Jesus Image of Himself as the True Vine. John 15; 1-11 Essay

Jesus Image of Himself as the True Vine. John 15; 1-11 - Essay Example The sap in the vine gives power to the branch so that it may bring forth fruit and thus, detaching the branch would mean the end of the fruit bearing ability of the branch. He explains further that every fruit bearing branch is pruned so as to enhance its fruit bearing potential. The Gospel of John according to John Donahue’s commentary does not narrate the stories of Jesus in parable form like the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke for the reader to decipher meaning, which makes it different from them in this respect. Though the Gospel is symbolic, yet it is simple and in many instances, Jesus explains the spiritual lesson like in this instance. Jesus wanted to bring the Spiritual message across to the disciples about the importance of abiding, stressing the same in 5 where He says, â€Å"for without me you can do nothing†, and it would also be worthy to note that the word abide is repeated seven times between verses 1 to 12. Just as a detached vine cannot bring forth f ruit and is not worthy for any purpose pertaining to fruit bearing other than to be thrown into the fire, thus also was Jesus teaching His disciples that their fruit bearing potential depended on their abiding in Him at all times (Michaels, 1998). The parable also is a continuation of His last words and instruction which He had started in John 14, before he was crucified, rose up again and was taken up to heaven and thus has very great significance in the continuation of the ministry He had started and which was to continue without Him being physically present with His disciples (Nissen& Pedersen, 1999). Just as the fruit bearing ability exists in the vine and not the branches, Jesus wanted to drive the point home in verses 5 to 7 that their victory pertaining to the bringing forth of fruit lay by the disciples’ abiding or remaining in Him. In other words, it implies that He was going to produce His fruit in them, since they were now the body of Christ. Jesus talks about His abiding in the love of the Father in verse 10, and challenges His disciples also to abide in His love. He desires to establish a relationship with His disciples, which is based on abiding, just as is the case of His relationship with the Father (Moloney& Sacra, 1998). Jesus has done this by obeying the commandments of the Father and would like the same repeated in His relationship with His disciples, in other word, fruit bearing was to be enhanced as the disciples maintained their relationship with Jesus. The Father would be glorified as Jesus said in verse 8 when the disciples bore much fruit, and this would signify that they were Jesus’ disciples. Since there was poor to bring forth fruit in Jesus, it meant that just as a branch automatically brings forth fruit as long as it is on the right tree, multiplication was going to be automatic and also was the production of other fruit was required of the disciples. Concerning the notion of cutting of branches that did not bear fr uit as narrated in verse 2, this is more of a warning to the disciples that their failure to abide in Christ would make them unfruitful and thus make them liable to be removed by God. Jesus was speaking these words to eleven of His closest disciples because at this time, Judas had already left the group to prepare to betray Jesus. Jesus reminds the disciples that they are to abide in Him at all times and not only when it was convenient for them (Michaels, 1998). The verse also speaks another type of cutting that would enhance

Marketing Debate 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing Debate 2 - Essay Example Their focus is to attract cost conscious shoppers, and thus they compete on price. On the other end of the spectrum there are high end stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales whose business model is not to compete on price, but rather to sell high quality, designer merchandise that focuses on the image of the consumer. Designer labels such as Ralph Lauren and Pierre Cardin are likely to be found in these stores that are associated with a higher price point and oriented toward image-based shopping. To be sure, it would generally not be possible to find these kinds of labels in discount store chains because they are priced at a point that would not be attractive to the category of shoppers that find discount retailers appealing. It would have an impact on the image of those labels if they were to associate with a store that utilizes a price-based business model as opposed to an image based model. Brand image is a crucial business asset. Any decisions made by a manufacturer that affect that image for better or worse must be carefully considered in order to avoid squandering a competitive advantage and associated profits that are tied to the brand. â€Å"A strong brand image offers an organization several important strategic advantages. A brand distinguishes the goods and services of one seller from those of competitors. A powerful brand identity creates a major competitive advantage; a well recognized brand encourages repeat purchases. Thus, a brand acts as a signal to consumers regarding the source of the product and protects customers and manufacturers from ‘me-too’ products that may appear identical† (Porter and Claycomb, par. 6). The question of whether a store’s image affects a brand’s image works in reverse as well. The brands a store chooses to carry go a long way toward impacting the image of that store. As

Labour education crisis Essay Example for Free

Labour education crisis Essay The man who promised us, Education, education, education, as the main priority of his government has failed again. Blair along with forever changing line up of education secretaries has again been branded a hazard to our children. The new crisis in hand for our Labour government evolves our youngsters within Primary education. The recent report has revealed that the number of children who can read and write properly has fallen in the last three years, as almost 250,000 seven year olds are not hitting required standards, for the second year running. In English only 75% have reached the required standards, leaving government hopes of 85% English pass rate for 11 year olds by 2002 in tatters. The report has shown three tenths of Primary school children are behind in reading from as young as seven. Four tenths our poor at writing, leading to one quarter of eleven year olds being classed as semi-literate! Chief school inspector Mr David bell has described the situation as disastrous and has said, I dont think we could possibly be happy with what primary schools are achieving. These chilling figures reported by Ofsted are causing concern amongst parents throughout the country. Although Mr Bell is claiming the route of this problem is due to the teachers and Heads of the schools. As it has been suggested that one in ten of our head teachers are weak, thats a figure just over 2,000 that are simply not up to the job. If the leaders of the schools are weak what hope does it hold for our teachers? Although Heads are saying they are being used a scapegoats Mr Bell insists that they are to blame, They lack knowledge and skill. This standard is simply not adequate as the government has admitted. This has left other parties, including the Liberals suggesting an education reform and the Tories claming the situation has reached crisis level. Although PM Tony Blair has barely mentioned the report, and went ahead with a speech on education standards. This new crisis has fallen into the hands of Estelle Morris successor Charles Clarke. The Education Secretary has been told by Ofsted the targets set for 2004 will not be achievable. This will make his job even harder as situations are just being passed on with each new education secretary. Along with Primary education being seen as a shambles Ms Morris has left the problems of AS and A level system with Mr Clarke. After last years mark fixing fiasco new guide lines need to be set to stop this embarrassing situation recurring. That saw up to 4,194 candidates having their A-level grades increased in 2002. As well as the A-level marking situation causing problems it now seems that AS and A-level lecturers are unhappy with the system. They are calling for a return to a system such as the old one qualification of the A-level over two years. Suggesting that its simply too much for students. These measures come just two years after curriculum 2000 was introduced, bringing in the AS and A2 exams. Although now former chief inspector of England schools, Mr Tomlinson, has been asked to make a report suggesting ways of maintaining the A-levels standards and credibility. Universities are unhappy with a possible move to re-secure the A-level as they feel by keeping the name it will cause confusion. The A-level was first introduced in 1951 and has changed dramatically. This in turn effects what people feel constitutes as an A-level in standards they require, which worries the Universities. Who have also been affected by Labours education crisis due to the clearance procedure after the mess-up with A-level marking. The last thing on the agenda for Labour in terms of education is the staffing shortage in Primary and Senior schools. At the start of the academic year many school remained closed due to staffing shortages. And it appears this situation to is getting worse. As a survey for the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teacher suggested that nearly 63% of teachers have considered leaving their jobs within the past 5 years. And in another survey for the National Opinion Poll of 1,007 NASUWT members discovered that 30% felt that no political party had the right education policies. In conclusion it seams that all areas of or education system our in danger and have been effected, all that is left to say is good luck Charles Clarke, who now has the mammoth task of getting things on track. A job that both David Blunkett and Estelle Morris have failed to achieve.

