On My Workdesk Wednesday

This is WOYWW #269 (and the second time I've participated) and if you want to see the workdesks of other artists and crafters, check out the linky here!

This Wednesday, my workdesk looks like:

Yup, it's not my workdesk at all!

It's actually the dining room table, but we call it the game room table on account of the fact that the only time we eat here is when guests or over or when we have desert while playing a game. My family is addicted to board games. This morning we are setting up for a tournament of Catan and Ticket to Ride with some of my brothers' friends.

Last night I got the itch to do some design work, so today's workdesk consists of my laptop!

(And by last night I mean that I sat down at eleven o'clock to check my email, got sidetracked with ideas, and didn't go to bed until one-thirty.)

I haven't updated the graphics and code on my blog since... well, I made the graphics in 2010 and did some fiddling with the code early last year to make it a bit cleaner. You'd think that someone who is starting her Graphic Design studies this semester would have kept her blog design better updated. My problem is that I have wild ideas that I never have time to implement, and that I don't want to change the graphics all the time because it's best when people actually recognize my blog if they come back.

Last night, though, I decided that enough is enough and I wanted a cleaner, more professional look. A few hours later and we have...

BEFORE AND AFTER SHOTS! Yes! My blog's design is finally updated! 

I'm a little sad to get rid of the fairytale swirlies on the side of the blog, but the background image I used to get the swirlies there wouldn't load on all computers (and on one friend's computer, the swirlies covered up the text because her monitor is a strange resolution). Plain colors are safer.

My idea was to create a more modern, streamlined, and brighter look, without going all-out minimalist. Plain white backgrounds work really well on some blogs, my my blog has always needed a little more flair and color than that.

Keeping the Faerie logo as-is was a tough decision. I made it the same year I got my graphics software, the same year we moved to our wonderful house, and the same year I started my sophomore year of high school. FOUR YEARS AGO. Gosh, I'm old.

The way that the Faerie is sitting is just... awkward to me. However I couldn't bring myself to redo it since I like to think that my little Faerie has got a little big of brand recognition. Instead, I created new swirlies and flourishes for the Fearie to sit on.

Hopefully by the end of the day I can reflect the design changes in my Shoppe and start getting it together on my artist's website.

Also, this Wednesday, I made my "workdesk" so much better.

I FOUND A COMPUTER MOUSE.

This little unused wireless USB mouse was floating around in my Dad's office. Guys, for the past four years I've been using the trackpad on my computer exclusively. (Except for when I pull out the tablet pen). I wear my hands out pretty quickly every day, what with art, jewelry, and typing stuff for school, so using the trackpad can get tiring-- especially when doing design or photography work.

Using an actual mouse yesterday and this morning has been so nice. And my midi sketchbook is perfect as a mousepad.

My actual workdesk is a HUGE FREAKIN' MESS.

But, hey, a clean desk is the sign of an empty mind.

There aren't any big projects on the desk because I've just finished everything up, and I'm waiting for more sheet metal to arrive to work on my next round of custom orders. But I think that the variety of tools and supplies here show you that I've been busy making jewelry using about twenty million different techniques.

Last Wednesday, I shared my experiences with electroforming copper jewelry. I haven't perfected the technique or anything (3/4 of the leaves I've made so far are ugly wrinkly little things) but I did make ONE solid copper leaf and turned it into a necklace.

Below is the leaf I just finished yesterday. I ran it through Liver of Sulfur to oxidize it and then sanded it down to create the brownish look. I can't make jewelry with this one, though, because I hadn't treated the leaf properly before electroforming it and the piece is really weak.

Now I just need to go find some baby maple leaves that are a little prettier as stand-alone pendants.

There's no better way to start the morning than with tea! 

Especially when you get to use your mom's china. I love my giant mugs but sometimes cute little teacups add just enough flair to your day to make it wonderful. (Particularly when you've just finished reading two retellings of Beauty and the Beast and "Be Our Guest" is firmly lodged in your brain).

Now that my blog is (mostly) updated, I've moved on to editing photos. A few of my friends were gracious enough to model for me, despite the fact that I kept sticking the lens in their faces or at their necks and constantly having to apologize for the awkwardness!

Yup, this is the only picture I've fully edited just yet. I promise that not all the pictures have truncated heads... lol!

