Holiday Angel Of Roses Brings Seasonal Greetings

You can now order the Holiday Angel Of Roses from Destiny Bright Designs (tm) byAmber Silverstar for the celebrations of this season. This beautiful angelic messenger in blue and silver, sprinkles her abundance of roses over the hillsides and the villages around the world.

As the designer, I created this art work over a period of several weeks. The celestial theme is from an inspiration given to me by my favorite aunt, Mrs. Dorothy Stevens who said she had a vision of an angel with peaceful, joyful words tumbling out over the world. Also, because I live in Pasadena, California - "the City Of Roses" - the design of the Holiday Angel of Roses seemed to be quite appropriate.

So I hope you enjoy this creation now available on so many wonderful products, wearables and decor from CafePress at http://www.cafepress.com/ambersilverstar.

The Seasonal Changes

This may seem like an unusual time to write about intuition but I think it may be the perfect time. The reason is, the Holiday Season and the heavy demands it makes on your time, energy, thoughts, and relationships. You may be required to make a lot of decisions about a lot of choices which you do not think you are equipped to handle. Plus, your emotional self may be "all over the place." In addition, you might experience stress over what to do, how to do it, whom to do it with, plus when and where.

The "it" is a huge list of changing and challenging opportunities and possibilities of the cycles of celebrations. For this, I am offering a tool which is a great resource for you to use, it doesn't cost anything and you have it immediately available: your intuition.

With your intuition and a few positive affirmations you can stay-in-touch with your dreams, desires and wishes for the type of Holiday that works for you. As for the affirmations, try saying, "I say yes to a wonderful, fun, loving, exciting, joyful, beautiful Holiday of my dreams." Then you can add "I am always at the right place at the right time doing the right thing." or "I expect only the best to happen and it does." Saying and writing these words will keep you in a positive frame of mind, heart and spirit so that your intuition will come bursting through with bright ideas, energy, and even the funds to support your Holiday visions.

If you still have further concerns about this incredible time of the year, you can call me for help at amber 1-626-796-8605 and remember to "Keep your destiny bright, use words of love."

The Angel Greetings digital art design by Amber Silverstar is available at http://www.cafepress.com/ambersilverstar

GAILIA - HEALING FROM GRIEF BY TONI JOHNSON, ILLUSTRATED BY UNA GRAF, CD BY JOHN RICHARDS, PUBLISHED BY TRAFFORD PUBLISHING

Move over, there's a new kid on the book block or should I say a, "new fairy." Her name is Gailia. She is the latest creation of new children's book author, Toni Johnson. Gailia is no ordinary "fly around the woodsy forest fairy." Gailia is a delightful, rainbow colored, pixie faced, fairy sprite who finds a way to heal herself from grief after loosing her best friend, a little frog called Croackie.

Gailia is a beautiful book with gorgeous characters illustrated by Una Graf and a lyrical CD by John Richards with the voice of Ms. Johnson. In fact, Ms. Johnson pulls together this talented team to produce a whimsical story with a tough message, "How to help a child understand loss, sadness and the death of a loved one."

Children of any age will identify with Gailia as she learns from her forest friends what Ms. Johnson says is, "letting go of fear is not forgetting our love but rather celebrating and remembering the souls that we have cherished." This is a huge concept for both children and adults to understand. However Ms. Johnson and her illustrator Ms. Graf use an interesting story line, perky characters like Takoda the Turtle and Godmother Willow, and a memorable CD. This whole package is created to show the readers and audiences that healing from death and loss is possible when we can grasp the tool of understanding our emotions.

As with all novice writers, there is room to grow in terms of writing, character development, and story continuity. Overall, Ms. Johnson deserves congratulations, acceptance and admiration for an achievement well deserving of attention and support. This is truly only a beginning, and soon, I am certain we will see Gailia and all her whimsical and woodsy friends again. They will surely continue to take us on their wonderful adventures of learning, growing, and sharing the beautiful world of fairies, emotions, and love.

Gailia - Healing From Grief is available at www.willowwisdom.com or www.oncewritten.com. To contact Ms. Johnson for more information just email - toni@willowwisdom.com

All of the above is copyrighted by Amber Silverstar 2006. Gailia - Healing From Grief is copyrighted by Toni Johnson - all rights to reproduction are reserved.

Halloween - Time To Face The Demons And Become An Earth Angel

The monster disguises, the ghost energies, and the demon stories roar forward into our midst every October when Autumn sunsets bring the night skies early and the chill of cooler days remind us of a winter soon approaching. We call this event "Halloween." This all sounds fun, romantic, and adventurous. But lately not for me ... a few years ago I started not liking "All Hallows Eve" or Halloween. It seemed the greater the spiritual work I did, the scarier the pumpkin celebrations got - including: more intense horror films, more gory and dark costumes, and "trick or treat" episodes holding more danger.

