Time and a Word...Fulfilling Dr. King's Dream.

My fellow Global Citizens...

It has been just shy of a week since Election Day and I still have tears in my eyes.

All day last Tuesday I had Yes' song "Time and a Word" running through my head over and over...and like I've posted over at my MySpace blog..."Time and a Word" must have been running through everyone else's minds, because they listened to the voice of change...

I think all of Heaven was probably watching, too, as Barack Obama went from Presidential Candidate...to President-ELECT!

We the People said "Yes we Can" to fulfilling Dr. Martin Luther King's dream of judging people of color not by the color of their skin, but by their character.

...and Yes We DID!

Because We the People stood up to say that the Time is NOW for change, and the Word to spread to all who might have lost hope, is LOVE...

Because so many people turned out to vote on the positive direction America can go, we got the Most Benevolent Outcome of all...a beautiful outcome that still leaves me speechless...

And for once...there was no cheating, no bribing, or anything else like that above and beyond the usual stuff that goes on during a campaign...for once, a president won fair and square.

Now...here's food for thought: next up--a female President? That is another victory I'd like to be part of...

Brightest Blessings,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Big Thrills looking at Big Chills...this is why I am an Environmentalist!

Found this awesome site featuring fantastic photos of Antarctica and its gleaming, icy world...it's like a whole other universe...We Midwesterners get a taste of such glittering, otherworldly beauty, but like the North and South poles, our winters have become much milder...:-( This isn't good, to say the least...

I post the link to these pictures in hopes that people will come to understand why movies like "Happy Feet" are made...it's not just about the adorableness of penguins in the South Pole or polar bear cubs in the North pole...it's about sheer biodiversity, the cycle of Life, and how we humans have been so utterly disrespectful to the Mother and Her animal children.

People wonder why polar bears are starving...why fish populations for penguins have depleted We need to look no further than ourselves...the vehicles we think we have to have to impress other people or to "keep up with the Joneses."

Here's some food for thought for you....

What if the Joneses went Green and bought hybrids that are 1/4 to 1/8 the size of a Hummer? What if the Green Joneses told you they "adopted" wolves, penguins and other endangered animals instead of buying expensive birthday and holiday gifts? What if the Green Joneses were genuine about these moves toward saving the planet we share?

Would you follow in their footsteps then? Would you do it because it's still "keeping up with the Joneses" or would you do it because you know in your heart that what they told you was a good thing?

Here is the site for your further ponderance.


BB,
Rev Kat ^.^

This is why I Believe what I Believe & Do What I Do

It is almost Samhain (Sow-win'), not to mention the week of my favorite musician's birthday (this coming Sat, the 25th).

To celebrate the arrival of both dates, I decided to go hunting on StumbleUpon for sites that help define who I am as a practitioner of peace, mercy and justice for all--with a Pagan flavor, that is. Both Jon Anderson and my Druidic path have deepened my affection for the Mother Planet, if it is possible to extend the depths of my already lifelong passion towards keeping this planet livable for the next seven generations beyond me.

Here's one site I found: a bunch of posters dedicated to raising the awareness of everyone regarding human rights and the environment.

And another: A gorgeous photo of a whale!

...*sighs*...that reminds me...still want to get "Tales of Topographic Oceans" by Yes. Some people think it's too long, too out there, or whatever...but as long as it's about this beautiful blue planet I love--and as long as Jon Anderson's involved...the naysayers can just go play in some other sandbox. :-P

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Good Morning! Check out This Trippy Bit of Galactic Genius! 10/13/08

I signed into StumbleUpon to see what kind of good stuff I could write about today, and the very first page I "Stumbled" onto was a site about something called "G Breath." A sound file plays automatically when you first see the page, and in the center of the page there is a "Wheel of Life" that, once you push the "play" button, spins around and around at ever faster speeds, creating different patterns with color and the design of the wheel...

So what does one have to do to interact with the site?

Follow the instructions of the voice in the sound file, breathe calmly and look at the spinning wheel while listening to the recorded affirmation statements which follow the breathing instructions...

I did just that. It's a similar experience to watching a Windows Media Player visualization and listening to shamanic drumming at the same time, which I have done, mostly with the Kitaro CD called "Dream."

The best way I can describe both experiences?

"Trippy!" :-D And that's without ingesting peyote or 'shrooms, which, of course, are illegal, sadly enough. (Leave it to fearful power-play-machine governments to ban something which occurs naturally and is a spiritual experience for many.)

And speaking of things like peyote and trance experiences...it reminds me of what's been haunting my thoughts lately: Carlos Castaneda's writings of what Don Juan Matus called the "Second Attention." From what I understand, the phrase is chiefly used to describe living beyond just paying attention to what we receive via our regular five senses, and taking time enough to see the divine beauty in everything. I am sure that definition simplifies the concept too much, but that's the overall gist of the thing.

I'll see what I can do to read more Castaneda's stuff more seriously. Something tells me I still have much to learn from the books. Scoff if you want, but the fact that people scoff at something as deep as what both Castaneda and Don Juan have to teach us (even after the fact that they're both departed from this plane of existence) tells ME that ALL of us have yet to learn and remember how precious our natural Divinity really is and that we're all a part of Life, the Universe and Everything.

Which is one of the points of the site I went to. It reminds us we are all part of everything...

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

P.S. Click here to find out about "G breath!"

Letting Go...

I have a favorite song from Jon Anderson's Christmas album. I love it because it's high-energy, with great synth work, fab lyrics, and of course, the lovely man himself singing a piece of Truth that has, in recent times, played over and over in my mind.

I honestly think my spirit guide uses the song to remind me of one thing I've been having troubles doing: Letting go. And my spirit guide, as well as myself, does not care that the song was done back in the 1980s. If it comes from Jon Anderson, angel-of-prog-rock music, time and how old a song is does not matter. It's all good!

I remember reading that he wrote the song after meeting some Eastern mystic and encountering her own immense love for all, because the title of the song is "How It Hits You." She must have been some pretty awesome person for someone as advanced as I think Jon is to be THAT affected.

