Ordinary riches can be stolen: real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.
-Oscar Wilde

Well, my last two nights have produced the most amazingly vivid dreams I've had for months...one was very local, set in Norwich Cathedral, the other was very distant, in Philippines.

The Norwich dream was set in the Cathedral grounds, though not at any time in the Cathedral itself...furthermore, there were no features that resembled Norwich at all, yet it was firmly this city, with Tower of London style guards, in white heraldic garb, leading us, giving the orders to follow the line. In turn, I was actually guiding a female companion who remained silent throughout the dream. It was summery, cloudy, and cold. The green lawn, enclosed by flint castellated mediaeval walls, was a brilliant green the like of which is only seen in England. We were led away, through some modern pine doors with green and red emergency exit notices, ill-fitting a mediaeval building, whereupon a buxom lady shrieked that we should hurry.

Various tasks were set, all were damned difficult, requiring mind games with the guards, who grew to hate every visitor to 'their' castle. Eventually, we passed this palaver, and received a grant to enter the city and Cathedral. With that I noticed the old Royal Standard.

Last night, was set in hot, tropical Philippines, with a touch of a local Norwich mill thrown in. The river-beds on the Wensum river were actually blogs, and communication was made via ripples in the water. It was busy down there.
Within moments, I was a hairdresser in the pearl of the Orient, following expert guidance, I completed one haircut, with no problems, though I stopped upon the request to set a perm!

Dreams are not all they claim to be...surely.

As I type this, The Stranglers have come on, with "Hangin' Around"...that's a fair few years old.

What lands did you see, and whom did you meet in your all-enveloping dreams dear friends?

Something strange is afoot in suburban Norwich; firstly, I noticed a carpet, and a rug thirty to forty feet up a giant Oak, then a pair of Nike's entwined (artistically) around the telegraph wires; following my arrival at home, a Red Admiral butterfly flickered it's way merrily past me, towards the garden shed, as if perfectly normal in mid-January...moments later a friendly Robin gathering twigs for it's now half-completed nest...yes, nest! Add to this, a whole array of busy nesting birds now grace my garden; Blackbirds, Thrushes, Long-Tailed Tits and a Collared Dove are all gathering raw material for nesting.
This evening, two bees lethargically flew around my back door, very susceptible to the elements, yet still very much alive.
Just what is going on??
It's not hot, not warm, not mild, not usual and not right.

Two days of nosebleeds have now ceased, yesterday's scare but a fearful memory of possible high blood pressure once more...awoken by the dripping blood which actually continued for six whole hours, unabated, left me paper-white, cold and severely weakened.

But still, the sound of Sparks worked wonders;

Sparks: Here in Heaven (1975)

Here, there are lots of things to do
And a panoramic view
Of the universe completely surrounding you and me
You cannot buy souvenirs
You're never going back, never, never
Basically, I guess it could be worse
Yes, I do suppose it could be worse

Here, there are many, many sheep
And the people only sleep
And awake to tell how gory and gruesome was their end
And I don't have many friends
And it's really very clean and I'm thinking
Juliet, you broke our little pact
Juliet, I'm never coming back

Up here in Heaven without you
I'm here in Heaven without you
Up here in Heaven without you
It is Hell knowing that your health will keep you out of here
For years and years and years

Dear, do you often think of me
As you overlook the sea
Do I qualify as dearly departed or am I
That sucker in the sky
The fall guy for the first and the last time
Juliet, I thought we had agreed
Now I know why you let me take the lead

Up here in Heaven without you
I'm here in Heaven without you
Up here in Heaven without you
It is Hell knowing that your health will keep you out of here
For many, many years

Second thoughts, is that what you had?
Second thoughts, first I broke my back
Second thoughts, as I hit the sea
Second thoughts, for eternity, for eternity, for eternity

Up here in Heaven without you
I'm here in Heaven without you
Up here in Heaven without you
It is Hell knowing that your health will keep you out of here
For years and years and years

awesome song, awesome lyrics~~~

“True Friends like ivy and the wall, both stand together, and together fall.”

The Ivy possesses enormous strength due to it's impressive ability to cling and bind, giving rise to it's symbol of determination and strength among the Druids. As can be seen in the countryside, or where trees are entangled by ivy, it can sometimes strangle a tree into submission, even death, and as such was at one time a 'portent of death and spiritual growth' and with it's evergreen nature, represented the perennial focus of the human character.

The Lunar Goddess, Arianrhod, was associated with Ivy by the Celts, with their ritual to this marking the opening of the great portal leading to the OtherWorld, also known as the Dark Side of the Moon.

Ivy has been linked with the mysterious and mystical throughout history, and women once carried it with them for good luck and hoped for aid to fertility. With correct use, Ivy was believed to alleviate headaches, cramps and greatly benefit the processes required for prophecy.

