Christmas and Winter Tags: Part 3

Featuring the beautiful artwork of Very Many© and Keith Garvey©

TODAY through Monday Get Children of the Luminaries Book One: The Coming Storm for $7.50

NOW thru Monday, November 30th get it for half price!  

Order from Create Space and get your copy of Children of the Luminaries Book One: The Coming Storm for only $7.50.  That's over HALF off the regular price!

Just Click HERE

If you (or someone you love) enjoys such fantasy action adventures as The Hunger Games,  Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Harry Potter then you're gonna really LOVE Children of the Luminaries!

Click HERE to get an inside look into Children of the Luminaries with this Q&A

Click HERE to read an excerpt from Book One

Get ahead of the Holiday Shopping Madness and order your copy of Children of the Luminaries Book One The Coming Storm Today!

 Available in paperback Create Space.   Click HERE 

*Please Note:  The Children of the Luminaries™ trilogy is an adult fiction/fantasy/adventure/action series.

About Julia K. Cole

What can you expect from someone who considers Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality a personal calling? Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!

Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

As a writer, Julia is a virtual powerhouse of creativity.  Among Julia's literary accomplishments is  the  Children of the Luminaries  trilogy;  Book One: The Coming Storm can be purchased by clicking Here.   

Book Two  of the trilogy is due out in the Fall of 2015 and Book Three will be available in 2016.  The long anticipated ZEN of Duct Tape:  An Empress Is Born will be out in 2016.  As well as The Teddy Mitchell Chronicles.

Julia has also contributed to several other publications including Brad Steiger's  Real Zombies, The Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse  and Marie D. Jones' Destiny vs. Choice 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World. 

 

 

Christmas and Winter Tags 2015 Part 2

Here are some Winter and Christmas Tags I made.   Featuring the artwork of Very Many, Soul Designer and Keith Garvey!

Get ahead of the Holiday Shopping Madness: Order Your Copy of Children of the Luminaries Book One: The Coming Storm TODAY!

If you (or someone you love) enjoys such fantasy action adventures as The Hunger Games,  Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter then you're gonna really LOVE Children of the Luminaries!

Click HERE to get an inside look into Children of the Luminaries with this Q&A

Click HERE to read an excerpt from Book One

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Get ahead of the Holiday Shopping Madness and order your copy of Children of the Luminaries Book One The Coming Storm Today!

Available in paperback Create Space.   Click HERE 

Or you can just click the book cover on the Right Hand side of this Blog.  

*Please Note:  The Children of the Luminaries™ trilogy is an adult fiction/fantasy/adventure/action series

Shhhhh! I'm Hiding From Stupid People!

For years I have practiced the art of remaining centered in the face of adversity.  In the last few months, I have stepped up that process in order to keep up with the on-going wave of negativity.  My spiritual modalities is a combination of various techniques I have learned over the years.  I use them three times daily (sometimes more)  in order to remain calm and centered.  And please know that what I am writing here is coming from a place of peace.  As I absolutely refuse to allow such energies as hatred to remove me from my place of joy. 

I consider myself a tolerant person.  A lover of peace and harmony.  But when it comes to bigotry and hypocrisy my tolerance is non-existent and all gloves are off.  Does this make me worse than or less than those I oppose?  No.  Though the severely stuck on stupid would have you believe otherwise. 

While I am not happy with the flooding of refugees into our country, I know they need us.  And yes, I welcome them with open arms.    While I have a strong belief regarding take care of our own FIRST, I know there is plenty to go around.  Sadly, that plenty is in the hands of selfish, greedy, shit stirring ass-hats aka politicians and some religious leaders who withhold that cornucopia of plenty in order to create and maintain a rift among it's people.  Yea, you brainless hate mongering rat bastards I am on to YOU.  As are many others. 

I have ZERO tolerance for stupidity.  Ignorance is one thing.  For ignorance is not knowing any better.   Stupidity, on the other hand,  is knowing better but doing it anyways.  And that my friends, is when yours truly declares there is NO ROOM AT THIS INN.  


For a few days I have been watching people siding with their chosen political parties and religious dogma.  The Democrats and Republicans continuing their childish game of name calling, the on-going freeze dried bullshit about this that and the other thing regarding religion...all of which is just plain ridiculous, self-righteous, narrow minded, one sided and ignorant beyond all stretches of the imagination.    But I just sit back and watch, observe and learn.   I don't agree with 99% of the shit I come across in the news feeds.  I just tolerate it in the name of tolerance all the while wondering, what would these people fight about if there wasn't religion and politics?  I'm confidant enough to say they would find something.  They always do.

