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The Sassquatch's Lair

Remember, when someone has aphasia:

  • It is important to make the distinction between language and intelligence.
  • Many people mistakenly think they are not as smart as they used to be.
  • Their problem is that they cannot use language to communicate what they know.
  • They can think, they just can’t say what they think.
  • They can remember familiar faces.
  • They can get from place to place.
  • They still have political opinions, for example.
  • They may still be able to play chess, for instance.

The challenge for all caregivers and health professionals is to provide people with aphasia a means to express what they know. Through intensive work in rehabilitation, gains can be made to avoid the frustration and isolation that aphasia can create.

For most, a stroke has a startling and life-altering effect on both the survivor and family members. All involved find themselves trying to come to terms with changes ranging from physical and sensory loss to loss of speech and language.

For many survivors, this loss or change in speech (dysarthria, apraxia) and language (aphasia) profoundly alters their social life. Ironically, research has shown that socializing is one of the best ways to maximize stroke recovery. Many experts contend that socializing should begin right away in the recovery process.

For many people living with aphasia, dysarthria or apraxia, the question then becomes: How can they socialize if they can’t communicate the way they used to?

Here are some tips you can use to begin your recovery:

  • Educate yourself about aphasia so you can learn a new way to communicate.
  • Close family members need to be involved so they can understand their loved one’s communication needs and begin to learn ways to facilitate speech and language.
  • Experiment with strategies that facilitate social interaction during your rehabilitation.
  • Many stroke survivors with communication challenges compensate by writing or drawing to supplement verbal expression, or use gestures or a picture communication book, or even a computer communication system.

Family members can facilitate communication with some simple techniques:

  • Ask yes/no questions.
  • Paraphrase periodically during conversation.
  • Modify the length and complexity of conversations.
  • Use gestures to emphasize important points.
  • Establish a topic before beginning conversation.

Your environment also can help support successful socialization. Survivors have told us that it is easiest to begin practicing conversation in a one-on-one situation with someone they are comfortable with and who understands communication disorders.

In addition:

  • Practice conversation in a quiet, distraction-free environment.
  • As you become more confident, slowly add more conversational partners but continue to limit distractions such as background noise (music, other talking, TV).
  • As you become more comfortable in one-to-one or small group interactions, explore less-controlled social situations with your speech-language pathologist, close friends and family, or other stroke survivors.
  • Before you attend these gatherings, practice common things discussed in a variety of situations. For example, “How are you?” “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”
    Practice a few statements about current events: “Did you see the basketball game?” or “Boy, we are having beautiful weather!”
  • The more you practice this script, the greater your chances for success.
  • Family members can prepare written cues, or organize pictures to promote interactions.

Once you achieve a level of comfort with close family and friends, you can start getting involved in the community by:

  • Going to familiar large group activities such as church events or weekly social gatherings.
  • Volunteering, returning to work or joining a new interest group.
  • Remembering there’s no rush. You should step into this stage at a comfortable pace.
  • Attending a stroke support group.

Speakeasy’s tips for communicating with speech and language limitations in social settings:

  • Try, try, try to get your point across no matter what anybody says or thinks.
  • If waiters speak too fast when you go out to dinner, ask them to slow down.
  • Try one-on-one conversations.
  • When talking on the phone with a new person, repeat, “I’m a stroke survivor… can you understand me?”
  • Make a point to go out and interact with people – socializing is an important part of recovery.
  • No matter who tells you that you can’t, it’s always possible to keep recovering!

Remember that the speech and language changes stroke survivors experience can last a lifetime in some form or another. As life circumstances change, and your speech and language needs evolve, reevaluate what works and what has not worked in social situations. And continue to expand your horizons.

Norma

Salt Mk01

Salt Mk02

Salt Mk03

Salt Mk04

Salt Mk05

Salt Mk06

Salt Mk07

Salt Mk08

Salt Mk09

Common salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in its natural form as a crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quantities in seawater, where it is the main mineral constituent; the open ocean has about 35 grams of solids per litre, a salinity of 3.5%. Salt is essential for animal life, and saltiness is one of the basic human tastes. The tissues of animals contain larger quantities of salt than do plant tissues; therefore the typical diets of nomads who subsist on their flocks and herds require little or no added salt, whereas cereal-based diets require supplementation. Salt is one of the oldest and most ubiquitous of food seasonings, and salting is an important method of food preservation.

Some of the earliest evidence of salt processing dates to around 8,000 years ago, when people living in Romania were boiling spring water to extract the salts; a salt-works in China has been found which dates to approximately the same period. Salt was prized by the ancient Hebrews, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Hittites and the Egyptians. Salt became an important article of trade and was transported by boat across the Mediterranean Sea, along specially built salt roads, and across the Sahara in camel caravans. The scarcity and universal need for salt has led nations to go to war over salt and use it to raise tax revenues. Salt is also used in religious ceremonies and has other cultural significance.

Wiccan Salt

“Salt! Oh, salt. Okay, consider me braced.”

So, in folklore, salt has always been a way of warding off “evil spirits”. It was always thought that a ring of salt around a area would protect it.

Salt has also been thought of as an energy absorber. This is why people often use it to cleanse ritual space. These two reasons contribute most to the tradition of putting a ring of salt around a ritual a read. A circle of salt around an area prevents negative entities and demons from crossing into it. You can make a line of salt along a door or windowsill to make it impassable.

I’ve found that the most common tool recommended is salt, and I trusted this information because it was generally agreed upon by the magical community. I believed this until it was tested, and it failed. I guess that’s the way all things work.

