The Lovers ~ Stella's Simple Tarot

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! It has been too long since I have posted to my blog, and for this I extend many heartfelt and sincere apologies. I have been very busy of late and find it hard to keep up with everything, but here I am, trying nonetheless! There have been some very positive and happy and rewarding endeavors to occupy my time – an ever increasing client base of beautiful people for whom I give readings, a new Flea Market store where i sell goods and sundry wares to the folks of the area who are in need of New Age and Spiritual offerings, and more time devoted to my writing efforts in an attempt to get a book done, which has been a passion of mine for many years. So far, 2012 has proved to be an amazing year and it just keeps getting better with each passing day! We are blessed with good energy and prosperity an for this we are extremely happy! Many thanks to all our family, friends and fans for making our lives bright and happy! We could not do it without you!!!

…just a few updates: My Green Dolphin Street pub…the best and most favourite of St. Augustine…has been devoured by Meehan’s and renamed “Meehan’s Backyard”. Feh. I am disappointed, but can imagine that the take over was a result of hard times hitting my dear and beloved Green Dolphin Street. They have a hoity toity menu now, way over priced, and are catered to by Meehan’s. Needless to say…things are just not the same down at the “Street”. Fare Thee well, old friend…

Next up: I have decided to switch the newsletter from monthly to quarterly, as I have not been able to find the time to devote to the newsletter as I did in more leisurely times. The next issue will be out on the Spring Equinox and promises to be chock full of stuff, so please be sure to watch for it if you subscribe, or get signed up so as to not miss a beat. There will be some happy surprises and format changes that I know you will really like, as Rocky Squirrel would say! 

Well, that is all the news for now. Keep watch for other announcements and such in the coming days! In the meantime…wishing everyone a beautiful Valentine’s Day with plenty of hearts and kisses! xoxox

When the days get shorter and the temperature cools, the leaves begin to turn and the world begins to change. This is when the summer ends and the fall brings nostalgia for bonfires, football games and huge piles of leaves to jump on and hide within. The animals of the land become more active as do the children of the earth, both large and small, young and older, everyone joining into the autumn time of year. Sweaters and socks, hoodies and boots…all wrap us in cozy comfort, the smell of the wind an invisible cloud of freshness surrounding everyone who ventures out in it and a signature of their journey to the out of doors. And that is my most favourite part…the smell of autumn, the sound of the wind in the whispering trees as they dance and sway with the passing clouds above. I love fall…

Is it any coincidence that during this time of year the veil between this world and the next stretches thin and thinner, enabling souls both living and deceased to communicate with a crystal clarity that is rarely seen at any other time of the year? What is it about the earth’s journey from here to there that enables the conditions to be so right…so perfect…for the slightest change in fibrational pitch which clears the way for contact? It has always puzzled me. I adore the communion and encourage everyone, on this side and the next, to watch for the signs, encourage the connection and to rejoice our good fortune. The energy it takes for those living in the spiritual dimension to reach out and really touch us is unfathomable, but somehow they manage. Drawing energy from other sources is one way to get around the energy barrier. Another is through prayer, belief and good old fashioned faith…belief that our loved ones are not gone but merely transitioned, faith that we are all worthy of their efforts, and the energy of prayer that is proven to lift even the heaviest of hearts and most down trodden of souls…lifting them…healing them…making us one in the spirit of life.

This November and all the way through the Holiday season and beyond, remember your Dearly Departed Loved Ones and know that they are thinking of you too. They have not left us, but have just gone into another room. Think of them in the same old way and talk to them as you always have. Nothing has changed. They are still with us…in every way, every day…

I love how Steve Jobs shares with us how he started his business back in the day. He is just one year older than me, which is a sobering thought, and I thank the Divine Powers that I still have my health. My mother was a small business owner, and I just recently have decided to stop “working for the man” and come out with my own business, which I lovingly call Sleeping Gypsy. Having and running a …small business is a challenge to say the least. While I get such satisfaction from having control of my own dreams, more importantly helping others is high on my list of priorities in life as well. It is something I have been doing my whole life anyway, so I decided to go ligit, hang out my shingle and emerge from the closet of being too intimidated by big business (which, ironically, Apple Corp. did eventually turn into) and being afraid to follow my own dreams. My mother was a small business owner who nurtured her business for well over 40 years. She now inspires me from the Other Side and helps me to keep my eye on what is important in life: freedom, faith and belief in ones self. Small business will save this country from the sad economic shape that it is in today. So, if you dream of striking off on your own, follow that dream. If not, please patronize the small businesses in your area, both locally and globally. We can make a difference i this world today if only we try. I know Mom and Steve would approve…