Roberto Assagiolis Psychosynthesis: Role in Counselling

Roberto Assagiolis Psychosynthesis: Role in Counselling Murray Sheret Students will examine the ideas of one of the theorists introduced in class. They will relate these ideas to their own meaning-making process and their conception of the role of the counsellor and the practice of counselling. The essay will contain reference to the relevant body of academic literature, including both primary and secondary sources. Roberto Assagiolis Psychosynthesis â€Å"The mystical is not how the world is, but that it is.† Ludwig Wittgenstein This essay will explore the concepts and practice of psychosynthesis while relating these ideas to my own meaning-making process and my conception of the role of the counsellor and the practice of counselling. Psychosynthesis, the practical psychological approach founded by Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli, integrates the wisdom of an eclectic array of psychological and philosophical traditions, including Jungian psychology, psychoanalysis, existential psychology, Buddhism, yogic traditions and Christian esoteric study (Brown, 1983, p. 30). Psychosynthesis recognises two fundamental dimensions of human growth which are the personal and transpersonal dimensions. The personal dimension is concerned with â€Å"the meaning and integration of our personal existence, with the experience of being significant and effective in the world† (Brown, 1983, pp. 30-31). The transpersonal dimension of growth involves â€Å"spiritual study and practices, artistic and creative expressions, contemplation and questioning of ultimate, universal meaning in which we seek the meaning and purpose of the larger reality† (Brown, 1983, pp. 31). Included in both the other dimensions is the interpersonal dimension which is integral to achieving balanced growth in both dimensions as it means â€Å"fulfilling interpersonal relationships within our families, our circles of friends, and our communities† (Brown, 1983, p. 31). Assagioli conceived of the individual as being a dynamic interrelation of ; â€Å"The lower unconscious, the middle unconscious, the higher unconscious or superconscious, the field of consciousness, the conscious self or â€Å"I†, and the higher self† (Assagioli, 2000, pp. 15-17). The attributes of these various aspects comprise of various psychological, emotional, psychic, emotional, sensate and spiritual functions. However, of most pertinence to mention here are the attributes of the conscious self or â€Å"I† which Assagioli asserts is â€Å"the point of pure self awareness, the centre of our consciousness which is not to be confused with the changing contents of ones consciousness (thoughts, feelings, sensations etc)† (Assagioli, 2000 p. 16), and the higher self which is â€Å"the conscious, permanent, ever present centre the true self† (Assagioli, 2000, p.16). Psychosynthesis works to discover sub-personalities which are considered to be â€Å"constellations of behaviours, feelings, and thought that are left over from a time when they were needed for survival, to meet lower level needs† (Brown, 1983, p. 27). Once discovered the work then becomes â€Å"assisting the â€Å"I† to disidentify from the sub-personalities enough so that one can then recognise and honour its initial purpose† (Brown, 1983, p. 27). A multi staged meditation style disidentification exercises are used to achieve this. Psychosynthesis teacher Molly Brown explains the larger aim of this exercise, â€Å"The â€Å"I† can then reclaim this purpose and its â€Å"Will† energy while letting go of the specific behaviours and attitudes that no longer serve† (Brown, 1983, p. 27). A range of psychotherapeutic methods are used to explore the depths of the lower unconscious in order to â€Å"uncover the childish images that silently domina te us, the â€Å"phantasms† and fears that paralyse us and the conflicts that waste our energies† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 19). The regions of the middle and higher unconscious that house our unknown abilities and higher potentialities are likewise explored. The first stage of the psychosynthesis process involves ascertaining the â€Å"unique existential situation of the client† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 5). The therapist and client work together to jointly gain a thorough knowledge of the clients personality. Then follows the activation of their latent aspects and functions along with the development of the weak ones through the use of the active techniques suitable for each task (Assagioli, 2000, p. 5). Psychosynthesis uses many techniques aimed at the â€Å"development and perfection of the personality and its harmonious ongoing unification with the Self† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 94). Among these are, Self-identification, disidentification, development of the Will, training and use of the imagination, visualisation, auditory evocation of other sensations, technique of ideal models and symbol utilisation and the technique for the use of intuition. Next the individual learns to gain control over the various elements of their person ality. The psychological principle this is based on may be formulated as: â€Å"We are dominated by everything which our self becomes identified. We can dominate and control everything from which we dis-identify ourselves. The question becomes then â€Å"to what extent can we identify ourselves with the true Self and disidentify ourselves from the non-self† (Gerard, 1961, p. 3). The work is then aimed at assisting one to become aware that their â€Å"conscious self is not their ultimate reality and identity, this then allows them to realise their true Self, the discovery of their unifying centre† (Gerard, 1961, p. 4). As psychosynthesis utilises a range of therapeutic approaches it is therefore capable of attending to symptoms at many different levels of consciousness, this approach means the therapist is less likely to interpret a deeper state of consciousness as pathological or to apply an inappropriate therapeutic technique based on such misinterpretation (Brown, 1983, p. 7). I appreciate Assagiolis therapeutic disposition here as this mode of therapy seems to conceive of the psychological and emotional struggles of the client as being symptoms of an existential difficulty with living rather than a pathology awaiting categorisation. The central purpose of psychosynthesis is brought about in concert with the work of developing and activating the various aspects and functions of the individual. Assagioli described this as â€Å"the harmonisation and integration into one functioning whole of all the qualities and functions of the individual† (Assagioli, 2000, p.5). What follows is the development and training of the Will, the concept of which is central to psychosynthesis. Assagioli defines the use of Will as, â€Å"the ability to develop that strategy which is most effective and which entails the greatest economy of effort, rather than the strategy that is most direct and obvious. The most effective and satisfactory role of the Will is not as a source of direct power or force, but as that function which, being at our command, can stimulate, regulate, and direct all the other functions and forces of our being so that they may lead us to our predetermined goal† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 47). Assagioli asserted that â€Å"The Will is that function which is most directly related to the Self- the individual generally is not aware of his Self, and consequently he is just as unaware of the direct function of the Self, the Will (2000, p. 111). The psychosynthetic concept of Will marries beautifully with my understanding of the human condition which I have arrived at through my own lived experience. Seemingly one remains a victim of circumstance when they are operating though old ways of functioning that have become ways of coping rather than living. When old wounds and outdated ways of being are sufficiently apprehended and integrated the individual is offered an opportunity to align themselves with their Will and their spiritual essence, the â€Å"conscious self† and the â€Å"higher self† as psychosynthesis refers to them. To be aligned with ones Will in this way is to have life live itself through you, the individual becomes more akin to hollow bamboo, a cond uit through which spirit may express itself. Though