Musings of Gnwmythr

Blogiography - link

2012-02-11T17:38:00.000+11:00

Those of you who have been here in the past will know I have what I call a "blogiography". It is a post dedicated to providing information on past posts, to hopefully make it easier to find your way round this blog. I'm still working on updating it. Because it is quite a long post, I'm going to leave it where it is, and provide this link to where it currently is.

When you get there, you will find I have split it up into several smaller sections, as it was becoming a bit unwieldy. The section which is directly linked to includes a listing of key posts, an explanation, and the following links:
- a listing of all the tags I have used (including the post number of the posts as listed in the attached "details of posts" links),
- details of posts: Vol. 1, and
- a summary of posts with particular rituals or ritual elements. (I'm planning on writing a few rituals for Esbats [full moons, new moons], and other rituals.)

You may also care to note I have a post listing pagans who have made a commitment to peace that I wrote about here.

By the way, I currently have 19 draft posts underway on the blog: I hope to catch up soon - although I tend to finish one and add two :)

I also have started a separate blog where I am "publishing" the manual I used to run regression-rescue circles in the 90s. You will find that one (which is still incomplete) here. If you want to download a single file version, you can join the Yahoo group I set up here (no emails; I tried to make the files accessible to non-members, but couldn't - and I can't afford to pay for a site for people to download these materials) and do so.

As a final comment, I have elected not to have comments on this blog. I simply do not have the energy or time to manage such debates (especially including flame wars). I am, however, interested in hearing sensible, genuine comments, questions or suggestions (don't bother if you want to convert me!) from those who read this blog regularly: if you wish to contact me, you can find an email address at my website.

Is the conservation of energy a fallacy?

2012-02-11T17:21:00.002+11:00

A statement that I have come across in various places is that energy cannot be destroyed, it can only be changed. This is often in the context of, for instance, recycling "negative" energy back through the Mother, i.e. the Goddess, so that it can be transformed into something positive. I have observed that having that point of view tends to help people to face up to, and integrate or make a holistic part of their being, their negative aspects (shadow self) which is a good thing. But that is a separate matter to the issue of whether energy can be destroyed ...

Of course, to me, I automatically wonder if, if energy cannot be destroyed, can it be created? If energy cannot be either created or destroyed, then where did it all come from in the first place? And when we meditate, and are energised as a result (and that does happen, in my experience: the energy is not just changed, it is increased overall - so the benefit is not just a case of "change of mood" - look at the before and after aura, and you will see what I am talking about), does that mean the source of our extra energy, often our own Higher Self, is diminished as a result?

I don't think so ...

I am rather inclined towards people who think energy cannot be destroyed possibly being afraid that, if energy can be "vapourised", can consciousness also be "vapourised"? Or maybe they've taken the concept of recycling to save the environment a tad too far ..

When energy is recycled and transformed from negative to positive, is it the same thing at the end? When our consciousness becomes one with the Goddess, is it the same consciousness? I am the same human being I was when I was eight months old? Are you?

I think change is inevitable, whether for worse or better, but I do think that, as things can be created (whether that is a painting, a concept, or a universe), I think that energy can also be created. If energy can also be created, I consider it also can be "destroyed" - I have personally dissolved enough negativity in my life to know that from personal experience.

There may well be benefits in having the opinion that energy is conserved, but I think any such conservation does not apply to negative and positive psychic energy - or, at least, not on the level of reality we inhabit.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: energy,

First published: Laugadagr, 11th February, 2012

Last edited: Saturday, 11th February, 2012

This week's speculation, reading and other stuff

2012-02-11T08:25:00.004+11:00

As a first point, don't forget the Hope, Peace, Love and Prosperity spell for the 11th of each month - here - today.

I've just finished reading "Rubicon", by Tom Holland (pub. Abacus, 2010, ISBN 978-0349-11563-4, first pub. Little, Brown, 2003), about the fall of the Roman Republic (not the Roman Empire). The obvious question after having done so, is "why did the Romans give up their freedom for peace?" Of course, Mr Holland has given his explanation in this excellent book, but I have another aspect I wish to consider on the matter.

Let us begin by considering a fairly frequently used definition of maturity: the willingness to defer pleasure. That means that one will, for instance, leave the best piece of food on one's plate until last, and eat all the other food first. It also means not acting on impulses as soon as they come to your awareness, as if you are a stereotypical teenager (and I emphases, yet again, that such stereotypical behaviour can be found in all ages, whereas some teenagers can be quite genuinely mature).

However, there is another, too-often unstated aspect of this: being prepared to do what is one's "duty". I know that is an unfashionable word these days, duty, but it is one way of describing things done out of regard for others - whether that is the self-sacrifice of being a loving parent, a boss who works hard to make sure there is work for her (or his, or hir) employees, or those who take on a role protecting those who are unable to protect themselves.

Ah, notice I wrote "those who are unable" - not "those who are unwilling".

What I noticed most about "Rubicon" is that, ultimately, the Romans gave up their freedom for peace. To be sure, they were war-weary after a century or so of civil wars, and a history of many other wars, but they effectively gave up their freedom - and the awkward inconvenience of things like voting and being prepared to risk their lives defending their land (easier to pay or bribe some barbarian to invade other barbarian's lands and thus take the conflict further away, they seemed to think) - for what they considered an acceptable peace. Now, there are all sorts of arguments about the falsity of that sort of peace (it largely consisted, for instance, of pushing the physical conflicts that were still happening to the edges of the Roman Empire, rather than having them in sight), but what I want to focus on here is this: they gave up their duties for personal convenience.

That is, as far I am concerned, another expression of immaturity.

So, every time someone these days parks illegally in a disabled spot, they are continuing the same sacrifice of freedom for their personal convenience that brought down the Roman Republic :) So ... let the disabled have their parking spots for the sake of freedom!

There is actually a serious aspect to that apparent jest ... Cato (the Younger) was the only person who came out Tom Holland's book with anything like what I would consider respect. Cato, who condemned Caesar's invasion of Gaul for being an illegal war, who mourned every death on both sides of the Roman civil war, who mourned the death of the Republic and the principles that underlay it by sitting upright to eat (the Romans in those era lay on their sides to eat) and ultimately committed a politically very effective suicide. He stuck to principles when it was inconvenient to do so, and things like the essential consideration of being able to access disabled parking spots is a principle that may mildly inconvenience the abled, but is often essential for the differently abled.

As I was reading Mr Holland's book (and I will now look for the others he has written), my speculation was this:

Duty is the unfashionable expression of love, the part that people have to learn just as inevitably (or, possibly, even more so) than the lovey-dovey, fluffy white niceness stuff - and by "duty", I refer to "doing or not doing something out of a sense of duty".

Reading
Not many reading links this week:

"The Lost Tools of the Witch", by BellaDonna Saberhagen http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uspa&c=words&id=14906;
"Our True 'Magical Tools' " by Solonius http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustx&c=words&id=14931;
"Media attacks on PM 'sexist', says Greens leader", 6th February, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/media-attacks-on-pm-sexist-says-greens-leader-20120206-1r0oh.html;
"No taunts of abnormal at safe, same-sex formal", 6th February, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/no-taunts-of-abnormal-at-safe-samesex-formal-20120205-1qzti.html.

Other stuff

I'm come across some quotes that I quite like. Here they are ...

"Some people bring out the best in us, some the worst.....however, they both show us what we are capable of. "Comfort" is no test of truth; on the contrary, truth is often far from being "comfortable." " - Swami Vivekananda

"If you wish to drink water at the tap, you will have to bend. Even so, if you wish to drink the divine nectar of joy, you will have to bend. You will have to be meek and humble. If you are truly humble you will possess a magnetic personality and attract many persons. All lives will now be drawn to you." — Sri Swami Sivananda

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: freedom, immaturity, maturity, peace, responsibility

First published: Laugadagr, 11th February, 2012

Last edited: Saturday, 11th February, 2012

And again, more reading, speculation and other stuff

2012-02-04T09:41:00.007+11:00

I'm going to change the order in this post, and have the reading links last.
--
So ... some speculations.

When the immature come across humour, they become sarcastic; the mature use subtleties such as irony.

The world of commerce becomes wrong when it starts to think it can dictate what is right and wrong in human behaviour - evil when it ignores the conscience of the consequences of its actions.

How does a civil society best choose its leaders? Competition for election has been around since the ancient Romans and before, and has its good points and bad. Someone who doesn't want to be a leader would be good, as they may well hand back their delegated power more readily. The problem there is, they don't want to be leader and so won't push themselves forward. In a spiritual society, the ideal of the best person for the job is more likely to happen - in that case, the biggest problem may well be that of false modesty ... and real but undue modesty: someone holding back because they think someone else is better. Simple truth and honesty, and calm communication are probably the best counters to that particular problem. As for the civil society's leadership problems ... maybe the best cure is to become a spiritual society :)

Aot of New Age groups refer to "white light"; the Tibetans seem to refer, if anything, to CLEAR Light. I think they've got it right ...

Other stuff ...

I'm reading a book about the ancient Roman Empire, "Rubicon", by Tom Holland (pub. Abacus, 2010, ISBN 978-0349-11563-4, first pub. Little, Brown, 2003). A lot of it is disturbing - particularly some of the parallels between people's behaviour (especially their willing blindness to inequality) and today's world - particularly the USA. Still, they did get it right when they said you need to be middle aged to curb the excesses of being young :) ... and Marcus Aurelius' writings are actually very inclusive ...

The Sydney "Mardi Gras" mob are busy shooting themselves in the foot over whether or not poly is part of the Q in LGBTIQ - didn't they learn anything from when they tried to exclude bisexuals?

And on change, for some light relief, they are not always for the better. I'd love to find who changed cafe latte's to include foam and who started the "start with a coffee" before meal thing ... they need a stren talking to!

And now, reading links ...

Remember I don't necessarily agree with the links I post: some I definitely just chuck in there to see if you're thinking. You should keep that thinking cap on if you're reading anything else, to - such as the media, anything on the Internet, uni lectures, etc ...

"Mundane Magick" by Soull the University Witch, http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustx&c=words&id=14851;

"Crisis in Faith" by Sage Tiger, http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usnc&c=words&id=14793;

http://spiritrescue.ning.com/forum/topics/1972845:Topic:338999;

Despite my qualification, I have to point out that I consider the information at the link in this dot point is naive - dangerously so: I consider the best test for guidance to be to - as I was taught to do - project positive energy to the source. Nevertheless, I will provide the link for your reflection: http://spiritrescue.ning.com/forum/topics/1972845:Topic:339494;

http://spiritrescue.ning.com/group/demonolgy/forum/topic/show?id=1972845%3ATopic%3A339630&xg_source=msg;

http://spiritrescue.ning.com/forum/topics/1972845:Topic:339934.

And now a few links from my local paper, The Age.