I'll probably spend the rest of the work day inside or on the porch, editing photos and glancing over my old calculus book (I've forgotten so much and have to get up to scratch for next semester). I hurt my foot (again), this time during Taekwando, so walking around doesn't sound much fun.

It's such a RELIEF to have my summer classes over. Here's to a glorious two weeks of real summer vacation. I've already devoured two books, played six or seven board games with my parents and brothers, watched movies with my little siblings, and hung out with friends. Next semester will be great but I'm soaking in the rest of summer. :)

Well, this turned out to be much more than "What's on Your Workdesk" (it's more like "What's on Your Workdesk Plus Lots of Ramblings) but oh well. :D

Trance Channeling in the 19th Century

Mrs. J. H. Conant (Frances Ann Crowell 1831-1875)

The expression 'ascended master' is something of an enigma in relation to the ways an entity such as Ramtha is different from other transcendental communicators.  I'm not aware if there are other channelers who have described the channeling process as JZ Knight has in her autobiography A State of Mind, My Story (1987): "I was racing or flowing down a tunnel, but I couldn't see the sides.  I just remember that there appeared to be a wind taking me toward a brilliant light at the other end of the tunnel." 

Trance mediums in earlier centuries wrote about being in a state of trance, sleep or unconsciousness while other personalities spoke through them.  Ramtha was quoted by JZ as having told her: ". . . you will bloom completely into that which is termed a channel.  Be it known, not that which be a medium — there are rivers of consciousness in difference between them."   In Biography of Mrs. J. H. Conant, the World's Medium of the Nineteenth Century (1873), the Prefatory Remarks by Allen Putnam about the book include:

The accompanying biography is so simply and lucidly told, that it will explain itself to the reader, and needs no comment in advance.

A few words relating to its authorship and the circumstances of its production, may properly come from one who read it while in manuscript, but was in no way connected with its production.  I am told, and believe, that spirit Theodore Parker outlined and dictated its essential substance, and may be deemed its responsible producer.

Mr. John W. Day, a reporter at the Banner of Light office, listened on many occasions to utterances through Mrs. Conant while she was under control by Parker, and minuted in shorthand what that spirit desired to put forth as a biography of his medium.  Subsequently, Mr. Day wrote out in full, under the guidance of memory and impression, aided by Mrs. Conant's statements while in her normal condition — by facts and reminiscences furnished by Mr. Colby, chief editor of the Banner — and by the diary of Mrs. Conant's physician.

She has been the channel through which more than ten thousand different spirits have sent messages to their kindred and friends on earth.

Mrs. Conant manifested different aspects of mediumship during her lifetime.  The biography of Mrs. Conant was preceded in the previous year, 1872, by the publication of Flashes of Light from The Spirit-Land through the Mediumship of Mrs. J. H. Conant compiled by Allen Putnam.  The Preface of the book includes a description of her seances.

Tri-weekly for many years a band of spirits have given impromptu answers to the world's promiscuous questions, through Mrs. J. H. Conant, at the Banner of Light Circle Room, 158 Washington Street, Boston, Mass.  The doors of that room, the walls of which are adorned with likenesses of many spirits and prominent Spiritualists, and with spirit-drawings, are gratuitously opened to all comers.  Not less than a hundred and twenty-five persons are usually present at a séance.

Promptly at the designated hour for meeting Mrs. Conant takes her seat upon a platform raised about two feet above the floor.  The doors are then locked; the medium soon passes under control, and the controlling spirit enunciates impressively and fervently a brief invocation to the supreme Intelligence.  That ended, he or she calls for any questions the chairman may have.  A question, if any have been sent or handed in, is read in the hearing of the whole assembly, and is forthwith replied to, — sometimes in a brief monosyllable, but generally by a discussion more or less extended.  This course is followed till all the questions in the chairman's keeping have been answered.  That point reached, permission is given to any person in the audience to make verbal inquiries relating either to what has been said or to any other subject, and questions thus propounded are promptly responded to.  The dialogue over, the controlling spirit yields possession of the medium to some other invisible.  Usually at each séance, three, four or more spirits successively are allowed to enunciate their wishes or sentiments at this public resort, whence the words will be sent on their way to those for whom they are specially intended.