This year I decided to change my attitude and see Halloween as an opportunity to face my own demons. I decided to let the ghost come forward and see what I needed to review in my own life. "Just what might be haunting me?" - I asked myself. Maybe negative emotions are coming up from the past. Or perhaps there are ghost energies I am hanging onto out of my own fear and mistrusts. I certainly know through spiritual experiences that holding onto the fears of the future or the anger from the past can really turn my well being into dreaded monsters. These monster emotions and thoughts are then empowered to intrude upon and into my life's pathway into the light.

So now I am going to use this Halloween to review what ghost I need to let go of, what monsters I need to meet with courage, and what demons I can transform into an angelic self. Then Halloween can become an opportunity for change and choice - a time for reflections into the future of the winter months to come.

The blog picture is called "Ghosts In The Bedroom" which I took with a "toy" digital camera. I will take another after Halloween to see if they are gone. If you have pictures you believe to be of a supernatural twist, send them to me and I will see if I can post them. Send them to ambersilverstar11@yahoo.com with the code - Ghost Pictures. If you are in need of clearing your own energy of ghostly intrusions, you can call me for more insights and information. The number for leaving a message is 1-626-796-8605. I usually return my calls within the day. You can see more information on a web card at http://www.destinybydesigncom.com.

Happy Halloween And Keep Your Destiny Bright!
With light and love,
Amber Silverstar

Bob Newhart
We had an opportunity to go see Bob Newhart at a recent book signing for his new book, I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS! - but we missed it do to other demanding events. We plan to catch Mr. Newhart at one of his many performances in the L.A. area in the near future. In the process of researching Mr. Newhart's upcoming schedule www.bobnewhart.com - I came across information about Suzanne Pleshette and her work.

After reading about both stars, I couldn't help thinking of "Bob and Emily. " They are of course American icons who still hold their own popularity on current replay television. I only wish even now we had a chance to see in current media our psychologists as witty, warm and compassionate as the part played by Bob or our teachers as strong, sexy, smart and beautiful as the part played by Suzanne. I don't think this was type casting - just a time when we used T.V. to show roles in America in their best light even if it were comic. "Bob and Emily" inspired us to be real, vulnerable, and non-apologetic for our places in the dynamics of living the good life. In the Los Angeles area there are countless high rise apartments and condos but I never pass one that I do not think, "somewhere on one the building's many floors, Bob Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette are still living and doing their thing as the funny, devoted, creative and talented Bob and Emily." Now I just need to go and buy Mr. Newhart's book and do a little review.

Pope Should Remember Catholic History Plus Others

I am surprised at the Pope's quote from Muslim history. This current pontiff should remember the years of interrogation, murder, and torture by the Catholic Church and the Iquisition in the name of God's work. He could remind the world of the Crusades, a Holy War to take over lands and cities for the Church. He could talk about the genocide committed against the Native American so these indigenous people would be converted and oh, yes, the countless captured African slaves who were beaten to death because they were heathen - despite being stripped of all dignity and given baptism and a Christian name even before they were forced to abandon their own beloved Africa. The pontiff could remind us too of the Protestant witch hunts that killed, tortured and burned countless women whose property and power the European clergy sought to destroy. Perhaps he could remember to mention the lawsuits currently still being heard where the Catholic Church looks the other way while their own priest destroy lives through sexual crimes and assaults. And what about the current Bush administration's cover-up of prisons with reported torture and death in the name of protecting democracy plus sending thousands of young men and women to kill and be killed while leaving their own families, wives, mothers, fathers, and children to mourn and cope with little or no help from the military bureaucracy.

It would seem little men can point accusatory fingers and tell big lies in order to justify the abuse of power; be it Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Republican, Communist, etc. etc. etc. The true message of the Christ, the God, the Great Spirit is to love and be loved, anything other than this, no matter who declares what, is false, destructive, and anti-Christ, anti-democratic, and anti-humanitarian. In every age, in every culture, in every religious belief there are those who seek to rule making their own ungodly agendas the "religious truth and justification" of the times. My father taught me at a very early age that "two wrongs don't make a right."

How many wrongs repeated over and over again will it take to show the world: "we must seek a new way, a new passage, a new look forward." The Pope is in such a position with a Universal podium that he could speak the truth of the future about loving all peoples, about forgiving all humankind for acts of terrorism, deceit, and destruction. He could speak of a world wide togetherness for beauty, healing, creating, being happy, and giving birth to winning solutions.