Well, I kind of feel the same way about Jon, actually. Because while I've not met him in person, his music and lyrics always serve to remind me about a lot of things...especially this whole thing of letting go. His own apparent love of humanity and persistence in seeing the good in everything, even while urging everyone to get it together because the "time is Now" never fails to inspire me. It doesn't hurt that he's got a voice like sunshine and a talent for music and songwriting that just won't quit. ;-)

So why this particular concept of letting go? Why has it affected me?

In short, Jon fell ill this past May no thanks to the respiratory issues that like to plague us singers, and supposedly the concert tour was going to be cancelled. That was the general idea, until one of his bandmates decided to take "Yes" on tour, without even calling Jon to see how he was doing, or to consult him at all about the matter. Needless to say, I, as a Jon Anderson fan, was majorly pissed. Not only was I pissed, I had read about it from Jon's own blog, and as tuned-in as I am to the guy and his music, it kind of blew my fuses. My heart-radio just went crazy and I couldn't hack it. I couldn't--and can't--imagine Yes without Jon at the vocal helm, leading the way to mystical vistas, per Yes tradition--or his own style, if you're only familiar with his solo work.

Yet, just the other day, he wrote in his blog that he had been watching the DVDs and listening to Yes' older work and remembering how each guy did his musical thing--even thinking fondly of Chris Squire's musical mastery with the bass guitar, despite the fact that it was Mssr. Squire himself who dissed Jon in the first place.

Up to then, I had felt so torn, so ambivalent about listening to the Yes stuff I have in my collection, because I had felt like I would be disloyal to Jon and his work if I did, remembering very painfully the wounds that a certain guitar player caused for not just Jon, but for the fans as well.

But reading Jon's vivid verbal portrait of his bandmates made me feel...So. Ashamed. Of. Myself. I knew precisely where my staunch loyalty and unbending fixation on such a high ideal of loyalty to great leadership came from, and I tell you, that was one of the biggest astrology lessons I've ever gotten: Saturn in Leo in the Ninth House. Yup. That's one of my placements. I had such a strong feeling and fixation on being angry at Chris Squire for acting like such an ass that I felt like I couldn't give myself permission to listen to Yes.

Reading Jon's blog the other day lifted such a burden...I then felt like if Jon could forgive Chris even a mere two or so weeks after the shock and blow, then I could, too, and that I was being just as much of an ass for giving myself over to a not-so-easygoing part of my personality. Does that excuse Chris from what I still feel is an overdue apology to Jon? Karmically speaking, no. He needs to take responsibility for his hurtful decisions. But, do I need to deprive myself of listening to Yes' stuff out of my heartfelt loyalty to Jon? No. I'm still feeling a tad ambivalent. But I know that if I do choose to pop in a Yes CD, I don't have to feel completely guilty, or feel like I'm disrespecting Jon.

In fact, given the shaky future of Yes, at this point, playing their music might keep my hopes up for continued performances--WITH Jon, of course, whether I get to see Yes (or just Jon) live or not.

I'm still working on the whole 'letting go' thing. I can tell because the bridge-lines in "How It Hits You" are still playing in my head, as a testament to recent events and how I personally can--and need to--grow as a human being.

By the way, the bridge lines in the song go like this...

"...Letting go can be easy! Letting go will help you! Letting go, it's so easy...letting go will help you...there's rivers to cross, rivers to cross...keep it up, keep it up, just look at it!"

I am sure that those of you who have heard this song will be singing along...just as I do, even when I don't need to be reminded, and I just like to sing the song because it puts me in a good mood. But then, Jon's music ALWAYS makes me want to swing on the stars.


BB,
Rev. Kat, the Jon Anderson fan ^.^

Life's Big Game of "Risk."--One of my Increasing A-HA! Moments

You know the game of "Risk"? The one that somewhat resembles a paper-n-pencil RPG, but isn't?

It's some sort of strategy game that I've heard about over and over but never got the chance to play. It's probably a game that I would get seriously addicted to once introduced. "Monopoly's" like that for me, too...probably because I like a challenge, and it seems I hardly ever win at "Monopoly." And if there's anything about Monopoly that provides a challenge, it is taking calculated risks, bargaining a trade (e.g. Park Place for Water Works) and so on.

Real life is a good deal like that too: full of options and challenges.

I didn't always realize this, though. After I left college with a huge debt and no degree (traditional 4-yr college is NOT the place for me. Too much stress from having to worry about grades and money at the same time.), I began to feel like I had made a huge mistake, and wished I'd known more about myself before diving into a $16K-per-year, 18-credit-hr/semester course load, and not just on an academic and financial level, either.

The regular, modern work world hasn't made learning to deal with stress any easier, either. So, if there is such a thing as "Risk Precipice," I've been quickly backing away from it for the last eight years, paralyzed by guilt for letting myself get too stressed out and racking up a huge debt, and the resulting overall fear of failure. Whether that was self-induced by recent experiences, or the memory of the demanding people in my life who think failure should never be in one's vocabulary--and doing things right the first time should always be EVERYONE'S m.o. (modus operandi)--I will never know.

Yet, I doubt that there is anyone more demanding than one's own inner critic, who amazingly tends to be the one to inwardly embody the criticism from external sources. I know this because my inner critic gets just as amazingly loud and rude. It's taken me some time to get her to shut up...and it's not been easy. She is the one who's always warning me about the failures that might result from acting on something, however cautiously I do it. It's gotten me to the point of being a bit "Monkish."

But if there is one thing my beloved boyfriend is good at, is bringing me back to reality...the reality that really living life *does* involve taking risks. And failure *will* be part of the equation at some point--and what *really* constitutes failure on a large magnitude is never learning from those mistakes, or failures, or whatever. It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Well, it seems my own personal version of "insanity"  has been this: backing away from risk over and over again...and expecting my life to still garner me the success I believe I deserve. It's clearly not working. This right here, folks, was my a-ha moment for the day.

Am I afraid of failure, still? Yes. I won't deny that. Do I want things to go precisely the way I think they should? I would be lying, and wouldn't be human if I said I didn't want that, because I think just about everyone desires to have their own way--even if it's just to have an easy day at work, school or whatever.