this is an ongoing process of unfoldment rather than a final destination to be arrived at. I feel we are indeed beings that tend towards ever increasing levels of integration and self-actualisation and as such, by denying part of our being or experience we subvert our potential and hinder our capacity for adaptive living. With sufficient attainment one may begin to live their highest purpose with creativity, spontaneity and love. Psychosynthesis teacher Molly Brown asserts that â€Å"The development of the Will involves the union of its various aspects, strength, skill and goodness which then becomes loving Will, the expression of love through our willed acts† (2004, p. 121). There are several stages for the development of the Will, the first consists of setting a goal or finding a purpose to be achieved and then setting an intention as to what purpose or goal towards which the Will is to be directed (Assagioli, 2000, p.113). Then follows valuation and motivation. The consideration of motivation involves â€Å"the uncovering of unconscious drives as the function of the Will is to utilise them and insure their cooperation in the attaining of the chosen purpose† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 113). Motivation inevitably implies valuation as the aim or purpose towards which the Will is to be directed must have an intense positive valuation (Assagioli, 2000, p. 113). This process is then followed by a period of deliberation and consideration of various factors relating to the value and attainability of the goal or purpose (Assagioli, 2000, p. 113). The next stage in the use of the Will involves making a volitional decision, a conscious choice to direct the Will at a particular purpose. Assagioli stresses that this is a difficult stage as it â€Å"involves choice and the difficulty in making a voluntary decision is that the individual, either clearly or obscurely, realises that decision involves responsibility, that decision is an act of freedom which inevitably involves responsibility† (2000, p. 114). The next step is affirmation which involves the cultivation of faith. Assagioli avows that â€Å"this is not simply a â€Å"belief† but a living dynamic faith, even more, an assured conviction† (2000, p. 114). He goes on to affirm that, â€Å"At the very least there must be a willingness to â€Å"attempt†, to take risks, in a spirit of adventure† (2000, p. 114). The affirmation becomes a â€Å"command or declaration made to oneself with intensity as the power of the affirmation determines the de gree of its effectiveness† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 114). Meaning is inherent in this embodiment of choice and responsibility. This is the act of consciously taking command of one’s power and asserting it in the world while perceiving one’s own actions as valuable, meaningful and worthy. The following stage of psychosynthesis is planning in which ones activity, the steps of which having been previously visualised, is organised in a clearly outlined program that is aimed at the realisation of the ultimate purpose or goal (Assagioli, 2000, p. 114). The final stage is the direction and execution of the action which requires two qualities in particular of the Will, firstly, the dynamic power of the Will (one pointed driving energy), and secondly, persistence or endurance (Assagioli, 2000, p. 115). The culmination of these processes results in one discovering their unifying centre, the realisation of their true Self. They experience psychosynthesis itself, â€Å"the formation or reconstruction of a personality around the newly discovered centre† (Gerard, 1961, p. 4). The process of psychosynthesis speak directly to my highest ideals of counselling as I was once pulled aside by a wise man who put me through a similar process. Aside from giving me the opportunity to face the limiting beliefs I had long held about myself he gave me permission to take myself seriously. This was a profound act. I was compelled to disidentifiy with many limiting sub-personalities and thought forms that had kept me from living my purpose. What more meaning could there be than to identify ones authentic path in life and set about dissolving that which is not in service to it. While the healing of emotional wounds is a worthy initial goal for counselling the directing of the newly integrated self towards its highest purpose is a much richer objective. To see people not only heal but to consciously expand and thrive is the raison detre of my work as a counsellor. As each has been shaped by their subjective experience, the therapist and client may have widely different ideas about the social meaning and function of therapy. A client may only recognise therapy as a service capable of little more than lessening the effects of troubling symptoms, though I would consider the lessening of ones symptoms to be a small part of their larger process of becoming or self-actualisation. However, such notions need not be made overt in the course of therapy if they are irrelevant to the contextual needs of the client. By its very nature, counselling confers an obligation on its practitioners to reflect on their own ideologies and refine their epistemology. A therapist must wrestle with the existential reality of being, to confront the nature of suffering, love, death, hope, emptiness, consciousness and transcendence. Assagioli argued that â€Å"a human psychology cannot be complete without including the so-called spiritual dimension, our relationship to the cosmos and to our highest ideals† (2000, p. 34). Constructivist psychologies orientation towards the exploration of human beings tendency toward â€Å"creating systems for meaningfully understanding their worlds and experiences† (Raskin, 2002, p. 1) is a positive element to be adding to my therapeutic approach, though the schism between differing constructivist positions must first be resolved. A therapy that values above all the primacy of the clients felt experience is able to transcend the dichotomy that exists between realism and idealism, epistemological constructivism and hermeneutic constructivism while still engaging the utility each unique perspective provides when it’s appropriate to the client’s needs. Whether or not we can know a thing independently of the mind or not matters little in the face of whatever the client’s felt experience happens to be. The meaning the client is making of their experience is primary to the therapeutic task. The question of; to what degree can constructions of rea lity be discovered through observation and to what degree are such discoveries â€Å"heuristic fictions† (Raskin, 2002, p. 3) is of far less concern than the lager question of; is the meaning thats being created or discovered by the client life enhancing or life negating? My own opinion is that there are indeed fundamental truths to be known and engaged with. Whether or not these truths exist independently of my mind or not is of little consequence for the purposes of my growth. What matters is that these truths are experienced as fundamental to me, my meaning making, my felt experience, and in this way they may well be, as philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, â€Å"true enough† (1998, p. 43). The hermeneutic constructivist notion that â€Å"knowledge and truth are contextually verifiable rather than universally valid, socially negotiated rather than cognitively and individually produced† (Raskin, 2002, p. 4) highlights the lack of capacity human beings have to share â€Å"a truth† with one another should they stumble upon one. Philosopher Terence McKenna eloquently encapsulated this sentiment when he said â€Å"What hubris it would be to expect that the small-mouth noises of English could encompass being. No, these are lower dimensional slices of a reality that is ultimately unitary, ineffable, unspeakable, and dazzling† (McKenna, 1992). Assagioli affirmed his respect for the ineffable nature of transpersonal realities when he averred, â€Å"Psychosynthesis does not aim nor attempt to give a metaphysical nor a theoretical explanation of the great mystery- it leads to the door, but stops there† (Assagioli, 2000, pp. 6-7). Inspired therapy impels clients towards meaningfully understanding their lived experience as among its treasurers meaning offers understanding, a sense of locating oneself in one’s story and ultimately arriving at the empowering