A plea for help...

Bonjour mes amies.

You have only to watch television news to see the devastation along the Gulf coast. Mother Nature's fury will be remembered for a long time to come; her most powerful hurricane to date, here in the southern states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Collateral damage continues up into other states but the tri-states took the brunt of the hit. If you recall, I asked all to pray with us for those in the storm's path. While it may no' seem that our prayers were answered, I assure you intervention came, and is still coming in ways not yet understood.

New Orleans was spared the direct hit, which of course means other cities were less fortunate. Even there, in the worst hit places, time will prove out that prayers were heard. How so? Amidst the loss of lives and the destruction of property, we are already hearing of and seeing citizens, search and rescue groups, and volunteers taking to the water and air in search of those needing help. Shelters where thousands banded were sorely tested but held up against savage winds, rains and flooding. I never fail to marvel at the selflessness of our citizenry, some who suffered their own losses, in times like these. It is during such events that we see prejudices fall by the wayside; color, race, age, and creed forgotten as humanity asserts itself. As time goes by, many more will lend aid; physical assistance, financial assistance, and spiritual assistance. People all over this great country will open their hearts and homes and pocketbooks to help restore normalcy.

Eighty percent of beautiful New Orleans is under twenty feet of water, Biloxi is in much the same state and so on, but all is no' lost. Many of you have heard the old battle cry, 'The South will rise again', and she will, as she always has. But everyone's assistance is needed; whatever assistance you can give, even if just prayer. For prayer is greater than any disaster, works miracles; moves mountains. History bears me out and so I encourage you to continue to offer your prayers and any other assistance you can afford.

As you already know, we are rendering aid in our ways. Witches, Vampyres, Werewolves, our commrade Outsiders; all working along side the regular citizenry, and often from the shadows, doing what we do best -protecting innocents already devestated by the storm's fury, and those out of harm's way, who have no idea they have been targeted by something far more terrible than a hurricane. We are already receiving reports from our hunters; successful efforts to track and destroy heinous fiends who are using the situation to their advantage. And with that, our commrades' friends and families are busy in their local areas gathering food, clothing, and other supplies to send into the worst hit areas.

I implore you to help! Search your closets and food stores, band together and set up stations for collection, go to merchants and businesses and ask them to join ranks and help. Let no stone go unturned in the search for those things needed to keep people alive and well in this terrible time. If you have a medical background, offer your services. I know how difficult it is to leave your jobs and homes but please, make the sacrifice. You will have jobs and abodes to return to, and any help you give will be appreciated.

I will leave you now, as there is much to be done. We will post to our blog as time allows, but expect those to be few and far between until some sort of normalcy is established. Pray for those in desperate need, and your prayers will be heard. Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin.

A Plea From The Heart...

Bonjour, mes amies.

By now you have read the latest post from our resident Vampyre, Garth. Mayhap many of you had never given a thought to what he revealed, but I assure you the dark scenario playing out in New Orleans is exactly as he told you. It is the reason we haven't had time to do many postings the past couple of weeks. We have been busy gearing up for the hunt, where many of our comrades are scattered along the Gulf Coast since well before this hurricane hit Florida.

Our hunters are constantly on the move, directing our follow-up teams where they need to be; those who are charged with tasks that would turn the stomachs of the most dedicated law enforcement officials and medical teams. Death and destruction, not from the storm but victims of the most vile evil-doers imaginable. Disappearances will go down as storm collateral, as Garth said, but we will know better. We do our best to see that those whom we reach too late are properly and kindly put to rest. But many is the time that such must be kept out of the public eye. And how sad is it when families never know what happened to their loved ones?

The evil ones prey upon all ages of both genders but it is the children they most often target; sweet, innocent, defenseless children. The little ones' innocence is what most appeals, for a variety of reasons. There are those who target them for sacrifice to their demon gods; those who seek innocent souls and spirits to enhance their own powers; and those who cherish the sweetness of innocent blood and flesh. Vile, godless creatures who hail from the earth's underbelly; dark spirit realms; and even from right here among us. Take heed, I implore you, for other Kinds exist and walk among us.

