Tyr is the symbol of the warrior. This rune most represents masculine force and potency, and frequently victory in battle. Beware though, for this rune represents directly the Norse god whose name it bears – Tyr stands out in legend for having sacrificed his hand that he might bind Fenrir, a monstrous wolf that threatens to swallow the world. As such, this rune is known to portend a great victory that can be bought with a terrible sacrifice. Tyr is also the god of law, frequently placed in such position above Odin. In this aspect, protection of justice may be had by this rune.
Month: July 2012
Today’s Tarot Card for July 17 is Judgment
Judgment
This Tarot Deck: Medieval Cat
General Meaning: What has traditionally been known as the Judgment card, sometimes entitled Resurrection, represents the great reunion that the ancients believed would happen once in every age. This was the time when souls are harvested and taken Home to their place of origin, outside the solar system. Then the World is seeded with a batch of new souls and the process starts over.
From a modern point of view, this great reunion — which includes every personality that you have ever been and every soul that you have done deep work with — reunites to consciously complete the process. In a way, we symbolically celebrate this returning to center every year on our birthday.
In personal terms, the Judgment cards points to freedom from inner conflicts, and so clear a channel, that the buried talents and gifts of past incarnations can come through an individual in this lifetime. This card counsels you to trust the process of opening yourself, because what emerges is of consistently high quality. You can effortlessly manifest as a multi-dimensional being, and assist in evoking that response from others.
Daily Horoscopes for Tuesday, July 17
There is more going on than meets the eye as intense emotions rise to the surface. We may try to put a positive spin on everything now that energetic Mars harmoniously trines buoyant Jupiter. However, a controlling Mars-Pluto square indicates that a power struggle might be unavoidable. Meanwhile, the moody Cancer Moon tempts us to suppress our emotions as she makes a series of harsh alignments. Expressing hidden anger is healthier than hiding it.
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)
Stopping long enough to let your emotions settle down is a great idea, even if it isn’t an easy path to follow. You could be moody today and fixing for a fight, especially if circumstances aren’t going your way. Unfortunately, you cannot find a sensible target for your aggression — and this is exactly why you should take a few deep breaths and chill out. Expressing your feelings is essential to your mental health.
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)
This is a wonderful day for a quick getaway, but you might not have the time to do anything about it. Still, go ahead and create small pockets of solitude for spiritual rejuvenation. Try going for a walk, sitting in meditation or practicing yoga. Give yourself enough space to listen to your own inner voice rather than the stressful demands of others.
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)
It’s often not easy for you to relax and today you may be dealing with even more stress than usual. Fortunately, you correctly sense that things are changing, but it won’t be an overnight turnaround. You might feel as if others will be in your way for a while. In the meantime, don’t vent your frustrations on innocent bystanders or ignore the situations that trigger your resentment. Create a middle path and try to stay on it.
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)
Although you may feel the upbeat energy today, annoying distractions prevent you from being as positive as you like. Perhaps someone is being more demanding than normal. You might even be drawn into an argument with others who are already fighting amongst themselves to see who is king of the hill. Ironically, you could make the best leader of all if you’re willing to stand up and fight for your beliefs.
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
Your feelings are running through some very deep waters today and it might just make you somewhat uncomfortable if others unwittingly step into your emotional turmoil. Your confidence is shaky now, but your actions could speak a very different story as you roar your way through the day. Remember that false bravado won’t make your certainty return any sooner; it only alienates you from those who want to help. Showing your vulnerability can be a positive step toward developing greater intimacy.
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
Nothing will be gained by pushing the river, for the water will ultimately arrive at the sea in its own time. The same now applies to your life. Try not to push others to react faster than they can, for it won’t help your cause as you move into your next phase. Instead, be as open and flexible as possible. When others feel supported, they will be more willing to cooperate with you.