"Nothing ethical in starving the poor", by Charlie Arnot, chief executive of the Centre for Food Integrity in the USA, 27th January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/nothing-ethical-in-starving-the-poor-20120126-1qjon.html;

" 'They would have helped if he was white' ", 27th January, 2012: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/they-would-have-helped-if-he-was-white-20120126-1qjbt.html;

"Fitness fascination stretches the truth", by psychiatrist Dr Tanveer Ahmed, 3rd February, 2012: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/fitness-fascination-stretches-the-truth-20120202-1qvii.html;

"Sisterhood beware - silencing ideas stymies progress", by Cathy Sherry, senior lecturer in the faculty of law at the University of New South Wales, 25th January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/sisterhood-beware--silencing-ideas-stymies-progress-20120124-1qfnx.html;

"Why we can't trust Gillard any more", by Michael Short, senior Age editor and a board member of the Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre, 25th January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/why-we-cant-trust-gillard-any-more-20120124-1qfo0.html;

"Tankard Reist explain yourself", by Dr Kate Gleeson, an Australian Research Council Fellow in Politics at Macquarie University, 24th January 24, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/tankard-reist-explain-yourself-20120123-1qdst.html;

"Female flogging on rise in Maldives", 25th January 25, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/world/female-flogging-on-rise-in-maldives-20120124-1qfmd.html;

"Cave-in by PM puts us all at risk", by Dr Jennifer Borrell, social researcher at Kildonan UnitingCare and author of the book Understanding Problem Gambling, 23rd January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/cavein-by-pm-puts-us-all-at-risk-20120122-1qc2q.html;

"Wide support found for wind farms", 18th January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/national/wide-support-found-for-wind-farms-20120117-1q4s1.html;

"Man dead after false stabbing claim", 20th January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/man-dead-after-false-stabbing-claim-20120119-1q8fw.html;

"Shackle the free press? Crikey, it just doesn't bear thinking about", by Gerard Henderson, executive director of the Sydney Institute, 10th January, 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/shackle-the-free-press-crikey-it-just-doesnt-bear-thinking-about-20120109-1prpp.html;

"Gay vows not so queer", by Dr Paul Monk, co-founder of Austhink Consulting, a critical-thinking skills training and consulting firm and apparently a "regular media commentator on public and international affairs", 8th December, 2011 (incidentally, if I had ever been elected to Parliament, which I did think about in the past, I was going to try and have created a position of "Chief Philosopher" to depoliticise some of the rhetoric around issues in much the same way as this article does): http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/gay-vows-not-so-queer-20111207-1oj50.html.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: commercialism, discrimination, humour, immaturity, leadership, media, society

First published: Laugadagr, 4th February, 2012

Last edited: Saturday, 4th February, 2012

Yet more reading, speculations and other stuff

2012-01-26T13:10:00.004+11:00

I'll begin this some more reading links.

Now, the environment is a topic of considerable importance to me and many other pagans - and I'm pleased that I've been able to reestablish a good connection with our garden and its spirits in recent weeks. The "Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists" has released a commentary on the revised, proposed Murray-Darling Management Plan which is very good, acknowledging all sides of the situation, stating some basic facts, and with some comments and inferences that are quite incisive. http://www.wentworthgroup.org/uploads/Wentworth%20Group%20Statement%20on%20the%202011%20Draft%20Murray-Darling%20Basin%20Plan.pdf

More evidence of the problems caused by alcohol http://www.theage.com.au/national/alcohol-incidents-skyrocket-on-australia-day-20120123-1qdzc.html

I never thought I'd refer people to a Christian site, but the following articles on the etymology of the word "God" are interesting: http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/God.htm and http://bibleanswerstand.org/God_2.htm

The down side of being a "flag waving patriot": http://www.theage.com.au/wa-news/australia-day-car-flag-flyers-racist-20120123-1qdoi.html#poll

Now, some more speculations.

Being at peace does not come from enforced physical relaxation. It comes from the inner peace of knowing you are growing, dealing with your proper responsibilities and working spiritually as you intended.

You can never escape anyone - even they or you move or die, your souls still exist, bound together by ties of like or dislike, so you may as well start resolving matters now. Of course, one or, more likely, both of you may have to change to more evolved beings to do that, but that's not so impossible.

There are circumstances when forgiveness is irresponsible: it teaches the person forgiven that their behaviour doesn't really matter, as they won't be held to account.

I have occasionally been asked what is the harm in focusing on loving those near to you - family and friends. The problem is the insularity, which is a form of conditionality upon the love you manifest. If you cannot help a stranger within reach with greater need ahead of your friend or family member, then you are not loving unconditionally, and thus are missing the greatest lesson of the Universe. Who is most harmed by this? Neither your friend nor the stranger in greater need ... it is you.

If you attempt to teach someone who is immature to negotiate, you wind up with a manipulator. If you attempt to teach someone who is unready about spirituality, you wind up with someone religious.

I have a fairly reasonable karmic status at the moment, going by the relatively quick (week or so) turnaround for test incidents that I use. With that, and my practical skills and experience, it still takes me around 18 months to 2 years to change key aspects of my life. That's based on a few things, mostly the time it took me to get back on the water, sailing, after I made a commitment to do so. (Actually, just last night, as I write this, I let someone go ahead of me in the supermarket checkout queue because he had only one item, and he gave me $2 of his change: maybe my karma is doing better than I think -well, the good karma, at any rate :) )

On the sailing, the skipper of the boat I was on made some incredibly arrogant comments, such as other boats should not be on a race course: well, that would be nice, but the waters are governed by authorities beyond the sailing club, and unless they have granted you sole access, you share, sport, you share!!!

Other stuff

I was recently asked by work to consider going to Kenya to work on design of water an wastewater facilities. I chose not to, because of their appalling record when it comes to LGBTIQ people - I don't really fancy going to a place where there is a significant risk of me being basked in the streets for simply being who I am. That's the problem with bigots: they never realise (or think) that they could lose out, and yet they do - in this case, they miss out of having the services of an experienced, capable engineer for much needed community services.

I was recently looking through a publication covering the Six Yogas of Naropa ("Esoteric Teachings of the Tibetan Tantra", from the Sacred Texts website), and it struck me that some of the initial work is very similar to the chakra work I learned under the Correllian system. I might have to explore that connection further - some of it very clearly is not, and some of it ties in with my ideas of the levels connected to each chakra, but such lateral cross-connections are something I find fascinating, and often beneficial.

I have, for many, many years, been scrupulous about closing down my psychic sensing when I am out and about - at work, for instance. I found just a few days ago that, if I leave my chakras a bit activated and myself a bit open, I can actually USE my skills - hence, for instance, I found that I was able to use what most people describe as the second chakra to set up an effective shield against some backstabbing. Hmmm. I clearly must reconsider the balance between closing down and actually using what I know ...

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: addictions, chakras, closing down, discrimination, drugs, environment, karma, protection, society

First published: Thorsdagr, 26th January, 2012 - Invasion Day

Last edited: Thursday, 26th January, 2012

New Moon and other Rituals, and More Reading and Speculations

2012-01-15T19:20:00.003+11:00

I know I've missed a few rituals: I'll try to catch up in due course, but I found a few links which may be of interest to others:

Some links for reading:

"It's Elemental, My Dear Watson", by BellaDonna Saberhagen
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uspa&c=words&id=14847;
"The Seven Directions", by Diane Wing
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uspa&c=words&id=14849;
"A Thinking Witch’s Approach to Silence (and Quantum Physics)" by Ehsha
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usal&c=words&id=14852;
Videos from the Order of Scathach
"Give Yourself"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBSHW9pfvVA&feature=related,
"How to be Glorious"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm9vQctWj08&feature=related;
From the Temple of Manannan Mac Lir :
Basic Psychic Protection, including a technique that is similar to flaming, although their technique is described as taking a lot of energy
http://www.manannan.net/occult/protection-basic.html.

And finally, I thought I'd start putting up a few small speculations and thoughts that I can't put into posts for reasons such as lack of time:

Peer pressure - When one comes under peer pressure, it can often be easy to succumb to that, and that is often viewed in terms of wanting to "belong". The thing is, however, that if one resists that peer pressure, what one does is clarify that one "belongs" to one's own Higher Self - one is one's own person. Worth thinking about when coming under pressure to cave into some group think (which is endemic, in my experience, in many commercial/business situations).
Honour - what are you prepared to lose to maintain your honour? Personal convenience? Money? Your lifestyle, family or life? That - which must be countered by your responsibilities - gives an indication of how much honour you have or don't have. I have come across many people (particularly immature people) who justify being dishonourable as a matter of convenience (e.g., park in a disabled space "well I'm not going to walk further when there's a vacant space!).
I have been reading (I have eclectic tastes!) of the lives of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke who lived in the 1100s and early 1200s, and Helmut Lent, a German night fighter pilot from the Second World War: two lives several centuries apart, and yet both still had to be exceedingly careful of how they spoke and behaved. In Marshal's case, to manage the intrigues of the court, where a wrong tone of voice to a sentence could be dangerous, Lent to manage the risks of an evil regime with a vicious and effective secret police - particularly as he became increasingly despairing of the war (which I think explains his surprising fatal crash), as he tried to have his brother released from the Gestapo, and when he married a Russian. I can relate to that, as writing letters for lobbying purposes is, if one wishes to be effective, a matter that requires extreme diplomacy, and managing the politics of an office can be trying - although not so demanding and dangerous as either a royal court or an evil regime such as Germany in the 30s and 40s (and there are still evil regimes in this world). Still, it shows the lack of progress of the world on some issues, which is sad.
Animal rights are universal rights, just as human rights are.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: rituals, Esbats, full moon, new moon, peer pressure, honour, gossip, discrimination,

First published: Sumnudagr, 15th January, 2012

Last edited: Sunday, 15th January, 2012

The Origin of Evil

2012-01-12T12:41:00.007+11:00

To consider the origin of evil, it is, in my opinion, first necessary to review the nature of reality, and I am going to do so from a pagan point of view.

To begin with, the Goddess created the God, and then pursued the God to be re-joined as one - which is a metaphor (or allegory, if your school preferred :) ) to Deity creating the Universe, including the physical existence we live in. Now, most pagans I've come across leave it at (1) physical, and (2) non-physical including the Goddess [Note 1], and consider the purpose of existence to be to evolve until they re-join the Goddess (as so aptly expressed in the chant "We all come from the Goddess, and to her we shall return, like a drop of rain, flowing to the Ocean").

That's true enough, but I consider there is merit in looking at this in a little more. Assuming that Creation manifested downwards from the Goddess (i.e., devolution), why did the Lady get to the level of the astral world, and decide there was a need for another level of existence - the physical?