Try as I might to resist commenting on this casel, I just cannot help it. For whatever Michael Jackson might or might not have been, he was first and foremost a human being. His doctor, Conrad Murray, was in charge of his care. It seems to me that Dr. Murray got himself caught up into something that got out of his control, causing him to lose sight of hsi responsibilities as a physician.

And that’s my point. Most Americans know that the medical association and the pharmaceutical companies have us by the throat and wield way too much power. The only people in this country that can get any sort of health care without rendering them bankrupt are the rich and sometimes famous. Dr. Murray, in my opinion is a poster child for the *real* medical professional in this country, and while it is true that there are some honourable physicians out there, they are few and far between. Whike I won’t go into some of my own personal medical horror stories lived while dealing with doctors both while I had insurance and when I did not, suffice it to say, many of you reading this right now know exactly what I am talking about. Dr. Murray was swayed by the money and it blinded him to his moral and professional ethics. Yes, he is human too, but being a physician is his job for which he is licenced by the government which is supposed to be an affidavit testifying to his professionalism and his quality and ability to do his job. Doctors are no better than the corner mechanic these days. There are good ones and there are some bad ones. But, we are not dealing with a pick up truck here. We are dealing with lives. And that should mean something.

I won’t go into the whole political rant here, either. I will save that for some other day. let’s just say that no matter who Michael Jackson was, at the very least he was and is a victim in so many ways. A victim of himself, his addictions, and a victim of the times…which haven’t changed a whole lot in the past 50 years or so. Remember Janis? Jimmy? Kurt? Amy? The list goes on and on. That is what is sad, my friends. The fact that these folks wasted their lives and were dupped by everyone…including themselves.

Let’s try to be more aware of our neighbors, family and friends and help them to heal their emotional injuries so they don’t have to turn to self medication to deaden the pain. Let’s reach out to others in need, at least through a moral support system, to help them cope, especially now in these stressful economic times. Let’s try to elect officials who will make a difference in our society where health care and the homeless and the poverty stricken are concerned. No one in the world should be starving right now and they are! Lots of them are! there is no excuse for this.

So…don’t let this death be alike all the other ones: Futile. Senseless. A waste. Do your part. Take a stand. Don’t waste resources and hammer your opinion home to whomever will listen. If enough of us scream…then someone is bound to hear. If we scream to the heavens, then maybe someone here on earth will listen. I think that’s what Michael jackson would want. In fact, I know he would…

King of Stones ~ Wildwood Tarot

Forest life mirrors real life and then transforms into a beautiful and enchanting story that mirrors an archetype that takes us back to more simpler times. When I first saw the Wildwood Tarot, I immediately thought about the new HBO series “Game of Thrones“, a story brought to cinematic life from a book series called “A Story of Fire and Ice” by George R.R. Martin. From the first airing I was hooked, just as the Wildwood Tarot pulled me into another world of nature and the wild where the roots of our planet are borne, so did this mesmerizing story of life and struggle in a place no one has ever been before.