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
This can be a day for intense emotional interactions as you confront the gulf between your thoughts and feelings. These conversations could even be expressed as a dialogue between two inner voices. Take a chance in a relationship and open up to another person, but avoid being too dependent on logic alone. Remember, you need both the objective and subjective sides of reality today to round out your experience.
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
Social interactions might bring up your insecurities, adding more drama to an already intense day. You may feel as if you are engaged in a battle that you must win, but the truth is that your fears are making the situation more problematic today. Instead of overreacting with unrestrained passion, seek ways to salve the open wounds and slow down your own emotional rollercoaster.
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
You feel a boost of enthusiasm from your key planet Jupiter today, but the buzz isn’t long-lasting. There are bigger issues developing and even if you believe that you have passed through the eye of the storm, there is still more turmoil to come. You could inadvertently make a situation worse by attempting to bring an unresolved matter to a premature conclusion. It’s better to just let the energy take its own course without trying to control the outcome.
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Your feelings are much clearer now as you get a fresh perspective on the events of the past few days. But your current view of reality may be influenced by your unexpressed emotions as you struggle between the thoughts in your head and the desires of your heart. Lean on your friends for support instead of pushing them away. Trusting someone else enables you to trust yourself.
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Fire up your intellect for a little bit of fun and break out of old routines wherever you go. Enjoy the show as you actively engage everyone in intense conversations to gain perspective on your own feelings. However, avoid negotiations that require detached analysis today, as it will be difficult to separate your logical thoughts from your irrational needs now.
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
You are highly enthused and could even be passionate enough today to take a risk in a conversation or email exchange with someone you want to know better. Listen to your heart, even if you hear your fears trying to talk you out of expressing your desires. Just remember to give others enough latitude so they can be comfortable to share whatever they feel, too.
Calendar of the Moon for July 17
Calendar of the Moon
Holly Tree Month
Colors: Iron-grey, red, and dark green.
Element: Fire
Altar: Upon cloth of dark grey set many sprigs of holly, real or created, four red candles, a spear and a sword.
Offerings: Honor your inner warrior, including examining the areas where s/he overreacts.
Daily Meal: Red food. Meat of any kind.
Tinne Invocation
Call: Hail the month of the Holly King!
Response: Hail the King of the waning year!
Call: Hail, sharp leaves and sharper eye!
Response: Hail, white flowers that give way to blood-red berries!
Call: Hail the month of the starling’s flock!
Response: For the starlings move together as one!
Call: Like them, we defend what is dear to us!
Response: Like them, we do not let each other stand alone against opposition!
Call: Hail the color of cold iron!
Response: Hail the sword and the spear!
Call: For our sword is Reason….
Response: And our spear is the death of Illusion!
Call: Hail the color of cold iron!
Response: Hail the armor and the shield!
Call: For our armor is Hope….
Response: And our shield is Love.
Call: The Oak King gives way to the Holly King…
Response: For all things have a time of increase, and a time of decrease.
Call: For all things wax and wane.
Response: For all things rise and fall.
Call: This is the moment just beyond the year’s apex!
Response: This is the time of the beginning of the end!
Call: May we take courage with every passing morning!
Response: May courage fill us with every breath!
Chant:
Spear of truth, find me,
I open myself to you.
Chains of honor, bind me,
Bound, I am free to hold true.
Calendar of the Sun for July 17
Calendar of the Sun
Solstitium
Colors: Green and gold
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of green and gold set flowers and herbs in pots, a bowl of rainwater, a large pitcher of manure tea, and several empty baskets.
Offerings: Water and fertilizer, to be added to the garden.
Daily Meal: Vegetarian.
Solstitium Invocation
Earth, you begin to give forth your bounty!
Like the maiden blossoming into the mother,
Like the youth growing into the father,
You yield your children up to us
For our sustenance and health,
As we are also your children.
We will not waste your gifts!
We will nurture what you bring forth
With the labor of our hands,
That those gifts shall be sustained
Year after year, and that you shall
Never be exhausted.
