Things I read today

I did a lot of reading today.....So here are the links to some of the articles I read (or re-read.... because certain things I like to read often)


http://www.crystalinks.com/akhenaten.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/ennead.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/ogdoad.html

http://www.livescience.com/health/051129_creative_sex.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/creativitysex.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/sexuality.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/thoth.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/seshat.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/symbols.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/ankh.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/dreams.html

What does that mean?!

So, I have two ankh necklaces. I am found wearing one just about 6 days out of the week. I am ALWAYS asked, "What does that mean." For those of you who are curious and to afraid to ask or research it....I'll make it easier on you.

*all information obtained from www.crystalinks.com*

The Ankh is defined as: The symbolic representation of both Physical and Eternal life. It is known as the original cross, which is a powerful symbol that was first created by Africans in Ancient Egypt.

The Ankh is commonly known to mean 'life' in the language of Ancient Kemet (land of the Blacks) renamed Egypt by the Greeks. It is also a symbol for the power to give and sustain life, the Ankh is typically associated with material things such as water (which was believed by Egyptians to regenerate life), air, sun, as well as with the Gods, who are frequently pictured carrying an Ankh.

Egyptian gods carried the ankh by the loop, or held one in each hand crossed over their breast. Latinists interpreted the symbol as a crux ansata, "cross with a handle".

Over time, the ankh has come to symbolize life and immortality, the universe, power and life-giving air and water. Its keylike shape has also encouraged the belief it could unlock the gates of death, and it is viewed this way by the modern Rosicrucians and other hermetic orders. The Coptic Christians have used it as a symbol of life after death.

The ankh appears frequently in Egyptian tomb paintings and other art; it often appears at the fingertips of a god or goddess in images that represent the deities of the afterlife conferring the gift of life on the dead person's mummy. The ankh symbol was often carried by Egyptians as an amulet, either alone, or in connection with two other hieroglyphs that mean "strength" and "health." Mirrors were often made in the shape of an ankh. Sometimes, in art, the Ankh was shown being touched by a god onto a person, which usually symbolized conception.

Hermeticism is an Egyptian belief system whose beliefs may explain many of the Ankh's meanings. It is unclear whether their beliefs created the ankh or added many meanings, or remain a coincidence.

If the concept of the ankh suggesting the joining of the masculine and feminine is correct, with the top opened up to look similar to [the omega sign] representing the feminine (genitals) and the bottom shaft being a phallic symbol, then the rest may follow. If God is both male and female, the ankh is a symbol of hermaphroditism and can be representing God. It also can be representing reproduction as both genitalia are pictured.

*all information obtained from www.crystalinks.com*

Super Sweet Livin

One of my bestest buds, Greg, sent me an amazing lil treat around new years. I have referred to it several times throughout the year, and I've found that it has, in fact, led m to a GREAT 2009 thus far....

Handbook for A GREAT 2009

Health:
-Drink plenty of water.
-Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
-Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
-Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
-Make time to pray.
-Play more games.
-Read more books than you did in 2008.
-Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
-Sleep for 7 hours.
-Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.


Personality:
Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
-Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
-Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
-Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
-Don't waste your precious energy on
gossip.
-Dream more while you are awake.
-Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
- Forget issues of the past.. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
-Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
-Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
-No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
-Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
-Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
- Smile and laugh more.
- You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.


Society:
-Call your family often.
-Each day give something good to others.
-Forgive everyone for everything.
-Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
-Try to make at least three people smile each day.
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
-Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.


Life:
-Do the right thing!
-Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
-GOD and time heals everything.
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
-No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
-The best is yet to come.
-When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
-Your Inner most is always happy.. So, be happy.


If you enjoyed this....pass it on!!!