The Wheel of Life and the turn of the seasons sits at the heart and soul of who we are and of the true nature of our planet, Mother Earth. The Wheel turns very slowly in Winterfell where the heart of the story of Fire and Ice takes place, deep in the woods where the outside world seems ffar removed from life in a way that seems to be threatened by the ambition and greed of the other entities of power within the realm and the surrounding lands…much as it is in our society today in many countries and principalities around the globe. The similarities between Winterfell and Sherwood are not lost to me, with their magnificent trees and the resident’s respect for nature touching my soul in very deep and primal ways even today in this, the modern world. We all long for a more natural time where things were simpler, cleaner with the spirit of the earth more accessible and woven within our daily lives. Nowadays, one has to put forth a bit more effort into getting out and around the natural world outside. It is a scientifically proven fact that this separation from nature has a detrimental effect upon the human body and psyche. I feel this is why many people are drawn to stories of an Arthurian theme, in my thinking a good thing! Keeping the spirit alive and letting us set our minds on the Old Ways where our roots are deep and still viable challenges the mind and keeps us healthy in many diverse ways. This connection between the Old Path and the Old Ways is instilled within from the beginning of time, and will always be a part of who we are as a people.  While the wheel in the story Game of Thrones turns ever so slowly, the way of life in real life society pushes us all to live and go faster and faster on it’s modern Merry-Go-Round wheel. As long as the legends of Arthur and the Old Days of the Wood are kept alive, I feel that we all have hope and the chance to keep the those ways alive and well as we march onward into the 21st century and beyond onto the unknown path of life.

The Journey ~ Wildwood Tarot

The Wildwood Tarot is a tangible tool to help remind us of the wheels that turn in our lives and how things change from season to season and just how mutable everything in our world really is. The interesting thing about the World of Winterfell when placed next to the times of our modern times and the Wildwood Tarot  is the paradox that forms and fold back onto itself, mirroring one and the other in ironic and unusual ways. In the Land of Fire and Ice, there is a magic of dragons that has died back  and lay dormant for many long seasons. The innocence of a girl child gives rise to this ancient magic and the vision of a young boy for the future of his world balance each other beautifully. In our modern day world much of the same thing has happened: the creators of ”A Story of Fire and Ice”, George R.R. Martin, and the “Wildwood Tarot”, John Matthews and Mark Ryan, are those same brilliant children who reawaken that spark of the Old Ways that jump starts the turning of the Wheel, rekindling the connection with our archetypal origins. Like the “Fool’s Journey”,  our lives and the very motion of the Universe hinges upon circles, orbits, turning and cycles – everything moves through the paths of the seasons. The turning of the Wheel of Life is a reflection of our lives. And, while the Game of Thrones tells the dire story of man’s dark nature while Wildwood Tarot looks at life in a brighter light, we can take the messages of both worlds and meld them into our world today. Our World and our Wheel…one and the same…ours to command…

Even though the James Ray Sweat Lodge trial has been nudged from the spotlight by the Casey Anthony trial , it has not lost its place of importance in seriousness of the crime. And, even though this is not a cold case, I still have strong feelings about this case, as it touches the New Age community intimately.

Everyone is familiar with The Secret and all the attention and success it received when it first hit the scene. I must admit, I have never read the book or watched the movie, as when it took on such a cult following and rendered nearly everyone that came into contact with the concept comatose, seeminglyfloating along in a mindless trance of rapture. Even Oprah coind’t resist. This sort of thing just rubs me the wrong way and makes me very suspicious. Never being a “follower”, I have always marched to a different drummer. Mainstream fads and the fantastical is lost on me. Always a free thinker, I become suspicious of anything that gravitates towards joining, following, cliques, taking oaths and exclusivity. Must be a past life thing…but please excuse me. I digress.

James Ray found guilty of negligent homicide...

When I first heard of this tragedy in Sedona, I could feel my heart sinking in my chest. Suddenly the Native American, Pagan, Wiccan and New Age communities were thrust under a microscope by the secular masses. Suddenly anything and everything these certain groups of people believed in and lived by was coming under scutiny because of the carelessness of one single man who got a little too full of himself and let the greed of fame and fortune get the better of him. Or was is? Is this a solitary incident? Is James Ray the only soul on the planet to let the “dark side” of his nature get the better of him and, letting it take over, use that very darkness to take advantage of innocent folks who’s only quest is to find enlightenment in the planet’s changing, evolving times?

I think not.

