Continuing on the idea of Reincarnation

I found this on the lds.org site:

"...The major Asian religions contain many truths and partial truths. Hinduism offers a multitude of examples. By 600 b.c. many Indian Hindu priests and philosophers believed in a doctrine labeled Karma-Samsara. Karma means action or acts, and refers to the accumulation of results a person reaps from his every act and thought, be it good or bad. There is a strong similarity between this and the “law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated.” (D&C 130:20.) The difference is that Hindus believe that the law of karma is absolutely unalterable. Their belief in Samsara, the wheel of rebirth or reincarnation, states that every person will be reborn into a status (which could be human, animal, or inanimate) that is the inevitable result of his actions. Thus, Hindus believe that people who are born into a high caste deserve to be where they are, and so with all creatures. We Latter-day Saints also believe we are born where we should be, but that a just and loving Father in heaven has decided where we can best perform in this mortal sphere of activity. We believe we reap the rewards of our actions, but we also believe in the atonement of Jesus. Were it not for this merciful provision, we would be left with nearly the same doctrine as the Hindus. That is, we would be left to eternally pay the price of our sins." -

New Era » 1975 » October
Latter-day Saints and Eastern Religions:
A Few Thoughts on Bridge Building

by R. Lanier Britsch


So, interesting stuff. At least to me... The balance of the sacrifice of Christ and our actions affecting our life (or lives?) seem very similar to Mercy and Justice working together for the soul's progression and benefit.

Another good link is this article about Hinduism from the lds.org site:
HERE.

I like getting new insights into things I may not have addressed in my belief system before, though I'm sure there are those that feel I'm deluded... But educating oneself is hardly resigning oneself to delusion.

Reincarnation???

So, I've thought about this a bit, and though I'm not saying I believe in reincarnation, I definitely am open to the idea. These quotes help me to keep that possibility in mind, because I am very far from what I consider a just being.

"If you do not cultivate yourselves, and cultivate your spirits in this state of existence, it is just as true as there is a God that liveth, you will have to go into another state of existence, and bring your spirits into subjection there. Now you may reflect upon it, you never will obtain your resurrected bodies, until you bring your spirits into subjection. I am not talking to this earthly house of mine, neither am I talking to your bodies, but I am speaking to your spirits. I am not talking as to people who are not in the house. Are not your spirits in the house? Are not your bodies your houses, your tabernacles or temples, and places for your spirits? Look at it; reflect upon it. If you keep your spirits trained according to the wisdom and fear of God, you will attain to the salvation of both body and spirit. I ask, then, if it is your spirits that must be brought into subjection? It is; and if you do not do that in these bodies, you will have to go into another estate to do it. You have got to train yourselves according to the law of God, or you will never obtain your resurrected bodies. Mark It!" - Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p.356

"When the elements in an organized form do not fill the end of their creation, they are thrown back again, like brother Kimball's old pottery ware, to be ground up, and made over again." –Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 1:, p.275 - 276 ibid

"During our talks he (Lorenzo Snow) told me that his sister, the late Eliza R. Snow Smith was a firm believer in the principle of reincarnation and that she claimed to have received it from Joseph the Prophet, her husband. He said he saw nothing unreasonable in it, and could believe it, if it came to him from the Lord or his oracle." - (Diary of Orson F. Whitney June 8, 1889)

"How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine, which I revealed to them, and which God revealed to me-namely that Adam is our father and God...Our Father Adam helped to make this earth, it was created expressly for him and after it was made he and his companions came here. He brought one of his wives with him, and she was called Eve, because she was the first women upon this earth. Our Father Adam is the man who stands at the gate and holds the keys to everlasting life and salvation to all his children who have or who ever will come upon the earth...'well,' says one ' Why was Adam called Adam'? He was the first man on earth, and its framer and maker. He, with the help of his brethren brought it into existence. Then he said, 'I want my children who are in the spirit world to come and live here. I once dwelt upon an earth something like this, in a mortal state. I was faithful, I received my crown and exaltation. I have the privilege of extending my work, and to its increase there will be no end. I want my children that were born to me in the spirit world to come and take tabernacles of flesh, that their spirits may have a house, a tabernacle or a dwelling place as mine has, and where is the mystery?" -Brigham Young in the Desert News, June 18, 1873

Definitely something for me to ruminate on over the next few days...