Our own Dream Teller is, at this very moment, at our command post working, tirelessly, with other Council members in the effort to head off as many of the enemy as they can. Search and destroy is the order that has been issued, and any caught preying on the innocent will enjoy no mercy. They deserve none for their evil bent. Like Garth, I urge all of you to pray for those in the storm's path; more, for those who will die at the hands of something terrifying, of which they have no knowledge. Prayer is a powerful tool; regardless of religious persuasion, and it has been known to move mountains. So let us all band together and move whatever mountains we can to protect the innocent. Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin

Disaster on the horizon...

Good morning.

While I am sitting here enjoying the sights and sounds that carry on a sultry breeze in the heart of New Orleans, many of you are fast asleep, others are working the late night shift, and not a few hearty souls are partying the wee hours of the morning away.

New Orleans; the city that never sleeps. Gotta love it. N' Awlins, as the local Cajuns pronounce it, is home port these days, to a plethora of nationalities. But she belongs, heart and soul, to the French; built on the backs of the Acadians who were driven out of Canada, long ago. Ah, but it isn't their colorful, if painful, history I'm here to discuss.

A transplant myself (yeah, it is me, the Vampyre Garth, coming to you), I established my main residence here because I fell in love with the place, long before she became the teeming city she is today. I have watched her grow, seen many of the local residents come and go (birthed and died); watched as other nationalities landed at her harbor, bringing with them the pests that continue to eat away at the glorious buildings and beautiful Antebellum homes the city is noted for. But alas, it is with a heavy heart that I sit here thinking about how vulnerable the people and their city are; sitting dead center in the path of the major hurricane steaming along the coast.

Folks here have always known how fickle Mother Nature can be and the majority of them take such things in stride and always hope for the best. But things aren't looking too good at this point. Already, evacuations have begun, for when the winds and storm surge strike there is no where to go. The lovely city sits well below sea level, bodies of water on three sides, and her death knell is tolling.

I hope all of you will join with me in prayer (yeah, I pray just like you) for the residents who stand to lose not only their lives but all of their possessions. The possibility of such proud people and rich enduring history being wiped from existence is all but unbearable. If this catagory five storm doesn't abandon it's track (and it doesn't appear that it will without some major intervention from the powers that be) the devastation will be such that the city and her people may never recover. So I implore you to offer your prayers in earnest, for all concerned.

You may not think anything could get any worse here but there are other considerations that add to the doom and gloom. You see, there are those evil types who crawl out of the shadows and use the situation to wreak havoc and destruction. They can and will prey upon the busy, unsuspecting innocents without any fear of detection. Their kills will go down as storm collateral; never investigated for what truly took place.

Many of you may wonder why I'm still here. Because I, and others like me; hunters of evil- doers, are blessed to be able to move about at will, even to long distances in the blink of an eye. This isn't the first major storm we have ridden out and we are the only line of defense innocents have in these situations. We plan ahead for these events, just as we know the evil doers do. It is during these types of situations that we are able to better track our enemies, some of our own Kind and other Kinds with supernatural powers. For during such events, they miscalculate and their greed drives them to make stupid mistakes. They look upon the situation with glee, for before them is a virtual smorgasboard from which to choose. Yeah, sickening isn't it?

So while you sleep safely in your warm bed, pray for those who haven't a clue that the storm isn't the only enemy they need to flee. I bid you be well and safe, Garth.

Be ye a blind little lamb or be ye...

Good morning, All.

Today's post is geared toward abolishing stupidity (no' an easy task, to be sure). And while it is in the interest of all, 'tis certain that many will find the reference to stupidity offensive. So be it, for there is no other name for the condition; one that each of us is saddled with, at one time or another. That said, I will continue.

The very idea of Beings possessed of supernatural powers and skills is, for most Mortals, a stretch of the imagination. More, that certain of those Beings are Mortals, further clouds the issue of acceptance of those Being's existence. 'Tis the way of Mortals, Outsiders, to recoil in disbelief when presented with differences from the norm.

