Sunday 30 December 2012

Post No. 422 - The Importance of a Bright Aura

I've been thinking, as I read, rest and try to recuperate, about our auras.

When I started my training, back in the 80s, managing the aura was an important part of the training - hence what I was taught about what we then called flaming, and what I now, to be clear, should get into the habit of calling "psychic flaming" - actually, even that could be misinterpreted: I better term this ... auric flaming (see the attachments to this post for more on that). Now, the emphasis seems to have shifted to chakras, and has lost a great deal as a result.

As I see it, chakras are where those parts of us that exist on other planes of existence manifest into this physical (and the etheric) reality; they help to sustain and activate us here, including to help us form a physical body. In the etheric level, just higher in frequency than the physical and lower in frequency than the astral levels (yes, plural), our energetic existence is largely in the same shape. For convenience, or perhaps out of laziness, our astral existence tends to also replicate the shape of whatever body we have for that incarnation. As we get further up the frequency tree, however, we tend to become more an amorphous shape of energy - a ball of light, is how I've seen it (first happened during one of my few moments of objective clairvoyance). The increasing "size" (a perception based on the increased energy of those higher levels of reality) and shapelessnes/sphericality of us as we move up the frequency tree, tends to lead to the shape of the aura, with it's multiple layers, the outer layers being more circular and more diffuse at this level than those closer to the surface of the body, where the discrepancy in frequency is less, and thus the perceivable presence is clearer. Net result? An egg shape with sometimes difficult to distinguish boundaries ..

Maybe that is one of the reasons that people have started working with chakras - irrespective of what level of reality your perception and psychic activity tends towards, at least everyone can agree where a chakra is, whereas with auras ... well, consider the situation where someone whose perception and activity is at, say, the mental level trying to instruct someone whose focus is at the astral level: teach says "close your aura", student does so at astral level, which teach either doesn't see or doesn't think is important, and says student hasn't done so, whereas student, who doesn't know enough to ... well, er, recognise the importance (or possibly even the existence) of other levels, say, gets all huffy at having done what they think think is a good job and being told off.

Of course, the real solution there is to start dealing with all those levels, but that's a bit of a distraction from my main point here (as is the cats having just knocked down a precarious stack of CDs :( ). At the very least, I consider that we should be acknowledging the existence and importance of auras. They're a key part, after all, of our psychic sensing, an integral part of our being and a major part of our interaction with the world.

That's one of the reasons I;m resting now - my energetic interactions via my aura have not been so good of late.

And that led me to thinking, and heading back towards a conclusion I mad back in my 20s: maybe the most important thing we can do in life, more important than any religious path, more important than any psychic development or learning, more important than an human rights activism or humanitarianism we do, is to get our auras to be as bright a source of positive energy as we can.

It means not necessarily calling on "greater" (stronger) powers than oneself, which can be limiting in terms of what one accomplishes, but that may make the risk of errors, of accidntally doing harm, less likely.

It also means that those who do wish to do harm would find themselves being blocked by more and more little balls of light ... and that's gotta be a good thing :) It certainly can, from my experience, be a good thing.

It's so important, maybe I should start a new movement: the Pathway of the Bright Aura ...

nah, just kidding :)

[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. 

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags: aura, energy, energy work, flaming, levels, planes of existence, psychism, purpose,

First published: Sunnudagr, 30th December, 2012

Last edited: Sunday, 30th December, 2012

Saturday 29 December 2012

Post No. 421 - Can one be too positive?

It probably seems a strange question to people who are trying to grow spiritually: can one be to positive? It would seem to be obvious that the answer should be "no, it is not possible to be too positive" - but what is that scares off people you are trying to help (this doesn't relate to me, by the way!)? I think I've posted once about someone who set up protection around themselves in a shop, and an unhappy looking woman moved away from the person and glared at them - obviously wanting to hang on to her pain rather than let it go.

I was thinking about this while I enjoyed a nice, cleansing, full of positive energy shower this morning, and how people who have been taken to higher energy realms - MUCH higher energy - have sometimes found it difficult. Obviously they have blocks to energy flows, as all of us do, but what if one could let go of those blocks and allow the higher energy to flush one's chakras, channels and energy bodies ("auras") out? It would be one way to get a much higher capacity to channel energy ...

Of course, returning to the relatively lower energy realm that is this world would be more painful ...

What would stop someone in that situation doing that - letting go and allowing higher energy to flush one out? Fear of loss of self identity (I kid you not - some people do thing spiritually evolved people have no fun [true - they don't get smashed out of their brains every Friday or Saturday night .. they don't want to, 'cos their brains are a very nice place to be in, than you very much :) ]; others think spiritually evolved people are "all the same" - and such people obviously are so stupid [or lacking in LIFE EXPERIENCE that they consider only flaws and faults to differentiate people, and they cannot see that "good" characteristics do include variety and uniqueness)? Thinking that one must go through a certain ritual or series of events, or be paid a certain price (e.g. acknowledgement) before one can let go?

It was an interesting speculation, good food for thought perhaps.

I've come across some reading links that are also possibly good food for thought:

First, from the blog site of "the Odinic Rite in Australia":
The next set of links come out of some research I was doing at work, when I came across the site of an organisation called "Consultancy Africa Intelligence", which is largely about business information (who is planning on spending money on projects, for instance), but also had some interesting blog posts:
For those of you who follow the Gregorian calendar [2], if you celebrate the end of the year, be safe.