We will not be ungrateful, O Earth whose life is ours,
But we will give back as much as we take,
For this is the way of balance.
Chant:
Life harnessed
Call the sun to us
Sacred harvest
You are one with us
(Two who have been chosen to do the work of the ritual take up the rainwater and the manure tea, and carry them out to the garden, where they are ceremonially poured around the roots of the herbs and vegetables. All others follow with the empty baskets, and harvest some thing from the garden, whether a token or a main part of the next meal. After this, each should do some part of the work of further watering, or fertilizing, or mulching, to give back to the earth as much as is taken away.)
Current Moon Phase for July 17th – Waning Crescent
Waning Crescent
(8% illumination)
The Moon is current in the zodiac sign of Cancer
This is a time to rest, reevaluate and reflect, pulling back into yourself to reconnect with inner sources of strength. Now is not a time to initiate anything new. It’s a phase suited to spending time with friends and getting in touch with the “big picture.” A window of opportunity exists for seeing your life objectively and becoming aware of what is important to you. At this point, what are your dreams and aspirations? What larger goals can you aspire to that will bring vitality and excitement into your life? This is a time for resting and gaining inner strength to prepare for a new cycle.
Good Tuesday Morning, Lads & Lasses! Our Troubles Are Drifting In The Wind! Thank The Goddess!
Good Morning, my dear, dear, friends! I believe the above quote says it all, “Thank you for your love, patience and support.”
I will keep this short. We (WordPress and I) have been getting the problem fixed on the blog. I am hoping it is fixed and everything will work the way it is suppose to. If not, we might be forced to change templates. I hope this is not the case, because I haven’t gotten use to this one yet, lol!
Anyway, have a super fantastic Tuesday, sweeties!
*I’ll leave you with a blessing that will make you go, huh?*
Here’s to you and yours
And to mine and ours.
And if mine and ours
Ever come across to you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!
‘THINK on THESE THINGS’ for July 16
‘THINK on THESE THINGS’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler
There are many fears in the minds of man, but none so subtle, yet so effectual, as fear of failure.
We are so afraid we’ve been unwise and wasted valuable time and it makes us wonder how many times we’ve failed those who depended upon us, and how many times we’ve failed ourselves.
Time seems too short to make up and overcome the things long past. It seems sometimes that opportunities are there and gone before we’ve had time to make use of them. We condemn ourselves so much for the lack of knowledge when we most needed it. But if decisions were made on after thought, they might not be as wise as those made quickly, without time to think.
We should no longer think about past failures, nor give undue thought to our chances for future ones, but only begin now to do the very best we can.
True failure comes only to those who stop trying, for no age, no time, no place can stop the person who decides to try one more time. As Frederick William Farrar, English author, has written, “There is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.”
*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*<<<=-=>>>*
Available online! ‘Cherokee Feast of Days’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler.
Visit her web site to purchase the wonderful books by Joyce as gifts for yourself or for loved ones……and also for those who don’t have access to the Internet:
http://www.hifler.com
Click Here to Buy her books at Amazon.com
Elder’s Meditation of the Day
By White Bison, Inc., an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization. Order their many products from their web site: http://www.whitebison.org
Elder’s Meditation of the Day July 16
Elder’s Meditation of the Day July 16
“Grandfather says…you must not hurt anybody or do harm to anyone. You must not fight. Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.”
–Wovoka, PAIUTE
The question one should ask themselves is: Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy? If you want to be right, this is a request from your ego. If you want to be happy then this is of the Great Spirit. The only meaning anything has is the meaning we give it. Maybe we should develop a philosophy of: Today is the last day of the rest of my life. If this were true, how easy it would be to let things go – how easy it would be to forgive.
Oh Great Spirit, let me live today as if it was my last. Let me express Your joy and be happy today. Let me see the joy and honor of living on the Red Road.