Where or where is the sanity, the power, the balance of great minds and great hearts? We so need to hear the voice of reason from all those who have the ability to speak of goodness, kindness, and peaceful resolutions.

To see a design, message and art to support loving solutions for world concerns go to:
www.cafepress.com/peacedoveworld.

The above words and images are copyrighted by Amber Silverstar 2006

Lazy, Hazy, Days of Summer

I like how lazy, hazy these last days of summer can be. I also like how beautiful the days can unfold as the hours come and go with the bright California sun.

We drove to Laguna Beach a few days ago where a weekend trip brought us a gift in the most wonderful way: perfect blue skies, perfect temperature and the most perfect sea breeze greeting us everywhere.

To go to Laguna Beach, we first drive through a deep canyon which is a protected, natural, wildlife habitat. On both sides of the road and in many places are gigantic boulders, well-placed bike and foot trails, colorful California wild flowers and flocks of soaring birds of various kinds, shapes and sizes. Sometimes we see a majestic White Egret or a wandering coyote looking for a drink of water. We could stop and take a guided walking tour but we decide to keep on going until reaching our destination: the beach, the ocean, and the soft, white sands beyond the boardwalk of Laguna Beach.

We arrive. We quickly find a close-to-the-beach parking space ( quite an accomplishment in any California coastal town.) We immediately begin visiting the little shops located up and down the village sidewalks. The hour is early, so we take advantage of looking for a special place to have brunch before heading for the white waves and spacious ocean views. We quickly find a surfy- looking cafe, sit in a red leather booth and order our favorite bagels and lox. We think the salmon a little "fishy" but everything else taste delicious, so all food including the salmon quickly vanishes from our plates.

After brunch, we cross the street for shopping. We seek out a wide open beach venue and rent ocean blue umbrellas, heavy terry towels and a body board in case we get brave and want to try the little, rolling waves which look so inviting. We forget our sun screen, picnic treats, and camera which we leave unknowingly in the back seat of the car. Since the car waits close by in our "trophy parking space", we quickly retrieve our needed treasures. Finally we settle in with the hot sand beneath our feet and the cooling white water splashing on our cheecks. We feel like the summer resort tourists from back East instead of the California locales we know ourselves to be.

After several hours of sun bathing, reading the latest novel, and watching bronzed children playing with sand castles, we leave our fabulous paradise and drive out on the famous Pacific Coast Highway. With sun roof and windows open in our new, red GT 6 and with the car stereo playing French music, we drive toward Dana Point. We find ourselves lost but somehow end up in another one of our favorite coastal cities; San Juan Capistrano. We stop here for some antique browsing, icy margarittas, and a walk down a rural street which features historical homes, trendy shops and artists painting the scenic beauty we want to capture forever.

At the end of the day, we notice several shimmering hummingbirds taking their evening nectar drinks from the many trumpet flowered bushes. We end our day relaxing on a hand carved bench under a giant Oak tree. (See photo above.) We count all the wonderful experiences of the past hours. We decide before Autumn arrives, we might find a way to squeeze in just one more lazy, hazy, gorgeous Summer day in and around Laguna Beach - our favorite coastal ocean town of sand, surf, beauty and perfection.

World Trade Center Movie

Over the weekend, I went to see the WORLD TRADE CENTER MOVIE. First of all, I am so impressed with the acting of Nicholas Cage. The movie itself is, I imagine a victory for everyone who pulled this amazing work of cinema together.

I heard a lot of crying from the audience. It was hard to watch again the devastation I had seen almost five years ago. Although the movie focuses on the two heroes, I still received a complete picture of the intensity of the tragedy. I kept wondering though, as I did when the whole disaster happened, "Where was the president of the United States and why wasn't he there being the leader he was chosen to be?"

I am grateful for a chance to see the goodness of so many people as they experienced the devastation at the World Trade Center on that auspicious day. I would like to go to New York someday and see the site in person and say a little prayer for all those who died but should never be forgotten.

New Routine:
Today I am shifting to a more creative morning, leaving the afternoons for book publishing.

I love to read about how other creative people structure their own creative time; especially artist and writers. I wonder, how important is the daily routine to a person who is free to decide how their time is spent. I know being in business for oneself is supposed to be this amazing liberating life style. But I also know in that liberation comes a lot of responsibility in being one's own boss.

If you have a routine, process, etc. and you find it works for you; please give us your comments and let us know how you schedule your day, if at all, and how has this been successful for you.