But dang it...This may seem like a no-brainer, a "duh!" moment to some, but to me, it's pure revelation: it's time for a change in my thinking...heck...even Senator Barack Obama's campaign is about change, which this country sorely needs. Just as I need to change and transform my life...from one of paralyzing fear of failure, to a life of living with courage, even in the face of potential failure...and to say to myself--"hey, if something doesn't work, try something else. It's okay."

Besides...if Thomas Edison had never tried over a thousand times to get the light bulb right, and stopped at idea 999, either someone else would have figured it out, or we'd all be blogging by candlelight, still. ;-)

So...food for thought:

If you don't take risks, you might not have failure, but you certainly won't have success. Here is the link (courtesy of StumbleUpon) that pushed me over the edge into today's A-HA! moment:

Risk--Author Unknown

Blessings and A-Ha Moments,
Rev. Kat ^.^

 

OneSpirit Book Club...Gotta Love it!

I'm sooo stoked! I got something in the mail from OneSpirit Book Club: a pack of lesson cards covering various topics, including herbalism, magick, dreams, crystals and so on. That's only the beginning though. These lesson cards are three-hole-punched, but not in the usual way, as these cards aren't the usual 8.5 x 11" length that most three-hole-punched papers are. So I could only deduce that there was a specific-size binder one had to have to house these lovely cards.

In the middle of the packet of cards were all these introductory messages to the lesson materials, and in that jumble of messages was a special prize piece one had to peel back in order to receive a certain amount off the total value of the whole schmere. If you got $9.95 off, you mostly got the value of another pack of lesson cards and that was that. You had to buy the rest separately, I assumed. The total value for the whole bunch of materials, including a special binder AND learning tools like tarot cards and runes, and so on, was $47.95.

The "Force" of my Celtic ancestry seemed to be with me this morning because when I went to peel off the "mystery" label to reveal how much of the material value I was to receive free, I got the entire package deal! You'd have thought I just won the lottery or something, because I was soooo excited...I've been yearning for structured materials like what I received in the mail, plus a specific binder to put such things in, and to think I get the whole thing, free, PLUS a bonus gift (because I answered back within the requisite 10 days)! It's like I'm starting my Witchy studies all over again, I feel so elated about the whole thing...:-D

So, what's the food for thought in all this?

Well, I didn't particularly place a specific, conscious request for these materials. But maybe somehow my subconscious did quite a while ago, just by prompting me to make the choice to give away some of the magickal books that weren't serving me well...meaning there is definitely something to this Law of Attraction.
And lately, the Power Animal cards I've been using for the last three or so months have been showing me some important ideas and reminders about gratitude, abundance, owning my own power and using my own resourcefulness. I've also had some important conversations in the last two weeks with those closest to me in my personal Universe that have shown me some confirmations about what I need to work on in my life...plus, a library book or two with titles that jumped out at me merely compounded what the cards have been showing me.

Now, if that's not the Law of Attraction in Action, I don't know what is...Time for me to go get some more of that kind of thing! :-D

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

I'm Back...

Yet another hiatus on the blog. I think I've finally tackled my inconsistency issue with this, scheduling my blog posts with a once-a-week schedule...one blog per day. I didn't get a chance to blog here yesterday, but I'm making up for it today.

One of my goals, at least with my Blogger blogs, is to learn how to post pictures, instead of just links to pictures. This way, if I use a picture to illustrate a food-for-thought article I post here, I can post the picture instead of just the link.

Also, ScribeFire has a YouTube icon where one can add a YouTube video, and a Flickr link so that's two new things to explore and learn.

The general idea of this blog is spiritual food for thought, so I am going to do my best to keep to that. I think I was trying too hard with my last blog schedule, in regards to my strict ideas for blog posts each day. Plus, I was making it too hard on myself, stress-wise, especially with no computer of my own yet.

One of my biggest issues, along with inconsistency, is control. I have issues with letting things go, and going with the flow. I'm not sure where I get this from, but I'm going to go with my gut and say it might be coming from the three fixed-sign placements in my chart:

Saturn in Leo (this is the most likely source)

Uranus in Scorpio (a second likely source, but more involving the world at large. I get very impatient and angry with people who are destructive and hurtful just for the sake of being destructive and hurtful. Since this placement is in my 11th House, which is ruled by Aquarius, yet another fixed sign, the fixatedness might be coming from the House itself, and blending with the Scorpio energy.)

Chiron in Taurus (This is a more minor placement, as far as the world at large is concerned, but it's more personal, more of a karmic healing issue, and it's something I'm having to take more time with in regards to understanding why this is in my chart, but I do know Taurus and its foibles to some intermediate degree, so I have some idea that this is where some of my fixatedness is coming from.)

Virgo Midheaven (This is considered a more or less minor placement, but it's another possible source of control issues with regard to whether I beat myself up or forgive myself.)

Granted, astrology doesn't solve everything, as nothing in astrological charts is completely written in stone, but it has given me tremendously helpful clues into my personal psyche, as well as some of the psyches of others.

One thing I can say is, I will do my personal best in gaining consistency. I'm working on this with my exercise routine, so I also will work on consistency with my blogs.

Till later,
Rev. Kat

Loving Yourself

It has been taught over the decades, even centuries, that to think about oneself before others is to be selfish and mean. This thought has been perpetuated even in the advent and popularity of the advice by psychologists that to be healthy and happy in one's relationships, you have to get to know yourself and help yourself first so that you have energy and time to help others, especially if those "others" are your family and friends.

This seems to tie in with the idea of some that they are not worthy of affection if they are not doing for others, or that they are not worthy human beings because they are "not needed." This sort of co-dependency is not only harmful to the one with the inferiority complex, it's also harmful to those with whom one wishes to ingratiate oneself, because it forces them into a feeling of "I can't live without this person because they provide such-n-such service and help." Making oneself emotionally or physically indispensible like that simply points to not only erroneous thinking handed down over the years, but serious self-esteem issues that result from that erroneous thinking.