So I did some research and I did some testing, and most of all, I did some thinking. Salt is normally used as the physical representation of the circle, it is used in cleansing solutions for tools, it’s used to protect against anything that goes bump in the night, but why is it used for all of these things?

Many different magical traditions call for the use of salt in spells and ritual. For centuries, it’s been known as a very magical – and also very valuable – ingredient. But why is salt such a magical item? Let’s look at some of the history behind the use of salt in magic, and some of the ways it’s commonly used in folklore and legend.

In many Eastern belief systems, such as Buddhism and Shintoism, salt is used both as a purifier and to repel evil.

In parts of Germany, Normandy, and Scotland, salt is used in or around a butter churn to keep witches from souring the butter or harming the cow from which the cream was obtained.
Irish folk remedies include the use of salt, combined with a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, to cure those who might have been “fairy-struck”. A similar story comes from Bavaria and the Ukraine, in which salt is used to determine if a child is bewitched.
Egyptian caravans setting out on a journey across the desert used to perform a ritual that involved burning salt on hot coals. This was done to ensure that evil spirits wouldn’t get in the way of the travelers.

Often, salt is used in purification spells. It can be incorporated into smudging and asperging, and in some NeoWiccan traditions it is used on the altar to represent the element of earth. It should be noted that some groups associate salt with water, because of its origins in the sea.

Wiccan Black Salt

Black salt, which is a blend of regular salt and other ingredients, is used in protection magic in some traditions. Now I know you are asking yourself. “Witch… Why would I need black salt when Supernatural shows us that plain salt is just fine?”

Well, Let me Explain.

Black Salt is normally used to banish or drive away negative things. It can be used to protect your home and garden area by sprinkling it around the property line. To protect from things general getting in your house you can put Black Salt in the corners of the room or across the door step. It is also used to remove negative spells that have been cast on a person. In general, Salt itself is a great purifying agent. Black Salt is more about protection and the banishment of all things negative.

You can use anything dry that has a black tone. Charcoal, Ashes, Scrapings from your cauldron/cast iron bowl or skillet, even Pepper is often used.

The Lost Bearded White Brother

Chapter 12

Early in the morning, the word from the scouts was that traces of Nathalia’s passage were found in the vicinity of the small fishing village of Dugra, near the enchanted forest. She was travelling quickly with one guard and Lady Maria. After a short rest in Dugra she headed into the forest. This news was good. Ludger decided to travel to Dugra then into the forest, retracing Nathalia’s steps. He would leave by midday accompanied by Balnor, Dregnar and Bacchus. They would take the truck to speed up their travel.

He loaded his equipment in the back of the truck and checked all the fluids’ levels. He refilled the gas tanks with his spare containers, while Dregnar helped Bacchus into the back of the truck. They settle themselves amongst the equipment. Balnor eyed the passenger seat with suspicion. Under Ludger’s prodding he finally climbed into it.

When Ludger started the engine the sound frightened the scribe. His reaction was similar to Dregnar’s when he had first been a passenger, he jumped out of the truck. It took a great deal of persuasion on Ludger’s part to convince him to retake his seat. After a long argument, that Dregnar was not helping by laughing hysterically, Balnor finally relented. They eventually got under way.

They wound their way slowly through the streets of the city, under the glazed stares of the crowds, working to reconstruct the broken buildings. They exited the city through the southwest gate. The air was heady with the fish aroma of the docks. The sea was gently rolling and the activity was abnormally subdued at the fish market. As they followed the coast they met many groups of fishermen or peasants with their families and possessions, who were moving grimly toward the city.

They stopped one of these families, whose patriarch nervously acquiesced their request for information. The sturdy old man sitting in front of the rickety cart, holding in his hands the reins of the two large placid oxen, told them.

“We are running away from the pillaging of the evil armies. They are rumoured to haunt the region.” He slapped without looking, one of the dirty youngsters, who was climbing on his back, and continued. “I think we have a better chance of survival in the city. We can help rebuilding the fortifications and my eldest sons can join the dwindling ranks of the army.”

Ludger sent them off with his blessing. He was proud of those people who had decided not to resign themselves to their faith. It furthered his resolve to help them as best as he could.

After a restless night in an abandoned beach hut, where their sleep was interrupted regularly by strange noises from the sea, they resumed their progress early in the cold misty morning. By mid-morning, as they crested a rolling hill, they saw -on the horizon- the telltale dark band of the elven forest. They hoped to be there by the next day. Their progress was growing increasingly difficult, due to the frequent thaws -due to the closeness of the warmer sea- breaking the already damaged surface of the road.

At the end of the day they stopped to stretch their legs by a deep fissure in the side of a low hill. Ludger was leaning against the grill guard, watching Bacchus lick one of her forepaws. Suddenly her ears turned toward the fissure. She excitedly bolted into the dark crack. Sounds of a vicious fight soon reached Ludger’s ears. He instructed his friends to return to the relative protection of the truck. He grabbed his sword and dashed in the direction of the noise.

When he was about to reach the fissure a large cat-like animal ran out, tail between its legs. With one mighty surge it jumped at him. Ludger dropped to one knee. He thrust his ready sword in the centre of the creatures body. The dark feline lifelessly collapsed on him, knocking his body off balance in the muddy snow. He pushed the twitching remains of the cat off him and stood up slightly dazed. Loud barks brought him back to reality. He dived into the crack to investigate.