But I digress.   The point to this article stems from a post on Face Book.  And when I tell you that it was the proverbial straw, I mean it was the last and final restraint that broke. The post in question was a picture of the Quaran burning.  Seeing that caused something in me to finally snap.  I am not one that is easily offended.  In fact my being offended is more rare than hen's teeth.  Or so I foolishly once thought.  And when I tell you that I was offended...well I can tell you with genuine sincerity that was (and is)a gross understatement!  The burning of any book sets me off--but seeing a book that millions see as their Holy document is more than just offensive...it is obscene.  I am not a Muslim nor am I Christian,  Jew or  Buddhist.   But I stand by their rights to practice their chosen faith, openly and freely.   Just so long as they make no attempts to convert me, force me to give up my own rights and liberties...it's all good.

To see  religious books burning, even if it's just a picture,  brings out something in me many would find very un-spiritual.   I won't bother explaining myself as I feel no need.  I learned long ago  not to waste my time, energy and knowledge on individuals who live their lives wrapped up in their own ignorance and stupidity.  They don't listen anyways.  But I will say this with all the passion and vigor I can muster...

When it comes to any religious zealots and/or radicals... 

I have ZERO tolerance.

When it comes to any greedy lying off their asses politician and their sychophants... 

I have ZERO tolerance.

When it comes to any form of Hypocrisy no matter what shape, form or fashion it takes... 

I have ZERO tolerance.

AND....

When it comes to burning books...

I have less than ZERO tolerance!

  

Take that however way you like.  And if you take offense by anything I say here, on Face Book, or anywhere else on or off line, please know, understand and commit to memory that  I don't give two craps on a cracker!

About Julia K. Cole

What can you expect from someone who considers Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality a personal calling? Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!

Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

As a writer, Julia is a virtual powerhouse of creativity.  Among Julia's literary accomplishments is  the  Children of the Luminaries  trilogy;  Book One: The Coming Storm can be purchased by clicking Here.   

Book Two  of the trilogy is due out in the Fall of 2015 and Book Three will be available in 2016.  The long anticipated ZEN of Duct Tape:  An Empress Is Born will be out in 2016.  As well as The Teddy Mitchell Chronicles.

Julia has also contributed to several other publications including Brad Steiger's  Real Zombies, The Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse  and Marie D. Jones' Destiny vs. Choice 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World. 

 

 

Christmas Sig Tags 2015

Here some of my First Christmas sig tags for 2015

Hypocrisy: The TRUE Enemy

hypocrisy:the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.


If only those who fight so diligently for refugees would use those same energies and passions to fight for the homeless right here in their homeland. 

I wonder where is their courage when it comes to putting an end to the suffering of  those who reside in their own home state and city? Where is their  compassion when it comes to those who fought for the very freedoms we all enjoy?  I wonder...How can they can so easily turn a blind eye to the struggles and tragedies of those who live right there in their very own neighborhoods, cities and sates and see so clearly the hardships of others? 

Where is the sense of justice when it comes to the elderly here in the United States?  Where is the passion to fight for the rights of our elderly to live out their golden years without having to choose between much needed medicines and food or paying their utilities or rent?   

I wonder further how can anyone can just sit and pretend that it's perfectly okay to spend billions of dollars to bring in refugees and provide them with housing, medical care and food when millions of our own people are going without these very things?
  
hypocrisy: Turning a blind eye to those standing right in front of them who are in need, while having  great sight to see the needs of those faraway.

There is a saying...Charity begins at home.  This is a concept that many  obviously don't get.  So I'll break it down for everyone.  Whenever you fly on an airplane, one of the first thing you are told is...in case of emergency place the oxygen mask over your face FIRST before attempting to assist others.  There's a reason for this.  Think about it long and hard as to WHY you are instructed to do this.   While the safety of others is important--you can't help them if you pass out from lack of oxygen.  

Follow me so far?  Are you grasping the concept?


Again I must ask...where is the passion, the compassion, this sense of nobleness and justice when it comes to...

 The elderly, many of whom do without the basic necessities,  in your own city and state?

For the children, the men and women who go hungry and homeless in your own city and state?  

