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Star Wars: The Force Awakens Fan Review

The last time fans saw Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C -3PO and R2D2 together, emotions ran high with pride of victories. George Lucas brought to life a complex tale of open warfare fought on a galactic scale thirty eight years ago. The characters were swept up in the drama of Star Wars, some willingly, some reluctantly, but in the end, respective goals were met. The Death Star was destroyed. Luke faced his fears, reconciled his heritage, and brought his father back to the Light. The Emperor is gone. Darth Vader is gone. The celebration in the Ewok village on the Forest Moon Endor is a memory. However, the saga returns. The control of the galaxy is now in the hands of the First Order. The New Republic and the Resistance threaten their power. Skywalker is a wanted man again. One of the best modern cinematic fables continues with The Force Awakens. It all happens a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

The heroes came together because of the need for a greater good. Each from different places in their life journey. The common bond is loss of roots. They are outsiders who wanted to be somewhere, and to be someone. They found acceptance and faith in each other. Now, the heaviness of battle is in their eyes. The death of friends, mentors, and comrades creates an emptiness inside heard louder and louder when the fighting stops. No matter what, life goes on, children are born, and family angst continues.

The Force Awakens storyline revolves around disappointment of a child taken by temptation. Han and Leia call their son Ben. Is he Benedictus? The blessed. How could they know he would become Ben-oni? The son of my sorrow. A mother can think as long as he is alive, there is a hope. The parents bear the pain of knowing he is theirs. They endure the shame of things as they are. What did we make together? Kylo’s redemption seems impossible.

The established and new characters are each on a life course that brings them together based on need. A need for power in some. A need for acceptance in others. A need for many to live free of hate and toil. The Skywalker family are working out karma with each generation. Theirs is to walk the paths of lightness and darkness. The Force flows strong through their ancestry. The ability to shape the will of others is godlike. Is anyone worthy of such powers? Can any human stay in balance with this at their command? This power does lend to them a solitary existence. Who are their equals?

New Characters

Rey – A scavenger, left behind to find her way alone. Vestiges of childhood in a homemade doll. Every sun down marking the wait in blasting sand and blistering sun. The heart of a lioness when charging her prey. The staff she carries is her spine exposed. Tis of ironwood and will not break. She is Nike, the goddess of victory. In BB8, she could find no truer friend. Courage will be their steady companion. Destiny has swept her out into the stars where she finds her soulmate. They spit and snarl at first, but once met cannot be separate for long. He wants her but, finds his power taken. She will best him this time. Can she coax Luke to step into the Light again? A Skywalker’s fate is to be among the stars. The Light is close. It is not your destiny to be alone. It was not a failure. It was the Force. It set you free once, let it find a home in your weary heart again. Let it in Skywalker. The fey elfin Rey, played skillfully by Daisy Ridley.

Kylo Ren – A panther, prowling in the night. The ghost of Vader brings comfort. Every step pulls him farther to the dark side. The heart full of passion. A warrior eager for battle. Behind the mask is a young man corrupted by want. The Force brings him courage and strength. He mistakes what a man can be and snuffs out life. He is Mars, the god of war. She bested you. She struck you with the Light. How could you take him? How could you blame him? The dark can be a great comfort; it is so warm and close. You are not meant to be alone. You were born in love. Why do you destroy it so eagerly? The capricious Knight brought to life by Adam Driver.

Finn – A stormtropper who makes a choice. In his first battle with orders to kill innocent villagers, he considers the consequences and cannot do it. He takes a chance and runs away. His actions bring him into the heart of the conflict. The challenges he faces escalate. When the fight is fair, he finds his courage and fights until struck down. He is afraid but moved through the fear to fight another day. Finn follows his conscience. Played with endearing anxiety by John Boyega.

BB8 – A heart of gold rolls along in this droid. What a joyful character. How brave to fly into battle. BB8, as R2D2 does, keeps secrets safe. They grieve the loss of companions. They accept things as they are and move forward. Andare sempre avanti e non fermarsi mai. Keep on going and never stop. Their instincts are superb and relate with as much, sometimes more emotional intelligence than the humans. The clunk, clunk, clunk of BB8 down the stairs following Rey into the rooms below the House of Maz Kanata was only one of so many charming moments. Keep up, stay close, and take care!