Potential

*This was not written by me, but I do thoroughly enjoy reading it*

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Dope thoughts

I posted this on Facebook a long time ago, and stumbled upon it recently. Its still a great read and starts some great thoughts:

The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-tzu's dictum:
"Those who know, do not say;
Those who say, do not know."
When the master entered,
they asked him what the words meant.
Said the master, "Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?"
All of them indicated that they knew.
Then he said, "Put it into words."
All of them were silent.

from One Minute Wisdom by Anthony DeMello

disciples-"Help us to find God."

reply-"No one can help you there."

disciples-"Why not?"

reply-"For the same reason that
no one can help the fish
to find the ocean."

-From One Minute Wisdom

what do you think?

Thoughts on Diversity

I wrote this about 3 weeks ago as a small thought on diversity....it happens to rhyme lol

To get rid of our adversity
to understand diversity
we must see the universe of 'we'
instead of you versus me

because inadvertently
or through teachings of the Divine's university
you and I are family

Similarities are divine
and differences are too
so though I see God in me
I still see God in you



-Brandi Keeler

A cool new site

So as you can probably tell, I'm a quote junky...
Today I read a new quote on one of my new favorite sites and I really enjoy it:

"Three things tell a man: his eyes, his friends and his favorite quotes." -Quotes Daddy



I can't agree more. I believe people are somewhat "undefinable" because you essentially are what you are and aren't all at the same time....BUT you can get a pretty good estimate of a person by looking at who they surround themselves with and what they believe in. And everyone knows that eyes are the windows to the soul. But that's another blog for another day.

I'll leave you guys with the link to the site: www.quotesdaddy.com

I thought the site name was funny, because I call the people who write my favorite quotes my "dead baby daddies"
But yea...check it out...

Much Love Fam! ~Golden~

Its been a minute...

But I'm still here. lol

Hey guys. So, I've recently been super busy with this summer Camp that I mentor for at CCS. I'm responsible for 6 lovely young female artists. The camp is full of well behaved/mature teens this year, so that's always good. Despite their good behavior, its still hard work. I've been super pooped running around doing pranks, teacher assisting, activities, freelance work, and such. This is why I have been kind of out of touch and hard to reach. But I've adjusted, so back to your regularly scheduled Brandi :) So this blog will be about freakin awesome people!

My fellow mentors at camp this year are SUPER awesome! They are wonderful people with great personalities and AWESOME senses of humor. I've laughed harder in the past week than I have in the past freakin year. Geezus! I love those guys. In fact, I am constantly finding that I am surrounded by awesome people. I can tell that I've been blessed to meet some of the best humans on this planet!

Speaking of which, I met some new fantastic music artists about two weeks ago. I went to the Old Miami with My best friend/sister, Kirby, and our super fantabulous rap/rock/freakin awesome musician friend, Beanz. We also saw our good friends Khary and Saron from their rap group Detroit Cydi (they are the bomb like TICK TICK! lol)

While at the show, I met/heard Sunclef + LEO37, Tanika Charles, and a duo who refer to themselves as Magnolius. These artists (and Beans) rocked everyone's socks off at the Old Miami (which by the way is an AWESOME spot).

Tanika is a soul singer with an awesome voice! She was a little lady, but her voice was HUGE and she had the attitude to match. LEO37 + Sunclef did some awesome callabo work. I have two of their songs currently on my 'good vibes' and my 'lazyday chylln' itunes playlists. They make the kind of music that makes you feel good on the inside....The kind that makes everyone in the venue become instant friends because they feel the good vibes of the music in the people around them. good shyt. And Magnolious....whew!....not only do they have awesome azz content (lyrics), appearance, and musical style, but they fukkin ROCK when it comes to performing! I head banged so hard that I got a headache. They had a good range of songs too. They started off fast and slowed it down. All the performers were definite 'must-see-agains' on my list! And after all the performers went on, I got a chance to talk with all of em. They had killer personalities. Matt (Sunclef) was super kool...and hes a graphic designer! And I discovered that Tanika is on of my Sagittarian sisters..... The evening was wonderful....I hope Kirby gets all of them on her radio show! It'd be awesome.

So that's basically it...I've been surrounded by awesome people. It feels good. ^_^