AMERICAN PROVERB OF THE DAY: "Do the best you can with what you have to work with." - Natalie Beattie

CREATURE FEATURE OF THE WEEK: QUEZALCOATL - THE FEATHERED SERPANT

Quezalcoatl is both a Meso-American God and a dinosaur, (of the same name). The name basically means winged serpant, and the myth is so ancient that perhaps it was created based on the dinosaur itself in some way. It was worshipped by many cultures, from the Olmecs, (one of the earliest known Meso-American tribes, believed to have originated in West Africa), to the Aztecs.

A legendary ruler of the Toltec people also assumed this name. He is credited with bringing civilization to the people, among other distinctions. His tradition was Messianic, with his followers believing he would return to them to bring either great liberation or destruction. He was believed by the Toltecs to have been not native but caucasian, and the year of his return was predicted as 1519. Ironically this was the year the Spanish landed and the legend is why the people first honored them as 'gods'.

Quetzalcoatl was identified with the planet Venus and the wind. He represented the forces of good/light (Venus) but also those of evil and darkness (wind) in his 'twin' aspect, Tezcatlipoca. The two are sides of the same coin, though they are depicted as seperate, often battling creatures.

In one myth, Quetzalcoatl was tricked by Tezcatlipoca and banished from the Toltec capital. He wandered for many years until he reached the place where he was born. There he was consumed by the fire of the gods. Somewhat like a pheonix, his ashes turned into birds and his heart became the morning star.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTIQUITIES NEWS

A Saxon (the time of King Arthur) settlement has been discovered in Southampton
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART35416.html

Were Polynesians in California before Columbus?

http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/8384.htm

Scientists have begun restoration of the Sphinx at Giza:

http://english.cctv.com/program/cultureexpress/20060405/101556.shtml

‘Hathnaura Man’ the skull of a woman who roamed India 50,000 years ago (so calling her 'man' is nonsense, but oh well) http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr42006/snt165025200643.asp

NEW IN THE FOLK LRYIC ARCHIVE: "House Carpenter", recorded by Bob Dylan at one point, "Jack-a-Roe" recorded by Dylan, the Dead and others, but here they are different. You'll find the real names of the people these American legends were based on, more about their lives and what other versions of the songs had to say in your hosts' re-arrangements. Also new at the archive, "Johnny has Gone for a Soldier" with some of the original Gaelic words interspersed through the verses. Chords are going to be added soon.

NEW FEATURES:

Check out the archive for newly added but not yet featured articles filled with recipes from Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Also new but in the archive, Ancient Beauty Secrets, (they work too and, did I mention, the food looks delicious) and a holy host of pantheons from around the world.

SITE OF THE WEEK

Read the original texts of the worlds' myths and religions at http://www.sacredtexts.com

BOOK OF THE MONTH: "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz, Toltec Shaman

Visit my MySpace site for updates on my writing and other adventures, including recent interviews with Mike Seeger and Bo Bice. You can hear the music there too: http://www.myspace.com/oldsmophelia. Hudreds of people check the blog each weeek; must be interesting, so why not you?

I also host a site about my Pulp Fiction writing Great-Uncle, Norvell Page http://www.myspace.com/norvellpage check for antecdotes about him and other notable characters he counted among his friends, including L. Ron Hubbard and surrealist painter Max Ernst.

COMING SOON:

An look at Hindu philosophy and a look at the writings of Deepak Chopra. And, I have a feeling, a few more ghost stories.