Enveloped letters addressed to particular spirits may be laid upon the medium's table by any persons as they enter the room.  From fifteen to thirty visitors usually avail themselves of this privilege, and after the speaking is over, the medium, in the presence of the whole company, fingers these letters one after another, and rapidly writes a few words upon the unopened envelope of most of them.  That work finished, the medium's hand is used to write the name of the spirit who has conducted that séance, and of the one who answered the letters.  This slip the chairman (who is usually Mr. William White, one of the publishers of the Banner) reads to the whole assembly, and then announces that the exercises of the occasion are ended.  While the assembly is passing out from the room, the letters, which are private property, are reclaimed and taken away by those severally who placed them upon the table.  Such is a brief account of the circumstances amid which the questions and answers have their birth.

The following excerpt is the transcript presented for April 29, 1869.
 

By Theodore Parker, April 29, 1869.

Controlling Spirit.  As we are in the constant receipt of inquiries from friends at a distance — questions propounded to the controlling spirit of the séance — it may not be amiss to make a few plain statements with regard to the case in question.  In the first place, it should be understood that these séances are not controlled at all times by the same spirit, but for each occasion an intelligence is selected best adapted to that occasion.  Persons sending their inquiries from a distance do not seem to understand this, and they often inquire in regard to the difference of opinion that seems to find expression through the said controlling spirit of the circle.  It should be understood that each distinct intelligence, or human spirit, retains its own special intellectual integrity after death as before.  All are entitled to their own opinions and the expression of the same, if they express themselves at all.  All questions relating to well-developed scientific facts will, without doubt, be answered, by all intelligences coming here, in a similar manner.  The idea will be one and the same, though the expression or clothing of the idea may be different in all.  But with regard to all questions of theology, you must expect that each spirit will preserve his or her own opinions, and if questioned will give them according to their best ability so to do.  Theology is but a vagary at best.  It is founded upon speculation.  It lives by speculation.  It cannot by any possibility be demonstrated by science.  As theology it has no part with science.  Science and it have never been married, and never will be, because theology, as understood in human life, is thoroughly at variance with science; therefore all questions propounded with regard to theology, of whatever caste or color, will be answered by the spirit controlling on the occasion as he understands it.  The Catholic answers in his own way, the Protestant in his, the Mahometan in his — each in accordance with the theological light they have received.  You make a very great mistake, oftentimes, in supposing the departed spirit to be possessed of an almost infinite amount of knowledge regarding all subjects.  You forget that they are still human, bounded about by the conditions of human life.  They are not infinite.  They are finite still.  And though their clairvoyance is largely unfolded in spirit-life, yet it does not extend to infinity.  It only reaches a very small degree into the future.  It does not perceive all the past, neither does it all the future.  It can take cognizance of events as they come within its sphere of action, but no farther.  Now, then, consider the friends who come to you from the other life as human, fallible, and entitled, each one, to their own opinions.  You gave them that liberty while they were in the mortal form, and if you are wise and just you will give them no less now.
 
Q. What is the medium of exchange in the spirit-world? or what is used there as our money is here?
 
A. Merit; that which belongs to the inner life.  Whatever you merit you will have.  There is no special medium of exchange that is equivalent to gold, silver, and greenbacks, in our life.  You may be very sure of that.  But there is a medium of exchange.  If I have what I do not need, and my neighbor has need of it, I pass it to him.  If he has what he does not need, and what I need, he passes it to me.  There is a perpetual interchange of the good things of spirit-life.  None can retain any more than they have need of.  A very hard place for misers to come to, particularly before they get rid of their miserly propensities, I assure you.  So if you have any such, better get rid of them here.

Previously, on December 9, 1867, Theodore Parker was again identified as the controlling spirit.  The phenomenon of trance mediumship was the topic for the ministering spirits. 

Q. In controlling this medium, do you possess the body, as the spirit of the medium possesses it in her normal condition?

A. No; that is not necessary.  I surround the body.  I obsess it as the musical performer obsesses the musical instrument.  The instrument gives forth no sound unless the musician is there, and playing upon the instrument.  So with regard to this control.  I surround the subject, and in surrounding her, I create an atmosphere peculiar to myself, which is in nearly all respects unlike her own.  Therefore, she finding it not at all in natural harmony with her, generally retires, goes forth into the outer spirit-world, and becomes cognizant of scenes in that world.  Sometimes it becomes necessary to become thoroughly absorbed in the body.  Then the mental atmosphere is created within, and not without.  I act then from within.  But in this case I act as the musician would act upon the instrument.  I surround the entire body.  It is under my perfect control.