[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. 

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags: discrimination, energy, energy work, levels, negative energy, negativity, personal characteristics, personal responsibility, personality, perspective, planes of existence, society,

First published: Laugardagr, 28th December, 2012

Last edited: Saturday, 28th December, 2012

Friday 28 December 2012

Post No. 420 - Focus or breadth?

I'm watching - again - my current favourite movie, "Men Who Stare at Goats" [2], and the scene where the character Bill Django gets everyone dancing brought a few thoughts to mind. That is something which was part of my Wiccan Priestess training as well, and I still question its validity.

I am interested in learning to work with energy; sure, movement can have an effect on that, but forcing someone to do something they don't enjoy is not necessarily constructive. The person may have blocks against doing the activity, but say breaking the blocks is going to cause 4 units worth of damage for 1 units worth of gain, is it worth it?! What if the person concerned just wants to focus on working with the power of the human mind, and go to work directly on energy? What if that way, there is no units of damage and 7 units of gain? Is it worth stuffing around?

I came across this attitude also when I began my serious psychic work back in the 80s: an expectation that we were to master all major skills. There IS, I consider, good grounds to get a wide spread of basic skills, but expecting a wide mastery - for most people  is more of a waste of time, energy and effort, and could possibly be counterproductive. In a development group focused on, say, doing readings, is there an point learning how to do healing?

If I had my druthers, I'd just be building energy and improving my capacity to channel positive energy. Mind you, I've discovered - painfully! - that there are other skills around protection and the like which are also necessary, but there isn't, in my opinion, enough emphasis on simply having a clear, strong aura, with really good capacity to channel positive energy, and positive energy techniques such as flaming (see the attachments to this post) and alternate nostril breathing

[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. 

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags: balance, breathing, energy, energy flows, energy work, flaming, focus,

First published: Frysdagr, 28th December, 2012

Last edited: Friday, 28th December, 2012

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Post No. 419 - An end of year hodge podge

Well, I normally detest and loathe the end-of-year break (I refuse to use the Christian terminology that is so predominant here in Australia [2] out of pure cantankerous with a dash of grumpiness and a seasoning of crotchetiness). Apart from the unthinkingly ubiquitous Christian elements (some of which may or may not have been borrowed from paganism), it is hot - stinking hot, usually, and today with a forecast maximum of 39 degree Celsius is by no means anywhere near the worst for this time of year, even in the southern lattitudes of Australia (not southernmost - that is Tasmania, of course, but there also gets hot) - and crowded, and there are lots of naive assumptions about jollity (for a contrast on that, see here, here and here - and here), and everything is expensive, and the time of year is aggressively materialistic, commercial and selfish (what is the message most kids get? Gimme, gimme, gimme ... ). I avoid the work end of year functions out of principle - several principles, actually, and point out that compulsory time off at this time of year is not necessarily of benefit to people.

Nevertheless, this year I am so exhausted I am looking forward to not working, and thus not dealing with the stress of work, that I am actually looking forward, in a small way, to the break.I think my brain was telling me it wanted to stop for a while recently since it was playing a combination of the William Tell Overture and Macarena as I was driving home [3] after work a while ago ... Yes, time for a break - so here are a few various thoughts before I go and do exactly that :) 

Now, I've been reading a book recently, and it is one of the best books on paganism that I have come across for a long time: "Travels through Middle Earth: the Path of a Saxon Pagan", by Alaric Albertsson (Pub. Llewellyn, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7387-1536). I have had one of the fewest disagreements with any book ever, with this book: it includes the partially mythic notion of mediaeval lords having first night "rights" with new brides, which may have happened occasionally, but was not, as I understand it, a widespread or commonly accepted thing (see here, particularly the last few paragraphs), and I consider the Christmas tree and the Yule log have been a bit conflated, but it is, overall, excellent.

For instance, in discussing when to hold Lammas, Alaric Albertsson says this was traditionally held when the first harvest occurred.

Yes! YES!! YES!!! 

If you don't know when that is, then you need to start growing something (when I lived in a flat, I grew potatoes in a pot) and start reestablishing a connection with Nature, with the natural cycles that were part of our creation and still are part of this world, so that you may better understand and harmonise with it. I've been watching the film "Men Who Stare at Goats" lately, and one of the things I like about that film is the "Earth Prayer" (I use a slightly modified version) of the mythical "New Earth Army" (based somewhat on the actual First Earth Battallion).

Mother Earth… my life support system… as a soldier… I must drink your blue water… live inside your red clay and eat your green skin.
I pray… my boots will always kiss your face and my footsteps match your heartbeat.
Carry my body through space and time… you are my connection to the Universe… and all that comes after.
I am yours and you are mine.
I salute you.


I would also like to have had a list of the Saxon names for the months (like this one), but maybe I can find that on line somewhere. Some of the other things I liked about this book are:
  • the importance of a close, personal connection with goddesses and gods; 
  • finding out that the path of the Sun is called "the Glory of the Elves", and that three of the worlds lie on it; 
  • the notion that Ragnorak is actually the influence of the Christian concept of Armageddon is interesting (and, I consider, quite plausible); 
  • the best deity to work with on any particular aim/goal/task is the deity you have established the best relationship with, not the one which seems best on the shopping list of characteristics (I teach this type of attitude when teaching about crystals)
  • and lots of other stuff. 