I'll pause while your heads spin round the notion that there is a purpose to each level of existence ... Settled? No? Tough :)

In my view (which, since I am currently incarnate is, by definition as it were, limited), a key aspect of the astral levels (yes, there are more than one) is that there is nothing that equates to the sense of physical distance or closeness that we have here in the physical. In the astrals, what is the equivalent of distance or closeness is harmony or disharmony: one naturally finds oneself existing only with people one is fundamentally compatible with - hence (in part) the wonderful feelings of acceptance, love and togetherness. It is possible to force oneself to change vibration and thus mingle to some extent with people who are not as compatible, but that takes effort (the more so as people become less compatible). I am of the view that the physical world was taken so we could meet and mingle and coexist with those who we are not naturally in harmony with - so we could come into the proximity of those other parts of the Universe that we may not have realised existed, or had not met, since it is - arguably, perhaps! - hard to unconditionally love that which you do not know exists, let alone know or understand ... (Incidentally, I am aware of things such as, in dreams or what is considered to be "astral" travel people can experience unpleasant things and people: in actual fact, that is actually more ETHERIC travel than astral travel - yes, there is a difference :) )

Why would the Goddess want this? Is it a case of "the magic of conflict", as one book was titled?

No, I do not consider it is. What I think this is more about is partly akin to having at least two sexes involved in reproduction, which gives a chance to mix DNA and come up with a more robust, adaptable species. By having people mingle and mix, it enables exchanges of ideas and energy and thus creation of a more robust and adaptable essence of life - which strengthens the Goddess inherently as it strengthens all of us, human and non-human, incarnate and discarnate, associated with this physical level of existence.

What this could also be about is learning to synthesise. As we evolve back towards the Goddess, eventually multiple streams of consciousness (i.e. souls) have to join together to become One with the Goddess. Initially, this is fairly easy as we merge with our parallel souls and re-join our Higher Self, but there will come a time when we have to merge with others who are not so compatible - albeit at a level of reality where they and we are both FAR more evolved than we could possible achieve on this physical level of existence. Being able to synthesise, which comes partly from things like being able to integrate our Shadow Self into our whole being and being able to exist and work harmoniously with those who are disharmonious to us, will be of key importance.

So how does this relate to the origin of "evil" (which, for my personal convenience, I'm not going to try and define in this post :) )?

Well, I consider that, when souls first came into this physical world, they came across other souls that were not in harmony with them - a bit like discovering two colours that can never be in harmony because they clash. There is NOTHING fundamentally wrong with either, it is simply that they are not in perfect harmony. Now, from the point of view of someone with some experience at living on this level of physical reality, I can say that there are lots of tools which have been developed to help people get along, tools such as communication, analysis, etc, but ultimately, it all boils down to being prepared to agree to disagree.

In those first few moments of disharmony, I think someone was unable to cope with the idea of agreeing to disagree, or to develop tools to work through difference, and thus reacted by trying to impose their ideas upon the other - i.e., "I am right, you are wrong".

That, not stuff like coming down from heaven and forgetting that one is a divine being, or the actions of some entity or other, or women, is what I consider led to what we see as "evil". Wars, violence, gossip, discrimination - they all can, in my view, be ultimately traced back to that initial inability to accept disharmony in constructive manner.

If you cannot "agree to disagree", or are not prepared to do so, then I consider YOU are continuing that fundamental flaw which led to what we consider evil. Ever give someone a hard time over which way they hang the toilet paper roll? Whether to fold, scrunch or do both? Use allegory or metaphor? You evil person you! :)

More seriously, I can also express this fundamental evil as "minding other people's business", and that is what gossip, discrimination, hate and all other forms of control are ultimately, in my view, based on.

There are a lot of other implications from this to consider - for instance, whether one should help or not in some situations (which is where karma, particularly the negative karma of inaction or failing to help, somes into consideration). There is also the fundamental purposes of learning to love unconditionally and to be all that one can be, but those purposes also apply on other levels (even more so, in some cases, than on this level), whereas the lesson of learning to cope with disharmony with grace (whilst not allowing harm to others to be propagated) is specific to this physical reality.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Notes:

I feel a little like some pagans think it is a case of ... alive ... then *pop* one with the Goddess and all of Creation - no intermediate steps ... mmmm, I don't think so

Tags: evil, planes of existence, nature of reality, harmony, disharmony,

First published: Thorsdagr, 12th January, 2102

Last edited: Friday, 13th January, 2012

Speculations

2012-01-07T16:25:00.011+11:00

Well, I've been away, travelling for work, and using the time to do some reflective contemplation. I've only got a few years to go till I'm into my second Saturn return, and I have a few things that I need to finish and tidy up before then - I went through the first Saturn return relatively easily, and it would be nice to have not too many hassles with the next one :)

Unfortunately that will probably mean less time posting on this blog - although finishing updating the blogiography is one of the tasks I need to do ... :)

Anyway, I have a few random thoughts to post, so here goes.

First off, could SETI, the "Search for Extraterrestial Intelligence, be fundamentally flawed? This search is - to simplify quite considerably - for radio emissions that are tuned to frequencies that don't occur in nature. This is based on the assumption that intelligent civilisations would have developed a civilisation like ours, with lots of stray electromagnetic emissions. Well, what if they have learned to do everything we do, but without the stray emissions? This doesn't necessarily have to be out of any concern for possible health effects [1], it could be as simple as wanting a more natural state of the environment to live in ...

In many metaphysical traditions, there is a warning against charging. Could this really be for as simple a reason as it is difficult - almost impossible - to produce wonderful psychic readings on demand, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? It is difficult enough for something like a Spiritualist Church to get a good demonstration medium every week (I think some should consider having proof of survival only every fortnight or month - have the service, but leave out the proof of survival part.)

On that, I read an interesting article here on "does religious faith make people healthier and happier?" (If only they'd consulted more with people who know more about the range of forms of faith and of the differences between religion and spirituality ... )

On reading, I've finally tracked down a copy of Karen Mutton's book "Lobsang Rampa: New Age Trailblazer" (pub 2006, TGS Publishers, ISBN 0-971-3166-0-0). I'm now in a position - or will be, when I finish reading it - to finish the review I was going to post about Lobsang Rampa; the only problem is, Karen Mutton has covered a fair bit of what I want to, and better - she has access to key people that I don't. I'll still publish my thoughts, but one of the thoughts which came to mind as I read of Rampa's concerns that the world would be taken over by a "form of communism" which is - in my words - less extreme than that which used to be in Russia (possibly socialism, I think Karen Mutton is suggesting), and his view about the invasiveness of "the Press" [2], is that there is a lot going on at the moment that is invasive of privacy. I have a profound dislike of gossips, and won't join Facebook for a whole range of reasons - mostly around concerns about privacy, but also partly in reaction to social pressure on me to join up "because it is the done thing" (it used to be "the done thing" to join the National Socialist or Nazi party in Germany, too), so maybe, I thought, in my slightly heat-struck, very exhausted state in the motel after several days of travel, walking around sites in 40 degree heat and running rather intense workshops, could Mark Zuckerberg be the anti-Christ that people like Nostradamus have predicted? In about the next millisecond I thought "no" (he's just a businessperson, in my view), although I continue to disagree with his "radical [lack of] privacy" type ideas and continue to refuse to join Facebook for the reasons I've outlined.

On Rampa, and his bitterness and dislike of the Press, I think the constant attacks on Rampa's claimed identity possibly were similar in some ways to the attacks on identity that trans people experience - a denial of a fundamental aspect of who one is, so I can actually empathise with his bitterness, and understand the effect it had on him (I'll discuss the topic of whether or not Rampa was genuine or not in my coming post on the topic).

My next speculation is on the topic of noise - specifically, talking. Now, there is unquestionably some social bonding that comes out of what could be construed by social grumps like me to be perhaps somewhat pointless talking (you know, the chit-chat sort of stuff at cocktail parties), but I also do consider that come of the talking (and especially a good deal of the chit-chat sort of stuff at cocktail parties) is really just a fear of silence or aloneness, and people may be better of occasionally stopping their lips from flapping and letting their BPF Guides - or even their own Higher Self! - get a word in edgeways. I actually quite like some of the friendships I have where we can simply be, and don't have to fill in the silence - we can enjoy the world about us, as well as our company, without pointless, fear-driven drivel.

A few more thoughts and links:

never mistake "going with the crowd" for "going with the flow";
it is sad when people seek oblivion - whether through drinks, drugs or sex ... see here;
I've come across a pagan version of the serenity prayer from several sources, now - here is one from http://moonpathcuups.org/recovery/serenity.htm (search and you may well find others);
http://www.uk-paranormal.co.uk/Earth_Energies_and_LeyLines.htm.

Now, I am a fan of Aussie Rules footy - partly the skills (anyone who thinks soccer players have better ball handling skills should have seen the demonstration Gary Ablett Jr put on before a recent preliminary final), and also the team management - the tactics and strategy. This has evolved, from Carlton's play on at a free kick to take advantage of one of your opponents being stuck in one position (marking the place of the free kick) in the 70s, through Hawthorn use of roving packs in the 80s to things like the kick out pack and response of zone defence, through Geelong's fast moving, attacking game plan in recent years, which was crushed by the pressure ("presses") of players used by St Kilda and, a couple of years ago, Collingwood.

I consider that these changes and consideration of tactics and straegy are useful for anyone who is doing serious psychic clearing work:

remember that you have to develop those in your team both individually, and as a team (which is part of strategy - think caerfully and clearly about what it is you want your team to be able to do);
evolve - all things change, and the intelligences opposing the evolution of this planet towards being a better place will actively seek to change and adapt to your tactics (see here for an example from football of the need for change);
don't let your opposition adapt, especially when you are clearing uncooperatives - they are intelligent, and capable of working together if allowed to learn from what they consider the misfortune of others who have been cleared: whatever their motivation is for being uncooperative (desire for revenge, anger, resentment, etc), remember that it is probably well developed and ingrained, they see it as being acceptable and in fact desirable, so will seek to fight you as cleverly, cunningly, underhandedly and effectively as they can.

There are some massive downsides to footy, which is why I've never been involved or gone to live matches (other than women's footy, which tends - in my experience - to have fewer fights and more football, and a slightly more civilised crowd ... :) Go the Seagulls! ). Fortunately there have been some good changes in recent years, especially the training the AFL has given young men on respect for women, and a few players are showing elements of non-conformity and consideration for others - for instance, Harry O'Brien (see here, here and here), and Brendon Gale (see also here), and see here for Garry Lyon's article about Jim Stynes and here for an article on AFL players against homophobia.

Now ... terminology. Wikipedia is not a bad starting point for looking things up, although Gavin Andrews comments on an apparent inadvertent bias against pagans as a result of a recent editorial change at Wikipedia in "Paganism and Christianity" (pub. 2011, Smashwords - see here). Some time ago I looked up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship#Psychic_senses, and came up with some interesting material, but it needs expanding in some cases, so, here goes ...

The Wikipedia listing begins with this paragraph:

In Spiritualism, psychic senses used by mental mediums are sometimes defined differently than in other paranormal fields. The term clairvoyance, for instance, may be used by Spiritualists to include seeing spirits and visions instilled by spirits. The Parapsychological Association defines "clairvoyance" as information derived directly from an external physical source.