Here are some other excerpts from the book with the name of the controlling spirit and date of seance reported for these passages.

By William E. Channing, Jan. 6, 1868.

Q. Do the spheres exist as separate localities or one world, as the earth, presenting only a different aspect to different minds, soul-gravity and culture determining the society and scenery each one enjoys and earns?

A. The spheres spoken of by returning spirits are  not localities, by any means, but they are conditions of mind, states of being.  The spirit-world proper has been derived from the spiritual emanations of this world, therefore it is like unto it, only superior to it.

By Joseph Lowenthall, April 23, 1868

Q. "God sent his only-begotten son into the world that whosoever believeth in him shall have eternal life."  My mind dwells on the "only-begotten" as the point at issue with the belief of Spiritualists.

A. Your speaker has no belief in an only-begotten son of Jehovah.  He never did have any — therefore in all probability will fail to do justice to the subject according to the comprehension of the Christian world.  Your speaker believes that every son and daughter of humanity, whether they had an existence in the past, or existing in the present, are the begotten sons and daughters of Jehovah, every one of them, not one any more than another.  The breath of the Infinite is with all, and all are created in the image of God, which meaneth in the image of all things that have been, of all that are, and all that can be.  This only-begotten son of God, whom the Christian Church reverences so much, was doubtless a most excellent specimen of humanity, but nothing more.  It may be determined that your speaker still lingers amid the shadows of the Jewish Church.  It is not so.  No shadow of any Church, Jew or Gentile, lingers around the opinion of your speaker.  I believe in the greatness, in the omnipotence of God.  But I do not believe that one child is more specially blessed by him than all others.  I have more faith in his justice than to believe him to be a partial God.  I believe him to be the Great Spirit pervading mind and matter, acting through all things, at all times, in all places, and I believe he finds expression more perfectly through human senses than anywhere else, but no more perfectly through a Jesus of Nazareth than through any other good man or woman.

By T. Starr King, May 7, 1868

Q. Do the dwellers in the spirit-spheres construct habitations, gardens, &c., according to their individual tastes? and by what process, and of what materials?

A. There are, indeed, gardens in the spirit-world so much more beautiful than what you have here, that you can form no just estimate of them.  Indeed, everything that finds expression here is more fully represented with us.  All the beauty of life, all the power of life, everything that is expressed in art, in science, in nature, all find a counterpart in the spirit-world.  It would be absolutely impossible for us to give you so close an analysis concerning the material of which all their power and beauty are constructed, because you are bound about by the law of your human senses.  Your eyes cannot see, your ears cannot hear, neither can it enter into your hearts to conceive all the glories that pertain particularly to the spirit-world.  You may catch faint glimpses of its reality, but the clear noon-tide glory of the reality you cannot behold, you cannot understand, until you too shall become disrobed of the flesh, and shall stand gazing upon it through spiritual senses.

By Rev. Arthur Fuller, Feb. 28, 1870

A. The theory of re-incarnation in America is a baby.  In some portions of Europe it has attained its majority.  Since we have the evidence of thousands of spirits — I say we, meaning myself and the spirit-band with whom I am associated — since we have the evidence of thousands of spirits who remember having lived through several physical existences, of course we know that the theory is correct.  We do not know that we, too, shall be again and again re-incarnated in physical life, but we believe we shall.  Judging from the experience of others, we believe it to be our own fate also.

 
This topic of "Trance Channeling in the 19th Century" is also considered in the article "Trance Communication and D. D. Home".
 

Tea and Jewelry

In the midst of studying for the four tests I take today (yes you read that correctly!) I was pretty productive this last week! Here's a quick look at my latest projects. :) 

(Also I need help naming posts, apparently. I was going to name it "New Finished Projects" or "Updates" and then decided to be boringly descriptive and name it "Tea and Jewelry"... oh well. Please tell me that other bloggers have this problem, too!)

New in the Sketchbook:

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.' - C.S.Lewis

I'm working on a series of small sketches and illustrations for the wonderful Regina Doman. It's actually an old project that didn't go anywhere before-- she's bringing it to life! Regina Doman is the author of some wonderful fiction novels (such as the Fairy Tale Novel Retold series) and fellow fans of hers have been very instrumental in my life.

During her travels, Regina will do "Fairy Tale Tea Parties" in which she will give talks and sign books at small tea parties hosted by fans. The illustrations are for a tea party booklet!