Why are Outsiders unable to grasp the reality of the very real existence of supernatural Beings and mortal Beings with supernatural gifts? Conditioning. Historians, religious leaders, law enforcement officials, story tellers; all play equally large roles in discounting what is, to this day, largely deemed impossible. Further, those sources have conditioned the public to believe that Beings and things of a supernatural nature are, in one word, evil. Consider this: if such Beings and gifts do no' exist in the first place, why go to the trouble of tagging them as evil? Round and round and round you go.

If one but pauses to consider, the truths of such matters are simple. "Tis those sources of such misinformation which continually confuse the masses. 'Tis the collective masses which flock to the sources of puportedly higher knowledge for guidance, rather than thinking for themselves. 'Tis sad but true; the many are willingly, blindly, led. 'Tis the bane of mortal society to allow others to do their thinking for them, rather than use their own gift of intelligence.

Thankfully, there are those few Outsiders who refuse to be led; who think for themselves and accept there are otherworldly Beings, as well as Mortals, possessed of extraordinary gifts and skills. Those few understand that all Kinds, including self, are possessed of dual natures; good and evil, such that every living Being of higher intelligence than animals is capable of committing evil deeds, whether by ordinary or supernatural means.

Any way you break it down, evil is evil. Because common means of killing or torture are understood, 'tis accepted by the public as reality. Worse, the masses are conditioned to accept such cruelty as being part of human nature in some, and the public has even become jaded so that atrocious acts no longer have any, or very little, shock value. One is only shocked when heinous acts can no' be explained. For that reason alone, unexplainable, many crimes are 'covered up' under the guise of 'protecting' the public so as no' to cause panic. Cover-ups are no more than a way of saying the public is too stupid and fragile to accept the truth. Shameful; but the sin lies with the public that allows itself to be duped and made to appear stupid and fragile.

Any wonder why Beings, Mortal or otherwise, possessed of supernatural gifts and who work for the good of all keep to secrecy; work behind the scenes? So long as you allow yourself to be led, told what to think, what to do, what to accept or discount, you are but one of the flock. You will remain stupid and fragile; putty in the hands of the powers that be.

By no means am I intimating that one should flaunt the laws of one's society. What I am inferring is that you think for yourself, explore all avenues, ask questions, and refuse to be duped. Many of you will whine that you do no' have the time for such; that things are best left in the hands of those with higher intelligence. And therein lies the rub. Certainly each of those sources has more knowledge in their fields of expertise. 'Tis the greed for power over the masses that one must seek to prohibit; for power used in the wrong manner can destroy a society. And what human is no' desirous of power in some measure?

Truth will always be the right of any situation. No one, in any position, has the right to withhold the truth, for any reason. Mayhap 'tis time to shock and panic the public out of it's mindset of being one among the many. Only when recognition is given will those with extraordinary gifts, who strive to help all, step forward without fear of being condemned; worse, harmed for their differences. Ponder.

Follow up...

Bonjour, mes amies.

'Tis been a busy week (non, 'twas no blackout), as we are gearing up for many occassions and events that mark the last half of this year. Along with those preparations, Dream Teller is putting the final touches on her soon-to-be-published novel and, at the same time, over-seeing the final stages of the building of her new website. As you can imagine, life is a bit hectic around here. But we are all excited to be part of the changes here at the Lair.

Now, here are Dream Teller's follow-up remarks regarding the last post by the Warlock, Jaceion.

Good morning, All. Given the posts by our recent guests, the Warlock Jaceion being the most recent, you should have some concept of the marked difference between their true existence and the stuff of fantasy and gossip. For those who think all other Kinds with preternatural gifts go about their merry way using those gifts for their own benefit, surely you are beginning to understand that nothing could be farther from the truth. Certainly, there are those (no' unlike some Outsiders) who will no' turn a hand to help others. But such is no' the case of those whom I count as friends and allies.