After only a few yards, the narrow fissure widened into an elongated semi-circular area where a drama was unfolding. A tall elegant man of slender built, wearing tracker’s greens, was laying down, wounded. He was fighting for his life, with the help of Bacchus, against a large hairy, deformed beast in tattered clothing. The creature was wielding a large spiked club and bashing at the fallen man. If it was not for Bacchus’s distracting attacks the combat would have been over a long time ago.

Ludger quickly assessed the situation. He lunged at the creature sword held high. The husky creature, with lighting reflexes that its bulk did not promise, flicked its club at Ludger’s sword and knocked it out of his hands. A second blow landed square in the middle of Ludger’s chest, lifting him right off the ground. He landed hard amongst the rocks. If it had not been for his chainmail, Ludger was sure that he would have perished from massive internal injuries.

The creature, sure of having disposed of Ludger, returned its attention to the fallen man. Ludger pulled out his long kukri and stealthily approached the creature’s back. He jumped at it. While he wrapped his legs around the creature’s thick middle, he slipped his left arm around its neck. The muscles of the creature felt like rippling steel under its leathery hide. Fingers as powerful as a vice dug into Ludger’s arm. He groaned loudly at the painful, crushing grip. With his free hand he brought his curved blade to the creature’s neck. With a jerk he pulled it toward him. The creature lurched wildly. Slowly, the hulking beast fell backward. After a bone crushing crash, Ludger was pinned under the bulk of the creature. He struggled and finally managed to roll it of his chest.
Panting, Ludger slowly stood up. He wiped his bloody blade on the creatures tattered clothing and sheathed it. He retrieved his sword and turned toward the fallen man. The tall man was fighting Bacchus’s affectionate attacks.

After Ludger regained his breath, he called Bacchus to attention. He bowed deeply and said to the man.

“Let me introduce myself. I am Ludger of the Mist of Dreams at your service. My friends and I were passing nearby, when my dog heard a scuffle. She led me to your help. Whom might I have the privilege to address.”

Ludger felt very proud of his statement. The fallen man replied.

“Thank you, Sir Ludger. My name is Lynor, son of Valnor of Elvanor.”

“I am pleases to make your acquaintance, Your Highness.”

“Please call me Lynor, There cannot be any formality between us, I owe you my life.”

“If you prefer, Lynor. Let me have a look at your ankle.”

Ludger crouched and examined the swollen ankle of the young Prince. He continued.

“It seems to be only a sprain. I will help you back to my vehicle and tend to your injuries.”

Ludger helped the Prince back to his foot and supported him as he hobbled back to the truck. Luckily the tall man was slender and his weight was negligible on Ludger’s shoulders. When they exited the fissure, Balnor and Dregnar ran to their help. The scribe was surprised when he recognized the Prince, but not as much as Lynor when he saw the truck. He looked at it mouth agape, then back to Ludger. He said.

“Then, it is true. Our elders had sensed a disturbance in the universal fabric and there has been rumours of a hero from another world helping us against the evil hordes.”

“Hero is a big word, I am just doing my best to help you since I now have to share your world.”

Ludger opened the tailgate of the Suzuki and installed the Prince as comfortably as was possible on his bedroll, amongst the equipment. He taped his ankle with a wide elastic bandage. He then filled a large plastic bag full of snow, sealed it and placed the Prince’s swollen ankle on it. He gave Lynor some strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory tablets.

Ludger moved the vehicle to a secluded area that Lynor assessed to be safe. With the help of Dregnar he raised the soft top over it. He lit a small catalytic heater and a camp stove. He then prepared a hasty meal. They would rest for a few hours and listen to the Prince’s tale, then slowly proceed toward Dugra.

Over a steaming cup of herbal tea, Lynor told his story.

“For the last few months, rumours of a massive army of dark elves assembling in front of the Gates of Doom, have circulated around our Kingdom. These blood relative of ours have eschewed the elders and turned to the dark forces. They would make a vicious enemy to any army. Then, last week, we heard rumours from Dugra about fighting mermen that were attacking the coast with the help of ogres and their fighting sand-cats. My father, King Valnor, sent me to investigate these rumours.

I had confirmed my father’s suspicions and was following a group of ogres, when I slipped and sprained my ankle. I slipped in the fissure to recuperate. I was awaiting the departure of the ogres, who had set up camp in a nearby clearing. A scouting ogre cornered me with his sand-cat. These creatures are trained to viciously attack humans. Only the judicious arrival of your dog saved me from the sand-cat and yours from the ogre.”

“I am glad to have been of any help. We are, ourselves, following in the path of Princess Nathalia, who was last seen near Dugra. Have you found any traces of her?”

“She is sound and safe in Elvanor with her friend, Lady Maria. She was rescued by a party of our trackers from an attack by trolls and goblins. She was brought back to my father’s palace.”

“We would be honoured to drive you to Elvanor ourselves. We were looking for the Princess, but are also on a diplomatic mission from King Arexis to request aid from your father, King Valnor.”

“I will gladly guide you into Elvanor and arrange an audience with the King.”

The conversation soon died down. The men arranged themselves as comfortably as possible to take a short rest. Ludger reclined his seat back and showed Balnor how to do so with his own. He set the alarm on his watch for a few hours hence. Soon the only sounds heard in the truck were the regular breathing of its passengers and the soft whistling of the catalytic heater.