July 16 – Daily Feast
July 16 – Daily Feast
If time were a dollar – how careful we would be with how we spent it. We wouldn’t spend it on worry, for we know fretting is not profitable. Anything limited makes us conscious of what we do with it, whether it is time or money or the people in our lives. How we value what we have decides what we keep. The Cherokee doesn’t want many things, but they know the wise are, I yv da, careful or mindful of what is important. Such caution teaches us to think before we talk, to slow our pace and find peace of mind. It eventually gives us more resources, and more time to enjoy them.
~ If we could have spared more, we would have given more…. ~
CANASSATEGO
‘A Cherokee Feast of Days’, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler
Daily Motivator for July 16 – As you choose to be
As you choose to be
You don’t have to let the surroundings and occurrences of your world bring you stress. You can choose to give them love and appreciation.
Instead of handing out judgments about every little frustration, annoyance and disturbance, you can exude peace and positive purpose. Instead of letting life get to you, let real, authentic joy flow forth from you.
You are perfectly capable of being ever peaceful, even though you may not always be in peaceful surroundings. You are easily and naturally able to be continually positive, regardless of what may come your way.
The quality of your life in every moment is your decision. Peace is not a place or even an external condition, but a choice of how you are.
Let go of conflicting thoughts about how life is supposed to be. Live life simply and purely as you choose to be.
Enjoy the immense richness that is always within you, and around you, and extending infinitely out from you. Choose love, peace, joy and positive purpose in every moment, and feel how outstandingly good it is to give life your very best.
— Ralph Marston
Daily Words of the Buddha for July 16
Daily Words of the Buddha
“As I am, so are others;
as others are, so am I.”
Having thus identified self and others,
harm no one nor have them harmed.
Sutta Nipata 705
Daily OM for July 16 – Uncover Your True Face
Uncover Your True Face
Underneath the Mask
Many of us know the feeling of being stuck in a particular role within our families, as if we are wearing masks whenever we see the people we love. Maybe we are the good daughters, expected to always please others, or perhaps we are the family clowns, expected to be jovial and make everyone laugh. This same scenario can play out within a work situation or a group of friends. We may be so good at our role that we hardly even notice that we are wearing a mask, and yet, deep down, we know that we are not free to simply be who we really are. This can leave us feeling unseen and uneasy.
There is nothing inherently wrong with wearing a mask or playing a role. It is a natural part of any social dynamic and it can even be creative and fun. It only becomes a problem when you feel that you have no other choice than to wear that mask, and this is especially challenging if you realize you are never without one. Perhaps you have forgotten who you really are-a vast and unrestricted being of light-and have identified yourself completely with a role. You may be the dutiful, caring son who keeps his parents’ dysfunctional marriage intact. You may be the angelic wife who enables your husband to continue on a destructive path. You may be the cheerful daughter to a deeply depressed mother. Whatever the case, knowing the motivation behind your performance-the function of your mask-can help to uncover your true face.
Anytime we find ourselves stuck behind a mask, it is an indication that we are entangled in a dysfunctional dynamic in which our true self cannot be seen. We have been placed in this situation for the purpose of our own healing and, in some cases, the healing of others. From this perspective, life can be seen as a series of situations that call us to remove our masks-gently, and with great compassion for all concerned-to reveal the beauty underneath.
Spell Caster’s Affirmation
Spell Caster’s Affirmation
There is one Presence and Power in the Universe
That manifests to me as Goddess and as God
It guides the stars and the planets
It guides me and moves through my life
For I am a perfect incarnation of God /dess
And a perfect priest/ess of God/dess
I am a complete manifestation of this power
I release all imbalanced energy and it’s effects
I harness harmonious energy
And shape it for the good of all
In accordance with free will
With ease and with joy
With love and kindness
So mote it be
Before You Start A Spell….Start Your Energy Engine!
Before You Start A Spell….Start Your Energy Engine!
You need to be able to concentrate to will the manifestation of spells.