The thoughts on "passage of life" rituals led to yet more thinking of rites around maturity. When we, as a species, were gatherer-hunters, reaching puberty was also when one could make useful contributions to survival, by finding food or taking part in hunts. Life nowadays, post agriculture and "civilisation" is far more complicated, and the reality of life is that children who have reached puberty can NOT make a useful contribution to survival of the family: the best sign of maturity, "nowadays", is the only one that applies in the non-human animal world - the ability to exist independent of parental care. So, I now consider that we should mark these passages of life as beginning apprentice adulthood (at puberty), and finishing apprentice adulthood - when one has lived on one's own (or, at least, independently of parents) for at least one year. Rituals to mark these should involve both apprentice and parents, as both are taking on duties and roles.

On the other side of that, I now consider one cannot be considered a crone or sage until one's children have been gone from the nest for at least two years.

So, all told, this is a book that is well worth a read.

Moving on to other matters, last Friday I did a modification of the Peace, Hope, Love and Prosperity spell at an event organised for Global Healing on the 21st (see here and here). I was there as a representative of paganism, and was the only person to acknowledge the feasting elements of the event, and the theme of lanterns; I had meant to cover practical, physical work as well (compost heaps), but in the stress of the occasion and life beforehand forgot to, but fortunately an atheist was there who did (I think that shows good inclusivity).

It is all important, along with activating the Earth Star Chakra ... (see here, here and here

This was all tied up with having a positive response to the rubbish about the so-called end of the world because the Mayan calendar had reached its start again point, where all the various cycles combine together - as they have man times before in the world's 4 and a bit billion years of existence, without a lot happening. On that, I like the First Earth  Battallion's comment on this, which is here.


So, going back to reading :)

I've also been re-reading Jim Butcher's "Cold Days", latest in the Dresden series: I find these books very relaxing, but I also get some good things to think about, and a few thoughts have come to mind:
  • the activity and intensity of the mental warfare between Molly and the character known as "the Corpsetaker" is what happens every single time anyone takes on an uncooperative; 
  • the description of the psychic defences around the island/entity Demonreach have given me another idea for a psychic device: hopefully I will one day get the opportunity to build it ... (it involves making lots of symbols in copper wire, and arranging them in a few directions around a space which is to be made a sacred - i.e. psychic working - space)
  • I consider many predators lack honour: they use ambush techniques, seek unfair advantage (by choosing ill, young or weak prey) and have greater strength than their prey: a more honourable role model - although not one that would work, perhaps, in shamanic situations - is a knight, who worked very hard to hone her (see here and here) or his skills because they knew their opponent would be able to fight back; 
  • the comments on will and the way that emotions are an expression of will are good, but I consider it more a case of emotions are a boost or fuel for one's will; 
  • the comments on being harder on others in order to prepare them are worth considering: I've become harder on this aspect over the years, as I've seen more people get into trouble by being wishy-washy or too fluffy bunny, or overly encouraged and praise when they needed to be objective, dispassionate and unemotional; 
  • the term "quest for power" or "desire for power" seems to always be interpreted in a negative way, but peace is a power as well, and thus the desire for peace is a desire for power; 
  • the comment that cats can move in and out of circles is backed up by my experience, but people who are so focused on not preventing entry or egress may be so upset at the breach of their rules that they themselves create the dissonance that they expect; 
  • there is some good material on MANNERS.
Now, a few other random thoughts that I once planned on writing up into entire posts.
  • When teaching young kids (pre-apprentice adult) about how to teach others, I consider there is really good reason NOT to say "treat others as you would like to be treated". They lack the maturity and, above all else, the maturity to be able to understand the subtleties of this, and thus you get the kids who make diabetics tea or coffee with sugar in it because that is how the kid would like it (and this can continue into the kid's older years - adulthood, if they otherwise mature enough). The truth is, everyone is different - if someone asks me if I want a cuppa, I expect them to be mature enough to ask me how I like it, and not simply make the cuppa the way they like them. So, tell the kids the truth: life experience helps, but above all else, ask people how they want to be treated. If the kid doesn't have a chance to do so, treat them as they would like to be treated as a starting point, but be prepared to adapt and change that without being upset.
  • How do we "fix" domestic violence? Well, there is a lot of good material around on that, but one aspect I consider isn't getting enough consideration is making being single socially acceptable. There is ENORMOUS pressure to be with someone else - if you're not, then the presumption is that there is something wrong with you. That pressure, I consider, drives many people into relationships they shouldn't be in - much as social pressure used to drive gays and lesbians into heterosexual relationships, either as a cover, or to end the massive, massive, massive social pressure that gets put onto anyone who is different. When we have films and books portraying single people as being normal, happy and fulfilled, the world will be making some progress.
  • Spiritual growth is NOT all about fluffiness and niceness and warm, fuzzy emotions: it is about being all that you can be, and that involves being pushed, being at times uncomfortable, and having to CHANGE yourself. (I'm possibly going to make this one of my talks next year.) 
  • Spiritual growth, particularly if you make the mistake of thinking it is about fluffiness and niceness and warm, fuzzy emotions, can be a very fragile thing: given enough of a push, and almost anyone can backslide ...
Next: by now, I expect most people reading this blog would know of the recent, terrible shooting in the USA. Sadly, the debate on gun control is going the way such debates have in the past, with the NRA taking a lead part in opposing even modest changes (with regard to their suggestion of an armed guard, do they know that, even with trained soldiers, the percentage who can actually kill people is extremely low, and thus their suggestion of armed guards are not necessarily going to help against a deranged gunman?). It was interesting to read one media article which said the NRA was formed by veterans of the US Civil War, who were concerned about poor shooting of soldiers (see preceding comments!). In the late 60s and early 70s, the NRA was actually cooperating on gun reform ... until a change of leadership in the late 70s. A more recent article has outlined some of the political blocks to achieving change in the USA: I might have to see if I can get a copy of Robert Caro's book.