Our Veterans who fought for our freedoms?  So many are homeless; doing without medical care.


Where is that passionate fight for their rights for housing, food, medical care and such?

hypocrisy: A weapon that radicals from any and all religious/political standing will exploit and use to the fullest extent to gain power over those who don't have the willpower or the clarity to see how they're being used and manipulated.

Those who live as hypocrites don't see--can't see beyond their own lack of genuine goodness.   They just don't get it.   No, of course not.  And why would they?  They're too busy being self-righteous to even bother.  They're too pre-occupied with the name calling, too busy with the  shaming of those who believe in, and live by, that old adage Charity Begins At Home!  Too busy blindly following behind their hypocritical political and religious leaders,  too busy mimicking their example to care about or  to  see anything outside their own hypocrisy.  .

Pride and a false sense of  humanity doesn't allow them to see what's right in front of them.   No, it doesn't.

*~*~*~*~*

You see my friends, when you strengthen your own, provide for them FIRST you create unity.  In that unity you will have more willing souls joining your crusade to provide for others outside your neighborhoods, outside your cities and states.  When you take care of those right in front of you FIRST...You will see clearly how quickly charity grows and filters out. Taking care of those right in front of you FIRST creates a foundation so strong that it cannot and will not  falter. 

But you the prideful hypocrite cannot begin to even fathom that particular concept.   Now can you?
  
hypocrisy: The destroyer of unity and logic; the eviscerator of good sense

The bottom line ladies & gentlemen...
  
The true enemy of the world is Hypocrisy.  And THAT is what we're really at war with!
 

 























About Julia K. Cole

What can you expect from someone who considers Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality a personal calling? Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!

Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

As a writer, Julia is a virtual powerhouse of creativity.  Among Julia's literary accomplishments is  the  Children of the Luminaries  trilogy;  Book One: The Coming Storm can be purchased by clicking Here.   

Book Two  of the trilogy is due out in the Fall of 2015 and Book Three will be available in 2016.  The long anticipated ZEN of Duct Tape:  An Empress Is Born will be out in 2016.  As well as The Teddy Mitchell Chronicles.

Julia has also contributed to several other publications including Brad Steiger's  Real Zombies, The Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse  and Marie D. Jones' Destiny vs. Choice 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World. 

 

 

Personal Appearance on Great Day LIVE with Rachel Platt

Today,(Tuesday, 11/17/15) me, my co-worker Semone Carter and Donna Young from St. Vincent de Paul visited Rachel Platt on Great Day LIVE on WHAS 11 TV to talk about the food/personal item drive Solid Waste Collections is holding to benefit St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.

Click HERE to catch the Replay! 

Things Food Banks Need But Won't Ask For

Some items are in high demand at the food bank and you may not realize it. Because they aren’t essentials, the staff doesn’t publicly ask for them. A survey on Reddit.com asked volunteers what items people would be most appreciative of and we’ve listed the top 10 below. If you’re looking for an easy way to help out, pick some of these up while shopping and drop them off at one of our area food banks.

1. Spices.

Think about it. People who rely on the food bank eat a lot of canned food, rice, oatmeal, white bread, etc. They love spices. Seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, oregano, basil and so on.

2. Feminine Products.

Can you imagine being worried about affording these? Pads, tampons, panty liners, etc. Recommended: Buy in bulk at Costco for donating.

3. Chocolate.

People don’t need it, but think about being in their shoes and how nice it would be to be given a chocolate bar or brownie mix along with your essentials.

4. Toiletries.

Grocery stores are great about donating surplus or unsold food, but they have no reason to donate toilet paper, tooth paste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc. Food stamps often don’t cover these

5. Canned meats and jerky.

This isn’t true of all food banks, but some struggle to give users enough protein.

6. Crackers and tortillas.

They don’t spoil and everybody likes them.

7. Baby toiletries.

Diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, baby shampoo, baby soap, baby food, bottles, etc.

8. Soup packets.

Sometimes you look at rice, beans, instant potatoes, and cans of vegetable and think, “What do I make with this?” Hearty soup is a complete meal

9. Socks.

From a former homeless person: “Socks mean the world to you. They keep you warm, make you feel like you have something new, and just comfort you

10. Canned fruit other than pineapple.

Food banks get a lot of pineapple donated. Their clients love it when other kinds of fruit are available.