The Warlock Jaceion is an excellent point of reference. Given his ancestry and heritage, one might think that he was born into a charmed existence. Wrong, again. His childhood was anything but an easy existence. Just because one is a Witch, one is no immune to hard knocks. And while he certainly had the benefit of all that wealth can buy, his family was one in turmoil during his youth. 'Tis a long and sad story, that of his youth; a tale I have woven in one of my novels, so I will only hit the highlights at this time.

Jaceion's mother, the Sorceress JoHaunna, is the glue that kept her family together. The man she wed at an early age was an Outsider; the father of five of her six children. He presented himself as a kind and loving man, conducted himself as such until the dark secret he carried into the marriage began to unravel. As JoHaunna's duties often took her away from her home and family, she was unaware of the storm brewing around her children. 'Twas a situation that would tear asunder the fabric of their existence. It began with two problems; one a secret held, the other an unknown in the begining of the marriage but which would become another secret. Combined, when both secrets came out, the marriage was doomed.

The first problem was instigated by a powerful, evil Wizard; JoHaunna's father. In his attempt to control his only child and bend her to his will, the Wizard put paid to her first love. Because of his powerful dislike for the young Warlock his daughter loved, he wilfully set about destroying any chance of the survival of that union.The young Warlock was twenty-two and no match for the cunning Wizard, who spun a web of lies and deceipt, such that the heartbroken Warlock was given to believe that JoHaunna had duped him and was seeing another man on the sly. And while the eighteen year old JoHaunna eagerly awaited her Warlock's arrival (they planned to run away together), unknowing that her father was at that moment destroying any hope of that, her Warlock was turned away by the man who gave him to believe his was a lucky, if painful escape from a caniving little Witch. As you can imagine, JoHaunna's heart broke when her Warlock never showed up.

Two months later, with no will left to fight her father, JoHaunna accepted her fate. Her hand was given to an Outsider. Little did she care that he'd been handpicked by her father; and to her credit she made the valiant attempt to be a loving wife. In fact, she did come to love him in her own way. And while he kept his secret that he'd bartered with her father for her hand, in exchange for considerable wealth and standing in the community, JoHaunna kept the secret she'd only learned after they had wed. She was pregnant with the child of her lover but she managed to keep that from her husband; desiring only that her child be welcomed and loved by the man she was tied to. Under those circumstances, all went fairly well for a time. But the longer both secrets were held, the more difficult it became to keep them. And the difficulty caused the Outsider much grief, for he learned early on that he'd bound himself to an evil man.

'Twas the Wizard who, in a furious rage, eventually put paid to any chance of the survival of the marriage. The Outsider had begun to try and thwart the Wizard; often reneging on his promises, and the Wizard set out to punish the young man. 'Twas he, the Wizard, who apprised the Outsider of the fact that the eldest of his six children, a son, was no' in fact his biological child. The Outsider was crushed that his JoHaunna had kept such a secret from him. In his rage he did no' consider his own sins of ommission, and thus began the bleak existence for the family. The Outsider began physically abusing the eldest child in such a way that JoHaunna would no' know. In doing so, he forced the other children to take sides when their Papa dealt their brother misery. And because the males were very protective of their mother, and too young to figure out a better way to deal with the problem, they collectively kept the secret of the abuse among themselves, at the eldest boy's demand.

'Tis difficult to imagine five young boys dealing with such a terrible problem and while the eldest three stood together against their raging father, the youngest two; twins, Jaceion and Jeremy, who were too young to help in their brother's defense, were forced to look on in silent horror. The abuse continued and the marriage slowly disintegrated. As a last effort to save the union (JoHaunna was yet unaware of her children's plight), she agreed to her husband's pleas for one more child. For a short while, the birth of their only daughter, Suzaunna, seemed to give hope to the situation. But JoHaunna began to suspect that something was no' right on the homefront and she curtailed her travels; leaving only when it could no' be helped. She began to recognize that her husband was far to fond of their daughter; selfishly so, for he took her everywhere he went; even to having her at his side with the daily running of their large ranch.