Moving on .. This year, the Summer Solstice was on the 21st. Last year, the 21st and 22nd were both of equal length, so I honoured both as being the solstice. I do not accept the adoption of some astronomical definition of when the solstice is - that misses the point. The concept of solstice comes from a time when light and warmth meant something - and the summer solstice, from that time, is the longest day, as winter solstice is the longest night. Don't try to superimpose some modern concept that is alien to what the solstice is about - or even ancient, yet still alien concepts around declination. Longest day, longest night. That's it.(Although the later Greeks and Romans apparently judged this by when the Sun stopped climbing higher in the sky: I hold to my point.)

As a final comment, I've just found out how popular one of my poems has been on my creative writing blog. That came about when I published a few poems (none of 'em anything flash) and had more hits in a day than I ever have had here. Wow.

Might keep trying this on-line caper ... might even keep my website, as I've even had a few comments (face to face) by people who've looked at it and approve.

Maybe the hard slog is worth it ...

[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. 

[3] My car's gear box died a few months ago as I drove home late one Friday night. "Fortunately" (hah!) I was able to coast round a corner into a side street and found myself opposite a mechanic who happened to be open late. They did a good job of replacing the gearbox, at a reasonable price, but my radio-casette player stopped working, and I haven't been able to replace it since, so music while I am driving is either non-existent, or in my head :)


Love, light, hugs and blessings


Giles-ina (we've been watching Buffy, and I've been told I'm the female version of Giles ... personally, I don't think he's grumpy enough for the comparison :) ) 

My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags:about me, attitudes, children, family, growth, maturity, paganism, personal responsibility, rituals, Saxon, society,

First published: Wodansdagr, 26th December, 2012

Last edited: Wednesday, 26th December, 2012

Monday 17 December 2012

Post No. 418 - Reading

A few reading links for you over the break ... enjoy, but, as always, keep your thinking caps on, and, no matter what comment I've posted about any of the links, I may not necessarily agree with the article :)

These links are useful for cretins who think those who are overweight are necesarily _ :
More seriously than my opening remark, there are prejudices arising from ubiquitous and FALSE ideas/"values"/mores around weight which need to be changed - for the sake of the health, particularly mental/emotional, of those who have the false ideas. In particular, the benefits of being physically active are not acknowledged:
As someone who has done quite a bit of lobbying on human rights issues, including LGBTIQ issues and Amnesty campaigns in support of political prisoners who have suffered things including being committed to asylums for their political beliefs, I consider this article is worth reading and thinking about.
Moving on to other topics.
Some articles on the media.
Social media and Internet:

[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia.  

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags: discrimination, emotions, media, personal characteristics, personal responsibility, racism, society, violence, 

First published: Manadagr, 17th December, 2012

Last edited: Monday, 17th December, 2012

Post No. 417 - Why does crying help with sadness?

Why does crying help with sadness?

OK, that could be construed to be a stereotypical female perspective, but:
   (a) not all women cry, and
   (b) some men are comfortable crying.

You'll also note that I'm looking specifically at crying to release pent up emotions. Why does a physiological response that is aimed at removing irritants from a physical organ - our eyes - help us release emotions? Well, actually, it doesn't always help. However, having made that qualifier, 've been doing some theorising on this, and my theorising has led me to postulate an hypothesis or two:
   (1) I swallowed a dictionary last night, and
   (2) maybe the release mechanism is a homeopathic one across levels.

With homeopathy [2], the theory is that one ingests a little of the essence of something that causes an effect, and that the small amount of essence (there may be nothing physically detectable there) triggers a sort of immune system type response, and that effects the healing (allegedly the Queen uses homeopathy to good effect).

With tears, maybe the physiological response aimed at removing irritants on the physical trickles through to the emotional level (the lower and upper astrals), and there, what is left at that level triggers - through a homeopathic type of response - the release of irritants - i.e., hurt, pain, and other negative emotions.

This sort of release is why some people cut themselves. The small pain on the physical triggers a release of negative emotions.

There are some cautions that need to be written here:
(i) cutting involves a certain amount of physical risk, such as infection, scarring, etc;
(ii) whenever tears or cutting become the primary, regular response, it could be an indication that it is time to seek some other way of coping, or perhaps examine whether one has become addicted to the pain, or considers one "should" be in pain because of a mistaken understanding of karma;
(iii) even if these responses are not the primary, regular response, it could be that there are better ways of coping (or perhaps one should change one's circumstances, expectations, etc);
(iv) cutting of itself can be a symptom of something else. from Wikipedia (at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-harm): "Self-harm is listed in the DSM-IV-TR as a symptom of borderline personality disorder. However patients with other diagnoses may also self-harm, including those with depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and several personality disorders."

