So what travels faster, light or information? I was just thinking about that, because while it is obvious that light travels faster to anyone who knows anything, the philosophical argument is that we can reach places with information that we cannot by emitting light. If I tried to shine a flashlight on something miles hence, the light would fail to reach that distance, but information would reach it instantly. However, I can shine a flashlight anywhere, but information must travel along the pathways built for it, including being restricted by radio wave signals for wireless areas and satelite-supported areas. If "light" and "information" fought it out in a wrestling ring, which would win? I mean, just because light has such powerful sources as the sun, and information is restricted to man-made networks and neurological pathways does not mean that light automatically trumps information. David, with his long-range sling stone, was able to defeat a soldier at least twice his size and far more trained in combat. And "information" even uses light for part of its function, using its enemy's abilities against it. The more light, the more our eyes can function, up to a certain point where our retinas are burned out and the pigment suffers a chemical change for which it does not revert back to normal. Blah blah, I just wanted to blog about that. I'd be cheering for information, but I'm not sure which I'd put my money on.

Heh, to answer the question, "Should I be a dance teacher?", this is the online tarot answer I got...I think it means "bad idea". I'll let you read for yourself. And you can stop asking me why I'm not teaching.

Should I be a dance teacher?

The Creative Process spread is designed specifically to peer into the nature of a project or creative undertaking, and shine a spotlight on the evolution of its parts. The Russian Tarot of Saint Petersburg is the final commissioned work of Yuri Shakov, a master in the lost art of Russian miniature painting. The rich, dark images lend themselves to questions regarding the struggle of the human spirit in trying times.

The card in the middle represents the creative force behind the project, be it a person, organization, or other entity. Knight of Clubs: A journey. Advancement into the unknown. Alteration. Fight. Absence. Change of residence.

The card on the top represents imagination - the prophetic image that stems from the creative force of the previous card to initiate the project. This is the poetry or voice of the undertaking. Eight of Swords (Interference), when reversed: Treachery in the past. Difficulty. Hard work. Depression. Disquiet. Accident.

The card on the left represents emotion - the feelings aroused by or surrounding the ideation of the project that takes place in the previous card. This is the music or scent of the undertaking. Five of Clubs (Strife): Unsatisfied desires. Struggle. Labor. Violent strife. Obstacles.

The card on the bottom represents thought - the analytical process of organizing the project and capturing the emotional content of the previous card. This is the science or vision of the undertaking. Three of Swords (Sorrow), when reversed: Distraction. Confusion. Disorder. Error. Mistake. Incompatibility. Anxiety. Loss. Alienation.

The card on the right represents manifestation - the real work involved in completing the project, and the form it will take upon culmination. This is the painting or touch of the undertaking. Seven of Coins (Assessment), when reversed: Impatience. Uneasiness. Imprudent actions. Loss of money. Unwise investments.

“The whole problem lies with the self, the ego, and its involvement with the world on the one hand and the Absolute on the other.

“You see, we are hatched and we drift on the surface of events. Sometimes, we feel that we actually influence things, and this gives rise to striving. This is a big mistake, because it creates desires and builds up a false ego when just being should be enough. That leads to more desires and more striving, and there you are, trapped.”

“In the mud?”

“So to speak. One needs to fix one’s vision firmly on the Absolute and learn to ignore the mirages, the illusions, the fake sense of identity which sets one apart as a false island of consciousness.”

“I had a fake identity once. It helped me a lot in becoming the absolute that I am now…me.”

“No, that’s fake, too.”

“Then the me that may exist tomorrow will thank me for it, as I do that other.”

“You are missing the point. That you will be fake, too.”

“Why?”

“Because it will still be full of those desires and strivings that set you apart from the Absolute.”

“What is wrong with that?”

“You remain alone in a world of strangers, the world of phenomena.”

“I like being alone. I am quite fond of myself. I like phenomena, too.”

“Yet the absolute will always be there, calling to you, causing unrest.”

“Good, then there is no need to hurry. But yes, I see what you mean. It takes the form of ideals. Everyone has a few. If you are saying that I should pursue them, then I agree with you.”

“No, they are distortions of the Absolute, and what you are talking about is more striving.”

“That is correct.”

“I can see that you have a lot to unlearn.”

“If you are talking about my vulgar instinct for survival, forget it.”

....

“I will admit to a certain small admiration for your persistence, and even for what you implied when you spoke of ideals. But that is about it. Earlier, we were talking about the futility of desire and of striving—”

“You were. It was not a major concern in my life.”

“It should be.”

“I have had a long life. You insult me by assuming I have never considered these footnotes to sophomore philosophy. The fact that you find consensus reality barren tells me more about you than it does about that state of affairs. To wit, if you believe what you say I feel sorry for you, in that you must for some inexplicable reason be here desiring and striving to influence this false ego of mine rather than free of such nonsense and on your way to your Absolute. If you do not believe it, then it tells me that you have been set to hinder and discourage me, in which case you are wasting your time.”