Exercises for concentration
1) Light a candle on the table before you. Look (not stare) at the flame for a
few minutes. Close your eyes and hold the image in you mind for as long as you
can before you conscious mind intrudes.
2) Do the flame exercise once again and once you have the flame in your mind
change the size shape and color of the flame. Summon associated images and
follow them through.
3) Take a picture, place it at eye level, and follow the directions for 1. 4) Do 3 again, but when you have the picture in your mind, make it move, change
it and follow any related imagery through.
Notes on Meditation – meditation centers and grounds you.
Meditation can teach you many things about yourself, your abilities, and the
world around you.
Soft wordless music can help in meditation.
The fewer distractions the better.
Be in a comfortable position, but not one you will fall asleep in.
Do not try to meditate when sleepy, you´ll just fall asleep.
Close your eyes and encircle yourself with protective light, normally white.
Use a staircase, a bridge, a cave, any crossing over symbol you wish, to start
your trip into a different consciousness.
Talk to those you meet if you wish.
Try any thing that feels right to you.
If at any time you become uncomfortable with what is happening reaffirm the
protective light and leave.
You can search out and meet your anima/animus this way if you wish.
You can even meet a guide.
Alpha State –
Close your eyes and center yourself.
On a screen of the inside of your forehead see a large red 7.
Then count down, seeing the numbers on the inside of your forehead,
orange 6,
yellow 5,
green 4,
blue 3,
indigo 2,
violet 1.
Feel each color´s vibration. Once you reach violet 1 then keeping the color violet in you mind count backwards from 10-1.
Then say to yourself “Now I am in Alpha state all I do will be for the good and
harm no one.” Do what you wish now, spellwork, concentration manifestations, etc.
To leave Alpha state first give yourself a total health clearance by removing
everything yucky from your system with your mind (passing a hand across your body and visualizing any stress or illness leaving you works well) then count from violet 1 to red 7.
Then count up from 1-10 keeping the red in your mind, take a few deep breaths and open your eyes.
To get into instant Alpha, when in Alpha decide upon a sign that you can use to go directly into Alpha with your eyes open (useful for use when driving).
To neutralize threats through use of Alpha State, go into Alpha visualize
threats and cross them out with white x´s.
A Wiccan or Pagan Hail Mary
A Wiccan or Pagan Hail Mary
Goddess grant me the vision to see beyond the illusions of this world
grant me the ears to hear beyond the words to the true meaning
and grant me a voice in which I can speak truth and compassion
in your name.
So Mote it be.
Written in August 1995
By Devlyn Moonstar
Flea Prevention & Holistic Treatments for Cats
Flea Prevention & Holistic Treatments for Cats
by Celeste Yarnall
There’s so much that is done to our cats that is accepted and mediocre—so much so that few ever challenge it, especially Western trained veterinarians. But some of these habitual protocols done so mindlessly and often have turned out to be quite harmful for our cats. One of those is the routine use of chemical flea products. Let’s look at what we see advertised today routinely.
Flea collars (whether herbal or insecticidal) don’t work!
They don’t kill fleas, and they don’t even particularly repel them, except for the area right around the collar. The grocery/pet store variety contains concentrated toxic chemicals, and the herbal ones are irritating to odor-sensitive cats. Topical (spot-on or pour-on) flea preventatives are associated with liver disease and other adverse effects in cats. Permethrin, pyrethrin, or pyrethroid-containing products intended for dogs are extremely toxic to cats and have caused many feline deaths. Putting a dog flea product on a cat causes neurological signs (twitching, disorientation, seizures) that ultimately kill about 10 percent of cats.
Healthy cats eating a balanced, properly supplemented raw meat and raw bone diet are much less susceptible to fleas and other parasites. If your cat is experiencing a flea problem, work on improving your cat’s overall health and deal with the immediate parasite situation. This is a “holistic” approach in the truest sense of the word!
The conventional thinking that fleas are the problem is like saying “flies cause garbage” just because the two are often found together. It is the unhealthy state of the animal that attracts the parasites, just like garbage attracts flies.