conclusion that they have taken a position of authorship. The practice of psychosynthesis beautifully honours the clients â€Å"inner world of subjective experience† (Bugental, 1987, p. 46) by ascertaining and working with the unique existential situation of each client. Psychosynthesis is an act of love which assists the client to identify with their authentic self while striving for the realisation of their highest aspirations that which is imbued with greatest personal meaning. The various experiential processes enhance perspective and catalyse inspired and adaptive living while connecting one to that function which is most directly related to the Self – the Will. Once sufficiently aligned with their Will a person may experience thems elves in a world infused with meaning and filled with purpose. There may even be, in the corner of their eye, beyond their confident stare, a flicker of knowing that they themselves are Willing their own reality into existence. Reference List: Assagioli, R. (2000). Psychosynthesis: A collection of basic writings. Massachusetts, USA: Synthesis Centre Editions. Assagioli, R. (1974). The act of will. New York, NY: Penguin. Brown, M. (2004). Unfolding self: The practice of psychosynthesis. New York, NY: Allworth Press. Bugental, J. (1987). The art of the psychotherapist: How to develop the skills that take psychotherapy beyond science. New York, NY: Norton Company, Inc. Gerard, R. (1961). Psychosynthesis: A psychotherapy for the whole man. Massachusetts, USA: Synthesis Centre Editions. McKenna, T. (Speaker). (1992). Hermeticism and alchemy. (Digital recording). Colorado, USA: Sounds True Publishing. Raskin, J. (2002). Psychology, radical constructivism, and social constructivism. American Communication Journal, 5 (3) 1-4. Wittgenstein, L. (1998). Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. New York, NY: Dover Publication Inc. Lyndon B Johnsons Great Society Programs: Analysis Lyndon B Johnsons Great Society Programs: Analysis Were Johnson’s great society programmes a failure? In 1969, President Lyndon Baines Johnson left office after having earlier declared that he would not seek, or accept the democratic nomination for the next presidential election. It was an acrimonious end for an administration that boasted greater social legislative achievement than any that preceded it and fundamentally altered the basis on which American social policy was formed. The primary debacle that can be said to account for the demise of the Johnson presidency was the protracted and costly US involvement in Vietnam. Although it was under the Kennedy administration that the US first became embroiled in Vietnam, it was Johnson who accelerated such developments and therefore has gone down in history as the primary protagonist in one of America’s most divisive conflicts. However, are such calamities enough to justify the claim that Johnson’s great society programmes were a failure? After all, the legislative vigor with which he attempted to address America’s pressing social issues was admirable. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed racial discrimination in public places, such as hotels, restaurants and public transport. It also developed significant political rights, in particular franchise extensions for America’s less advantaged. As a parallel drive, Johnson also announced his ‘war on poverty’ which was institutionalized with the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and Economic opportunity Act of 1964. Following an overwhelming election victory in 1964 Johnson accelerated the great society programmes with a spate of legislative achievements. 1965 saw 115 presidential recommendations for legislation, with an above average 90 being approved. However, although in 1965 the great society programmes appeared to be a re sounding success, later assessment has cast doubt over just how much praise should be lavished upon the Johnson administrations legislative achievements. The overriding issue that dominates the discussion on the success of the great society is Vietnam. As Ira Katznelson has noted, both the great society programmes and the war Vietnam were formed on the same ideological basis. This basis was the establishment and conservation of democratic principles abroad, whilst simultaneously reinvigorating the democratic process at home. As such, she argues that the two drives were so interconnected and reliant upon one another’s success, that it was impossible to hope that the great society could be successful in light of the failure in Vietnam. This is an accurate assessment which is adhered to by a majority of writers on the subject and one to which I offer my own endorsement. However, leaving aside the volatile issue of Vietnam and its repercussions on the great society initiatives, is it possible to see successes if we look at the great society programmes in their entirety. Prominent amongst the voices of dissension is the leading academic George Gilder, who argues that above all the great society legislation (and the New Deal and Fair Deal that preceded it) created a situation that led to a reliance on state security benefits. Ultimately, the great society legislation was formed on an historical basis that had begun with Roosevelt’s New Deal and played a significant role in halting progress in terms of ‘societal betterment’. Gilder asserts that although Johnson’s war on poverty was well motivated, it nonetheless did more to prolong and exacerbate America’s poverty problem than alleviate it. A climate of dependency was therefore created that allowed people living in poverty to continue doing so, instead of achieving prog ress and betterment through their own endeavor. As such, Gilder argues that there developed a necessity, to reverse the great society legislation and the negative impact it had on US societal progress. The Reagan administration, along with its emphasis upon the individual was the inherent result of this situation and the overall failure of the great society programmes. However, although Gilder’s arguments present a coherent and systematic approach to the question, he still fails to highlight the groundbreaking nature of the great society programmes. Gary Gerstle, although operating from a point of view relatively similar to Gilders offers us a further detailed assessment. He argues firstly that the great society programmes failed to address the question of income distribution adequately and as such had a long term impact upon the problem. This impact was so widespread, affecting in particular black communities that even before the election of Ronald Reagan in 1981 there was a significant divide between rich and poor in America, which could easily be traced along racial lines. As such, Gerstle sees the inability to redress this imbalance as the primary failure of the great society. In conclusion, it is clear that there were serious flaws in the great society programmes initiated by Lyndon Johnson. Many of these deficiencies took years to present themselves and impacted greatly on the America that developed in the post Vietnam period. However, it is also the case that the great society heralded a new era in the relationship between the individual and the state. Just as with the post war Labour government in Britain, the great society ushered in a revolutionary way of conceptualizing state intervention and although the seeds for such a transition may have been sown much earlier, it remains nonetheless a marked achievement of the Johnson administration. It would be easy to conclude that such developments came to abrupt halt and even reversal in the 1980s with the Reagan administration. However, I feel it is short sited to view this era as one of rolling back the achievements of Democratic Party of the 1960s. It is true that significant revisions were made to the g reat society legislation; however the bulk of it remained unchanged. Therefore, it remains the foundation on which modern American democracy and equality stand. Bibliography Fraser, Steve and Gerstle, Gary. The Rise and Fall of the New Deal Order: 1930-1980. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1989. Katz, Michael B. Ed. The â€Å"Underclass† debate: Views from history. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1993. Schulman, Bruce J. Lyndon B Johnson and American Liberalism: A Brief Biography with Documents. Boston: Bedford Books, 1995.