PS - on homeopathy, see http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/homeopathy-regime-is-rejected-as-judge-tells-parents-to-immunise-child-20121127-2a5uo.html for a "dissenting view" ... although, mind you, I support homeopathy generally, but not in the case of immunising children.

[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia.  

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags: addictions, coping, emotions, medicine, personal responsibility,

First published: Mannadagr, 17th December, 2012

Last edited: Monday, 17th December, 2012

Friday 14 December 2012

Post No. 416 - Fashionistas are evil :)

We recently bought a new TV. It is one of those fancy flat screen things, and my partner was actually surprised when I explained that I quite genuinely didn't consider the experience of watching stuff on it any better than the old TV. Seriously - I'm not into latest fashions, fads or trends in ... well, almost anything - even when they are (occasionally) better :)

I am actually quite happy about the visual and audio quality of watching movies on my PC as well (the seat I have to sit in is a little uncomfortable, though). Maybe that is because I am so well engaged with my imagination that I get caught up in the story ... maybe it is that I genuinely don't find the new flashier things any better than the old ... except that the new and flashy is generally worse for the environment - if only because something that is functional often gets ditched to make room for the new (that isn't the case with regard to our old TV, though: that is going to someone else).

This all came to mind recently when I was on the receiving end of a comment the effect that someone ('X') couldn't understand how someone else ('Y') could do fashion thing Z. Now I'd like to give a few thoughts on that, but I'd also like to consider another comment I heard even longer ago to the effect that someone ('X') couldn't understand how someone else ('Y') could put food Z into their body.

Let's start with the fashion thing.

Now, with the exception of my partner and a couple of qualifications, I basically don't care what other people wear. My partner likes to look nice, and I like her to be happy about herself, so I care about what she wears and how she looks - but from the point of view of what I and she consider attractive, not what some fashion "expert" (i.e., what I will term a "fashionista") considers to be "fashionable" or "attractive".

When it comes to what other people are wearing or doing, I care about as much as I care about what TV I am looking at ... except for the following:
  • if the person is a child, are the clothes functional/safe? If the child is GENUINELY at risk of, say, hypothermia or heat stroke, I will get the authorities involved. 
  • is it GENUINELY offensive or harmful? If a T-shirt had a provocative saying on it, ho-hum (and hey, I've got some of those in my signature block on this blog!): if it preaches, say, racial vilification or violence, I am inclined to have an opinion, and it is likely to be that the item of clothing is "wrong"/undesirable.

    In terms of harmful, if someone was wearing something with razor blades on it, then, again, I would probably call the police.
Now, when it comes to stupid so-called rules like not having blue and green beside each other, I genuinely consider that to be no-one else's business. If the person is comfortable wearing that, so what?

In fact, I personally would go so far as to say that I have NO right to even waste time, energy and effort in formulating an opinion in such a situation [4], just as I have no right to formulate an opinion about, say ... what another woman does or doesn't do with her reproductive system (so long as any kids are loved and cared for properly).

As an example of that, let's take the case of young women wearing very high platforms or heels. They damage the body; they create a risk of falling, but I have no right to form an opinion about their choice. It would, in my opinion, be spiritually wrong for me to be critical of them for choosing to do something risky (it's their business, not mine), and it would be hypocritical of me to say "I don't know how they could do that!" If they fall over and injure themselves, then as I offer first aid I may well assess their behaviour as being as stupid as that of a pedestrian who walks out in front of a car, or someone who jumps off a tall building (mind you, I would probably call for a mental health professional in the case of the latter ... unless they are a stunt person).

If I go back to the comment about fashion thing Z, I genuinely consider that no-one has a right to even formulate an opinion about it. I know people do, just as some people tell offensively bad jokes because they are desperate to make any sort of connection with others - I've seen that motivation in action with groups of drunks: it isn't that they're entirely not thinking, it is that they are thinking solely about bonding with their drunken "mates". There is a lot of evil done in the name of social networking/bonding/social capital ... [3]

In terns of the structure of the remark, thinking and feeling take energy - psychic energy. Meditation requires an expenditure of energy, feeling love takes energy (although it has the side benefit of generating a lot of other nice energy), and feeling hate takes energy (but doesn't give a boost the way love does, it drags people down). So I am actually somewhat careful about managing my psychic energy, and waste as little of it as possible. There is a story that Einstein once was asked for his phone number, and looked for it in a phone book because he didn't waste mental energy on remembering things that could be looked up so easily elsewhere. (I don't know if that is true, but it does help rather nicely to get the point across that I am seeking to make.)

So, why bother even saying you don't know why someone would do 'Z'? It is a waste of your energy, time and that part of your life.

Also, it is quite possibly a lie. My experience is that, many times, when people make such a remark, they do know - or at least have a very good idea.

In my case - and hey, I use to wear blue eye shadow and high heels - I could speculate that the young women wearing very high platforms or heels have such poor self actualisation (it's not actually poor self esteem) that they think they need a relationship (or, alternatively, they could genuinely have valid needs that they consider would be best met by a relationship), and thus they are prepared to do whatever they think is necessary to gain attention from males so they can have what they think is the best chance of getting into a situation that will, they think best meet their needs. That is sad on so many levels and in so very many ways, but, if I put on my grumpy hat, one of the things I've noticed is poor priorities - for instance, people refusing to wear security pass cards because they think it clashes with their "look". As a result, things happen like security doors being left open, and everyone gets put at risk (I've had some unpleasant things happen in the workplace, and thus I tend to be very cautious about such things).

