skinny, beautiful, rich and famous. What we can be is the best of our capabilities. We might be good at listening, comforting, encouraging, protecting and loving. Let’s make these traits something to strive for. Let’s be the best human we can be and, we do this by......

Cancel, Clear, Delete

Use only positive words and thoughts, as they are capable of manifesting into form. Ask GOD and the angels to cancel the effects of past negative thinking. Our thoughts, be they from the Universal Light or the dark side, do take form...they can become tangible if the love, or hate inside you, is strong enough.

Remember that we are spiritual beings residing in a temporary vessel. We need to be conscious of the fact that we can draw on the power of the universe to bring forth great things for humanity...but we cannot accomplish this if we carry baggage. We need to cancel out the hate....clear away the cobwebs of resentment....delete toxic feelings for others.

                                                                

It is hard to hate someone you pray for. Love conquers all hate. Heavenly light conquers all darkness. Start each day with a prayer to GOD to help you bring light into the world with your words and actions...then ask GOD to shine his light on your enemies, then LET IT GO!

Remember what you send out, returns with a revenge. I want only peace, joy, and love coming back to me. Don’t you want the same for you?

Gilbert Interviews Author L. C. Bennett Stern

                                                        

This past October while doing a book signing at the Collingswood Book Fair, I met an interesting writer who told me about a book she was working on. Author L.C. Bennett Stern has finished her first novel about her grandfather who was a Philadelphia Police Lieutenant. Join me now as I interview Linda and find out more about her book, Bosses and Blackjacks: A Tale of the ‘Bloody Fifth’ in Philadelphia”

Gilbert: Hi Linda, tell me a little bit about yourself and where you grew up

 

L.C. Bennett Stern: I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but moved with my mother and four older siblings to southern New Jersey when I was almost four years old. I grew up here, married here, had two children, divorced, married again, and raised my daughter and son right here, across the Delaware River from Philly. (The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.) I’m a backyard birder, amateur photographer, political junkie, lover of animals and my very large extended family, and have managed to maintain my sense of humor throughout my life. Oh yeah—I also write.

Gilbert: What led you to write about your grandfather?

L.C. Bennett Stern: When I was pregnant with my first child, one of my sisters and I began investigating our family history by going to the Philadelphia Free Library. There, we discovered our paternal grandfather (whom we never knew) had been a Philadelphia police lieutenant who became embroiled in a political scandal involving the mayor of the city, a state senator, and a U.S. Congressman. A murder by imported New York mobsters of a special police officer on Primary Election Day in 1917 led to the arrest and trials of the mayor, my grandfather, and five of his men. My sister and I agreed there was a book in there somewhere, and I decided to take on the task of writing it. “Bosses and Blackjacks: A Tale of the ‘Bloody Fifth’ in Philadelphia” is the result.

 

                                                                

 

Gilbert: Did you have to do any fact checking to make sure that the story was historically correct?

L.C. Bennett Stern: I researched extensively through Ancestry.com, the Chester County Archives and Records Services, the City of Philadelphia Department of Records, GenealogyBank.com, and the “Philadelphia Inquirer” and “Evening Public Ledger” archives. I must have read at least a thousand newspaper articles. I’m not kidding—it took me more than three years to complete this book! I loved reading the old newspaper reports, but it was easy to get side-tracked by a compelling headline having nothing at all to do with what I was looking for at the time. I admit going down that rabbit hole on more than one occasion!

Gilbert: How do you think the Philadelphia Police Department is different than other cities?

L.C. Bennett Stern: I don’t know that it is any different from other big cities today. During the period of time covered in my book (1904-1919) however, police departments in major cities, like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia were all run by the city bosses. For instance, in Philadelphia, the mayor had complete control over the police and fire departments. He could appoint, reassign, or fire anyone he chose. Buying loyalty through appointments to certain positions in the city’s government was commonplace. Through the “Committee of Seventy” (a group of concerned citizens, which still exists today) the cronyism has been replaced with civil service exams and the like.