sonnet 12 :: essays research papers

1. When I do count the clock that tells the time, 2. And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; 3. When I behold the violet past prime, 4. And sable curls, all silvered o'er with white; 5. When lofty trees I see barren of leaves, 6. Which erst from heat did canopy the herd, 7. And summer's green all girded up in sheaves, 8. Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard, 9. Then of thy beauty do I question make, 10. That thou among the wastes of time must go, 11. Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake 12. And die as fast as they see others grow; 13. And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence 14. Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence. This sonnet is so famous that it almost makes commentary unessential. It will always be one of the best sonnets in the history of language. The lively and rapid passage of time, which brings every thing to an end, is described, not indeed in abundance, but with such noteworthy and overwhelming effect that humanity almost stares us in the face as we read it. The logic of the lines ends with the line itself is like the ticking of a clock or the unstoppable motion of a pendulum as it swings from side to side. The importance of the placing of this sonnet here (12) (I believe it’s because of the twelve hours of the day) as well as that of the 'minute' sonnet at (60) is hard to establish, but at the very least it points to an organized hand, which, like the clock itself, measures out the chain of important events as they occur. It is true, however, that it is not clear that we have Shakespeare’s order, so this is just my opinion. As for the forms of the sonnet, we are clear that it was definitely written by Shakespeare. A sonnet is a one-stanza poem of fourteen lines, written in iambic pentameter. One means to illustrate a verse line is to speak about how many stressed and unstressed syllables are in the line. A simple grouping of syllables, some stressed, some unstressed, is called a foot. The iambic foot is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Pentameter means there are five feet in the line. "Iambic Pentameter," subsequently, means a line of ten syllables, which interchanges unstressed and stressed syllables according to the iambic measure.

Briefer and Deeper: A Comparative Analysis of Depth-Oriented Psychother

Briefer and Deeper: A Comparative Analysis of Depth-Oriented Psychotherapy Introduction The use of psychotherapy in decidedly time-limited contexts is the hallmark of modern trends toward maximizing effectiveness and minimizing costs in the realm of health and mental health treatment. Although clients have historically utilized therapy for brief intervals (an average of 8 sessions), the use of models designed for this purpose is comparatively new. There is an ever-widening breadth of approaches - both formerly long-term designs modified to require fewer sessions and those born with the goal of brevity. Despite the diversity in brief psychotherapy (BPT) approaches, each therapy tends to be based on similar fundamental assumptions and general themes. For example, it is widely believed that a skillful therapist can affect useful changes in the lives of clients - changes that continue to build long after the treatment ends (Messer & Warren, 1995). These therapies also include root metaphors or ideas of where human difficulty arises, a set of curative factors, and an image of what it means to be mentally healthy (Borden, 1999). Finally, in an effort to address client issues briefly, the articulation of a clinical focus is seen as essential and can range from present day relational problems to underlying struggles with drives and anxiety - depending on the theoretical orientation. In comparison, Bruce Ecker and Laurel Hulley's Depth-Oriented Brief Psychotherapy (DOBT) model presents a slight variation to what has become the customary brief approach. DOBT is composed of techniques organized around the idiosyncratic, unconsciously held meanings of each client. Thus, there is no set formula or core dilemma to be address... ...ard theoretical pluralism in clinical practice. Most importantly, however, is DOBT's reassuring techniques which allows its clients a new, more coherent knowledge of themselves which leads to a deep and exquisite form of healing. References Borden, W. (1999). "Pluralism, pragmatism, and the therapeutic endeavor in brief dynamic treatment. W. Borden (Ed.) The therapeutic endeavor in brief dynamic treatment: Theory, research, practice, commentary. Haworth Press, New York. Ecker, B. & Hulley, L. (1996). Depth-oriented brief therapy: How to be brief when you were trained to be deep and vice-versa. Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco. Ecker, B. & Hulley, L. (1999). Depth-oriented brief therapy. [Online]. Available: www.dobt.com Messer, S. & Warren, C. (1995). Models of brief psychodynamic therapy: A comparative approach. The Guildford Press, New York.

Iron Crowned Chapter 3

I might have come to accept being queen of the Thorn Land, and it was hard not to grow attached to a place you had a spiritual connection to. Nonetheless, nothing the Otherworld offered would ever take the place of my home in Tucson. It was a small house, but in a nice neighborhood, near the Catalina Mountains north of the city. Gateways between the worlds existed all over, facilitating travel, but I had an â€Å"anchor† in my home, meaning once I shifted out of the Thorn Land's gate, I was able to materialize directly in my bedroom. An anchor could be any object tied to your essence. My roommate Tim, who hadn't seen me in a few days, was understandably shocked when I came strolling into the kitchen. â€Å"Jesus Christ, Eug!† he exclaimed. He'd been flipping pancakes at the stove. â€Å"We've got to put a bell around your neck or something.† I grinned and had an inexplicable urge to hug him – though I knew that would freak him out even more. After all the craziness in the Otherworld, his normality was a welcome sight. Well, â€Å"normality† might have been an exaggeration. Tim – with his tall, dark, and handsome looks – had taken to impersonating Native Americans (badly) in order to score chicks and make money selling his awful poetry. He rotated through various tribes, and last I knew, he'd been passing himself off as Tlingit, seeing as the locals got a little less pissed off by him donning the clothes of a tribe living hundreds of miles away. He lived in my house rent-free in exchange for cooking and housework, and I was glad to see him dressed in an ordinary jeans and T-shirt ensemble today. â€Å"Are you making enough for two?† I asked, heading straight for the full coffeepot. â€Å"I always make enough for two. But most of it goes to waste.† That last part came out as a grumble. He'd once complained about being my â€Å"slave† but missed my being around now. â€Å"Messages?† â€Å"Usual place.