Hugi made a gargling noise. Then: “You are not so blind that you deny the Absolute, the beginning and end of everything?”

“It is not indispensable to a liberal education.”

“You admit the possibility?”

“Perhaps I know it better than you, bird. The ego, as I see it, exists at an intermediate stage between rationality and reflex existence. Blotting it out is a retreat, though. If you come from that Absolute—of a self-canceling All—why do you wish to go back home? Do you so despise yourself that you fear mirrors? Why not make the trip worthwhile? Develop. Learn. Live. If you have been sent on a journey why do you wish to cop out and run back to your point of departure? Or did your Absolute make a mistake in sending something of your caliber? Admit that possibility and that is the end of the news.”

Hugi glared at me, then sprang into the air and flew off. Going to consult his
manual, perhaps….


....

I made a noise halfway between a groan and a sob and sank slowly to the ground…. “I can’t beat it across that place,” I whispered. “There is no way.”

“You say you have failed,” Hugi said. “But this is not so. There is neither failure nor victory in striving. It is all but an illusion of the ego.”

“I did not say that I had failed.”

“You said that you cannot go on to your destination.”

“That’s right, I cannot do it that way….I have got to attempt something that Brand tried to convince me only he could do. I have to create a new Pattern, and I have to do it right here.”

“You? Create a new Pattern?... No, Corwin. Resignation is the greatest virtue you might cultivate.”

“You do not want to believe any of the things that I said, do you?” I told him. “It does not matter, though. The conflict between our views is irreducible. I see desire as hidden identity and striving as its growth. You do not. If for you the greatest good is union with the Absolute, then why do you not fly to join it now, in the form of the all-pervading Chaos which approaches? If I fail here, it will become Absolute. As for me, I must try, for so long as there is breath within me, to raise up a Pattern against it. I do this because I am what I am, and I am a man who could have been king in Amber.”

----all from The Courts of Chaos by Roger Zelazny

Quotes by Isak Dinesen:

Love, with very young people, is a heartless business. We drink at that age from thirst, or to get drunk; it is only later in life that we occupy ourselves with the individuality of our wine.

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.

When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself.

Few people can say of themselves that they are free of the belief that this world which they see around them is in reality the work of their own imagination. Are we pleased by it, proud of it, then?

So, I'm stuck in a dream right now. By "stuck in a dream", I mean it intruded on me in waking life, and continued to take up all of my conscious dream space, waking and sleeping, since last night. I was sitting somewhere reading, it was in the car on the way to church, I believe, around 11:15. I was reading The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny, which is all 10 books from the Amber series in one; I'm borrowing it from Raph (who proposed to Kat this morning, by the way, which is a bigger deal than what I'm making it, but is cool not crazy). And it's very exciting. It's still going, in fact. I just posted it on my livejournal site www.livejournal.com/users/seventh_guest/ , because it seemed more proper there, being a story and not really a journal (unless you consider dreams to be real enough to be journal material, which technically I do, but I have to take into consideration that my dreams are also generally stories). But enough reading here. go there and read it.

What am I doing, blogger? Where am I going? What is my plan? I was expressing the source of my current funk to a friend on aim, and the words that I used were that I feel like everyone is getting a life and leaving me behind. As happy as I am for them getting lives (or seeming lives, since appearances can be deceiving), I am sad that I am spending less time with them. I realize that I don't like dancing...I love dancing. Dancing is more and more unsatisfying to me...because I'm not improving. I love midnight rodeo, and we learned new moves the last couple weeks, but it has been a long time since my dancing actually improved as a result of dance class. I love to tango, but hate the inconvenience of the venues and the tendency of tango dancers to be snobby and/or exclusive, seeming to stick to the friends they bring instead of making friends. I love swing dancing, but I can't make it to lessons, and I never get practice because whenever I'm dancing, the desire to improvise beats the desire to practice. I don't remember the last time I danced an entire song doing lindy hop...it has always been a swing with alternative steps with lindy moves thrown in, or a lindy that reverts to swing at times in order to throw in moves that I don't know for lindy.

[sighs] and that's not all. I don't read enough. The amount of reading I do is unsatisfying. I often go a week or more before seeing some of my friends, and I ought to have some book to talk about, but I don't. On that subject, I see my friends at dancing and have no real social time with them. It's nice that some of my swing dance friends try to go out for food and chatting after dancing, which brings back fond memories of ballroom freshman and sophomore year, but I still never see anyone except at dancing. Even prayer time with Vanessa, before it dwindled into non-existance, we tried to schedule on the way to or from something else. My life feels...unsatisfying. I am an unsatisfying dancer, unsatisfying friend, unsatisfying reader, unsatisfying writer, unsatisfying brother, unsatisfying cook, unsatisfying boyfriend, unsatisfying person. I'm a piece of chocolate, for dessert or special occassions. I don't want to be candy. I am going to change that. It may not be the change my life needs, that step to the person that I want and intend to be, but it's a start. It's a start. I'm going to bed tonight one step closer to not being contemptuous.