Not a bad point to keep in mind - words have different meanings to different people. Now, the actual forms of psychic sensing (I've shown the Wikpedia wording in green, which unfortunately does not show the hyperlinks for you):

Clairvoyance or "Clear Seeing", is the ability to see anything that is not physically present, such as objects, animals or people. This sight occurs "in the mind’s eye". Some mediums say that this is their normal vision state. Others say that they must train their minds with such practices as meditation in order to achieve this ability, and that assistance from spiritual helpers is often necessary. Some clairvoyant mediums can see a spirit as though the spirit has a physical body. They see the bodily form as if it were physically present. Other mediums see the spirit in their mind's eye, or it appears as a movie or a television programme or a still picture like a photograph in their mind.

The key addition I wish to make here is that the second last sentence is referring to what is termed "objective" clairvoyance, and the last sentence to "subjective" clairvoyance.

Clairaudience or "Clear Hearing", is usually defined as the ability to hear the voices or thoughts of spirits. Some Mediums hear as though they are listening to a person talking to them on the outside of their head, as though the Spirit is next to or near to the medium, and other mediums hear the voices in their minds as a verbal thought.

Again, hearing outside the head is termed "objective" clairvaudience, and inside the head is termed "subjective" clairaudience. There was a "guide" I read of that objective clairaudience could be indicative of mental illness. This is a dangerous guide, as mental illness could be indicated by a wide range of things, and mental health professionals are the people to consult on that!

Clairsentience or "Clear Sensing", is the ability to have an impression of what a spirit wants to communicate, or to feel sensations instilled by a spirit.

Not bad.

Clairsentinence or "Clear Feeling" is a condition in which the medium takes on the ailments of a spirit, feeling the same physical problem which the spirit person had before death.

I have not come across this term previously - my experience is that the term "taking on the ... of a spirit" is used.

Clairalience or "Clear Smelling" is the ability to smell a spirit. For example, a medium may smell the pipe tobacco of a person who smoked during life.

This is a sadly neglected part of psychic sensing, one I spend some time on trying to develop in my students.

Clairgustance or "Clear Tasting" is the ability to receive taste impressions from a spirit.

This also is a sadly neglected part of psychic sensing, one I also spend some time on trying to develop in my students.

Claircognizance or "Clear Knowing", is the ability to know something without receiving it through normal or psychic senses. It is a feeling of "just knowing". Often, a medium will claim to have the feeling that a message or situation is "right" or "wrong."

This is what I would describe as "intuition".

There are a few terms from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship#Terminology that I would like to comment on as well.

Spirit operator

A spirit who uses a medium to manipulate energy or energy systems.

I've come across this term, but it isn't normally used in Australia.
Spirit guide (Main article: Spirit guide)

Some mediums claim a spirit guide is a highly evolved spirit with the sole purpose of helping the medium develop and use personal skills. The mediums claim the spirits assist in the person's following a spiritual path. Other mediums claim a spirit guide is one who brings other spirits to a medium's attention or carries communications between a medium and the spirits of the dead. Many mediums claim to have specific guides who regularly work with them and "bring in" spirits of the dead. Some mediums claim that spirits of the dead will communicate with them directly without the use of a spirit guide. The relationship between the medium and the guide may be providential, or it may be based on family ties.

I've posted on this previously in various places (e.g., see here, here, here, here and here): the key is to make sure you are working with BPF Guides - who may actually be incarnate - who are people who are more evolved than you, but if you're not all that evolved they may not be very evolved. Use of family members can be very limiting, and you should aim to get better BPF guides than just dead family members. This may require you to beome comfortable working with people who are not family, which is a key art of attaining spiritual maturity.
Mental mediumship (Main article: Seance)

"Mental mediumship" is communication of spirits with a medium by telepathy. The medium mentally "hears" (clairaudience), "sees" (clairvoyance), and/or feels (clairsentience) messages from spirits. Directly or with the help of a spirit guide, the medium passes the information on to the message's recipient(s). When a medium is doing a "reading" for a particular person, that person is known as the "sitter."

This is an OK definition.
Trance mediumship

"Trance mediumship" is often seen as a form of mental mediumship.

All trance mediums remain conscious during a communication period, wherein a spirit uses the medium's mind to communicate. The spirit or spirits using the medium's mind influences the mind with the thoughts being conveyed. The medium allows the ego to step aside for the message to be delivered. At the same time, one has awareness of the thoughts coming through and may even influence the message with one's own bias. Such a trance is not to be confused with sleepwalking, as the patterns are entirely different. Castillo (1995) states,

"Trance phenomena result from the behavior of intense focusing of attention, which is the key psychological mechanism of trance induction. Adaptive responses, including institutionalized forms of trance, are 'tuned' into neural networks in the brain."

In the 1860s and 1870s, trance mediums were very popular. Spiritualism generally attracted female adherents, many who had strong interests in social justice. Many trance mediums delivered passionate speeches on abolitionism, temperance, and women's suffrage. Scholars have described Leonora Piper as one of the most famous trance mediums in the history of Spiritualism.

In the typical deep trance, the medium may not have clear recall of all the messages conveyed while in an altered state; such people generally work with an assistant. That person selectively wrote down or otherwise recorded the medium's words. Rarely did the assistant record the responding words of the sitter and other attendants. An example of this kind of relationship can be found in the early 20th century collaboration between the trance medium Mrs. Cecil M. Cook of the William T. Stead Memorial Center in Chicago (a religious body incorporated under the statutes of the State of Illinois) and the journalist Lloyd Kenyon Jones. The latter was a non-medium Spiritualist who transcribed Cook's messages in shorthand. He edited them for publication in book and pamphlet form.

OK, where do I begin with on this one!

First off, trance mediumship is an umbrella term. Next, not all mediums are conscious - if the medium is conscious, then they are not a deep trance medium. It is the astral that steps out, not the go, for adeep trance.

Pretty poor attempt at a definition, actually.
Physical mediumship (Main article: seance)

"Physical mediumship" is defined as manipulation of energies and energy systems by spirits.

Physical mediumship may involve perceptible manifestations, such as loud raps and noises, voices, materialized objects, apports, materialized spirit bodies, or body parts such as hands, and levitation. The medium is used as a source of power for such spirit manifestations. By some accounts, this was achieved by using the energy or ectoplasm released by a medium, see Spirit Photography.^[11]^[12] The last physical medium to be tested by a committee from Scientific American was Mina Crandon in 1924.

Most physical mediumship is presented in a darkened or dimly lit room. Most physical mediums make use of a traditional array of tools and appurtenances, including spirit trumpets, spirit cabinets, and levitation tables.

The term "physical mediumship", should not be construed as implying that any induced apport is confined to the physical plane. The apport ("ectoplasm", or whatever) may be composed of "etheric", "astral", "mental", or "causal" substance (i.e., a substance naturally residing on one of those planes and only temporarily transported into the physical plane). Instead, the term "physical mediumship" is employed to imply an effect manifested upon [objects naturally existing on] the physical plane, by means of interaction (merely physical, not chemical) with substance transported out (temporarily) of another plane of existence.

This is not a bad attempt at a definition, but the definition I was taught was that physical mediumship produces physical effects upon the physical world. It is also an umbrella term, with things like "direct voice" and apports being sub-sets of this category.
Direct Voice Main article: Direct voice

Direct voice communication involves spirits extracting ectoplasm from living persons (not limited to the medium) to create a spirit voice-box, which enables the spirits to communicate with the living during seances. This form included the medium Leslie Flint

This is OK - although I haven't looked at the main link.
Channeling

In the latter half of the 20th century, Western mediumship developed two different ways. One type involves psychics or sensitives who claim to speak to spirits and then relay what they hear to their clients. Clairvoyant Danielle Egnew is known for her alleged communication with angelic entities.

The other incarnation of non-physical mediumship is a form of channeling in which the channeler goes into a trance, or "leaves their body". He or she becomes “possessed” by a specific spirit, who then talks through them. In the trance, the medium enters a cataleptic state marked by extreme rigidity. As the control spirit takes over, the medium's voice may change completely. The spirit answers the questions of those in its presence or giving spiritual knowledge. A widely known channeler of this variety is J. Z. Knight, who claims to channel the spirit of Ramtha, a 30 thousand-year-old man. Others claim to channel spirits from "future dimensional", ascended masters, or ,in the case of the trance mediums of the Brahma Kumaris, God.Jane Roberts for Seth, Esther Hicks for Abraham, Margaret McElroy for Maitreya, Serge J. Grandbois for Kris, and Lee Caroll for Kryon

I think this term is a nonsense word: what these people are talking about is trance, pure and simple. I suspect their egos may be too large to allow acknowledgement of what others have done with trance, perhaps ... but then again, I know Jane Roberts was a very good deep trance medium.

The comments about "well known" are based on US experience: in Australia, some of the people mentioned are far from well known (and are possibly not known at all). Keep that in mind when looking at the following.
Notable mediums From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship#Notable_mediums

Notable deceased mediums include: Clifford Bias, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Emma Hardinge Britten, Edgar Cayce, George Chapman, Andrew Jackson Davis, Jeane Dixon, Arthur Ford, the Fox sisters, Elizabeth "Betty" Grant, Daniel Dunglas Home, Richard Ireland, M. Lamar Keene, Dada Lekhraj, Ruth Montgomery, Eusapia Palladino, Leonora Piper, Paschal Beverly Randolph, Jane Roberts, Doris Stokes, Paul Solomon, Stanisława Tomczyk and Chico Xavier.

Notable living mediums include: Derek Acorah, Rosemary Altea, Marisa Anderson, Sylvia Browne, Allison DuBois, John Edward, Danielle Egnew, Divaldo Pereira Franco, Colin Fry, Esther Hicks, J. Z. Knight, James Van Praagh, Gary Spivey, Tony Stockwell, Neale Donald Walsch, David Wells and Lisa Williams.

In a discussion on mediumship and trance. I think Stuart Holroyd's comments in "Briefing for the Landing on Planet Earth" should be taken into consideration: they are the by far the best review of possible errors and influences that I've come across.

See also the following:

eLibrary of ancient books on the subject of spiritualism, séances, trance channeling, development of mediumship in the Western and Oriental Traditions.
The National Spiritualist Association of Churches phenomena web site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship#Research.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Notes:

See here, here and here, for instance. I once discussed this with an electrical engineer, and he talked about things like opposing phases to reduce emissions - which no doubt do work, but do they work to 100% efficiency, or even come close to the efficiency that is required to prevent health effects?
I think the events around the phone hacking scandal that brought down a tabloid paper in the UK shows the worst of the Press, the sort of behaviour that Rampa was subjected to and suffered as a result of. However, I saw, later that night, the film "The Insider", which shows what the press can do for good as well (although it also showed some media people being .. less than shining lights) - and, on doing good, I think "the Arab Spring" is an example of what can be achieve for good by social media ... but I'm still not joining Facebook :)

Tags: aliens, attitudes, discrimination, emotions, environment, gossip, guides, Lobsang Rampa, noise, psychism, SETI, society, strategy, tactics, terminoogy, trance, transgender/transsexual/bigender.