T'was that, the unhealthy selfishness of father for daughter that drove the man insane and led him to attempt to sexually abuse her, at the very tender age of nine. T'was the eldest boy, Shane (who'd grown into a strapping young man by the age of sixteen) who saved his sister, late one night. For the first time in his life, he fought back when the man he called Papa flew into a rage at being denied his prize. But 'twould no' be Shane who ended the Outsider's reign of terror but a stranger who appeared to save the young man being beaten by the man too powerful for the younger to outdo.

For the first time in his life, the Outsider looked into the eyes of death; his first glimpse of a Vampyre. His death was ruled a massive heart-attack but the mother and children knew the truth. He'd died of fear, and well they were shet of him. As you now see, all is no' always as it seems.

Those children grew up to be respectable adults; Witches, all of whom use their extraordinary gifts for the good of those they assist. Among his Kind, Jaceion is reknowned for his abilities as both Healer and Warlock. Out of the horror of his young existence emerged a man who brooks no abuse toward others, and on many occassions he has saved children and women from their abusers. His post was his way of letting you know that one can rise above any situation, if one but tries. And now that you know something of what he endured for years, mayhap 'twill give you a push in the right direction. What say you? Will you live life, or simply be driven by life? Blessed May You Be.

A Warlock speaks out...

Good morning.

My name is Jaceion and I am pleased to be Dream Teller's guest for today. I am Warlock, with the gift for healing. Some of you may find that odd; that a Warlock would turn his hand to helping others. As has been said here on numerous occassions, the world; people; things; change. Such is The Way of It. 'Tis no different with respect to my Kind. History and myth have painted our Kind as notorious hedonists whose only desire is to please ourselves; at any expense to others. Such was and is the case with some Warlocks but in these days and times, there are those of us who respect others, Outsiders as well as other Kinds; recognize the need for change.

One changes with time, of neccessity, or is left behind to cleave to old and tired traditions and ways that no longer serve real purpose. That is no' to say that certain of the old ways are no' cherished and adhered to. But, modern times demand refinement of the old in order to keep abreast of the ever evolving world. Some of our elders mock change but they are the few who, with each passing day, find themselves mired in the past to the extent that they are considered rogues among their own. 'Tis true of any Kind; those who resist change. But resisting will no' make time stand still or preserve the past.

Those of our elders who recognize what must be done so that Warlocks and all Witches can mesh with society, work hard to establish the new order of which we hope will gain recognition and respect for deserving Witches. One such elder is my Step-Papa, the Warlock Gregory. In our society, Papa is reknowned for his work to bring about understanding among all Kinds. He is Warlock in every sense of the true meaning and he was among the first to recognize the need for change. 'Tis Gregory whom I am blessed to be able to turn to for assistance, to learn from, and blessed to call Papa and friend. I stand with him against those who are willfully destructive and who give the rest of us a bad name.

I realized my gifts at an early age, and feared others of my Kind would mock me for my desire to help others. Afterall, when I was growing up, male Witches were supposed to be tough and no' helpers, but leaders. From the age of fifteen, I knew I was destined to be Warlock; one among five, in one family. My brothers and I were always close and they accepted that I was somewhat different from them; no' as gregarious, more the loner who preferred to keep my nose stuck in books. Those books were both old and new; all pertaining to medicine, and the art of healing. 'Twas my Maman and older brothers who would take time out during their many duties while traveling hither and yon, to search for the ancient tomes I yearned to study. Presently, I possess an extensive, impressive library from their efforts. Each one that was presented to me represented another step toward realizing my destiny.

During those earlier times I did no' realize that by giving me those gifts, my family was quietly encouraging me to follow my dream. I was no' one to openly discuss my personal feelings, for I believed my desire to follow a different path than my brothers 'twould shame my family. I was far wrong in that thought. So I quietly went about reading and practicing my growing skills on small animals, birds with broken wings; squirrels with broken legs; dogs with such injuries. I eventually graduated to healing larger animals, the horses one of my brothers bred and raised; the cattle that are the mainstay of our family ranch, and so on. On the occassion, I secretly (or so I thought at the time) worked with people. I did so in such a manner that those I assisted were none the wiser of my ability.