This is a work in progress shot from my Instagram account (which y'all should follow for more behind-the-scenes of making art and jewelry) with a couple more of the sketches.

 New in the Shoppe:

Here's a peek at the newest listings in my Shoppe. I made some pieces for custom orders, too.

Bluebell Chainmaille Bracelet-- I'm especially proud of figuring out a brand new chainmaille weave! (Well, brand-new to me!)

Aurora Rhinestone Pearl Earrings -- designed to go along with my Princess Aurora circlets and cuffs

Blue to green ombre chainmaille bracelet

This bracelet took quite a bit longer than most pieces I make using this weave, since it is too tiny! It's more feminine and elegant, and of course I made this with my all-time favorite color pairing: bright, non-tarnish sterling silver, and a huge variety of shiny blues and greens!

Autumn Red flower spray leaf hair clip -- that's a really long name for this piece but at least it's descriptive. 

Here's the same hair clip on a lovely model!

Mint Green chainmaille flower bracelet. I LOVE combining the ultra-modern, sleek look of colorful enameled wire with the historical look of chainmaille and the whimsical fun of my signature leaf flowers!

Golden Galadriel Star Flower Earrings-- with green crystal dangles

Rustic Celtic Copper Cuff

OK, so this one is a bit of a cheat-- it's not a new item in my Shoppe. It's been up for a couple weeks. But during a fantasy-themed photoshoot, I photographed this stunning model wearing the copper cuff from Eowyn's Jewelry Set. The gown was handmade by a friend of mine, and the sword is a replica of Glamdring-- Gandalf's sword from the LotR movies!

Summer Greens Enchanted Forest Earrings. The Enchanted Forest earrings seem to be a favorite-- they are at once elegant and elven. I normally make them in solid colors, but these various shades of green just called to me. Also, can I geek out about this photograph? I don't know how I got the sunray to be "just so" but I'm loving it!

On My Workdesk Wednesday

I'm staring a new, regular blog feature: Workdesk Wednesday.

It is inspired by the WOYWW link-up over at the blog Stamping Ground, but I'm going to use it as a personal challenge to keep this blog updated on a weekly basis!

(You should check out WOYWW to see the workdesks of other artists and crafters!)

Every Wednesday, I will take a picture of the workbench in my garage studio at home, or my dorm room at school, or one of the tables at my school's studio.

So, what have I been up to this week?

What's On My Workbench:

What's this? A gigantic power supply running electricity through an acid bath?

Ooooooh, yeah. After learning how to etch and oxidize copper using all sorts of chemicals, I just had to keep going. This technique is my largest monetary investment into supplies... so I'm really hoping it works well. I'm having some hiccups right now.

I'm learning how to electroform organic materials! This means that I will be able to literally turn real leaves into copper. Well, not literally. What I'm literally doing is plating them in a nice, sturdy coat of copper.

I can then take the copperized leaves and patina them in various colors to make jewelry. I'm also looking for a way to create a sparkle dip that doesn't look cheesy, so I can make the leaves a little iridescent.

Hiccup #1: I can't skeletonize the leaves very well. I've been boiling the leaves in baking soda, soaking them for a day, and scrubbing gently with a toothbrush, but all I've managed to do is tear the leaves apart. If anyone has ANY tips, please let me know!

Hiccup #2: The conductive paint is taking some trial and error, as I can't seem to get an even coating and only parts of the leaves are turning copper.

Hiccup #3: The rectifier I bought online was defective and I had to return it. I'm borrowing this one from my dad's work but it's only for a couple days. They recently got an upgrade to a stronger power source, so maybe I can buy it from his boss?

(edited)

Ramtha, The White Book

This is the cover of the 2004 edition with cover embossing shown in gray.



One of Ramtha's statements in Ramtha, The White Book is: ". . . God will always be the perception of what God is, and that will always be unique for each entity."

Chronicles of ascended master interaction with humanity have culminated with Ramtha 'the enlightened one' channeling through JZ Knight.  The White Book is considered a 'general introduction to Ramtha and his teachings.'  The first version of the book, Ramtha (1986), became known as the 'white book.'  The book was edited by Steven Lee Weinberg, Ph.D., with Randall Weischedel, Sue Ann Fazio and Carol Wright.  The book was revised and expanded for the first edition of Ramtha, The White Book in 1999.  I read the 2001 edition of the book, which includes a Bibliography listing dozens of Ramtha Dialogues that are the sources for portions of lecture transcripts dating from 1979 to 1985.