Ludger awoke to the cheerful musical chimes of his watch’s alarm. He angrily turned it off. He had always hated alarms of any sort. He normally woke up on time without their help, but now he was too tired to do so. He turned on the overhead bezel light. He woke up his crew, who protested loudly. As he brewed some herbal tea, he made a mental note to bring back some coffee from the Mist on his next visit home. He could not stand the bitter tea of these parts.

They partook in a cold lunch. After everything was stowed safely, Ludger announced his intention to proceed to Dugra. Balnor protested.

“How can we travel at night. It is so dark on this cloudy night, that we cannot even see a yard in front of us.”

Ludger started the engine and said.

“Let there be light.” As he switched on the headlights.

A gasp of amazement came from his passengers, but the biblical allusion was lost on them. In turn, Ludger turned on the powerful auxiliary driving lamps and wide beam fog lights. The wooded rolling hills in front of them were better illuminated than by daylight. Taking a handheld spotlight from its bracket under the dashboard, Ludger said.

“And if we want to see on the side or back, we use this.”

He rolled down his window and flicked on the light with his thumb. The powerful beam of the searchlight petrified a group of goblins that were standing less than 10 feet from the truck. They were as startled as Ludger was. He switched the light to his left hand and grabbed the silenced MAC 10 from the floor. As soon as it was pointed in the general direction of the ungainly creatures, the small submachine gun hiccupped in his hand and laid devastation in its path. The leading goblin literally exploded in a spray of bloody gore. Ludger dropped the empty magazine to the floor. He put, grip up, the empty gun on his lap. As he reached for a loaded magazine in a pocket in his door, he yelled to Balnor.

“Roll down your window”

He slammed the magazine in place and handed the searchlight to the scribe. Leaning to the passenger side he emptied the gun in the direction of his attackers. He dropped the empty gun on Balnor’s lap, switched off the searchlight, put the truck in gear and raced out of the clearing. They bounced heavily through deep ruts. As they passed under some low laying branches, the screaming shape of a troll jumped at them. He landed hard on the bonnet. He hung at the side mirror trying to get in. Ludger tried to push the creature off but it was hanging on for dear life. Finding his action futile, Ludger finally grabbed his 45 from his hip and thumbed the safety off. As the troll tried to get in, he punched it in the chest with the muzzle of the gun. He jerked the trigger twice in succession. Twin tongues of fire jetted from the handgun’s compensator. They were accompanied by a deafening report. The creature’s chest exploded as it fell backward, arms flailing, into the darkness.

Ludger put the safety back on and holstered his gun. He concentrated on his driving before their escape ended down a hill or around a tree. They reached the muddy road. Ludger, using all of his skills as a rally driver, took the way to Dugra. He was pushing at the limit of control on this unfamiliar path. The Suzuki was more often than not flying through the cold winter air and landing heavily with a resounding crash. He was going through the curves, skidding sideways with his front wheels in opposite lock. His passengers and equipment were getting battered. They were relentlessly thrown back and forth. Ludger felt like he had all the daemons of hell pursuing him. In a way he was not far off. After many long minutes of this infernal rate of progress, sanity slowly came back to him. The adrenalin rush faded and he decided that their was no reasons to kill them all. He slowed down imperceptively bellow the ragged edge. A few minutes later he slowed down, to the great relief of his companions, to a more comfortable pace.

He drove silently for close to two hours. In the middle of a long stretch of road, where they could see to the limit of his driving lights’ illumination, he rolled to a stop. He turned on a rear facing halogen light. With a sigh Ludger slumped forward on the steering wheel. Balnor inquired about his health. After a few long, silent, minutes Ludger raised his head and said with disgust.

“I could have killed us all. I should never have gone to sleep without posting a guard first. This was shamefully stupid of me. I jeopardized our mission. I am not cut off for this kind of work.”

Lynor who was disentangling himself from the equipment, said.

“Do not blame yourself, everybody was tired and needed rest. I am the one who chose that area as safe to set camp. If it had not been for your quick reflexes, we would all be troll sustenance by now.” Looking at Dregnar he continued. “Nothing personal of course.”
Balnor, always his calm self, said.

“I totally agree, no one is to be blamed. We are lucky to have escaped and that is the most important. I suggest that we rearrange ourselves more comfortably, then proceed calmly to Dugra.”

Everybody agreed gruffly. Ludger reloaded his firearms and stepped out of the truck. He went to the back to help restack the equipment. He emptied Lynor’s snow pack, that was now mostly water by now, and refilled it with fresh snow. When everything was secured, he pulled out a wineskin and some chocolate confections. He squirted some wine in his mouth and broke off a few pieces of the chocolate. He passed the rest around. After closing up the back, he returned to the driver’s seat.

Balnor handed him back the wine. He took a few more gulps and passed it back. He turned off the back light and the small bezel on the rollbar. With a sigh he put the truck in gear and accelerated on the slippery road. Large lazy snowflakes soon made their appearance, cheering up the bleak landscape. They thudded wetly on the windscreen. Ludger was forced to turn on the wipers. He went on slowly with only the regular squeaks of the wipers and a quartet of light snores breaking the monotony of the trip.

They reached Dugra at dawn. The little village was deserted. Many houses showed signs of combat. Broken windows, doors hanging crookedly from their hinges and collapsed, burnt outbuildings added to the oppressive gloominess of this place. The only sign of life was present on the quays. Only one fishing boat remained in the protected inlet around which was built the village. A few silhouettes were moving around it.

