Magic spells are power words. We modern people are not the only ones who know that the written word is extremely powerful. People in ancient days also understood this very well. For a not-so-ancient Taobabe, whether words are written in my native language Vietnamese, or in my third language, English, doesn't really matter. They are … Continue reading Magic Spells, Deconstructed
I was chugging on a drink this afternoon, one of many that I normally imbibe on throughout my day, and I figured I might as well share it with you guys since it's something I've known about all my life but never bothered to say much about because you know, if it's common knowledge, who … Continue reading Drinks of the gods: Bitter Melon
There is nothing more amazing than a fresh hot cup of coffee, especially on a cold winter morning. I wake up early, not because I am a morning person, but because my dogs , the ones that sleep with me, are pawing at my face, whining to be let out into the back garden to … Continue reading My Precioussss Cuppa Java
Non-gods OK so that title sounds stupid as hell, but I couldn't figure out how to convey the idea of immortality without all the mumbo jumbo of a godhood designation. When you rifle through the huge number of dust clogged pantheons of gods and goddesses out there that are being venerated to this very day, … Continue reading Immortals: gods or Non-gods?
I have a confession to make. For all the years that I have been a living, breathing bona-fide card carrying Taoist, I have never owned a set of yarrow sticks. I'm so embarrassed. Yes, I know how to use yarrow sticks for I Ching divinations. It's not rocket science. But even if it was, I … Continue reading Them Sticks
Words of Conveniences My peeps are so cute. There are many words that our Viet tongue cannot wrap itself around so we just use our own words to indicate the new name. For example, the word computer was a bit complicated, so we named it vi tính. Also, we use the word điện thoại for … Continue reading Hi Jean, or Whoever You Are!
(Continued from Black Sorcery and Other Horrifying Bùa Ngải) This is hardly the kind of subject I want to be writing about after dusk, in a darkened room in the middle of winter, with a storm raging overhead. I was going to wait until morning time to work on it, but I am nothing if … Continue reading Black Sorcery and Fetal Bùa Quỷ Linh Nhi
