August 12, 2023
Sixth Bilbo Baggins afternoon
Photo by JR Dalisay / April 21, 2017
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Friday, August 11, 2023
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with five syllables in your name: Do not be concerned with acquiring material things, especially if you should give full attention to your health.
The Longest Promise
Watched all 43 episodes of China's The Longest Promise (2023), adapted from _Zhu Yan_ by Cang Ye. After decades of peace between the merfolk and the humans of Yunhuang, the wicked leader of the Ice Clan regenerates discrimination and enmity between the two sides in order to use their leaders as pawns to obtain the powerful Houtu Ring and Divine Heavenly Ring. Against this background of political intrigues, young Zhu Yan of the Crimson Clan pledges to avenge an injustice done to the Shi Ying, young Crown Prince of Kongsang. Both Zhu Yan and Shi Ying grow up and get embroiled in a complex pattern of spiritual and mortal battles, magic, and romance.
This production showcases another fine performance by heroic actor Xiao Zhan. He is stern and poker-faced as Preceptor Shi Ying in this story--a complete turnabout from his role as happy-go-lucky Wei Wuxian in The Untamed--demonstrating his acting prowess and his versatility. He sparkles without trying to outshine his co-performers. In this and The Untamed he continues to be associated with the flute. He bears a face that grows on you, becoming handsomer and handsomer the longer you look at him. Indeed, the story is about Shi Ying as much as it is about Zhu Yan. The entire series is more of a grand love story more than a xianxia--or anything else, for that matter. While the title refers to a promise that young Zhu Yan made to young Shi Ying, other characters also made long promises to themselves and to their own loved ones. The series is unique in that it employs minimal special effects as compared with those of other productions in this genre. There are no spectacular sets, and everything looks lived-in and unobtrusive. The story is told simply as a wholesome story, without villains' exaggeratedly grave threats and without gruesome deaths. In addition, the subtitles are superb and have almost no grammatical errors.
The series, however, is lengthy and over-interpolated, beginning with the introduction of the new character Bai Fenglin in Episode 29, as though to provide more story material. And, there are continuity loopholes. In Episode 25 blood on Shi Ying's clothes due to a crystal shard mysteriously disappears in succeeding shots. In Episode 27, when a man hands Sumo a piece of bread, Lady Yu seems to reply "Thank you," apparently forgetting that her tongue has been cut off. In Episodes 31 and 32 scenes dwindle into adolescent misinterpretations and misunderstandings. Excitement picks up, as a matter of fact, only as far into the series as Episode 33. Episode 32 features one of two interesting love scenes with overexposed backlighting, but the technique is more Western than it is Chinese. In Episode 41 Shi Ying regaining his powers via the fire crane verges on ridiculous. That the rings also could not transform Zhu Yan into Yaoyi Feili is perplexing, and it is also when Alen Fang as Chi Yuan deteriorates into ham acting; his death in Episode 43 is even questionable, since he was endowed with dragon's breath, which was why he didn't die the first time around. And then there is the age-old problem of how to pour tea without spilling any outside cups.
I do love the way hairpins can be used both as weapons and as magic wands!
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Your Messenger message:
"Is it safe to transfer to the appartment where my papa died. A psychic said that the entitys and the spirit of my father still linger in the appartment and that his illness will stranger to the new occupants. Is there anyway to cleanse the appartment. As for his ashes, his last will is to bring it _______. Is it okay to scater his ashes to the sea as per ________ advised? Thank you very much sir tony"
My reply:
Hello _____!
It is safe to move into the apartment. There is no need for cleansing, but a general cleaning and rearrangement of furniture would generate positive energy. Since spirits have the right to linger wherever they want, it is unnecessary to think up ways to chase them away. They are, as a general rule, not harmful to anyone or anything.
You also need not be mentally enslaved to a dying person's "last wishes" especially if they are impractical and beyond what you can afford. "Last wishes" are mental products of a consciousness bound to the corporal body and to material things; spirits usually change their mind or simply no longer care for these after they have crossed over.
Your biggest responsibility now is to bury the dead in a place you feel appropriate, and then look forward and live a good life of your own to the fullest.
If you did not honor your father when he was alive, honor him now.
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with six syllables in your name: Never take your real friends for granted. Value them for their character and their kindness. Allow them to be friends for life.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Thursday, August 10, 2023
I suppose, the fifth Bilbo Baggins afternoon was actually held today--and the sixth to be held with a select group only next.
Finally bequeathed to The King my iron ferrite sword, Tikbalang, my Roman centurion's gladius, and my sterling silver dragon bracelet, among other things. That crystal punch bowl with cups is something I purchased from an Embassy Women's Club bazaar a lifetime ago, and my granddaughters don't want it.