They decided to investigate. Ludger drove down the main street to the edge of the water. He parked the truck near the end of the dock where the fishing boat was moored. Ludger helped Lynor out of the truck. With the Prince leaning on his shoulder they walked toward the boat. They had decided to leave Dregnar and Bacchus hidden in the truck, not to arouse any suspicions.

A crusty grey haired man with powerful, callused hands hailed them. He was accompanied by a couple of burly young men. They were looking at them with misgivings. Lynor returned the greeting.

“I am Lynor of Elvanor, could you tell me what happened to mayor Myrtle and the rest of the villagers?”

The grey haired man replied.

“The ones that survived the combined attacks of the mermen and the ogres, fled by boat to the capital a few days ago. We are the only ones remaining.”

“Why have you stayed here?”

“Me and my sons were born here and we plan to die here. Our boat is strong. We do not fear the mermen and the ogres cannot reach us at sea. We plan to remain here and make their life miserable for as long as we can.”

“May the Gods help you in your endeavour. I wish you many victories against our enemies.”

Lynor and Ludger turned away. They left these determined idealists to their faith. Ludger wished them well but could see the futility of their efforts. The he realized that his own efforts were not based on much firmer grounds. He murmured to himself.

“I guess that each of us need his own windmills to attack.”

Lynor looked strangely at him. Ludger shook his head to discourage any comments on the Prince’s part. They climbed back in the truck. Lynor told the sad news to his companions. Ludger slowly drove out of town. An hour later they were in the enchanted forest.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

From 1990: One Way Ticket To Talenthar

The Sass

Wernicke’s Aphasia (receptive)

People with serious comprehension difficulties have what is called Wernicke’s aphasia and:

  • Often say many words that don’t make sense.
  • May fail to realize they are saying the wrong words; for instance, they might call a fork a “gleeble.”
  • May string together a series of meaningless words that sound like a sentence but don’t make sense.
  • Have challenges because our dictionary of words is shelved in a similar region of the left hemisphere, near the area used for understanding words.

Broca’s Aphasia (expressive)

When a stroke injures the frontal regions of the left hemisphere, different kinds of language problems can occur. This part of the brain is important for putting words together to form complete sentences. Injury to the left frontal area can lead to what is called Broca’s aphasia. Survivors with Broca’s aphasia:

  • Can have great difficulty forming complete sentences.
  • May get out some basic words to get their message across, but leave out words like “is” or “the.”
  • Often say something that doesn’t resemble a sentence.
  • Can have trouble understanding sentences.
  • Can make mistakes in following directions like “left, right, under, and after.”

“Car…bump…boom!” This is not a complete sentence, but it certainly expresses an important idea. Sometimes these individuals will say a word that is close to what they intend, but not the exact word; for example they may say “car” when they mean “truck.”

A speech pathologist friend mentioned to a patient that she was having a bad day. She said, “I was bitten by a dog.” The stroke survivor asked, “Why did you do that?” In this conversation, the patient understood the basic words spoken, but failed to realize that the words of the sentence and the order of the words were critical to interpreting the correct meaning of the sentence, that the dog bit the woman and not vice versa.

Global Aphasia

When a stroke affects an extensive portion of the front and back regions of the left hemisphere, the result may be global aphasia. Survivors with global aphasia:

  • May have great difficulty in understanding words and sentences.
  • May have great difficulty in forming words and sentences.
  • May understand some words.
  • Get out a few words at a time.
  • Have severe difficulties that prevent them from effectively communicating.

Norma

Glock 21 Mk01

Glock 21 Mk02

Glock 21 Mk03

Glock 21 Mk04

Glock 21

Remarkable for its accuracy and light recoil, the GLOCK 21 delivers the legendary stopping power of the .45 AUTO round with a 10/13 round magazine capacity. Countless law enforcement units swear by the G21 pistol, and that’s why this powerful, lightweight, all climate workhorse is standard issue from the North to South Poles.

Glock pistols chambered for the .45 ACP feature octagonal polygonal rifling rather than the hexagonal shaped bores used for models in most other chamberings. Octagonal rifling provides a better gas seal in relatively large diameter rifled bores, since an octagon resembles a circle more closely than a hexagon.

The Glock 21 is a .45 ACP version of the Glock 20 designed primarily for the American market. Compared to the Glock 20 chambered in 10mm Auto, the slide of the Glock 21 is lighter to compensate for the lower-energy .45 ACP cartridge. The standard Glock 21 magazine is of the single-position-feed, staggered-column type with a capacity of 13 rounds.

The Glock 21SF is a version of the Glock 21 that utilizes the Short Frame (SF) which is based on the standard G21 frame (same width), but reduces the trigger reach from the back of the grip by 2.5 mm (0.098 in) and the heel of the pistol is shortened by 4 mm (0.16 in) so the trigger can be reached and operated better by users with relatively small hands.

The Sass

Mirror Mk01

Mirror Mk02

Mirror Mk03

Mirror Mk04

Mirror Mk05

A mirror is an object that reflects light in such a way that, for incident light in some range of wavelengths, the reflected light preserves many or most of the detailed physical characteristics of the original light. This is different from other light-reflecting objects that do not preserve much of the original wave signal other than color and diffuse reflected light.

Mirror Magick

Samhain is a time to do some serious divination – it’s the time of year when the veil between our world and that of the spirits is at its thinnest, and that means it’s the perfect season to look for messages from the metaphysical. Scrying is one of the best known forms of divination, and can be done in a variety of ways. Basically, it’s the practice of looking into some sort of reflective surface — such as water, fire, glass, dark stones, etc. — to see what messages, symbols, or visions may appear. A scrying mirror is a simple black-backed mirror, and it’s easy to make one yourself.