First published: Laugadagr, 7th January, 2012

Last edited: Saturday, 7th January, 2012

Plug for ebook via Pagan Awareness Network

2011-12-29T10:14:00.002+11:00

I recently bought and have started reading the following book, and it is very good: I urge all pagans to buy it - and it wouldn't hurt Christians and ESPECIALLY neo-Christians to have a read also!

'PAGANISM AND CHRISTIANITY - A Resource for Wiccans, Witches and Pagans': http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114560

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: Christianity, paganism, society,

First published: Thorsdagr, 29th December, 2011

Last edited: Thursday, 29th December, 2011

S.O.S. - 'tis the Season of Stupidity! (and a bit on auras)

2011-12-25T12:05:00.012+11:00

Well, as far stupidity goes, the season has been a bit milder than usual - for instance, coming home from work I've generally only seen four drivers on the phone (although I did see someone driving who had clearly been recently in an accident - hood of car pushed up and to one side, speeding, driving through red lights, engine smoking ... but with a VERY distinctive numberplate), and the kamikaze pedestrians have been fewer (although made up for "ninja bike riders").

At least there has been some acknowledgement of the stress and trouble caused at this time: the local media had reports of a senior police officer advising that, on Christmas Day, they were generally called to a domestic violence incident once every ten minutes. Now, violence is not acceptable, but can we spare some thought for the commercialism and social pressures that lead to MASSIVE amounts of stress and conflict? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all focused on our family of choice, our friends, rather than doing elaborate, expensive and fake feasts out of a sense of duty or obligation? We're lucky: we had a solstice celebration (I still need to post a ritual for that apologies) with a family of choice, an early event today with - largely - family of choice, and will ring family members who mean something to us later.

And all when the weather is stinking hot - and with a complete lack of sophistication for our multicultural society, a lack of sophistication which includes forcing people in workplaces to take holidays and leave now, which may not be the time of significance to them. Years ago (in fact, decades ago :) ), a company I worked for let one of it's employees who was Chinese work at this time of year, and take the time off for Chinese New year. No-one lost out from it - in fact, some clients were pleased we could keep working for them, but, somewhere, some idiot - possibly some idiot who doesn't have to do the planning, cooking and other preparation , management of fights and flare ups, and cleaning up afterwards (including the fall out from the fights) - has decided that everyone must be forced to fit the one mould, and take leave when it is administratively neatest. Whoever that was certainly did NOT have any good intentions towards people ... either that, or else they were incredibly lacking in life experience - to the point of ineptitude.

Worth a thought, perhaps ... as may be the following:

from the Order of Scathach (pronounced sky-aa): some thoughts which I disagree with, but which do nevertheless have a validity and are worth considering - here;
old souls, group souls and new souls - here;
some guidance on astral travel - here;
old souls, new souls, wise souls, you souls http://www.examiner.com/spiritual-development-in-new-york/old-souls-new-souls-wise-souls-you-souls;
power corrupts, but so does being provoked endlessly: Police face further brutality claims, December 21, 2011: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-face-further-brutality-claims-20111220-1p3zl.html;
thought World War 2 was bad enough, but, as a percentage of world population killed, some past wars were worse - from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_and_disasters_by_death_toll;
next, a cautionary note that is well worth taking note of! I always make sure I do not work on someone who needs to see a conventional doctor unless they have (and even then, I am wary of doing something which could make symptoms - which is what pain is), but the sort of outright fraud being discussed in this article is truly appalling: We all lose when 'healers' take everything from the sick http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/we-all-lose-when-healers-take-everything-from-the-sick-20111212-1orbn.html, and this, probably intended to be similar, but a little more sceptical http://www.theage.com.au/national/alternative-cancer-care-under-fire-20111212-1ori2.html (of course, it wouldn't hurt conventional medicine to get its head out from up its backside either: I recently read an article by a doctor against the dangers of home birth, which made NO mention whatsoever of any of the OTHER issue that go with child birth, things like feeling comfortable, which could well have an impact on the statistics not measured by the doctor concerned, adjustment of child and mother after they leave hospital INCLUDING MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY) ;
Islamist parties win votes for the same reason Christian ones do http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/islamist-parties-win-votes-for-the-same-reason-christian-ones-do-20111211-1opk7.html#ixzz1gHPMu2VP;
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/seeing-light-through-others-eyes-20111209-1onky.html;
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/populist-approach-to-violence-hardly-good-public-policy-20111207-1oj51.html;
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/14th-century-take-on-war-thriving-today-20111207-1oj4z.html;
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/ruthless-pursuit-of-profit-at-all-cost-is-an-excess-that-cant-last-20111206-1oh5j.html ;
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/the-sad-truth-about-the-morality-of-our-media-20111202-1obis.html;
http://www.theage.com.au/world/we-need-to-talk-about-capitalism-say-ceos-20111202-1obh9.html;
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/measuring-wellbeing-is-still-in-the-toohard-basket-20111129-1o499.html;
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/out-of-africa-with-a-heart-of-gold-20111126-1o01c.html;
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/dills-drunks-and-violence-its-late-at-night-in-the-city-20111125-1nz05.html;
this link came about because I watched the film The Da Vinci Code today, and - as usual - did some Internet surfing afterwards: http://www.religionfacts.com/da_vinci_code/jesus_married.htm (interesting claim that Jesus having a child would not threaten Christianity);
http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry02.html and http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/real_conspiracy.html (which I also found during my net surf after the aforementioned film - which is entertaining, in my view, but the book should possibly make the links to the earlier "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail" [which I found difficult to read because of the writing style - I still have my copy in my shed storage, I think] clearer, in my opinion ... still, the courts found that no plagiarism had occurred as the earlier book was presented as historical - see here).;
and, finally, from New Zealand, a TV series based on the premise that the Norse Gods are reincarnating in a small Kiwi (slang for New Zealand) town: I haven't seen much of this, but it might be worth a look - see here for more on "The Almighty Johnsons".

I also found a few links on Galina Krasskova's website which are worth a look:

pagan heroes and martyrs - here;
her policies for readings - here;
links;
the practice of ordeals (not my scene - I get enough ordeals through living life as a member of several minority groups ... although I do get tattoos when I can, tattoos which all [but one] have a spiritual significance) - here;
honouring the land (interesting) - here;
lore vs. "UPG" (unverified personal gnosis [knowledge]); and
"European indigeny", about the fact that Christianity was brought to Europe, and that - particularly in northern Europe - mch of it's spread was through violent, forced conversions - here.

On reading, I recently started looking at a book on healing that my wonderful partner bought a little while ago: "A Gift for Healing - How You Can Use Therapeutic Touch", by Deborah Cowens, M.M., R.N., A.N.P., with Tom Moore (pub. Piatkus, 1996, ISBN 7499 1698 2 , first published Crown Trade Paperbacks). I was enjoying the book, and saying things like "I agree with that!", when my partner informed me she had actually bought the book because it had stuff in it that I was saying :)

Now, that was pleasing to the ear, but there are a couple of things I would express lightly differently, largely around how the aura is constructed. That also led me to consider preparing a sketch of how the chakras develop as people mature spiritually, which I touched upon recently here. So, enjoy the figures below, and I hope they make sense :)

(I'll post the figures when I can scan them - apologies for the delay)

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: attitudes, commercialism, communication, conflict, emotions, family, history, reading, society,

First published: Sunnudagr, 25th December, 2011

Last edited: Sunday, 25th December, 2011

Kundalini: a thought

2011-12-17T16:33:00.003+11:00

I've had another thought while out and about today, this one about kundalini.

Perhaps it is possible that, in much way as when we see lightning, we think it goes from cloud to ground, but the visible (return) stroke actually is from the ground back to the cloud along the path of least resistance formed by the leader (see here), perhaps the raising of kundalini, which is generally considered to start from the base chakra, is preceded by spiritual energies from higher chakras. Hence, perhaps, another reason for the importance of spiritual evolution before allowing (or seeking to initiate) the raising of the kundalini: the "natural" initiation relies on a stimulus from higher chakras, perhaps proving that the channels are adequately clear to transmit the power of the kundalini, and thus one is better able to manage the potential problems.

Just another random thought :)

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: kundalini, energy flows, spirituality, evolution, chakras,

First published: Laugadagr, 17th December, 2011

Last edited: Saturday, 17th December, 2011

Reading

2011-12-17T10:06:00.005+11:00

One of the first things I tell newly graduated engineers when they start working for me is their degree is a licence to start learning. I am also aware that too many people think a good high school result is essential to having a good quality of life. It certainly helps, and potentially makes one's path through the material world easier, but it is not essential. I recently taught a senior person at a client's company about wastewater treatment (which is my day job), and he was one of the best students I've ever had - lots of intelligent questions. The engineer I learned most from "only" had a diploma, not a degree. My birth mother attained a university degree later in life despite not completing high school - which is something my primary partner is currently doing. So it was very interesting to come across this article. I particularly like the paragraph
"... has two words for VCE students who are disappointed with their results today: ''Don't panic''. Or, in the words of the Dalai Lama: ''Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.' "

Now, on to other links.

removing negative energies and influences;
how to dispose of an ouija board (worth thinking about how to dispose of anything that is powerfully magically);
an alleged secret meaning for the "12 Days of Christmas";
an interesting review of evidence for genuine crop circles;
an article on what can happen when the kundalini starts to awaken (including a range of physical ailments of some surprise, such as increased period pain - I strongly recommend looking at this article);
an article on old, new and wise souls; and
a surprising (and somewhat doubtful, I suspect) article on vegetarianism vs. meat eating.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: maturity, kundalini, goals, tools, energy,

First published: Laugadagr, 17th December, 2011

Last edited: Saturday, 17th December, 2011

Maturity: a refinement

2011-12-17T09:32:00.003+11:00

I've written a fair bit about maturity in the last year or so, and I've had some further perspectives on this from my meditations.

To begin with, consider that maturity tends to have different stages - physical maturity, for instance, generally comes before emotional maturity, which generally comes before what I would consider the first reasonable stage of completion of maturity - the first Saturn return, which is after (hopefully!) the child has graduated from its initial apprentice adult phase and moved out, supporting itself and living independently of its parents for at least one year.

Let's think on that for a moment: physical maturity comes first, then emotional, then ... would one describe it as mental, perhaps?

If we compare that the the levels of reality and the chakras, physical and the two base chakras are at a lower frequency than the astral levels associated with emotion, and the solar plexus and heart chakras.

Now, I recently heard someone say that a third person would become interested in psychic and spiritual matters when the person reached the age of forty "as happens with many people". Hmmmm ... "as happens with many people" ...

I was aware that in the Hindu thinking on the stages of life, one is supposed to focus on social and family things first, and then spiritual, and I've thought much of that was around opportunity - for instance, when you have a family with children living at home, there isn't much chance of pursuing psychic and spiritual practice (ever try meditating when a baby needs a nappy change?).

But maybe there is something more to it. Maybe our continuing evolution is such that the chakras associated with psychic and spiritual functioning do not properly mature until the chakras associated with the physical, emotional and mental aspects of life have matured first - it's a bit like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: we (generally) need basic foundations such as food, shelter and physical survival met before we can move on to meeting emotional needs, then self-esteem and finally self actualising.