It's not always a "small" thing ...

It's also sometimes the same energy as that of more recognisable bigotry: I'll get to that in a minute, but first consider the possibility of the commenting on others actually being about fear: fear of being alone, or fear of being different (leading to being alone), in particular.

The drive to "belong" and be, or be seen to be, "normal" is very powerful. I've seen it lead to things like some (most definitely not all!) trans people being stereotypical in their gender expression - things like skirts, make up (yes, including blue eye shadow ... sigh), high heels, talking about women "all wanting to go shopping", and other such crap - which too many cisgendered women also come out with!

That fear of being different can, again, lead to all sorts of social evils - social conditioning being my particular concern here.

It makes bigotry easier to flourish - think back to when racist or sexist views were considered "the norm" and you'll understand that comment (I hope!).

More fundamentally, that fear/insecurity is exactly what underlies much bigotry and hatred.

I know many people say it is due to lack of knowledge, or being misinformed, but people can choose not to go along with something as soon as they see it causing distress. I've seen some people who knew nothing whatsoever about the variety of gender expression simply choose to "go along" with someone saying they were gender Q simply because they were aware that saying otherwise would cause distress. The view that people "need" education - and I've expressed that view when trying to get laws changed, knowing what I'm about to say, but also knowing that I had to do so in order to get the laws changed - is actually crap. It's giving people a cop-out - they can lie to themselves "oh I'm really not a bigot because I just didn't know".

The bigotry is more obvious, to me, with the food comment ignoring things such as:
  • lack of knowledge of the other person's health; 
  • the inherent assumption that the commenter knows more than the person daring to make another decision; 
  • facts such as that other people may have spiritual reasons for their views.
Most commonly, this is about eating meat. Well, some shamans actually consider meat the best source of energy. Some women with heavy periods need to eat meat to keep their blood healthy (I'm not kidding on that! And that includes well educated, very health aware women who would otherwise be vegetarian).

Some people are aware that many plants die when we harvest them. Other people are concerned about the number of lives taken when, for instance, grains are stored and transported (rats are killed in a number of ways, for instance; I posted a newspaper link on this).

In this case, though, I consider it a matter that people do have a right to have a view on (it's about preserving life, and what price one or others may have to pay for staying alive), but having expressed it, they need to let it go and accept that other people have the right to do stupid things, even if it is embarrassing.Accept that you don't know it all, and that there may be perspectives on matters you haven't cvonsidered or even know about.

Some of the cautions I expressed earlier, especially about wanting to belong, still apply. That, and things like "group think" apply just as much in spiritual groups (which is where I heard both comments, actually) as elsewhere.

I'd like to make a few more comments about some of these problems.

In many ways, we are basically herd animals. One of the consequences of that is that we can sometimes seek social connection ahead of being spiritually honourable, and slagging off at others can be a way to build up social networks OR a way to seek reinforcement for overcoming our insecurities about our own decisions. Or it could be simple immaturity - the immaturity that denies others have the right to hold different views and take different actions and live their lives in different ways that is the basis for bigotry and prejudice and social control to enforce conformity of others. [6]

Whoa - bit harsh?

No.

I've mentioned previously work which found that male engineering students used humour as a weapon to control other students (Sue Lewis' work in the 90s at Swinburne University's National Centre for Gender and Cultural Diversity) [5]: fashion is too often the female equivalent. Read the book Queen Bees and Wannabes and start applying it more broadly, and you'll get the idea.

These flaws are all about putting material things ahead of spirit in ways that are the antithesis of spirituality. Sure, true spirituality includes a focus on the world and being in it (remember the catch cry "e here, now" from the 60s and 70s? No? Well, it had a lot of good in it anyway :) ), but it is balanced, and doesn't waste time and energy on small things with no significance.

Dear Reader, I urge YOU not to waste time, energy or life on the small things that don't matter. If you're serious about spiritual growth, you're going to need all that energy for other stuff.


[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia.  

[3] This used to be particularly clear in middle class Australian in the 50s, when Prime Minister  Bob Menzies (I think) once said something to the effect that he didn't need to ban the Communist Party (this was the McCarthy era) because of the social control exerted in the loungerooms of suburbia ... 

[4] I woke early and, while doing a little pottering (housework!), idly flicked through a book on my partners: "The 7 Steps of Spiritual Intelligence", by Richard A. Bowell (Pub. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London/Boston, 2004, ISBN 1-85788-344-6). The book has the "feel" of a glitzy coffee book/best seller to me, but it does have some good ideas )the basic premise is the proposition of - in my words - a "Spiritual version of IQ / EQ". By chance (hah!), I found a couple of matters of relevance to what I am writing about in this post. In the case of this footnote, at the start of the chapter on StepTwo: Meaning (Chapter 6, p. 78) is a story about a scene from the film "Lawrence of Arabia": in brief, the film version of Lawrence extinguishes a match slowly with his fingers, apparently without any pain. When asked what the trick is, he replies that it is not minding the pain. Mr Bowell then comments "Training ourselves not to let our mind be formed by the small things - in his case the pain of being burnt - allows more space to be occupied with things that have real import." Exactly. A little more spectacular than my example, and a lot more succinct, but ... exactly. 

