Post No. 967 - Thoughts on a Season of Over-Indulgence

This time of year in my nation - and others with a neochristian background - has become one of over-indulgence.

Most commonly, the focus of any discussion on "over-indulgence" is on drinking alcohol or eating food to excess - and those are unquestionably problems, as the family of this young child killed by a drunk driver have tragically found out, and as others no doubt also will - also tragically - find out. The police and government make an excellent effort to get people to think and act responsibly, and that has unquestionably helped reduce the road toll (deaths and injuries) here, but it is a fight against a culture of excess.

The medical profession and "social stylists" get in on the act as well, with warnings on health consequences on the one part and vapid articles on "HOW NOT TO OVEREAT THIS XMAS!!!!!" on the other part, with less success.

There are also social consequences - as illustrated by this ban on alcohol because of the behaviour of over-indulging / drunk / self-indulgent / undisciplined / in Sydney. 

Of far greater concern, however, are the family arguments and stresses associated with the compulsion to "be with family" or "be sociable" at this time of year, which - combine with the depression of the socially isolated -  led to this time of year being the busiest of the year when I worked at a phone counselling service (decades ago, now). I wrote a poem once about one part of this (see here), but the problems also include:

• enforced intimacy with people one is incompatible with, under the constraint of setting aside, rather than resolving, conflicts or problems or simply not allowing people to move on and remove problem people from their lives (this is particularly an issue for the victims of in-family abuse); 
• the stress, demand on energy and COST associated with preparation - particularly food; 
• the environmental damage of this spectacular and massive consumption; 
• the focus on crass commercialism - particularly the expectation that people must buy presents for all others - my partners children opted out of this by their own choice when they were in their teens, which is a hopeful sign for them and for society, one which sadly runs into problems when people become offended that others have opted out of being socialised sheep (this can be particularly a reaction when the offended person has spent some time and effort mastering the nuances of "how to fit in", or "how to be a good hostess this season", or "what people really want you to buy them", and so on).

The latter aspect often gets objected to by neochristian priests: well, I'm all for balanced spirituality, but neochristianity isn't that (Christianity is a different matter), and forced partying and socialising (see another poem of mine on that here) are hypocrisy, and nothing to do with spirituality.

In fact, I would also go further and state that intimacy and connection with people is not spirituality - although being able to get on with people and resolve problems is. The main issue is that a focus on intimacy and connection with people often leads to a form of spiritual blindness, with people having such a focus forgetting that other people in the world also have needs, and quite often more pressing needs than making sure every relation gets a present that will probably be thrown out or ignored, and that there is more to life than just intimacy and connection with people!

A few of my quotations are appropriate here:

• Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master.
• Emotional comfort/connection/closeness, materialism and religion (immature spirituality) are NOT more important than spiritual rigour.
• Expertise at intimacy and emotional happiness is not the same thing as spiritual growth.
• Karl Marx got it wrong: it’s sex, family and intimacy, not religion, which is the opiate of the masses. ("Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people")

There are people and families who genuinely enjoy this season and engage in socialising for the pleasure and boost that they get: good on them, but they are, in my experience, in the minority. 

So ... this season of excess, I'm opting out - particularly from enforced socialising - as I've done for quite a few years now.

(Having a partner just out of hospital also helps me to opt out of the socialised sheep rubbish.)

I apologise for publishing these posts twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting. I can either publish it and then correct it, or save and close the post and correct it when I reopen it, but that leaves an extra copy in my "drafts" folder ...

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr, Pagan Energy Worker, Wéofodthegn

I am revamping my former website, and getting at least one other underway (pronounced "new-MYTH-ear"; ... aka Bellatrix Lux … aka Morinehtar … would-be drýicgan or maga ... )

My "blogiography" (list of all posts and guide as to how to best use this site) is here, and my glossary/index is here. The reasons for my caution when using Wikipedia are here.

I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ... See here for my group mind project, here and here for my "Pagans for Peace" project (and join me for a few minutes at some time between 8 and 11 PM on Sunday, wherever you are, to meditate-clear for peace), and here for my bindrune kit-bag. I also strongly recommend learning how to flame, ground and shield, do alternate nostril breathing, work with colour, and see also here and be flexible. 

May the best in me, my Higher Self,
and those of the Clear Light who assist me,
help me to keep myself grounded, centred and shielded,
to be Balanced and a Fulcrum of Balance,
a centre of Balanced Positivity and Spiritual Maturity,
with my aura continuously cleansed, cleared and closed,
repelling all negative or unwanted energies,
whilst allowing positive, balancing and healing energies in and through.

The real dividing line is not between Christianity and Islam, Sunni and Shia, East and West. It is between people who believe in coexistence, and those who don’t.

Tom Fletcher, Former UK Ambassador to Lebanon

• All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...