We reach physical maturity in our early teens, with the onset of puberty. This, in the days when we were hunter-gatherers (or, as I recently read, more accurately gatherer-hunters), was when people effectively became adults, and were able to contribute to the tribe. I personally believe part of the trouble that many teenagers experience is because their biology is saying they are ready to be adults, but today's more complex and demanding world insists on further development and training to manage modern society, thus resulting in a conflict.

There is, however, no question that people have to move out of the family home and function on their own to prove that they are adults. This is the main criteria for maturity throughout nature, and humans are no different. This is when interactions with people and the rules and requirements and laws of society begins in a way that simply didn't exist when we were gatherer-hunters in relatively small groups, nor when we are living within the shelter of the family unit. This time of interaction is when emotional maturity is so important and, sadly, so often lacking.

By the way, chronological age is not connected to maturity. There are some chronologically very elderly people I know who I would consider quite immature.

As one continues to have life experiences, I believe one develops the basis for developing spiritual maturity.

Nice, neat, simple generalisation, eh? I don't think the thought is worthy of being called a theory, but, from it, I have going to postulate a theory that chakras mature progressively. I am also contemplating the possibility of a bit of a crisis occurs as each chakra matures, ranging from the pimples and acne of puberty, through to perhaps something akin to the "mid-life crisis" as one starts to grapple with spiritual matters as one's more psychically focused chakras mature and enhance communication with one's Higher Self.

Just a few thoughts for your consideration - and please do think, as I can see several holes in what I have written :)

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: maturity,

First published: Laugadagr, 17th December, 2011

Last edited: Saturday, 17th December, 2011

A ritual for the Kulin people's Kangaroo-apple season

2011-12-11T09:29:00.002+11:00

NOTE: these are NOT indigenous rituals -I am not indigenous, and have had no training on rituals of the Kulin or any other indigenous peoples. This is my attempt at an adaptation of Wiccan rituals to Australia - specifically, that part around Melbourne which is the Kulin people's lands, based on their seasons.

This ritual is for the start of the kangaroo apple season, the season of storms and changeable weather.

I have structured each of these rituals around my interpretation of the essence of each season. Others may have different interpretations, which are either equally valid or even superior to mine.

Poorneet - Opening/invocation when potential is invited to manifest

General Comments: Poorneet marks the time when tubers are hidden in the ground, but are ready to eat. What needs to be made known now? What powers and energies of body, mind and spirit are to be drawn upon?

Face the appropriate direction as you say:

“In the east, we acknowledge the spirit of Poorneet, the tadpole season when hidden tubers are ready to find and eat, and the coming into being of inner potential;

in the north-east, we acknowledge the spirit of Buath Gurru, the season of flowering grass when butterflies come to the flowers, and the spirit of fertility;

in the north, we acknowledge the spirit of kangaroo-apple, the season of storms, the benefits and testing that come with plentifulness, and the existence of the risk of conflict;

in the north-west, we acknowledge the spirit of Biderap, the dry season, and the unavoidable need for tests of endurance and strength;

in the west, we acknowledge the spirit of Iuk, the eel season, and the easing of troubles by the spirit of water;

in the south-west and south, we acknowledge Waring, the wombat season, the value of inner reflection and rest, and the times when we have to draw on our inner reserves;

in the south-east, we acknowledge the spirit of Guling, the orchid season, and the value of healing.”

Buath Gurru – fertility

General Comments: Fertility, also known in other guises and by other names such as creativity, can manifest in body, mind or spirit. In addition to its own essential benefits, like a flower, it tends to exert an attraction: may the attraction only be of butterflies. What are the aspects of fertility/creativity, on all levels, that could be relevant here? Write them down, or note them mentally, or make a representation of those forces/influences.

Consider the ways you wish to develop or manifest fertility/creativity in body, mind and soul If you have no particular ideas, you could invoke the runes Berkano, Inguz and Ansuz, and chant:

May I be fertile of mind and soul,

may my life give forth more life.

while you light a green candle.

Kangaroo-apple - storms and managing abundance

General Comments: This is about the dynamic aspects of this situation – just as a storm marks the build up and release of tension, with watering of life as a result, what are the dynamic aspects relevant to this ritual? All things pass, so think of it as coming up with as many yin-yang types of polarity as apply to the matter which is the core of this ritual, and which will lead to cycles of change. This may lend itself to movement such as dance to represent or clarify the dynamic forces at play here.
Now work out how to manage those: what are the balancing forces, and what are the points of resolution? Are there, for instance, roles and limits of responsibility/accountability/duty to make clear – on all levels, not just physical? Having a gift comes with obligations – much as the wealthy person is tested, by having wealth, to see what they do with that wealth: what are the obligations and tests that need to be managed as a result of the fertility identified under Buath Gurru?

A flower can bring butterflies or grubs: this part of the ritual is where you can try to establish the consequences of being creative, by avoiding misuse or squabbles over your creativity. I suggest you invoke the runes Algiz, Thurisaz, and Tyr, and chant:

May all that comes through, from and of me

be of the Divine,

and may it only call

to those who are of the Divine.

while you light a blue or orange candle.

Biderap – strengthening exercises

General Comments: The ways to manage abundance have been worked out under kangaroo-apple: what strengths are needed to accomplish that? What strengths of body, mind and spirit are capable of being developed as a result of the ritual, or the situation the ritual is about? How do you best develop those strengths? Sometimes tests, such as tests of endurance, are unavoidable: what tests come with this situation?

The strength that is needed around fertility/creativity is of an ethical nature: do you have the quality of character not to create something that you can, if it will be destructive? Can you say to someone, possibly close to you, that their involvement in something is inappropriate and they must desist, or otherwise you will stop the creation? I suggest you invoke Tyr, Thurisaz and Algiz, then chant:

Just because

it can be so

does not mean it should be so;

may I have the will

to keep things sane,

and balanced and whole.

while you light a purple candle.

Iuk – easing of troubles

General Comments: Much as the arrival of the wet season eases the build up at the end of the dry season, or the cooling rains mark the passage of the long, hot, dry time, water marks the arrival of relief. What could lead to relief, could lead to a celebration in the situation the ritual is being built around? How could you obtain relief or celebrate?

Inspiration has led to many improvements to the human condition – things such as fire, the wheel, and so on. Of course, some inventions have been double edged, or problematic, or even evil. In the context of this ritual, however, it is appropriate to ask for creative easing of problems in your life (including any obstructions to creativity). I suggest you invoke Laguz and Ansuz, then chant:

As the rain washes away dust

may the Universe

ease away

all blocks to creativity, and

ease away

what troubles it may.

while lighting a blue candle.

Waring – meditation

General Comments: Waring marks the time of going within, of accessing and drawing on inner strengths. Meditate on all you have learned, and of how to implement your knowledge.

Meditate on the dynamism that leads to changes and thunderstorms – the localised accumulation of heat and moisture, the cooling as air ascends leading to rain, leading to growth and – if the rain is hard enough, change. There is a psychic renewal that can come from this time of change and renewal as well, capitalising on the flowering that was allowed – or foretold –during Buath Gurru. Think of the dynamic elements in your life, how something, perhaps an irritation, in one area of your live can, if you allow it to and handle it maturely, lead to change and renewal (even if that change is the sweeping away of an irritation). What areas of potential irritation do you have in you, and in your life? Contemplate opposites, dualities, dynamic balances and conflicts within yourself and your world, and the ways these can be balanced or drawn on

Finish by thinking of how you can manifest the changes which may be needed. What powers, strengths and attributes in yourself, your world and those around you, can you call on?

Just remember that what you sew now can come back to you, much as too much rain can lead to too much growth and then fires in the seasons to come.

Guling –Healing and Closing

General Comments: Allow yourself to be healed, and then it is time to close this ritual.

I suggest continuing the water theme by invoking the rune of Laguz, but also the runes of Berkano and Sowelu, and chant

As the rains heals a parched land,

may the Universe heal

my body, mind and soul

while lighting either a green or yellow candle.

Never devoke any of the directions/seasons!

“May this circle be cleansed, cleared and closed, and may we be assisted to centre and ground ourselves, the close our auras and close down, but may the protection, guidance and healing continue for the Highest Spiritual Good.”

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: rituals, seasons, indigenous, kangaroo apple,

First published: Sunnudagr, 11th December, 2011

Last edited: Sunday, 11th December, 2011

Gemini and Hope, Peace, Love and Prosperity Spell

2011-12-11T09:09:00.003+11:00

I will begin this post by apologising for being late (although I find that you can still work for a day or so after a Full Moon and tap effectively into that Esbat's energies) - reovering from my current (day job's) work load has not been easy, and with a reminder that today is the day for the Hope, Peace, Love and Prosperity spell which you can find here.

Last night's Full Moon (and eclipse) was in Gemini. The core of the ritual I've written is:

Invoke (by chanting the name with increasing vigour) the rune Jera, which has associations of balance, and contemplate opposites, dualities, dynamic balances and conflicts within yourself and your world, and the ways these can be balanced or drawn on, then chant:

Goddess and God, Yin and Yang,

On this night of the Gemini full moon,

We honour duality,

In us, our world, the Web,

May it be balanced, productive, and harmonious.

Devoke (by chanting the name with decreasing vigour) the rune Jera.

The ritual in full is:

All 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.

· North – Fire – Wand - Invocations – This is the basis of invocations, prayers of the ceremony.

· Spirit – Centre – the ritual itself.

· West – Water – Chalice - Offerings – This is the time of offerings, libations, and honour

· South – Earth – Pentacle – Closing – This is the time of devocation and opening of the circle.

