September is here and soon it will be the Fall Equinox. This is the transitional time of the year when the Sun changes direction and the seasons move from Summer to Fall in the Northern Hemisphere and from Winter to Spring in the rest of the world. For many, it is celebrated as a time to look at how they can use the transitional and transformational energy of the equinox to live better and make positive changes.

In our upcoming retreat at Joshua Tree, we will be addressing turning points and using ancient ritual with the Fall Equinox to spur us into focus and empowerment for lasting positive change for ourselves and the world.

Again we are moving into the "Holiday" Season. Here in the United States, it starts with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and ends with New Year's day. It is a ritual that we follow year in and year out.

As I grow older, I often find myself thinking, "Didn't we just do this last year?" It has become somewhat tedious for this old bird. I long ago gave up Halloween as many of you found out with last month's article. Now, there is Thanksgiving. I do celebrate Thanksgiving. I find that it is one of the few holidays that have meaning for me. Granted, I no longer have the luxury of fixing a large family meal. My mother doesn't eat much and I live with hubby and friend who really don't care. The rest of my family are in Oklahoma, mucho miles from here.

This year, I am ordering the full Monty meal from Marie Calendar's. I won't have to baste a drumstick nor peel a spud. I like that. Normally, I would opt for restaurant, but with mom, that is problematic. It takes an hour to get her dressed and downstairs, then into the car. Too much work. Plus, her eating habits have become increasingly bizarre. So it's turkey at home from Marie. Yum.

Writer's Guidelines 

NOTE: All copyrights for articles appearing in The Messenger remain with the authors.

We welcome your submissions on any of the topics we offer. If you would like to submit an article or idea, email us first, then when submitting, please consider the guidelines below.

Your article may be of any length, preferably between 2000 - 4000 words.

There is no deadline other than it needs to be to us by one week prior to the update you want it to go into. Currently, we update on the 1st of each month. 

Email your article or proposal for an article to us at themessengerinfo@gmail.com

• If possible Please use Helvetica 12 point type. If not, I can translate fairly easily. 
• DO NOT use paragraph indents.
• DO NOT use special formatting like changing the margins or indents.
• DO NOT use headers, footers, or page numbering.
• DO NOT include tables. If you want a special graphic in table form, please send it as an image (jpeg, gif, or png). If you need help with that, let me know.
• DO Use single spacing with double spacing between paragraphs.
• DO Use ONE space after a period. Two spaces comes from the days when we used typewriters. It is no longer considered correct and it is a pain in the tush to correct on copy.
• Please spell check and grammar check your work before you submit it. I don't do a lot of editing and if you have errors, unless I happen to catch them, they will go out for the world to see.  
• Please include a short (1 paragraph) bio, your email and web address if you want them included.
• If we don't have it on file already, please include a photograph of yourself in Jpg format. It needs to be at least 110 pixels at 72 dpi. If you don't know what this means, just make it about 1 1/2" wide. Length does not matter.
• For any graphics or images you include, you must have a legal right to use them. DO NOT pull photographs or images from the web unless you know they are in public domain or you have permission to use them. Coypright infringement is serious.

Thanks so much,

Anita Burns

Editor

Change your Life! Learn Astrology

Home Study Certification Astrology Course
from Anita Burns & MetaStudies Institute

You can't blame everything in life on Mercury retrograde. The truth is that Mercury retrograde has very little effect by itself. How it interacts with the rest of your planets tells you exactly what to watch out for.

Astrology is the best life roadmap you can have. 

It gives you true guidance, insight, and reliable advice on the best choices to make for health, love, business, family, and wealth. 

READ MORE . . .

Wicca is a Peaceful Practice from the Dawn of our Existence

Practitioners of the "old ways" throughout the ages and all over the world have been called by many names, such as Incantrix, Lamia, Saga, Maga, Malefica, Sortelega, Strix, Venefica, Strega, Janana, witch, Wiccan, and sorceress or sorcerer. By whichever name, "the craft" is as old as humankind itself.

Tarot Professional Home Study Tarot Course
Written and Taught by Anita Burns, a 40-year professional in Tarot Studies

As a Tarot Professional, read for yourself and others to get answers about critical decisions, overcome confusing times, get the raw, truthful guidance you need to move forward more confidently.  Look into the past to find the basis for what's happening today to be better prepared for tomorrow. 

More clearly read the future to be forewarned and prepared for changes and new cycles. The Tarot pulls from your highest guidance to give you the answers that aren't available to our conscious, confused mind. 

READ MORE . . .

These are some of the photos I took plus a few favorites from elsewhere. I used to take my camera to the Houston Zoo early in the morning and set up in the reptile house. I have more snake photos but they are on old film slides and I have to scan them, clean them up from years of grime, then retouch in PS. When I do that I will add more photos. I love snakes, beautiful, exotic, dangerous.

It's Not What You Think. . . (Actually It Is What You Think!)

Available May, 2012

Publisher's Description:

This book is for both practitioners and lay people, alike. That is anyone who currently occupies a body and wants to be healthy and whole.  The time has come to create a new philosophy that focuses on a more holistic approach to healthcare—one that is built on the concept that the body-mind-spirit is one thing—fully connected. We must shift our from treatment to prevention in a way that puts all of us back in the driver’s seat of our own health and well-being. 

This shift will only happen when we clearly understand how to use our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs as tools to help create health and wellness. All 60,000 thoughts we have in a day create something…either moving us towards health and wholeness, or not. We must broaden the scope of Western medicine to incorporate this concept into how we provide and participate in healthcare. Until we are willing to step outside the traditional medical box to understand and incorporate this phenomenon of the connection of body-mind-spirit, we are going to continue to struggle in our healthcare.