In Chapter 1 "Introduction," one of Ramtha's statements in particular was reminiscent of commentary I had read in other cases of transcendental communication.  Ramtha said: "We have been king, conqueror, slave, hero, crucified Christ, teacher, guide, friend, philosopher — anything that would permit knowledge to occur."  This reminded me of statements in other cases of anomalous phenomena.  As mentioned in a 2011 blog article, an unnamed Direct Voice Seance communicator was quoted: "We are a band of brothers and we rejoice in our knowledge, in our experience, and in our oneness with the Divine."  This is a seance transcript excerpt from Lynn Russell's 1965 book The Voice of Valentino (as facilitated by Direct Voice medium Leslie Flint).  In my article about the 'Messages from Michael' case, the statement is shared: "All souls, or fragments, as we choose to call them for now, are of course a part of the universal creative force, which we call the Tao." 

Ramtha's teachings have been full of "teaching that . . . may be filled with that which is termed verbiage contradiction" (A Beginner's Guide to Creating Reality 1998).  The travesty inherent in some declarations were cited in a 1988 "20/20" television show segment where a clueless reporter said about the earliest edition of what became Ramtha, The White Book: "It outlines a philosophy where reality is whatever you want it to be, where there's no right, no wrong, even murder is not wrong or evil . . ."

At the "Soulmates" Intensive in January, 1986, Ramtha complained about his teachings being taken out of context.  In addition to blatant contradictions that can be found, some quotations of Ramtha published in The White Book show how a literal interpretation of specific sentences is unacceptable when quoted out of context.  For example: "Everything you think, so will it be in your life."  Is there anyone who would not be disappointed by this statement in consideration of one's own life experiences?  However, one's thoughts do determine all that occurs, if not all that what one would like to happen.  Ramtha also is quoted:

There is a great possibility, through the transfiguration of the great immortal self into the material plane, of losing one's identity and becoming wholly embroiled in survival.  And, alas, that is what most of humanity has done.

As used by Ramtha, paradox is a technique of teaching that leads students to reflect about their beliefs and perceptions.  The transcript in Ramtha Intensive: Soulmates (1987) includes: "I'll test you!  So be it!"  Preceding this, Ramtha explained:

I desire for you to learn the greatest knowledge, but you can learn it only when you are ready for it.  You have to be awake to listen.  You have to be awake to see the runners and the miracles when they manifest.  You have to be sovereign. 

Ramtha's use of contradictions is a philosophical technique that correlates with warnings found in earlier paranormal case studies of transcendental communication.  In one of the Mahatma Letters, K.H. mentioned "All is lie, all falsehood, around and in us, my brother . . ."  In Messages from Michael (1979), one Ouija board message is quoted: "If one is to seek the highest truth of all, one must first be able to recognize what is false — in other words, the lies must be told before the truth can be sought."

The second and third chapters of The White Book present commentary about Ramtha's Earth life with some additional details to the information found in JZ Knight's autobiography.  Ramtha explained:

Those of you who desire to follow and worship, or to do more outside of yourselves than within yourselves, I wish you to know that I am not what you are searching for, I am here to help you become sovereign in your own truth, in your own understanding.

Most of the chapters involve the subject of God.  That God might allow 'good and evil, right and wrong, perfect and imperfect' to coexist on Earth' perhaps would be the expedient way to express what Ramtha has articulated with other varied phraseology. 

Chapter 6 "Life After Life" makes more complete the cosmology involving God as reincarnation is explained to be part of one's potential evolution as Ramtha's perspective of other planes of existence is expressed; or "seven heavens": "Which heaven you go to [after 'death'] is determined by the attitudes that you emotionally expressed upon this plane."

Ramtha's appearance in the present day is a manifestation of the Christ Force exemplifying how spiritual redemption is possible for one who evolves from the lessons of past errors and allows a new day to dawn by sowing the seeds of love through dedicating oneself to always expressing the love and giving nature of God 'the Father.'  Ramtha is quoted: "Whatever I do to add to the evolvement of your precious beings glorifies and magnifies the Father that is the kingdom I Am."

There are numerous examples of 'verbiage contradictions' in Chapter 13.  For example, consider the response when Ramtha was asked by a student "Ramtha, how do you fit into God's plan?"