Ivy was symbolic of the journey of the soul, and encouraged helping others in this search, who in turn would do the like to others and so on. The Celts regarded Ivy as powerful, due to it's almost eerie ability to, in time, kill even the mightiest Oak. Typically, the Ivy forms a dense thicket wherever it is found, and was accordingly believed stronger than the Vine and slightly sinister by nature.
It can grow almost anywhere; farmland, hedgerow, forest, city, wasteland, bright or even dark areas too, penetrating brickwork, crevices in order to reach the light, and is very, very difficult to destroy.

In Ancient times, together with the Vine, it held 'enemy status' as the Vine was an intoxicant and the Ivy 'communicated with inner resources' allowing the beholder to see the eyes of the soul beyond what is commonly understood. It was indeed held in very high esteem by the ancients.

To pagans ivy was a symbol of eternal life. So-called Christians endeavoured to make it a symbol of eternal life and new promise. It is quoted thus, 'considered feeble and clinging - feminine even; it is unlike the sturdy, masculine holly.'

Ivy leaves formed the wreath of Bacchus (Roman God of Wine), to whom the plant was dedicated, and it's leaves typically form a poet's crown.

Strictly speaking the Ivy, is not a tree, but a type of Vine, as it generally requires a host for it's support. It is very difficult to break-off Ivy from a wall or tree, yet, in storms, by it's very nature, will snap easily when a bough gives way to the wind's ferocity, thus ensuring it's continued survival. The Ivy, an evergreen, bears dark green leaves, often oily, and may reach 100 feet providing it has a suitable host, such as a Beech tree. It's tendrils have the power to penetrate, even crack, cement and concrete, brickwork and plaster. Greenish flowers will appear on short, shrubby branches.

The Ivy is actually a member of the Ginseng family, and adapts so well to it's host's lofty position, that the dense profusion on Ivy entanglements will smother and sometimes suffocate the tree. (Though there are more cases of trees merely adopting a scarf of Ivy, and surviving the truce!)

Ivy berries have medicinal properties, though be warned, they are poisonous if used freely. A stuffy, clogged-up head may be cured with a powder made from dried Ivy leaves and berries, as can a hangover.

In Roman times, agriculturists believed Ivy leaves made good cattle feed, however, it was Sheep and Deer, as opposed to Cows, who enjoyed them as an occasional Winter food.

Birds, perhaps more than anything else, owe the Ivy so much, due to it's supreme 'housing' qualities, especially in the cold Winter months, when the Ivy retains it's thick cover and shelter, and is a preferred nesting location for many birds.
The Ivy may reach a very great age, and is often seen, or even planted, against (unsightly) buildings...said to be the only plant that does not make walls damp.

According to the Celtic Tree Signs, the "new moon" character appears during the initial two weeks of a sign, and the "full moon" on the final two weeks.
The new moon may be called radical, similar to the Rowan in thinking, though artistic in temperament. At times indecisive, with joys fluctuating between between extremes of mood. The full moon Ivy offers an image of success, even in times of failure, and such types are generous providers, shrewd, with money, though at times, manipulative and may use power ruthlessly, leading to disputes and strife.

Ivy individuals possess admirable personal stamina, talent and gain public recognition, as a whole. Colourful, unique, restless, sociable, good-natured may all be attributed to Ivy types, as can cheerfulness, and a certain magneticism, allowing them to gain friends easily, as they also dislike offending others. However, indecision may plague Ivy individuals, though they have a strong-will, handling difficult tasks with zeal.
They are humourous and intelligent but with some personal concerns that may lead to strange events.
They are valuable friends, and own much artistic ability.

Ivy characters are loyal, belief in the natural order and balance, responsible, though they attract people of a lower moral ground. Ivy types are not endowed with being gifted bibliophiles, and prefer to enhance their knowledge in the University of Life. Not known as a being lucky, they do however, find and lose love effortlessly. Being clingly in love, Ivy types are good parents, Ivy individuals should avoid the problems of others, to safeguard their sensitive side.

by lauren6

Gemstone: The Ivy gemstone is the semi-precious Opal, also known as the "Queen of Gems" and "Gem of Hope."

Flower: The flower of the Ivy is the Woody Nightshade, a vine-like plant also known as Bittersweet, Felonwort (meaning "The Felon's Plant"), Scarlet Berry, Violet Bloom, Mad Dog's Berries, Blue Aversion and Blue Hate. It belongs to the Solanaceae, an immense family of plants which includes Belladonna, Hensbane, Potato, Tomato, Peppers and Tobacco.

My music today, for my hoped-for recovery path, after suffering huge loss of blood yesterday, is this;
Yasmine: Ruby Sunrise
Robitique: Al Zihad

And this impressed me, this morning;

"In India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it, inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything, but possessed by nothing"

Apollonius Tyanaeus quotes (Neo-Pythagorean)