Circus decorating

I decided I want to add some vintage circus-feeling stuff to our house, nothing too 'theme-y' or anything.

But I'll be painting stripes on my walls, I'm looking for a zebra print rug, and I painted the rose frames (preceeding) the other day, (which reminded me of an old painted carousel that's been weathered).

Running away to join the circus

Lately, I've been liking vintage circus stuff... I became interested initially a couple years ago, seeing Tod Browning's "Freaks".... a FANTASTIC movie, if you get a chance to see it.

I'm not a big clown person-- just the sideshows and acts. Clowns don't scare me or anything, I just don't really care for them.

This website has some fascinating sideshow stories, pictures and things you may like, if you don't find this stuff too macabre.

THE HUMAN MARVELS.COM

The nature of the earth, trees, plants...

“There are many passages in our scriptures which explain the fact that the Spirit of God is in all things, for they were created spiritually before they were created temporally. Every living thing upon this earth was created spiritually before it was created temporally; therefore, everything that is upon this earth or ever has been, has had a spirit, and that spirit has had a guide for its protection.”

--Hyrum G. Smith, October 1928, Afternoon Session of General Conference

I LOVE that quote. Every tree, flower, leaf, insect... everything has a spirit. This also includes the earth, and I think that it is wonderful. I have a friend who is a barefooter, and I think it's a very sweet and interesting way of 'walking softly upon the earth', so to speak. I find it fascinatingly funny when people get in arms over her choice, because of fear of germs, or social expectancies.... I for one, am caring less and less for social dictates.

If every living thing has a spirit, what, then, happens when we ingest pure food from the earth? What happens when we ingest chemically processed food? One is full of life and spirit, the other... void of life. Thus, it's actually (in my opinion) ingesting death.

I'm going to try to remember that--I definitely have a hard time eating healthy, but this may help me to keep those things in mind.

It's so very strange when all three of the other cohorts in my family are asleep... so quiet.

I have been close to pulling my hair out over the lameness of cleaning, day in, day out. Blah, blah. That's nothing new.

So, what do I have that's at least somewhat interesting to say?

Not quite sure.

As an artist, it really pisses me off that I have creative blocks when my life is void of drama. Ah.... will I ever be satisfied? Maybe. No. Yes. .... We'll see together, won't we??

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Got some more 2nd hand lamps.... (Weee for friends who do trash-outs!). They're a set, and just my old lady style. Best (and most annoying) part? The wire on one of them shorts out constantly, so it's like the ghosts are playing tricks with my lighting. Oooo oooo oooo....

In addition to the lamps, I got some great couches and chairs (a 2-couch, 2-rocking chair set) that all go together. Problem is, the color scheme is just slightly off of what the rest of my place is. How to remedy this? RED SHARPIE. I LOVE my red sharpie. Instead of the completely orange velvet rocking chairs, they now are orange with red trim. Add to that mix my red pompom pillow. The couches are that fantastic flower pattern that we all hated of our chain-smoking grandmothers'... (or was that just me?)... Super freaking fantastic, and definitely straddling the should-be-tacky line. And with just a touch of SHARPIE??? PERFECT.

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In other news, I've got two possible mural jobs, and I badly need a website overhaul. Mine sucks. And I'm too lazy to want to do a lot of tweaking... Bah.

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Gypsy card of the day:

Apparently, I am a flattering braggart. Nice. I can see that.

Alphonse Mucha

I'm loving this artist's work lately... picked up a large book of his from Barnes and Noble... just BEAUTIFUL work. And so modern looking; I love the work he did for biscuit tins and boxes. Just INSPIRATIONAL.