[5] This point is also covered in Mr Bowell's book that I mention in the previous footnote, on p. 86, in the same chapter I quoted from previously. 

[6] Something I've been thinking about lately is the comment that girls tend to mature earlier than boys. It's a statement that I've often made myself: I also disagree with it now. Now, I would state that girls may tend towards a more overt expression of emotions and relationships, but that is not maturity. Maturity is being able to stand on your own two feet, and being able to successfully manage a relationship is a different skill - one that, by it's very definition, involves interaction with others and, in too many cases, a reliance on others. As an example of the problem, I wrote the follwing for a post some time ago, and didn't use it as it didn't fit into the final article: 
"Going back to Scott and Bailey, there was one femme fatale in one episode who had her evil exposed. Good-oh, but those people - of all genders - who use a smile and a pretty/handsome face, so to speak, to get out of doing stuff (such as obeying parking restrictions, or pulling their weight) are also using the same type of action. Not so extremely, true, but they're still being evil nonetheless. It all reminded me of a young woman I saw some time ago who was "walking" (if her hip swaying could be called that - good balance on those heels, mind), and barely exerting control over her medium sized dog, giving an overall impression of "Isn't my attempt to show my feminine weakness cute? And I don't have to control my dog properly, 'cos look - my < er, no adult filter, substitute "appendages" :) > stick out so far"." 
Being in control of a dog can actually be important to other people's safety*, 

* Very, very few people do this properly - most dog owners don't even have a clue what sort of control can exist - our dog, who has tripped me and nearly tripped my partner on multiple occasions because of a lack of training on the "heel" command - is certainly not what  I would consider well trained. I had the good fortune to have a neighbour who bred and trained rotties, and she could tell her dogs to stay, and then back up 100m or so and the dog would stay absolutely still until she told it to come. She also trained the dogs for things like food refusal and taking commands only from certain people. Makes "sit" and "come" (after screaming it for 30 seconds) look as pathetic as it actually is. 

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. (based on writing by) EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags: about me, bigotry, emotions, prejudice, self actualisation, self discipline, self esteem, society, 

First published: Frysdagr, 14th December, 2012

Last edited: Friday, 14th December, 2012

Monday 26 November 2012

Post No. 415 - Bushfires [Content Warning: bushfires, harm/harmful actions, links to distressing news stories]

A few years ago, my home state of Victoria had some major  bushfires [2]: we're apparently looking at having another bad season [3], so I've decided to post a ritual I came up with a few years ago to try and prevent or minimise bushfires. Obviously, this can be used for other places as well - just use it with the intention of preventing bushfires elsewhere.


This ritual is to seek to minimise damage from bushfires, by
- seeking to minimise the chance of bushfires occurring, including by asking wind and rain to help, and by trying to get arsonists to grow to an awareness which leads to them not lighting fires
- making sure those who have the duty of looking after the bush to prevent bushfires or of fighting bushfires do so properly, and
- helping all people to appreciate ALL the various forms of life in the wild places.

The core of the ritual is five chants, one to each quarter, and one for the centre (repeat each as many times as feels comfortable):
(Southern hemisphere - north; Northern hemisphere - south)
“Artemis[4], Baba Yaga[5], Pachamama[6] and Cernunnos[7],
help us connect to the wild places
- show us all the beauty of all the life there,
human, animal, plant or mineral,
help all who touch these places,
to truly know and care for them,
for their own innate worth.”
(east)
“Brigid[8], Maeve[9] and Isis,
inspire and help all those who care for the bush or fight bushfires,
let them fulfil their duties with passion and inspiration;
and inspire and heal those tempted to do harm
to such responsibility and caring
that they can NOT commit such sacrilege,
but may Ma’at[10] bring swiftly to justice all who do.”
(Southern hemisphere - south; Northern hemisphere - north)
“Nu Kua[11], bringer of order to chaos,
bring your ordered way to the wild places;
let the rains fall and the winds blow when and where they are needed;
Durga[12], protector against demons,
set boundaries on any fires which may occur,
and protect the wild places from the demon “bushfire”;
Cerridwen[13], transform all harm and damage done into growth: death into rebirth.”
(west)
“Gyhldeptis[14],
we call on you to help synthesise all these threads,
love, responsibility, inspiration, justice;
ordered rain and wind, protective boundaries, transformation;
help these many ways become one great whole,
for the good of all the wild places, and all the wild life.
throughout this coming bushfire season and beyond.”
[15]
(centre)
”Artemis, Baba Yaga, Pachamama, Cernunnos,
Let us love the wild places;
Brigid, Maeve, Isis and Ma’at,
Heal and inspire responsibility and justice;
Nu Kua, Durga and Cerridwen,
Tame, bound and transform the demon bushfire;
Gyhldeptis,
Bring all this together.”

Proposed Order of Service:
Most rituals consists of 5 major parts, which you will notice below are segmented into the five elements.  Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, but not in that order.  Each Elemental correspondence has its own unique role within the ritual.

In most cases they are broken down as follows:
·         East – Air – Athame – Opening – This is the basis of preparation, introduction of the ceremony.
·         South – Fire – Wand -  Invocations – This is the basis of invocations, prayers of the ceremony.
·         West – Water – Chalice -  Offerings – This is the time of offerings, libations, and honour
·         North – Earth – Pentacle – Closing – This is the time of devocation and opening of the circle.