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with five syllables in your name: Like arrogant caterers, arrogant repairmen are to be avoided at all costs.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with five syllables in your name: One of the best ways to save money is, when you have it, to get rid of the impulse to spend it on anything.
Monday, August 7, 2023
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with five syllables in your name: Before purchasing more items, carefully consider whom they will go to and who may or may not appreciate them should you suddenly die.
The fifth Bilbo Baggins session has been scheduled on a day other than a Monday.
Sending a Group Chat message to those involved.
Please be advised that you are the maximum number of persons I can accommodate. Do not bring companions whom I am not expecting, whether I know them or not, because it is a strain on my hospitality.
1) Bring your own eco bags.
2) The moneyless auction will begin 2:00 PM sharp regardless of how many people are there.
3) Items will be given away in rotation, according to the sequence of arrivals.
4) In some sessions the items to be given away are huge, and so it is advisable to bring a vehicle.
Sunday, August 6, 2023
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with five syllables in your name: Whenever you lose some hours of slee\4p at night, make it a point to nap the following day.
Saturday, August 5, 2023
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with eight syllables inn your name: Do not challenge Nature, for her wrath and her vengeance are worse than n human being's.
Trying the lemon tea from Peter and Christine this afternoon The moscuvado clouds in the crystal decanter are also from them. The tea tools were a gift from Teow Li some years back. The mother-of-pearl-inlaid tray is from my parents' house. The tea service is part of a complete dinnerware set that I purchased in Lucky Chinatown about three decades back (I wanted the black set and the yellow set too). I didn't include the sugar bowl and creamer on the table because I never take sugar and cream with my tea and my coffee.
Friday, August 4, 2023
Your Messenger message:
"Hi Sir Tony,
"I had a long nap yesterday afternoon. In between waking life and the dream sphere, I heard news about the death of a dear friend. Then, I was tasked to break the news to his parents in England. In my waking life, the 'dead friend' and I only communicate via WhatsApp. We haven't seen each other for over three years since Covid. "As soon as I woke up, I told him my dream. He lives alone and has few friends around. He was upset."My reply:
Hello ______!
Sometimes dreams are best kept to oneself, especially if they will be construed as wish-fulfillment dreams.
You just ruined your friend's day.
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The year
You with five syllables in your name: Good eyesight is a big part of good health. Have your lenses refracted if your eyes are getting strained again.
EWyesight is precious.
Your Messenger message:
"Hi Sir Tony, "Just wanted to share with you my dream yesterday, and last night. First one is yesterday, here is what I shared to _______, and to our group: "Asa labas ako, I was in a different time kc iba ichura ng mga tao and mga suot.... definitely different time, and from a particular civilization. Based from the clothes and the language I am hearing. Tas may isang guy dun knakausap ako naiintndhan Ko sa dream but sa waking life hndi na kc ibang language lol. Tas 'Kairos' sya ng Kairos sakin. As in sumisigaw na nga. Tas spinell pa sakin. Kaya kala ko C pa nga but K. Tas until sa paggising tas sumasakay na ko ng chariot or carriage of some sort sumisigaw sya Kairos until nagising ako. It's like a fade out scene.
"Part of my dream last night:
"I remembered a line as I woke up today, from my dream. And I am writing this. I know putol siya but at least this part. "Someone was talking to me about the 'steps of life' dunno ung exact term but this is how it struck me. "Na the first step in Life in general is 'Consciousness and Intent'. That one of our goals is to be conscious (of I think) both our intent and that of the Creator's. When this part is understood, comes in Intuition. "Before I hear what was to be said in this step. Nagising na ko. Sana matuloy."
My reply:
Go ahead and see what _____ and your group members think about your dream, keeping in mind that the dreamer herself is the best interpreter of her own dream. Yu should be able to do that. If you are not, it is because you do not write following language rules.