Any mirror can be enchanted by the Sun to become a magick mirror. They can be portals into other realms, they can be used for divination, or for spells, and they can be used to reflect a spell back onto the sender. I personally don’t recommend using a mirror to reflect baneful energy back to the sender and I wouldn’t post a spell that can cause harm to another.

Why not use a mirror to reflect back baneful energy? Here are some reasons:

  • 1. Sometimes, the problems we are encountering are not actually being created by an outside force, but are manifestations of unhealthy habits or thoughts from within ourselves. If you use mirror magick to reflect back the unwanted energy to it’s source, then you would be attacking yourself. You would be causing harm to yourself.
  • 2. Sometimes we are effected by a stream of energy that has been unintentionally directed at us. A person who is not adept at witchcraft could easily send out baneful energy willy-nilly after unwittingly creating a Cone of Power though intense anger or rage without conscious intention of harm. If you, as a witch consciously return that energy to the sender, you are harming someone who meant you no harm.
  • 3. The Law of Three will return the harmful energy you three-fold. The basic laws of magick are that everything you do causes something to happen. Whatever you do comes back to you.
  • 4. If you are being consciously attacked by someone who is adept at focusing and channeling energy, then you can be sure that they are also adept at sensing the energy reflected back. So then, the attacker would reflect the reflected energy back at you, and then you would reflect the energy back. Do you see where this is going? You would end up with a battle of energy balls being fired back and forth forever.
  • 5. If you consciously put up mirror barriers with the intention of sending back harmful energy, you will awaken the attention of the Watchtower Guardians. Mirror energy passes through the Astral Plane and comes to the immediate attention of the Guardians where it is dealt with immediately. If you are sending back harmful energy the Guardians perceive it as “attack” energy sent towards a specific target. The Guardians will follow the energy source back to you and deal with it.

The Lost Bearded White Brother

Language is much more than words. It involves our ability to recognize and use words and sentences. Much of this capability resides in the left hemisphere of the brain. When a person has a stroke or other injury that affects the left side of the brain, it typically disrupts their ability to use language.

Through language, we:

  • Communicate our inner thoughts, desires, intentions and motivations.
  • Understand what others say to us.
  • Ask questions.
  • Give commands.
  • Comment and interchange.
  • Listen.
  • Speak.
  • Read.
  • Write.

A stroke that affects the left side of the brain may lead to aphasia, a language impairment that makes it difficult to use language in those ways. Aphasia can have tragic consequences.

People with aphasia:

  • May be disrupted in their ability to use language in ordinary circumstances.
  • May have difficulty communicating in daily activities.
  • May have difficulty communicating at home, in social situations, or at work.
  • May feel isolated.

Scientists and clinicians who study how language is stored in the brain have learned that different aspects of language are located in different parts of the left hemisphere. For example, areas in the back portions allow us to understand words. When a stroke affects this posterior or back part of the left hemisphere, people can have great difficulty understanding what they hear or read.

Imagine going to a foreign country and hearing people speaking all around you. You would know they were using words and sentences. You might even have an elemental knowledge of that language, allowing you to recognize words here and there, but you would not have command of the language and couldn’t follow most conversation. This is what life is like for people with comprehension problems.

People with comprehension problems:

  • Know that people are speaking to them.
  • Can follow some of the melody of sentences – realizing if someone is asking a question or expressing anger.
  • May have great difficulty understanding specific words.
  • May have great difficulty understanding how words go together to convey a complete thought.

Norma

Bell Mk01

BellMk02

Bells are like the Voice of the Goddess. When you ring one, it brings the Divine’s attention to you. And your attention to the Divine!

A bell with a lovely tone will call beautiful, healing energy to you. Bells can also be used to clear energy. At the end of a ritual is a good time for this, but if unwanted energy crops up during a ritual, you can use the bell to disperse it.

Hundreds of years ago, rural folks knew that loud noise drove away evil spirits, and the bell is a prime example of a good noisemaker. The ringing of a bell causes vibrations which are the source of great power. Variations on the bell include the shaking of a sistrum, a ritual rattle, or the use of a singing bowl. All of these can help bring harmony to a magical circle. In some forms of Wicca, the bell is rung to begin or end a rite, or to evoke the Goddess.

The Bell

When setting up your alter, some of you may notice a bell included among things you should have. You may also see it called for in some rituals or spells that you may work with. You may also see it used as a symbol for Wicca. So where did this tradition come from, what does it mean, and why do we use it still today?

In ancient times the bell was believed to rid an area of negative entaties or energies. This can still be a purpose for it today. I have seen cleansing rituals that still involve using a bell to drive away spirits. In ancient times they use to hang the bells on doors and leave them strategically placed around the house to help keep away negative spirits and energy. This is a practice that you will still see used in households today.

When a bell is cleansed and consecrated to be used as a magickal tool, it is believed that it can help to purify everyone that is present when it rings. For this reason, you will often see it used today at the beginning or ending of rituals that we do. Before beginning any magickal working you can ring the bell to rid any negative energies, and call the attention of the spirits you wish to summon in your workings.

The vibration of the bell can help to stimulate the energy in your environment. It also helps to set your intention and inform your subconscious of the actions you wish to take. For those of you who may have a harder time with meditation the ringing of a bell can make entering meditation easier.