Basically, I led a double life; openly, in our society the male Witch and behind the scenes, the Healer. Then, at the age of twenty-one, I gained the courage to speak with Maman to express my need to follow my own path. 'Twas with heartfelt relief that she told me to follow my destiny. And 'twas Maman, the Sorceress JoHaunna, who contacted a most notable Master of the Healing Arts and swayed him to take me on as his student. 'Twas the beginning of the realization of my dream.

The Master was a strict and rigid teacher who brooked no nonsense, left no room for weakness of any kind, and demanded my complete and utter attention and focus. 'Twould be two years before he relaxed his relentlessness and grudgingly accepted me as having the neccessary skills and talents to become one of his Kind. And it was then that my lessons truly began, in earnest. I put aside all else in order to achieve the goals he set for me; worked beneath him for another two years before he elevated me to the position of protege, rather than lowly student. That old man, an Ancient elder, taught, cajoled, browbeat, fashioned, and re-fashioned me until I met his standards. Though many was the time I wanted to throw my hands up in despair of ever becoming a true Master of the Art, I am forever grateful I had the opportunity to learn at the knee of that great man.

Today, I am considered a Master; able to do what I love doing. Further, with the advent of Gregory in my life (I was thirty years old), his position among our Kind opened new doors for me. Through him, I have more access to those in need; enjoy the protection he and my family provide, so that I do no' have to constantly watch my back while carrying out my duties.

Over the years I have learned to set a schedule so I am able to give quality time to my duties of both Warlock and Healer. My life is full; such that, to the dismay of my family, I have no spare time for personal pursuits and relaxation. Mayhap that will come in time (will, if my family has anything to do with it) but until then I will continue along this path that stretches before me.

The point of this post is to give you some insight into the ways of our Kind and too, to encourage you to follow your heart's desire. Many of you find yourselves in positions that lack the fulfillment you hoped for. Some of you took the easy route, others of you accepted because you thought your goals were too far out of reach. For whatever reason you chose your lot, 'tis never too late to change course. No' everyone is blessed to have the help of those who can open doors for you, as I did. But there are those of you who, if you believe in yourself and want your dream bad enough, can open doors for yourself. Somewhere out there, someone is willing and able to assist you. Do no' waste valuable time and energy plodding along in despair. Open your eyes, steel your backbone, and accept nothing less than what you want.

Achieve, and in time mayhap you will find yourself in the position of helping others to realize their potential. Aye, I am presently tutoring two students whose desire is to learn and to develop their skills of healing. 'Tis part and parcel of my destiny, and I take it seriously. What say you? Will you let life lead you or take the lead in your life? Blessed May You Be.

Destiny Or The Alternative?

Good morning, All.

Judging from several of the e-mails I received, the past month proved to be one of frustration, uncertainty, and unwanted transition for many of you. Though you have surely heard it time and again, 'tis the way of life. Life is all about change and while those changes are oft no' to one's liking, there is reason for it. One may no' understand it at the particular time, but one must be amenable, if no' amiable, to what lies ahead. Of the many feelings and emotions some of you expressed, hatred reared it's head more than any other emotion.

Hatred is a strong word for a most detrimental feeling which only serves it' s evil master; the Lord of darkness. I implore each of you with such a feeling to examine the reasons behind it. Look inward then ask yourself why you would allow things to come to that, for in most cases you will discover that 'tis simply that events and situations did no' go according to your plan. And when such happens, 'tis the bane of mankind to lay the blame at the feet of another, or and institution. Put aside your anger long enough to honestly and thoroughly question your motives (an exercise no one of us likes to do), and mayhap you will discover that blame was never an issue to begin with.

'Tis the Fates who provide for one's destiny, but 'tis the one who is destined who must drive their vehicle of life. Further, consider the choices you made and then consider all that your choices entailed to begin with and mayhap you will discover that, as many of us do, you chose only to look at the benefits you expected to reap, and ignored the alternative possibilities that were right before your eyes. Nothing good in this life comes without a price to be paid; whether personally, financially, or otherwise. Whomever thinks differently is due for a reality check; as many of you are now discovering. I will now speak to some of you, personally.

