The Black Chanter of Clan Chattan | ScotClans | Scottish Clans

The ancient Clan Chattan possess a wooden chanter (finger pipe of the bagpipes)  known as ‘The Black Chanter’ or ‘Feadan Dubh’.  The chanter is one of the Clan’s most cherished possessions alongside their Green Banner and is kept at Cluny Castle in Badenoch—the Seat of the Chief of Clan Chattan/MacPherson. The prosperity of the House […]

Source: The Black Chanter of Clan Chattan | ScotClans | Scottish Clans

7 Sinful Halloween Cocktails

Troy Petenbrink's avatarMen's Life DC - Lifestyle advice for men in Washington, DC

Looking for frighteningly delicious cocktails to serve your visiting ghouls and goblins this Halloween? Here are seven cocktails that will leave your guest screaming for more.

jerry-the-icelandic-sailor_medJerry The Icelandic Sailor

1 part Reyka Vodka

1 part Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

½ part Lemon Juice

½ part Peach Juice or Nectar Angostura Bitters

Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker except bitters. Shake, double strain, and serve over crushed  ice. Add bitters and stir. Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg.


Mischief Night

mischief-night2 parts Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

½ part Lemon Juice

1 part Grade-A Vermont Maple Syrup

1 ½ parts Fresh Orange Juice

Cold Seasonal Pilsner

Build ingredients in empty shaker (except beer). Add ice, shake and strain into chilled pint glass or desired beer mug (no ice).  Top (to taste) with a cold seasonal pilsner of your choosing.


sailor-jerry-candy-apple

Sailor Jerry Candy Apple

2 parts Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

8 parts Warm (Real)…

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Tarot Contemplation – Queen of Pentacles

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You will be spending time, money and energy on your home, getting it to be more comfortable.  This is a good thing, provided you don’t take on too much debt.  People will be looking to you for insight and/or advice.  You will be able to help them, if you are so inclined.  This is a time period when you can get a lot accomplished.  You are likely to make great headway now.  A woman with dark hair and/or eyes may play a significant role in your working life; if so, know that she is an ally for you.  If possible, bring items from your home life into your work situation.  This will help you to feel more “at home” there, and will likely make you more effective.  This card is an excellent omen when it comes to money.  Your prosperity level is very likely to be increasing.  Don’t hesitate to spend some of your new-found wealth.  Saving is important, but enjoying your life when you have the means to do so is also important.  Share what you have when you can.

THE ALCHEMIST’S PRAYER

O holy and hallowed Trinity, Thou undivided and triple Unity!

Cause me to sink into the abyss of Thy limitless eternal Fire, for only in that Fire can the mortal nature of man be changed into humble dust, while the new body of the salt union lies in the light.
Oh, melt me and transmute me in this Thy holy Fire, so that on the day at Thy command the fiery waters of the Holy Spirit draw me out from the dark dust, giving me new birth and making me alive with His breath.
May I also be exalted through the humble humility of Thy Son, rising through His assistance out of the dust and ashes and changing into a pure spiritual body of rainbow colors like unto the transparent, crystal-like, paradisiacal gold, that my own nature may be redeemed and purified like the elements before me in these glasses and bottles.
Diffuse me in the waters of life as though I were in the wine cellar of the eternal Solomon.
Here the fire of Thy love will receive new fuel and will blaze forth so that no streams can extinguish it.
Through the aid of this divine fire, may I in the end be found worthy to be called into the illumination of the righteous.
May I then be sealed up with the light of the new world that I may also attain unto the immortality and glory where there shall be no more alternation of light and darkness.

And so it is.

Tarot Contemplation – Ten of Cups

tarot_10cups

Share your joy and love today.  Let your heart lead you to truly express yourself.  Whatever you put out into the world, whether it is a piece of art or writing, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or an invitation to share some pleasure, will cause happiness and love to multiply.  You are surrounded by a grateful and joyous family.  You have enough happiness to share with those around you.  Your emotional connections and home life are blessed.  Take this time to be grateful for all the love and happiness you have in your life.  Just be certain that your ideas about relationships are not based on fairy tale endings.  Instead of bemoaning that you’ll never have “happily ever after”, take some time to focus on all you do have.  Gratitude and Appreciation will carry you quite far today.  Take the hint.

Tarot Contemplation – The Universe

tarot_Universe

The World, or Universe, represents assured success, recompense, voyage, route, emigration, flight and change of place.  It represents perfection and end of the Cosmos, the secret which is within it … the rapture of the universe when it understands itself in God.  It is further the state of the soul in the consciousness of Divine Vision, reflected from the self-knowing spirit.  Today, consider how wonderfully complete you are in all your uniqueness.  Find the time today to reflect on your story with appreciation and gratitude for all the opportunities that brought you to the place where you stand today.  Celebrate today.  You’ve levelled up!

Tarot Contemplation – Ten of Swords

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It’s time to admit that something is over. It’s time to let it go. Stop thinking about it. Stop talking about it. There’s no need to get in the last word. Let it go and move on. If you don’t, you’ll only be dragging out your own suffering. Something new is awaiting you! Create space to let it in. It is likely that a situation has become as bad as it possibly can. This is rock bottom. Enough is enough. There is nowhere to go but up. This card represents someone who has a great amount of self-pity, who feels like a martyr — like they’ve made huge sacrifices for others and received nothing in return.  If this is you, ask yourself what you gain by feeling like this. Is feeling sorry for yourself helping you to move forward? If not, pick yourself up and get on with life. Take the lessons you’ve learned with you so you don’t make the same mistakes again.

Tarot Contemplation – Temperance

GD TAROT_Temperance Red

 

In all you do today, seek balance.  If you are trying something new, you will have the best success if you are moderate in your approach.  Do it a little, and then step back to see how it feels.  This is how you can make long-lasting, sustainable changes to your relationships, attitude, or behavior:  little by little.  Temperance is about integration and finding balance.  Now is a time of adjustment.  Two or more things are coming together to create something new.  You may be integrating your life with someone else’s, integrating your work and home lives, or integrating spirituality into your everyday life.  Whatever project you are working on, be sure to change a little, then step back and assess the results.  Like a scientist, change one variable at a time, and then see what happens.  Find your balance before moving forward.  Use your emotions and be practical too.  In a situation with another person, compromise will be necessary.  If you’ve been feeling off-kilter, seek balance between work and play, feeling and doing.

GD TAROT_Temperance blue