I have journals available if keeping a journal is part of a routine that you find helpful - just go to www.cafepress.com/destinybright. The journals are perfect for writing, sketching, taking notes, poetry. They are easy to order and they arrive quickly in a bright package. Maybe this is just what you need to keep the creative inspiration going!

Poetry Thursday:

Two Black Ravens

Two black ravens fly
past my window.

Morning marine fog
makes skies hazy and grey.

Songs and chatter play
on wake-up radio shows.

Life is real, life is normal,
life is today.

AMS Copyright 2006

Some people might think these large black birds, the ravens, are scary: the birds might be a sign of black magic afoot or maybe an impending disaster. Some might even say, "the raven is a sign of a coming death of someone in his or her circle." Certainly we are all familiar with Edgar Allen Poe's, The Raven.

I am what is known as an "earthquake sensitive." I can feel an earthquake about to happen like three days before; that is a large earthquake. I cannot tell where the earthquake is going to happen - sometimes maybe a general idea where but mostly just the premonition that and earthquake will be taking place somwhere on this planet or in the ocean. I have noticed that during those three days, ravens start showing up in my life. I think they may be nature's way of warning people to be "on alert." And so I am, when these black birds appear with their own spirit messages, I go on watch and I pray all will be well in the end.

If you are a sensitive to earth changes, movements, or impending events, I would like to hear from you. Just email me with your experiences at ambersilverstar11@yahoo.com. Use the code Raven.

Certain Thursdays will be poetry day with amberonline, so you are invited to send in your poems. Poems should have themes that include your imaginational use of words, (no four letter words) just keep it interesting, intense, and inspirational.

So more latter, until then keep your Destiny Bright and use words of love.

You can visit me on the web at www.cafepress.com/destinybright.

Urban Memories: Past and Future Images

Everyday in some way I see reminders of two amazing tragedies that either destroyed or nearly destroyed major portions of the great urban areas of New York and New Orleans. Actually, it seems I am always catching glimpses of theses incredible cities on old television shows, in movies from the past, and in books printed not so long ago. I have never been to either of these historical, grand and glorious cities. Yet when I see their images, I feel connected by some sort of genetic memory of having once been there.

Then, I think, "I can't look back." "Better to look forward."
But not to look back denies the beauty and power of what once existed. Looking forward requires information about what is possible. This process can be very time consuming. It can be very time consuming especially when future urban concepts are riddled with political, governmental, and design disagreements.

Is it possible to rebuild, recapture, and redesign such a myriad of buildings, homes, cultures, and traditions which have been so devastatingly ruined? Sometimes I think "yes" in my heart, even though my mind says, "impossible."

The digital art featured here is called "Urban Images". I created this design to reflect what I felt about the beautiful cities which suffer the tragic events of terroists, natural disasters, war, neglect and devastation. "Urban Images" (copyright 2006 amber silverstar) is available on wonderful products at http://www.cafepress.com/urbanimages. "Keep your Destiny Bright, use words of beauty".

Love and Light,

Amber Silverstar

BRF: Book Review Friday

New Book - Peeking Over The Edge:views from life's middle
by Cathy Jo Marley, April, 2006
Soft Cover, perfect bound, 163 pages, printed on recycled paper
Infinity Publishing - ISBN 0-7414-3169-6 at $14.95.

Accomplished writer, yet new book author chooses POD
for essay/memoir publication.

In an interview with Cathy Jo Marley - Ms. Marley gave the following comments.

"I did a lot of research into publishing before I decided to go with a POD, meaning print on demand. As a first time book author, I wanted to use a publishing vehicle which best suited my own ideas and goals. I liked Infinity Publishing because they offered a package I thought worked well with the essay/memoir genre that I wanted published. Infinity was professional, affordable, and expedient in getting my finished book out on the market. I would use this company again. I know, POD is not the choice for everyone but I am happy going this route over the traditional publishing methods. So far I am having great fun and wonderful success in promoting and selling my first book."

If you would like to contact Ms. Marley about the book or her publishing experience just go to www.CathyMarley.com

Now for the THANK GOODNESS IT IS BOOK REVIEW FRIDAY.

Peeking Over The Edge by Cathy Jo Marley is a book that reads smoothly. Ms. Marley tackles the difficult genre of essay plus memoir with a two edge sword. She gives voice to the main stream life of the middle-age wife/mother/business woman while also traveling through her dreams and desires for her own creative, sometimes glamorous, somewhat mysterious decisions in crafting a unique identity.

Although this is not an "in your face" desperate housewife, one does get the concept from her writing that there is a quiet desperation at times hiding just below her well-ordered life. She maybe peeking over the edge but sometimes it is as though she has fallen through a large chasm and is trying to pull herself up. An experience it is easy to identify with as most of us walk our own roads of trials and tribulations.