To Greg in Maryland: By your own admission, 'twas your choice to follow the path of least resistance. In doing so you allowed your lack of ambition to cloud your good judgement. One's future lies in one's ambition; strengths of will, desire to work hard for what one desires, and choices made with good intent. 'Tis no' your superior's job to provide for your wants and needs but your job to pursue them in the correct manner. Hating him for no' 'giving' you the promotion, without you having worked for it, is both childish and foolish. Promotions are no' predicated on the length of time with an organization, but on ability. And now you say you wish you had pursued a different career; the one you truly wanted but were unwilling to spend the longer time in school to attain. Choices, Greg; yours, no' your superior's, and your willingness to ride the gravy train without putting forth any real effort landed you where you are. Take heed, and do something about your situation for 'tis never too late to go back and seek your true destiny.

To Mona in Texas: Hatred is the tool by which one will fall by one's own hand. 'Twas no' the work of your spouse that led to the demise of your marriage, but by your own admission; your 'all-consuming' desire to be what you were obviously no' meant to be. Choices, Mona; yours. When your husband told you he did no' understand, feared for his and your safety if you pursued that avenue, you should have listened. No' everyone is cut out to accept, much less understand, things of a dark nature. One does no' simply 'become' a master or mistress of such things without certain inherent qualities. There are many who play at it, and your playing destroyed your marriage; the price you paid for your selfishness. Your request for me to send 'someone' to assist you in dealing him misery tells me what kind of person you truly are. Sounds to me that the man made a lucky escape, else if you loved him as you proclaim you did, you would have taken his feelings and fears into consideration. That you did no' do so speaks the truth. You are now faced with some very difficult and life-altering decisions; choices, that will either make you or break you. Bring harm to another, the man who was openly honest with you, and the Fates will deal harshly with you. Continue to pursue the Black Arts and you will fail your true destiny; of that I am certain. Beware, for those you have chosen to call friends are ready and willing to help you seal your fate.

To Onyxroots in Germany: My heart is heavy with your burden but hatred is no' the answer. Look within and seek the knowledge that lies waiting to be discovered. You are of a higher intelligence than to allow those things to drive your emotions to this negative point. Trust in your Maker, for you are no' ever alone. Seek your answers in your own choices, my friend. 'Tis another step you will be taking along your intended path, and one that must be taken without those things that can only cloud your judgement. Difficult as it will be, set aside frustration and hatred and arm yourself with the desire to complete your task to the best of your ability. Then, and only then will you understand where your path leads you. You are destined to be a leader, so lead; a confidant, so listen; a counselor, so advise. You are a truth-finder and your mission is before you, in all that you say and do. 'Tis most difficult to leave behind your loved ones, but know that short leaving is part of your destiny, as well as theirs. They are strong, as you are, and all will come right in the end. Remember, too, that what you are doing and all that you are about has much to do with your fellow comrades. Your destiny is entwined with theirs for a purpose, and many lives depend upon your ability to rise above your own feelings and emotions. Go forward with the knowledge that your father and your uncle will guide you. Seek their counsel and they will no' fail you. Duty and honor are heavy burdens, but one's you were meant to carry, so carry them well and in good faith and you will exceed your own expectations. The white light of protection surrounds you and yours. Blessed May You Be.

To Mercy in Idaho: 'Tis no' your burden you have taken on; one that fuels your self-destructive hatred. 'Twas no' in your ability to save the child, nor was it meant to be. There is purpose in all things, even death and the manner of that. Did you ever stop to consider that her job on this plane was done? Each of us has tasks we are meant to complete in a given amount of time, and even if that time appears to us to be cut short, that was the time she was allotted. Do no' despair so, Mercy, for you gave all that you had. 'Tis he who owns the hand by which the child was traumatized who will pay for his deeds. Take heart in knowing the Fates will avenge the wrongs done her. Be careful your self-hatred does no' spin you out of control so that your own destiny is skewed. You are human, and as such, you can no' create miracles. You are well named for you have a kind heart and a caring nature and those will see you along your true path. Your destiny shines bright and once the darkness of despair lifts, you will recognize that path. Go forward from that dark place and leave behind your thoughts of having failed the child. Blessed May You Be.