THE RITUAL

Phase	Actions	Words (if wish to provide guide or use particular words)	People
	Overall direction of ritual:		Ritual leader
	Collate items required: · Cauldron and match · salt, water · athame · copy of order of ritual / running sheet / speaking notes
	Ask for and brief volunteers
Air – East - Athame OPENING	Cleanse salt, water, incense and fire. Charge salt, water, incense and fire. Cleanse and charge area. Participants waiting outside to Ground and Release, and make sure watches are removed and mobile phones are turned off.	- hand over water, visualise yellow-white light from hand into water, 3 Clockwise, to the south, circles while say “Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Water, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within!” - hand over water, visualise blue-white light filling water, 3 Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) circles while say “And I do bless and consecrate you to this work!” - hand over salt, visualise yellow-white light from hand into water to force out negativity, 3 Clockwise, to the south, circles while say “Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Earth, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within!” - hand over salt, visualise blue-white light filling water, 3 Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) circles while say “And I do bless and consecrate you to this work!” - add three pinches salt to water (to make Holy Water) and say “Behold, the salt is pure! Behold, the water is pure! Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!” Walk Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) and asperge (sprinkle with Holy Water) while visualise filled with yellow-white light. “Behold I cleanse and purify this space.” Turn to face inside of circle, visualise blue-white light and say. “I bless and consecrate this space.”
	Cast circle	“Behold I do cut apart a space between the realms of humankind and of the Might Ones – a Circle of Art, to focus and contain the power raised herein!”
	Invite participants into circle and smudge
Fire – North - Wand *INVOCATIONS*	Invoke the Four Quarters
	East (air)	Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, power of Air and intellect. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
	North (fire)	Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, power of Fire and manifestation. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
	West (water)	Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, power of Water and emotion. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
	South (earth)	Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, power of Earth and integration. We pray that You will be with us this night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
	Invoke the Goddess	Example only: "Divine Mother Goddess, All-Bountiful, All-Beautiful, Source and Sustenance of Existence: we do invoke You, asking now for your aid and guidance in this our undertaking.– May Your Divine Love be as a light within our hearts, now and always! Light our path, guide and strengthen us, enfold us in Your love, Divine Mother – we thus pray! Holy One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!"
	Invoke the God (optional / depending on type of ritual)	Example only: "Holy Father God –Son, Brother, and Consort of Our Lady- we do invoke You asking now for your aid and guidance in this our undertaking.–. May Your Divine Love be as a light within our hearts, now and always! Light our path, guide and strengthen us, enfold us in Your love, Divine Father – we thus pray! Holy One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!"
	Invoke your Patron Deity (optional / depending on type of ritual)
	Invoke the Ancestors (optional / depending on type of ritual)	Example only: “O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”
*Spirit – Centre* *RITUAL*	Pisces is considered by many to have a peak of spiritual/psychic awareness. A Full Moon in Pisces combines the peak energies and psychism of the Full Moon. Sounds great, but may not mean much unless you take advantage of it …	Invoke (by chanting the name with increasing vigour) the rune Jera, which has associations of balance, and contemplate opposites, dualities, dynamic balances and conflicts within yourself and your world, and the ways these can be balanced or drawn on, then chant: Goddess and God, Yin and Yang, On this night of the Gemini full moon, We honour duality, In us, our world, the Web, May it be balanced, productive, and harmonious. Devoke (by chanting the name with decreasing vigour) the rune Jera.
Water – West - Chalice *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.)
Earth - South - Pentacle *CLOSING*	It is now time to give thanks, and close the ritual
	Devoke the Four Quarters
	North (fire)	Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, power of Fire and manifestation. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
	West (water)	Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, power of Water and emotion. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
	South (earth)	Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, power of Earth and integration. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
	East (air)	Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, power of Air and intellect. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
	Devoke the Goddess (optional / depending on type of ritual)	Example only: "Divine Mother Goddess, All-Bountiful, All-Beautiful, Source and Sustenance of Existence: we thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!
	Devoke the God (optional / depending on type of ritual)	Example only: "Holy Father God –Son, Brother, and Consort of Our Lady, we thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
	Devoke your Patron Deity (optional / depending on type of ritual)
	Devoke the Ancestors (optional / depending on type of ritual)	Example only: “O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, we thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
	Take down the Circle itself.	Example only: “As Above, So Below. As the Universe, so the Soul. As within, so without. Merry meet. Merry part. And merry meet again.”
	Ground and release all excess energy.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: Esbats, full moon, Gemini, rituals,

First published: Sunnudagr, 11th December, 2011

Last edited: Sunday, 11th December, 2011

Evidence suggestive of reincarnation

2011-12-04T09:30:00.004+11:00

Came across the following links from a group I'm on recently. The video is interesting, with the story similar to some of those written about by Professor Stevenson - not sure what the book is like.

http://www.forbiddenknowledgetv.com/page/5841.html

http://www.soulsurvivor-book.com/

I can relate to this to some degree, as I was "recognised" by a former colleague, a former German night-fighter pilot, who gave me a flight in a glider when I was in my 30s and considered that I was a certain pilot. I wasn't ready to accept that then, but have now done a fair bit of work on coming to terms with that life. (Some of the other aspects of the boy's story I can also relate to, although I have not had the same degree of recall.)

Might have to get the book ...

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: reincarnation,

First published: Sunnudagr, 4th Dcember, 2012

Last edited: Sunday, 4th Dcember, 2012

Thoughts from a work trip

2011-12-01T21:42:00.007+11:00

I started this post while I was travdelling for work. It was just a couple of days, but it can be boring in a motel room far away from home and all that makes life worthwhile. Now, I know I could and should use the time productively (physical exercise, do breathing exercises or meditate), but I'm too exhausted to push myself that much. My mind has, however, been active - has been speculating, so here are a few random "thoughts from a work trip".

Firstly, I've actually come across some comments recently to the effect that we, as a species, are vain. Now, that actually also applies to other species as well (e.g., some birds evolve brilliant plumage in one sex to attract mates - how's that for vanity, eh? Course, I've heard similar comments about humans - namely, that women evolved ""hemispherical" breasts [not found naturally in other species, this person claimed] when humans started to stand upright, to replace the turn on to male ancestors of our species this claim was COMPLETELY heterenormative, by the way], apparently shared with primates, of "hemispherical buttocks"), but in the case of humans, we can use our capacity for thought to consider that further, rather than just being blind followers of fashion.

In our case, I think this behaviour may not be wholly a case of vanity: I think it is, at least in some cases, more about fear - fear that just simply being ourself will not be enough to attract a mate, or even friendship/acceptance/success in work/etc.

I find that quite sad - and flawed. I personally would rather be without artifices, miss "hooking up" with people who are so shallow and superficial that they could be "caught" by such vanities, and find someone real to have a REAL relationship with (as I have, in fact, done :) ).

This thought extended into how fear underlies a lot of what we do in so many ways, especially fear of social disapproval. I cop some of that through looking very butch and having a deep voice (actually, I cop a LOT of that).

I'll leave that thought there, and move on to another.

I think I recall posting comments about how behaviours can be, more or less, higher or lower expressions of something. Hence, for instance, Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion, is where one is supposed to be devoted to one's Guru, and gradually evolve that into devotion to Deity. My explanation of that is Westernised: I say that love for one's family is a lead up to love for all humanity, which is a lead up to love for all creation.

Similarly, I suspect the dedication that some people have for the company they work for is a lower expression of dedication to a "noble cause". Great people like Mohandas K. Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Martin Luther King Jr. "served their apprenticeship" in the development of their skills (including their capacity to lead and inspire people) somewhere, possibly a somewhere that is the long distant equivalent of those who, in this day and age, are sacrificing themselves to ensure their company makes a profit? (I, incidentally, have a problem when such sacrifices are forced upon the unwilling!)

I still think such "salary people" (to borrow from a Japanese term - and, while I'm at it, look up the Japanese word "karoshi") need to get a broader focus and stop being so materialistic, but the desire to be of service, including the desire to be part of something greater than the individual, is something that is too often ignored in this age, the age where little people think they are as good as great people. This was an aspect that was discussed in "Briefing for the Landing on Planet Earth" by Stuart Holroyd, about the alleged contact between aliens and Andrija Puharich, Phyllis V. Sclemmer and Sir John Whitmore, when considering the possible motivations of the three people (i.e., the events described in that book may have been a case of being misled because of a desire to be of service to a greater cause, rather than an attempt to commit fraud, as so many "Skeptics" seem to assume is the only possible motivation - and, for the record, Holroyd discounted both fraud and being misled through idealism :) ).

Now, on salary people, this work trip has been with a young engineer who is my protege: the company I work for wants me to pass on everything I know to her before I retire (or get sacked?). Well, it's good that they're thinking about succession planning, but they've put all their eggs in one basket, and there is a lot of maturing that has to be done before this very talented, capable young woman is able to fill my shoes. In fact, that is what I am finding on these trips, just how many bits of knowledge I've put away in various brain cells (then there is the theory that, when the brain cells are full, at around about middle age, the storage goes to one's middle/hips :) ). What is important here, in this situation of teaching, is the receptivity of the student. If this young woman was like many teenagers and other people I know, she would think she knows it all, and there would therefore be absolutely no purpose in listening to an old fuddy-duddy like me. However, she isn't like that. She actually comes from a culture that teaches respect for elders, but, in fact, she is often too respectful - it can even be a struggle to get her to say when she doesn't understand, as she wishes to be polite.

There are plenty of sayings about not casting seed upon barren ground ... I take such sayings well and truly to heart, which can be difficult when you're keen to be of service (which, incidentally, is the reason I chose the day job that I have - to be of service to the community, which one of my uni acquaintances refused to believe ... and my bosses, of course, think I chose it to make them a profit!). I recently had someone who was very surprised by feeling healing energy I was channelling to her, but she has not followed up with any questions.

Finally, I'll end with a couple of links that I've been wanting to put up for a while. Firstly:

http://spiritrescue.ning.com/forum/topics/soul-braiding-what-and-causes

and next, an example of what not to do:

http://spiritrescue.ning.com/forum/topics/rescued-from-deceivers

PS - a little trivia for you: apparently, according to my dear partner, I have been practising some of my magical chants as I snore - the snoring sounds very like the chanting, in other words. Just as well I don't have to share rooms on these trips!

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

This post's photo is yet to be posted.

Tags: Bhakti, evolution, Gandhi, insecurity, Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr, materialism, society, Stuart Holroyd, training, Tutu, vanity,

First published: Thorsdagr, 1st December, 2011

Last edited: Thursday, 1st December, 2011

Idiots and idiotic things I have known

2011-11-26T06:01:00.004+11:00

I was involved in an argument recently with someone who was blocking a driveway into a carpark that quite a few people needed to access, and who were forced to queue out on a road during peak hour as a result. Not a fun situation all round. Since then, I've been watching people on the roads (which I do anyway :) ) as I drive to work from the point of view of stress and the press to hurry in modern life, and the urge to do things faster is really quite clearly problematic. (Mind you, my handling of this situation was not helped by my levels of stress, frustration generally and exhaustion - it has been an incredibly busy week.)

As part of the discussions I had to try to resolve the car parking problem (which, incidentally, were unsuccessful - so I am parking in the street until the morning's batch of insanity is over, then, during smoko, moving my car into that park), one of my colleagues made a comment to the effect that, although communism had been seen to fail, capitalism wasn't doing much better.

Both of us are very much aware of the push to compete and be more efficient in a capitalist market - the price of doing work goes down, but at the price of increased stress on workers, particularly the ones who are less successful. The capitalist argument is that less efficient workers need to find other work, but I posit that the "less efficient" worker may simply be incompatible with the pace expected in today's workplace, and thus - since that pace is expected everywhere - actually have nowhere left to go.

I know of engineers and other professionals who left their work with the advent of faxes becasue the pace had become too quick and the pressure and stress excessive - before the fast pace associated with emails, Twitter and so on. I am also well aware that people have been wanting to drop out of the rate race for many decades at the very least - not to mention going on spiritual and other retreats for millennia. (See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Movement and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Sauntering_Day.) Shortly before I wrote that, I had a request (during my working day) to do another rush job within a few days.

The pace of the modern economy and "being competitive" is not good for our health.

I also consider our levels of expectations (the bigger house etc) are ALSO very bad, largely for the environment, but that is a topic for another post.