Fleas, those nasty little blood suckers, are tough, highly evolved parasites that, once entrenched, are not easily eliminated. Fleas are attracted to warmth, moving shadows, and the vibrations from foot (or paw) steps. When dealing with fleas, you need to protect your cat and reach fleas and larvae hiding in carpets and yards. Even exclusively indoor cats can get fleas, which travel in on peoples shoes and clothing. (Keeping your cat indoors, however, will eliminate the risk of ticks.) And removing shoes at your front door keeps fleas out and helps keep other germs out as well.
Adult fleas spend most of their time on the cat, where they feed on blood several times a day. Flea eggs are slippery and quickly fall off the cat and onto the cat’s resting areas, floors, rugs, bedding, and furniture. The eggs hatch and go through several intermediate stages before emerging as adults in as little as two weeks, but they may remain dormant for months. That’s why even if you get rid of the fleas on your cat, reinfestation is a common and very frustrating phenomenon.
A Three-Pronged Approach to Treating Fleas
Try this one-two-three punch to eradicate fleas from your—and your cat’s—life.
ON YOUR CAT:
Use an ultra-fine-tooth flea comb daily. Pay particular attention to the neck, tummy, and base of the tail, which are favorite flea hangouts. Have a glass or bowl full of warm, soapy water at hand to drown any fleas that turn up.
Bathe your cat. Bathing your cat will drown a lot of fleas, but apply soap around the ears and neck first to keep the fleas from rushing up to the cat’s head and face. The herb Erigeron Canadensis (Canadian fleabane), found in some herbal shampoos, will help kill fleas. Bathe no more than once a week.
IN YOUR HOME:
Floor/carpet treatments such as diatomaceous earth (the fossilized shells of one-celled organisms called diatoms) and boric acid–derived powders will kill flea larvae, primarily through dessication (drying). Exterminators use borates; you can either hire professionals to treat your home or do it yourself. For a serious flea problem, it may be worth paying a professional since their work is guaranteed. Vacuuming is very effective against flea eggs and might even catch a few adults. To keep the eggs from hatching or the fleas from escaping, discard the bag immediately or use a flea spray in the vacuum bag or container, (not on the cat) either before or right after you vacuum.
IN THE YARD:
Beneficial nematodes eat flea eggs and will help control flea populations outdoors.
Garden-grade diatomaceous earth is very effective. Concentrate on areas under shrubs and decks and other cool shady spots where animals (such as rodents, raccoons, and outdoor and feral cats) have access.
Be very careful about the so-called natural approaches to flea treatment such as the use of essential oils topically or internally for cats.
Remember essential oils can be very toxic to cats even though they are highly touted by so-called holistic pet experts. Do keep in mind that:
Cats’ livers do not have the necessary enzymes to break down and excrete certain chemical compounds in essential oils. The chemical compounds accumulate in a cat’s body and are sometimes toxic to the point of death. Cats are very sensitive to morphine, certain sulfanomides, salicylic acid (aspirin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), allyl propyl disulfide (onions) and compounds containing bezene (benzyl alcohol preservative). Avoid all of the following oils around cats:
Wintergreen and birch oils contain methyl salicylate, the same chemical compound in aspirin.
Phenol-containing oils: oregano, thyme, cinnamon (cassia), clove, savory, cedar, birch, and melaleuca (tea tree oil)
Ketones, such as sage
Monoterpene hydrocarbons pinene and limonene, most commonly found in the citrus and pine oils: lemon, orange, tangerine, mandarin, grapefruit, lime, bergamot, pine, spruce, and any fir oil. Many household cleaners and even pet products have these latter substances in them to make them smell nice to the owners.
Hydrosols are the appropriate form of essential oils to use in cats. Regardless, the cat should always be given a choice as to whether to “partake.” Forcing a cat to ingest oils that have not been tested for safety in their species seems most unwise and many essential oil people will do their best to tell you it is ok. However do not ever attempt this without a vet’s supervision at best.