THE RITUAL

AIR - EAST OPENING

Clear and Release.
Cleanse salt, water, incense and fire.
Charge salt, water, incense and fire.
Cast Circle

FIRE - SOUTH Invocations

Invoke the Four Quarters  (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Invoke the Goddess  (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Invoke the God  (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Invoke your Patron Deity (optional / depending on type of ritual)
Invoke the Ancestors  (optional / depending on type of ritual)

SPIRIT - CENTRE Ritual

This is the main body of the ritual. The actual purpose of the ceremony is presented here. This can be for initiation, healing, dedication, or any other purpose. The statement of intents, and the act of powers are also performed at this time, depending greatly on the ceremony.

(Southern hemisphere - north; Northern hemisphere - south)
Artemis, Baba Yaga, Pachamama and Cernunnos,
help us connect to the wild places
- show us all the beauty of all the life there,
human, animal, plant or mineral,
help all who touch these places,
to truly know and care for them,
for their own innate worth.”
(east)
Brigid, Maeve and Isis,,
inspire and help all those who care for the bush or fight bushfires,
let them fulfil their duties with passion and inspiration;
and inspire and heal those tempted to do harm
to such responsibility and caring
that they can NOT commit such sacrilege,
but may Ma’at bring swiftly to justice all who do.”
(Southern hemisphere - south; Northern hemisphere - north)
Nu Kua, bringer of order to chaos,
bring your ordered way to the wild places;
let the rains fall and the winds blow when and where they are needed;
Durga, protector against demons,
set boundaries on any fires which may occur,
and protect the wild places from the demon “bushfire”;
Cerridwen, transform all harm and damage done into growth: death into rebirth.”
(west)
Gyhldeptis,
we call on you to help synthesise all these threads,
love, responsibility, inspiration, justice;
ordered rain and wind, protective boundaries, transformation;
help these many ways become one great whole,
for the good of all the wild places, and all the wild life.
throughout this coming bushfire season and beyond.”
(centre)
”Artemis, Baba Yaga, Pachamama, Cernunnos,
Let us love the wild places;
Brigid, Maeve, Isis and Ma’at,
Heal and inspire responsibility and justice;
Nu Kua, Durga and Cerridwen,
Tame and bound the demon bushfire;
Gyhldeptis,
Bring all this together.”

WATER - WEST Offering

This is traditionally done with a chalice of juice, wine or water passed around the company within the circle AFTER the dedicationary offering has been completed.

Then it is common practice to pour out a small libation, and dedicate that to your Ancestors, physical and spiritual, and to all your friends in Nature, seen and unseen.

Dedicate what remains in the Chalice to the Goddess and the God.

(After the ritual, the libations may be emptied outside, or otherwise respectfully disposed of.)

NORTH - PENTACLE Closing

It is now time to give thanks, and close the ritual.

Devoke the Ancestors  (optional, depending on type of ritual)
Devoke your Patron Deity (optional, depending on type of ritual)
Devoke the God  (optional, depending on type of ritual)
Devoke the Goddess  (optional, depending on type of ritual)
Devoke the Four Quarters  (optional, depending on type of ritual)

Take down the Circle itself. You might say something like the Traditional;
“As Above, So Below. As the Universe, so the Soul. As within, so without. Merry meet. Merry part. And merry meet again.”

And as always - clear and release all excess energy.



[4] Greek Goddess of animals and wild places
[5] Slavic Goddess: the “wild woman”
[6] Peruvian and Bolivian Goddess of healing and wholeness with ability to connect to natural world
[7] Celtic God – the Horned One, often portrayed as a stag
[8] Celtic Goddess of Inspiration
[9] Irish Goddess of Responsibility
[10] Egyptian Goddess of Justice
[11] Chinese Goddess who brought Order to Chaos
[12] Goddess from India who helps set boundaries, and took the name Durga in honour of the demon Durga, who she slew
[13] Welsh Goddess of the Cauldron, associated with Death and rebirth
[14] Tlingit and Haida Goddess of the Forest, who held a feast to get powers together which transformed a dangerous whirlpool into a calm river
[15] Most of these interpretations are from “The Goddess Oracle” by Amy Sophia Marashinsky


[1] BPF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia.  


[3] See "State risks worst fires since Black Saturday", 26th November, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-risks-worst-fires-since-black-saturday-20121125-2a1n8.html

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
My "blogiography" is here. I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ...
May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
A home is for living in, not feeling, becoming or being rich or a “better” class than others.
The International Labour Organisation's definition of "full employment" is wrong, useless and misleading.
Armageddon is alive and well and happening right now: it is a battle between the indolence of "I only ..." and/or "I just ..." on one side, and perspicacity on the other.
Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master. Spiritual love is far more than just an emotion - it is a concept, thoughts, actions and a way of living.
The only prejudice should be against prejudice. 
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]." JOHN F. KENNEDY 
One size does NOT fit all ... and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as a result of knowing a little ... 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing. EDMUND BURKE

Your children are not your children. ... They come through you but ... they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow KAHLIL GIBRAN

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

 Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Those whom we cannot stand are usually those who we cannot understand P.K.SHAW

Tags: bushfires, energy work, harm minimisation, justice, prevention, rituals, society,

First published: Manadagr, 26th November, 2012

Last edited: Monday, 26th November, 2012