Gilbert: Is this your first book?

L.C. Bennett Stern: Yes it is. But, it will not be my last. I enjoyed the process involved in producing a book. I’ve learned it is not possible to accomplish such a large project alone. A very necessary ingredient is a professional editor; and in my case, a book cover artist and interior formatter were definitely required.

Gilbert: What are your future plans on writing? Is there another story that you would like to tell?

L.C. Bennett Stern: There is always another story to tell!

I have already begun my next book (untitled) about a young Jewish girl moving out west on her own at the end of the nineteenth century. This story will be loosely based on a true tale about one of my grandfather’s older sisters. It appears that I either enjoy historical research, or I’m just a glutton for punishment!

Gilbert: Thank you, L.C., for doing this interview. I can’t wait to read the book, especially because I am a South Philly girl. My readers can find L.C. Bennett Stern’s book on the site below.

“Bosses and Blackjacks: A Tale of the ‘Bloody Fifth’ in Philadelphia”

Author:  L.C. Bennett Stern

Available now on Amazon—

http://www.amazon.com/Bosses-Blackjacks-Bloody-Fifth-Philadelphia/dp/1523349093/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455121227&sr=1-1&keywords=Bosses+and+Blackjacks

 

Can You See Me?

                                                         

It’s another post from your favorite little Psychic Granny, but you’re not going to like this if you are one of the offenders. I am all for the popularity of Social Media and the freedom of the Internet because as long as the Internet stays free, governments won’t be able to bullshit or totally control us. But, I’ve noticed something troubling these past few years and it has me worried. I have to admit that I am also at fault, but since I’m older than the dinosaurs, I’ve not totally succumbed to this particular insidious form of mind control.

No, I’m not talking television, although my parents worried about that new contraption’s effect on their little cherubs back in the day when the TV screen was no bigger than twelve inches and we only had three stations to watch.

                                                         

 

The cell phone has brought the world closer by making us available to family and friends at all times of the day and night. A good thing if there is a family emergency or, some nut job decides to bring a gun into a school, but the downside is a loss of attention and manners. This is serious stuff, especially when I observe mothers ignoring their children because they are too busy texting. What message does that send to the child? I’ve seen this for myself while visiting museums, parks and outdoor events. What could possibly be so important on Facebook that your child has to make Herculean attempts to get your attention?

                                                               

Recently, while shopping at a nearby mall, I actually observed a toddler walking away from his mother because she was too busy texting. I had to coax the wee little one to walk back to his mother. Was Mom grateful? No! The dumb ass only glanced up from her smart phone long enough to give me a cocky look and a fish mouth when I explained that her baby almost went head first down the escalator. As I walked away, mumbling every curse word beginning with the letter, “F”, she went back to texting.

It’s upsetting to see couples texting and not chatting with each other when they’re at a restaurant. How bad is their sex life, if the phone is more desirable than their mate? I am sorry to say that I’ve been known to also commit this un-mannerly practice, but I am making a conscious effort to stop.

                                                          

What I’ve noticed, and I’m sure there have been plenty of studies on the topic, is that there is a certain disconnect from reality; a blank look in the eyes of the person texting. If you begin a conversation with someone who is busy texting, they may look up and, they may look you in the eye, but there is nothing there. They are looking at you, but they’re not seeing you. You have just witnessed “BLANK-MIND-SYNDROME”.

How has the Smart Phone changed the structure of speech or community? “Wha r u doi?” is the new way to text, “What are you doing?” We’ve become too lazy to communicate correctly. Teachers are competing with the cell phone to get their students to pay attention during class because students and many adults feel the need to be attached to their phone 24/7. There is less face to face interaction and the stress level is ridiculously high because people feel pressured to immediately reply to a text...even when it places them in danger...like driving.

                                                            

Constant texting can lead to increased heart-rate and muscle tension and, because some people can’t part with their phone for even a short time, they tend to suffer from a constant state of arousal, which will eventually lead to depression due to burnout.