Ramtha: God's plan?  What makes you think, entity, that God has a plan?

Student: Because there must be a good reason why things are the way they are.

Ramtha: The only plan that the Father has is to be, so that everything can express the life that the Father is.  If he had a plan, as it were, it would take away your freedom to express the God within you, which would take away your uniqueness and your ability to evolve yourself and expand the life principle called God.

God's only plan is that it is.

I must admit that upon reading this, I noted an exclamation mark in the margin, so contrary was this philosophy to my own experiences in life and such a complete contradiction to Ramtha's statement "God is love."  Obviously, Ramtha has a purpose for being here.

Another of Ramtha's contradictory statements in Chapter 13 is "God the Father is lawless."  A student responded: "But, Ramtha, if there were no laws, how could you prevent someone from expressing the evil within him, from doing bad things?"  As Ramtha continued speaking, he expressed how all people have a divine aspect to their souls and how defining what is evil is a relative condition. 

Student: So you don't even think that killing someone is evil?

Ramtha: That is correct, because I have not limited myself by believing in the ending of any one thing, for nothing is ever destroyed — ever.  So if an entity dies, what is the loss in death?

As Ramtha continues expressing this orientation that is contrary to common sense morality, one may recall that Ramtha was a mass killer during his Earth life.  He also stated that murderers and slayers "have a terrible working through of emotion that they must deal with when their conquest is finished, and that often takes millenniums.  The slain has a body within the next minute.  The slayer never forgets."
  

In the case of ascended master communication chronicled by Guy and Edna Ballard that launched the "I AM" Movement of the 1930s, the spiritual evolution processes of karma and reincarnation are mentioned as "Unfailing Law" ("The Other Ascended Masters"). 

Ramtha's commentary about truth in The White Book includes:

Truth is only what an individual perceives truth to be.  Truth is an opinion, an attitude, a belief about something that has become an absolute in creative thought.

To this day most of you still do not know that God is you, that you possess within you the power to know and be all things.  Thus you let teachers and religion and everyone else rule your life and interpret truth for you.

It is apparently Ramtha's statements about good and evil presented out of context that have dissuaded people from considering and learning more about Ramtha as a "servant unto that which is termed the Christus" (Voyage to the New World 1985) despite his message that so is (or should be) everyone.  In the Edgar Cayce channeled readings, Christ is equated with a level of consciousness.

Today, only a small proportion of the populace knows how extensively JZ Knight's channeling has been documented; and that this has been scientifically tested and physiologically confirmed.  There are obvious reasons for mainstream media ignoring channeling cases, including the world renowned contemporary trance channel healer John of God — the corporate order results in news executives fearing the loss of financial profit or even one's job should there be public disapproval or advertiser resistance to the information.

At this point in the current series of articles about Ramtha, one may realize that JZ Knight has shown an extraordinary devotion to Ramtha and also an enormous capacity for 'allowing' this enigma to unfold.  She has sacrificed a considerable portion of her conscious life experience as a channel so that Ramtha could communicate his teachings.  One need only glance online at some of the responses to the work to see that some people have been quick to judge her without knowing anything about her.

Ramtha is quoted in the introductory essay in A Beginner's Guide to Creating Reality from a 1991 Dialogue:
 

I give you a great deal, indeed, of information, and it is to be certain that my language was not always understandable and that became an excuse.  I saw my words, as you term them, edited and transposed for the sake of continuity of thought.  And yet when the words were edited for the sake of continuity of thought, the words that were left out were words of profound power.  "Indeed as it were in this time as you know it, unto this very hour, that which is termed indeed the God within you rise up, as it is so seen at this moment, to address that which is termed, as it were indeed, the deepening shadow that lies deep within the soul of all that which is termed humanity."

 
Ramtha said that the words "were arranged according to . . . how they would be destined to bloom.  So words that I have used in your past were there deliberately for the empowerment of the moment.  I was the one delivering them; therefore I was obligated to bring them into being."

The White Book also includes Ramtha's commentary about the biblical Jesus, whom Ramtha calls 'Yeshua ben Joseph': ". . . Yeshua exemplified love for everyone . . . A Christ is anyone who realizes that he is God and then lives that truth."
 