Therefore, it has been suggested by many that to enhance and heal your relationships with others, you go on what is termed "self-dates" in order to heal your relationship with yourself. No money need be spent if you don't want to (or can't) spend anything. Just a trip to the library or going to the park with book in hand will do.

It's not just about "going within" or "meditation." It's more about fulfilling the edict set forth by the ancient philosophers: "Know Thyself."

Once you truly know yourself, you can perhaps begin to express what you most desire--and if that means getting out from under bad childhood programming, especially that of the ideology of being a "martyr for the cause" (a common piece of programming dating back I-don't-know-how-many-decades), so much the better.

Have a gander at this article about self-dating, set forth in this beautiful blog about keeping things simple, happy and healthy in your life.

BB,
Rev. Kat

Back in the Saddle, As It Were...a Cool Site from StumbleUpon

Here I am, back in the blogging saddle after taking the hiatus that I needed to get my head on straight about some stuff.

On that note, here is a really cool site I Stumbled on: 10 Things I Learned from Five Months of Meditation.

It talks about this guy's experiences whilst in the initial stages of learning meditation.

I am soooo bookmarking the site! :-D

Namaste,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Temporary Hiatus in the name of Efficiency

Afternoon, everyone…

I am writing to inform whoever reads this blog regularly that I have
some things to sort out and tend to for the rest of the month. Some of
these things have a sharp learning curve and I need the unfettered time
to focus on these non-blogging related activities. Suffice to say that
these things I am learning should affect my efficiency levels for the
better.

But because I know that I may be disappointing some of you as a
result of my temporary absence, I am apologizing in advance for any
inconvenience to my regular readers. I will return to the blog no later
than May 1st.

Brightest Blessings,

Rev. Kathryn WingedLioness ^.^

My Experiments with the Law of Attraction and Gratitude 4/8/08

I finally got my car back Sunday, which meant I could run all sorts of "errands" yesterday (Monday), including that of depositing my tax refund, going to the library, Goodwill, the mall, and getting groceries. It got the "run-arounds" out of my system, but not before I sought information from Waldenbooks' New Age section, whereupon I encountered multiple books on the very topic of these Tuesday posts here at Dining with the Divine.

At Waldenbooks, amid copies of "The Secret" and other related books were two tomes by Esther and Jerry Hicks, the channelers for the entity called "Abraham." One book was "Ask And It Is Given," and the other was "The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent." Those last two words matched the thread of thought I've been following upon having recently read at least one of Carlos Castaneda's books.

What I am discovering lately is that in my mind and heart, I've received images of very intense thought-feelings regarding various topics and ideas. In my mind's eye, I see these feeling-images as glowing green tendrils, or threads, coming from my aura that I can access and connect to with what I can only conceive of as "intent."

So, therefore I follow the trails of green to more mindful experiments with the Law of Attraction.

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Stumbled Page #2: rendingtheveil.com

I found this amazingly well-written article on altered states, shamanism and psychonautics.

It retells in one particular paragraph how, over time, the influences of Protestant Christianity, technocracy and empirical science changed the way people looked at the spiritual. Not even in synagogues and mosques are the psychtropic substances used for shamanism accepted because they are seen as too primitive--and that supposedly, being "primitive" is a bad thing.

I'm not sure I understand that fear-laden train of thought, seeing as how I, myself am interested in such substances to induce shamanic trances. I'm not crazy about the idea of going to prison just for using something from nature, however so I find other ways to--if purists will pardon the expression--get my trance on.

There is more to this article than what I read, but I am definitely giving this site the "thumbs-up."

Click here to see and read the article.

BB,
Rev. Kat

StumbleUpon Page: Dharma for the Zen Student

I am endlessly fascinated by Buddhism, especially that of the Zen and Tibetan traditions. There is a part of me that wishes to practice it to some extent, though my true Heart lies with Druidry...yet all Spirit moves in a spiral, and all Truths end up touching one another here and there.

Ergo, when I found this site via StumbleUpon, I wanted to ScribeFire it.

The beginning quote I found rather humorous in its bold-faced riddling truth: "Zen is not what you think!" It's attributed to "anonymous," so sorry, no direct quotation today.

I would print it out for my use, but my inner editor sees far too many errors such as words run together and not properly spaced. So if I want this info in hard copy form, I'm going to have to copy and paste into Word or something. I don't know.

Anyway, here's the link if you want to check it out:

http://staff-www.uni-marburg.de/~schmitzr/bgz.htm

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Tip of the Week—Hobbies as Meditation

When most people hear about meditation, they tend to envision the stereotypical Hindu or Buddhist monk sitting cross-legged in Full Lotus, hands positioned a certain way and an aura of peaceful tranquility on the monk’s face.

While that is certainly one of the more traditional forms of meditation, whether or not you are a monk in such traditions, there are some people, like myself, who also look to not-so-traditional ways of relaxing meditatively.

Hence, my tip of the week: Hobbies as Meditation.

When you think about it, it’s not that strange an idea. For instance, one of my hobbies now is knitting, not just because it’s fun, but the constant rhythmic motion and flow of each repetitive stitch one makes can induce a light meditative state: the breath slows, the mind quiets down and your blood pressure lowers. It’s more effective if the TV is off, sure, but even while watching TV and knitting, you can still achieve some measure of meditative calm from knitting.

Other hobbies that can induce a calm, relaxed state include woodworking, playing a musical instrument, doing yoga or tai chi and others that I am sure I’ve not thought of yet. Swimming is another one of my favorites, though it comes more under the category of exercise, as it raises the heart rate. However, though it raises the heart rate, I’ve experienced a clearing of the mind and cleansing of the soul that other hobbies help achieve. Maybe it’s because I’m in the water, and water is one surefire way to calm an agitated mind.

Despite what some people might think, a bungee-jumping hobby isn’t exactly meditative. It may clear your mind, but most people do it solely for the adrenaline rush. Not what I would call a calming way to spend an hour or so, but then I’m not too sold on the idea of jumping off a high ledge with no protection but a safety harness and the bungee cord attached to the safety gear. Sky-diving isn’t exactly what I’d call meditative, either, though parachuting might be—if the parachute cord works properly on a consistent basis.