Conclusion

I often find myself worrying that no one will notice the demise of our country by greedy corporations and politicians because they are too freaking busy texting their BFF. Can it happen?

                                                             

Will our children grow up unable to interact with a living person because they can only feel comfortable communicating by texting? Put down the phone and find out.

Girls' Night Out Painting Party

                                                       

I don't know about you, but during these cold and nasty days, I need to forget about the weather and have some fun. My friend,Tobi Schwartz-Cassell, from "Franks and Beans Events" has a list of events that will chase all those winter doldrums away. Check out her page and, check out what's happening on February 18th.

Beginner Level Project

Fine artist Sue Roop will be back with us to instruct us in painting our own beautiful wine goblet! She will guide us in the layered technique that results in a different design on the inside and outside.
The evening includes:
* 3-Course BYOB Buffet Dinner (there will be a vegetarian option)
* All instructions and materials to paint your very own wine goblet
* Door prizes
The fun begins at 6PM. After we’ve finished our creations, door prizes will be given away.

IMPORTANT: This is a reserved seating event. If you and your party purchase your tickets separately, you MUST email Tobi with a list of your party members. There is no other way to GUARANTEE that you’ll all be seated together.

 

                                                               

DATE: Thurs, Feb 18, 2016TIME: 6 to 9:30 PM
PLACE: Home Style Candle Company
ADDRESS: Ellisburg Shopping Center
Route 70 and Kings Highway
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Order your tickets now and, if you tell Tobi that Steampunk Granny sent you, there is a special discount off the ticket price

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8CXEVGZD74GR8. $8 off the regular price of $48.

Questions about any of these events? Contact Tobi at 856.751.2997

Creating a Goddess

                                                           

 

I know this title will throw off some people, but bear with me a little bit. It’s no secret that a majority of the male population around the world, and especially, in the Middle East consider women as second class citizens, or worse, property. We only have to look at certain cultures and religions to see this caveman mentality at work. These men are idiots, but this post isn’t about the people who live in a box. This post is for mothers, but more specifically for mothers of daughters.

The best gift a mother can give her daughter is a sense of worth. Now you would think that most mothers today are doing this, and the majority does. But, I’ve noticed something troubling recently, not only within my own family structure, but with acquaintances.

I am a post war baby and, my generation grew up to protest the wrongs committed by our government on its people. I marched for civil rights, I burned many a bra for women’s liberation and, I protested the Vietnam War. You would think I had my shit together, right? Not really.

                                                            

 

I am a product of immigrant parents. There were social mores that had to be followed: Children spoke only when spoken to; girls didn’t go to college, this was reserved for the sons of the family; girls were expected to get married, have children and, wait on their husbands.

My mother, who was years ahead of her time, was very outspoken, but she did not teach her daughters to speak out in their defense. I’m not sure why, especially since she was such a rebel, herself. When I was younger, I tried to avoid confrontation. And, because I wasn’t taught how to deal with conflicts I often found myself giving in to the will of others. I usually kept my opinions to myself. Then, I had my daughter.

                                                         

 

I don’t think I did this purposely, but I encouraged my daughter to be outspoken; to speak her mind; to stand strong in her convictions. I didn’t create a monster or a brat, but instead, I helped my daughter, who is the sweetest person on God’s earth, to know she had worth.

                                                             

 

My daughter knows her value and, she is priceless. I often wish that I could be more like her. I try and please everyone and keep the peace. That is not a bad thing, but sometimes, my feelings get stored in a box for the better of the team. My daughter once stood up to a biker and told him off so elegantly that she left the poor slob, speechless. He had insulted her sons. While I tried to calm everyone down, she stood her ground. She knows her worth.

                                                                

 

I guess what I’m trying to say to all you mothers of daughters is this: we are goddesses; it is our destiny to create more goddesses. Give your daughter a sense of her true value.