The bell traditionally is symbolic of the Great Goddess. The bell can be used during ritual to help invoke the Goddess. You may also see it used at each of the four quarters when calling quarters during ritual. If you choose to place a bell on your altar most traditions agree that it should be located on the left of your altar. The bell corresponds to the element water, and is a feminine energy. While you will not see it used by all witches or Wiccans, the bell is a tool that can be given importance in your magickal workings if you so choose and treat it as a magickal tool.

The Lost Bearded White Brother

Celebrating the Litha – Summer Solstice

Participants

High Priest
High Priestess

Material Needed

Traditional Foods: Garden fresh fruits and vegetables are made into a variety of dishes and eaten by Pagan’s who choose to celebrate this day.

Herbs and Flowers: Mugwort, Vervain, Chamomile, Rose, Honeysuckle, Lily, Oak, Lavender, Ivy, Yarrow, Fern, Elder, Wild Thyme, Daisy, Carnation.

Honey: Our lovely bees are now making honey. Midsummer full moon is known as the ‘Honey Moon’ for the mead made from honey now available. This is often part of handfastings performed at the Summer Solstice. Mead is regarded as the divine solar drink, with magical and life-restoring properties. Drink to celebrate and toast the life-giving abundance of the Sun.

Incense: Lemon, Myrrh, Pine, Rose, Wisteria.

Woods Burned: Oak.

Sacred Gemstone: Emerald.

Before The Ceremony

High Priest

Clean the tools and ingredients with Copal-Cinnamon incense.

Statement Of Intent

High Priest

The Goddess at Litha

At the Summer Solstice, the Goddess is the Generous Mother, Freya, Flora, Habondia, she who gives life and fruitfulness to all her children. Everything in nature is generous – otherwise we could not live. The apple tree makes hundreds of apples every year, when only one seed in one apple would be enough to reproduce the tree. Bees make honey so that the hive can survive the winter, but they keep on working all summer long, storing enough to share. Life could exist without climbing roses, striped butterflies, songbirds, raspberries, or wildflowers, but the Goddess keeps making new forms of beauty for us to enjoy.

The Goddess at Summer Solstice gives us not just what we need, but extra. We can feel close to her by being generous, giving more than were asked to give, and doing more than just our fair share. That way, we make abundance for all.

The rose is the Goddess symbol at this time of year. Roses bloom abundantly in June, and we can take joy in their sweet scent and the lovely colors of their petals.

Opening Of Circle

Together

(Walking clockwise from East)

By the air that is her breath
By the fire that is her bright spirit
By the living waters of her womb
And by the earth that is her body
The circle is cast,

(Tie the knot of the circle)

So Mote It Be!

Invoking The Watchtowers

Together

East (Air)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East,
The powers of air.

We welcome you all to our circle today.

So Mote It Be!

South (Fire)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South,
The powers of fire.

We welcome you all to our circle today.

So Mote It Be!

West (Water)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West,
The powers of water.

We welcome you all to our circle today.

So Mote It Be!

North (Earth)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North,
The powers of earth.

We welcome you all to our circle today.

So Mote It Be!

Invoke The God And Goddess

High Priest

I now do call the Eternal God to our circle today, send thy Spirit forth! Pierce our Sacred Circle with thy vibrant presence. Flow through our bodies this day. Blessed be the Eternal God.

High Priestess

I call the Eternal Goddess to our circle today, send thy Spirit forth! Pierce our Sacred Circle with thy vibrant presence. Flow through our bodies this day. Blessed be the Eternal Goddess.

High Priest

The Circle is cast; we are between the worlds. In this place that is not a place, in this time that is not a time, with a willing suspension of disbelief, we consider the possible, explore the probable, and question the truth.

So mote it be!

Together

May the place of this rite be consecrated before the gods. Eternal Gods and Goddesses of Nature are with us.

Blessed Be!

High Priestess

Be with us here, O beings of the Air may your warmth bring us love and success!

(High priestess lights incense)

High Priest

Be with us here, O beings of the Fire may your presence give us the strength so that our future is bright!

(High priest consecrates and lights the large candle)

High Priestess

Be with us here, O beings of the Water may your presence enlighten us with your wisdom!

(All drink sherry from the glass)

High Priest

Be with us here, O beings of the Earth may your presence bring us joy that will be long lasting!

(High priest scatters salt on altar)

Ceremony Begins

High Priestess

All through the first half of the year, since his birth at the Winter Solstice, the God has been growing into this life in the visible, tangible world. Now, at the Summer Solstice, he transforms. The daylight is longest and strongest at this time, but now the power of night must begin to grow again. Everything and everyone who fulfills their purpose must change. The God dies in this world in order to be born into the Otherworld. Before, he was awake in this world and asleep in the Dreamworld. Now he becomes the Dreamer, asleep in this world but awake in the world of dreams and visions, the seed of what will come to be in this world. He becomes the Messenger, carrying our hopes and prayers to the spirit realms.

Blessed Be!

High Priest

Behold the God and Goddess, Lord of the Forest and his Bride, once again the Earth is blessed by their presence.

So mote it be!

High Priestess

This is the time of purification, and a renewing of life. This is the time of the quickening. At this time and in this place between the worlds, I come into the presence of the Lord and the Lady that I may gain wise and truthful counsel.

Blessed Be!

Together

Every beginning has an ending, and every ending is a new beginning. In Life is Death, and in Death is Life. Watch over us, loved ones, and all of our Brothers and Sisters, here and departed, who, tonight are joined together again for fellowship and celebration. Bless us all as we light our bonfires, our hearth fires, and the eternal fires in our hearts. Guide us and protect us, tonight and throughout the coming year.