Because this book is well written and addresses the record of a woman's endeavor to understand the feminine acceptance or non-acceptance of life's myriad challenges; including weight and appearances, getting older, births and deaths of loved ones, becoming a stepmother, making a commitment to a traditional way of life and many more - this book is strongly recommended as inspired reading.

This reader however hopes Ms. Marley has another book forth coming where we can truly see the passions of the writer. Peeking Over The Edge needs to leads us into the mountains and the canyons of the writer's psyche so that we can see what is truly buried in the sub-conscious observations of this truly talented muse. This will inspire and motivate the rest of us to "take the leap" at any age.

Some of the words and thoughts which are well crafted are, "You see, no matter how hard I tried to make it untrue, much of my self- image was irretrievably linked to my size. I suppose that's the curse of many seriously heavy people. For years, I irrationally believed if I could only lose weight, everything else would magically fall into place. " & "I know whatever life hands me today will be different tomorrow because, you see, things change."

Chapters I liked included Winged People In Feathered Coats, The White Suit and Mothers and Daughters. I am certain whatever chapters you read, you can enjoy the interesting, fun, and delightful collection of writings by Ms. Cathy Jo Marley and her book, Peeking Over The Edge.

To purchase this book go to www.buybooksontheweb.com.

I live in the Southern California, Los Angeles area. The summer is here, with all it's beautiful weather, high surf, and gorgeous beaches. I also know with the summer comes the heat, the dryness, the winds and then the fires. During the middle of the night the apartment fire alarm sounded for no apparent reason, at least none that could be found. Then when turning on the television news this morning, I saw the screen filled with pictures of smoke, flames reaching to the sky, and horses in panic; the desert area a blazing storm of red.

I know the Santa Anna winds and the summer fires are part of the California scene where paradise always seems to come with a price. I pray this morning that the price will not be the lives of those who live where the fires burn and those who fight the "desert storms". There is no rain in sight and more hot winds forcasted for many more days - this is only the beginning of July, another four months of fiery possibility.

The Native Americans believe we can call to the frogs to come out of their mud houses and they in turn call to the Thunder Beings to "Bring the rain." I sure hope the frogs know their destiny purpose and make their pleas for the rains to come in a measured force to balance the needs of nature and those of us who live among nature's awesome beauty and power.

( ** Destiny Bright Design collection called Bright Dog is a copyright 2006 by Amber Silverstar.
Bright Dog can be seen on various gifts and wearable products at www.cafepress.com/brightdogshop.)

How brave the human spirit can be. I saw a young man on one of the morning shows. He had been injured in the war with Iraq; both his legs were amputated. In his eyes I could see the sorrow but I could also see a soul filled with courage and light. How amazing to have so much taken away and yet still focus on making the most of what surrounds him in his quest to survive. He walks, he drives, he dates, he creates a world of opportunities. There is no bitterness in his words, no resentment in his smile, no revenge in his attitude. Instead, he inspires, he jokes about how his "private parts still work" and how he sees marriage and children in his future. He puts on his leather gloves, he manipulates the hardware that replaces the flesh he once could be so sure of. He talks about "walking on stilts." I do not believe in war but I do believe in the honesty and honor of the warrior spirit and this young man's pure heart who went to carry out his destiny to do what he believed would defend and protect others so they too could follow their own pathways of truth. Here indeed is the angel messenger, a living portrait of the dichotomy of battle, in seeking to free and protect others, he looses his own life as he once knew it. I ask with all my heart that he will continue to find the wings of support, love and respect for his courage to set the example of what it must mean to live in the moment, trust in spirit and continue going forward one day and then another and then another.

Creating Amber On Line - An Insightful Blog For Intuitive Interest

This blog will create a post of intuitive insights from Amber Silverstar and Destiny Bright Living. The intuitive insights will share energy and information about current events, earth changes, political reviews, paranormal information, and critiques of media reflecting the world of the supernatural, the metaphysical and spiritual dimensions.

Today's entry: Current Events And The Need For Change And Choice

Revolving change around choices to match your soul's vision, guarantees unlimited thinking about the possibility of your power to follow your destiny. This notion will give you great strength to fix whatever needs fixing in your life's perception of your soul's vision. Keep in mind, your soul's vision is a total composite of your past, present and future needs. This means energies pictured in a collage like form can show you a balance of insights into the wholeness of your mind, emotions, spirit, and body. All must work together to keep you traveling toward the Universal Oneness you seek: the source of all power and love or "Divine Substance" also known as "Divine Spirit."