In the concluding Chapter 21 of The White Book, Ramtha's commentary includes:

I have come as a brother to mankind, of which I was once a fervent part.  I lived here as a man and experienced all that you have experienced.

I have come simply to remind you of the wonderful heritage you forgot long ago and to tell you of a glorious future you are all soon to see.

Elven Photoshoot | Sneak Peek

Warrior royalty mother and daughters

On the 4th of July my close-knit extended family stayed at our house for a few days, and I convinced four of my cousins and two of my aunts to dress up in my Elven dresses and the Lord of the Rings swords and staffs for a quick photoshoot.

Fun fact: the girl in the middle of the top picture dyed her hair with Kool-Aid!

Elegant Elven mother and daughter

My relatives are so photogenic that I deleted barely twenty of the three hundred photos I took.

Going on a journey

Three rings for the Elven kings under the sky...

Before the photoshoot we had doodled "henna" on ourselves. We used cheap eyeliner and sprayed it with extra-strong hairspray. The "henna" lasted for two days!

Yeah, don't get on our bad side.

REALLY don't get on our bad side.

Next week, look for a big masterpost with quite a few of my favorite images from the photoshoot!

Giveaway at Aquariann's Blog

Hello fairy friends! Today I am pleased to announce that I am hosting a giveaway over at the lovely fantasy art blog Aquariann.

The giveaway is a $25 gift card to my Shoppe, but even if you don't win, you are in store for a treat! I am letting all customers raid my little pirate treasure chest of wirewrapped rosette rings and sparkling leaf earrings. Check out Aquariann's blog post to get the coupon code (good until August 10th 2014)! You'll have to visit her blog to enter the giveaway (which you can do by leaving blog posts, following myself and Aquariann on social media, spreading the word, etc!). I love her writing style, by the way, so be sure to read through the whole post!

Dragonfly Wings, Rhinestones, and Fairy Garlands

I found this post in my drafts from earlier this spring! 

When I was little, I used to think that dragonflies were the fairies' cousins. They are so quick and beautiful, with sparkling, flitting wings... I actually got the idea for this necklace while sitting out by the pond watching some dragonflies hover above the water!

It's a stylized version of a dragonfly, though. Very Art Nouveau. The tassle thing is new. I've never used anything like that in a necklace before but I like it!

Copper is so beautiful to work with and so deliciously creamy when paired with pearls.

(This necklace is on my Shoppe).

Here is the necklace, along with other assorted jewelry I've made, on one of my lovely models.

This one's called the Woodland Fairy Garland! I made a necklace similar to this for my friend Laura's Entwife Costume that she wore to a Lord of the Rings ball-- pictured below.

So, the new necklace is not a new idea, but I do like it better the second time around. The vine-like branches are studded with iridescent Czech glass leaf beads and I made a flower pendant as a centerpiece.

This little fella is just something pretty. It wasn't inspired by anything but shiny beads. I think I'll name it after something related to stars, though. Think it looks like a shooting star? I'll go with that. :) This is a Shooting Star pendant.

These two beaded necklaces were not as complex to make (although I'd forgotten how long it takes to string a necklace instead of using chain!) but that doesn't mean they are boring!

I've found myself wearing smaller pieces like these quite often; more will be appearing in the Shoppe. Sometimes the simple things are the most elegant.

Also this necklace was featured in the Saint Louis Post Dispatch. :) Here's the link to the story! I thought it was funny that they chose this necklace set, because it was far simpler than the other ones I brought by their photography studio. However, I think they chose it because it's more conventional than the all-out costume fantasy jewelry I lean towards.

EDIT: I wrote this in the spring, but I wanted to let you know that this summer I've made more variations on this beaded double-stand leaf and flower necklace. Here is one, in more busy summer sunset colors!

Another Aurora Circlet! This one already sold, but I usually have one or two in stock. These pieces are frequently made to order in any case, so I can adjust band size and colors and such.

Here it is, modeled by a beautiful friend:

You can see more pictures of various Aurora circlets I've made here on a masterlist of all posts containing the circlet and it's variations!

And here is another piece that I completed recently; an arm cuff (now sold) inspired by the same Entwife jewelry set.

That's all for now, I'm busy with classwork but keep in tune because this summer I will be working on jewelry full-time in the midst of my summer classes!

EDIT: Hi, now it's me from the summer, aka NOW! I hope you enjoyed this peek at just a couple random jewelry pieces! Love, Shaylynn. :)