'Tis my hope that the rest of you will glean something of value to apply to your own lives from the above messages. The hate and blame game does nothing more than allow one to absolve one of one's own pain, fear, and frustration. And while none of us wish to experience those, 'tis part and parcel of life. See and use them as challenges and you will make great strides along your path in life. Use them for weapons and you will only stumble around in the darkness; never certain, never content, never fully realizing your potential. What say you? Blessed May You Be, Dream Teller.

Fair Warning

Bonjour, mes amies.

If Dream Teller came across as harsh to you, in last evenings post, 'tis because she has no patience for self-centered folks who take all they can from life, without giving anything of themselves in return. As I once told you, the more you hear from her, the more you learn about her. And the more you learn about her is to discover a person of dedication who sets high standards for herself. She doesn't impose her personal standards upon others, but she does expect others to adhere to the most basic standards of humanity. She has no time for those who don't, and those lacking in some measure of morals and values with regards to others quickly earn her dislike. She will no' turn a hand to aid one who has proven to be without care or concern for others.

Does that mean one has to make a radical showing of being a crusader for some just cause? Nay, and radicals are least likely to earn good marks in Dream Teller's book. Some of you may think, and who is she that I should give a flip what she thinks of me? I reiterate; to know her... To all who know, love, and respect her, Dream Teller is many things, teacher; friend; mentor; confidant, and most often, a safe haven. She neither demands nor expects, but earns one's loyalty. And that, my friends; putting one's self out to earn what is no' freely given, is the true measure of humanity. That earning applies to all who come and go in the course of one's life, whether they be family, friend, acquaintance, or stranger.

From time to time, as last evening, you will feel the sting of her displeasure in her message. She rarely misses an opportunity to use whatever vehicle presents, such as Suzaunna's post, to drive home some point she feels needs making. And if you read between the lines (no' difficult since Dream Teller speaks often and openly about things near and dear to her heart), you will have gleaned the importance she places upon rendering aid; particularly, when children are concerned. And that, because children are by nature, the most vulnerable members of society but more, they are our future.

'Tis a dirty, hungry, or frightened child who can tug hardest at her heartstrings and cause her to drop what she is doing, and go out of her way to seek shelter, food, or help for them. So, you now know where she comes from when she urges you to render aid; whatever the needy persons age. Mayhap the adult in need is a mother or father desperate for help, and who would be terribly missed by their children, or merely a loner but, as Dream Teller is wont to say, " one never knows when they are faced with an Angel or good Spirit, sent here to test their humanity." Whether you choose to believe it, or no', Angels and Spirits do walk among us. Some are sent to test us, others are sent to protect us, and I do no' know how you would feel if you discovered you'd been callous enough to turn one away, but I would feel that failure for the rest of my natural days. What say, you?

If it sounds as if I am defending Dream Teller, you are right. And all though she constantly reminds us that she needs no defending, those of us who love her get our backs up when we read e-mail that contains negative responses concerning her. While she ignores those as no' worthy of her time, when such negativity is delivered in an unacceptable manner, we can no' ignore it. There is a right way and a wrong way to express your opinion and everyone is granted the right to deliver said opinion in an acceptable manner. But when you deliver it in a spiteful, hateful manner, you hit at the hearts of all of us. So, fair warning; among us are those who do no' take kindly to such blatant disregard for the rules of society, ones who can and will, joyfully, give you a lesson in courtesy. A threat? 'Tis no' our way, but we do make promises.

Just for your information, there are two extremely steamed Vampyres gone to their rest and on their rising, they intend paying calls upon three particular individuals who lacked the good sense to think before putting their vile words out for their consumption. All who visit here know (or should) where we stand on such matters as voicing your opinions. In future, be advised that threats or character assasination will no' be tolerated. Enough said? Fair day, Kaithlin.