The curtain is drawn on the first act. We lost an old friend. The Star Wars saga continues to the delight of so many fans old and new. J. J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, and Michael Arndt have brought the story forward with much brilliance. The space ships, planets, creatures and droids fill the imagination. The villains and heroes are in place. The screenwriters, artists, technicians and special effects wizards present a flawless cinematic experience. Fans of old are thrilled to see Admiral Ackbar back in the war room. The trumpet fanfare heralding the overture to the Star Wars theme by Maestro John Williams reminded many of dreams awoken so long ago. We missed you so much and cannot wait to see the rest of the story.

@2016FrancesAnnWychorski

Destination Sicily ~ Planeta Winery

At this time of year, people may be making plans for travel in the next several months. A best destination for lovers of art, ancient history, food, and wine is Sicily. The island is a little Eden with mile upon mile of neatly cultivated fields. Farmers build dry mortar stone walls around their property. In the spring months, nature plants a live border of red poppies and broom. Both have a fine sense of order with straight lines curving over and around hills. There are delightful vistas of citrus and olive groves. It is not possible to visit Sicily and not drive by vineyards. Sicily is well-known for growing and bottling superb dry red wines. An excellent destination is Planeta Winery.

The Planeta family have several estates in Sicily. The winery near Noto is called Buonivini which means good wines. The grapes cultivated include: Nero d’ Avola, Frappato, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Grecanico, Chardonnay, Fiano, Viognier, Carricante, and Moscato Bianco. Besides wine they also have acres of olive and carob trees. Visitors can tour the underground wine making facilities at Noto. The family uses modern and traditional techniques. Buyers can purchase wines and olive oil during the tour. Of course, there will be a sampling to find the right one for the dinner table. My favorites are Santa Cecilia and Plumbago. The wood casks at Planeta are sealed with a large plug of beeswax. The entrance to the production areas are graced with enormous rosemary shrubs. The dry Sicilian air is sweet on the estate. The breezes mellow and pleasing. The eye enjoys a sweeping panorama of green. Every inch of this property feels special.

There are six Planeta cantina’s on the island. Cantina La Baronia near Messina. Cantina Feudo di Mezzo near Taormina. Cantina Buonivini near Noto. Cantina Dorilli near Vittoria. Cantina Dispensa and Cantina Ulmo near Marsalla. This travel route takes the visitor around the island through some of the most scenic landscapes of Sicily. There are wonderful Greek ruins to visit and baroque cities waiting to be seen.

Click on this link to the website Planeta family and plan a visit. Planeta wines are available at fine wine shops in the United States. Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge Massachusetts offers several varieties for sale. Enjoy good food with good wine.

Feng Shui ~ Fame and Reputation

Feng shui is a branch of Taoist philosophy focused on harmonizing the interior home environment with the natural elements. By properly situating entryways, windows, rooms and furnishings within the home, important human qualities are given direct attention. The bagua, a grid of nine squares, is used to map areas within the home. The bagua creates a structural diagram for alignment with the natural forces as a means to achieve success in different areas of life. The fame and reputation area is the rear middle space. Feng shui advocates a clean and orderly home so the vital energy of life can find a comfortable environment in which to prosper. Qi, or the life force, enters the space, and channeled correctly can enhance the positive qualities of fame and reputation. This article is the third in applying centuries old feng shui techniques to a living space to enhance all areas of life.

Fame and reputation are projected outward by the individual and reflected back by friends, family, and society. What a person wants to be known for and how they are perceived are two different views. The image projected can be controlled by the presenter. The personal image is communicated by body language, hygiene, hairstyle, and clothing. Facial expressions play a key role as well. What does a person radiate from within? Actions and non actions over time create a reputation. The depth and breadth of personal fame are directly related to actions within society. How a person acts within the home, family, workplace, community and other social situations creates their fame and reputation. These are things that can be gained or lost in many ways.