But whatever hobby you have that works to calm your mind, lower your blood pressure and heart rate and perhaps to achieve enlightenment at some point, as long as it works, I would say it’s all good.

BB,

Rev. Kat ^.^

Spirituality News--A Response to a Blog Post 4/2/08

There wasn't much to peruse in my Google Alerts today, except for a very thoughtful, priceless gem coming from a site called realmuscleonline.com.

The author of the article examined the two sides of a common debate about martial arts: does it foster anger or spirituality?

I am going to assume for the moment that the author is a male, since I don't know too many women in my life who participate in the various disciplines of martial arts.

I mostly remember my dad not wanting me to take karate or anything like that because he was afraid I would use it wrongfully. I later learned his fears were unfounded, because while I've not really been able to learn martial arts yet, I did find out that taking a martial arts class has something of a transformative quality, and that I actually would have ended up a far more peaceful person than I am now.

Though there is the possibility that some people still choose to use martial arts while in an angered state of mind. The "Karate Kid" movie proves that with the abusive Cobra Kai doctrine taught by its ex-military macho-man "sensei."

Having watched various Jet Li and Jackie Chan films, and knowing what I know about some of the various disciplines, I know that I would rather go for Tai Chi or Aikido. Karate might be useful at times, though. As someone who prefers the way of peaceful reason, I think a "softer" discipline might be more up my alley.

And while reading the martial arts piece, I think I just discovered something about myself...and I mean really realized the implications of part of my personality...

My dad has this habit of painting me as an angry person--all the time. Yes, I admit, I do get reactive. But I don't necessarily get reactive just to get my dad upset, as he so thinks.

When I am talking with someone, my favored expectation is that most people can be reasonable when they want to be. But when people don't choose to be reasonable and balanced, I can just feel my inner temper rising, because my sense of justness and fair play is seriously offended and I want to make things right.

Thing is, I don't like the idea of hitting someone via martial arts if I'm feeling angry. And many times, the people I'm angry with I can't hit for very good reasons: it might be a boss (since I am, by traditional standards, unemployed, my boss would be myself), my future in-laws (and they're pieces of work, too!), certain politicians in the White House (On those guys, I'll just use my very strong "voting pencil kung fu"), an elderly female relative who shall remain nameless, and so on.

So...maybe the "kung fu" I've got to strengthen now is not so much the ability to defend myself physically, but to go inside and find peace within...and that, for me, is challenging to do right now, as making peace internally with people who insist on being @$$holes is not the easiest thing in the world.

And that kind of aspect of "martial arts" is probably the cornerstone of the whole shmere because the key to learning martial arts--especially going deeper into the disciplines--is learning to fight so that you don't have to.

But one thing is for sure...while my dad prevented me from taking martial arts because of his personal fears (which may or may not have been accurate. I don't know)--that didn't prevent me from remaining the Warrior spirit that I am. I guess if I feel as angry all the time as Pop thinks I am (and I am NOT angry all the time, by the way), I am merely echoing his own feelings of anger and injustice at the atrocities and chaos of this world.

Time for me to go back and read "Way of the Peaceful Warrior."

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Experiments with the Law of Attraction and Attitude of Gratitude 4/1/08

I've been doing some thinking...

Perhaps my attempts at using the Law of Attraction and/or the Attitude of Gratitude have been scant because of some remaining, ingrained skepticism. I'm not sure. I do know that I'd like to swallow "The Secret" whole hog, as it were.

These are the questions that still plague my mind:

How do I release the doubt with this concept as much as I released the doubt enough to enter the world of Paganism and magick?

How do I deprogram my brain of any self-defeating talk or thoughtforms?

How do I do as the old phrase suggests and "let go and let God/dess"?

How do I know that the skepticism is mine and not someone else's?

How do I cultivate a climate of faith in my mind when I am surrounded by fearful people?

How do I align with the Divine Essence that sees this current economic downturn as an opportunity for We-the-People to do something creative with the situation instead of succumbing to the doom-n-gloom?

And then I am reminded of the Nike slogan: "Just Do It."

Is it really as easy as all that? I suppose it is. I have been known to make mountains out of the proverbial molehills. And that presents another question:

Did I learn that reaction to life or is that part of my basic personality? And how do I stop doing the mountain-out-of-molehill thing?

So, as you can see, I've still got a lot of questions that need addressing. Time to dig deep and resolve them. Maybe I'll use the Law of Attraction to get the answers I want.

I've heard of just that very thing being done, so why not?

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Monday Meditation for 3/31/08: Garden of Dreams

Spring is officially here, and the first official spring rain has fallen, no snow included, thank you very much. :-P We in the Midwest have had flooding and all sorts of things just from the snow, which makes me really wonder as to what we’re attracting.

One might say that we’re attracting all this precipitation, whether in the form of snow or rain, because our emotional landscapes are parched. Or one might say we’ve been experiencing this wacky weather because we’ve upset the natural balance of the ecosystems and we’re reaping the negativity of the seeds of hubris that we’ve sown.

Or maybe it’s not us. Maybe it’s Mother Earth experiencing Her own shifting, just as we’re experiencing ours. We might just be going through a shift equivalent to that of mid-to-late adolescence: old enough to be sobered by our mistakes but still dominated by our youthful arrogance. Our technology has potentially surpassed our current level of immaturity and we’re reaping the results of that immaturity.

Now I’m not totally getting down on the human race, as I’d be getting down on myself, too. There are many people who wish to help change the world for the better, including myself.

Just as the season of winter dies away, making room for Maiden Spring, the darker times humanity has experienced will also pass away, making room for the new energies of Hope, Truth, Light and Love. And in the summer, we will begin to harvest the results of our planting those seeds of beauty. Of course, there will be weeds that try to choke out what we’ve planted, and we will have to work at weeding the garden. But in this sense, “weeding the garden” simply means spreading more Love and Truth, being a channel for the peace of the Goddess.

Even in achieving our own personal Garden of Dreams and Goals, we all need to remember to walk “the Beauty Way,” as it’s called by many Native American nations.

In this light, here are some questions you might want to contemplate at length.

What are your ideas, dreams and goals?

What do you desire for yourself and the world?

On what thoughts do you want to pour refreshing warm rain to help manifest your life’s mission?

What helpful energies do you want to send out to the universe?


Don’t worry about your ideas being “too grandiose.” Nothing is too large for the Goddess to handle, when you place Her on your “Creation team,” as it were.

So when you go to plant your gardens within the next few weeks, whether they be physical plots where flowers, fruits and vegetables grow in order to grace your table, or the inner gardens of your imaginative, fertile minds, remember these things:

Make your Gardens part of your personal “Beauty Way," planting Love, Truth, Hope and Light.

Get the Goddess on your own Creation Team…

Dream big…

…and don’t forget to ask for rain…:-D


Brightest Spring Blessings,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Tip of the Week 3/24-3-28

Hey Everyone!

My tip of the week has been slow in coming...I looked at LifeHack.org and other such sites, but none really fit what this blog is about. So I am going to have to come up with some blog-topic-specific tips...

But here's one to tide you over till I get the knack of efficiency...guess I'd better go back to LifeHack.org to figure that one out. :-P

Tip of the week: Use lemon balm and coffee to teach yourself a difficult topic, even within spirituality.
Why it works: Lemon balm is considered a memory aid, because it activates an important long-term memory chemical called acetylcholine. One lemon balm lasts for about an hour and a half, so taking two lemon balm gives you approximately three hours.

There are residual effects of the use of lemon balm, long after the main effects wear off, so anything you come in contact with after your study session is going to be stored in long-term memory, whether you want it to or not. So if you want to use lemon balm and coffee for study purposes, be sure and carve out 1.5-3 hrs of uninterrupted time so you get the full benefit of the herb.

Side effects: Lemon balm is a sedative, and can make you sleepy, so that's partially where the coffee comes in. Coffee also can help you focus and not get distracted.

I've used this method many times for learning subjects that are challenging to me, such as remembering subtle details of my spiritual path, or learning something not even remotely related to my path, such as geometry, algebra or programming. And I can tell you that it works.*

BB,
Rev. Kat

*Disclaimer: These statements are anecdotal and have not been formally tested in a lab setting, complete with the white coats, clipboards, Egon-Spengler glasses and rubber gloves. Seriously, folks: Please exercise caution and do your research as some herbal supplements are contraindicated for specific physical conditions. Meaning that you are putting yourself at risk if you have a specific condition and you use a supplement not recommended for use while having that condition.

(For example: epilepsy patients are advised to not use rosemary, as rosemary literally fires up the neurons in a normal person. Imagine what it would do to an epileptic whose neurons are already overactive.)

If you can, locate a licensed naturopath in your area that can help you.

Spirituality News 3/26: Spiritual Psychiatrist

This week, I couldn’t help but be drawn to a couple of articles regarding spirituality and the health profession. Both were wonderful, and the second story thoughtful and humorous, but the first story, based in Orange County, California really got my attention.

The article in question is about this young psychiatrist, Dr. Aaron Keriaty, who is a practicing Catholic. He says he prays for every one of his patients, and prays that God will use him to heal those with mental troubles.

Given that he is only a year older than I am, he is very likely an Indigo soul who is here to change the face of psychiatry and help build bridges between heretofore opposing viewpoints. In this case, the bridge needed was to eradicate the duality created by humanity between the mental health sector and those of a religious bent.

His interest in the psychiatric field took a personal turn when a friend of his was diagnosed bipolar. That friend has since committed suicide, and Keriaty spoke about his friend’s mother praying that he would use his profession as a way to help those like her son.

This story was very encouraging, as my own boyfriend’s experiences with the psychiatric profession have not been positive, especially as my boyfriend is something of a mystic. Also, it was doubly encouraging, because it reminded me of my dad’s own therapist who is a practicing Lutheran. This tells me that psychologists and psychiatrists are beginning to see that the world of the spiritual has many lessons for them in the way they help their patients, and that the world of the spiritual is to be pondered and wondered at instead of scorned outright.

At the same time, ministers and priests are now attempting to help remove the stigma of going to a therapist for help, realizing that talking with clergy may not be enough to heal the wounds of the mind as well as the soul.

What I hope Keriaty will do in the course of his career, is also address the mental needs of the poverty-stricken areas of this country, for they are the ones who probably need help the most, yet cannot afford the exorbitant costs of therapy, let alone medication, if need be. The poverty-stricken’s only choice is to go to a church for counseling, but a minister cannot yet objectively help such people with issues such as substance abuse, or being verbally, mentally, physically or sexually abused, unless that minister also has a graduate degree in psychology. Some clergy do, such as those in the Pagan community. But then, I’ve encountered ministers who just don’t have the gift of gentle, sympathetic yet objective counseling that many human souls need.

Therefore, I am very glad to read of a spiritual psychiatrist who will be something of a walker between the worlds of religion and the mental health community. He is a bridge-builder, and may there be many more like him.

BB,

Rev. Kat ^.^

My Experiments with the Law of Attraction and "Attitude of Gratitude"

Morning, Folks! :-)

Again, I confess to not really doing much yet with the concepts of this article series.

However, I think because of my recent decision to be more impeccable with my words (see don Miguel Ruiz's book "The Four Agreements" for an explanation of this usage), I have understood how truly ungrateful I've been at times, especially with regards to my family. I confess to having been a petulant, immature brat more times than not, and after yesterday--my 30th birthday--I realized that I had some serious growing up to do. Oh, not so much that I not watch animated stuff anymore or not be playful with my honey-bun. That's not the real meaning of maturity, I thank ya. But rather, I want to be in a more balanced state while interacting with my parents, instead of being reactionary.

Not that I'm gonna get all lovey-dovey with those who have hurt me and my family to the extreme, because they're all just a bunch of energy thieves, and I can't hack it anymore. I can't keep my own internal balance around them. They're the sort that impress upon a person that they should be grateful, but how can one be truly grateful for people who steal your energy? The only way I could act as if their emotional tyranny was a blessing (meaning I thank them for the challenges they've given me by being challenges themselves, according to Buddhist philosophy) is if I were at the level of the Dalai Lama, and I'm not even close. I'm not saying I can't achieve that level if I worked at it, but whining about stuff I can't change is not the point of this article series.

The point is, I look back at the immaturity of my teens and twenties, and look at where I want to be at say, forty or fifty years of age, and where my own parents are now, AND my own missions here on Earth, and I think, "Kat, grow the heck up!" And I do feel a mental change...I'm not sure when it happened, but I feel a change. Maybe it was when I decided that I would for now and always think of the Goddess and God as not just some faraway Crystal-and-Light advisors outside myself, but true members of my own Inner Council. Team members that I know I can count on far more than I can ever really count on humans, with maybe the exception of my boyfriend, because while he is human, he's not going to pull too much bullcrap on me.

So therefore, here are my first statements of gratitude:

I thank Goddess for my fellow Indigo souls who, while being their mystical selves (if that's their immediate leaning), don't pull any stupid shenanigans or bullcrap. I thank Goddess for their own strength and feistiness, which often matches or exceeds that of my own inner fire. It is said that we learn a lot about our True Selves from those who are true to themselves, and in many cases, I have experienced this the most with my fellow Indigos. With their help, I have managed to uncover the Blue-Purpliness of my own Flame.

And I am learning more and more about how to uncover my own True Soul and casting away the fear that I've been taught to carry.

This new uncovering is also credited to the works of don Miguel Ruiz, Carlos Castaneda, and yes, my favorite prog-rock musician, Jon Anderson. :-)

One thing I have discovered is that one can only make peace with the things that have happened to them if they look within and realize that interaction with others and all things is not a one-way street. We all play our parts for better or worse, stupid or smart. But if we want to be truly in tune with what we want to do, we need to be in tune with our True Soul's Intent and not consciously give energy to those whom we know will sabotage us.

So, with that, I sign off...and Happy Birthday to those who have birthdays in March and April. May your birthday anniversaries be true rebirths of your soul.

BB,
Rev. Kathryn WingedLioness

Tip of the Week....

I want to kick off this topic series with something appropriate to new spiritual life and happiness...

First off: Happy Ostara (aka First Day of Spring/Vernal Equinox) to my fellow Pagans out there…

Secondly, I found this amazing CD at the Ames, IA library. It's a fusion of Hindu chanting and trance-techno beats...

The group? One At Last. The album? Their 2006 release "Are You Dreaming?"

I already wrote a review over at my music blog, so I won't write another here. What I will say is this is *the* album to get for celebrating the return of Spring and Summer. If you're into world beat mixes with a focus on Hindu chanting and frequent mentions of Krishna and His many Names, with a bit of salsa (track 2), a smattering of reggae-style speech (track 3), a fair amount of Native American chanting (tracks 6 and 8) and an Aussie didgeridoo (track 5), then this is my tip of the week:

Get this album into your collection. :-D

I know it belongs in mine!

Again, Happy Spring to everyone and All Our Relations!

Blessed Be,

Rev. Kat ^.^

Spirituality News...3/19/08

I flipped through my Google Spirituality news alerts today thinking I would see blog post after blog post about Buddhism, the Dalai Lama, and the violence that's erupted in Tibet over the last few days.

Nothing. Not one syllable.

Which I find interesting, because usually I feel like I am the last to find out about things like this, only reading about them in my Alerts a few days later.

You'd think American Buddhists--at least the well-known ones--like Richard Gere, for instance, would jump on their blogs, if they have them, and post their reactions to what's going on.

But I, a non-Buddhist, went upstairs to fetch two of my favorite chanting CDs--one of them being from a local library--and three candles in reaction to the idea that the Dalai Lama has offered to resign as political head of Tibet if Tibetans continue their violent reaction to the oppression by the Chinese. He will always be the Dalai Lama, in the context of being the leader of the Buddhism community, but because he is so committed to nonviolence, he feels his only recourse is to resign on a political level.

I...a non-Buddhist reacting strongly to the point of feeling weepy and wanting to give Tibetans one big group hug? I mean, I'm a spiritual sensitive...but I think I reacted strongly because one of my chief goals is to promote freedom. Freedom of what?

Freedom from oppression, control, illusion...

I have been considering embracing Buddhism a bit more fully. And it's an interesting, juxtaposing thought given my own natural Celtic-Warrior-inclinations, plus my choosing to be vegetarian mostly for health purposes.

But I think I am reacting most strongly to the Dalai Lama's decision to resign politically--something which he has not carried out yet, as the Chinese Premier is mostly willing to speak with the Dalai Lama, though the Premier is not convinced of the Dalai Lama's
position on the issues at hand, regarding Tibetan autonomy vs Tibetan independence.

The Dalai Lama has renounced violence, and wishes for Tibetan autonomy, but not complete independence. Apparently, the more draconian of the communist party leaders (one of them from Tibet, sadly enough) have sorely misinterpreted the intentions and thoughts of the Dalai Lama, projecting their own violent nature onto one of the world's most peaceful men.

To sum things up, it appears that in the face of the 2008 Olympic Games, the Tibetan uprising has exposed China's "Achilles Heel": that of the inability to accept and honor ethnicities, spiritualities and governing styles other than their own. Hence, an outcry among the world governments against what the Chinese leaders have done.

So how do we forgive people like this? How do we forgive their draconian nature and oppressive thoughts and actions?

It is the only recourse. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean we have to condone the actions of the Chinese government. But we all would do well to turn the other cheek and say, "Mother, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Because they don't know what they are doing is wrong. They are under the spell of an emotional illusion.

So we must rid ourselves of our own illusions about our own paths...and spread our own peace to those who have none.

So do I support the Dalai Lama in his offer to resign if the violence gets out of control?

Yes. Not because I call myself Buddhist, as I have not studied enough to convert, and I am not a Tibetan, either... but I support him because I think if I were in his position, and at his level of spirituality and leadership, I think I would end up deciding the same thing.

But this whole thing reminds me of how I need to find my own peace within myself. We all need this, if the concepts of war and divisiveness are to be eventually conquered.