So not much time today, blogger. I just got home from work and I need to get cleaned up; Michelle invited me to her company christmas party, and it's black tie. [laughs] She asked if I own a tux. [laughs again] (yes, non-friend reader; I've owned one since freshman year of high school) Anyway, work this week has sucked, mostly because I got my schedule day by day. sunday, "come in monday, but we don't know the rest of the week." monday, "come in tuesday, but we don't know the rest of the week." tuesday, "you're off tomorrow, but split shift thursday, and work saturday, sunday." thursday, second shift, "you know you're working tomorrow, right? tomorrow and saturday, and off sunday." [sighs] I went dancing at the big easy, swing/blues, more new friends interested in swing/western dancing/tango, after work thursday night. I stayed in last night, way too tired. hopefully I can see Drew tomorrow; no LifeTeen, so just church and then LifeTeen core member party/dinner, then swing dancing. i.e. the first half of the day is free. Anyway, this week is dead at work, besides regular business, so it's cleaning time. Matt started today by pouring degreaser, lime-away and bleach (undiluted) on the floor and scrubbing them all together. I was running outside, coughing violently and cursing at his desire to fill the kitchen with murderous fumes. Now I know why my coworkers are idiots. "We always do it this way! At my house, we just buy bottles of whatever and throw them together, you know, CLR, Windex, Ajax, whatever. Hey, it gets it clean, and I haven't been poisoned or anything!" ...Of course you haven't... Anyway, I cleaned the stove, which includes soaking the two top pieces (really freakin heavy), scraping everything but the bottom, then removing the bottom tray (lined with foil) and soaking it, then scraping the bottom and going over everything with a green scrubbing rag. Oh yah, it's pretty now. When we get silver polish on the back parts sometime in the next week, it'll be positively gorgeous. You know, for a 20 year old stove. [laughs] Anyway, to the shower. Laters, blogger.

[sighs] I love Gattaca. Anyway, today has been interesting. Do you ever have the feeling that you're really dreaming this world, and you're actually somewhere else, doing something different? Like this world is a figment of imagination to another you, a shadow of you acting out a shadow life? Well, today has been like that. I have constantly felt that this world is slightly less real than normal, accompanied by the sensation (I mean that literally) of being somewhere else. At work, it was ok; we're waiting for things to be delivered tomorrow before frantically preparing both lunch parties and both dinner parties, so I was just getting almost everything that I would need tomorrow out of the way. It didn't feel important, but I still managed to keep a hard-working attitude going, so much so that I forget to eat. I think a mini-kolache and pepsi and a couple fries and chips were all I ate today before dinner. [laughs and shrugs] I know, I'm terrible. Anyway, then while I was on my computer, which distracts me from reality enough, I was still caught up in my imagination/dream world/whatever. It made talking to people on the phone, on im, or in person slightly difficult, and if you spoke to me today, you'll probably need to repeat yourself. I know I need to call Michelle when I get off work, and we're going to see Narnia, but I don't really understand the details, and mom spoke to me several times and I have no idea what she said. Driving to jazz was sucky too...it was like driving when tired, forcing yourself to pay closer attention because your ability to concentrate isn't completely there. I just felt like I was somewhere else, and that the whole driving thing was on auto-pilot, but not like I didn't remember having driven that, but that I felt like I was watching myself drive instead of myself driving. So yah, I had to keep a close eye on that one. At jazz itself, I had my book to distract me, and I got really into it. There was still reality, including other people and the music, but there was the world of my book and the world that the music conjured in my imagination, which switched back and forth fairly constantly in terms of feeling real. I just couldn't bring myself to stay for the later groups, considering that I was (am) tired and distracted, and none of the friends there (workers, new friends, one guy in the band) were close enough to necessitate staying. So I came home and watched Gattaca instead of sleeping [laughs]. Oh, that movie always makes me cry. I think it's the only movie I've seen twice in a row (it doesn't count if you watch a movie and then go back to watch a particular scene again), and in my adolescent and adult life, it's the movie that I've watched the most number of times (I probably watched movies over and over again as a child, as children do; I just don't know what they were, though I'd guess The Land Before Time). The saddest thing is that I have Gattaca on a disk, not the DVD, and the quality isn't great so some scenes are just impossible, and it skips a little, and by a little I mean every so often (very very frequently), the movie stretches a little, so a sentence would sound like this: I was going to theeeeeeeeeeeee movies. Very annoying; you can still understand what they're saying almost every time, but it destroys the beautiful music. Someone remind me to get that soundtrack. Anyway, since I'm falling asleep on the keyboard (or with my hand pressed against my forehead; same thing), I'm going to sleep now. Fun fun work tomorrow. goodnight, blogger.