The element is fire. The dominant color is red. This area in my home is in the kitchen. Here is a photo of what it tends to look like. A full-time job and household to run takes effort and attention. Being a typical commuter, some things are left undone before heading out the door. This is what is in my fame and reputation area. A messy kitchen sink. Cooking is a favorite pastime and maintaining a clean house is important. My home is my castle but this affects my reputation Do I leave things unfinished? This is what is unseen outwardly by society but what I see when I return home. The energy of qi coming in the home finds this kitchen as is. If I were the auspicious energy of the universe taking a look at this, perhaps I’d move on taking all the benefits of integrity away.

The fame and reputation section faces south, an auspicious direction. The view is into the garden. The property boundary reaches to railroad tracks about 2500 feet back. Beyond the tracks is a slow and wide placid river. The train rumbles by routinely but at a slow speed. The whistle rarely blows so it is a part of the landscape and does not detract from it. The river can be seen in winter when the foliage is off the trees. Sunlight reflected on the water is a pleasant sight. Birds, wild turkeys, and rabbits make their home in the thicket along the river banks. Hoot owls haunt the nights. The outlook feels natural and open. Three large maple trees form a natural border on the east side and enhance a sense of privacy. The trees mark the change of season and welcome squirrels and birds to nest. The west side is a thicket of young trees and shrubs. It’s a pleasant vista. Not being an expert at feng shui, it appears to be an auspicious outlook. The landscape is kept informal. Trees, shrubs and wild flowers grow naturally. The grass is trimmed routinely but its more natural than nurtured.

The inside is the area to adjust. The placement of the sink in front of a large sunny window is positive. The towels hanging down, dirty dishes and cluttered look are not. A trip to the local garden center was able to supply most of what feng shui encouraged for auspicious results. Here is a photo of the changed space. At the top, a wind chime is hung that features a semi precious stone called citrine. Although it is not red, it is a sun color and the stone itself has qualities I wish to be famous for. The “citrine represents the solar plexus chakra which involves personal power and self-definition. Citrine is a symbol of hope and youth and brings energy, effectiveness, and spontaneity” said Gary Kvistad of Woodstock Chakra Chimes. The plant is a fiery red kalanchoe. The flower represents endurance and lasting affection. Two tapered red candles represent fire. Sun color dish towels now hang to the side not blocking the view. There’s a complimentary colored owl figurine all the way from sunny Sicily in the right corner. The space is cleaned and balanced. The sink, according to feng shui, is too close to the stove. After the dishes are cleaned, the bay leaf plant and flowering cyclamen are routinely placed between the areas of fire and water. I cannot move the sink and technically water will extinguish fire. Keeping the drains cleaned and covered when not in use is recommended. There may be some way to hide the sink when not in use with a large cutting board fitted to the space. This could be a cure. However, the cabinetry is knotty pine wood. Wood feeds fire and would be appetizing to the element. A rug has been placed on the floor in front of the sink. Now my feet are warm and the space feels more inviting.

This took some time to think about and how to put together an attractive area that still needs to function as a kitchen sink. The kitchen is typically the heart of the home and this one is more balanced. The superficial changes focus the mind on care taking the external area. But, the overall internal question is, what do I want to be famous for and is this represented in the space.

Feng shui can enhance the quality of life through proper alignment with the natural elements. It is up to the individual to find the best way to activate their personal fame and reputation by not only improving the home environment, but by manifesting the desire to consider what it is they are famous for and how the reputation is regarded. This space is warm, tidy and energized. The citrine catches the afternoon sun and releases a delightful scattering of prisms around the space. The band of color is gold, yellow, orange and a touch of blue. The effect is to create a sparkling dance of light in the fame and reputation area. The light reaches into the wealth and prosperity corner as well. This will be then next section of the bagua to be adjusted.

To be continued………..

Here is a link to the first article – Feng Shui Helpful Friends and Travel

Here is a link to the second article – Feng Shui Helpful Friends and Travel Part II