Myriah's Musings

Alchemy

2012-01-14T23:16:00.001-05:00

1. a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life.

2. any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value.

I like to say that I practice and perform Alchemy quite regularly. Really! It's not the "lead into gold" type, which is fine (even though sometimes I wish I could do that!). This particular Alchemical process occurs about every six weeks.... Those who know me know what I'm talking about. Coloring my hair! Yes, it's chemistry, and yes, it transmutes my gray hair into the red that I enjoy so much! See? <grin>

Alchemists of days gone by were the predecessors of today's scientists. Their practices are noted in the annals of history. Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Madame Curie, Jonahs Salk, and so many others back through time. Everything they did involved taking something that really didn't amount to much on its own, and the results were "gold". "Because their goals were so unrealistic, and because they had so little success in achieving them, the practitioners of alchemy in the Middle Ages got a reputation as fakers and con artists. But this reputation is not fully deserved. While they never succeeded in turning lead into gold (one of their main goals), they did make discoveries that helped to shape modern chemistry. Alchemists invented early forms of some of the laboratory equipment used today, including beakers, crucibles, filters, and stirring rods. They also discovered and purified a number of chemical elements, including mercury, sulfur, and arsenic. And the methods they developed to separate mixtures and purify compounds by distillation and extraction are still important." (From The American Heritage Science Dictionary, 2002)

I believe that Alchemy is all that and so much more. And I believe that many of us living in the "magickal realms", as I like to call it, practice it a lot more than we might realize.

As a Pagan Witch, I believe that every time I participate in a ritual or do a magickal spell working, I'm performing Alchemy. Okay, so sometimes the results are spiritual instead of physical. Still the same thing in my mind.

Some folks do artwork, some make jewelry, some make garb, some work with clays, glass, metal, wood, etc. In each and every case, at the beginning, there are very basic elements. For the artist, a blank canvas and pencils or paints. Through the process of applying the creative mind and the individual's will, the end result is something entirely different than what existed at the beginning. For the jewelry, the beginning is wire or cord, and lots of individual beads. Alchemy is applied, and voila, the finished product is a beautiful necklace or bracelet. In sewing, we start with cloth and thread, and end up with ritual robes, cloaks, dresses, etc. Those who work with clays, glass and metal always amaze me the most. Think of a potter. At the very beginning, there is a pile of, well, dust (for lack of the correct word for it). Water is added, more powders, more water, more powders, and suddenly there is a pile of thick mud. The mud is put on the potter's wheel, and through the application of the potter's hands (and feet on the wheel peddle), the pile of mud starts to take shape. With time, there emerges a bowl, a cup, a plate, or a vase. How's that for a transformation?

Are you getting my train of thought with this? I think you might be...

All of these alchemical workings that I have mentioned so far involve physical things. We can touch them, feel them, see them with our physical eyes, and so can others. They are beautiful to behold. And it's nice when we make something, to have somebody else say, "wow, that is beautiful!"

I think that the more important Alchemies are performed on the spiritual, energetic level. We make choices every day to be more positive, to take control of our lives, to walk away from bad relationships, to change something negative into a positive, to take a "leap of faith" and change jobs, to start a new relationship, to fight an illness or disease, to quit smoking or drinking or using drugs. Each and every one of these examples are Alchemy in my book. And I've already lived quite a few of them. (No, I haven't quit smoking yet, I still enjoy it, and it's the only vice I have left! LOL) Many of them have been quite the important milestone in my life. Some I work on daily. I'd like to share one of the biggies with you...

In my other "A" Blogpost, I shared about being a domestic violence survivor. When I got out of that relationship, even though I had made the choice to leave, and did it, I was pretty much a mess. Years of hearing, from someone who supposedly loved me, that I was worthless, couldn't do anything "right", was a waste of airspace, would never find anyone else to love me, was fat, ugly, yada yada yada... It did a lot of damage. The only thing that I knew for sure was that I wanted to live, to not die, and I had to leave to do that. I really had no clue about what was going to happen after that, and some pretty hefty doubts about succeeding at it. I did know that I had to try. Yes, Yoda, I know it's "Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." At that point in time, the best I could do was try. And I did.

For the first six months after I moved into my own apartment, I really didn't do much other than work, eat, sleep, take care of my animals, and work on changing me. My personal Alchemy. I wanted and needed to change me from being a scared, wounded, worthless human being who I didn't really like much into someone I could like, even love, when I looked in the mirror. I needed to heal the wounds that had almost killed me, so that I would be able to live, enjoy my life, and be happy. The primary Alchemical tool that I used was a journal and an evaluation system that I had been told about by a clinical psychiatrist many years before when my first marriage ended. It's all about positives and negatives, likes and dislikes, pros and cons. Sound familiar? Yep, that's the one.

Write down what the problem is. In my case, it was me, as a person. On one page I wrote down the things about me that I liked, that I considered good. That was a really short list at the beginning. On the next page, I wrote down the things about me that I didn't like, that I considered bad or wrong. It was about every single aspect of me, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative. That was a VERY long list. Took up a couple of pages, in fact. I think it took a week of spending some time on expanding those lists every day until I couldn't add anything else to either one of them. It was rough to try to be objective. Then I took a week off from it. Just put the journal away and rested. Didn't think about it, didn't work on it, just took care of me. Then I got to work, and started the Alchemy. I'd read through the list of positives, almost as an affirmation. Took them inside, and nurtured them. Then I started on the list(s) of negatives, taking them one at a time. I'd look at the item, trying to stay detached, like it was a science experiment, and decide if it was something that was really a factual thing, that I could really do something about or not, and if I really needed to change that thing or not. There has to be a balance of light and dark in all things, right? Right! And then I got to work. I put the energy needed to change a negative into a positive, and in the long run, to change the me that had existed into the me that I wanted to be. Alchemy at its finest!

These days I use Alchemy quite frequently actually. It can be applied to almost any situation or circumstance. It can take a lot of work, but the outcome is usually worth it. It can be as simple as changing your attitude, changing your reactions to things that happen in this crazy life we're living, or just changing the color of your hair. Think about it. You're an Alchemist too, aren't you? Yep, you are! The possibilities are endless, pick one, and see what happens....

Namaste',

Myriah

Arrival

2012-01-06T01:30:00.002-05:00

noun

1. an act of arriving; a coming: His arrival was delayed by traffic.

2. the reaching or attainment of any object or condition: arrival at a peace treaty.

3. the person or thing that arrives or has arrived: First arrivals will be the first seated.

Origin: 1350–1400; arrive + -al²; replacing Middle English arivaille < Middle French

An interesting word, arrival. Very pertinent for me in so many ways over the course of my life, a couple of which I will be writing about tonight. But first...

I have arrived! See how that works? Okay, I'm being a little silly right now, no offense intended to anyone. I am taking a leap into a more active blogging role, especially concerning my being a Pagan Witch. Most of my writings here, until now, have been more "life in general" kinds of things. I've done a few little bits here and there about this core part of my life, but haven't really focused on it all that much. Now I am, because it matters to me. And being able to be a part of the Pagan Blog Project will help me regain that focus. If you want to read more on what PBP is about, go to www.onewitchsway.com/pbp2012. I'm just going to write..... So this is a new Arrival for me! See?

The letter for this week is "A". It's supposed to be about something that's a part of Paganism and being Pagan. My word "Arrival" isn't exactly Pagan, but it's an important aspect of my Pagan Path, so that's what I'm going with....

My first "official Arrival" as a Pagan Witch happened in 1999. That was definitely a threshold year for me, one that I RAN to. I think that, a lot of times, people see or feel thresholds coming toward them. It's a moment when you know that what happens next is going to be a major turning point in your life. How that all transpires and what the result is is totally dependent upon the individual's ability to step into and draw upon their own personal power. Yes, there are times when it's totally unexpected, totally unprepared for, but I feel that those times are really actually quite rare. Because Hindsight is 20/20. And the sign posts were and are there. How many times have you looked back at something that has happened, and smacked yourself on the forehead, saying "Oh, how did I miss seeing that coming??" Probably because the choice was made to ignore that particular signpost. Anyway, back to my "Arrival"....

I was living in an abusive relationship up to 1999. In mid 1998, I was home alone, he was gone for the day, the kids were at school. It was just me and the fur-kids. Who were all asleep around the house. I was standing in the living room, looking out the window at a beautiful sunny day, when out of nowhere I felt an intense cold envelope me. And the realization that I was going to die in that house hit me, hard. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, but tears were pouring down my face. Then I started shaking. I couldn't stop. It seemed like it lasted for hours, but it was really only a few minutes. Then I felt a Presence walk into the room and come to stand next to me. I say "Presence" because there was no human body there. It was pure energy. And It spoke to me, maybe just in my head, but I heard it as if someone was standing right at my side. While It was speaking, I felt as if strong arms wrapped around me, many of them, surrounding me in warmth. And the Voice said, "No, you are not going to die here. We have plans for you. We are protecting you. You will get out of here alive and well. It might take a little time, but you will get out and move on. Be patient. Be strong. Know that we are with you." Okay, I said back, I believe you. What am I supposed to do? The Voice answered.... (you know when you're talking to someone on the phone, and you can hear that they're smiling, maybe even trying not to laugh? Yeah, that almost "smirky smile" thing? Well, They had that...) "Go buy a book". Huh? What?!? Go buy a book? What book?? "You'll know when you get there". I started looking around the house for a hidden microphone or something. They wrapped their arms around me again, gave me a big hug, and they were gone. But from that day until the day I actually moved out of that house, despite all the crap that happened, I felt that they were there, watching, supporting me, so I got through the days. Some of which were really, really bad.

So I went to work the next day, as usual. I was working at an area mall, which happened to have a Barnes & Noble Booksellers in it. On my break, I went in. As I stepped inside the doors, I asked myself, okay, what book? I heard, "Keep walking" in my head. "Over there", "turn left here", "a little further", and then "stop". When I stopped, I was standing in front of the shelves in the Metaphysical Section. Yeah, I know, Duh! I repeated, Okay, which book? No answer. So I figured the best thing would be to just start looking at the titles on the spines to see if anything jumped out at me. Funny phrase, that. Because that is exactly what it did. A couple of the books had been sticking out in front of the others, but no bells went off. I had looked at the spine of every single book on the first set of four foot wide shelves, and nothing, so I'd moved on to the next set. I was standing in the middle of the width of the second set, when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and looked just in time to see a small book fly off the shelf and land on my foot! It had come from the middle of the width of the first set, four feet away!!! I looked around, there was no one else in that section of the store. I even checked around the corners into other aisles. Nobody. I picked the book up. It was DJ Conway's Celtic Magic. And it went home with me. It was my Arrival book, the one that put the right words to the things I had felt and believed in for pretty much most of my life. I knew this was a threshold, and I couldn't wait to be able to cross it.

Cross it, I did. Almost a whole year later I was able to get out of that relationship, out of that house. I made another Arrival, into Freedom. I had my own home now, I had my fur-kids with me, and I set to work on healing myself and taking back my personal power, which took a while. And the minute I had my computer set up with an actual Internet Connection (which took a little while, money, you know?), I was reading and researching and learning about this thing called Paganism. And that were a whole lot of other people out there that felt and believed the same things I did! And a whole lot of them were local to me!!!!! Yes, I was really excited, can't you tell?? :-) I jumped in head first and with both feet! Well, I have a habit of doing that, if it's something I'm really interested in, or really believe in. I'm an Aries. Explains a lot, doesn't it? I've learned to temper that as I've gotten older (sort of... okay, a very small bit).

Anyway, I went to a gathering at the home of one of the people I'd connected with on-line. I met a great bunch of people there, and as the evening progressed, and we talked about "things Pagan", I knew I'd found what I'd been looking for. I'd Arrived! Another threshold, another major turning point. A really good one. Hearing and feeling that "click" when you know it's right, when a major piece of the puzzle snaps into place. The road leading up to it was difficult at times, but I had been given a glimpse of what was ahead, so I didn't hesitate. It's been worth it. So here's to another threshold, this new Arrival. Let's see where this part of the journey leads....

Namaste',

Myriah

From RPPD: 2 Special Events with Our Special Guest, Dorothy Morrison!

2011-08-31T11:30:00.000-04:00

Rochester Pagan Pride Day is Saturday, September 10, 2011.

And it's our 13th Anniversary!

In Celebration we're having 2 Special Events with our Special Guest, Dorothy Morrison!

Come out and join us!

***

2 Special Events
With
Our Special Guest
Dorothy Morrison

**********************************************
Friday, September 9, 2011

THE FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL:
An Evening With Dorothy Morrison

When: 7 to 10 pm
Where: Lightways Spiritual Journey, 228 Gilmore Road, Brockport, NY

Tickets: $10 in advance online

Go to www.rochesterpaganpride.com/page24q.htm to get your advance sale tickets!

$12 at the door

Come enjoy a Special Evening Workshop with Dorothy Morrison!

MAGIC DOWN & DIRTY: NO FLUFF, NO SPARKLE, JUST RESULTS

Have you done all you can do in the mundane realm to resolve a situation? Have you had "all you can stand and can't stand no more?" Maybe it's time to level the playing field a little, and Magic can be your equalizer. If you are prepared to "own your stuff," then this is the workshop for you. Magic, down and dirty!

[NOTE: The subtitle No Fluff, No Sparkle, Just Results is serious. This workshop may offend those who believe the world is all goodness and light.]

*****************************************

A BOOK SIGNING EVENT!

Meet and Greet!!
Sunday, September 11, 2011 (Note: Date changed from 9/9)

When: 1 to 4 pm
Where: Psychic's Thyme, 439 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY

Bring along your books by Dorothy, and have her sign them!

American Rhetoric: Movie Speech "Independence Day" (1996)

2011-07-04T12:01:00.001-04:00

In thinking about Independence Day, with all its various implications, I happened to think about the speech that President Whitmore gave to the troops in the movie Independence Day right before they launched the attack against the alien ships. The whole thing got to me, and I still get chills when I think about it, but in particular the first section that I've underlined below.

It's become pretty obvious to me that over the past year, all around the world, people from so many countries have been declaring their Independence from tyranny, oppression, persecution and annihilation. They have cried out for their freedom, and in a lot of cases, they've won it. I just wish it didn't have to come at the cost of human lives or damage to our planet.

I declare my Independence today, to do what is right for my planet and my fellow human beings, to fight for the freedom of all mankind to live and worship according to their beliefs, safely, without harm to others.

Think about it, won't you?

The President

Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind.

Mankind -- that word should have new meaning for all of us today.

We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore.

We will be united in our common interests.

Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution -- but from annihilation.

We're fighting for our right to live, to exist.

And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice:

"We will not go quietly into the night!

We will not vanish without a fight!

We're going to live on!

We're going to survive!"

Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!

What's in a Name?

2011-07-03T10:43:00.001-04:00

What's in a Name? Quite a bit, actually. It's a brief synopsis, a snapshot, of what something is, whether it be a written article, an event, a book, a picture... I think you get the idea.

In this case, it's the name of an event, and my brain just can't find the right one this time.

So I'm looking for some help!

RPPD is hosting The Dragon Ritual Drummers on August 13 for a special fundraising concert. Two hour live concert with interactive Ritual built in. It's also more than that (hopefully).

The idea is to have this be a sort of "mini Brushwood-type" thing (since I and some of my friends can't go to Brushwood this year). Over-night camping, bonfire, drumming, etc. With vendors and food. With a couple of workshops. One of which I'd like to be building drums (with Stan The Drum Man from Build A Drum Bonnaroo, if I could get in touch with him and he's available!). And Intro to Drumming. And some other entertainment as well.

DRD is currently celebrating the release of their new CD "Temple of The Drum".

One of my ideas for a name for this event was "It's all about the Drums". But that's not quite right either. I'd love to "steal" DRD's CD title, but that's got copyrights attached.

See where I'm at?

So now I ask for your help!

Give me some ideas here, people!

What's that you're saying? What's the incentive to help? How about two free tickets to the concert/weekend? Okay, AND a free copy of DRD's new CD. Okay? Okay!

Time frame for "Name" submissions is 7/3 to 7/6. (Gotta get flyers made up and printed out by Friday!)

One last thing.... Thank you!!!

Feeling Like My Skin Is Too Tight

2011-05-09T14:49:00.001-04:00

I have a day off today, and there are quite a few things that I want to do (and that need doing) around my home.

It's now 12:30 pm, and I haven't done one single thing (except drink my coffee).

Well, I did sleep in until 10:30 am today, and that's a miracle for me. Most of the time my "internal clock" has me up by 9 am out of habit. But that could also be attributed to my cats, who seem to believe that I should be awake and moving by that time every day. They don't understand the concept of my not having to go to work equaling me sleeping in.

So I'm sitting here writing, which I haven't done in a while. And feeling "itchy", as if my skin is too tight. It's the feeling of energy being restrained, when it wants to break free.

For me, it's the conflict of the "Have To Do" and "Want To Do" Lists. There are a whole lot of detailed things on the "Have to Do" List. And a BIG Question Mark on the "Want To Do" List.

A Question Mark, you ask? Yep. A Question Mark. Actually a whole lot of them. ???????????????

The reason for that is really simple. It goes back to my last post, of what I've been dreaming of. I KNOW that there's something I really want to, and should be doing. I just can't put my finger on it yet. The result of that is this feeling of my skin being too tight. Feeling restricted, boxed in, confined, almost trapped. Wired for sound, don't want to just sit, but don't want to waste time doing something that might turn out to be not what I should have been doing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy. Very happy in my life, as I'd said before. All is well and good, except for this damned cold and bronchitis that I've got right now.

Hmmmm.... Maybe I should take a little closer look at that...

From the viewpoints of Reiki and the Chakra System, I currently have blockages or deficiencies affecting the Heart, Throat, and Third Eye Chakras. And possibly the Crown Chakra. I'm going to do some more research about all that, and see what I need to do to fix that.

But back to what I'd been talking about... I am happy, it's just this feeling. I think through the lists of things I need to do, and very quickly reach the overwhelmed stage, because a lot of it feels like it needs to be done NOW. Which very quickly leads to my typical Aries reaction of "I don't want to", so I don't. Which leads to an increase of that itchy feeling, of not wanting to just sit and do nothing. So I think about doing something with the wide variety of crafts I like to do. I don't do any of them very well, I'm sort of that "jack of all trades, master of none" when it comes to arts and crafts and creative talent areas. Which leads back to nope, that's not the right thing, and an increase in my frustration. And round and round it goes, until I just want to scream.

I need to clean my house. (messy, but not filthy... when did I become a neat freak?)

I need to clean, sort, and thrash out closets and cupboards and storage bins. (spring cleaning, there's so much crap in here, feeling closed in)

I need to work on RPPD stuff. (way behind schedule)

I need/want to go visit my kids and heart family and spend time with them (which I feel really bad about, which takes extra gas which I don't have extra money for, which takes time away from the other stuff I need to do, which makes me feel guilty and bad)

I want to.... I don't know exactly what it is that I want to do, but doing nothing makes me feel guilty and lazy.

And as an Aries, I don't take well to HAVING to do things!

And so it goes, around and around and around and around...

So what am I going to do? For right now, I'm going to go get myself another cup of coffee, and have a couple of cigarettes along with it and play a few games of Mahjong until the coffee is gone. (Procrastinator! LOL)

Then, I'm going to pick one thing that's on my "house" to-do-list, and do it.

Maybe that will get the ball rolling....

Dream a Little Dream of....

2011-02-28T23:28:00.001-05:00

.... Something! I was going to say anything, just dream. But the dream is important, and even more so the dreaming of it.

It's not just the night-time dreams either. It's the day-time ones that, I think, are so much more important. Those are the dreams that help to shape our lives. That sometimes can, really should be, the ones that become our guiding star. They are the dreams that can make us set goals for things we want to accomplish, of how and where we want to live, of what kind of work/job/career we want to have, of who we want to be. Therein lies the importance of the dreaming.

The dreaming of the dream is the roadmap to making the dream come true. It's how we get from point A, the dream, to point Z, the reality. The manifestation of the dream. The Universe is waiting to make our dreams reality, but we have to do the legwork along the way. As much as I believe in magick, I also know that it is my effort, my energy that causes the magick to work. I have to put the energy into following the roadmap that I design in order to reach the goal.

So I dream. Some days more than others, a lot of days not much at all. I don't always want to do the work to make the magick happen. Sometimes I watch the magick happen for other people, and think, wow, if only.... So I look a little harder to see what my dreams are, to see what I would be willing to put the energy into. There are a few things, but they aren't really what makes my heart sing.

What does "what makes your heart sing" mean? Some of my friends know what I mean by that phrase, and happily they have found their song. So I'll now tell you.

A few years ago, we held one of our Mid-Summer Celebration Rituals at my heart-brother Ben's place. Two of my heart-sisters, Linda and Wolfie, and I led the ritual that day. (We all wore golden cloaks that Lin had brought, and wound up carrying the title of "The Golden Girls" because of it.) It was wonderful! Anyway, as happens a lot of times during Ritual, I spoke and led a short meditation at the midpoint of the ritual. And, as happens a lot of times, the first few words that I spoke were mine, but the rest of it was "someone else" sharing their message. I don't consider myself a channeler, but it happens quite a bit. I start talking, and then get bumped aside by an energy who wants to speak. I don't get to hear what they say, and have to ask afterword what was said.

On this particular day, I knew that I was going to borrow the phrase "find what makes your heart sing" from another heart-sister, Rhonda. She had found the words somewhere, and we had spent some time talking about it. It means to do those things that fill your heart with joy, that gives you that warm, happy feeling that sticks around for a long time. The kind of thing that you never get bored with, that you are always happy when you do it, that never feels like work or a chore to do. That makes you feel really alive, that satisfies you. Do you get what I mean? That's what we call "making your heart sing." Whatever it might be, it fills you up, lifts your spirits, and usually results in good things happening, not just for you, but for other people too.

Sounds like a lot to think about, doesn't it? In the long run, it's not. It is really as simple as looking at the things you like to do, and holding them close to your heart for a moment, if only in your mind. Your heart knows what the right thing is. Your soul knows. It's a vibrational match when it's the right thing. The vibrations match up, and start to feed off of and into each other, and the vibrations rise, and start to sing because they match. You feel it inside and out. You feel and hear them singing. And then you start to "sing". And it's the most glorious sound ever.

It changes your entire life.

I have lots of little things that make my heart sing. I don't always hear them because I drown them out with "junk", as I call it. Mundane world worries, letting myself get stressed out by stoopid things (and people). There are days when I don't want to hear the little songs, I want "the big one", and that stresses me even more. I wonder what I'm doing wrong, what am I supposed to be doing, what do I need to change? The answer? It's simple, really, and I just found it. I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, and I don't need to change anything. I've got a full orchestra playing right now, a wonderful variety of heart songs that are so glorious, each in their own right, in their own way. They flow from one to the other perfectly. I've only had to listen and feel it. And I do.

May you also find what makes your heart sing.

I'm Dreaming Of...

2010-12-05T20:49:00.001-05:00

A White Christmas? Well, sure, that would be fine and nice. It's this stuff that's coming down now that I'm not liking very much. It is currently 24 degrees, with winds gusting up to 29 miles an hour, making the wind chill 14 degrees or less. Not nice! Nasty, really. And Winter is just beginning here in New York.

I am NOT ready for it. Plain and simple. Don't want it. Don't want to have to drive in it. Don't want to have to shovel it. Don't want to have to dress like Nannook of The North to go to work in it.

Yes, that's a lot of negatives, so I am trying really hard to think positive thoughts. I am warm in my house, comfortable, happy, cooking good food, enjoying cuddling with my cats and listening to them snore. Right now, two are on my bed, one is on my desk. All snoring!

Along with those positive thoughts are others that have been rolling around in my thoughts and dreams lately. Especially over the past few days with the moon phase coming into Dark and now New Moon. This month's New Moon is in Sagittarius, and the main line written by StarIQ about it says: "The New Moon in Sagittarius is a time of vision and hope. Fresh ideas for future travel, education and growth begin to sprout wings and get ready to fly."

I really like that, and part of why it has extra meaning for me is that I will be celebrating my 55th birthday in March. Yep, 55. Part of me can't believe it (the young me inside), part of me does (the physical part during fibro flares and weather-aggravated aches and pains). It's what's going on in my heart and soul lately that is the most important to me now. And that is really what this blog is about.

55 will be a big one for me. And I am using it as a major turning point in my life. You see, for those of you who are nowhere near this point, there comes a different kind of freedom when you click that age odometer over to 55. There's the Early Bird Senior Special Prices at Denny's! I can do that! I'm just kidding about that... sort of... I'm equating it with what happens when you pass that 55 mph speed limit sign, it's freedom, it's open road, it's not having to crawl along not really getting very far very fast. It's taking a look back, and knowing that it's been good so far. But also knowing that there's more to come, and I can make whatever I want out of it, which is exactly what I'm going to do.

I could retire... IF I had worked the same job for 30 years, and it was one of those jobs where you could do that. But I don't and haven't, and Social Security won't start until I'm at least 62 (with a really crappy benefit level). <sigh> (Besides, I think my boss would probably want to kill me) So, no retiring for me yet. (Where ARE those winning Lottery numbers??!)

Some of the other "coulds" sound good when I say them out loud (yes, I talk to myself), but when I start thinking about them on a heart and soul level, they just don't feel right. And that's what I'm primarily going by these days. If the thought lights a spark that warms the inner me, then it's something to take a serious look at, and make plans to make it happen. Throw it out to the Universe, with all my heart and soul behind it, and I believe that it will happen. (Sir Lancelot just woke up from his nap at that moment, looked at me and meowed, saying "yes, that's right" with a big smile on his face. Okay, I get it!)

So the plans are in the works, notes being made in my Journal. In the meanwhile, I am happy and grateful for what I have in my life right now. I am happy in my home, happy in my job, happy with my family, friends, and critters, and thankful for all of it.

It's all good, and it's going to get even better!

Seeing and Hearing, Looking and Listening

2010-10-17T15:33:00.001-04:00

It's interesting how, for the most part, things that happen on a daily basis tend to pass through our awareness without much recognition or impact.

What we see on tv or during our daily commute to work, what we hear on the radio or in the course of daily conversations with family, friends, and co-workers, it all sort of slides by without much of it "sticking" with us.

Oh, occasionally, there's something that manages to be recognized as worth holding on to, but, in the long run, not for very long. The days blend together, and the memories get blurred. All of a sudden, it's a year later, and we think "where did the time go?"

So it has been for me, for most of my life. Until this past week. Things are different now.

What happened?

First, last Saturday, I basically went deaf in one ear, temporarily, due to an excessive wax build-up. The other one wasn't nearly as bad, but still lacking. Monday morning, I went to the Immediate Care Center to have both flushed out. It was successful. Hearing restored, no permanent damage. In the interim, for most of the weekend, I experienced, at least partially, what people with hearing loss experience on a daily basis. Everything was muted. I found myself straining to hear the simplest things, like my cats meowing, birds singing, the wind moving through the trees. Answering the phone was difficult. Listening to music was annoying because I couldn't hear all the different levels of the sound. Doing my job was frustrating because I have to talk with people and listen to what they have to say about what they want and need for their eyeglasses. I felt that having to turn my head to one side to be able to hear them better was being rude, because I normally look straight at them while we're talking, and I was having to look at them sideways. Didn't like it much.

Now that I'm back to normal (whatever THAT is!), I'm paying better attention to the sounds in my life. To me, there's hearing, and then there's listening. I believe there's a difference there.

In the dictionary, hearing is the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived, and the act of perceiving sound. Listening, in the dictionary, is to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear; to pay attention; heed; obey; to wait attentively for a sound. So, in hearing, the sound is recognized, and flows on by. In listening, once recognized, the sound is taken in, processed, and retained. And thereby, understood and appreciated more. Which adds to the quality of life, in my book. I am now LISTENING!

The second event was just yesterday. While at work, I began to experience what I thought was the beginning of an ocular migraine. You know, the visual disturbance that looks like somebody's dropping a shimmering gossamer curtain down over one half of your field of vision? That's what I usually get; only very seldom does it turn into a full blown migraine headache. I consider myself lucky on that score, and it doesn't happen very often. Usually after something has stressed me out, and is all leveled out and resolved. I guess I must have gotten really frustrated with one of my co-workers yesterday! Thought that I'd shaken it off with a whatever, but I guess not. Anyway, within about 10 minutes of the visual disturbance starting, all of a sudden I started seeing white flashes of light, like lightening bolts, streaking down the left side of my vision. Crap! I freaked, and ran for our optometrist. Flashing white lights in the eye usually means there is a detachment of the retina happening, which if not treated with laser surgery pretty quickly, can result in loss of sight. And here I am, with no medical insurance, and no money to pay for any kind of treatment. We'd be talking at least $2000.00 for that to be done. Yeah, NO! Wouldn't be happening for me!

Our Doc was actually getting ready to leave for the day, and said why didn't you tell me about this like an hour ago? I told him quite emphatically that it had only started about 10 minutes ago. So he said, okay, and proceeded to put in the drops to dialate my pupils, so that he could see inside my eyes, and maybe see what was going on. I'm sure most folks have had the dialation done during an eye examination. It's okay, the drops sting a little, the eyes get very light sensitive for the duration, and the close-up vision gets messed up. Not so nice on a day off, really made it tough to work for the rest of the day.

So my eyes dialated, and the doc sets up the slit-lamp to have a look. Super bright white light directed into the inside of the eye via a 10 power magnifying lens! God, that hurts! All you want to do is slam your eyes shut, but you can't. Kind of cool is seeing a ghost image of the retina and all its blood vessels after the light goes away. Know how you get temporarily blinded when a flash bulb goes off? Multiply that by 10 in intensity, and in duration.

The result was good and bad. The good news: there is no retinal detachment. Both look good, healthy, and attached where and how they're supposed to be. Yay! The bad news: there is posterior vitreous detachment in the left eye. Sounds weird, and a little nasty if your mind travels into the gutter easily. The explanation is fairly easy to understand.

A brief anatomy lesson, if you'll bear with me. Inside our eyeballs, there is a jelly-like fluid, called the vitreous humour, shaped like a ball. Its purposes are two-fold: one being to keep the eyeball inflated and round, the other is to assist in focusing and directing light rays that come in through the pupil and lens onto the retina for transmission to, and interpretation by our brains. That's how we see things. This jelly ball is "attached" to the retina, stabilizing it, at the spot where the optic nerve comes in. Over time, with age, the jelly shrinks and liquefies, which can lead to a detachment. When that happens, the ball starts "bouncing" or shifting around inside the eyeball, sometimes smacking up against the retina, which causes the light flashes. Another result of this is the increase in the number of "floaters", or what looks like black specks or strings, that wiggle through the field of vision. I've got a few new ones now. One looks like a bubble, a couple look like worms (almost), and there is also what I'm seeing as a "fold" on the far left side of my vision.

The prognosis, as the doc would say, is that there is nothing that can be done to fix this. It has to stabilize on its own, which should happen in about 6 weeks or so. The light flashes will minimize, I'll learn to ignore the floaters, and the optical center in the brain will reprogram to interpret images a little differently. I do have to watch for possible bleeding. Doc said if the world suddenly turns pink, there's a bleed. But it should all be okay. This is just one of those "things" that can happen as we age; not necessarily as the result of any kind of trauma. Meaning you don't have to get smacked in the head for this to happen. Great!

So much for the medical stuff.

It was what I observed during the dialation, and more afterward that made the impression on me. I kind of felt like I was in a bubble for a while. Things looked a little distorted, different than they usually looked. It sort of made me feel like I wasn't totally on the ground anymore. The effect of the lights in the store was different; some parts of it was cleaner and sharper than others. While riding home in the car, I looked at street lights, car headlights, house lights, the moon and the stars. All of them looked different. The light came through in layers, more three dimensional than I could recall seeing before. Everything looks different, and I'm looking at everything differently today.

Back to the dictionary again. Looking: turning one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see; glancing or gazing in a manner specified; using one's sight or vision in seeking, searching, examining, watching, etc.. Seeing: perceiving with the eyes; viewing; perceiving (things) mentally; discerning; understanding; constructing a mental image of; visualizing; to be cognizant of; recognizing; ascertaining, learning, or finding out; to have knowledge or experience of; to understand intellectually or spiritually; have insight; to give attention or care; to consider; think; deliberate.

Bet you can guess which one I'm going with now, right? SEEING! There's a difference for me in that the things I look at everyday are really being seen now. The images are registering more solidly, and there is understanding and appreciation that I think I was missing before.

On both the mundane and spiritual levels, this past week has been an awakening for me. I won't be forgetting to see and listen any time soon.

Namaste',

Myriah

Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffet on CMT Crossroads

2010-03-26T23:51:00.004-04:00

If you haven't seen this rendition of Free/Into The Mystic, you've got to watch this! Absolutely awesome!

Jimmy Buffett

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

I'll see you next year....

2009-12-28T00:04:00.001-05:00

... and next year is only, what, 4 days away?! It should still be July by my calendar...

My "calendar" is waaaay off these days. Oh, I'm doing my very best to correct that. And day by day it gets better. I do a little something every day to make it better. Things that I know I can do, slowly, steadily, one thing at a time. Some days it is very difficult to do. Some days this body of mine doesn't want to get out of bed when I have to. Damn Fibromyalgia anyway! (Of course, staying up until all hours of the night playing School of Wizardry and School of Magic on Facebook doesn't help, but that's my own fault, my own choice, so I can't blame anybody but me for those days.) I think I'm about due for one of those "I'm not doing anything" days here shortly, which I really haven't had since I moved in November this year.

I am really looking forward to the end of 2009, and the beginning of 2010. I am planning a real little "celebration" for myself on 12/31 at midnite. Not that this past year was horrible, some of my friends had it a lot worse than me. It was, however, a year of "transformation" for me, to take the steps that I needed to take to be able to step fully into who I am, to do what I'm supposed to be doing. It was difficult to do, because it meant walking away from an over four year relationship with a man who I loved dearly. The reason? To be as succinct as possible without causing him any additional pain, I will simply say that our life paths decided to head in different directions. To stay in our handfasted relationship would be inappropriate, and we probably would have wound up hurting each other a whole lot more in the long run. So the handfasting is untied, dissolved, and we've parted, both having learned some lessons along the way, to go on our separate paths.

I'm okay with it, now. I'm in my own space, with my three cats, most everything is settled where it's supposed to be here in my new place. (I swear I will hire movers the next time, even if I have to save for an additional six months to pay them, if that's what it takes.) I'm enjoying being able to do what I want, how I want, when I want (with the only restriction on that being what time I have to go to work the next day). And so I'm looking forward to the New Year (on the calendar). It holds lots of promise for me, for my life, for my spiritual path, for my "work".

I do want to take a couple of moments here to say thank you to those friends and heartfamily who helped me with my moving: Ben, Lori, Linda, Jean, Larry, Ameya, boB, who helped load everything into trucks and cars and bring it all here, and then unload it too; and again to Linda, who put up with me and my cats in her home for a month between when I moved out of my former home and when I could move into my new one. I could not have done it without all of you, and I am so very, very grateful for your help, love, and support.

Anyway, before I start blubbering here... it's all good, you see? It all happens for a reason, even if we don't know what the reason is for a long time after. It's all a result of choices we make, even if the choices leave us feeling bruised and battered, wondering why (or why not). We still somehow manage to get to where we are supposed to be, as long as our intentions are good, and our hearts are in the right place. Throwing the "what's next?" question out to the Universe with a positive mindset usually winds up with a positive result, even if we're not too sure we're headed in the right direction along the way. Our internal soul compass knows the right way, and will get us there.

So I say to you now, I'll see you next year, and I will close with what I've posted here (and sent out to people I know) over the past couple of years. Happy New Year!

~Myriah

To Everyone,

My personal Best Wishes to you and Yours for a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year in 2010!

May you find positive ways to be happy.
May you do what is necessary to achieve and maintain personal health and well-being.
May you know peace and contentment within yourself.
May you know the joys of family connections, be they biological or heart-chosen.
Every day may you experience....
something to smile about
something to giggle about
something to belly-laugh about
something to make you say "awwww"
a hug from a friend
a kiss from someone you love
a "thank you", heartfelt, both given and received
a compliment
doing something positive for someone, with no strings attached, without them knowing it was you who did it.
hearing a song on the radio that touches your heart with a smile

learning something new every day
joy
understanding
compassion
the knowledge that guilt and anger are both useless and harmful emotions
the ability to let go of guilt and anger
strength
courage
faith in yourself
serenity
gratitude
friendship
love

And finally, the words of a song that I will probably consider to be my all-time favorite...

My Wish - Rascal Flatts

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you
And the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

Don't know what to title this...

2009-10-03T00:25:00.001-04:00

As I'm getting ready to go to sleep tonight, I find that I can't. My mind won't stop turning, my thoughts won't quiet down, I'm wide awake. I feel the urge to write something, but the thoughts are jumbled, disconnected, tangled. Might have something to do with having watched FlashForward tonight, or with the preview of 2012 that's been running on TV....

It bothers me that the focus of a lot of shows that are coming on TV and in the movies now concerning 2012 is major disaster. So many people seem to have this view of it being the end of the world, that our planet will be destroyed, and life as we have known it will end.

I have to say that I'm tired of that angle, that point of view. I need to express what I see coming, what I've seen happening.

Yes, I used the word "seen", and yes, that means a vision of what the future might hold. I don't get visions very often, I only hear voices in my head occasionally. I am a witch, and I follow an eclectic pagan spiritual path. As I get older, I am getting a little eccentric about some things, but I think we all do. I am finding more of the freedom that comes with growing older, and I really wouldn't want to go back to when I was younger. As the saying goes, been there, done that. Some of my life has been rough, most of it has been wonderful. There are days when I would have liked to have made different choices along the road that I've traveled, but I don't think I'd be where I'm at now if I had. So it's all been part of the process, so to speak.

Anyway...

I believe that 2012, the end of the Mayan Calendar, will be a turning point for humanity on this planet. The decisions that we make, as the human race here, will determine the result and the rest of our future. Part of it depends on what we do in the coming few years, part on what we believe. We have the choice, the power to affect our future in a positive way. We can choose to raise ourselves up and become all that we can possibly be, to become truly one people, to regain all the knowledge that has been lost, or I should say hidden away. Or we can choose to tear ourselves apart, and destroy everything.

What difference does skin color make? None whatsoever. Take off the skin and we are all identical underneath. Same bone, same muscle, same blood, same organs. Absolutely no difference.

What difference does religion make? None whatsoever. All paths lead to the Universal Divine, regardless of the name used. The ideology is the same. The core values are the same.

What difference does age make? None, unless you're wine or cheese. Okay, that was silly...

Love is truly the key to happiness. Being kind, and helping someone who needs help is paramount to being connected to the Divine. We are all part of the Divine, after all.

And now I'm rambling.... so it's time for sleep....

Namaste,

Myriah

From RPPD: Town Hall Meeting Announcement

2009-03-19T15:04:00.000-04:00

Please share this announcement with any and all Pagans in the Greater Rochester Community.

A "Town Hall" Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 5, 2009, hosted by The Greater Rochester Pagan Pride Project, Inc. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, with the meeting to begin promptly at 7 pm.

Items for discussion at this meeting will pertain to a potential name change for the Rochester Pagan Pride Day Festival and the use of the pentagram on Festival event signs.

The Location of this meeting will be the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), One Lomb Memorial Drive (off Jefferson Road), Bldg 6 (College of Liberal Arts), Room 1251 (Faculty Commons).   Parking will be in Lot U (see RIT site map here)

All Pagans in the Greater Rochester Community are welcome and invited to attend this community Forum to express their views on these subjects so that your voices may be heard.

It is quite apparent that there are people in the Rochester Area Pagan Community who hold very strong feelings about the name our event is identified by, which we believe is a good thing, regardless of which direction those feelings lean.  It is also quite apparent that we, as the Board, along with the Planning Committee for RPPD, made a major error in the manner in which the subject of a potential name change was handled when it came up. We did not take the time for due diligence and we did not submit the subject to the general community. This was a mistake that we need to correct as soon as possible.

Upon arrival at this meeting, there will be two sign-up sheets at the door. One is for attendance records, the second will be for those who wish to speak to list their names. When the floor is opened for comments, speakers will be called in order of sign-up, so please make sure to sign in!   We will be asking only for your name (either Craft or mundane) on both of the sign-up sheets, with an option of supplying your contact email if you so wish. Anonymity will be maintained for those who wish it so.

At this meeting event, the topics of discussion will be:

#1 - the potential name change of our event,

#2 - the use of the Pentagram as our official symbol on roadside and event entrance signs.

Initially, brief presentations will be made of:

- the initial proposal pertaining to the name change and what transpired at the December 2008 Planning Committee meeting

- the Mission Statements and Statements of Purpose of The Greater Rochester Pagan Pride Project, Inc., and Pagan Pride International

- The requirements for event names issued by Pagan Pride International


Please note: As a Pagan Pride Day organization we are contractually required to comply with all Pagan Pride International policies. One of these policies is that the name must include the phrase "Pagan Pride Day". Please refer to the Pagan Pride International policies page at:

http://www.paganpride.org/do/eventpolicies.html

- Ideas for different pagan symbology on the event signs from a desire to include other spiritual paths that do not identify with the pentagram

Following this, the floor will be opened to all to present their views.

Although it is not a requirement to speak, we request that written copies of presentations/statements be brought so that they may be given to the Board for our files. All such files will be open and available for review by any member of the Rochester Pagan Community who might wish to do so.

Each person will be allotted five (5) minutes speaking time, with no interruptions by other attendees.

As we are aware, there may be members of the local Pagan Community who might not be able to attend this Town Hall Meeting. Therefore, we are setting up a special email address to which your statements may be sent, which is: townhall@rochesterpaganpride.com

Letters received prior to April 3, 2009, including the author's name (Craft or mundane),  will be read aloud at the meeting following the presentations by community members in attendance. For privacy the author's email address will not be read aloud nor included in any manner.   If you are in favor of a change of name for our Event, we ask that you make a suggestion of such during your presentation, or include your suggestion in your email letter.

A Tally will be kept during the meeting of the statements presented to maintain the current name, and those presented to change the name, along with any suggested possible names. Immediately upon the conclusion of Town Hall Meeting, the Executive Board will meet to review the opinions expressed. Based upon these opinions the Board will decide whether or not to retain the current event name. The results of this meeting will be shared with the community members still present.

If the event name is going to be changed an announcement including further instructions and applicable deadlines will be posted on our website, and a vote to decide the new name will be taken. The Executive Board of Directors of The Greater Rochester Pagan Pride Project, Inc. and the Event Planning Committee will abide by the voting results.

Thank you for letting us hear your voices.

Myriah, Larry, and Suzan

Executive Board of Directors,

The Greater Rochester Pagan Pride Project, Inc

Text of Inaugural Address by President Barack Obama

2009-01-20T13:07:00.001-05:00

Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday, as prepared for delivery and released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

OBAMA: My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment a moment that will define a generation it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

In Memorium: "Twerp"

2009-01-05T15:44:00.003-05:00

Axel Sterling Gizmo Peetwerp, aka "Twerfie"

October 9, 1994 to December 26, 2008

Our little dog, Axel (aka Twerfie) was a 14 year old tiny toy poodle, who had developed an enlarged heart and probably congestive heart failure. He had four "episodes" two weeks before Christmas (Wed, Thurs, Fri) in which he basically died, and I brought him back by tapping on his chest to get his heart beating again. The vet believes that these episodes were fainting spells due to insufficient oxygen to the brain, not seizures, but the first couple of times he stopped breathing and his heart stopped. He had been put on Lasix to get the extra fluid out of his chest, and it seemed to be working up until Christmas Eve Day, when his breathing became very shallow again, and he had more episodes about every two hours all day long.

Twerfie passed away on December 26 while Ron and I were at work. We believe that he did not want either one of us to have to watch him die, and that he probably crossed over shortly after I left that day (Ron had gone to work before me). We came home and found him in his little bed, just as he had been in the morning. We took Axel to our vet's on last Saturday morning to make arrangements to have him cremated. It was so very very hard for Ron to let go and leave him there. We're doing okay, but it's been a rough few weeks.

You see, Twerfie was Ron's baby. Twerfie came to live with us two years ago on Christmas Eve. He attached himself to Ron while we were visiting my step-kids at their house. He ran to say hi to Ron when we got there, Ron picked him up, put him on his lap, and held him almost the entire time we were there. And that's where he pretty much stayed for the past two years, because my kids said "You can have him if you want him". No need to write any more about that.

Twerfie only weighed about 5-1/2 pounds, but his crossing over has laid a heavy weight of sadness on both of us. He will be very much missed. We hope though, that his boundless loving spirit will want to come back around and spend more time with us.

Happy New Year 2009!

2009-01-01T12:29:00.001-05:00

The happiest of the New Year to each and every one of you

Lee and I would like to share our wishes for the New Year for each and every one of you...

May you find positive ways to be happy.

May you do what is necessary to achieve and maintain personal health and well-being.

May you know peace and contentment within yourself.

May you know the joys of family connections, be they biological or heart-chosen.

Every day may you experience....
something to smile about
something to giggle about
something to belly-laugh about
something to make you say "awwww"
a hug from a friend
a kiss from someone you love
a "thank you", heartfelt, both given and received
a compliment

doing something positive for someone, with no strings attached, without them knowing it was you who did it.

hearing a song on the radio that touches your heart with a smile

learning something new every day

joy
understanding
compassion

the knowledge that guilt and anger are both useless and harmful emotions

the ability to let go of guilt and anger

strength
courage
faith in yourself
serenity
gratitude
friendship
love

And, to quote Rascal Flatts...

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you
And the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Much Love,

Myriah & Lee

We Shall Be Free

2008-01-25T21:29:00.000-05:00

Every so often I hear this song on the radio, and it seems to be a "staple" song for Garth Brooks to play in his concerts, like the "Live in LA" show that is on CBS tonight.

Every time I hear it, I think of how true the words are, and how much I wish the entire worlds would join in singing it and passing the words along, but more importantly to actually make it all happen.

So, enjoy and pass it on!

Namaste,

Myriah

We Shall Be Free

Written by: - Stephanie Davis - Garth Brooks

This ain't comin' from no prophet
Just an ordinary man
When I close my eyes I see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand

When the last child cries for a crust of bread
When the last man dies for just words that he said
When there's shelter over the poorest head
We shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within
When the skies and the oceans are clean again
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud
'Cause we shall be free
When we're free to love anyone we choose
When this world's big enough for all different views
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew
Then we shall be free
We shall be free

We shall be free
Have a little faith
Hold out
'Cause we shall be free

And when money talks for the very last time
And nobody walks a step behind
When there's only one race and that's mankind
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith, hold out
We shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, have a little faith

We shall be free

Blessings of Samhain to All

2007-10-31T21:50:00.000-04:00

Blessings of Samhain to All
May this night find you filled with laughter and joy.
May the celebration of the New Year fill you with hope and peace.
May all your dreams and wishes come true.

To borrow from Rascal Flatts...

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you
And the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Blessings,
Myriah

In Memoriam

2007-07-14T20:05:00.001-04:00

Howard C. Walter, O.D.

February 2, 1947 to July 14, 2007

For My Friend...

Now you can run as far and as fast as you want.

The pain is done, and you are free.

I will miss you in this life, but I know I'll see you again someday.

With Love and Respect,

Myriah

Cranky, cranky...

2007-06-02T15:06:00.000-04:00

I guess I do understand the "why" of it all, from a perspective of metaphysical, energetic, and spiritual evolution standpoint. It's the rest of the "why" that I'm having difficulty with these days... I am using the term "everybody" loosely, since it applies to people in the world I know, and what I see in the papers, on the news, what I read in online group posts and blogs.

Why is Everybody so Cranky lately???

Short tempers, quick to criticize, focusing on negativity, whining....

I'll write more on this later, as I need to get ready for work today, and want to compile some information to go along with this...

Find something to smile about today!

Namaste,

Myriah

Wiccan Symbol OK for soldiers' graves!!

2007-04-23T19:23:00.001-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/wiccan.grave.ap/index.html

Wiccan symbol OK for soldiers' graves
POSTED: 1:22 p.m. EDT, April 23, 2007

MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) -- The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the
list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on
government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a
settlement announced Monday.

A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and
Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief"
allowed on VA grave markers.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the
pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle
Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wisconsin, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent
earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers
within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.

"I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for
Memorial Day," Fox said.

The VA sought the settlement in the interest of the families involved
and to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, VA spokesman
Matt Burns said. The agency also agreed to pay $225,000 in attorneys'
fees and costs.

The pentacle has been added to 38 symbols the VA already permits on
gravestones. They include commonly recognized symbols for
Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for
smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the
Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.

"This settlement has forced the Bush Administration into acknowledging
that there are no second class religions in America, including among
our nation's veterans," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, director of
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represented
the Wiccans in the lawsuit.

The American Civil Liberties Union said the agreement also settles a
similar lawsuit it filed last year against the VA. In that case, the
ACLU represented two other Wiccan churches and three individuals.

VA-issued headstones, markers and plaques can be used in any cemetery,
whether it is a national one such as Arlington or a private burial
ground like that on Circle Sanctuary's property.

Wicca is a nature-based religion based on respect for the earth,
nature and the cycle of the seasons. Variations of the pentacle not
accepted by Wiccans have been used in horror movies as a sign of the
devil.

Earth Day 2007: April 22

2007-04-21T13:27:00.001-04:00

From www.earthday.net....

Climate Change Solutions: What You can Do Right Now

Global warming threatens our planet and could cause untold harm to our planet's ecosystem. Some of these changes have already begun:

severe weather changes;
threats to our food and water supplies;
rising sea levels;
glacier melting;
endangerment of thousands of plant and animal species;
the spread of deadly diseases.

13-year-old Savannah Walters of Florida was so concerned about the amount of gas wasted by cars with under-inflated tires she organized a "Pump 'em Up" campaign to educate and encourage others to check their tires frequently. Savannah now gives speeches to schools and to the public and passes out donated tire gauges.

Ted Barnes of Washington moved to Spring Lake and learned that the habitat was infested with four species of harmful aquatic weeds. He devoted himself to clearing these non-native plants from the habitat by organizing community work groups, establishing partnerships between local environmental agencies and community groups and acquiring a $67,000 grant to control the weeds.

Wang Yongchen, a journalist in Beijing, founded the environmental group Green Earth Volunteers in 1994 after learning about the importance of protecting the environment through her travels. Yongchen organized a wide-spread grassroots campaign against a proposal in 2003 to build 13 dams along the Nu River. She formed coalition of China's NGOs to protest the project. The coalition conducted field surveys of the area, organized seminars, delivered speeches, handed over reports to the government and gathered foreign support against the project. Yongchen's efforts resulted in the suspension of the dam project in early 2004. She was named one of the "Green Chinese of the Year," in 2006 for representing the growing strength of the environmental movement in China.

6-year-old Ryan Hreljac of Ontario began a crusade to buy wells for people in Africa after learning many don't have access to clean water. In 1998, Ryan came up with $75 through extra chores but was told that it costs $2,000 to drill a well on another continent. Instead of giving up, Ryan devoted himself to the cause and expanded his fundraising efforts until collecting $2,000. He did not stop there but created the Ryan's Wells Foundation, RyansWell.ca , that has raised $1,500,000 to drill wells in 12 different African countries. Now 15-years-old, Ryan has helped drill 266 wells providing 435,343 people with a clean, healthy source of water they did not have before.

Now it's your turn.

Here's our Top 10 list of actions for individuals, organizations and businesses to take as a first step in reducing your contribution to global warming. Send us an email with a pledge of the actions you can commit to right now and begin your journey to save the earth. The time to act is now.

Project Switch: Change your light bulbs!

There are now highly efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that last for years, use a third of the energy of regular bulbs and actually produce more light. Look for the government's ENERGY STAR label, which means the bulb has been tested for quality and efficiency. While each ENERGY STAR qualified bulb can cost more initially - anywhere from $4 to $15 a piece - remember that there are two price tags: what you pay at the register and what you pay in energy costs over the bulb's lifetime. You may pay more up front, but you will actually save hundreds of dollars in your household budget over the long term because of their long life. Five ENERGY STAR light bulbs will save your household at least $150 over their lifetime.

Here's the impact. If every household in the U.S. replaced a burned-out bulb with an energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulb, the cumulative effect is enormous. It would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that from nearly 800,000 cars. It would also save enough energy to light 2.5 million homes for a year.

There are other, simple things with household lighting you can do to conserve. Turn off unneeded lights, dim lights when you can and bring natural sunlight into your home when it is feasible.

But changing those old light bulbs and replacing them with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescents that can last seven years or more is by far the best thing you can do.

Drive your car differently or drive a different car altogether!

The sad truth is that a gas guzzler emits as much CO2 as some homes! That's the bad news. The good news is that anything you can do to improve the fuel efficiency of your car will have an impact. On average, a passenger car emits 11,400 pounds of CO2 each year while a home emits 9,000 pounds of CO2 per person each year in the United States.

Horribly inefficient SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks now make up more than half of the cars on American roads. The real tragedy is that automakers could double the current average fuel efficiency of SUVs if they wanted. Even improving fuel economy from 20 miles-per-gallon to 25 miles-per-gallon would prevent 10 tons of CO2 from being released over a vehicle's lifetime.

Buying a fuel-efficient car (like a Hybrid) is wonderful. In fact, replacing your gas-guzzling car with a fuel-efficient one is by far the best thing you can do, out of all your choices. But not all of us can do that - at least, not right now. So, in the interim, there are things you can do with the car you drive now to conserve energy and be more fuel-efficient.

Drive less. Every year, Americans as a whole drive more miles than they did the year before. Stop this trend. Telecommuting and public transportation are great options. Leaving your car at home two days a week will reduce your CO2 emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. Even piling multiple errands into one trip helps and if you can walk instead of drive, even better.

Get your car tuned up. Just a simple tune-up often improves fuel efficiency. Studies have shown that a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10-20 percent.

Slow down, don't race your car's engine, and watch your idling. All of these save on gas (saving you money) and have a big impact on burning gasoline. You can save gas by turning the engine off and restarting it again if you expect to idle for more than 30 seconds.

Your house not too hot, not too cold!

The bad news is that about 42 percent of your household energy costs go toward just two things - heating and cooling. The good news is that means you have a lot of room to make a difference and even small changes can make dramatic improvements in household fuel efficiency.

Replacing older heating and cooling systems with new efficient models can cut your annual energy costs by 20 percent. So replacing the old with the new is a wonderful idea, but not very practical for most of us. Things you can do right now to make sure you're maintaining the right temperature in your house efficiently include:

Tune up your heating system. By keeping your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted, you can save up to 5 percent in heating costs.

Clean vents, close unused vents, and change filters in the vents. Again, just these simple things will save you up to 5 percent in costs.

Buy a programmable thermostat, which can regulate different temperatures at different times of the day. And if you have one, use it! These thermostats reduce energy use by 5-30 percent and save you $100-$150 in energy costs each year.

If one in 10 households serviced heating and cooling systems annually, cleaned or replaced filters regularly, used a programmable thermostat and replaced old equipment with ENERGY STAR models it would prevent the emissions of more than 17 billion pounds of greenhouse gases.

Add two degrees to the AC thermostat in summer, and two degrees in winter. If everyone did this, the cumulative impact is significant.

Make sure windows and doors are sealed. Again, this will dramatically improve your household fuel efficiency. Sealing air leaks and adding insulation can reduce your annual energy bill by 10 percent.

Of course, if you can stand it, by far the best approach is to avoid using air conditioners. Ceiling fans use 80 percent less energy than central air conditioners. By only using ceiling fans you can reduce your annual cooling costs by 10-65 percent. In warm weather run the fan blades in a counter-clockwise direction to feel 5 degrees cooler. During the winter set the fan blades to rotate clockwise at a low speed to force warm air from the ceiling down into the living space.

Tame the refrigerator monster!

Did you know that your friendly refrigerator has a voracious energy appetite? It is the biggest consumer of electricity among household appliances and responsible for 10-15 percent of the electricity you use each year.

Older refrigerators, as a rule, are far less efficient than the newest ones - as much as 50 percent less efficient. But buying a brand-new, energy-efficient refrigerator is not always in the cards for most of us. Fortunately, other things will help.

Don't set the thermostat too high. Lowering the temperature even 1 degree will make a big difference.

If your refrigerator is near a heating vent, or always in the sun, then change the location, cover up the heating vent near it or cover the window.

Turn on your "energy saver" switch near the thermostat.

Clean the condenser coil. This one, very simple thing can improve the efficiency of your refrigerator reducing your annual energy costs by $20.

Get rid of your second refrigerator. If you don't need it, don't waste the energy.

Make sure the doors seal properly, and keep the cool in.

Twist the knobs on your other household appliances!

The other big users of energy in your household are your hot water heater, your washer and dryer, and your dishwasher. Each, in its own way, can be inefficient. Here are some things to try:

Either turn the hot water heater down to 120 degrees, or turn on the "energy conservation" setting. Some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees when most households only require them at 120 or 115 degrees. For each 10 degrees reduction in water temperature, you can save 3-5 percent in energy costs.

Buy insulation at a local store and insulate your hot water heater and pipes.

Install a timer on your water heater to turn off at night and on just before you wake up in the morning.

When possible, wash a few dishes by hand. Over time, that will save a few loads in the dishwasher, conserving energy.

Don't pre-rinse dishes. Today's detergents are powerful enough to do the job.

Wait until you have a full load to run the dishwasher.

Wash clothes in warm water, not hot. Ninety percent of the energy used in operating a washing machine goes toward heating the water that washes and rinses the clothes. The clothes will be just as clean, and you'll cut energy use.

Don't over-dry your clothes.

Green plants with less water, more trees to provide shade.

While it is true that planting more trees will help in the short term because they essentially soak up carbon, they also release carbon dioxide when they die. So it just postpones the problem. But there are other reasons to plant trees - as wind breaks to save energy, and as shade to lower cooling costs. And even the short-term help while we get our act together is a good thing.

As for plants, do everything you can in your yard and garden to create ways in which plants use less water. Choose hardier plants, plant things in groups that need more water and put in mulch to help keep moisture in. When you mow your grass, make sure you do it smartly - with sharp blades, and only when the grass needs cutting. Finally, make sure you water your lawn sparingly. All of these will conserve energy.

Buy Green Energy, and invest in green energy stocks.

Imagine if we ran out of fossil fuels tomorrow, what would we do? Well, we'd get our electricity from renewable energy, such as solar panels, geothermal and wind power sources. Many utilities now give consumers the option to buy "green power." Ask for it!

Learn the truth about nuclear power and natural gas as viable "green" options. They aren't. Radioactive waste will be a problem for tens of thousands of years into the future. Even though natural gas emits half as much CO2 as coal, it is still responsible for 20 percent of CO2 emissions in the United States while only providing us with around 23 percent of the energy consumed. Natural gas can help us make a transition, but it isn't the solution.

Finally, invest in green stocks and renewable energy companies through socially responsible funds. They perform just as well (if not better) than all of the unfiltered funds.

Go organic.

Even with our vast reservoir of scientific knowledge about farming, most American farmers still spray a billion pounds of pesticides to protect crops each year.

Now here's the kicker: when chemical pesticides are used to kill pests, they can also kill microorganisms that keep carbon contained in the soil. When the microorganisms are gone, the carbon is released into the atmosphere as CO2. And when those organisms are gone, the soil is no longer naturally fertile and chemical fertilizers become a necessity, not a luxury.

But besides going organic - thereby saving the carbon release from soil - there are other simple things you can do with food that will also make a difference:

Eat locally grown food. If the food doesn't have to travel far, there's less CO2 from the trucks that ship it.

Eat fruits and vegetables in season. Again, that saves the enormous transportation costs.

Plant your own vegetable garden. It's not as hard as you might think.

Buy recycled.

This may sound simple, but it takes less energy to manufacture a recycled product than a brand new one. So if you and every other consumer buy recycled products, you'll help create a market, and conserve energy along the way.

Because many manufacturers don't go out of their way to tout their recycled products, you should know that aluminum and tin cans, glass containers, and pulp cardboard have a fair amount of recycled content. So buy away!

Recycled products can often be considerably cheaper than non-recycled products. Most recycled paper products are of comparable quality and cost competitive with virgin paper products.

Finally, before you buy, check to see if the product or its packaging can be recycled. The recyclable logo (three arrows forming a triangle) is fairly common now.

Be a minimalist.

We know it's difficult, but in today's consumer economy, an easy way to conserve energy is to simply use - and buy -- less. Every time you buy something, energy has gone into getting that product to you. So the less you buy, the more you save energy-wise. It's a simple equation.

This last item on our Top Ten list may, in fact, be the single biggest way to make a dent in the global warming problem. Again, we know it sounds obvious, but buying less things - some of which you just don't need - changes the energy equation across the board, on every single consumer product. If everyone used less, the impact would be large indeed.

So how about some specific things? Here are a few:

Buy in bulk. In short, bulk items use less packaging, which translates into less energy.

Buy one of something, not 21 of something. You don't need 21 pairs of shoes, if one pair works just as well.

Go through your closet. Donate or recycle what you really don't need, then make a pledge not to replace everything you just got rid of.

Buy quality products that will last longer. Over time, you'll obviously buy fewer products that way.

Be creative in what you use for work, play and leisure. You don't always have to buy new products for activities. Re-use in creative ways.

Well, that's it - Earth Day Network's Top 10. As we said at the start, if just a third of us in the United States follow through on most of what's on this list, we can all collectively make a difference - and keep greenhouse gas emissions where they might otherwise be if the U.S. government stepped in and imposed mandatory CO2 caps and fuel-efficiency standards.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Rogers,

President, Earth Day Network

Tragedy, Most Definitely... Societal Failure, Even More So...

2007-04-18T13:55:00.001-04:00

I've been glued to the television coverage of the tragic violence at Virginia Tech over the past few days.

Some may call that a bit "sick", to be so engrossed in the media "hype" that has surrounded such a sad event.

I cannot look away from it, it makes my heart and soul ache to think of the senseless deaths, not to mention the long-term effects on the families of those who died and the survivors.

But it goes so far beyond this.

My sadness and heart and soul ache are because of the failure of a society which I believe has fostered and allowed such events to occur through the disregarding of the individual, the denying of compassion and caring for each and every human being.

The following link is to the News & Analysis page of the World Socialist Web Site's section titled "Social Breakdown: Violence in the US". There you will find stories going back to 1998. An excerpt from one follows:

"Alienation in social relations has reached new heights. What does this mean concretely? Individuals increasingly feel themselves cut off from their fellow beings and indeed perceive other people as alien and even hostile to them. What does it take to kill another person, or group of people, as happened in Oregon? The youth reportedly shot four bullets into the body of a fellow student lying at his feet. This must mean that he no longer recognized his victim as someone like him, as one of his kind. Without, of course, consciously intending to, official society has encouraged such mental states.

Every effort has been made to cultivate a soulless society governed entirely by money and profit, to eradicate the elementary concern one human being feels for another. Intellectual life, culture, the pursuit of knowledge for the benefit of mankind as a whole, are held in low esteem. Individualism, greed and ruthlessness are venerated. This has had a material impact on the quality of human relationships.

Both for ideological and fiscal reasons, help is more and more denied those in emotional need. Services are cut, or even proclaimed unnecessary. Family life is strained, in many cases, by the need to juggle two or three jobs. The individual young person is often on his or her own. For the adolescent, undergoing, under the best of conditions, a difficult physical and psychological transition, every social tension is exacerbated."

Please read the articles... hopefully you will see that I mean....

http://www.wsws.org/sections/category/news/schoo-us.shtml

2006-09-01T11:47:00.000-04:00

Handfasting Ritual

This is one of the versions of the video that John Allee filmed at our Handfasting Ceremony and Celebration in July.
Thank you so much for doing this for us. It is a special treasure to us.
Blessings and Love,
Myriah

2006-07-20T21:43:00.000-04:00

Love Will Keep Us Alive...
Most definitely!
I love this song and video.

The Handfasting Ritual

2006-07-11T15:45:00.000-04:00

July 8, 2006
The Handfasting Ritual
Of
Myriah Dragonthorne and Lee SilverFox

The Welcome

Wolfie (Officiant):
Welcome, friends and family! We are gathered today to celebrate the union of Myriah and Lee in marriage. This ceremony is but an outward sign of their inward union of heart, mind and spirit, a celebration of the joining of two souls already attuned to each other. When such a true bond exists between two people, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgement be made. We are here to bear witness to the entry into the closer relationship of husband and wife of these beloved friends who are already one in spirit.

Blessing of the Elements

Emerald:
Moving to the altar, Emerald lights the incense and says:
Powers of the air, weave tightly the bonds of Heart, Spirit, and Love between Myriah and Lee. Let none undo the fabric of their love.
Smudges the couple with incense.

Ravija:
Lights candles and says:
Powers of fire, ignite the passion and love for Myriah and Lee, ever burning yet never one consuming the other.

Linda:
Raise the chalice up to the sky, saying:
Powers of water, bless Myriah and Lee with a love as deep as any ocean.
Sprinkles some water over the couple’s heads

Ameya:
Anoints the bride and groom’s foreheads with rose oil saying:
Powers of the earth bless Myriah and Lee with strength and wisdom as long as life and love lasts!

Handfasting & Declaration of Intent

Wolfie:
Know now before you go further, that since your lives have crossed in this life you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage.

With full awareness, know that within this circle you are not only declaring your intent to be handfasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your creative higher powers.

The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union;
they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.

Do you still seek to enter this ceremony?
Yes, We Seek to Enter.

In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

Emerald:
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun. The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.

Ravija:
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South. Warmth of hearth and home. The heat of the heart's passion. The light created by both To lighten the darkest of times.

Linda:
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West. The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river The refreshing cleansing of the rain The all encompassing passion of the sea.

Ameya:
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North Firm foundation on which to build Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives A stable home to which you may always return.

Wolfie:
Each of these blessings from the four cardinal directions emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union. Yet they are only tools. Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union.

I bid you look into each others eyes.

Lee, Will you cause her pain?
I May
Is that your intent?
No
Myriah, Will you cause him pain?
I may
Is that your intent?
No
Lee and Myriah
Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?
Yes
And so the binding is made. Join your hands
*First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands*

Myriah, Will you share his laughter?
Yes
Lee, Will you share her laughter?
Yes
Myriah and Lee
Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?
Yes
And so the binding is made.
*Second chord is draped across the couple’s hands*

Myriah, Will you burden him?
I may(actually said Probably)
Is that your intent?
No
Lee, Will you burden her?
I may
Is that your intent?
No
Lee and Myriah
Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?
Yes
And so the binding is made.
*Drape third chord across the couple’s hands*

Myriah, will you share his dreams?
Yes(actually said Definitely)
Lee, will you share her dreams?
Yes
Myriah and Lee
Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?
Yes
And so the binding is made.
*Drape fourth chord across the couple’s hands*

Lee, will you cause her anger?
I may
Is that your intent?
No
Myriah, will you cause him anger?
I may (actually said YEP!)
Is that your intent?
No
Lee and Myriah
Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?
We Will
And so the binding is made.
*Drape fifth chord across the couple’s hands*

Myriah, Will you honor him?
I will (actually said Always)
Lee, Will you honor her?
I will (Always)
Myriah and Lee
Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?
We shall seek never to do so
And so the binding is made.
*Drape sixth chord across the couple’s hands*

*Tie chords together while saying:*
The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always; you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.
*Once chords are tied together they are removed and placed on altar*

Hands of the Bride and Groom

Myriah, please face Lee, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your
face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

Lee, please hold Myriah’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Emerald:
May the Goddess and God bless these hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another.

Ravija:
Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love.

Linda:
Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted in reaching for your perfection.

Ameya:
May Lee and Myriah see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask these gifts for them, Blessed Be.

Vows and Exchange of Rings

Wolfie:
Circles represent eternity, and though our lives are finite, love - the creative force that binds us together, the force that gives new life - is everlasting.
Let us bless these rings.

Emerald:
The blessings of the wind upon these rings and your love, that you share communication and creativity.

Ravija:
The blessings of fire upon these rings and your love, that you share passion and the spirit.

Linda:
The blessings of water upon these rings and your love, that you share love and compassion.

Ameya:
The blessings of the earth upon these rings and your love, that you share health and sexuality.

Lee:
Myriah, I give you this as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment. All that I am and all that I have, I offer to you in love and in joy. I, Lee, take you, Myriah, to be my wife, from this day forward. I will love and comfort you, hold you close, prize you above all others, and remain faithful to you all the days of our lives

Myriah:
Lee, I give you this as a symbol of my eternal love and commitment. All that I am and all that I have, I offer to you in love and in joy. I, Myriah, take you, Lee, to be my husband, from this day forward. I will love and comfort you, hold you close, prize you above all others, and remain faithful to you all the days of our lives.

Unity Candle

Myriah, Lee and Wolfie move to altar where sits 3 candles. Wolfie asks them to each light a candle.

Wolfie:
These two candles are yourselves. Each of you is a whole and complete human being.
Together, light the third candle, but extinguish not the first two. For in marriage you do not lose yourself; you add something new, a relationship, the capacity to merge into one another without losing sight of your individual self.

Feast of Cakes and Wine

Wolfie: Handing chalice to Myriah
May you drink your fill from the cup life. May you never thirst.
Myriah holds cup to Lee who drinks and then gives cup to Lee who holds for Myriah, who drinks and returns the cup to Wolfie.

Wolfie: Handing cookie to Myriah
May you eat your fill from the food of the earth. May you never hunger.
Myriah feeds cookie to Lee. Wolfie hands cookie to Lee who feeds it to Myriah.

Blessing

Wolfie:
May that glory which rests on all who love, rest upon you, bless you, and fill you with happiness and a gracious spirit. May all that is noble and lovely and true abound in your hearts, and abide within you. May it give you strength in all your days together. May you accept life's rewards and bear its burdens together for all time.

I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.

Jumping of the Broom and Sword

Emerald, Ravija, Linda and Ameya bring the besom and sword to the center of the circle and hold them low to the ground for Myriah and Lee to jump over

Wolfie:
This will be your first act of working together as a couple. May the sword cut all ties with the old and the broom sweep them away.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Lee SilverFox.

This circle is opened, never broken.

Our Handfasting Ceremony Day

2006-07-11T13:40:00.000-04:00

Our Handfasting Ceremony Day…
July 8, 2006…
Wow!

The day has come and gone, the memories will last for the rest of our lives, as it should be. Here’s an outline of what transpired over the weekend…

Friday, July 7, was the initial set-up of the site day. So much other work had been done in preparation for this day by all the members of our wedding party. Our dear friend Ben offered his land and barn for the Ceremony site, and it worked out perfectly. Harrison Stage and Sound provided the big tent, which went up on Thursday, and Ameya and boB supplied their tent as well, to give just the right amount of shelter and shade.

Friday’s weather was clear, bright, and a bit warm, with temps in the mid 80’s. Lee and I, Linda and Elly got to the site at about 1 pm. We had tried for Noon, but you know how Pagan Standard Time works! We brought all the stuff from home for the decorations and got to work. Linda brought her rope lights, coffee pot, and her daughter Sarah had brought all the stuff Linda had picked up for me to me at work during the week : wine cups, streamers, dessert plates, napkins, and forks. Torches were set in position around the Fire Pit and Ritual Circle, and then filled with fuel. Don’t laugh, I’d forgotten to do that for one of our past ritual gatherings. Makes it tough to light them! Altar table and side tables were set up. Garden arch was assembled. Burnham’s Red Rooster delivered the tables and chairs we rented, and we got those positioned and set up. Table covers of silver and royal blue went on and were secured. The Arch was partially decorated with white sheer fabric. We decided to leave the flowers and ribbon until the next day so they wouldn’t get droopy. Linda made up my bouquet of Calla Lilies and Iris in about 45 minutes ~ she’s so gifted~ Emerald and I had fought with that thing Thursday night for a good amount of time and we just weren’t doing it! Elly made up the centerpieces for the tables (crystal bowls with multiple shades of blue and silver garden crystals, silver candles, silver star garland, and silver star sprays) in a flash as well, and they were beautiful. The white rope lights were strung around the tent, and silver and blue ribbons and silver star garland were hung on and around the tent poles. Balloons and streamers were left til the next day, again to prevent droopiness. Blue and silver ribbons were attached to the torches around the Fire Pit, and at the front end of the big tent. Ben the beverage coolers and fridge stocked, and he ran out and picked up bottled water and coffee creamer for us. We had lunch in there somewhere…

Thursday night Emerald came over to our house and helped with the sewing of the silver fabric armbands for the groomsmen to wear, and she also wrapped up all of the attendants' gifts for me. She also came over Friday night and did more sewing of the sword sashes for the Groom and Best Man, and between her and Will, the Best Man, they made up the little penant flags that were to go on the turrets of the castle cakes. Thanks to her those things got done, cuz I sure didn't have the time!

Saturday morning we slept in a little, which was much needed considering the late nights I had spent over the past two weeks sewing our Handfasting clothes.

I made doublets for the Groom, Lee, and the Best Man, Will, helped Emerald make a shirt for Sam, our Ringbearer, and then made my dress and surcoat. As you had probably noticed from my last post, I had procrastinated and waited til the last week to get to work on my outfit, but it was all totally done (except for the ironing) before Midnight on Friday. Trust me, I learned my lesson on that one!

Stage Two of Set-Up time was set for 10 am, with Rehearsal set for 12 Noon. Quite a few members of our wedding party were coming in from out of town, so we had decided to forego the “traditional” night before Rehearsal and Dinner. So at 10 am, Linda, Elly, Lee and I were back at the Site to finish up the preparations. Elly had picked up bug spray and a garter for me in the morning, a couple more things I had forgotten about!

Linda made up the two flower arrangements for the sides of the altar out of Calla Lilies and Iris in the crystal vases I had brought. Elly, Lee and I completed the Garden Arch decorations with the attachment of Calla Lilies and Iris and silver and blue ribbons. Thank Goddess for tall men! Elly and I couldn’t reach the top of the arch when it was standing up…. Yes, we should have done all the decorating and THEN stood it up! Oh well!

The table centerpieces were set out, along with the wine cups, and pillow box favors that Emerald had spent a few days filling with Hershey’s kisses. Elly helped finish that little job off by tying them up with silver and blue curling ribbon. We also had individual FunSaver cameras out on each table so that folks could take more casual pictures during the reception. The Altar was draped with Blue crushed velvet and satin clothes and then decorated, and the flower arrangements were set on the side tables. Balloons were inflated and tied to the tent with curling ribbon. Oh yes, and to the shoulders of Lee’s tank top! LOL White and blue streamers were twisted and draped along the edges of the tents. And voila! The decorating was completed! Elly spent a fair amount of time getting the hors d’oeuvres trays of strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, cheese, pepperoni and crackers set up.

Ameya, boB and Matt, Ravija and Will, Wolfie and Jon, and Raina and Michael, Emerald, Will and Sam arrived on the scene a little past Noon. Emerald brought the final centerpiece part that she had picked up for me Friday, so those were finished. We got Ameya and boB’s tent set up in short order. The sound system was set up and tested out. Ameya took off to go get the cake from her nephew’s bakery, Fuzzy’s Sweet Tooth, and came back shortly, setting to work immediately to get it all assembled and decorated. Ravija passed out some wonderful Hematite wands that she had brought for everybody. Then it was time for Rehearsal. Wolfie, who was Officiating our Ceremony, had made up copies of the Ceremony for everybody, since there were “parts” for all the women to read. We went out to the Ritual Circle area, and decided how it was all going to proceed, and then did a run through. I thought I was going to start crying, came close to it, but I didn’t! The Rehearsal went very well, we only needed to go thru it one time, and then we had lunch. Lee and I had ordered in pizza and wings for everybody, and Ben supplied soda pop and beer. Sarah, Linda’s daughter, was going to be doing my hair up for the day, and she arrived on the scene at about 3 pm. Then it was off to our house with our caravan of cars to get dressed for the Ceremony!

Fifteen people in our mobile home is a bit of a squeeze, but having an extra bedroom and two bathrooms helps a lot, so everybody had space to get their ceremony clothes on. Worked it in “shifts”, but it worked. Lee and Will, the best man headed back over to the ceremony site at about 5:30, since his mom and brothers were arriving about then, and he wanted to be there. Linda and I were the last to leave our house. Yes, I had a bit of a “flutter” on the way there (actually felt like I was going to get sick), but it passed quickly, thanks to the hematite Ravija had given me earlier. We were, therefore, the last to arrive at the site, which was at about 6:15 pm. Remember Pagan Standard Time? (

We spent a little bit of time greeting everybody, checking in with the caterers, Gale-Wyn Farms, and doing a final check over to make sure we had everything set up and in place. The entire wedding party then went out front of the barn, onto a space of beautiful green grass, and Wolfie led us in a grounding and centering, which we all needed, and which I believe helped me get through the ceremony without bawling my head off! At about 6:30, Juggler John, our Town Crier, made the announcement that the ceremony was about to start, and all our guests made their way out to the Ritual Circle.

Wolfie went into the Circle first, as Officiant, then the groomsmen went in and around to their positions, then the Best Man, then the Ringbearer, and then the Groom. The Ladies proceeded in and around to their positions, followed by the Maid of Honor, and finally me.

And so our Handfasting Ceremony began. I will post the ceremony shortly for your reading pleasure. It was beautiful, and took about half an hour. Almost everybody later said that it was a beautiful ceremony, and one of the loveliest weddings they had ever been to.

Then it was time for food and fun! We had a buffet style dinner, with pulled pork and bbq chicken, salt potatoes, corn on the cob, green salad, rolls, and soda pop, which was all served by the caterers. Shortly after we ate, we did the cutting of the cake, and included our Maid of Honor and Best Man in that fun! We didn’t mash the cake on each other’s faces, but we got them! Then we had our first dance together, to Billy Currington’s song, “Must Be Doing Something Right”.

It was a wonder of a day. Folks danced and laughed and talked. We had our dear and good friends and family sharing our Celebration and our Love with us. Much Love and Thanks to everyone who was there.

We are blessed.

~Myriah and Lee

Five Days....

2006-07-04T09:03:00.000-04:00

Five Days….
That’s all that’s left, five days!

I’ve got so much left to do, I don’t know how it’s all going to get done!

Why are there only 24 hours in a day??!!

I know that I can and will get it all done, because I will not give in to believing that I won’t.  That’s just not an option.

The majority of my brain seems to have shut down, or frozen, and sanity seems to have moved on to another plane of existence.  Vapor Lock has set in!

Did I mention I have to WORK every day until Friday too??  And not short shifts like I usually work, but full days??!!  And each day’s shift is an hour longer than the one before?!

What am I talking about? …  What?...  Oh, sorry!  My wedding is this coming Saturday.  Now you understand, yes?

This might be my second “formal” wedding, but it feels like it’s the first, since the first one was, oh, almost thirty years ago!  And therefore, I’m starting to freak…

What I still have to do…
Finish sewing my dress…
Buy the film for the photographer..
Pick up the girls’ flowers…
Confirm table and chair delivery
Get last groomsman’s gift engraved
Write my individual “vows”
Work up the song/music list for the reception
Wrap our attendants’ gifts
Buy wrapping paper for the attendants’ gifts (yeah, that would be a good idea)
Sew the groomsmen’s arm bands
Make pennant flags for the cake
Make flower arrangements for the garden arch, the altar, and oh yeah, my bouquet!
Get the altar items together
Get the food for the Rehearsal lunch
Make sword sashes for the Groom and Best Man
Confirm the headcount with the Caterer
Dig the garden arch and electrical cords out of the shed
Decorate my shoes
Get the cake centerpiece to the cakemaker
Find my belly dance outfit and gear
Decorate the ceremony site on Friday
Rehearsal at Noon on Saturday
Rehearsal lunch on Saturday
Ceremony Saturday evening

Some of this might sound silly, but I’m one of those people who needs to have lists written out so that I don’t forget anything that I have to do.  Sometimes even I think that I get too detailed with my lists, but believe me, if I didn’t do that, write down all the little details, I’d forget something that would end up being a big problem.

Yes, I’m making my dress/outfit.  No, I don’t have it done yet.  I also had to sew the Groom’s shirt, and then he decided that I should also sew the Best Man’s shirt so that they matched at least somewhat.  I hadn’t planned on that, but it got done.   I did their shirts first since they were smaller pieces, and that way I would have something done for that needed sense of accomplishment!   The shirts came out great, and as soon as I get the pictures back from the ceremony, I will post them.

Now all I have to do is get mine done.   Oh, I’ve had the fabric for three months!  Started on the sewing two weeks ago!

I sat here Saturday morning while I was sewing the Best Man’s shirt, and got thinking about how I’ve always said in the past that I do my best work under pressure.  I came to the realization that that is really a load of crap!  I am a procrastinator, plain and simple.  I just put things off until I don’t have any other choice than to get them done.  There’s always something else that needs to get done first, right?  Something that’s more important?

So I now have something new to work on in terms of my own personal development, my procrastination, and as soon as the wedding is over and done with, I am going to do that.  Honest!  It’s getting top priority!

Why wait til after the wedding, you ask?  Well, I’ve got to finish sewing my dress!

Walking down the aisle butt nekked is not an option!

Bonfire and Drum Circle

2006-06-26T00:18:00.000-04:00

This is an invitation to all who might wish, to come join us for a Bonfire and Drum Circle on Saturday, July 8th, beginning at 9 pm.
Bring lawn chairs and your drums, and put on your dancing shoes!
This Bonfire and Drum Circle are in celebration of my Handfasting with Lee SilverFox.
We are also planning of going to the Sterling Renaissance Festival in Sterling, NY, on Sunday, July 9, and all are welcome to join us there as well. This is one of the "buy one, get one adult admission free" weekends at the Ren Faire, and we will have the discount coupons available at the Bonfire, or you can get one online at www.sterlingfestival.com
If you would like to join us for the Bonfire and Drum Circle, please drop me a note at othalagrove@yahoo.com, and I will send you directions.
Namaste,
Myriah

Metamorphosis Newsletter Articles

2006-06-10T11:49:00.000-04:00

I've had an email subscription to the Metamorphosis Newsletter from Trans4mind.com for a while now. Almost every time I receive it there is at least one article that resonates with me, and I usually end up posting it to my egroup or putting it up on my blog.

There are 4 of them this time, and I really want to recommend them to you all. You can find and sign-up for the newsletter at www.trans4mind.com/news . This week's edition can be found at http://www.trans4mind.com/news/jun06-1.html

The specific articles this time are:

Who Am I?

Make The Mind-Body Connection Work

Drawing Lines

Why Here, Why Now, Why Again?

Some of these are just good information, and a couple of them are extremely synchronistic for me right now, so I'm definitely laughing!
Enjoy!
Myriah

An Open Letter...

2006-05-26T17:01:00.000-04:00

An Open Letter to the Pagan Community…. And actually People In General…

I have been trying to find a positive way to say the things I feel I need to say, but I’m coming up against a wall about this, with no other way to express my thoughts and feelings but bluntly. Big surprise there, huh? So here it is….

What is your problem?

It seems that lately all people are doing is whining, complaining, bitching, putting out negative criticism in very hurtful ways, and condemning others who are trying to do positive things for the community. This one says that they are being singled out and attacked for no good reason; that one criticizes how a project or event was done or conducted; another one feels left out or ignored or shunned…. I could probably go on and on with that, but I won’t bother, I think you get the idea.

My response is simple:

Get over yourselves.

I don’t care who you think you are, when it comes to doing positive things for the community at large, everybody is on the same level. I don’t care how many titles or letters you have after your name, or how much money you have. No one is better than anybody else. When events and projects are planned, there are certain ways that things need to be done to ensure a positive outcome. There are procedures established for how things will be accomplished, and rules about what will or won’t be allowed to happen that are clearly designated and delineated. When you do something that very clearly goes against and violates those rules, you’re going to get called on it. Don’t expect anything different. You wouldn’t tolerate it if someone did something like that to you. If you do something wrong, don’t try to turn it around to make it someone else’s fault, and shift the blame.

Feel like something wasn’t done the way you think it should have been done? Step up to the plate, offer to help with a project or event that is being planned, get involved and volunteer. People who sit on the sidelines and do nothing to help have no business complaining about what is and/or how things are done. If you think you can do a better job, then open your mouth, get off your butt, and do it! If you have an idea of a project or event, step up and put your idea out there. I’ll help if I can, if it’s something positive for the community. So will lots of other people. All you have to do is speak up. Stop criticizing people who are making the effort if you aren’t willing to.

Feeling left out, ignored, or shunned? If you want to be included, open your mouth and say so. I don’t read minds, I don’t know who has what to offer. Unless and until you express an interest in doing something, I won’t know it. So don’t go around saying you don’t get included in things because nobody likes you. That’s just bunk. Don’t expect a handwritten, gilded invitation delivered on a silver platter. There isn’t one single human being on this planet who deserves or is entitled to that. We are all the same under the skin. Same hearts, same flesh, same blood, same bone.

Don’t condemn or criticize something or someone that you know nothing about. Take the time to get to know a person, to learn about a religious or spiritual tradition before you take pot shots at it or them. Have an open mind and be willing to communicate and understand another’s point of view, even if, and especially if it seems to be different than your own.

Enough.

Lyrics in My Life

2006-05-25T10:21:00.000-04:00

There are some songs playing on the radio these days that I enjoy and I wanted to share some of the lyrics with you. Yes, most of them are country songs! lol
Enjoy!
Love,
Myriah

If Heaven - Andy Griggs
If heaven was an hour, it would be twilight
When the fireflies start their dancin’ on the lawn
And supper’s on the stove and mamma’s laughin’
And everybody’s workin’ day is done

If heaven was a town it would be my town
On a summer day in 1985
And everything i wanted was out there waiting
And everyone i loved was still alive

Chorus:
Don’t cry a tear for me now baby
There comes a time we must all say goodbye
And if that's what heaven's made of
You know i ain't afraid to die

If heaven was a pie it would be cherry
Cool and sweet and heavy on your tongue
And just one bite would satisfy your hunger
And there’d always be enough for everyone

If heaven was a train it sure would be a fast one
That could take this weary trav’ler round the bend
And if heaven was a tear it'd be my last one
And you’d be in my arms again

Chorus:
Don’t cry a tear for me now baby
There comes a time we must all say goodbye
And if that's what heaven's made of
You know i ain't afraid to die

"Every Now and Then" - Garth Brooks
I walked down to the park last night
Warm breeze stirring up a soft moonlight
And my mind started drifting to way back when
Yes I do think about you every now and then

The other day I saw a car like you used to drive
I got a funny feeling down deep inside
And for the briefest moment I felt a smile begin
Yes I do think about you every now and then

I love my life and I'd never trade
Between what you and me had and the life I've made
She's here and she's real, but you were too
And every once in a while I think about you

I heard a song on the radio just yesterday
The same one you always asked me to play
And when the song was over I wished they'd played it again
Yes I do think about you every now and then

I love my life and I'd never trade
Between what you and me had and the life I've made
She's here and she's real, but you were too
And every once in a while I think about you

I've been layin' here all night listenin' to the rain
Talkin' to my heart and tryin' to explain
Why sometimes I catch myself
Wondering what might have been
Yes I do think about you every now and then
Every now and then Every now and then

"I'll Be" - Reba McEntire
When darkness falls upon your heart and soul.
I'll be the light that shines for you.
When you forget how beautiful you are I
'll be there to remind you.
When you can't find your way,
I'll find my way to you.
When troubles come around,
I will come to you.
I'll be your shoulder when you need someone to lean on.
Be your shelter.
When you need someone to see you through.
I'll be there to carry you.
I'll be there.
I'll be the rock that will be strong for you.
The one that will hold on to you.
When you feel that rain falling down.
When there's nobody else around.
I'll be.
And when you're there with no one there to hold.
I'll be the arms that reach for you.
And when you feel your faith is running low.
I'll be there to believe in you.
When all you find are lies.
I'll be the truth you need.
When you need someone to run to .
You can run to me
I'll be your shoulder when you need someone to lean on.
Be your shelter.
When you need someone to see you through.
I'll be there to carry you.
I'll be there.
I'll be the rock that will be strong for you.
The one that will hold on to you.
When you feel that rain falling down.
When there's nobody else around.
I'll be.
I'll be the sun.
When your heart's filled with rain.
I'll be the one.
To chase the rain away.
I'll be your shoulder when you need someone to lean on.
Be your shelter.
When you need someone to see you through.
I'll be there to carry you.
I'll be there.
I'll be the rock that will be strong for you.
The one that will hold on to you.
When you feel that rain falling down.
When there's nobody else around.
I'll be.
I'll be.

I Can't Unlove You - Kenny Rogers
Postcards and letters
And pictures made to last forever
To be boxed up and tossed away
Knickknacks and souvenirs
In an afternoon, they're out of here
They'll disappear without a trace
But what they mean to me
Can never be replaced

I can't unthink about you
I can't unfeel your touch
I can't unhear all the words
Unsay all the things
That used to mean so much
I wish I could unremember
Everything my heart's been through
And finding out it's impossible to do
Oh, it's no use
I can't unlove you

Intesrtates and old songs
Like time they go on and on
I guess I could learn to do the same
I could wake up without you
These two arms not around you
Tell myself it's meant to be this way
No matter how I try
I can't change

I can't unthink about you
I can't unfeel your touch
I can't unhear all the words
Unsay all the things
That used to mean so much
I wish I could unremember
Everything my heart's been through
And finding out it's impossible to do
Oh, it's no use
I can't unlove you

I wish I could unremember
Everything my heart's been through
And finding out it's impossible to do
Oh, oh, it's no use
I can't unlove you

My Wish - Rascal Flatts
I hope that days come easy and moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

and if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
more then anything, more then anything,

My wish, for you,
is that this life becomes all that you want it,
to your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more then you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you,
and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and you always give more then you take.
Oh More then anything,
Yeah, and more then anything,
My wish, for you,
is that this life becomes all that you want it,
to your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more then you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

Life Ain't Always Beautiful - Gary Allan
Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down,
it can break your heart

Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road
at the end of the day

But the struggle makes you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has it's own way
of takin' its sweet time

[chorus]
No, life ain’t always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life ain’t always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride

Life ain’t always beautiful
Some days I miss your smile
I get tired of walkin' all these lonely miles
And I wish for just one minute
I could see your pretty face
Guess I can dream,
but life don’t work that way

But the struggles makes me stronger
And the changes make me wise
And happiness has its own way
of takin' its sweet time
No, life ain’t always beautiful
But I know I'll be fine
Hey, life ain’t always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride
What a beautiful ride

I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
Turn down the lights,
turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don't patronize -
don't patronize me

Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't'
Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't

I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holding me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight

Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't'
Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't

Bring It On Home - Little Big Town
You've got someone here
Wants to make it all right
Someone to love you more
Than I have right here
You've gotta bring it on and I'll hold you tight
A hand to lead you on through the night right here
I know your heart can get
All tangled up inside
But don't you keep it to yourself

When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
When the weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me

You know I know you
Like the back of my hand
You know I'm gonna do
All that I can right here
Gonna lie with you
Till you fall asleep
When the morning comes
I'm still gonna be right here
Yes, I am
So take your worries and
Just drop them at the door
Baby, leave it all behind

When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
When the weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me

Baby, let me be your safe harbor
Don't let the water come
And carry you away

When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
When the weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
Oh, bring it on home
Oh, bring it on home to me
Home to me
Oh, bring it on, bring it on home to me

You've got someone here wants
To make it all right
Someone who loves you more
Than life right here

Pet Peeves

2006-05-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

Pet Peeves

This will also be a “letter to the Editor” to be sent to all our my local area newspapers over the coming days….

I have two older dogs, Sam, a 15 y/o female Black Lab, and Lady, an 11 y/o female Black and Tan Coonhound. I have had the joy of the companionship and love of these two sweet girls since they were puppies.

I moved to a new home in August of 2005 in a mobile home park, which had restrictions about the size of dogs that could live there. Unfortunately, my girls are a little bit bigger than the 20 lb limit, so I couldn’t bring them with me. Fortunately and thankfully, two of my dear friends, who I have been living with up to then, gave their consent to my leaving Sam and Lady with them for the time being. I provided their food, and went to visit as often as my schedule would allow. The girls were comfortable there, in a large house, with plenty of outdoor room to play in on their lead lines, and with the company of many feline friends.

My friends, who are a retired couple, were wonderful in their love and care of Sam and Lady, and I am so very grateful for their compassion and support in keeping my girls with them for as long as they did. As time passed, it began to wear on them a little. Being retired, they want to be able to travel, and the dogs were going to pose a problem in this regard. Another issue that became apparent was that Lady (nicknamed “Booger” as a puppy due her personality) wasn’t very happy that I was no longer living there. She started acting out by peeing on the floor even after having been outside on her line for a couple of hours (in nice weather). Sam was developing bladder capacity issues (old bladder equals shorter times between having to go), and while during the day it wasn’t too much of problem as long as someone was home, this carried over to during the night, resulting in shortened and disrupted sleep times for my friends.

A couple of weeks ago, my friends told me in a very positive way that it was time for me to make other living arrangements for Lady and Sam. I knew that this was bound to happen at some point in time, and had done some inquiring at kennel facilities in my area, but wasn’t coming up with anything. So, I needed to talk with the Manager of our mobile home park, explain the situation, that I needed to bring my dogs here while I looked for another home for them. He was reluctant, but gave me permission to do so, but only for a week or two. They needed to be out by May 5th. Well, that was yesterday, and my girls are still here, and I don’t know what I’m going to do, because I can’t keep them here any longer without putting our lot lease in jeopardy.

Since they've been here, there have been no peeing incidents with Lady. So the possibility that she was "pissed off" that I wasn't there with her is a definite possibility!

I have called literally every veterinarian, animal shelter, kennel, and humane society in my area, asking for help, to no avail.

I have been told by several of these locations that my dogs are too old to even be considered for adopting out. Nobody would want to take on the responsibility of the care of dogs of their ages, because there are liable to be health problems in the next couple of years.

I was told that their advice, and my “best bet”, was to just have them euthanized, put to sleep.

I am totally stunned by this attitude, and totally heartbroken that there is apparently no other alternative.

Why is it that dealing with older animals who are healthy and lively is such a problem?

Why should they have to be put to sleep just because there is no place to care for them in their old age?

Why isn’t there such a thing as a retirement home for older domestic animals? A place where dogs and cats and other family pets could go to live when circumstances such as mine, or even the death of their human companions, leaves them with no place to live? A place that is not a cage in a kennel, but a home, complete with couches and pillows and beds. A place with safe access to the outdoors, and a caring staff of people who will be there all the time to love and care and play with them?

I don’t know what the result will be with my girls in the next few days. I am so very sad that I may very well have to put them to sleep. Because it’s not fair. They don’t deserve it.

I know one thing for sure. I am going to start working to try to establish such a place as I’ve described above. A Retirement Home for Older Domestic Companion Animals. With all the comforts of home. I’ll find a way to make this a reality, whether it’s from grant funding, winning the lottery, or finding a philanthropist somewhere who is willing to help me build this place.

If you want to help, let me know…..

~Myriah

Can You Imagine?

2006-04-26T09:59:00.000-04:00

Can You Imagine?
(For the Child in All of Us)
by Robert F. Potts

Can you imagine a world without witches,
A world with all people the same?
Where the only known dragons are hiding in books,
And children are terribly tame?
A world without magic would be sad indeed.
I cannot imagine the pain
Of having a world where there's no Santa Claus,
Where wizards are searched for in vain.

Can you imagine a world without spells,
That science and businesses run?
And think of the sadness a unicorn feels
When he no longer plays in the sun
Can you imagine a world without witches,
No elves, and no magical pools?
And can you imagine how dull it would be
If all that we had were the schools?

I cannot imagine a world without witches,
A world with no magical wand.
A world without beauty,
or even a dream,
Or a wood sprite of whom to be fond
They say I should grow up and be more mature,
Like a normal adult ought to do.
But I'd rather, at night, go to dance with a witch,
And I'll bet that you feel that way, too.

A Hymn To Transcendence

2006-04-26T09:51:00.000-04:00

A Hymn to Transcendence

I sing of
the foundational eros
by which nothingness
is attracted to fullness,
creation to the Creator,
the human universe
to the divine milieu.

We exist to transcend
our existence.
Faith takes us
beyond cognition;
hope aspires
to a better condition;
charity is a drive
to fuller fruition

The limited beckons us
to the boundless;
the contingent postulates
the necessary;
the partial gives a glimpse
of the All.

Bewail not, then,
the condition
of creatureliness:
the sea does not complain
of the shore,
nor does the mountain envy
the sky.

Extol, therefore,
the virtues of
limitation.
For, it is the humble
who achieve greatness
and the meek
who inherit the earth.

Our limit is
not a boundary,
but a connection.
We cannot exist
of ourselves
and for ourselves;
without being
interrelated
we perish.

The intricate web of
coexistence and collaboration
is not a net
that fetters us in shackles.
but a springboard
that frees us for flight.

For,
if there is nothing
beyond our mortal ken,
there is no room
for flight or fancy
and no purpose
to our dreaming
and striving.

© Msgr. Walter Niebrzydowski
June 3, 2003
Fr-Walter@nyc.rr.com
www.epiphanyrcchurch.us

The Change That Is Long Past Due

2006-04-15T12:13:00.000-04:00

The Change that is Long Past Due

Note; The following appeared on the United Communities of Spirit general forum as a lengthy discussion of society. It is only one small part of that discussion which ranged over a period of months.

It is clear that "the system" as it currently stands, cannot last much longer, nor can a humanity which supports it. The values of society are simply DEAD WRONG in every area of social endeavor. Humanity imagines;

1) That nature exists to serve human whims.

2) That education is for the conditioning of young minds to serve the corporate work place, rather than for the sake of enlightenment and self-evolution.

3) That humanity can break any natural law it wants to, for as long as it pleases, and not suffer grave consequences for doing so. We see examples of this in genetic engineering, environmental pollution, exhaustion of natural resources, disregard of our own body's systems, the use of deadly pesticides and herbicides, the growing and feeding of animals and crops under the most unnatural of conditions, etc.

4) We find the making of government policies of no value to anyone except a select few, under the guise of "democracy". There is absolute corruption, contradiction and hypocrisy at every level of modern institutions. Everything in this society is based upon money considerations as a top priority above all else. This of course boils down to one simple thing; The insane GREED of a dying race, trying to stave off its fear of what it hasbecome, (and its imminent death) with a security blanket of material things. Such a mind set exists to last yet another decade, year, month, day, or even just one more hour, before the inevitable collapse of this bogus paradigm.

5) There are continuous wars, political battles and false speeches, genocide, germ and chemical poisoning of populations, and daily scandals around the world. This is a spiritual crisis for humanity, not a political one.

6) There is a near total control of the public media through a handful of mega-corporations. These tell corporate lies that are designed for just two purposes;
a) to maintain "consumer confidence", (and therefore blind spending, based on artificially stimulated desires) and,
b) to ensure that a general public uprising does not occur, which would otherwise insist that the practices and policies of the world be changed for the better.

Yet, despite all this, the average person is STILL AT THIS VERY MOMENT in denial that there is even anything wrong with modern society and its values. Incredible! (and of course, quite insane). The media and "education" really have us hypnotized!

The following was a follow up on the above post…

Diane writes;
You are absolutely right. When we attempt to operate from within the system to change it, we cannot help but be conformed somewhat to the mold proscribed by it. We then, however unnoticed by us, in very subtle and insidious ways begin to think and behave according to those limits. The expansion of one's consciousness becomes limited and our spiritual growthbecomes stunted, no matter how enlightened we perceive ourselves to be--or how impervious we think we are to the effects of that association. Perhaps we could expect to be immune to the system's influence were we evolved to the point that we can walk on water or pass through walls.

****************************

My reply;

Absolutely true...one cannot change corruption through corrupted means, and expect to rescue a dying civilization. We're choking in our own filth and decay even now, at the hands of a government that is no longer sovereign. The governments are now owned by the corporations, who become more bold in their attempts to totally control the public in anyway possible, with each day that passes. They know their empire is fading away. In their insanity, they will keep profits high, even if it means destroying what remains of the environment and buying puppet presidents like George W. They are creating apsuedo-world for the public mind to "consume". Regardless of these facts however, there are many who still naively assume that all we need to do is "get out the vote" or "write your local congressman". Others still say, "don't even look at world events, that's just feeding the negativity" and that all we need is "unconditional love", (whatever that means, on a practical basis). Clearly, nothing is going to change by virtue of the current status quo. REAL change is about choosing a completely different lifestyle and view of REALITY, than what is currently accepted.

*******************************************

Only the most enlightened and truly adept among us, dare step into that miasma of the cult of materialism unscathed. From this wisdom comes the saying of Jesus that those who believe will take up serpents and can drink poison without fear of harm. For the adept among us, this saying would apply on both the denser levels (i.e. material, flesh) and on the higher vibrational levels (spiritual, invisible). And even then, as you no doubt haveobserved, those few truly adept Christed ones only venture into the fringes of that strange land of false constructs for certain tasks and interventions to be performed (e.g., Jesus, Buddha, and many others of lesser fame)--for some spirit led purpose or goal.

***************************

My reply;

The psychic and material reality of our currently civilization is abysmal. And you're right, it would take a high Master such as a Christ or a Buddha to effectively change it, or even brave it unscathed. The world has a great deal of karma to deal with. There is a certain school of thought which says free will should not be tampered with anyway, and that if it is the will of the human race to finally NOT SEE THE TRUTH, or to change their materialistic ways for the better, then so be it. Under this view, it may well be the best thing for the planet, that the cancer of humanity be killed off to make room for life forms which arenot nearly as destructive. Perhaps this is what needs to happen to prove a point to a very hard headed and self indulgent humanity...that the spiritual designs of nature are what should be served by humanity, not the other way around. It may just take the complete collapse of the world economies, the fall of governments, the spread of disease, famine,war and hardship of every conceivable kind, to finally wake up the average FAT AMERICAN (and Western paradigm as a whole).

************************

Even those of us on this forum are but spiritual babes for the most part. We have not had the spiritual knowledge or guts to venture out into the unknown territory that exists outside the "system." Therefore we rationalize that it must be done from within the system, using its venues and resources. But didn't Jesus say (and others as well in different terms) that one cannot serve both God and mammon--also he asked "what communion has righteousness with Belial?" Jesus never spoke from a religious viewpoint, but from the viewpoint of the adept who was totally conscious of the ONEness of all things and of his own oneness with his source. The previous statement was not born of doctrine, but of knowledge of truth. Another thing that Jesus said is that if our right eye offends us, we should cut it out. By this I think he meant that we should cut out of our lives anything that inhibits our growth in Truth and knowledge of the Absolute Eternal. Hmmmm . . .

*******************************

My reply;

Yes, in other words as a culture we need to cut out the superficiality and destruction of materialistic values, in favor of natural and spiritual laws. It means that we don't buy the new house, fancy car, expensive suit or dress or contribute to the local cancer-producing factory and its products, in our daily lives. It means we must live simply and naturally, observing what our own bodies, and the living creatures of the good Earth are telling us. It means that we must stop telling lies for the sake of comfort, and then having the gall to callthat "spiritual" just because it placates someone’s emotional distress. The distress people are feeling around the world right now, is there for a reason. The distress that is easily perceived by each of us every day contains a message. This message is very simply, "follow natural law or die". I think most people would still, even now, rather die than changea thing. They would rather gossip and focus on the trivial then speak of joint action. So be it.

********************************

An aside to the group at large: There are some of us in this community who seem to think that others of us advocate the overthrow of government. Since I have been part of this community I have NEVER seen such a statement by anyone. I HAVE read that some would encourage us to forsake the false constructs of religion and government and even so-called social activism in order to promote the proliferation of truth. Poor Matthew, who is oftenmisunderstood, I think has this rep among some in the community-- totally undeserved!! And I have never seen that any one of us has ever advocated changing the world by violent means. Those of us who promote anarchy of sorts promote that anarchy that is called "peace". It is a separation of oneself out from the influences of the world system in order to grow in spirit. Then to take what one has learned and share it with those who are lead tolisten and utilize it. But we make little progress when we do little but spout jargon and spiritual catch phrases. To those outside our community this seems shallow and superfluous—and hypocritical also when we do not WALK what we TALK. When little orno power is manifested in our lives--or when they see us living by the world's ways, what example is that?

*************************************

My reply;

My question is, "ok, so what if someone DID advocate the overthrow of the existing government"? So what? Have Americans forgotten how their own country was started? And I definitely "encourage us to forsake the false constructs of religion and government and even so-called social activism in order to promote the proliferation of truth". Yes, absolutely so.

*************************************

We are not really making progress when we go to this therapist and that therapist seeking magic herbal potions and energy work and are always having someone work on us to improve us from without. One's best guru is his inner self. Aren't we living by the world's ways when we have a "business" of metaphysics and there are alternative paraphernalia and book shops sprouting up everywhere and we spend scads of money on books and therapies and follow first this guru and that guru. Again we are hooked. The world's way is to distract us from our own inner journey and convince us that we are in need of help from others, that we are helpless to reach in and dig out our own inner garbage on our own --and that we should pay somehow for that service. Early on in my metaphysical studies, myson said something to me that stuck like glue--something that is a simple truth that I have not been able to toss off with any rationalization. He said simply that he didn't believe that truth could be bought and that it was not right for one to disseminate truth for a fee. Of course, when we need help from one another, we should seek it -- and it should be freely offered. At the same time, I believe there comes a time that reading and study andtherapies and crystals and energy work and mind treatments become either distractions from the inner journey or things that enable us to indulge in thoughts that are self-defeating in our search for truth. Such thoughts, thoughts that keep us looking outward, arethe bane of the spirit.
Love and peace and clarity to all,
Sunny One Diana

********************************

My reply;

Diana, you really clarified here a major flaw in modern thinking. We do indeed, as a culture, give all our power to outside forces. Our "experts" and institutions are given credence under the assumption that they know what is good for us, better than we do . What they knowis how to keep things as they are...in decay. What we know as individuals, is that all the personal power we need is centered within. But to find it and make use of it, requires a consistent seriousness of life view, that does not assume the truth is whatever you want to make up, and that life is just a game to be played , "to get what you can while you can". This is not the purpose of life. Life is NOT A GAME, and it has rules which exists whether humanity likes that fact or not. Life exists to extend spiritual purposes and designs. This is the motive behind biological evolution. We can either apply ourselves individually and en masse to that evolutionary purpose, or we can choose to destroy ourselves, in self-induced foolishness. That's our choice as individuals. If we do not choose the right path as already determined by nature, then we get exactly what we deserve...death and suffering on ever increasing scales, until not one human is left to walk the face of the Earth.

The World Mind Society http://www.eoni.com/~visionquest

In Praise of Difficult Women... Then And Now

2006-03-27T21:14:00.000-05:00

In praise of difficult women - then and now
Rachel Buchman is the managing editor of Dragonfire, Drexel University's online magazine for news and culture. www.dfire.org

Vashti is the anti-heroine of the Jewish holiday Purim, which took place this year on March 14. It's a fun holiday full of costume parties and much drinking in celebration of the Jews' escape from a death plot in ancient Persia. The traditional heroine of the story is Queen Esther, who saves her people by revealing her Jewish identity to her husband, King Achashverosh, putting herself in grave personal danger. Vashti is the king's first wife, whom he tosses out of the palace when she embarrasses him by refusing to dance before his counselors.
March is also Women's History Month, a time to reflect on the status of women. One of the challenges that stirs my feminist ire is the soft sexism so ingrained in our society, hard to detect and harder to root out. Often, strong women such as Vashti get pigeonholed as pushy. But I wanted to see what would happen if Vashti were made the heroine of Purim.
Picture Vashti, rhumba hips, no deodorant. She likes her grapes, her figs, her slave boys. The King is a fool. Somebody has to run the castle. Who's going to write the edicts, schedule the cleaning, plan menus, arrange marriages, and demand those special olives his majesty likes so much?
Vashti is chillin' with her ladies while the men are out back barbecuing. The women are lying on silk pillows, being rubbed down with oils, being fanned by eunuchs - it's a pretty good party, even if they hadn't invented appletinis yet. Then in comes the king's posse, demanding Vashti come dance for the guests. She isn't having it. She refuses. She is replaced.
She is... difficult.
When I was a kid, my grandfather used to say, "Rachel don't let no one spit in her cereal." I was difficult then and I'm difficult now. "Don't be difficult," my mother would sigh as I kicked and screamed. Now I walk down the street, glorious and free in the new spring air, delighted at the breeze tickling my arm hair, the back of my exposed neck. But with the fine weather comes the bugs and the thugs. Forget whistling and off-color remarks; this one guy couldn't even form a complete sentence. "Legs!" he shouted as I walked by in my first skirt of the season. "Very good," I wanted to say. "You can correctly identify body parts." But I heard it in the back of my head: "Don't be difficult."
Well, I want to be difficult. My favorite women are difficult. Look at Rosa Parks. I can just hear her mother saying, "Just find a seat in the back of the bus, Rosa. Don't be difficult." But she was difficult - a pain, and look where it has brought us.
My mother - she of the warnings - man, was she difficult. And she got it from her mother, who came to this country on her grandmother's dime. My grandmother went to business school in secret. She got married, divorced the guy when he wouldn't let her work, and started her own nursing home. How's that for difficult?
So this is my ode to all the fat actresses, wicked witches, and sluts. For Martha Stewart and biblical Leah, who would not marry second. For my sister, who got her Ph.D. when no one thought she was smart enough.
And to all the women who won't straighten their curly hair, or dye it blonde, or diet. For all the women who won't brighten their teeth or lift their breasts. For all the women who would rather read than clean, run than shop, eat than starve. For all the women who aren't afraid to choose themselves. Thank you for being difficult!
Vashti would not dance. So she gets replaced by Barbie - I mean, Esther - and the king sends a decree to every household in the land "that every man shall be master in his home." So ushers in the era of easy Esther. We never hear from Vashti again, beautiful, beguiling bitch. I wonder what happened to her. Did she have to sell her body? Was there some home for banished queens? Or did she open up a bar someplace in Persia - best lamb kebabs and apricot nectar in town - dance when she wanted, take all the money, all the young serving boys, all the credit? I think she did. After all, she was just that difficult.

Age Doesn't Matter Unless You're Wine or Cheese

2006-03-23T23:49:00.000-05:00

Age Doesn’t Matter Unless You’re Wine or Cheese…..

Ah, yes, but there is definitely a certain amount of joy to be found in it regardless.  It all depends upon attitude and vision of self.  I definitely know what a wide range of joy there is to experience these days, and I’d like to share some of that with you.

What’s the reason for this today?  Simple.  Tomorrow, 3/24, I am Celebrating my 50th birthday!  Yes, I said 50.  I’m happy about it, pretty near to ecstatic about it, and proud of it to boot.  It is a milestone in so many ways:  Middle age; I can join the AARP; I can join the Red Hat Ladies Society…  LOL!

There are definitely days when my body enjoys reminding me that I am 50, but that’s mostly when my Fibromyalgia decides to flare up, and that’s usually due to my trying to do all the things I used to do when I was a whole lot younger.  Key to dealing with that?  Adequate sleep, and a properly balanced diet.  Oh, and maybe easing up on trying to do everything all by myself (like moving furniture).   Attitude adjustment?  Definitely!  It’s okay to ask for help, even for stubborn Aries people like me.

I believe that the main thing that is helping me stay young in spirit is love and joy, and looking for it and finding it in all its different aspects every day.   I know that there is really nothing I can’t do, as long as I believe that I can, and more importantly as long as what I do is for the right reasons.

So, my joys?  My celebration of life is because of…

Love…
… of my fiancé and partner, Ron…. Thank you for sharing your love with me and believing in me and us…
…My Heart Sisters who are always with me in my heart and soul <and in my head too! LOL>  I am so very honored and grateful to be able to share this walk with you, and I love each of you so very much…
…My work, both mundane and spiritual, which allows me to help and guide other people to see…
… My Goddess and God, for being there for me when life was dark, and showing me the way to this path…

So tomorrow, I get to sleep in (no alarm clocks), I’m getting my ears pierced again, I get to spend the day with my Love, and then go out for dinner with some dear friends, and I might even get a bit of a hair cut… Oh, don’t worry, I’m not chopping it off, just revitalizing it a bit!

My wish for all of you today… May you find joy in your lives.  It IS there, all you have to do is look for it and see what it really is.

~Myriah

Freedom of The Spirit

2006-03-20T13:46:00.000-05:00

Freedom of the Spirit by Owen Waters
True freedom is the ability to express who you are through a natural flow of love and creativity.

It’s an Inside Job
Freedom is first gained within your consciousness. Then, because your outer life always reflects that which is within, you gain freedom in all aspects of your life.
Often, much of this potential flow of authentic life experience is reduced by inner blockages. These blockages of the natural flow of love and creativity are formed by the fear-based emotions that come with the challenges of human existence.
Fear is the common factor underlying all disharmonious emotions. For example, fear of inadequacy can lead to jealousy and hatred, fear of lack can generate an over-reaction of greed, while fear of being overwhelmed by life’s challenges can lead to control issues.

Welcome to Planet Earth
When you are born into the human race, you arrive with your own, self-made, personal life plan. This plan includes a list of the personal and societal issues that you intend to work through during this lifetime. Your carefully made plan includes the location and surroundings of your birth as well as your choice of parents. It also includes the friends and associates that you will be likely to meet as your life unfolds.
The personal and societal issues that we adopt in our lives today are generally based upon the consciousness of separation, or duality rather than unity. For example, one issue being worked through today is equality of the sexes. The Old Reality of separation consciousness demanded separation of the power of the sexes into societies based on either matriarchy or patriarchy. The New Reality, into which we are shifting, requires an equality of the sexes; an integration of that which was formerly separated into two. Every woman and every man today is playing some part in this massive societal adjustment towards equality of the sexes.
As the purpose of the entire human experience is to work through and transform such issues, it is appropriate that we seek an elegant solution to all of these fear-based issues. When enough people pass through the gateway into freedom of the spirit, then the hundredth monkey phenomenon will click in and, suddenly, the whole world will wonder why it hadn’t seen such an easy solution all along.
The Shift to the New Reality is a shift to heart-centered and heart-powered consciousness. Society is building up to a critical mass where consciousness will flip from ‘you versus me’ to ‘you and me,’ a shift from competition to mutual cooperation. Every day, more and more people are making this shift to heart-powered consciousness. With a little inner work, these individual transitions to the New Reality happen sooner and more easily.

Dissolving Blockages to Love
Inner work, primarily, means daily meditation. When you make meditation your number one priority each and every day, then you are putting in the time that it takes to transform those societal issues within yourself and to work through your own challenges.
During meditation, you also connect to a wider range of your own consciousness. The deeper layers of your own consciousness can provide you with insights that literally catapult you out of issue-based blockages. As you allow these blockages to dissolve into the light of spiritual consciousness, you become free to express your true nature and to follow your inner joy.
Spiritual study helps adapt your mind to expanded views of reality. There is a recommended reading list of modern spiritual classics on this web site.

The Illusion of Fear
Some concepts in spiritual philosophy also help along this journey into freedom of the spirit. For example, love and fear seem to act like two opposite poles of mankind’s duality consciousness. Actually, from the viewpoint of unity, love is all there is and fear is an illusion which detracts from the natural flow of love through you. Love is a basic component of the original Creator consciousness that fills the universe. Love, therefore, is always available and ready to flow naturally through your heart. You do not have to earn it or demand it, just let it flow.

Allowance and Acceptance
Another key philosophy in gaining freedom is “Live and let live.” When you allow other people to be the way they are, your energy is not absorbed in anyone’s futile dramas. Instead, you are able to use all of your energy to follow your joy and help make the world a better place. You can recognize, love, and accept the inner essence of every person you know, regardless of their outward behavior or how much it may seem to need improvement. It is this unconditional love which heals the world, person by person, and there is no shortage of its supply.
Acceptance of yourself is also vital. Accept who you are now, unimproved, with your current motivations and be thankful that you are exactly who you are. You planned to adopt a certain package of feelings and circumstances in your journey through life. There is nothing ‘wrong’ with you at any point along the journey. Things that appear to need improvement are challenges, not faults, so enjoy the ride and gain the most from the experiences that you came to explore. For example, the inventor, Thomas Edison, carried out over 6,000 experiments before perfecting the first electric light bulb, but he never referred to any of those experiments as failures. Instead, he called each one a step closer to success.

Gaining Freedom of the Spirit
Freedom from fear-based emotions allows true, unconditional love to flow through your heart and true creativity to fill your mind as you pursue your deepest inner joy.
When you see fear as the hollow illusion that it is and allow your heart to open to everyone in your life, then your actions are influenced, not by fear, but by your unconditional love for the people around you and, equally, for yourself. Unconditionally loving yourself means allowing yourself to develop loving relationships where mutual cooperation, not competition or contention, becomes your daily reality.
People’s greatest fears melt away in the face of heart-powered, inner awareness. Your intuitive insight is your connection to the part of your mind that knows each situation, even before it occurs. When you listen to that still, small voice within, you know where you need to be and when. With intuitive insight, you will never become caught up in unfortunate events that are not of your making. For example, if an aircraft is destined to crash, you simply won’t be on it. If you need information to bring yourself back to health, you will know where to find the answers that are the best for you. Even the fear of loneliness will never cloud your heart because, with love in your heart, you will never be left wanting for good company.
Love and insight will pour from your heart if you let them. Give yourself the gift of true freedom, the freedom to express who you are through a natural flow of love and creativity.

This article was written by Owen Waters, author of "The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness"

The Four Agreements

2006-03-17T11:33:00.000-05:00

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) – Don Miguel Ruiz

Everything we do is based on agreements we have made - agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible. One single agreement is not such a problem, but we have many agreements that come from fear, deplete our energy, and diminish our self-worth."

In this powerful book that has remained on The New York Times Bestseller List for over five years,Don Miguel reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. When we are ready to change these agreements, there are four deceptively simple, yet powerful agreements that we can adopt as guiding principles. The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you wonít be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

http://www.miguelruiz.com/teachings/fouragreements.html

Surviving The Spiritual Gauntlet

2006-03-15T14:02:00.000-05:00

Surviving the Spiritual Gauntlet
By Aluna Joy

Center of the SUN ~ EQUINOX UPDATE

Having entered the first few days of March, it has become quite apparent that we have hit some really powerful energy. I have been watching Equinoxes over the past 12 years, and they just seem to be getting more and more powerful. I have been having powerful visions/dreams... and nightmares (unusual for me) where I see dark beings rising up from the underworld, and I fight to stop them. The last couple of nights I could not tell if I was still here, or if I had crossed over to the next world. I can feel my nervous system getting re-wired or short circuited . . . it is hard to tell which in this moment. Some of the pieces that I have collected over the last 20 years are just now coming together. All this makes me feel like everything is about to change. I wonder sometimes how we can endure the rise in intensity. But somehow we do.

The entire month of March, that surrounds the Equinox, will be an intense emotional roller coaster month. We will feel far more sensitive to the world. Things might seem so dark that we wonder if we can survive this time. Many people have been having unfounded fears of dying or that the world is ending. Will this shift be comfortable? NO! But will we emerge Masters of it? Absolutely YES! We are going to get really clear about what is not working any more to the point that we will be forced to make many shifts in our lives to continue on. The world is going to change. Our lives are going to change. We cannot tolerate the injustices and misuses of energy and power in this world anymore.

This month is beginning to really look like what I would call a Global Dark Night of the Soul. This sounds really scary, but it is not. "Dark Night of the Soul," by nature is deliberately transformative. It feels like death on all levels. While we may feel battered and worn in the transformation, realize that our Spirits are being tempered in the process. It is MOST IMPORTANT to surrender and trust the process. These unrelenting and intense times help us build spiritual strength by showing us our weak spots. It shows us where we are becoming Masters in our lives. This is a necessary step for our ability to evolve into the 5th Dimension. What a great opportunity for all of us!

It will be imperative at this time of powerful energy, coupled with the Equinox, to be helpful and cooperative with each other. Be good to each other. Love each other. Help each other. This is the beginning of the new world and the birth of a new community. We are the baby chicks struggling to get out of the egg, the caterpillar fighting its way out of the cocoon. The birthing process is hard, but well worth the effort. We are not going to give up. We are about to bust free of the limitations that we have tolerated for way too long. The time is so close now... the times are so powerful... We are letting go of this world...

This Equinox is going to be emotionally challenging for most all of us, but it will also prepare us for the entire year of huge transformation and spiritual awakening. This awakening cannot be stopped. I'll bet you have tried top stop it so you could be comfortable, at one time or another. It is not going to work this time. This is a time of breakdowns, losses and dissolving old paradigms on all levels. This is a time of great opportunity. We can't build a new temple without tearing down the old one. It is time to get brave... get out the spiritual work clothes and do the work. The two eclipses in the month of March will light up any shadows in your back closet that you have yet to clean out. Eclipses shine light into our own darkness. On March 14th there is a Full Moon lunar eclipse which will trigger even more emotional tidal waves.

In these most powerful times, it is very helpful to give yourself time in a sacred place in nature. Sacred places, like mountain tops and temple sites, hold and support higher frequencies, so the transformation comes much easier and with more clarity. If you can get away sometime in the month of March, especially around Equinox, it will ease the transition considerably. Also, high altitudes (over 7000 feet), forks in rivers, waterfalls, the oceans (silicone beach sand can elevate the issues), or deep deserts can clear our heads and lighten the heart.

This is a time where our Spirits are being tested to reach and maintain a higher level of impeccability and personal mastery. Becoming Masters is not about avoiding our feelings and emotions, but mastering how we react to them, no matter what the outer circumstances. Not feeling our emotions is flat lining. We are here to LIVE. So feel the issues, do not take them personally, and rise above them and help those around you. I send you Love and Blessings and will again while in the Maya Lands for Equinox.

Aluna Joy's Website

Personal Environment Impact Statement

2006-03-12T16:21:00.000-05:00

This is from the Proteus Coven’s website, posted here with permission.

http://draknet.com/proteus/proteus.html

About the personal environmental impact statement

by Mevlannen Beshderen and Judy Harrow

Pagans worship the Goddess, Mother Earth. We might call our spiritual path Earth religion, or nature mysticism, or geocentric spirituality, as well as calling it neo-Paganism. All of these terms have been used. Our core spiritual practice is applied Immanence, seeking the Sacred, the source of ultimate meaning and value, in this life, in these bodies, on this Earth, here and now. If religion means re-connection, restoring the linkage between belief and behavior, then surely Nature religion must involve living in a loving and reverent relationship with the Earth.

Practicing what you preach literally brings your belief system to life. Any ritual or worship is a meaningless exercise unless we also walk our talk. Our Mother Earth, who is in a life-threatening crisis, needs our authenticity. So to make our love and worship real, we work for Her protection and healing, as our own best talents lead us. How can we do less? We are, after all, Her children, and we know that our lives are entirely dependent on Hers.

Thinking things through

Effective work requires understanding. For this reason, our group's training program includes a dose of plain old nature study. Moreover, if we are acting in a religious way, acting in full congruence with our geocentric values, we can't engage in activism or public advocacy, in trying to tell others what to do, until we have cleaned up our own acts first. Only when we have understood, and taken responsibility for our own direct impact on the Earth, will our words ring true on all levels.

What we learn about our own effects on the Earth from this exercise in self assessment will help guide us as we reduce, reuse, recycle and, most basic of all, rethink.

The Rede requires us to think through the expected, and unexpected-yet-possible, consequences of our actions, and as much as possible to avoid doing what would predictably cause harm. Of course we know that no one can completely and absolutely avoid doing harm to something, somewhere, by any of our actions. We do the best we can to foresee the probabilities, and yet there is always some unexpected side-effect of our best-intentioned actions. There are also those terrible times when the best we can hope to do is still just the lesser evil. Of course, we are responsible for even the unintended consequences of our actions, in the sense of being obliged to do whatever we can to set things right. We are also responsible for making our extrapolations as accurate as possible.

Personal environmental impact analysis

One of our geocentric training exercises is for each of us to do a personal environmental impact analysis, to explore our own impact on the Earth and to identify some feasible and sustainable ways in which we might lighten that impact. This exercise is personal because the only thing we can actually control is our own behavior; it is also truly collective because no human stands alone on the Earth. All the ways we affect the Earth, for good and for ill, happen in interaction with other people. We are also responsible for the indirect results of our choices. Although we may never even have seen a strip mine, if we roast the Thanksgiving turkey in a disposable aluminum roaster, we support them.

Creating a personal environmental impact statement may seem at first to be a daunting task. We can make it much more approachable if we break it up into chunks and first look at each chunk separately. Later, we can combine these chunks to get a sense of the total impact.

A good choice for the first chunk is to examine how our rites themselves effect the environment. If ever we should cherish and protect the Mother, it's during those rituals in which we profess to worship Her. So, both as an example of how to look at any part of our lives, and because of the symbolic importance of this part, let's look together at the nitty-gritty practical effects of our rites on Mother Earth.

Environmental audits for your rituals

Consider the paths by which your ritual consumables came to you -- the candles from the oil refinery and cotton mill, the charcoal from the sawmill, the salt from an underground mine or a seaside bittern pond, the cakes and wine from a wheatfield and vineyard.

Candles and charcoals are a good example, since most of us are acutely aware of how often they need to be replaced. Mevlannen reminisces:

Back when my first group was starting out, we used second-hand candles from the nearby Catholic parish, whose janitor sold them to us for a dollar a bag. We were always amazed that our Catholic neighbours tossed out their candles after one morning's use: there were still many hours' burning left in them. So long as we were getting our candles so cheaply (at less than five cents apiece) we were happy to burn lots of them. After all, the Lady had Herself told us that She liked candles, lots of candles.

But when we moved to Vancouver, our handy source of candles was no more, and we soon realized that we were going through several dollars worth of candles in an evening -- and this was in the days when we could get good candles at five-for-a-dollar. In our new, smaller covenstead we also noticed that the candles (and our altar charcoal) made our ritual room perceptibly warmer, and we greeted the end of our Circles with great anticipation since that meant we could open the windows and breathe sweet, oxygen-rich, fresh air. So, although we were doing the Lady's bidding by burning candles in Her honour, we were also replacing oxygen with carbon dioxide at a fair clip.

As we found out, a more efficient means of obtaining a steady illuminating flame in Circle is the oil lamp. The efficiency comes partly from the fact that the fuel in a lamp, being a liquid, does not need to be melted before it can be burned (thus increasing the productive ratio of light to heat), and the larger diameter of lamp-wick as compared with candle-wick reduces the amount of convective cooling of the luminous flame, thus increasing overall light production per unit of fuel consumed. As an environmental fringe benefit, lamps can be set up to burn vegetable oil (from a renewable, botanical source) as well as the more usual mineral oil (from a non-renewable, geological source).

Now, what is the charcoal made of? What does burning it take from the air and what does it release?

Consider the environmental costs

Do you know exactly what was entailed in the production and transport of your altar tools? Your athame probably started out as iron ore from an open-pit iron mine in Australia or Labrador, then after a long journey by train and ship it went to a blast furnace and a rolling mill, and then on to a foundry or possibly a machine shop. In the course of that journey from the mine to the store where you bought it, the athame (if made from rolled steel) probably required the use of 900 times its own volume in cooling water alone, and twice its volume in raw iron ore, three times its volume in limestone and twice its volume in coal. An athame made of silver or some other exotic material would have required even greater amounts of raw material, some of which -- like the cooling water -- could be recycled, and some of which like the coal and limestone, was lost forever as carbon dioxide and slag. You can perform this sort of analysis of benefits and environmental costs for each of your magical tools and consumables.

Consider what sort of trade-offs you'd be willing to make

Perhaps you have your heart set on candles instead of lamps for the Quarters and Center -- but have you considered using candle lanterns, which reduce wax consumption by shielding the candle flame from draughts? Beeswax candles are more expensive, but they are not made from irreplaceable petroleum. How do you feel about the use of highly-machined brass castings, with their attendant manufacturing waste, in your candle lanterns?

Having done your analysis of the environmental impacts of your Circles, you might wish to move on to consider your other magical work. Do you do a lot of record keeping or write rituals for your group? If you do, are you using recycled paper? Do you recycle the paper you use for drafts? Consider keeping a stock of high-quality scratch paper by your printer or copier, and using the back sides of the sheets for running out drafts.

Another thing we do a lot of is travel to attend gatherings or Circles. It never fails to amaze us how many people come alone in their own automobiles, when they could just as readily be car-pooling. If you use a car, did you shop for energy efficiency and pollution control, as well as for safety? Do you maintain it well-tuned? When you change the oil, where does the old oil go? Better yet, work towards holding gatherings and public rites at a place which can be reached by train or bus. The Earth will thank you, and so will your fellow-travelers.

Now, having taken stock of the impacts of your religious activity, consider the other areas of your life.

Some simple questions to ask yourself

What do I pour down my toilet or into a storm-drain?

What is the effect on the body of water (usually a stream or lake) that receives that drainage?

Did I need to use, and then dispose of, that liquid in the first instance? If you need to use paint thinner, for example, consider using turpentine (which comes from trees, and is therefore potentially a renewable resource as well as being readily biodegradable thanks to its botanical origin).

What about energy?

Do you know how the energy you use is produced?

Are you careful in how you use it?

Is your home well-insulated, and your refrigerator regularly defrosted?

If you use battery-operated equipment, what do you do with the highly-toxic dead batteries?

These are just a few examples of the way in which you can look at things in your life, and assess their environmental impact.

Now, probe further

What do you buy, and why?

What are the side-effects of its use?

What happens when you throw it away (must you, really?), or try to re-use or re-cycle it?

If you have any investments, are they in Earth-friendly industries or technologies?

Even more important, how do you think you can realistically and sustainably reduce your personal impact on the environment?

What can you realistically and sustainably do that would actively contribute to Her well-being?

In the suburbs, can you compost your kitchen trash?

In the City, could you commit to the care of one street tree or turn out for a community "clean the park" day?

Can you join (or start) an environmental club or committee in your area, where neighbors work together to protect and heal their own part of Mother Earth?

Can you write letters to your legislators in support of strong environmental laws?

If you have children, are you giving them opportunities to learn about nature?

Above all, are you consistently acting from love and care for the Earth, so your children can learn from your example?

Your personal environmental impact statement belongs in your developmental journal. It's an exercise you should probably repeat every few years, to monitor your own progress. If you're in a group, you may want to try writing up your findings in the form of a chart or diagram and sharing it at a meeting. We can all learn from each others' good ideas.

Remember this: we profess an Earth religion; we should therefore concern ourselves with the well-being of the Earth. A personal environmental impact statement is one tool that can help us focus that concern into practical, immediate action. By understanding Her better, we can serve Her better. By serving Her, we make our love real.

written by: Mevlannen Beshderen and Judy Harrow
updated: July 28, 2000; © 1998, 2000 by the authors in trust for the Wicca
the address of this page is: http://www.draknet.com/proteus/impact.htm

Myriah's Musings

Alchemy

al·che·my

Arrival

ar·ri·val [uh-rahy-vuhl]

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Age Doesn't Matter Unless You're Wine or Cheese

Freedom of The Spirit

The Four Agreements

Surviving The Spiritual Gauntlet

Personal Environment Impact Statement