† When in the Otherworld, I left my cell phone with Tim. It forced him to play secretary, something he resented since I actually already employed one. Indeed, most of the messages he'd scrawled on the refrigerator's white board were from her. Tue. – 11 AM – Lara: two job offersTue. – 2:30 PM – Lara: one possible client needs ASAP helpTue. – 5:15 PM – Lara: still wants to talk to youTue. – 5:20 PM – Lara: needs you to finish tax paperworkTue. – 10:30 PM – Lara: won't stop callingWed. – 8 AM – Lara: who calls this early?Wed. – 11:15 AM – BitchWed. – 11:30 AM – Sam's Home Improvement: interested in vinyl siding? I admired his detailed message taking – frustration with Lara aside – but my heart sank when I saw who was conspicuously missing. Every time I came home, I secretly hoped I'd see their names up there. Sometimes, on the sly, my mom would check on me. But my stepdad, Roland? He never called anymore, not after finding out about my allegiance to the Otherworld. Tim, preoccupied with his cooking, didn't see my face. â€Å"I don't get why she keeps calling. She knows you can't get any of her messages. Why does she need more than one? It's not like a billion of them are magically going to get through to you.† â€Å"It's just her way,† I said. â€Å"She's efficient.† â€Å"That's not efficient,† he declared. â€Å"It's borderline neurotic.† I sighed, wondering not for the first time if I should just let messages go to voice mail. Despite having never met, Tim and Lara were mortal phone enemies. Hearing them bitch about each other was wearying. Nonetheless, staring at her string of calls already made me feel tired. I'd once had a brisk trade as a freelance shaman, kicking out ghosts and other annoying supernatural creatures who harassed humans. Now that I moonlighted as a fairy queen, I'd had to become much more selective with clientele. I could no longer keep up with the demand around here and felt bad about that. I suspected Roland was picking up my slack but didn't know for sure. I waited until after breakfast before dealing with Lara. Pancakes, sausage, and coffee gave me the strength to deal with this latest batch of requests. Undoubtedly seeing my number on her caller ID, Lara didn't bother with formalities when I finally called. â€Å"About time,† she exclaimed. â€Å"Has he been giving you my messages?† â€Å"He just did. I've been gone for three days. You know you don't need to keep bugging him about it.† â€Å"I want to make sure he tells you I called.† â€Å"He writes them down, every one. Besides, my phone's log also tells me you've called †¦ a lot.† â€Å"Hmphf.† She let it go. â€Å"Well, you're getting a lot of requests lately. I've thinned them out, but you've still got to choose.† It was almost February. We weren't near any major sabbats, when paranormal activity always increased. Sometimes, though, it happened for no reason. It figured now would be one of those times – right while I was in the middle of a war. Or, I realized, it might be happening because of that. My identities as queen and shaman were both well known among many creatures. Maybe they hoped they could get away with more while I was distracted. Half seemed to show up for selfish purposes in our world; the other half hoped to forcibly father Storm King's heir on me. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Let's hear the priorities.† â€Å"We need to finish your taxes.† â€Å"That's not a priority. Keep going.† â€Å"Single woman, stalked by a fetch.† â€Å"That's serious. I'll have to get on that one.† â€Å"Tree elemental. In your neighborhood.† â€Å"Yeah, that one's here for me. He won't hurt anyone else.† â€Å"Phantom-infested subdivision.† â€Å"On a graveyard?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Schedule it, and make sure the builder's charged double. Their own stupid fault.† â€Å"Will do. Then you've got the usual weirdness. Lights in the sky. Possible UFO.† â€Å"Was that Wil again?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Damn it! Did you tell him it's just the military?† â€Å"Yes. He also said there's been some Bigfoot sightings – â€Å" I froze. â€Å"Bigfoot? Where?† â€Å"I didn't get the details. I thought it was his usual craziness. And didn't you say they don't live in Arizona?† â€Å"They don't. Has there been anything weird in the news? Deaths?† There was a pause, and I heard the rustling of papers. â€Å"Two hikers died over in Coronado, near the Rappel Rock trail. The report stated that they fell. Took a couple days to find their bodies. Nasty stuff. Some animals got to them.† I was up and out of my chair in a flash, making the dishes on the kitchen table rattle. Tim, leafing through a magazine, looked up in alarm. â€Å"Call Wil,† I told her, trying to tug on one of my boots while balancing the phone. â€Å"Find out where he heard about these Bigfoot sightings. If it's not Coronado, give me a call back. If it is, no need to call.† Wil was Jasmine's half brother, and I avoided speaking to him when I could. One reason was that he always asked me about her. The other was that he was a crazy, paranoid conspiracy theorist. This time, he might be on to something. Lara was understandably startled. â€Å"But you said Bigfoot – â€Å" â€Å"It's not Bigfoot.† â€Å"Don't forget your other job tonight!† â€Å"I won't.† I disconnected and managed to get on the other boot. Tim regarded me warily. â€Å"I don't like it when you get that look.† â€Å"That makes two of us.† He watched as I went to our hallway closet and produced a little-worn leather coat. â€Å"You're going to Coronado?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"High?† â€Å"Yup.† He sighed and gestured to where we hung our keys near the door. â€Å"Take my car. It'll handle better if you run into snow.† I slung my satchel over my shoulder and flashed him a grateful smile. He warned me to be careful, but I was already out the door with the keys, heading for his Subaru. My eyes barely saw the road as I drove toward Coronado State Park. Bigfoot. No, you wouldn't find Bigfoot out here, not even in the Catalinas. Now, tell me there'd been a sighting in the Pacific Northwest? Or anywhere in Canada? Yeah, it'd be Bigfoot hunting time. But it wouldn't be a priority. They were generally harmless. Here? When you got a Bigfoot sighting in Tucson, it was a demon bear. Yeah – I know. It was a ridiculous name, but it got the point across – and really, there was nothing funny about them. They came from the Underworld and were utterly lethal. With their tall and furry appearance, it was easy to understand why the untrained eye would mistake them for popular images of Bigfoot. Demon bears didn't fuck around either. If only two people were dead, then this one hadn't been in the area long. We were lucky – even if the hikers weren't. No rodents or foxes had fed on those bodies. In Tucson proper, we were enjoying our typically mild winter weather – mid-seventies today, if I had to guess. As I drove higher into the mountains, the temperature dropped rapidly. I soon saw snow on the ground and signs for Mt. Lemmon's ski resorts. Other signs directed me toward popular hiking and climbing areas – including Rappel Rock. In and of itself, it was a popular area for outdoorsmen. With its proximity to the ski areas, the demon bear's presence was doubly dangerous this time of year. I finally reached the trailhead and parked in a gravel lot. Only a couple other cars were there, which was a small blessing. I stepped out of the Subaru, shocked by the blast of cold air that hit me. I was not used to these temperatures. I hadn't been bred for them. Give me monsters and ghosts? No problem. But cold weather? That was a weakness. I could've used magic to adjust the air but needed to conserve my power. Instead, as I stuffed my arsenal into my belt – not comfortable but ready for easy access – I used my magic for a summoning. I spoke the ritual words, and a few moments later, a small implike creature appeared before me. He had pointed ears, smooth night-black skin, and red slits for eyes. â€Å"My mistress calls,† he said in a flat voice, â€Å"and I answer, no doubt for some mundane task.