December 18, 2018

Greetings Everyone!

For those of you who love vampires, real as well as fictional, please read my new essay "Real & Fictional Vampires in Modern Times” published in the New Dawn Special Issue Vol. 12. No. 5.

New Dawn magazine publishes speculative articles & essays on ancient & contemporary mysteries, future science and the unexplained- it is, quite literally, the best magazine of its kind in existence in the 21st century.

 

So check  it out!

JLS

https://www.newdawnmagazine.com/product/new-dawn-special-issue-vol-12-no-5

November 19, 2018

Often, you need to figure out the best month to start an important course of action, such as attending college, choosing a lover (or breaking up with one),  deciding when to get married, when to start a family, and so on. 

   

I have written a Tarot reading that will help you determine the best time to begin any of these activities, or anything else you are planning to do. 

Feel free to use whatever Tarot deck you like.

Enjoy!

JLS

https://www.wattpad.com/story/167976016

November 5, 2018

Now that Halloween is over, we should ask:  What was Halloween all about?  And what does it celebrate?

It celebrates the dark tunnel & the life at the end of the tunnel; the short time from night to day; the longer time from winter to spring; and the longest time of all for each of us- from birth to death and then back to life again.

Halloween night, October 31.

All Saint’s Day, Nov. 1.

All Soul’s Day & the Day of the Dead, Nov. 2.

All of these holidays celebrate the same thing: the dark tunnel & the life at the end of the tunnel.

And so, think about death, my friends, but embrace & celebrate life.

And be glad, so very glad, to be alive!

JLS

November 3, 2018

Greetings Dark Friends & Colleagues!

My little meditative, speculative essay: Three Creatures- Speculations for University & College Writing Instructors (Oct, 2018) is something that all of you should look at.

I introduce Michael, Sally & Chilli, three unusual children in an imaginary class that I will be teaching in the future, say 81, 432 CE, give or take a century.

Well past the time when humans & the alien races from other planets & in other dimensions had discovered each another & learned to coexist in harmony on the earth.

But well before the time when the sun will become a supernova & humankind’s short reign on the earth will come to a close.

Please enjoy; and please learn.

https://www.wattpad.com/650209943-three-creatures

JLS

October 20, 2018

Ray Bradbury, the patron saint of Halloween, writes about the autumn people:

"For some, autumn comes early, stays late through life where October follows September and November touches October and then instead of December......September comes again and old October and so on down the years.... such are the autumn people."

I am an autumn person...there are times when we're all autumn people, with our long thoughts of life & death at night as the wind blows, speaking with the voices of those we once loved that have passed beyond....

JLS

September 28, 2018

As some of you know, I am finishing up my studies for a third master's degree- a Masters in Education at AMU.

I've created two Prezi Presentations on education related themes that incorporate some of my deliciously gothic images.

Here is the first one: “Whole Class, Teacher Led Collaboration Model, September 23, 2018.

https://prezi.com/kjjsu2r8cemt/collaboration-model/

Here is the second one: “Classroom Management Plan”, September 30, 2018.

https://prezi.com/doovpsnkxvy4/classroom-management/

JLS

August 29 2018

Reverend John Hale of Beverly, in The Crucible, makes the statement: “The Devil is precise; the marks of his Presence are definite as stone.”

But is he, & are they?  I think not. 

The Devil is chaos personified- part & parcel of the Dionysian Great Mother- Female, not Male, Goddess not God (which is why Baphomet has breasts, as some of you have observed & accepted as accure).

What is really precise is to think for yourselves.  To make up your own minds.  To accept yourselves, as deep down, autumn people- thinking autumn thoughts; keeping autumn shrines.

During this Halloween season, celebrate the Devil if you must.  Or celebrate God, if you need to.

But God, Goddess, Devil, Demon, come as you are & as only imperfect shadow-puppets.

You, all of you as individuals, are more than the shadow-puppets that you insist on holding in your mind & subjugating yourself to.

You are the God & the Devil.

So, celebrate that!

JLS