Totems: Dingo

The dog of Australia is the dingo and is the largest carnivore of the country. The dingo is notably the only canine or feline of Australia. Dingos will hunt in packs to capture larger prey such as the kangaroo, but seem to have preference for food they can capture on their own, rabbits and rodents.
　
Different pitches and tones can give messages only subtle, but can give benefit if one responds to such with benefit. The dingo totem teaches to be able to read these subtle messages and reap the benefits of properly responding to them.
　
To be flexible and adaptable can prove to be of great worth, and the dingo knows it. Dingos are able to adapt to the situation at hand, and as such the dingo totem teaches to be able to be alike. Not only is flexibility and adaptability is taught, but to live within balance, within harmony, goes along in the dingos teaching.
　
Understanding the hierarchy and one’s place within it provides a lesson to be learnt from the dingo. To look at the dynamics of the group, to understand where one stands and how to maintain it. Even to improve one’s standing within the group is what the dingo notes.
　
Risks come up, and this totem teaches to take whatever opportunity to take whatever risks there are. Change and adaptation is needed at times, and the dingo teaches that one cannot allow for resistance. Changes are a part of life, just as taking risks are.

Corn/Maize

Corn, or maize, comes in a number of varieties which includes a number of colours. Corn is a grain but in cooking it is used as a vegetable or starch. It can also grow in a number of climates, allowing for it to be grown in many countries. Its botanical name is Zea mays.
　
Typically, the seeds of corn are sown in spring, but the seeds at the latest should be sown in early summer. Compost, liquid fertilisers and mulch is loved by corn. Wind can prove a problem to this specific plant, where wind can knock down corn if strong enough. This problem with wind can be revolved with the use of bamboo sticks and string.
　
Full sun and well drained soil is needed for corn. Corn also is wind pollinated, and can be fertilized by the corn of neighbours posing a possible problem of creating a sterile hybrid. Due to how corn is pollinated, it is suggested to grow the corn closely together in a block formation to help allow higher corn production. Water is a love of corn, and as such soil should be kept moist but avoid waterlogging.

Watching the morning news, a lovely surprise was told. Women are being granted the allowance to vote in Saudi Arabia. Busy with life and what goes on, I am still trying to fathom my thoughts on such a matter.

Gods And Goddesses: Tian Guan

Tian Guan is the god of good fortune and wealth, whom is commonly mistaken for another fortune god, Fu Xing, and vice-versa. The day of the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first month, is birthday of Tian Guan. All types of entertainment is enjoyed by this god, so on his birthday people entertain themselves as a way to say they wish for good fortune from Tian Guan.
　
Tian Guan is typically depicted standing and holding a scroll which says, “The Ruler of Heaven bestows good fortune”. Tian Guan is also known as the Ruler of Heaven and considered to be the deity of Heaven itself.
Legend states that Tian Guan holds a register of all the deeds, good and bad, which people have done.

Eight Trigrams: Wind

The wind trigram is known as Xun, with being referred to also as ‘The Gentle’. Its upper and middle lines are unbroken while the lower is. Interestingly, Xun is associated with people that have broad foreheads. Other people associated with the wind trigram include eldest daughters and artists.
　
A representation of discipline and dedication to nature, the wind trigram is the one that asks if one is honouring nature. The eight trigrams are said to be able to be in harmony, and when Xun is in such humour and ability to laugh at human predicament is possible. Xun is the reminder to the abundance in life and how a small amount of one thing can turn into abundance.
　
The wind trigram is of the wood element, with its flavour sour and sense being of sight. Health wise, Xun deals with the liver and gallbladder. Dealing with nature, Xun is of interaction, upward movements, transformation and of course gentleness. Hairless animals are of the wind trigram, but so are chickens; for plants it is bamboo.
　
Xun’s colour is dark green while the season is late spring, The time of day is midmorning. Southeast is its direction in the Northern Hemisphere, northeast Xun’s direction in the Southern Hemisphere. Objects of the wind trigram are fans, rope and wind instruments.

Totems: Ox

The ox is an animal that has helped mankind, a working animal and still is in countries. There is still oxen raised for the purpose of pulling wagons and ploughing, with the ox the very beast with its ability to work without tiring.
　
The ox totem teaches the power of the work ethic. Work is a usual part of life and continuously will be such. Good work ethic is what this totem will teach along with the idea that giving service to another is not always bad.
　
To keep ones strength high along with determination is of the ox totem, teaching to stay strong and determined despite the situation. The situation may go foul, yet ones strength and determination shall allow for the ability to get through it.

Carrots

Daucus carota subspecies sativus, or carrots, is the well known root vegetable. It is considered one of the easiest vegetables to grow, although one has to be careful with the soil as if the soil is heavy clay, compacted or stony forking of the carrot will occur. Too much nitrogen in the soil also causes branching and hairy, fibrous roots. Both is something to watch out for.
　
Potassium allows for the carrot to be sweet, so plenty shall allow for sweeter carrots. Growing carrots with tomatoes is said to help tomato production and if left to flower carrots will attract predatory wasps that will attack multiple garden pests.
　
Carrots need full sun and fertile soils that is well drained. Although sun is loved, when carrot plants are younger, shade is enjoyed. If transplanting, be careful as carrots do not deal with transplanting well.
Carrots are a cool season crop and can tolerate a frost, taking four months to mature. Spring and summer are generally the time of year to sow carrots.