warning: this is my third post tonight. You have to read 2 more (don't worry, they're not really me talking, so they'll be...easier to read [laughs]). 2am-ish, and I've been reading back-entries of journals I don't keep up with, mostly because they're on myspace instead of blogger or xanga or whatnot. I could be reading my book (The Grapes of Wrath), or playing world of warcraft, or reading more blogs, or looking at my friend's profiles to see if they've uploaded new pictures, or sleeping, since I have to get up for work in 5 hours. What am I doing? What am I compelled to do? Write. I envy people who think (i.e. journal) in words and phrases and sentences and paragraphs that are immensely interesting to read. I am not interesting to read. Anyone who keeps up with my blog reads because they like to keep up with me. I barely know who that is. But I'm sure some people come along and read a month's worth of entries and then disappears again. Some people may never have met me, nor ever will, yet they read a little, to get a glimpse of another person's life. Does it matter who I write for? Not really. Yet, it does. In the same way that sometimes one feels that particular things can't be talked about with a particular person, say a friend or family member, on journals such as this, you have to be balls-to-the-wall and say what needs to be said, because if someone shouldn't know it then it shouldn't be said here. So you have to say everything...or you have to be quiet. Go quietly into the dark. ...Have you noticed my dramatic decrease in posts, especially posts that pertain to my life? It's because I've been busy in my head. Because I feel that my friends no longer care enough to deserve to know my mind. They're too busy or not close enough or whatever. [laughs] It's a pill that I am turning my head and not swallowing. My horoscope (which I never check, by the way, but checked in response to a friend's blog) is such:

How can something be 'too good to be true?' We don't say things are 'too bad to be false'. We know full well that dreams and deceptions can take us into territory that's far darker than any reality. Why, then, should we place a limit on positivity? Some things, most definitely, are very good and very true. This brings me neatly round to your forecast. You are worried about a prospect or possibility. It seems to be offering you support but you fear that if you put your weight on it, it may collapse. If it can't serve that purpose, though, what use is it? You don't need another daydream to escape into. You need a promise you can rely on. That's what you've got.

I...I had come to rely on Drew a lot. I realize that only now that he's busy with work and girlfriend and we never talk or hang out. I am surrounded by people of strength. Moral strength, Emotional strength, Financial strength, even Physical strength, though that I rarely need. Some of them offer to provide support in whatever way they are able. Others would but do not believe the offer needs to be made. Yet I stand alone. I...I always feel as though it is my role in life to be supportive to my friends as an example of joy and fun, to remind them that life is good, that we are good, and that when they and we are not, we can strive for them to be so. [shakes his head] it doesn't matter what I feel I need to be, I always try to be superhuman, and through my superiority, help or inspire others to the same. But I'm not superhuman. I have weaknesses, failings, insecurities and vices. And I need help. [laughs] and mom, I love you, but I don't mean you. I don't ask for help. I look for opportunities to help others without them asking. I want others to do the same for me. No, I expect them to. and I am disappointed, because I expected of people something when I asked them for nothing. I don't even know how to ask. It's not a pride thing; it's a feeling of powerlessness, that asking for help is an insurmountable obstacle. Part of it is because I am not able to help Grace. I cannot comfort her, or give her strength, ease her loneliness or help her find peace. I can't give her money or a home or a job, and I can't even give her the feeling of usefulness by letting her help me. Part of it is because I look at my friends, solid or insubstantial, secure or crumbling towers, and I see how I can help them. But I do not see myself, and therefore I cannot see how they could help me. I have no more words tonight. Goodnight, blogger, and sleep well. hopefully, I will too.

So, in line with the last post (1 minute ago), I am a Maple tree and Grace is a Rowan tree. You may compare:

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

So, reading through blog entries of a friend whose blog I have just now discovered, this is the post from my birthday a year ago:

Find your birthday and then find your tree. This is fun and "somewhat" accurate, also in line with Celtic astrology.

Dec 23 to Jan 01 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only) - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only) - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only) - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only) - Beech Tree

YOUR TREE (in alphabetical order)
Apple Tree (Love) -- quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

Ash Tree (Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.

Beech Tree (Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

Birch Tree (Inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (Confidence) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt, likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive, well-developed sense of justice, fun to be a! round, a planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others' feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and affection , hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree (Sensibility) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, few sexual relationships, great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (Mysterious) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary) -- charming, sense of humor, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) -of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egotistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, can become a complainer, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Oak Tree (Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Olive Tree (Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree (Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low self esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree (Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow (Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh.