I have to say that, after Copenfloppen*, I am in mourning for our beautiful planet, and the wonderful life on it, so much of it which will be lost (along with entire nations in the Pacific - and the homes of family of Bangladeshi friends I have).
I guess that this just means, in part, that all the lobbying which has, to some extent, been put on hold since getting close to the UN's conference will now be resumed at full strength: it is now up to each of us to
(a) do what we can personally (and we really need to cut back drastically on consumersim/materialism), and
(b) pressure all our governments to stop stuffing around and start taking a lead.
* This term is from an article in a paper I don't ormally read.
Gnwmythr
Tags: environmental, responsibility, society, personal responsibility, trees, poverty, China, materialism, consumerism,
First published: Tuesday 22nd December, 2009
Last edited: Tuesday 22nd December, 2009
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Monday, 21 December 2009
Post No. 095 - Could there be a sort of ... karmic Stockholm Syndrome?
This is a bit of speculation, but it fits a current circumstance that I am examining:
- could there be a (psychic/metaphysical) equivalent of the "Stockholm syndrome", where the victim of an act begins to identify with the perpetrators of the wrong?
The case I am thinking of is where person A, in a past life as a torturer in Constantinople, blinds person B (Tim Severin writes about these sort of events in his Viking series - I think in the third book, "Kings Man"). Obviously, one would expect the karmic return to be along the lines of person B either literally (perhaps through the instrument of an accident) or figuratively (e.g. being duped, conned or misled in some way - unable to see something) blinding person A. What, though, if, in addition to that, person B had an idealised, "blinded" view of person A still?
Obviously that would be an extra edge of the karmic entanglement to be repaid, but it is also a psychological aspect to be watched for and managed.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .... I'll have to think more on that.
(Maybe it's a bit like those women who defend patriarchy?)
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: karma, philosophy, psychology, past lives, Stockholm Syndrome, control, inappropriate reactions, emotions, abuse,
First published: Sunday 20th December, 2009
Last edited: Tuesday 22nd December, 2009
- could there be a (psychic/metaphysical) equivalent of the "Stockholm syndrome", where the victim of an act begins to identify with the perpetrators of the wrong?
The case I am thinking of is where person A, in a past life as a torturer in Constantinople, blinds person B (Tim Severin writes about these sort of events in his Viking series - I think in the third book, "Kings Man"). Obviously, one would expect the karmic return to be along the lines of person B either literally (perhaps through the instrument of an accident) or figuratively (e.g. being duped, conned or misled in some way - unable to see something) blinding person A. What, though, if, in addition to that, person B had an idealised, "blinded" view of person A still?
Obviously that would be an extra edge of the karmic entanglement to be repaid, but it is also a psychological aspect to be watched for and managed.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .... I'll have to think more on that.
(Maybe it's a bit like those women who defend patriarchy?)
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: karma, philosophy, psychology, past lives, Stockholm Syndrome, control, inappropriate reactions, emotions, abuse,
First published: Sunday 20th December, 2009
Last edited: Tuesday 22nd December, 2009
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Post No. 094 - Chakras: a less happy view
I recently got a link to a site about chakras from someone who is both friend and teacher/mentor. The link was quite interesting as it takes a negative view on the existence of chakras, proposing that they were placed in humans for the purpose of allowing us to be drained of energy. Now, that is not quite my viewpoint on the matter, but I consider it worth you, Dear Reader, having a look and making up your own mind.
Now, before you rule it out, out of hand, consider these points:
- I have come across other articles questioning the existence of chakras;
- the Ning site "Spirit Rescuers" has some interesting information about various species of aliens, some of whom are reported to be seeking to influence human evolution for their own gain (whilst others are reported to be seeking to do the same to altruistically help us).
My reply to my friend was (and this is correspondence between two people who are well aware of, and capable of dealing with, what I have loosely termed "psychic attack" on this blog:
That site is interesting. I've known for a while that the set of chakras is not fixed - Shirley Maclaine has written about the way that the human race is developing a chakra between the solar plexus and heart chakra, and there are other energy centres/chakras/constructs I've been working on developing for quite a while as well.I think the chakras are changing and developing in response to evolution.
I rarely ever perceive the chakras as vortices of the type that are described by Barbara Ann Brennan - although that is a useful perception for doing chakra balancing. I more usually perceive them in the way that was described as - going from memory - the "solar centre".
Nevertheless, I think it is a very useful reminder that structures/constructs/centres/significant parts of our aura can be attacked. I find it very useful to think about such things from the point of view of military strategy: what is vulnerable from external / internal [e.g. via dimensional shifts] / combined forms of attack, how can these be made safe, how can one use "fortifications" withbout getting stuck in a immobile "fortification" mentality, how can one turn an opponents strength into a weakness, how can an opponent turns my strengths into a weakness, how can I turn my weaknesses into strengths, how could an opponent turn their weaknesses into strengths (so I try to stay one step ahead of tactical changes), etc.
So, although I don't think chakras were deliberately placed to allow energy to be drained, it could well be that the potential of them to be used to drain energy has developed in response to that evolutionary change.
So, having got all that out of the way, here is the link:
http://www.fw-indigo-adults.
See what you think. Oh, BTW, with regards to vampires, have a look at Michelle Belanger's website.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: chakras, energy work, evil, evolution, vampires
First published: Sunday 20th December, 2009
Last edited: Tuesday 22nd December, 2009
Now, before you rule it out, out of hand, consider these points:
- I have come across other articles questioning the existence of chakras;
- the Ning site "Spirit Rescuers" has some interesting information about various species of aliens, some of whom are reported to be seeking to influence human evolution for their own gain (whilst others are reported to be seeking to do the same to altruistically help us).
My reply to my friend was (and this is correspondence between two people who are well aware of, and capable of dealing with, what I have loosely termed "psychic attack" on this blog:
That site is interesting. I've known for a while that the set of chakras is not fixed - Shirley Maclaine has written about the way that the human race is developing a chakra between the solar plexus and heart chakra, and there are other energy centres/chakras/constructs I've been working on developing for quite a while as well.I think the chakras are changing and developing in response to evolution.
I rarely ever perceive the chakras as vortices of the type that are described by Barbara Ann Brennan - although that is a useful perception for doing chakra balancing. I more usually perceive them in the way that was described as - going from memory - the "solar centre".
Nevertheless, I think it is a very useful reminder that structures/constructs/centres/significant parts of our aura can be attacked. I find it very useful to think about such things from the point of view of military strategy: what is vulnerable from external / internal [e.g. via dimensional shifts] / combined forms of attack, how can these be made safe, how can one use "fortifications" withbout getting stuck in a immobile "fortification" mentality, how can one turn an opponents strength into a weakness, how can an opponent turns my strengths into a weakness, how can I turn my weaknesses into strengths, how could an opponent turn their weaknesses into strengths (so I try to stay one step ahead of tactical changes), etc.
So, although I don't think chakras were deliberately placed to allow energy to be drained, it could well be that the potential of them to be used to drain energy has developed in response to that evolutionary change.
So, having got all that out of the way, here is the link:
http://www.fw-indigo-adults.
See what you think. Oh, BTW, with regards to vampires, have a look at Michelle Belanger's website.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: chakras, energy work, evil, evolution, vampires
First published: Sunday 20th December, 2009
Last edited: Tuesday 22nd December, 2009
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Post No. 093 - The perils of Litha, and the blessing of trees
Well, it's nearly Litha. That means, of course, it's nearly Christmas, and all the rampant commercialism and greed which has overtaken that formerly pagan festival is upon us.
Now, all of my adult life (and most of teenage years as well), I have not been Christian. However, "Christmas" is a fairly strong cultural tradition, and I get caught up in the presents thing out of - when I was Buddhist - respect for cultural norms, and now, as an energy psychic (that came out of a realisation I made while at the Parliament of the World's Religions), for the sake of family relations. I try to be as constructive as I can about it, so, for instance, I may well buy a household a voucher so all the household members can work together an get something which is of benefit to everyone, rather than trying to buy each household member a present.
That also helps with the costs. Apart from my partner and her family, I have a father from my adoptive family, a mother from my birth family, three siblings, eleven nephews an nieces, seven great nephews and nieces, three step-children and nine step-grandchildren ...
Anyway, I did most of my shopping yesterday. It was a horrible experience.
I'm not a city girl at the best of times, and to be crammed in a crowded place with lots of people, almost none of whom knew anything about closing their aura (so they were broadcasting with all the strength of their emotions - and there are a LOT of emotions at this time of year) was very intense.
I have to also point out that this time of year is one that many people find stressful. It is NOT all "sweetness and light": many families have deep divisions or conflicts, and those make the forced getting together at best a mixed blessing, and possibly a bad enough experience to lead to the avoidance of further contact until the next so-called "Jolly" season.
Be that as it may, when we got home yesterday, my shields were loaded to the gills with negative, incompatible or discordant energy. I was tired, had a headache and felt ill.
Solution? Stand with my forehead leaning against a tree for a few minutes. I had so much crap stuck to me that I was shuddering as it was cleared, but it worked.
Trees to the rescue again.
I have been a tree hugger most of life, and am firmly of the view that we need to do some major reforestation for the sake of survival of this planet. I consider that every yard should have as many trees as they can fit in (which is something I find it strange that urban dwellers in Australia are averse to - although I can understand that aversion in the country, where the risk of bushfire changes the situation), and think we should also have "green roofs" on every possible building (which would help with insulation*).
I'd like to finish with another thought from the PotWR:
- every time we breath in, we receive a gift from the plants (oxygen)
- every time we breath out, we give a gift to the plants (carbon dioxide)
The plant world an the animal are in a symbiotic relationship. Sadly, that relationship has lost its balance ...
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
* I am hoping we can get through the current concerns with carbon emissions ASAP, as we still have to address the issue of sustainability, which is only partly included under carbon emissions.
Tags: energy work, environmental, trees, protection, Psychic attack, psychic health, commercialism, materialism, Litha,
First published: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Now, all of my adult life (and most of teenage years as well), I have not been Christian. However, "Christmas" is a fairly strong cultural tradition, and I get caught up in the presents thing out of - when I was Buddhist - respect for cultural norms, and now, as an energy psychic (that came out of a realisation I made while at the Parliament of the World's Religions), for the sake of family relations. I try to be as constructive as I can about it, so, for instance, I may well buy a household a voucher so all the household members can work together an get something which is of benefit to everyone, rather than trying to buy each household member a present.
That also helps with the costs. Apart from my partner and her family, I have a father from my adoptive family, a mother from my birth family, three siblings, eleven nephews an nieces, seven great nephews and nieces, three step-children and nine step-grandchildren ...
Anyway, I did most of my shopping yesterday. It was a horrible experience.
I'm not a city girl at the best of times, and to be crammed in a crowded place with lots of people, almost none of whom knew anything about closing their aura (so they were broadcasting with all the strength of their emotions - and there are a LOT of emotions at this time of year) was very intense.
I have to also point out that this time of year is one that many people find stressful. It is NOT all "sweetness and light": many families have deep divisions or conflicts, and those make the forced getting together at best a mixed blessing, and possibly a bad enough experience to lead to the avoidance of further contact until the next so-called "Jolly" season.
Be that as it may, when we got home yesterday, my shields were loaded to the gills with negative, incompatible or discordant energy. I was tired, had a headache and felt ill.
Solution? Stand with my forehead leaning against a tree for a few minutes. I had so much crap stuck to me that I was shuddering as it was cleared, but it worked.
Trees to the rescue again.
I have been a tree hugger most of life, and am firmly of the view that we need to do some major reforestation for the sake of survival of this planet. I consider that every yard should have as many trees as they can fit in (which is something I find it strange that urban dwellers in Australia are averse to - although I can understand that aversion in the country, where the risk of bushfire changes the situation), and think we should also have "green roofs" on every possible building (which would help with insulation*).
I'd like to finish with another thought from the PotWR:
- every time we breath in, we receive a gift from the plants (oxygen)
- every time we breath out, we give a gift to the plants (carbon dioxide)
The plant world an the animal are in a symbiotic relationship. Sadly, that relationship has lost its balance ...
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
* I am hoping we can get through the current concerns with carbon emissions ASAP, as we still have to address the issue of sustainability, which is only partly included under carbon emissions.
Tags: energy work, environmental, trees, protection, Psychic attack, psychic health, commercialism, materialism, Litha,
First published: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Post No. 092 - Shades of exorcism
Something I have posted about is spirit rescue of earthbound entities. One of the reasons this is necessary - apart from the entity's wellbeing - is that such people can influence the living. This is usually in the form of low level possession called "obsession", where the earthbound entity's desires influence a living person - most commonly, a dead drinker will cause a living person who is drinking to have more alcohol than they intended or wanted. In these cases, the earthbound entity gets the "kick" of sharing the sensation of the alcohol from the living person (the auras of the two are entwined).
In fact, any time you find yourself acting seriously "out of character", include the possibility of possession/obsession in the list of possible causes you examine to find out why that happened (note that that does NOT mean that such problems can be written off as "someone was influencing me": apart from anything else, if such happens, my experience is that the overwhelming majority of such cases are due to the "victim" being irresponsible on the topic of psychic protection).
Of course, such influences can come from the living, both through psychic and other means.
Going back to rescue, I teach people a basic distinction of techniques: "cooperative" entities, those who are simply lost or afraid to pass over (e.g., one young woman was raped and murdered by someone who then committed suicide, and she avoided passing over out of fear of meeting her attacker), and "uncooperative" entities, who fit into the category of evil I alluded to in my post "Logic Flaws".
Stronger techniques are also available, but they are best taught, in my opinion, face-to-face. The techniques I am thinking of involve having the earthbound entity taken into a medium, who basically uses their training (particularly at clearing negative energy such as fear, anger, hate, denial, etc, etc, etc) to help remove such influences from the entities aura, so they can be talked to without the "filter" of the rubbish in their aura. There have been a couple of good books which came out of South Africa by an entity "John", who was rescued this way by a spiritualist group an then came back to help, on this method: I'll add their details at some later stage.
The spectacular stuff you see in films such as "The Exorcist" is, by and large, a Hollywood invention. (Note that some people confuse what can happen on the astral plane with things that can happen on the physical.) Apart from anything else, strategically, the best way to fight an entity is on YOUR terms, not theirs. This means you (a) bring the entity to you (using the help of those in the astral, commonly), an (b) you take the entity out of the victim and put it into a trained medium. Mind you, I have taken part in rescue sessions where such a trained medium was held down by a few others (and have performed the role of that trained medium myself - that training being the start of my serious psychic development).
At this point, I have to emphasise that the vast majority of alarmist stories about harm that can be done are basically complete, absolute, utter rubbish - especially most of the crap about curses. Practise and use even basic techniques of psychic protection and you will be OK against most psychic risks/dangers. In truth, most of the fear stories I have heard are base in people trying to make themselves feel significant.
Nevertheless, there are dangers. I bought a book yesterday as a Litha present; I hope to buy a copy of it for myself in the very near future, but it looks quite good, and I suggest it may be worth reviewing. The details are:
"The Ghost Hunters Survival Guide", by Michelle Belanger
Pub. Llewellyn, Woodbury, Minnesota, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7387-1870-5
I won't end this by writing "stay safe"; I'll write what should be said, which is "stay responsible and free of melodramatics".
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: personal responsibility, protection, rescue, psychic health, Psychic attack, possession, obsession, earthbound
First published: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
In fact, any time you find yourself acting seriously "out of character", include the possibility of possession/obsession in the list of possible causes you examine to find out why that happened (note that that does NOT mean that such problems can be written off as "someone was influencing me": apart from anything else, if such happens, my experience is that the overwhelming majority of such cases are due to the "victim" being irresponsible on the topic of psychic protection).
Of course, such influences can come from the living, both through psychic and other means.
Going back to rescue, I teach people a basic distinction of techniques: "cooperative" entities, those who are simply lost or afraid to pass over (e.g., one young woman was raped and murdered by someone who then committed suicide, and she avoided passing over out of fear of meeting her attacker), and "uncooperative" entities, who fit into the category of evil I alluded to in my post "Logic Flaws".
Stronger techniques are also available, but they are best taught, in my opinion, face-to-face. The techniques I am thinking of involve having the earthbound entity taken into a medium, who basically uses their training (particularly at clearing negative energy such as fear, anger, hate, denial, etc, etc, etc) to help remove such influences from the entities aura, so they can be talked to without the "filter" of the rubbish in their aura. There have been a couple of good books which came out of South Africa by an entity "John", who was rescued this way by a spiritualist group an then came back to help, on this method: I'll add their details at some later stage.
The spectacular stuff you see in films such as "The Exorcist" is, by and large, a Hollywood invention. (Note that some people confuse what can happen on the astral plane with things that can happen on the physical.) Apart from anything else, strategically, the best way to fight an entity is on YOUR terms, not theirs. This means you (a) bring the entity to you (using the help of those in the astral, commonly), an (b) you take the entity out of the victim and put it into a trained medium. Mind you, I have taken part in rescue sessions where such a trained medium was held down by a few others (and have performed the role of that trained medium myself - that training being the start of my serious psychic development).
At this point, I have to emphasise that the vast majority of alarmist stories about harm that can be done are basically complete, absolute, utter rubbish - especially most of the crap about curses. Practise and use even basic techniques of psychic protection and you will be OK against most psychic risks/dangers. In truth, most of the fear stories I have heard are base in people trying to make themselves feel significant.
Nevertheless, there are dangers. I bought a book yesterday as a Litha present; I hope to buy a copy of it for myself in the very near future, but it looks quite good, and I suggest it may be worth reviewing. The details are:
"The Ghost Hunters Survival Guide", by Michelle Belanger
Pub. Llewellyn, Woodbury, Minnesota, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7387-1870-5
I won't end this by writing "stay safe"; I'll write what should be said, which is "stay responsible and free of melodramatics".
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: personal responsibility, protection, rescue, psychic health, Psychic attack, possession, obsession, earthbound
First published: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Post No. 091 - Sit down: good news from the Vatican
I've just heard, from the 3CR radio programme "Out of the Pan", that the Vatican has joined the United Nations in condemning criminalising of, and violence against, homosexuals. I'm glad I was sitting down - let's hope that article trickles down to those fundamentalists who use religious justifications for their discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ people ... It is certainly a MAJOR step forward.
For more, see http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/pressroom/pressrelease/1043.html
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: change, discrimination, society, Christianity,
First published: Sunday 13th Decenber, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th Decenber, 2009
For more, see http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/pressroom/pressrelease/1043.html
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: change, discrimination, society, Christianity,
First published: Sunday 13th Decenber, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th Decenber, 2009
Post No. 090 - Logic flaws
From time to time, I hear people say things like "there is no evil force in the world", meaning there is no battle between Satan and God, or between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu. Whilst I ten to agree with this, an with the view that the innermost essence of people is good, there a few things that do NOT follow from those ideas.
(1) Just because people are all "good at heart" does NOT mean everyone is so "good", or free from hurt or injury, or free from flaws such as addiction to power, that they will be pleasant, responsive to good deeds or intentions directed to them (for instance, they may be wanting to accumulate power, and see this as a threat) or even necessarily capable of being healed within one lifetime (I am aware from my own past life history just how powerful some things can be in terms of affecting future lives, for better or for worse). In fact, they may be so dangerous you have to actively protect others and yourself from them. That's right, what may be the "shade of grey" that is "right" for a particular situation (i.e., the "Highest Spiritual Good" [see part of this post]) may be acting to contain one person, acknowledging that they are "good at heart", under many layers of pain/hurt/mistakes (which means you should not hate that essence, or think it will never come out - no matter how bad), but also acknowledging that the greatest overall need at that time, place and circulstance, is to protect others from this person's potential to create harm.
Consider these analogies:
(2) In the 1930s, a formerly civilised nation, known for, amongst others things, its philosophers and music, completed its descent, begun nearly a century before, from "goodness" to evil, and came under the full control of the Nazis - the "National Socialists". It was like joining a political party, at first - although some people had enough sense and vision to leave, people like author Herman Hesse and film director Douglas Sirk. Some of the others who stayed worked against the evil of Nazism enough to have been granted the title "Righteous Amongst the Nations", including 455 Germans. From the Wikipedia entry:
Including Oskar Schindler, the businessman who saved over a thousand Jews by employing them in his factory; and Hans and Sophie Scholl, sibling members of the White Rose resistance movement; Captain Gustav Schroeder who commanded the "Voyage of the Damned"; and German army officer Wilm Hosenfeld.
Sound good? Maybe even noble? Well, one thing these people did NOT do is say "there is no force of evil in the world". OK, so the force may not have been attributable to "the Devil" (shake! shudder! horror!*), but the harm done was massive - including the death of around 2% (maybe a lot more) of the worlds population in World War Two.
So, in summary, just because people are "good at heart" and you have a world view that does not institutionalise and dehumanise evil, does NOT mean you do not have to take action against dangerous, active evil.
* "Joke, Joyce"
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: evil, life lessons, daily life, religion, philosophy, balance, Douglas Sirk, Herman Hesse, Nazism, Oskar Schindler, Righteous Amongst the Nations, warfare,
First published: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
(1) Just because people are all "good at heart" does NOT mean everyone is so "good", or free from hurt or injury, or free from flaws such as addiction to power, that they will be pleasant, responsive to good deeds or intentions directed to them (for instance, they may be wanting to accumulate power, and see this as a threat) or even necessarily capable of being healed within one lifetime (I am aware from my own past life history just how powerful some things can be in terms of affecting future lives, for better or for worse). In fact, they may be so dangerous you have to actively protect others and yourself from them. That's right, what may be the "shade of grey" that is "right" for a particular situation (i.e., the "Highest Spiritual Good" [see part of this post]) may be acting to contain one person, acknowledging that they are "good at heart", under many layers of pain/hurt/mistakes (which means you should not hate that essence, or think it will never come out - no matter how bad), but also acknowledging that the greatest overall need at that time, place and circulstance, is to protect others from this person's potential to create harm.
Consider these analogies:
- if a dog or other animal has rabies, you do not focus first on comforting the animal: you focus first on keeping others (both human AND animal) from being bitten - and you do so without hating the rabid animal, afterall, it is not the animal's fault or flaw that it has rabies;
- if someone is a child abuser, the first priority is to protect others (in this case, children) from harm - and from the experiences of myself and others in my life (this incarnation alone), some very near and dear to me, I know just how much harm CAN be done by chilhood abuse (up to and including death, yes, but the harm can continue beyond death).
(2) In the 1930s, a formerly civilised nation, known for, amongst others things, its philosophers and music, completed its descent, begun nearly a century before, from "goodness" to evil, and came under the full control of the Nazis - the "National Socialists". It was like joining a political party, at first - although some people had enough sense and vision to leave, people like author Herman Hesse and film director Douglas Sirk. Some of the others who stayed worked against the evil of Nazism enough to have been granted the title "Righteous Amongst the Nations", including 455 Germans. From the Wikipedia entry:
Including Oskar Schindler, the businessman who saved over a thousand Jews by employing them in his factory; and Hans and Sophie Scholl, sibling members of the White Rose resistance movement; Captain Gustav Schroeder who commanded the "Voyage of the Damned"; and German army officer Wilm Hosenfeld.
Sound good? Maybe even noble? Well, one thing these people did NOT do is say "there is no force of evil in the world". OK, so the force may not have been attributable to "the Devil" (shake! shudder! horror!*), but the harm done was massive - including the death of around 2% (maybe a lot more) of the worlds population in World War Two.
So, in summary, just because people are "good at heart" and you have a world view that does not institutionalise and dehumanise evil, does NOT mean you do not have to take action against dangerous, active evil.
* "Joke, Joyce"
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: evil, life lessons, daily life, religion, philosophy, balance, Douglas Sirk, Herman Hesse, Nazism, Oskar Schindler, Righteous Amongst the Nations, warfare,
First published: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Post No. 089 - A new visualisation for dealing with psychic attack [Content Warning: Psychic Attack]
I recently developed a new visualisation for working with psychic energy when I or others are under attack, and thought I'd share it. Some scanned notes are posted below.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: energy work, Psychic attack, protection, visualisation,
First published: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Friday, 4 December 2009
Post No. 088 - Order of Hermes-Australia at the PoWR: Day Two - Friday 4th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
People Call Us Pagans - the European Indigenous Traditions
This was a panel discussion hosted by three pagans, two of whom, I discovered, are on the Board of the Parliament of World Religions, and have been for some years. That was great news: I now know that paganism has a voice in the organising side of this event. (Don't know yet about an LGBTIQ voice, let alone a pagan LGBTIQ voice ... hopefully more on that later!)
The following information on the presenters is edited from what is in the programme book (at almost 400 pages, it is NOT, BTW, a programme booklet).
The first question discussed by the panelists was "what is the meaning and why use the word pagan?"
- history dates back to the Romans, who used the word to indicate country dwellers, and considered themselves urbanii (city-dwellers) and would probably have been offended to be described as pagan)
- the connotations applied to this were generally acknowledged as being negative, and strategies for dealing with this were outlined (e.g., asking why people had that reaction?*)
- one speaker used it deliberately because it is a "wake up" word
- others spoke of using the term "European indigenous" rather than pagan**
The discussion on this question also included that this was originally a culture, but now is a religion, and that the world is different so there seemed to be a (mild) question about reconstructionist traditions. Another viewpoint was that we are all born pagan: we breathe, we don't come out chanting, meditating, etc.
(Breathing in was described as receiving a gift FROM plants [oxygen] and replying by giving - when breathing out - a gift TO the plants [carbon dioxide].)
The next question was what is divinity. Commentary on this included the view that everything is sacred, that we aren't in a waiting room for somewhere better and that magic is co-creating with deity.
An interesting comment was made that we tend to anthropomorphise deity, giving energies and principles personality. One speaker gave good examples of manifesting/becoming various deities for different situations.
During the question session the discussion moved on to how to adapt to new places as humanity migrates and moves round, with comments that various deities had been found in new places where they weren't expected. There was some acknowledgment of Australia having between three and seven seasons, depending on where you lived.
A Jewish Reconstructionist (several religions were identified when asking questions, so this most definitely wasn't a case of preaching to the converted) asked about sacrifice, and was told "the standard line is, we don't do this, but" sacrifice happens in the food chain (when animals re slaughtered). Several of the speakers had moved to the country (there was a discussion on this as well, with general agreement that it wasn't essential, but could deepen the pagan experience for some) and now were very aware of this, and interacted with animals that would become food, and did so in full awareness that they too would one day die.
This a very abbreviated version of my notes. Other discussions included not feeling connected to one's history - a discussion I would like to have asked about reincarnation in, but the session ended. (If one has had lots of lives in one tradition/culture, I would consider it understandable that one may not relate to a tradition/culture that one is being born into for the first time. So ... in that circumstance, does one, or does one not, have any right to the previous, more familiar tradition?)
For a video of this, please see (from the other mob of Correllians): http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-people-call-us-pagan-panel and http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-people-call-us-pagans-pt-2
* One speaker told an amusing anecdote of questioning a Nun why she reacted negatively to the word, explaining internalised prejudice, and finally getting to a point where the Nun said she had learned something about herself and maybe she was a little bit pagan too
** At the 1993 PoWR, the Lakota apparently formally declared war on New Agers etc who were appropriating their spiritual traditions. One of the speakers at this PoWR impressed a Lakota elder, who replied to a New Ager saying the appropriation was being done because they didn't have anything like that by saying "yes you do - go talk to those people" (referring to the pagans).
Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice: A Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue
This event was on my wish list of events to attend, but I wound up using the time to look through the exhibitor's section (lots of little booths for various religions and groups, including EarthSpirit) and finalising my plan of events to attend. However, it is worth noting this event was one of an ongoing series of meetings between Buddhist and Muslim representatives. At this meeting, the issues to be discussed were the religion's respective views on the situation of poverty, injustice and discrimination, what are the roots of these situations, and is there a cure?
This is not the only specific interfaith event at the PoWR - I have seen Christian-Islamic, Christian-Jewish, etc events. So, this event is not just a case of "preaching to the converted".
Reconciling Religious Values and the Universal Entitlement to Human Rights
This was another panel discussion, featuring:
The first speaker was Dr Szoke, who began by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land. She then gave an outline of human rights law in Victoria, including the Victorian Charter of Human Rights , including the balancing act that is present in it - i.e., respecting people's right to practice their religion against others' human rights, which is provided by allowing provision for people to apply for exemptions. Neither has total sway over the other, and rights come with obligations & responsibilities.
Dr Szoke commented that the main area this was a problem was employment of teachers in religious schools. (Commentary: I don't agree with this: I consider this is mostly a point of contention with respect to provision of government services. How does a young trans person in urgent need of accommodation go to a religious provider when that provider is hostile in their religious beliefs towards said trans person? My local State MP has categorically told me all providers of government services are expected to comply with antidiscrimination law, but 5 am not yet convinced. )
(I am being excessively brief: that covers 20 minutes of talking and several A4 pages of scribbled notes. The Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has emailed a link to a Word version of the speech - I may add that to the post in days to come.)
Judge Weeramantry was next, and spoke of the origins of modern international law in the 1600s, at a time of religious conflict. He considered the conflicts of those times led to an emphasis on separation of religion and law, and postulated that the drive to do good in many religions (e.g., ending poverty, etc) should now be more acknowledged.
Dr Durie was a very interesting speaker. He commented (stating in advance that this would be radical) that where there was a conflict, maybe it was time for churches to get out of running government services. He also stated that all religious people accepted there should be limits: the question is where to draw the line.
Next, we had questions, which led to:
- there is a difference between separation of church and state, and opposition of one to the other;
- a Uniting Church member commented on the importance of WITI (pronounced "witty") questions: "Why Is That Important?", which had helped them in their debates on sexuality
- a woman who identified herself as Wiccan-pagan talked about the banners they had at the 1993 PoWR, which led to a statement that a previous reference by Judge Weeramantry to five major religions was not meant to be dismissive of other faiths;
- religion and culture were often used interchangeably;
- many of the speakers were "in furious agreement" to the principle of a point of division, and needed to focus on things in common and let the details get sorted out;
- the law ignores the "Good Samaritan" principle, and could be improved on this aspect.
Dr Hollingworth was the final speaker, and he effectively gave a summary.
Peace at the Heart of the World
Rev Angie Buchanan and Rev Andras Corben-Arthen were joined by Rev Deirdre Arthen, also a Director of EarthSpace and a leader in the US pagan community for 30 years, known as a ritualist, musician, teacher and spiritual counsellor who offered presentations at the 1993, 1999 and 2004 PoWRs. These were joined by others, including River Higginbotham, who has written or co-written some excellent books on paganism, and who visited the CNCI Temple of LaVeda previously.
We gathered in the room that had been allocated for this event, on the 2nd floor, right at the top of the Convention Centre, and then were led to a space outside, so we could work under the open sky. We apparently had been going to work on bare ground, but construction activity had begin there. We arrived to chanting, music (including lyre and drum) and gentle dancing, and formed a circle.
To begin, we (I didn't count, but at a guess, there would have been around 60 of us, including at least one Buddhist nun) all progressively turned to the person beside us and said "Hand by hand, we are the circle" as we joined hands. Then, after some group chants, various people called in various elements/aspects, such as the sea, the sky, the earth. I rather suspect that this was meant to be performed by those given roles to perform, but others added some words - fortunately all in keeping with the theme.
(It is an interesting balance for a public ritual: how organic do you make it, compared to free flowing? I'm an engineer in my day job, so I would probably have: (1) had a safe space for everyone's handbags and backpacks, with a volunteer watching over those rather than taking part in the ritual [there was an area where no-one outside the ritual could have got to which would have been a nice safe space; I kept wearing my handbag, which is fortunately quite small, as I didn't feel at all comfortable putting it down and walking away in a public area - maybe I shouldn't be so untrusting, but then my handbag has stuff in it which is essential for my family's wellbeing], (2) had those taking part (in the sense of a pre-arranged role) given something to distinguish them, like a sash of the same colour, which may have made it clearer that others weren't being invited to take part [it did look a bit random, with people in differing robes wandering forth at various times to do stuff], (3) given more explanation of what was going to happen, when and why - including as things went along [which is something that was done at some public full moon rituals I have taken part in, and seemed to work quite well]. But if all that had been done, maybe it wouldn't have been as nice?)
We were then (I think - I wasn't able to take notes, and this is being written quite a few hectic hours later) told that a bowl of water had water from over a hundred sacred places in it (I think you will be able to see the EarthSpirit site for a list). This water was then used to bless the participants.
Next, balls of string were passed around the circle. Where there were officiants, the various bits of twine were tied together, then the twine was led into the centre, with the participants holding it in the circle around the perimeter. We called out various places that need peace, and then the section each person was holding was cut for them to take home and weave to affirm their commitment to continuing the dialogue between religions that is needed for peace (I wove mine onto my conference pass's lanyard.
Finally, we had a slow spiral walk into a tight group before leaving.
I'm personally not much of a singer/dancer, but the ritual was enjoyable, and left me energised and feeling good afterwards. I hope it will help with the achievement of peace - a multifaith intent was certainly present, so, with the skills and arts used, it should.
Communities night: pagan welcoming
I chose not to attend this so I could write, rest and have some family time - but, I have to say, it was a close run thing: I nearly went to this. The event was advertised on Pagan Awareness Network's website, at http://www.paganawareness.net.au/PAN//content/view/212/80/. I'm not a social butterfly, but rather suspect I could well have enjoyed this, given the general vibes of the PoWR and the presence of people I would like to spend time with (like River Higginbotham, and at least one friend of mine who I will mention again very shortly).
Media Coverage
"The Age": "Religion 'denied key role' in poverty fight ", by BARNEY ZWARTZ, December 5, 2009
http://www.theage.com.au/national/religion-denied-key-role-in-poverty-fight-20091204-kb2u.html
Blessings aplenty as world's religions gather, The Age, December 4, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
See also:
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pagans-in-community-at-the-parliament/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/new-update-from-thorn/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/updates-from-circle-cog-and-earthspirit/
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-2
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-indigenous-statement-panel
http://www.witchschool.com/page/day-2-at-the-pwr-healing-the
General
As a final point, if anyone is interested in going to a Parliament of World Religions event at some future time, being a volunteer will dramatically reduce costs. I caught up with a friend of mine who told me it was only $A100, as compared to an early bird rate of A$600 (excluding meals, without concession), with a requirement of four 4hr sessions. If only I'd known ... ah well, at least you, dear reader, do know now. (And, to be fair, I probably would have known if I'd read everything I was sent.)
And now, for some much needed sleep.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Monday 4th January, 2010
This was a panel discussion hosted by three pagans, two of whom, I discovered, are on the Board of the Parliament of World Religions, and have been for some years. That was great news: I now know that paganism has a voice in the organising side of this event. (Don't know yet about an LGBTIQ voice, let alone a pagan LGBTIQ voice ... hopefully more on that later!)
The following information on the presenters is edited from what is in the programme book (at almost 400 pages, it is NOT, BTW, a programme booklet).
- Rev Angie Buchanan is Family Tradition Pagan, founder & director of Gaia's Womb (an interfaith spirituality group for women) and Earth Traditions. She has been a presenter at a number of interfaith events, including the 2004 Parliament of World Religions (I'm going to abbreviate that to PoWR from here on, OK?) for which she has been a Board member since 2002.
- Rev Andras Corban Arthen is the spiritual director of the EarthSpirit Community, a religious and educational organisation dedicated to the preservation of Earth-centred spirituality, particularly the European indigenous traditions. He has presented at many interfaith events, including the 1993 and 2004 Parliaments.
- H Ps Phyllis Curott is the author of "Witchcrafting", an advocate, founder of the Temple of Ara and lawyer and Wiccan priestess for 25 years
The first question discussed by the panelists was "what is the meaning and why use the word pagan?"
- history dates back to the Romans, who used the word to indicate country dwellers, and considered themselves urbanii (city-dwellers) and would probably have been offended to be described as pagan)
- the connotations applied to this were generally acknowledged as being negative, and strategies for dealing with this were outlined (e.g., asking why people had that reaction?*)
- one speaker used it deliberately because it is a "wake up" word
- others spoke of using the term "European indigenous" rather than pagan**
The discussion on this question also included that this was originally a culture, but now is a religion, and that the world is different so there seemed to be a (mild) question about reconstructionist traditions. Another viewpoint was that we are all born pagan: we breathe, we don't come out chanting, meditating, etc.
(Breathing in was described as receiving a gift FROM plants [oxygen] and replying by giving - when breathing out - a gift TO the plants [carbon dioxide].)
The next question was what is divinity. Commentary on this included the view that everything is sacred, that we aren't in a waiting room for somewhere better and that magic is co-creating with deity.
An interesting comment was made that we tend to anthropomorphise deity, giving energies and principles personality. One speaker gave good examples of manifesting/becoming various deities for different situations.
During the question session the discussion moved on to how to adapt to new places as humanity migrates and moves round, with comments that various deities had been found in new places where they weren't expected. There was some acknowledgment of Australia having between three and seven seasons, depending on where you lived.
A Jewish Reconstructionist (several religions were identified when asking questions, so this most definitely wasn't a case of preaching to the converted) asked about sacrifice, and was told "the standard line is, we don't do this, but" sacrifice happens in the food chain (when animals re slaughtered). Several of the speakers had moved to the country (there was a discussion on this as well, with general agreement that it wasn't essential, but could deepen the pagan experience for some) and now were very aware of this, and interacted with animals that would become food, and did so in full awareness that they too would one day die.
This a very abbreviated version of my notes. Other discussions included not feeling connected to one's history - a discussion I would like to have asked about reincarnation in, but the session ended. (If one has had lots of lives in one tradition/culture, I would consider it understandable that one may not relate to a tradition/culture that one is being born into for the first time. So ... in that circumstance, does one, or does one not, have any right to the previous, more familiar tradition?)
For a video of this, please see (from the other mob of Correllians): http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-people-call-us-pagan-panel and http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-people-call-us-pagans-pt-2
* One speaker told an amusing anecdote of questioning a Nun why she reacted negatively to the word, explaining internalised prejudice, and finally getting to a point where the Nun said she had learned something about herself and maybe she was a little bit pagan too
** At the 1993 PoWR, the Lakota apparently formally declared war on New Agers etc who were appropriating their spiritual traditions. One of the speakers at this PoWR impressed a Lakota elder, who replied to a New Ager saying the appropriation was being done because they didn't have anything like that by saying "yes you do - go talk to those people" (referring to the pagans).
Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice: A Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue
This event was on my wish list of events to attend, but I wound up using the time to look through the exhibitor's section (lots of little booths for various religions and groups, including EarthSpirit) and finalising my plan of events to attend. However, it is worth noting this event was one of an ongoing series of meetings between Buddhist and Muslim representatives. At this meeting, the issues to be discussed were the religion's respective views on the situation of poverty, injustice and discrimination, what are the roots of these situations, and is there a cure?
This is not the only specific interfaith event at the PoWR - I have seen Christian-Islamic, Christian-Jewish, etc events. So, this event is not just a case of "preaching to the converted".
Reconciling Religious Values and the Universal Entitlement to Human Rights
This was another panel discussion, featuring:
- Dr Helen Szoke, CEO of the Victorian Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission
- Dr Mark Durie, described as human rights activist, theologian and pastor of an Anglican Church in the programme booklet, which also gives an impressive list of academic appointments
- Judge Weeramantry, a Sri Lankan lawyer, legal educator, international arbitrator and domestic and international judge with an impressive international CV
- Bishop Peter Hollingworth, former Australian Governor-General (an appointment which generated some controversy, as it was not considered by all to be consistent with the principle of separation of state and church) and, before that, Archbishop of Brisbane
The first speaker was Dr Szoke, who began by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land. She then gave an outline of human rights law in Victoria, including the Victorian Charter of Human Rights , including the balancing act that is present in it - i.e., respecting people's right to practice their religion against others' human rights, which is provided by allowing provision for people to apply for exemptions. Neither has total sway over the other, and rights come with obligations & responsibilities.
Dr Szoke commented that the main area this was a problem was employment of teachers in religious schools. (Commentary: I don't agree with this: I consider this is mostly a point of contention with respect to provision of government services. How does a young trans person in urgent need of accommodation go to a religious provider when that provider is hostile in their religious beliefs towards said trans person? My local State MP has categorically told me all providers of government services are expected to comply with antidiscrimination law, but 5 am not yet convinced. )
(I am being excessively brief: that covers 20 minutes of talking and several A4 pages of scribbled notes. The Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has emailed a link to a Word version of the speech - I may add that to the post in days to come.)
Judge Weeramantry was next, and spoke of the origins of modern international law in the 1600s, at a time of religious conflict. He considered the conflicts of those times led to an emphasis on separation of religion and law, and postulated that the drive to do good in many religions (e.g., ending poverty, etc) should now be more acknowledged.
Dr Durie was a very interesting speaker. He commented (stating in advance that this would be radical) that where there was a conflict, maybe it was time for churches to get out of running government services. He also stated that all religious people accepted there should be limits: the question is where to draw the line.
Next, we had questions, which led to:
- there is a difference between separation of church and state, and opposition of one to the other;
- a Uniting Church member commented on the importance of WITI (pronounced "witty") questions: "Why Is That Important?", which had helped them in their debates on sexuality
- a woman who identified herself as Wiccan-pagan talked about the banners they had at the 1993 PoWR, which led to a statement that a previous reference by Judge Weeramantry to five major religions was not meant to be dismissive of other faiths;
- religion and culture were often used interchangeably;
- many of the speakers were "in furious agreement" to the principle of a point of division, and needed to focus on things in common and let the details get sorted out;
- the law ignores the "Good Samaritan" principle, and could be improved on this aspect.
Dr Hollingworth was the final speaker, and he effectively gave a summary.
Peace at the Heart of the World
Rev Angie Buchanan and Rev Andras Corben-Arthen were joined by Rev Deirdre Arthen, also a Director of EarthSpace and a leader in the US pagan community for 30 years, known as a ritualist, musician, teacher and spiritual counsellor who offered presentations at the 1993, 1999 and 2004 PoWRs. These were joined by others, including River Higginbotham, who has written or co-written some excellent books on paganism, and who visited the CNCI Temple of LaVeda previously.
We gathered in the room that had been allocated for this event, on the 2nd floor, right at the top of the Convention Centre, and then were led to a space outside, so we could work under the open sky. We apparently had been going to work on bare ground, but construction activity had begin there. We arrived to chanting, music (including lyre and drum) and gentle dancing, and formed a circle.
To begin, we (I didn't count, but at a guess, there would have been around 60 of us, including at least one Buddhist nun) all progressively turned to the person beside us and said "Hand by hand, we are the circle" as we joined hands. Then, after some group chants, various people called in various elements/aspects, such as the sea, the sky, the earth. I rather suspect that this was meant to be performed by those given roles to perform, but others added some words - fortunately all in keeping with the theme.
(It is an interesting balance for a public ritual: how organic do you make it, compared to free flowing? I'm an engineer in my day job, so I would probably have: (1) had a safe space for everyone's handbags and backpacks, with a volunteer watching over those rather than taking part in the ritual [there was an area where no-one outside the ritual could have got to which would have been a nice safe space; I kept wearing my handbag, which is fortunately quite small, as I didn't feel at all comfortable putting it down and walking away in a public area - maybe I shouldn't be so untrusting, but then my handbag has stuff in it which is essential for my family's wellbeing], (2) had those taking part (in the sense of a pre-arranged role) given something to distinguish them, like a sash of the same colour, which may have made it clearer that others weren't being invited to take part [it did look a bit random, with people in differing robes wandering forth at various times to do stuff], (3) given more explanation of what was going to happen, when and why - including as things went along [which is something that was done at some public full moon rituals I have taken part in, and seemed to work quite well]. But if all that had been done, maybe it wouldn't have been as nice?)
We were then (I think - I wasn't able to take notes, and this is being written quite a few hectic hours later) told that a bowl of water had water from over a hundred sacred places in it (I think you will be able to see the EarthSpirit site for a list). This water was then used to bless the participants.
Next, balls of string were passed around the circle. Where there were officiants, the various bits of twine were tied together, then the twine was led into the centre, with the participants holding it in the circle around the perimeter. We called out various places that need peace, and then the section each person was holding was cut for them to take home and weave to affirm their commitment to continuing the dialogue between religions that is needed for peace (I wove mine onto my conference pass's lanyard.
Finally, we had a slow spiral walk into a tight group before leaving.
I'm personally not much of a singer/dancer, but the ritual was enjoyable, and left me energised and feeling good afterwards. I hope it will help with the achievement of peace - a multifaith intent was certainly present, so, with the skills and arts used, it should.
Communities night: pagan welcoming
I chose not to attend this so I could write, rest and have some family time - but, I have to say, it was a close run thing: I nearly went to this. The event was advertised on Pagan Awareness Network's website, at http://www.paganawareness.net.au/PAN//content/view/212/80/. I'm not a social butterfly, but rather suspect I could well have enjoyed this, given the general vibes of the PoWR and the presence of people I would like to spend time with (like River Higginbotham, and at least one friend of mine who I will mention again very shortly).
Media Coverage
"The Age":
Blessings aplenty as world's religions gather, The Age, December 4, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
See also:
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pagans-in-community-at-the-parliament/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/new-update-from-thorn/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/updates-from-circle-cog-and-earthspirit/
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-2
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-indigenous-statement-panel
http://www.witchschool.com/page/day-2-at-the-pwr-healing-the
General
As a final point, if anyone is interested in going to a Parliament of World Religions event at some future time, being a volunteer will dramatically reduce costs. I caught up with a friend of mine who told me it was only $A100, as compared to an early bird rate of A$600 (excluding meals, without concession), with a requirement of four 4hr sessions. If only I'd known ... ah well, at least you, dear reader, do know now. (And, to be fair, I probably would have known if I'd read everything I was sent.)
And now, for some much needed sleep.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Monday 4th January, 2010
Post No. 087 - Order of Hermes-Australia at the PoWR: Day One - Thursday 3rd December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
This was supposed to be the first day of my holidays. However, as usual, I still had some work to attend to - which was useful, as I could "do some horse trading" and print out some materials I needed for the Parliament (problems with the printer at home!). I now have some temporary business cards, albeit on paper, given that my attempts at pasting them onto light cardboard didn't work (the problems of trying to work in a hurry - I rather do have a heavy workload in my day job, and it does cause problems at times ...).
So, then it was off to register at the venue. I've been to the Exhibition Centre previously (for many events, actually, including Mind, Body, Spirit Festivals (which I stopped going to when I felt they became too commercial), but this is the first time I have been to the Conference Centre part of the venue. The conference is relatively expensive (although, by the standards of many professional, conferences, on the less expensive side), but having seen the venue (and having been involved with organising conferences [the 2005 Victorian Queer Spirituality Conference]), I can see where the money is going.
I would like to see the Parliament adopt some of the innovations we have at the VQSC 2005, such as poster papers (including by people who couldn't attend), and getting people together at the start and end of each segment of the day so volunteer "rapporteurs" could give others a run down on what had happened in other sessions (and, I thought, that also helped build a "sense of community/family" for the conference). Actually, that latter one may not be practical: shame, as there are ALWAYS at least two events I want to go to on at the same time ...
When I walked out of the car park, I was met by the view of dozens of people in various forms of dress - Sikhs, monks, nuns, and people in everyday clothes, and the "vibes" were absolutely wonderful. (I've heard that 10,000 people are expected at the PoWR.)
The energy so far at the Parliament has been extremely rejuvenating for me - in fact, my partner commented last night on my eyes having much more colour in them :) Apart from my other goals at the Parliament, this has been a personal joy (well, so far).
I didn't get to the Opening Plenary Session. Obviously, that is a disappointment, but the need to go to work, and a few domestic needs (little things like grocery shopping ... :) ) combined with my low energy levels (apart from being overbusy, I am going through a change of medication for my diabetes) to make it impracticable to get back there for that session. I am sure it was wonderful, and look forward to catching up with someone who was there so I can talk about it.
In fact, I suspect the plenaries are going to be a challenge, as I do have other (mainly family, but the cat litter will also still need to be changed :D ) commitments to attend to.
Media coverage of this day includes:
Underground warrior for women, The Age, December 3, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
See also:
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/first-official-day-at-parliament-of.html
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/parliament-has-a-social-network/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-pagans-meet-and-begin-rattling-at-the-parliament/
From the other mob of Correllians: http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-1 and http://www.witchschool.com/page/parliament-of-the-worlds
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith, mind body spirit festival, Order of Hermes, VQSC,
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
So, then it was off to register at the venue. I've been to the Exhibition Centre previously (for many events, actually, including Mind, Body, Spirit Festivals (which I stopped going to when I felt they became too commercial), but this is the first time I have been to the Conference Centre part of the venue. The conference is relatively expensive (although, by the standards of many professional, conferences, on the less expensive side), but having seen the venue (and having been involved with organising conferences [the 2005 Victorian Queer Spirituality Conference]), I can see where the money is going.
I would like to see the Parliament adopt some of the innovations we have at the VQSC 2005, such as poster papers (including by people who couldn't attend), and getting people together at the start and end of each segment of the day so volunteer "rapporteurs" could give others a run down on what had happened in other sessions (and, I thought, that also helped build a "sense of community/family" for the conference). Actually, that latter one may not be practical: shame, as there are ALWAYS at least two events I want to go to on at the same time ...
When I walked out of the car park, I was met by the view of dozens of people in various forms of dress - Sikhs, monks, nuns, and people in everyday clothes, and the "vibes" were absolutely wonderful. (I've heard that 10,000 people are expected at the PoWR.)
The energy so far at the Parliament has been extremely rejuvenating for me - in fact, my partner commented last night on my eyes having much more colour in them :) Apart from my other goals at the Parliament, this has been a personal joy (well, so far).
I didn't get to the Opening Plenary Session. Obviously, that is a disappointment, but the need to go to work, and a few domestic needs (little things like grocery shopping ... :) ) combined with my low energy levels (apart from being overbusy, I am going through a change of medication for my diabetes) to make it impracticable to get back there for that session. I am sure it was wonderful, and look forward to catching up with someone who was there so I can talk about it.
In fact, I suspect the plenaries are going to be a challenge, as I do have other (mainly family, but the cat litter will also still need to be changed :D ) commitments to attend to.
Media coverage of this day includes:
Underground warrior for women, The Age, December 3, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
See also:
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/first-official-day-at-parliament-of.html
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/parliament-has-a-social-network/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-pagans-meet-and-begin-rattling-at-the-parliament/
From the other mob of Correllians: http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-1 and http://www.witchschool.com/page/parliament-of-the-worlds
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith, mind body spirit festival, Order of Hermes, VQSC,
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Sunday 13th December, 2009
Post No. 086 - The Order of Hermes-Australia before the Parliament of World Religions
The Australian Chapter of the Order of Hermes will be present at the Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne, in December, 2009, being represented by the Chief Coordinator. For more information on the Parliament of World Religions, refer to http://www.
A group is being organised (by others) which is understood to be for LGBTIQ attendees at the Parliament, which the Chief Coordinator has expressed interest in, and pre-Parliament events are underway in Melbourne now. Hopefully the Chief Coordinator's email on 1st August, 2009 (extract below) to the organisers of the Parliament helped get this off the ground, although others were clearly actively lobbying for this.
To view the entire article, click on: http://www.theage.com.au/
"Faiths called to account over women's lot", The Age, December 2, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
See also:
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/pagans-at-parliament.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/preparing-for-parliament.html
A Correllian Nativist (the other mob) video post at
http://www.youtube.com/v/-7T4IOuWnhQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/11/presentations-by-pagans/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/11/c-o-g-s-parliament-coverage/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/earthspirit-at-the-parliament/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/why-is-the-parliament-important-for-the-pagan-community/
http://www.witchschool.com/page/australian-aboriginal
http://www.witchschool.com/page/invitation-to-the-2009
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith, Order of Hermes, human rights,
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Monday 4th January, 2010
A group is being organised (by others) which is understood to be for LGBTIQ attendees at the Parliament, which the Chief Coordinator has expressed interest in, and pre-Parliament events are underway in Melbourne now. Hopefully the Chief Coordinator's email on 1st August, 2009 (extract below) to the organisers of the Parliament helped get this off the ground, although others were clearly actively lobbying for this.
I have noted that it is permissible to make suggestions with regard to the programme. There is a topic I would like to make a suggestion about, although I am loathe to risk overcommitting myself and nominate myself to run anything.
The topic is people with different sexualities/gender identities - i.e., lesbians, gays and bisexuals, and transgender/transsexual people. As I hope you are aware, not all religions consider being other than heterosexual and cisgendered to be problematic - in fact, my training including comments that being bisexual would result in increased life experience, and hence could be considered advantageous. Unfortunately, however, the situation of people with different sexualities/gender identities (i.e., LGBT people) in some religions is debated or even condemned - a viewpoint which has severe repercussions for those people within those faiths, and others outside it.
With regard to the Parliament, my opinion is that this difference could cause problems wth interfaith dialogue between some members of my faith and larger faiths that are intolerant of these sexualities and gender identities. I would therefore like to know if there has been any allowance made for considering ways of giving those faiths which DO value people with different sexualities/gender identities an adequate voice?
I look forward to your advice.
The following item was included in an email newsletter I received in September:The topic is people with different sexualities/gender identities - i.e., lesbians, gays and bisexuals, and transgender/transsexual people. As I hope you are aware, not all religions consider being other than heterosexual and cisgendered to be problematic - in fact, my training including comments that being bisexual would result in increased life experience, and hence could be considered advantageous. Unfortunately, however, the situation of people with different sexualities/gender identities (i.e., LGBT people) in some religions is debated or even condemned - a viewpoint which has severe repercussions for those people within those faiths, and others outside it.
With regard to the Parliament, my opinion is that this difference could cause problems wth interfaith dialogue between some members of my faith and larger faiths that are intolerant of these sexualities and gender identities. I would therefore like to know if there has been any allowance made for considering ways of giving those faiths which DO value people with different sexualities/gender identities an adequate voice?
I look forward to your advice.
M_ has put in a proposal to run a workshop at the World Parliament of Religions: "Voices of Wisdom and Challenge: gay and lesbian perspectives on faith, spirituality and embodied grace". He suggested a panel of several GLBTIQ folks from various religions and cultures, discussing their faith and spirituality etc - with general discussion afterwards. The proposal was accepted - so the workshop is on !! If anyone is interested in participating in the workshop please contact M_direct on
This workshop has now been included - congratulations to all beghind the organisation of it - as a gay and lesbian event (no mention of BTIQ, though):
Saturday 5th December(1130-1300) Voices of Challenge and Wisdom: Gay and Lesbian Perspectives on Faith, Spirituality and Embodied Grace
There are also some pagan events being held:
Thursday 4th December(evening) A Pagan Awareness Network sponsored pagan welcoming event will be held as part of the communities night, at Northcote Town HallFriday 4th December(0930-1100) People Call us Pagan - the European Indigenous traditionsSaturday 5th December(0800-0900) Celtci Mysticism: An Introduction to its Arts and Traditions(0800-0900) Solstice Sites and CelebrationsMonday 7th December(0930-1100) Australian Pagans Speak: a Community Forum(1630-1800) Pagans and Religious Freedom
There are also some events which may or may not be supportive.
Monday 7th December(1430-1600) Interpreting the Text: Apostasy and Homosexuality
In addition, a small win can possibly be counted as having been acheived, as the organisers have now acknowledged that Victorian law includes a prohibition against discrimination. This came about as a result of an exchange of emails following a request by the organisers for people to assit with homestay options for international visitors.
From the original email:
With respect to this request, I note that you have listed the following in your homestay documentation section regarding discrimination:
Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, marital status, religious belief or activity, industrial activity, political opinion or activity, national extraction, social origin, disability, parental status or status as a carer, pregnancy, lawful sexual activities, physical features or breastfeeding is unlawful.
I was wondering why have you chose not to also included "gender identity", and why have you included "lawful sexual activity" rather than "sexual orientation"? Whilst it is good that some acknowledgement of differing sexualities has been included, it would perhaps be worth noting the following list of attributes under which discrimination is prohibited in Victoria (from http://www.
age breastfeeding carer status disability/impairment employment activity gender identity industrial activity lawful sexual activity marital status parental status physical features political belief or activity pregnancy race religious belief or activity sex sexual orientation personal association with someone who has, or is assumed to have, one of these personal characteristics.
I look forward to your reply.
From the response:
This was an oversight on our part and we definitely have every intention of honouring the Victorian legislation
There have been a number of preliminary publicity events. Maybe the folowing articles can be counte amongst those:"God's will drifts according to believer's belief" The Age, December 2, 2009 - 12:00AMTo view the entire article, click on: http://www.theage.com.au/
"Faiths called to account over women's lot", The Age, December 2, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
See also:
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/pagans-at-parliament.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/preparing-for-parliament.html
A Correllian Nativist (the other mob) video post at
http://www.youtube.com/v/-7T4IOuWnhQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/11/presentations-by-pagans/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/11/c-o-g-s-parliament-coverage/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/earthspirit-at-the-parliament/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/why-is-the-parliament-important-for-the-pagan-community/
http://www.witchschool.com/page/australian-aboriginal
http://www.witchschool.com/page/invitation-to-the-2009
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith, Order of Hermes, human rights,
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Monday 4th January, 2010
Post No. 085 - The Order of Hermes (Australian Chapter) at the Parliament of the World's Religions
The Parliament of World Religions is being held this year (2009) in Melbourne. I have been asked to go on behalf of the Correllian Nativist Church International Inc (not to be confused with the Correllian Nativist Tradition, the two resulting from a split a few years ago which I have touched on elsewhere), and also as part of my duties as Chief Coordinator of the Australian Chapter of the Order of Hermes. 
I've written a little about this on the Order of Hermes-Australia website, but for ease and convenience, propose to make a series of posts on this blog about the Parliament, including pre-Parliament events and a daily (or nearly so) diary. Owing to time constraints, the diary may not be posted daily, though.
So ... please enjoy the coming series of posts, which will be linked to this post :)
If the link is not active, I haven't written anything yet. Some of these posts may not be completed until the new year.
Before the Parliament
Day One: Thursday 3rd December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Day Two: Friday 4th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Day Three: Saturday 5th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Media: A market replete in articles of faiths, The Age, December 5, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Wise, irrepresssible, and a bit of a troublemaker, The Age, December 5, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Giving Saudi women a public presence, The Age, December 5, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pagans-at-the-parliament-update/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-day-three-towards-summer.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-men-who-love-the-goddess
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-divine-feminine-panel
Day Four: Sunday 6th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
- for the sake of my health, I did not attend this day's events
Media: Call for worldwide ban on smacking children, The Age, December 6, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Muslims urged to accept minorities, The Age, December 6, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/respecting-the-ancestors-of-the-land-improving-relations-between-indigenous-peoples-and-pagan-traditions/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/mama-moon-she-rises/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/audio-interview-with-ed-hubbard/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/audio-interview-with-michael-york/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-sacred-envy.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-day-four-halls.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-3
Day Five: Monday 7th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Media: Catholic Church kept vital, thanks to migrants, The Age, December 7, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Women of faith a conflict breaker, The Age, December 7, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
A tale of two festivals, The Age, December 7, 2009 - 6:58AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-five/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-one-four/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/religion-ethics-and-the-environment-climate-change-at-the-parliament/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/audio-interview-with-zay-speer/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-six/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-sacred-music-concert-and.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-day-five-towards-religious.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-4
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-australian-pagans-speaks-a
Day Six: Tuesday 8th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
- for the sake of my health, I did not attend this day's events
Media: Kirby urges re-reading of Bible on gays, The Age, December 8, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Creed v greed, an ethical charter, The Age, December 8, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/officials-of-the-obama-administration-meet-with-select-pwr-members-including-patrick-mccullom/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/is-paganism-about-to-be-redefined-from-the-parliament/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-australian-pagans-speak.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-7
Day Seven: Wednesday 9th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
- I was not able to attend this event for family reasons
Media: Vic premier skips Dalai Lama address, The Age, December 9, 2009 - 12:46PM: http://news.theage.com.au/
Child soldier turned monk wants to save planet, The Age, December 9, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Sun setting on the West's dominance, The Age, December 9, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-seven/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/my-final-blog-from-the-parliament-of-world-religions-from-australia/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/after-the-parliament-stay-tuned/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-eight/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pwr-meet-and-greet-mother-tongue/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-days-six-and-seven-blessings_09.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-5
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-8
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-6
After the Parliament finished, the following appeared:Obama team seeks enlightenment on Muslim relations, December 10, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Faith Parliament snub to Jews leaves 'sour taste', The Australian Jewish News
http://jewishnews.net.au/2009/
And also:
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pwr-reflections-from-australian-pagan-presenter/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/naturereligion-part-1/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/naturereligion-part-2/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/naturereligion-part-3/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/abc-interview-on-modern-paganism/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-baby.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/tibetan-art-of-impermanence-photo-essay.html
http://wildhunt.org/blog/2009/12/after-the-parliament-statement-from-andras-corban-arthen.html
Other people blogged about the Parliament. As I come across such blogs with a pagan or LGBTIQ viewpoint, I'll add them here (just the general link - you'll have to find the actual posts yourselves, which, I admit, will be a problem if you're doing this some time in the future).
http://www.witchschool.com/page/president-jimmy-carter
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-meet-and-greet-with-mother
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-auntie-joy-murphy-gives
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-being-a-wiccan-in-todays
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-online-education-panel
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-gavin-andrew-interview
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-t-thorn-coyle-ritual
http://www.witchschool.com/page/day-2-at-the-pwr-healing-the
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-peace-pole-dedication
ABC Radio had a session on the Parliament:Sunday Nights - Parliament of the World Religions
ABC Local Radio Across Australia - Sunday 6 December 10.10 pm
Presented by John Cleary
This week Melbourne is host to The Parliament of the World's Religions. Faith traditions from across the globe have come to Melbourne for a once a decade assembly to celebrate both their diversity and commonality. Healing, Reconciliation and Care for the Earth mark an Assembly held in the Shadow of Copenhagen and the future of the planet. Join me John Cleary live from the Parliament of the World's Religions, Sunday Night after the news at 10 on ABC Local Radio.
Enjoy :)
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith, Order of Hermes,
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Monday 4th January, 2010
I've written a little about this on the Order of Hermes-Australia website, but for ease and convenience, propose to make a series of posts on this blog about the Parliament, including pre-Parliament events and a daily (or nearly so) diary. Owing to time constraints, the diary may not be posted daily, though.