† â€Å"We're going after a demon bear,† I said, moving briskly toward the trail and trying my best to ignore the cold. My jacket wasn't suited for this weather at all, but it was the best I had. â€Å"A more challenging task than most,† he observed. I ignored his condescension as I stopped before the sign indicating the various routes and levels of difficulty for these climbs and hikes. Volusian was a cursed spirit I'd subdued and enslaved. His power made him a useful asset – and a risky one. He hated me and spent a good deal of his time planning how to kill me, should I ever lose the control needed to bind him. I closed my eyes, attempting to become one with the air rather than its victim. The world was silent here, save for the rustling of wind in the pines and chatter of birds and small animals. I spread my senses out, seeking something out of place. My abilities weren't perfect, but I could often sense a presence not from our world. â€Å"There.† I opened my eyes abruptly and pointed near a trail marked â€Å"moderately difficult.† â€Å"Do you feel anything?† Volusian studied the area, using his senses as well. â€Å"Yes. But more there.† He pointed not at the trail itself but more toward its left, off into the woods. I grimaced but knew his senses were slightly better than mine. â€Å"Off-roading. Lovely.† We set out in that direction. Volusian shifted to a more ghostly form that floated along with me, rather than treading through the underbrush like I had to. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle, but it made for slow going. Yet, as I traveled farther and farther, that magical feel increased. â€Å"It will sense you too, mistress,† said Volusian, in a rare show of unsolicited commentary. I didn't doubt it. â€Å"Will it come after me? Or will it run?† â€Å"Run? No. Hide? Perhaps.† There was a calculated pause. â€Å"It won't try to force itself sexually on you, however. The blood of the shining ones is too alluring. It will simply try to eat you.† â€Å"How reassuring,† I muttered. â€Å"I'll do the banishing. You distract it.† Soon, I needed no special senses to know we'd reached our goal. The forest had grown deadly silent. No more birds or other signs of life. A strong sense of †¦ wrongness filled the air. The worlds were stacked: human, Otherworld, Underworld. With our proximity, Otherworldly creatures could sometimes move throughout this world without me feeling anything. Something from the Underworld was too foreign. It stuck out. â€Å"We're close,† I murmured. â€Å"We're practically – oomphf!† A massive arm swung out from a cluster of trees and hit me in the stomach, knocking me painfully backward. There was nothing I could do to prevent my fall onto the forest floor of sharp sticks and rocks, but I did manage to grab hold of my wand as I went down. A giant form loomed in front of me, almost eight feet tall. Long-limbed, with clawed feet and hands, its muscled body could easily be mistaken for that of a Bigfoot. Its ears – while definitely bearlike – were flattened against its head, adding to the humanoid appearance. It roared, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth. Black eyes, filled with nothing but mindless rage, peered down at me. Volusian, compelled by my orders, threw himself against the bear. The power radiating around Volusian's body had the substantiality of a ton of bricks. The creature staggered backward, eyes shifting angrily to my minion. The fact that Volusian hadn't knocked it to the ground was concerning. They were either well matched, or the demon was even more powerful than Volusian. The latter would be problematic, seeing as I wasn't strong enough to banish Volusian. Well, that is, I wasn't strong enough to banish him and fight him. If someone else subdued him, I could have sent Volusian on. If this demon bear had the means to defeat Volusian, then I'd be cake. Hopefully, the demon bear couldn't obliterate Volusian while distracted by something else – me. I scrambled to my feet, holding my wand out as I prepared to open a door to the Underworld. Volusian and the demon battled it out, neither capable of killing each other. I gathered my will, channeling the power of my soul to spread past this world and the Otherworld, on to the Underworld. On my arm, a tattoo of a black and white butterfly sacred to Persephone began to burn as I touched her domain. The air near the demon dematerialized, forming an opening to the Underworld. Grabbing my silver athame with my free hand, I approached the battle, cautious of both the combatants and the forming gate. Volusian hovered over the demon, keeping its eyes directed high. I sneaked up unnoticed. With well-practiced speed, I snaked out with the athame, drawing an arcane symbol on the demon's chest. Usually, banishing a demon back to its domain kept it from returning. A binding mark like this ensured it. I didn't want to take any chances. The demon's roar of rage echoed through the woods, and it turned toward me. I'd anticipated this and had already scrambled away, keeping out of its reach. Really, I'd been lucky the first time it hit me. It had the strength to kill me with one blow. Volusian came forward again to pull the demon's attention back – only, it didn't work. The demon recognized the threat I was and could feel the opening of the gate. Volusian, attacking and attacking, was a nuisance – a painful one – but one the demon could apparently ignore as it came toward me. â€Å"Shit,† I said. I backed farther and farther away, but the demon was quickly closing the distance. Its massive feet could trample the underbrush that slowed me so much. I worked hard to ignore just how dire my situation had become and instead concentrated on the gateway. That door grew more substantial, and soon, its power began calling to its own – sucking the demon back. The creature paused in its attack. The problem was, the gate wanted to pull Volusian too. Orders or not, he moved out of range for self-preservation, which I didn't exactly blame him for. Only, without my minion to beat on the demon, it now had just enough strength to fight the gate and keep coming toward me. It had to know that if it could take me out, the gate would go away too. Suddenly, I heard something approaching us, sticks and leaves crackling under strong feet – or, to be more precise, paws. A red fox – much larger than a normal one – sprang out onto the demon's back, sinking its teeth into the furry brown hide. This brought another shriek from the demon – and gave me a moment's respite. I threw all my power into the gate and jerked the demon toward it. The demon flailed, unable to fight being sent back to its own world. The fox had the sense to get out of the way, its services no longer needed. The demon gave one last mournful cry and then faded from our sight. I stretched the wand toward where the demon had disappeared, sending my energy through the wand's gems to banish the gate as well and reseal this world. Silence followed, except for my own rapid breathing. Slowly, birds began to sing again, and the forest's natural state returned. I leaned against a tall, leafless oak in relief. The banishing hadn't been as easy as I expected, but it certainly could have ended worse – like, with my death. â€Å"We didn't need your help,† I said. â€Å"We were doing just fine.