As I watched the days unfold around this event, it gave me pause to think on other similar events that happen on a smaller scale in my own life on a daily basis. I’m afraid it’s true. Not a day goes by where I don’t receive an email or a phone call from someone who has been told by a so-called psychic practitioner that they have a “curse” upon them, that they are “hexed”, that unless they cough up some ungodly amount of money – usually whistling to the tune of hundreds if not thousands of dollars – they will die, their children will die and their life will become a living hell, never to be recovered from in this lifetime. I am beginning to think that I should make a recording to make my job just a little easier: “There is no curse. There is no hex. You are not followed by demons. You are not doomed. Your children will not die. There is no boogy man out to get you. Beep.” These superstitious scare tactics perpetuated upon the seekersof Light in this world have my complete and undiliuted sympathies. I cannot imagine how I would feel if someone was able to convine me unequivocally that my life was doomed and that my only salvation was to empty my bank account (“What price do you put on the life of your child?”)  and to bow to them, put my faith in them and believe that if they burn this candle and say that chant on this night at that phase of the moon that they will save me?!

…really?

There is an apparent cycle going on with this sort of interaction between the different subcultures, belief systems and the mainstream secular masses. On one side there is the Mainstream, content in their complacency. These folks are fine as long as you don’t shake their tree. On the other side are the Seekers, searching for their truth in very unique and individual ways. These are folks of every belief, mode or religious bent, be it Christian, Muslim, Wiccan, New Age, Spiritualist, indigenous, what have you. It’s all good. That’s what our country was founded upon, the right to seek and find and worship the way one sees fit. And then in the middle we have what I call “The Players”. You know the type: they swindle and burn and take from unsuspecting people who believe in the good of man and the Light of the Divine that shines within. Only the Light in the Players is not what it seems,  used to trick and deceive, sad to say. And when they do their deed and then sneak off, a thief in the night, carrying with them whatever they can, be it someones hard earned money or simply their innocence and dignity. The tree is then rattled and the Mainstream rouses out of their slumber, half asleep, looking around shouting, “Who goes there? What’s going on?”, layingtheir eyes upon the only ones in the line of sight – the viable and the legitimate; the perpetrators long gone, no where in sight. It’s amusing to me, as this is the common story line in many stories, told over the millenia in every conceivable form be it chidren’s faerie tales, countless novels and possibly every TV drama ever aired.  Talk about living an archtype! The irony is not lost on me…

Being in a cookie cutter, mass production society hasn’t helped the situation. The paradox is that those who are trying to make a difference and break out of this old pattern of “being the same as everyone else at the speed of light” are left holding the bag when the darkness seeps through and make its mark. The same old question is left ringing in the ears from all camps. What do we do, as individuals and within our own communities to protect ourselves from spiritual fraud? I wish I could say that the answer is simple. But I think that remembering to use common sense is up there on the top of the list, as well as having patience and taking the time to explain and help others who are either misinformed, uneducated or not aware of the pitfalls of living in a society today that is in the midst of desperate times spiritually, morally, politically and financially, and it is probably going to get worse before it gets better. I will be glad when the charlatans get bored with playing psychic and go back to their day jobs whenever the become avaialbel again once the global economy gets back on its feet. But there is a light on the horizon and that light is within you. There are ways to stay on top of it all:

* Have an open but discerning mind. If your hinky meter begins to go off, or that little voice inside is telling you that something just isn’t right, then heed those inner insights when dealing with someone trying to manipulate you by fear and the negative.

* Get references or ask others how they feel or if they have had experience with a certain psychic or intuitive, especially if they are asking a fee.

* Remember, just because a psychic or intuitive charges a large amount of money does not mean they are better than someone who is more reasonably priced. And, while some intuitives don’t charge anything, it is not true that ”realpsychics” don’t or can’t charge because of Karma or some unseen universal force commanding them not to. True and legitimate psychics and intuitives have bills to pay, too, and a need to keep the lights on.

* Scam artists will take advantage of the fact that people with issues or problems won’t take the time to check to see if a psychic service is legitimate or not. They take advantage of the “instant gratification” that a lot of folks are looking for these days. So, take some time to check out more than a few other services and compare.

* Sleep on it. Take your time. Chances are your problem can wait and will be there when you wake in the morning, or quite possibly will resolve itself or the answer become very apparent after a good nights sleep.

* Look for the Light. If it feels dark, scary or laden with talk of curses, hexes, demons and large dollar amounts then there is a high probability that you will be getting ripped off. Legitimate psychics, mediums and intitives work from a place of Light always, their mission to spread that light whenever and wherever possible.