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Your Messenger message:
"Dear Sir Tony,
"August 03 "01:28pm "This might have been one of my past lives referring to the capsulized lesson of unconditional love. (There was a message about twin flame where one will die saving the other. That explaims the unconditional love lesson.) "I was in classroom where we were shown how brutally murdered one of the soldiers were, a Russian one. It was to demonstrate how to obey the authority. The soldier seemed to have been tested of his loyalty by giving him the chance to spill who did something wrong (while he was imprisoned. He was shott automatically in front of everyone by his superior. It was bloody while he was begging for his life. "The facilitator of the demo introduced a guest lecturer (Chinese soldier). He was the one who just finished the Russian soldier. "Among many other participants of the seminar (demo) were me with my little child. My child was taken care of by someone in front of me when my baby cried and took the attention of the lecturer. It seemed that he was hungry. I took him, looking at the facilitator as if asking for permission if it’s okay for me to go behind the scenes to feed my child. Afraid that I might get scolded by the guest lecturer, I also asked for his permission. I was permitted to feed my child by both. I walked upstairs and closed the door behind to nurse my child. "Somehow, the guest lecturer got irritated with how arrogant one of the participants at the back (where I was nursing my child). She was a schoolmate back in high school. She did not do anything. All she did was sat there. She is beautiful and elegant. That is because she came from an affluent family. On the other hand, instead of getting pissed at the woman, he came looking at me and my child. He instead taught me the lesson that was supposed to be given to that said schoolmate. I trembled jn fear knowing that my child is there. "I carefully placed my baby in a safe place, first, before I went down as I was summoned by the lecturer. He threw wipes at me, dictating me how to clean his diapers while mocking me. I obliged obediently thinking that I have a child who needed me to be alive. "When I woke up, I was in tears. The first thing that came into my mind was it was one of my distant past lives. I remembered when my baby cries so much (as if in pain) while asleep. I remembered my husband doing the exact same thing. He also told me that he frequently dreamed of being a soldier and that he talked in different language there. I’m "Prior to that narrative, there was a scene about asking help for the wedding of my sister. It was urgent. Nobody really helped while I was trying to delegate the tasks to them. Everyone just wanted to attend to their own needs of making themselves beautiful, particularly an Aunt, instead of helping my sister with her special event. The facilitator was the same person who commanded to perform the marriage quickly. "Also prior to this scene, was a scene where some old friends (old schoolmates who I cut off because they pretended to like me in physical reality when in truth they don’t) were there. I was outside having fun when they arrived. I lost interest and went back indoors. They followed suit. "I humbly ask for your expertise in determining whether my intuition is right about it being a distant past life or is this dream metaphorical of the present situation in my life where I needed to do some inner work? "Thank you and God bless."My reply:
Hello _____!
In many cases the dreamer is the best interpreter of her dram. Thus, if you strongly feel that these were scenes from a past life or past lives, then take them as such.
As a general rule, however, dreams abut past lives tend to be literal rather than symbolic. You attention will be called to details in your surroundings, whether indoors or outdoors, and these details will arouse disturbing emotions within you. Also, the characters in such dreams, aside from yourself, will never be relatives, friends, or acquaintances in your present life; as a matter of fact you will feel that their faces are faces that you've never seen before.
I suggest that you read up on dreams about past lives. You an Google-search book titles on the subject.
One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with four syllables and you with six syllables in your names: Use creative visualization to heal yourself of your illness. Do this in a relaxed, alpha state, and to soothing music.
Do this as often as you can.
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Your Messenger essage:
"Hi Pai.Goodmorning po.I have a question. Hope you dont mind. Can reading tarot cards via Mobile apps or tru online valid for interpretation?Most often im opening it than using my actual tarot cards.Thank you. Have a good day Pai."
My reply:
Hello _______!
If the app is automated to give random responses, simply consider it as sheer entertainment. A good reading hinges on the dynamics between the reader and the querent, and is usually most effective when done face-to-face, because, as I have always taught it, while both are engaged in small talk to break the ice between them, the reader actually builds astral bridges between their seven chakras. Only then will the reading flow smoothly and efficiently.
Secondly, a good reader does not use one deck of Tarot cards alone. Rather, he uses an entire battery of psychic tools, such as runes, hypnotism or regression, projective techniques, and such, for a well-rounded reading. And that is when it dawns on the querent that a single, Tarot card reading is nothing but a mere carnival sideshow pastime.
One Message For One of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with five syllables in your name: Note that silence and lambent lamplight are more soothing on rainy days than loud music and bright lights.
Monday, July 31, 2023
Spirit Questors and former students visit on my third Bilbo Baggins afternoon.
Nice and cozy indoors on a rainy day.
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Fourth call for SPIRIT QUESTORS and FORMER STUDENTS ONLY to pick up unwanted stuff from my house. If you are a Spirit Questor or a former student and are interested, please MESSAGE me. I will then get everyone together in a Group Chat and announce the date and time, but it will have to be a Monday at 2:00 PM.
Sorry, weekends are for my family only, and the dogs put up a ruckus when there are guests around.
One Message For One Of 2,900 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year
You with four syllables in your name: Avoid emulating others. People will remember you as having no originality.
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