† The fox was no longer there, as I'd already known. It had transformed into a tall, muscled man, with deep, golden-brown skin and black hair that barely touched his shoulders. He was a kitsune, a shape-shifting Japanese fox from the Otherworld. Actually, he was half-kitsune. His mother had been the kitsune; his father a mortal from Arizona. Power-wise, it made little difference. â€Å"Yeah,† said Kiyo, crossing his arms over his chest. He needed no coat and simply wore a burgundy T-shirt. â€Å"You seemed to have it all under control.† â€Å"We were about to,† I retorted. â€Å"Actually, mistress,† said Volusian, deadpan, â€Å"your death was probably imminent.† â€Å"Oh shut up,† I snapped. â€Å"You're dismissed. Go back to the Otherworld.† Volusian vanished. I turned back to Kiyo. â€Å"What are you doing out here anyway?† He shrugged, and I worked hard to ignore the effect his physical appearance always had on me. â€Å"Same thing as you. I'm on Wil's mailing list. When I heard about the Bigfoot sightings †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sighed and turned back the way we'd come. â€Å"I don't need your help.† â€Å"I wasn't coming to help you.† He caught up with me easily. â€Å"I was coming to kill a demon bear. You just happened to be here first.† Considering the trouble Volusian and I had had, I doubted Kiyo could have taken out the demon through brute force. Kiyo was strong, yeah, but hardly all-powerful. Unfortunately, he was all-bravery. He rushed into impossible situations, ready to defend others – even at cost to himself. He'd always been reckless that way – except for once. And that was the core of our problems. Kiyo and I used to date, wrapped in a deeply romantic and physical relationship. His continual disapproval of my Otherworldly relations had begun to fracture things between us. The final break had occurred after Leith had raped me. Kiyo had come to rescue me but had refused to punish Leith. Kiyo had advised a tamer course of action: letting Otherworldly justice take its course. Dorian, however, had opted for on-the-spot justice: he'd run Leith through with a sword. Kiyo and I had broken up shortly after that. â€Å"You were outclassed,† I told Kiyo. â€Å"There are a billion other creatures running loose right now. If you want to help, go after them.† â€Å"Ah, yes. I forgot,† he said. â€Å"Tucson's former caretaker is too busy playing queen.† I came to a halt and glared. â€Å"I'm not playing at anything! Controlling the Thorn Land wasn't my choice, and you know it.† â€Å"That's true. It was Dorian's choice – one he tricked you into. Yet, somehow that doesn't matter, and now it's okay for you to shack up with him and wage war.† I started moving again, marching through the woods in a haze of anger. When we'd broken up, Kiyo had been sad and withdrawn. Over time, he'd gotten his spunk back and now – whenever we ran into each other – didn't hesitate to express his opinion of Dorian, the war, or anything else Otherworldly I was involved in. â€Å"The war wasn't my choice either,† I said at last, after refusing to respond for several minutes. â€Å"Stopping it wasn't exactly out of your control either.† â€Å"So what are you saying? That I should just stop now and surrender?† â€Å"No.† His calmness was annoying. â€Å"But there must be a peaceful way to end it. To negotiate something.† â€Å"Don't you think we've tried?† I exclaimed. â€Å"How bloodthirsty do you think I am? Every diplomat we send is either given unreasonable demands or met with death threats.† â€Å"I like the use of ‘we.' I wonder how seriously Dorian is taking the peace process.† I could see the parking lot through the trees ahead. Good. I needed to be away from Kiyo. His presence was stifling. It stirred up too many feelings, too many feelings I didn't want to deal with. â€Å"Dorian isn't running this by himself. We're in it together, and we have tried to settle with Katrice.† â€Å"And as that's failed, you're now going to march in with your allies and take her land with overwhelming force, expanding your empire.† We reached the gravel lot, and I turned on Kiyo in full anger, hands on my hips. â€Å"We don't have any allies. And I don't want another kingdom! I sure as hell don't want an empire!† He shrugged. â€Å"Say whatever you want, but everyone knows you're looking for people to join up with you.† â€Å"And Katrice is doing the same,† I said smoothly. â€Å"I hear she's visited the Willow Land quite a bit.† Ah, that broke him. Kiyo's smug, cool faà §ade faltered. â€Å"Nothing's decided,† he said stiffly. â€Å"But your girlfriend's no fan of Dorian and me. She's afraid of us. How long, Kiyo? How long until she – and you – fight against us?† I was gaining ground; he was on the defensive. He and Maiwenn the Willow Queen had once been lovers; they'd even had a daughter together. I'd never believed their â€Å"just friends† claims since our breakup. Kiyo took a step forward, leaning toward me and fixing me with that dark, dark gaze. â€Å"She's not my girlfriend. And we're staying neutral.† I gave a shrug as masterfully casual as the one he'd given me earlier. â€Å"If you say so. And I like your use of ‘we.' Except, you don't really have an equal share in it, do you? You just run along and follow her orders.† â€Å"Damn it, Eugenie!† He clenched his fists. â€Å"Why do you have to be so – â€Å" He couldn't finish, and as we stood there, so close, I became aware once more of his body and the memories of our time together. I remembered what that body could do in bed. I remembered the way we'd laughed, how easily we'd connected. The Otherworld consumed so much of my time lately, but I was still half human. The human part of me called to other humans. And as he looked down at me, the anger softening a little, I had a feeling he was thinking the same thing. If he had any lingering attraction, the animal attributes in him would make this doubly awkward. My physical appearance would trigger sexual attraction that much more quickly. Even my scent could arouse him. He looked away. â€Å"Well. None of that matters. You should go home. You're freezing.† â€Å"I'm fine,† I said automatically, like I wasn't shivering and covered in goose bumps. â€Å"Of course you are.† He glanced back at me, a small, wry smile on his face. â€Å"Be careful, Eugenie.† â€Å"With what exactly?† I asked. â€Å"Everything.† With that, he shape-shifted back into a fox – a smaller, normal one – and scampered off through the trees. Naturally, he was too hard-core to have driven up here. Suddenly feeling drained, I got out Tim's keys and turned toward the car. I'd done what I needed to, that was what counted. I didn't want to think about Kiyo or war or anything like that. I wanted to go home and rest before the next job. A tingling along my spine made me drop the keys as I felt an Otherworldly presence appear behind me. I spun around, pulling my wand back out as I did. There, before me, was a ghost. It was female, looking like she'd died in her midthirties. Her translucent form washed out any color, but her hair was curly and shoulder-length, her clothing casual. Seeing a ghost outdoors was rare; they tended to be attracted to material things. Still, location didn't matter. They were dangerous. I pointed my wand at her, banishing words upon my lips. â€Å"Wait, don't!† she cried, holding up her hands. Pleading ghosts weren't uncommon. â€Å"Sorry. This isn't your world. You need to move on. It's for the best.† â€Å"Please. Not yet. I need to talk to you, Eugenie Markham.† I frowned, wand still poised and ready. â€Å"How do you know my name?† â€Å"Because I've come to ask for your help. I need you to find out who killed me.†