Let’s only use foods and supplements that are safe and proven to be safe and effective for cats. The best oils for cats come from animal sources such as those that possess anti-inlammatory benefits such as Omega-3s from marine lipids which also help treat flea bite dermatitis.
For more holistic protocols for cats and information see The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care, An Illustrated Guide by Celeste Yarnall, PhD and Jean Hofve, DVM.
Opposition to Animal Testing on the Rise
Opposition to Animal Testing on the Rise
by Michael, selected from Ecorazzi
It seems more animal supporters are showing their true colors when it comes to speaking out against animal testing, PETA reports.
Since 2001, there has been a significant increase in those living in the United States who find animal testing “morally wrong.” The study can be found in the 2012 issue of Context, a research magazine of the American Sociological Association.
The research team included PETA, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Manhattanville College, where they “examined data collected in independent surveys by the Gallup organization from 2001 to 2011, in which approximately 1,000 American adults each year were asked whether they found “medical testing on animals” to be “morally acceptable” or “morally wrong.”
The results showed, in 2011, that 43 percent of adults found medical testing on animals “morally wrong.” This is a 10 percent increase since 2001.
The study also determined an increase in opposition by 25 percent – to a majority of 59 percent – to medical testing between 2001 and 2011 for those aged 18 to 29.
“This study clearly shows public opinion turning against cutting up, poisoning, and killing animals in experiments,” revealed Justin Goodman, the study co-author and associate director at PETA. “When nearly half of all those polled morally oppose animal testing, it’s time for a serious re-evaluation of how public funds are spent in our nation’s laboratories.”
To see further results, visit PETA.org.
Top 10 Signs of Cancer in Dogs and Cats
Top 10 Signs of Cancer in Dogs and Cats
by Nicolas, selected from petMD
Many people do not realize that cancer is not just a human condition — it affects our pets as well. In fact, cancer is the number one disease-related killer of dogs and cats. Dr. Lorie Huston tells her clients to be on the lookout for the following signs. While these symptoms are not purely indicative of cancer, if a pet begins to exhibit them you should visit your veterinarian immediately. Just like with people, the earlier cancer is caught the better.
10. Lumps and Bumps
Not all lumps and bumps on or under your dog or cat’s skin will be cancerous, but there is no way to know for sure without getting your veterinarian involved – this is especially important if the lump is not resolving itself or is growing in size. A needle biopsy is commonly done and a veterinary pathologist can let you know if the cells are cancerous or not.
9. Abnormal Odors
Offensive odors from your dog or cat’s mouth, ears, or any other part of your pet’s body, should be checked out. Oftentimes cancers of the mouth, nose, or anal regions can cause such foul odors.
8. Abnormal Discharges
Blood, pus, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other abnormal substance being discharged from any part of your pet’s body should be checked out by your veterinarian. In addition to that, if your dog or cat’s abdomen becomes bloated or distended it could be a sign of an accumulation of abnormal discharge within the body.
7. Non-Healing Wounds
If your pet has wounds or sores that are not healing, it could be a sign of infection, skin disease, or even cancer.
6. Weight Loss
Cancer is among the list of diseases that can cause weight loss in a pet. If you notice sudden weight loss in your dog or cat (and it is not currently on a diet), along with other signs from this list, be sure to mention it to your veterinarian.
5. Change in Appetite
Dogs and cats do not stop eating without a cause. While a lack of appetite does not automatically indicate cancer, it is still something to be discussed with your veterinarian. Oral tumors can also cause difficulty or pain when eating or swallowing.
4. Coughing or Difficulty Breathing
Coughing or abnormal breathing can be caused by heart disease, lung disease, and also cancer. Cancer can metastasize through the lungs and cause these symptoms.