* NEVER give money to any psychic or psychic medium who promises to remove a curse or spell that they “claim” has been put on you. Moreover, never give money to any psychic or psychic medium who asks you to “wire” a large sum of money to purchase a candle, crystal or any product that they say is going to remove a curse, a spell or bad luck. You are not cursed. There is no spell. They are merely using fear to manipulate you.

[For more info on this case, check out The Daily Beast and the CNN Justice In Session Blog.]

Nut & Geb

Transeformers: Shamans of the 21st Century

A few months ago, I picked up a most amazing book titled “Tranceformers: Shamans of the 21st Century” by John Jay Harper. I had not read anything by him before, but he came highly recommended and I was excited to read what he had to say, especially about Modern Shamanism and the 2012 enigma. He did not disappoint.

And you know how things kind of go hand in hand and are linked in a very mysterious and synchronistic way? Like you just happen to stumble upon one thing and soon, through that, you get shoved in the direction of another completely different thing, but in the end you, it and the other are inexplicably tied together in weird and wonderful ways? Well…that is what has happened with John, myself and Paul A. LaViolette. Only they don’t really know it.

In John Jay Harper’s book, “Tranceformers“,he makes a statement on page 169 which reads: “…the symbols in the Zodiac and the Tarot cards encode the spontaneous creation of matter out of zero-point energy in a biochemical reaction-diffusion process that takes the energetic shape of the Ankh. He calls the Ankh the ‘Model-G’ pattern of subatomic kinetics; a new unified physics of The Field.”

This reallycaught my attention. For decades I have been voicing my opinion that the Tarot was much older than the assumed 14th century origins and that the Major Arcana came before the suited playing card part of the deck and meant much more to mankind and the grander scheme of things than others would seem to realize. Needless to say, I have been through the gamut of abuse for standing up and sticking to my beliefs where the Tarot is concerned, and out of all sorts of corners of the Tarot world. And that’s ok. I am like a bulldog on such things. I will not let go once my teeth have sunk in and my jaw is locked. This isn’t a matter of principle. It goes much deeper. This is something that I intuitively know and psychically feel. These images are not only archetypal. They are beyond ancient. They are the core of who we are as human beings and hold secrets to the meaning of things on every level, from the Fool’s Path in our day to day lives to the path of the Sun in our day to day world and beyond. They are old and they are special and they mean something profound. But knowing it and proving it are two completely different things. Hence, my predicament.

Genesis of the Cosmos: The Ancient Science of Continuous Creation

So…when I asked John Jay Harper what he meant by the above statement, he referred me to the works of Paul A. LaViolette, specifically “The Genesis of the Cosmos: The Ancient Science of Continuous Creation”. And, if I thought my eyes were open before I read this book, I would have to say that they are popping out on springs right now, having found the mother lode of information to validate the belief that I have had for as far as I can remember, when I first laid eyes on the Tarot all those years ago: that they are not only as old as humankind, but the concept goes all the way back to the beginning of time as we know it, and was conceptualized as far back as the Old Kingdom Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and likely farther back than that. The Big Bang theory of the origins of the Universe has turned from a Big Blast to a Little Toot, the beginnings of Tarot from a parlor game invented by bored courtesans to an ingenious way to keep ancient knowledge alive and well today, and the beginnings of the Universe as we know it from a closed system to one open and ready for business. Intrigued?  Please check out the works of John Jay Harper and Paul A. LaViolette. Be prepared to be amazed!

Until next time, my friends…

…Namaste and a Very Happy New Year in 2011 to one and all!

…and a grand celebration it was! I had heard that Saundra Emerson and Gary Broughman had an exquisite place where yoga, serenity, organic gardening and a beautiful lakeside homestead sitting high upon the hill overlooking the calm and peaceful waters were the normal daily fare out in DeLeon Springs in northern/central Florida. But little did I know just how awsome this place really was until I experienced it for myself!

Bamboo Arts Spirit Celebration - Fun!