It was interesting, therefore, in light of the foregoing, to read the following in an article on the excellent "The Conversation" website (at http://theconversation.edu.au/):

"In the very 800 page book to which Lukin refers, Chomsky writes in the tradition of George Orwell about terms like “free enterprise” and “free world” which are designed “to insinuate somehow that the system of control and domination and aggression to which those with power were committed were in fact a kind of freedom.” "

That came from an article titled "Chomsky, linguistics, politics and a response to an unfair allegation", at http://theconversation.edu.au/chomsky-linguistics-politics-and-a-response-to-an-unfair-allegation-4391.

I think he has it right. Unfortunately, many of the decision-makers in society, especially too many politicians and business leaders, are innately pushy, insensitive sods, and have to be that in order to get to the positions they're in - they may genuinely see nothing wrong with making a single parent terrified of losing a job if she or he tries to limit working hours so they can do a good job as a parent, or of less confident drivers being stressed and worried by narrower roads or parking spaces. Nevertheless, the fact is, anyone who contributes to such stress is incurring negative karma.

What is the solution? Well, it starts with individuals simplifying and slowing down their lives as much as they can, and being prepared to speak out about this (when it is appropriate - especially on issues of opulence, so, when a friend says, for instance, "isn't my new care magnificent?" a reply might be "do you really need it that big and flashy?"), and, maybe, eventually the media will start picking up on this and then it's just a hop, skip and jump (meaning probably 40 or 50 years) to politicians making some necessary changes ....

Don't hold your breath - breathe normally, in a slow and relaxed manner :)

And on that note, I'll leave it - although I've just today had the experience of a flatbed truck driver stopping in the right lane of a major road during peak hour so he could pick up a few sheets of material from a shop, causing massive disruption to others, and creating a risk of an accident. Yes, this was clearly stupid (there was a service road he could have used), but could it also be (i) a reflection of the pressure to be quicker ("more efficient") in everything, and (ii) the uncaring attitudes of people in power that I mentioned?

There are times when I look at the tailgating, intersection-blocking, late-stopping-behind-other-cars, etc, etc, etc, and think ... would this planet be better off if this bunch of stupid, selfish creatures called human disappeared? Well, yes, probably - but there are signs of hope, mostly that not all humans are stupid and selfish (some are even not either :) ). Still, it is something to ponder: why are so many people incapable of doing something as simple and courteous as obeying the road rules? They're there for good reasons ... why do so many people just not get it?

There are few articles which might contribute to your breadth and depth of thought as you come up with you own opinions on this, and I have one final point after these. They are:

- "Rare victory for workers whose dignity was cut to the bone", by David Whyte, 25th November, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/rare-victory-for-workers-whose-dignity-was-cut-to-the-bone-20111124-1nwwj.html

- "What's mine is yours: the rise of the 'share' market", 14th November, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/trends/whats-mine-is-yours-the-rise-of-the-share-market-20111111-1nb3a.html

- "Helping hand or not?", 31st October, 2011 (read the Wikipedia links, including http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Genovese, as it appears things may not have been as bad as initially reported)
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/blogs/godless-gross/helping-hand-or-not-20111028-1mnjf.html

- "Troll-attack campaign goes viral", 8th November, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/trollattack-campaign-goes-viral-20111108-1n4j4.html

- "War and peace: bullets, batons - then 'jaw jaw' ", by John Silveester, 5th November, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/war-and-peace-bullets-batons--then-jaw-jaw-20111104-1mzwb.html

- "Invading, not investigating, has led to a decade of violence", 3rd November, 2011 (this won the "Sydney Peace Prize", apparently - which I am not familiar with)
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/invading-not-investigating-has-led-to-a-decade-of-violence-20111102-1mvje.html

- "Toughing out the teen age shouldn't be such a rough ride", by Tania Ewing, 3rd November, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/toughing-out-the-teen-age-shouldnt-be-such-a-rough-ride-20111102-1mvkm.html

- "'Pit bull' of skinheads endures agony to remove tattoos and start a new life", 2nd November, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/world/pit-bull-of-skinheads-endures-agony-to-remove-tattoos-and-start-a-new-life-20111102-1mug6.html
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_People%27s_Project http://www.onepeoplesproject.com/.
Also keep in mind that tattoos can be for positive purposes - in my case, there is a sp[iritual purpose to all but one of my tattoos.

- "Austerity not the only way", 30th October, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/world/austerity-not-the-only-way-20111029-1mpj2.html

- "Fizzy drinks linked to aggression", 25th October, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/fizzy-drinks-linked-to-aggression-20111025-1mh6q.html

- "A space that needs occupying", 21st October, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/a-space-that-needs-occupying-20111020-1ma6c.html

- "In the cutthroat world of sport, it's the simple gestures that tell a lot", 20th October, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/in-the-cutthroat-world-of-sport-its-the-simple-gestures-that-tell-a-lot-20111019-1m80c.html

- "Young hearts of darkness", 10th October, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/young-hearts-of-darkness-20111009-1lfo8.html

- "Seeking a creed of decency", 10th October, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/seeking-a-creed-of-decency-20111009-1lfm7.html

- "No one's perfect, not even parents", 6th October, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/no-ones-perfect-not-even-parents-20111005-1l97o.html

- "Greed of boomers led us to a total bust", 26th September, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/greed-of-boomers-led-us-to-a-total-bust-20110925-1krki.html

- "Australians arise - and kindly stop your whingeing", 24th September, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/australians-arise--and-kindly-stop-your-whingeing-20110922-1klpt.html

- "Bad to the bone", 20th September, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/national/bad-to-the-bone-20110919-1khts.html

- "Boomers go bust over kids", 11th September, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/money/planning/boomers-go-bust-over-kids-20110910-1k2rs.html

Remember, I neither necessarily agree nor disagree, partly or wholly, with any links I post.

Now, my final point .. I once heard someone say (sorry - "pers. comm." [1], so no link :) ) that he wished educated people would breed more, so the world wouldn't get dragged down by - my words - lower class people breeding like rabbits. Well, I would lie to see more evolved people on the planet, and certainly more people being raised by caring, attentive, skillful parents would help (and THAT is what I see as the problem being perceived by this person, not IQ - and anyway, EQ is more important), but after weeks like the one I've just had, I am almost tempted to say "yeah ..." ... after all, someone else (sorry - can't find the link) once theorised that advanced civilisations like the Egyptians popped along to leaven the rest of humanity, to reverse the tend of the rest of us towards atrophy/decay. Hmmm ... again, after the week I've just had ... maybe ...

But then again, maybe not - maybe it is all just the cycle of ages known as the Yuga's.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Notes:

"Pers. comm" is an abbreviation from the world of technical literature: it stands for"personal communication", and means that the person being quoted has expresed the point directly to the author, noit in publicly available literature

Tags: society, evolution, selfishness, irresponsibility,

First published: Laugadagr, 26th November, 2011

Last edited: Saturday, 26th November, 2011

Handling sceptics

2011-11-22T21:00:00.001+11:00

I recently was asked how I handle sceptics. In a nutshell, my answer was leave 'em be.

I feel no burning need to prove anything to anyone - I suspect much of such desire for proof is due to inner doubt anyway, but I also have a view which is based on an acceptance of survival after physical death, and reincarnation. That means that people don't HAVE to desperately attain perfection in one lifetime, or necessarily even get all their lessons completed successfully in one go: we have all eternity before us.

Of course, neo-Christians would probably say they have all eternity in hell or heaven, but I still consider that they should allow others their choices and their free will - which they attribute to being a gift from Deity, after all.

In fact, Christianity is the only path I've ever been on (and that was only because of my parents expectations when I was a child) that had any expectation of converting others - Wicca and paganism generally don't ... Buddhism doesn't in the way neo-Christian fundamentalists do ... No, I think leave people to their free will choice.

Of course, if someone genuinely wants to discuss something, that is fine. But I have a few tests and conditions on this.

Firstly, discussing and - if it is appropriate - challenging, is OK: attacking is not. I recall many years ago someone I knew asked if she could discuss my faith with me and then said "right - well, prove it!" That is not discussing a matter - that is attacking.

Secondly, I expect people not to get emotional: if they become angry, or upset, they are clearly not ready to have a discussion, and - once again - I will not allow a situation of psychic attack, as is usually the case in such circumstances.

Now, if people are sceptical, there is probably a good reason for that - for instance, they may have been too gullible in past life and are trying to compensate now (and over-compensating, but that is a trap we all can fall into), or they may have incarnated for the noble (I mean that genuinely, not sarcastically - I've seen too many people played for being a sucker) purpose of trying to get others to be less gullible (note that this point does NOT necessarily imply that they have themselves been too gullible: as indicated, it may be a task they have taken on themselves), or they may have been charlatans in a past life and have to balance things out karmically.

So, I don't try to prove psychism or anything else. People's concept of what is adequate "proof" vary, and I simply cannot be bothered these days. What I DO do, however, is make sure I don't create situations where I am putting myself in a corner. I qualify statements, I never gush, and I think about what is happening in situations and with regard to people's motivations - I'm wary.

There are too many important things in life to get hooked up in a battle with sceptics (or "Skeptics"). Leave 'em be - they have the right to be what and who they choose to be, just as we do. If they're influencing someone unduly, you can present a counterview, but do dispassionately and FULLY, GENUINELY AND ABSOLUTELY prepared to have the person you are talking to choose to disbelieve you. That is their free will choice, just as it is your free will choice to have the beliefs (well, knowledge :) ) that you do. We all have to get along with each other in this world, and fighting over proof of psychism is just contributing to the energy of conflict that afflicts this planet. Let it go.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: attitudes, Psychic attack, scepticism, gullibility, emotions,

First published: Tysdagr, 22nd November, 2011

Last edited: Tuesday, 22nd November, 2011

Weekend and breathing

2011-11-22T20:50:00.000+11:00

We visited a friend in the country last weekend. While we were there, I did my usual breathing exercises in the morning, and came to a couple of conclusions.

Firstly, the alternate nostril breathing I do (see here - but I am able to do the 8:32:16 ratio now, when you read that link) seems to be a way of pushing back at the negative energy which is pushed in on us as a result of daily life. What this means is that, if I do enough breaths per day, maybe I can start to reverse some of the damage done by the stresses and strains of life. (Currently I am doing 22 per day - 22 being the number of the "Master Builder" - I was doing 11 per day, which is the number of the "Humanitarian"; maybe I need to sneak this up to 66, which is the number associated with regeneration, according to the numerological study I have done :) [there are a multitude of numerological systems, by the way] )

The other thing I noticed was that this was much harder than normal. Now, I didn't have my crystals with me, but also, we were staying in a hotel, and I had to deal with the energy that had been left there by others (that would have been easier if I done my normal clearing ritual). If I was permanently living in such a situation, I would expect to have to do more breaths per day in order to achieve the clearing I mentioned at the start of this post.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")

Tags: breathing, clearing, energy work, rituals,

First published: Tysdagr, 22nd November, 2011

Last edited: Tuesday, 22nd November, 2011