3. Lethargy or Depression
If you notice your pet is not acting like itself – sleeping more, less playful, less willing to go on walks or to exercise – this can also be a sign of cancer. Once again, lethargy or depression is not a symptom confined to cancer, but an accumulation of any of these signs is reason enough to speak with your veterinarian.
2. Changes in Bathroom Habits
Changes in your pet’s urinary or bowel habits – difficulty using the bathroom, frequent bathroom use, blood in urine or stool – these are all potential signs of cancer.
1. Evidence of Pain
Limping or other evidence of pain while the pet is walking, running, or jumping is mostly associated with arthritic issues or joint or muscle diseases, but it can also be a sign of cancer (especially cancer of the bone).
Are Pets A Luxury?
Are Pets a Luxury?
by Nicolas, selected from petMD
Ever marveled at how much more livable your life is now that you’re lucky enough to have pets in it? Wondered how you could function without their presence? Yet you constantly field annoying comments questioning how much you spend on them, right? As if keeping pets was a mere luxury…
Driving to work early Sunday morning I caught a snippet of the American Public Radio show, On Being. Among other ontological tidbits, the guest, celebrated poet and scholar Elizabeth Alexander, addressed the following question: Is poetry a luxury?
Her answer, a thoughtful “no” to the notion of poetry’s ready dispensability for its elite or cushy connotations, was based primarily on its permanence as cultural touchstone through the ages. When did we not have poetry? This form of communication is purportedly as old as the earliest civilizations. Hence, it’s posited, we must harbor a quintessentially human need to engage in it.
Which, of course, got me to mulling over much the same with respect to our pets: Are they a luxury?
Excessive, indulgent, inessential, hedonistic, frilly, sumptuous, extravagant. Such are the adjectives the word, “luxury” denotes. None of which, I’d argue, apply to my own conception of the animals I keep as pets. Nor is it likely to jibe with your worldview of petdom — not if you consume animal infotainment, like this blog, on a regular basis.
After all, some of us don’t necessarily see animal keeping as a personal choice. We view animals among us as the result of the millennia old process of domestication — a complex, symbiotic relationship that serves as a significant measure of our humanity.
Which is perhaps why so many of us feel almost compelled to live alongside animals. This, despite the fact that with all our modern advances we’ve mostly “aged out” of keeping pets as ratters, hunters, and defenders (among other survival-based uses). Because, as the argument goes, there’s something so fundamentally co-evolutionary (about dogs and cats in particular) that we continue to forge lasting bonds with them in spite of the less pressing need to keep them close.
No, pets are decidedly not luxuries — not any more than anything else we might consider “essential” to our quality of life that can also be said to be a luxury. After all, we humans need no more than food, water, clothing and shelter to survive. All else is luxury, by that standard.
Yet I’m also convinced the same cannot be said for all pet owners (we all know who they are). Nor do I expect everyone to agree that pet keeping can possibly be essential. Pets, they’ll say, are nothing more than a self-indulgent drain on personal resources.
Though, to rebut the naysayers, I might offer the case of the old woman whose only reason to get out of bed is to feed her cat. I do understand the reasoning of those who wonder how far we as a society should go to shoulder the expenses not only of our human citizenry, but that of their animals as well.
Because if animals are deemed essential, non-luxury goods, our social services would surely expand to meet the demand for low income pet care. Which is sort of where we’re headed… for better or worse.
Then there’s the other end of the spectrum within the animal crowd: The puritanical animal rightists who believe pets are the ultimate luxury, and that keeping them “enslaved” to humans is no less morally egregious than wearing their fur or killing them (in the case of wolves) from helicopters for sport.
Moreover, the fact that we can and do subjugate them to our will and call them essential to our personal psyches and to our need to thrive is an affront to their own physical and psychological welfare.
High-volume arguments from both camps aside, it’s clear the case is thick as mud. All of which only serves to make me ponder this gem all the more: If pets are a luxury, what does that say about veterinary medicine?
Witches Of The Craft® 
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