As we drove down to their place early Saturday morning on the 16th of October – the day that the Spirit Celebration was to be held – I felt as if I was going back in time…to the 1960′s! Images of Woodstock came flooding in and I squeaked with delight as we entered the property! As we wandered on down the dirt road through the dappled sunlight breaking through the trees, it really was as if we were beginning a journey into another place, another era, where times were easy and the soul could relax and breathe. When the Center came into sight, it was like coming home. The beautiful and serene tree surrounding the lake, the gardens, both floral and vegetable, teamed with abundance, and the rolling hills, spacious pines and the overall feel of the place was one of the most welcoming I have experienced in a very long time.

Lots of great music at the Bamboo Arts Spirit Celebration!

As we unloaded out gear and entered the expansive lawn and stage area, everyone was friendly, welcoming and helpful. It felt like old home week as old friends an new came by to offer their “hellos” and their helps. It wasn’t long before everyone was set up and ready for a fun day filled with music, laughter and good times! The cafe at the main house offered the most wonderful organic homemade fixins for a very modest fee, and the weather that day was absolutely gorgeous with blue skies, a gentle breeze and just right temperatures. There was big music up on the stage for most of the day, with homegrown bands, poetry and spoken word recitations. But here and there all about the property (which is huge!) were little clusters of musicians jamming together and making the sweetest music an ear could ever hear. And sprinkled among the trees and scattered about the lawn were tents where readers, healers, and peddlers of various sundry fare would delight the senses as one strolled by. Crystal skulls, gemstone jewelry, incense and peppermints, hand made one of a kind items and lots of other things were there to be had for very reasonable prices. A very impressive turnout from vendors, readers, crafts folk, musicians and spectators made this an event to remember. My cheeks  hurt from smiling all day! And when all was said and done, after reluctantly calling it a day as the sun set and we readied for home, I could not recall a more lovely time spent on a beautiful Saturday afternoon!

Hearts a blazin' at Sleeping Gypsy's tent!

Rumor has it that Bamboo Arts Celebration Center will be having more events coming up starting in January 2011. Keep a watchful eye on this blog and my web page – Sleeping Gypsy - for all the latest updates and developments for announcements for upcoming celebrations at the Bamboo Arts Celebration Center at 4490 Cave Lake Road in DeLeon Springs, Florida. Until then, give them a look see at their web site: Bamboo Arts Celebration Center.

You will be so glad you did…

Until next time…

…Namaste!

Low Crypt Graves @ Tomolato Cemetery ~ St. Augustine, Florida

Well, here we are, four months into ournew home in the country’s oldest city, and I have to say I am lovin’ it! There is so much to do and see! If one wants to be the tourist and take in the sites, the Old City awaits day or night. Or, if exploring is more your thing, the whole surrounding area (and the whole state of Florida and Georgia for that matter!) is teeming with little nooks and crannies full of the interesting and unusual. Whether it is the big city and shopping (Premier Outlet Malls and Jacksonville) or other quaint little burgs (Palatka and Palm Coast and Green Cove Springs) there is always something interesting to do and see in the Northern and Central Florida and Southern Georgia. (People say that Northern Florida is really a part of Southern Georgia, as the Georgian’s say that the Northern part of the state of Florida is too good for the rest of the state; it’s all the “First Coast”, however, and it is all good!)I have never seen so much vegetation except for maybe the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas where the maternal side of my family is from. It is a prolific rain tropical forest type of environment abounding with wildlife of every sort – especially birds! Bald eagles, hummers, spoon bills, all sorts of herons and egrets, many varieties of little finches, buzzards and vultures, split tailed kites, and majestic brown pelicans…just to name a very small few. As a lover of all critters, I am in Seventh Heaven here. Hooty owls can be heard late at night in the woods across the street from our little shotgun style home. I love to lay in bed at night and listen to them hoot and trill! One of my favourite creatures is probably the smallest: the Anoles. They are little guys with great big hearts, doing push ups to impress when one wanders into their territory. And the babies are so very tiny and small, but with a heart as big as any little adult of the species. What do they eat? It’s hard to imagine… 

An Old Garden gate ~ Old City ~ St. Augustine, Florida

There is always something interesting to see in the Old City. During the daylight hours, one can go down to the King Street/St. George Street area, take a look around, do some shopping and marvel at some of the old and restored deep south style homes. Most of them have been turned into Bed n Breakfasts, or businesses, but all along the outskirts of the central part of the Old City there are blocks and blocks of really old homes that people still live in, either students from the nearby Flagler College or the residents that have been there for quite some time. Vibrant during the day, and quite bucolic, it’s the night time that brings out the spiritual vibrations from the dwellings in the city. 