Tags: addictions, attitudes, commercialism, emotions, intimacy, materialism, socialisation, society,

First published: Wodansdagr, 28^th December, 2016

Last edited (excluding fixing typo's, Blogger's change of my formatting and other minor matters): Wednesday, 28^th December, 2016

Post No. 120 - Tiw's Day: Juliet, gender stereotypes and some thoughts about the novel "The Betrayal"

Let me begin this post by saying that I consider the person we know as Jesus Christ [1] to be a real historical person. I also consider it a very real chance that he did perform miracles - or what seemed like miracles. However, I consider what is preached by many neo-Christians to have as little to do with Christ's message as ... well, very little. So ... I was intrigued to come across an archaeological view of Christ's life and what was factually erroneous in the reports on his life (i.e., the Gospels), and some explanations of what was being done in terms of what was happening at those times. [2] The view was written by the archaeologists Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, and formed the basis of their book "The Betrayal", which I read about in an interview on the Gear's website.

I first came across the Gears when I started reading their First North American series of novels, which covers early North American cultures, combining archaeological research with knowledge of shamanic practice. I haven't read all that series, and am looking forward to finishing it (now that I've rediscovered them - I lost the name of their series [and the authors] for a few years ... but then, I did have other matters to attend to).

In terms of their book. "The Betrayal", the interview was fascinating, and I am hoping to track down a copy of the book and add it to the list of books I am reviewing .... (almost finished the next review now :) )

Now, on other matters: while driving home and planning this brief post, I was listening to the BBC's "World Update" on ABC's News Radio, when I heard a story that enough people write letters to Juliet of Verona (i.e., the Juliet in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet", that someone (I think "The Juliet Club") employs up to fifteen secretaries to open, read and reply to the letters.

How sad! Most of these people are lonely, have had bad experiences in love, or have self esteem issues. We do some ... strange things when we get hooked on searching for intimacy - no, we can do things that make us look sad, mad, or bad. I've seen people behave in incredibly unethical ways to try and "win" over someone else - which, ultimately, is self defeating. I also think the focus of society these last few centuries on romantic love, with its corresponding view that there is something "wrong" with you if you don't find romantic love, is unhealthy, unjustified and just plain WRONG. It's bad enough with the idiotic rules put on love (I'm in favour of polyamory for a whole range of reasons) and the generally sex-negative views found in too much of society as it is ... (This previous post may also have some relevant thoughts ... )

A friend of mine (hello Venerable Rune Master From The Bush [3]) occasionally laments the loss of the words bachelor and spinster and being reasonably acceptable, albeit maybe somewhat eccentric, terms for people who, for whatever reason, don't wind up in an intimate romantic relationship.

After listening to that radio story, I'm with him. May the Goddess help all who feel they have lost in (romantic) love find a worthwhile way to pass their lives. Such things do exist - I'm blessed by a wonderful loving relationship now, but have spent most of my life single, and that let me explore my spirituality/psychism and personal growth in ways I could never have done otherwise (largely because of the commitment required for some of that work, but also because you sometimes best find your personal demons by being alone).

Of course, what has helped me is being - or rather, becoming - somewhat inured to society's expectations on gender expression and, well, pretty much anything. Nevertheless, I find the idiotic sorts of remarks made about President Obama's nomination for the US Supreme Court, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, idiotic and abhorrent. Amongst all this, the woman who said Kagan doesn't sit like "all other women" because she (Kagan) doesn't sit with crossed legs has never met any dykes. What an incredibly un-informed, SEXIST thing to say!

And, as a final point, I thought I'd just add that I think I've written previously the best way yo prevent you from radiating out negativity is closing your aura: another key aspect of this is simply to have the intention not to leak or project energy. A lot of people think about magical intent in the sense of having the intention to DO something (e.g., shileding your aura),but it can also be viewed as having the intent NOT to do something (e.g., not project or leak, or not break you word, or not break the law, or not forget to make your partner a cuppa before you leave for work). Bit arguable, given the notion that if I say "don't think of a pink elephant" the first thing most people do is think of pink elephant, but I personally find it useful from time to time (particularly the concept of not breaking my word - which, if I want to phrase in a more "constructive" way, I would term "adhering to my personal code of honour/ethics/behaviour).

Anyway, time to get ready for the day: may you be blest in your day, wherever you are.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr

Notes:

1. I feel like I should be writing "Jesus the Christ": somewhere, I think I've read (maybe that should be some wheres) that "Christ" means "enlightened", so we should refer to "Jesus the Christ", meaning "Jesus the Enlightened".
2. For instance, there are errors in the terms used for Pontius Pilate and errors in the story around the release of Barabbas.
3. This Bush is, for overseas readers, an Australian term for "wild countryside", NOT Dubbya

This post's photo is yet to be posted.

Tags: about me, daily life, emotions, lifestyles, life lessons, love, romance, intimacy, relationships, media, socialisation, O’Neal Gear, archaeology, polyamory, sex, Shakespeare, Obama, indigenous,

First published: Wednesday 9th June, 2010 (I thought about the post overnight, which is why it didn't get posted on Tiw's Day [or Tysdagr, to use the Old Norse]. I had planned a fifth point (originally third in the sequence :) ) in response to the BBC programme, but can't recall what it was)

Last edited: Thursday 5th August, 2010 (added more tags)