11.  JELLY!  

What's PB&J without the J?  It's nutrious all by itself--but with jelly (or jam or preserves) it's a great little meal!

12.  Cereals

Boxed cereals are a good stock item.  And many of the cereals such as corn flakes can be used to enhance other foods in recipes.  

And remember! Food banks love cash donations because it allows them to buy whatever they need!

About Julia K. Cole

What can you expect from someone who considers Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality a personal calling? Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!

Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

As a writer, Julia is a virtual powerhouse of creativity.  Among Julia's literary accomplishments is  the  Children of the Luminaries  trilogy;  Book One: The Coming Storm can be purchased by clicking Here.   

Book Two  of the trilogy is due out in the Fall of 2015 and Book Three will be available in 2016.  The long anticipated ZEN of Duct Tape:  An Empress Is Born will be out in 2016.  As well as The Teddy Mitchell Chronicles.

Julia has also contributed to several other publications including Brad Steiger's  Real Zombies, The Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse  and Marie D. Jones' Destiny vs. Choice 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World. 

 

 

What Are You Willing To Leave Behind?

Today I close the door to the past, open the door to the future,
take a deep breath,step on through and start a new chapter in my life. 

 - Unknown

In order to step through the door of new beginnings questions must be answered.  And from those questions  decisions must be made.  The most important question I ask myself  is...what am I willing to leave behind?


To be genuinely happy, am I willing to let go of all the unhappiness that I have carried all these years?  Am I willing to leave behind the judgments of others and the judgements I hold for myself? What would living  a life free of judgment and self condemnation truly feel like to me?  Am I willing to leave behind the fears associated with these judgments?  Better yet, am I willing to leave behind the fears of having nothing to take judgment's place?


What am I willing to leave behind?  What would it feel like?  What would it look like?  How would I act and appear?


I took it a few steps further and ask myself why I felt to live in judgement?  Whether I was the one doing the judging or the one being judged...what was driving me to accept this as part of my life? My story?  I know I don't like the feelings being judged brings out in me.  And I'm sure no one in their right mind enjoys it either.  So I went a little deeper and asked why would I accept judgment into my being?  The one word that immediately popped into my head was acceptance.  Of course this followed by a resounding WTF?  But as I went deeper into Theta the understanding of it all became clearer.   I learned at an early age that judging was a form of acceptance. Acceptance into a tribe.  (Yea, I rolled my eyes at that one too!)   The more I stretched my consciousness the more sense it made. Everybody (no exceptions) yearns acceptance.  It is this yearning that draws many into cliques.  We've all seen those movies with the "cool kids"  you know the ones I'm talking about. The ones that sneer and jeer at everybody who isn't just like them.  And while there are some who really don't like being in that group, they stay with it and go along with the "in crowd" all for the sake of acceptance. 



That was certainly a WOW moment!  So today, I choose to leave behind judgment.  It's a decision I have made.  To live the life I love, I choose a life that embraces acceptance without conditions.   



I don't know how I embrace acceptance of myself and others, I only know that I do now and I am Fulfilled!



I don't know how I love & accept myself and others unconditionally, I only know I do now and I am Fulfilled!



How does that feel? Liberating!  Energizing!  What does that look like?  Beautiful. Flawless. 

*******

What I notice after doing this One Command is how I see others.  I notice that I now see more of their positive qualities.  I notice the subtle things about the people I work with--the gentleness in their demeanor; the kindness in their eyes.    And I notice something pretty awesome when I look in the mirror...a glow.  Never really noticed that before until now.  

I'm sure it was always there--but now that I abandoned the tribe of judgment, I see others as they truly are and not through dingy lenses of what I once perceived them to be.  What I once perceived myself to be.

Namaste!

About Julia K. Cole

What can you expect from someone who considers Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality a personal calling? Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!

Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

As a writer, Julia is a virtual powerhouse of creativity.  Among Julia's literary accomplishments is  the  Children of the Luminaries  trilogy;  Book One: The Coming Storm can be purchased by clicking Here.   

Book Two  of the trilogy is due out in the Fall of 2015 and Book Three will be available in 2016.  The long anticipated ZEN of Duct Tape:  An Empress Is Born will be out in 2016.  As well as The Teddy Mitchell Chronicles.

Julia has also contributed to several other publications including Brad Steiger's  Real Zombies, The Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse  and Marie D. Jones' Destiny vs. Choice 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World.