Blessed Be! Blessed Be!

High Priest

Places a pinch of salt on each member’s tongue. My body is salt, taste the breath of death.

High Priestess

You are entering a space of perfect freedom as each visualizes their hopes for their life to come with the coming of the Sun, places a drop of honey on each member’s tongue. Taste the sweetness of life.

Together

Looking at the candle I who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun’s birthday! (repeat)

This is the birthday of life and love and wings, and the great joyous happening inimitably earth. We are born again, we shall live again! (repeat).

The Sun Child, the Winterborn King!

High Priest

Lord, You who is the freedom of the wild things, the bright sun that lights the day, the mystery of the forest, he resolve in the heart of humanity, we welcome you in our midst for you are the body of nature who gives life to the universe. We thank thee for all the good and the bad that happened to us in the past year. The good as it makes our lives happier. The bad as it makes our souls stronger and strengthen our resolve to do better.

So mote it be!

Together

So mote it be!

High Priestess

The old solar year has run its course and completed its cycle. So has some of our habits or traits completed their cycles and outlived their usefulness. This is a time for shedding that which is no longer needed. Take a few moments now to consider which things you would leave behind as you go into the coming year.

So blessed be!

(Pause)

As the old year dies away so to will these old ways will fade into memory.

So mote it be!

Together

So mote it be!

Together

(Consecrates the assorted small candles with oil and then light them)

Water, Air, Fire, Earth
We celebrate the Sun’s rebirth
On this dark and longest night
We burn the sacred candles bright

We thank thee for the light of the sun
Hail to thee, O Great Horned One

So mote it be!

Spellwork

(Spellwork & Magic are anything but supernatural for most Wiccans and Pagans. Learn about magical theory, how energy is manipulated, choosing your magical name, herb and candle magic, and protection rituals. Also covered: should you pay someone else to cast a spell for you?)

(This is a Midsummer Charm to help bring abundance to your kitchen, joyous celebration, bonfire, barbeque and feel free to include dancing, clapping and music)

Conclusion

High Priest

May the rest of this year bring us happiness! We shall never forget the turning of the wheel, only then in the forgetfulness and neglect will it fail us.

So mote it be!

Together

So mote it be!

High Priestess

By earth and water, air and fire hearken onto my desire my home be charged by magic charm safe protected from all harm blessed with health, vitality by Sun and Earth, by three times three in love and trust.

So mote it be!

High Priest

By this act of faith I proclaim my belief in my place on the Eternal cycle of life blessed be the Great Rite the God and Goddess reign eternal.

Dismiss Watchtowers

Together

We thank you for joining our ceremony today. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell, and harm ye none on your way.

So Mote It Be

North (Earth)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North.
The powers of earth.

We thank you all for joining our ceremony today. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell, and harm ye none on your way.

So Mote It Be!

West (Water)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West.
The powers of water.

We thank you all for joining our ceremony today. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell,aAnd harm ye none on your way.

So Mote It Be!

South (Fire)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South.
The powers of fire.

We thank you all for joining our ceremony today. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell, and harm ye none on your way.

So Mote It Be!

East (Air)

Hail to thee Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East.
The powers of air.

We thank you all for joining our ceremony today. As ye depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell,and harm ye none on your way.

So Mote It Be!

Open The Circle

Together

(First cut the knot. Walking counterclockwise from East.)

By the air that is her breath
By the earth that is her body
By the living waters of her womb
And by the fire that is her bright spirit
The circle is open but not unbroken.

May the joy of the Goddess live in our hearts
Merry Meet,
Merry Part,
And Merry Meet Again!

The Lost Bearded White Brother

Current Research

Many researchers are investigating the characteristics of apraxia of speech and the most effective treatment methods. Below are a couple of the recent findings:

  • Sound Production Treatment: Articulatory-kinematic treatments have the strongest evidence of their use in treating Acquired Apraxia of Speech. These treatments use the facilitation of movement, positioning, timing, and articulators to improve speech production. Sound Production Treatment (SPT) is an articulatory-kinematic treatment that has received more research than many other methods. It combines modeling, repetition, minimal pair contrast, integral stimulation, articulatory placement cueing, and verbal feedback. It was developed to improve the articulation of targeted sounds in the mid-1990s. SPT shows consistent improvement of trained sounds in trained and untrained words. The best results occur with eight to ten exemplars of the targeted sound to promote generalization to untrained exemplars of trained sounds. In addition, maintenance effects are the strongest with 1-2 months post-treatment with sounds that reached high accuracy during treatment. Therefore, the termination of treatment should not be determined by performance criteria, and not by the number of sessions the client completes, in order to have the greatest long-term effects. While there are many parts of SPT that should receive further investigation, it can be expected that it will improve the production of targeted sounds for speakers with apraxia of Speech.
  • Repeated Practice & Rate/Rhythm Control Treatments: Julie Wambaugh’s research focuses on clinically applicable treatments for acquired apraxia of speech. She recently published an article examining the effects of repeated practice and rate/rhythm control on sound production accuracy. Wambaugh and colleagues studied the effects of such treatment for 10 individuals with acquired apraxia of speech. The results indicate that repeated practice treatment results in significant improvements in articulation for most clients. In addition, rate/rhythm control helped some clients, but not others. Thus, incorporating repeated practice treatment into therapy would likely help individuals with AOS.

Norma

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