So ... please enjoy the coming series of posts, which will be linked to this post :)
If the link is not active, I haven't written anything yet. Some of these posts may not be completed until the new year.
Before the Parliament
Day One: Thursday 3rd December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Day Two: Friday 4th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Day Three: Saturday 5th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Media: A market replete in articles of faiths, The Age, December 5, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Wise, irrepresssible, and a bit of a troublemaker, The Age, December 5, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Giving Saudi women a public presence, The Age, December 5, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pagans-at-the-parliament-update/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-day-three-towards-summer.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-men-who-love-the-goddess
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-divine-feminine-panel
Day Four: Sunday 6th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
- for the sake of my health, I did not attend this day's events
Media: Call for worldwide ban on smacking children, The Age, December 6, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Muslims urged to accept minorities, The Age, December 6, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/respecting-the-ancestors-of-the-land-improving-relations-between-indigenous-peoples-and-pagan-traditions/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/mama-moon-she-rises/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/audio-interview-with-ed-hubbard/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/audio-interview-with-michael-york/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-sacred-envy.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-day-four-halls.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-3
Day Five: Monday 7th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
Media: Catholic Church kept vital, thanks to migrants, The Age, December 7, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Women of faith a conflict breaker, The Age, December 7, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
A tale of two festivals, The Age, December 7, 2009 - 6:58AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-five/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-one-four/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/religion-ethics-and-the-environment-climate-change-at-the-parliament/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/audio-interview-with-zay-speer/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-six/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-sacred-music-concert-and.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-day-five-towards-religious.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-4
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-australian-pagans-speaks-a
Day Six: Tuesday 8th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
- for the sake of my health, I did not attend this day's events
Media: Kirby urges re-reading of Bible on gays, The Age, December 8, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Creed v greed, an ethical charter, The Age, December 8, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/officials-of-the-obama-administration-meet-with-select-pwr-members-including-patrick-mccullom/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/is-paganism-about-to-be-redefined-from-the-parliament/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-australian-pagans-speak.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-7
Day Seven: Wednesday 9th December, Year Aquarius 9 (2009)
- I was not able to attend this event for family reasons
Media: Vic premier skips Dalai Lama address, The Age, December 9, 2009 - 12:46PM: http://news.theage.com.au/
Child soldier turned monk wants to save planet, The Age, December 9, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Sun setting on the West's dominance, The Age, December 9, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-seven/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/my-final-blog-from-the-parliament-of-world-religions-from-australia/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/after-the-parliament-stay-tuned/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/the-parliament-eight/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pwr-meet-and-greet-mother-tongue/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-days-six-and-seven-blessings_09.html
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-5
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-8
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-6
After the Parliament finished, the following appeared:Obama team seeks enlightenment on Muslim relations, December 10, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
Faith Parliament snub to Jews leaves 'sour taste', The Australian Jewish News
http://jewishnews.net.au/2009/
And also:
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pwr-reflections-from-australian-pagan-presenter/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/naturereligion-part-1/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/naturereligion-part-2/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/naturereligion-part-3/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/abc-interview-on-modern-paganism/
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-baby.html
http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/12/tibetan-art-of-impermanence-photo-essay.html
http://wildhunt.org/blog/2009/12/after-the-parliament-statement-from-andras-corban-arthen.html
Other people blogged about the Parliament. As I come across such blogs with a pagan or LGBTIQ viewpoint, I'll add them here (just the general link - you'll have to find the actual posts yourselves, which, I admit, will be a problem if you're doing this some time in the future).
- http://earthspiritcommunity.blogspot.com/
- http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/ which includes videos, interviews and articles: looks very interesting from a quick look, and links to the following:
- Circle Interfaith News
- COG Interfaith Reports
- EarthSpirit Voices
- Elemental Castings Podcast
- Interfaith Center at the Presidio
- Spiritual Resources
- MagickTV
- The Parliament Blog
- The Wild Hunt
- Women at the Parliament
- http://blogs.abc.net.au/
religion (I contemplated not posting that link, as the only coverage they gave to paganism was disrespectful and disparaging, so be warned) - from the other part of the Correllian tradition, the part I do not belong to, comes http://www.correllian.com/announcements.htm (which makes one interesting point: that the persecution of alleged witches in Africa was not mentioned [I actually think it may have been mentioned, but it was certainly not highlighted or effectively addressed]), http://www.correllian.com/pwr09.htm and http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr09-australia-december-2009 - included in the interests of provided as wide coverage as possible, and because it includes video of most of the pagan events: not quite as good as being there yourself, but quite a fair substitute :)
http://www.witchschool.com/page/president-jimmy-carter
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-meet-and-greet-with-mother
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-auntie-joy-murphy-gives
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-being-a-wiccan-in-todays
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-online-education-panel
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-gavin-andrew-interview
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-t-thorn-coyle-ritual
http://www.witchschool.com/page/day-2-at-the-pwr-healing-the
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-peace-pole-dedication
ABC Radio had a session on the Parliament:Sunday Nights - Parliament of the World Religions
ABC Local Radio Across Australia - Sunday 6 December 10.10 pm
Presented by John Cleary
This week Melbourne is host to The Parliament of the World's Religions. Faith traditions from across the globe have come to Melbourne for a once a decade assembly to celebrate both their diversity and commonality. Healing, Reconciliation and Care for the Earth mark an Assembly held in the Shadow of Copenhagen and the future of the planet. Join me John Cleary live from the Parliament of the World's Religions, Sunday Night after the news at 10 on ABC Local Radio.
Enjoy :)
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith, Order of Hermes,
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Monday 4th January, 2010
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Post No. 084 - A dangerous sense of entitlement
I recently came across an article by Sydney based Miranda Devine in The Age (copied from the Sydney Morning Herald) which started from a cyclist who attacked a bus driver and progressed to criticising cyclists more generally for arrogance, violence, taking up too much road space (including criticising whoever came up with the slogan "Roads are to Share", etc.
Now, I happen to disagree with Miranda Devine, but there were some good things, in my opinion, to come out of that article. First, however, my disagreements:
Having said that, however, the problem of aggressive, irresponsible cyclists does need to be addressed - particularly, in my opinion, the packs who will ride through red lights (one of whom killed an elderly pedestrian a few years ago).
That isn't what I wanted to write about. Still, it's a topic that has clearly generated quite a bit of discussion, going by Miranda Devine's follow up column and a response by a former Road Minister. (The threats and abuse to Miranda Devine don't count as discussion.)
No, what caught my attention was the phrase "sense of entitlement". I think we do have quite a few entitlements - the right to, as another nation's founders put it, life, liberty and freedom; ... the rights expressed in the United Nation's "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and other UN documents; ... love.
However, there are some things we don't necessarily have a "right" to: a "right" to an easy life without growth; ... a "right" to not be questioned in orders and directions we give to others; ... a "right" to behave with immaturity and not have consequences - whether that immaturity is spiritual, emotional, or other.
It made quite an impression on me, that phrase (incidentally, I thought I had read the phrase as "a dangerous sense of entitlement", or "an unjustified sense of entitlement", but I couldn't find that wording in the quick reread of the original article before I wrote this). I think I will use that phrase to check myself and my attitudes from time to time: it could be quite useful.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: expectations, unreasonableness, immaturity, aggression, violence, society, selfishness, change,
First published: Wednesday 18th November, 2009
Last edited: Wednesday 18th November, 2009
Now, I happen to disagree with Miranda Devine, but there were some good things, in my opinion, to come out of that article. First, however, my disagreements:
- I think the violence, aggression and unreasonable use of road space shown by car drivers towards other road users (whether they are cars, bikes or pedestrians) is far higher, both as an absolute number and a relative fraction of drivers, the number and proportion of cyclists who are (and they do exist!) a problem.
- I DO think that roads are for sharing.
Having said that, however, the problem of aggressive, irresponsible cyclists does need to be addressed - particularly, in my opinion, the packs who will ride through red lights (one of whom killed an elderly pedestrian a few years ago).
That isn't what I wanted to write about. Still, it's a topic that has clearly generated quite a bit of discussion, going by Miranda Devine's follow up column and a response by a former Road Minister. (The threats and abuse to Miranda Devine don't count as discussion.)
No, what caught my attention was the phrase "sense of entitlement". I think we do have quite a few entitlements - the right to, as another nation's founders put it, life, liberty and freedom; ... the rights expressed in the United Nation's "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and other UN documents; ... love.
However, there are some things we don't necessarily have a "right" to: a "right" to an easy life without growth; ... a "right" to not be questioned in orders and directions we give to others; ... a "right" to behave with immaturity and not have consequences - whether that immaturity is spiritual, emotional, or other.
It made quite an impression on me, that phrase (incidentally, I thought I had read the phrase as "a dangerous sense of entitlement", or "an unjustified sense of entitlement", but I couldn't find that wording in the quick reread of the original article before I wrote this). I think I will use that phrase to check myself and my attitudes from time to time: it could be quite useful.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: expectations, unreasonableness, immaturity, aggression, violence, society, selfishness, change,
First published: Wednesday 18th November, 2009
Last edited: Wednesday 18th November, 2009
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