My favourite street to wander in the wee hours is Hypolita Street. The spirit activity on that street is one of the most active that I have ever felt.  Scarlet O’Hara’s is down there, as well as the older churches which are not far off the beaten path. But there is something about Hypolita that really retains the vibrations of the old times and the people that lived there…some of them just don’t want to leave this charming place. The Tomolato Cemetery is very impressive. The plaqard states that it is an Indian burial site that was maintained by the Franciscan priests in the then little town of Tomolato. It is fenced and closed most of the time, though I hear that they open it up from time to time to let visitors have a closer look. It is by far the oldest burial ground I have ever seen, dating back to 1737. Though I haven’t been down to this area during the late night hours, I do plan on doing so very soon. 

Red Door on a Very Old House ~ Old City, St. Augustine, Florida

One of the things that impresses me about this city is the care the town takes at keeping the big modern homes and housing developments at bay and on the outskirts of the city. The same goes for big box stores and shopping malls. The only thing you will find in the old part of town are restored and refurbished dwellings and places of business, no modern stuff there, just put back to as close to the original thing as one could get. It really is like stepping back in time. Especially when you round a corner to see a pirate lad and a pirate ladie deep in the middle of a (mock) sword fight duel! You soon realize that it is a pair of the many reneactors that wander the old brick streets, playing parts that bring back the memories of times gone by…and maybe unknowingly stirring up the spirits of the past with their cherade. Or a colonial spanish couple strolling the lanes. Or an uniformed spanish guard patrolling the streets keeping the flim flam under control. (…those were real people…right?!  ) That said, the efforts of the renactors do not go wasted on me. I love that sort of thing! 

My favourite watering hole is Green Dolphin Street at 51 Charlotte Street near Hypolita. You can sit outside and listen to the live music. It has great ambiance, but not too pricy. It’s outside and they have all sorts of differet things to drink. It’s a really good time down there – I highly recommend to anyone not wanting to do the average tourist thing but needing a taste of local vibe to check this place out! Another good place to go that the locals love is Finnegan’s Wake out on the Island on A1A. They make the best fish and chips you will ever taste! And if you are into celtic music, they play the best around, from traditional to modern, it will take you back to the Emerald Isle! If you’re into Mexican fare, try Casa Maria just up the road towards the bridge. Carribean you say? Mango Mango’s is the place to go for the best island burgers in the land! Plus, they have live ragae every now and then and it’s like being in the Islands. There are two locations, but the one out on South  US1 is a little better priced and not so crowded by tourists. Granted, the location on the corner of A1A and A Street is like 30 feet from the beach, but I can live with that.  I think you could too. 

Corner Tower of the Castillo de san Marcos ~ St. Augustine, Florida

Oh…and did I mention that the whole city is haunted? 

Orbs in the Barracks ~ Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

 

More Orbs in the Barracks ~ Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

 

Small Orbs in the Barracks ~ Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

 

Five Orbs ~ Barracks Area, Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

 

One Bright Orb in the Magazine Area ~ Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

 

One Big Orb in the Magazine Area ~ Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

 

Now, some may argue until the cows come home that orbs are merely dust particles caught as an anomoly by the flash of the camera. In some cases that may be so, but I don’t think this is the case here. These are the only orb photos out of nearly a hundred photos taken at the fort that day. If it’s dust here, then it is dust all over the place, because it is all just one big huge place that is built all the same. But I’m here to tell you that this is not a dust environment. In fact, it was so hot and humid (the city was experiencing a rare heat wave) and not a breath of a breeze to be felt anywhere that day. So, I am of the mind that these are orbs in the photos and not dust. But to each his own opinion, I guess.

Well, there you have it…an update from the Oldest City in the country. I highly suggest to anyone visiting the Orlando/Daytona/Savanah area to swing over and check this place out. I fell in love with this town, and I know you will too!

Thanks for checking in and cruising the photos and hanging out with me for a while.

Until next time…

…Au Revoir!