And how does this thought measure up in the face of my connection to Goddesses like Brighid and Athena? Because These Ladies are not just Goddesses of warfare...they are Goddesses of wisdom, intelligence and Creation.

And I definitely think Kali-ma would have something to say to the Chinese leaders. But I will leave that up to Kali. ;-)

Namaste and Brightest Blessings,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Experiments with the Law of Attraction and Gratitude

I'm going to confess something here:

I haven't entirely begun a specific set of experiments with the Law of Attraction and the concept of "Attitude of Gratitude."

It's been rather haphazard, really, and more on the side of asking the Hindu elephant-god Ganesha to help remove obstacles in my family's life. Interestingly enough, I think He listened, because the prayers I made were for my folks to find a house to live in when the Catholic church burnt to the ground and the diocese decided to sell the property. Because not too long after I made those prayers, my dad had found the lovely little house here in M-town in which we are now living.

Technically, I could make similar prayers for me to find a job outside the home and for it to be a job that I can keep for a good while. And there's where I make yet another confession: I don't want another outside job. I feel that art and writing and music are where it's at for me. Besides, the job market's pretty tight anyway.

But that aside, I guess this post makes it official: I am now embarking on a set of personal experiments with the Law of Attraction and "attitude of gratitude."

Here is the kicker: Do I just attract stuff willy-nilly or do I make a focused attempt to attract what I precisely need? And how do I know that what I need is TRULY what I need?

Those are exactly the questions my experiments are going to answer.

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Beginning a New Article Series...

As of last week, the most recent article on Scientology will be the last in that series.

The reason being is that I mostly want to give readers a clearer picture of each spiritual path out there, but without going on and on about it. Therefore my goal is only to post four or five major articles at most about each path, unless there is enough information that it warrants one or two extra writings. For instance, some paths have both orthodox AND mystical traditions that intertwine with each other. I want to give both aspects of such paths a fair showing, so extra articles may be written to cover both sectors.

And of course, following a pattern I set down with the first article series, I will be posting my candid thoughts on the spiritual traditions about which I am writing.

The next article series will be on Islam, currently one of the most popular religions right now, despite all the bad press they've been getting since 9/11. I know, there's a lot of information, but there's also a lot of misinformation, too. And not unlike the goals of the "For Dummies" and "Complete Idiot's Guide To.." books, I aim to help people understand more about the things that get misunderstood all too easily, whether from sheep-minded, ignorant thinking or from outright innocence.

Above all, by writing these articles, I aim to help those on their spiritual quests to find where they belong while helping them avoid a case of what I call "convertitis," an emotion-based desire to constantly blab about their newfound path in an attempt to get others to think the same way. In my opinion, you don't win "converts" by giving 'testimonials' or making your "witnessing" obvious to the point of being invasive to others.

And it is my observation that those wishing to convert others don't spill the beans about everything.

I plan to spill the beans. I would be doing a disservice to those who read this blog and who are searching if I did not.

Brightest Blessings on Your Seeking,
Rev. Kathryn WingedLioness

Spirituality News: On Boredom

Top o' the afternoon to ya...;-)

I've learned to scan my Google alerts for articles quite quickly. It used to take me forever because I would always assume something new would be in each alert section (each alert comes in a digest form). Considering the current memes that people have glommed onto in the areas of music, spirituality and technology (my top three alert terms), it's difficult to find anything truly new and refreshing.

But one major gem was shining in the dark coal of repetitive postings.

The idea in question came from a WordPress blogger who calls herself Sparkle. She is a fifty-something writer who has ideas that are decidedly old-school. But in an age of constant "go, go, go," technology and speed have created a vacuum in which "old-school" relaxation and self-exploration are the perfect antidotes. And that is precisely the angle from which she addressed the subject of boredom being a true source of creativity.

And as a creative person, therefore, I know precisely what she means.

I believe that boredom is not necessarily a lack of "something to do," but rather it's a state of feeling like certain activities are not interesting anymore because there is no reward, immediate or otherwise. And in this age of people desiring instant gratification, it's easy to spit out the words "I'm bored" and flop down in the chair or on the sofa and flip on the tube.

To people like me with active, creative minds and souls from the day we were born, TV holds no interest unless we're learning something or rewatching an old favorite flick that never ceases to amaze and capture our hearts, souls and imaginations. These are my preferences:"Law & Order?" Same ol', same ol'. Too much melodrama that makes the show more fit for daytime TV. Reality shows? Unless it's "Dog: the Bounty Hunter," "Dirty Jobs," or "Flip This House," three shows about which I can learn about other people and their careers, forget about it. Oh, and in my cable or satellite package, Sci-Fi, Discovery Channel (plus spin-off channels), A&E, and Nat'l Geographic are THE ultimate "Must-see-and-learn" TV, right along with PBS.

And let's not forget the ages old Eastern practice of sitting down and watching the breath in meditation, clearing our brains of that annoying "monkey mind" blather that haunts our thoughts. I've gotten better at flinging poo right back at the "monkey" who flings poo at my more productive thoughts. But of course, there's always room for improvement. ;-)

But back to the original idea: how does boredom fuel creativity?

Well, allow me to use one of my favorite metaphors: the cauldron. As a woman who is a practicing Celtic Pagan and Kitchen Witch, AND as a woman who *loves* to cook, the cauldron is a wonderful example of Creation and Creativity.

Imagine the cauldron, sitting there on the tripod hanging over a campfire ring. The fire isn't lit yet. That cauldron is labeled "Your Life," which, up till now, you've called 'boring.' You claim you "have no life." Or do you?

You sit and sit, thinking about how to fill that cauldron. Your mind is full of thoughts, most of which are random and like that annoying monkey or chimp at the zoo whose attempts to amuse are merely distractions from what you'd really like to see (E.g., the polar bears, or the lions or peacocks). You're meditating on how to solve this problem, and then...WHAM! It hits you: you'd like to do thus-and-such with the cauldron, and no gosh-darn monkey is going to stop you.

Now you're not so bored and 'uninspired.' You light the flame under the fire, just as sitting with your feeling of "boredom" has lit a fire under you, and then you're off and cooking. Then one after another, more creative ideas and solutions come your way, and then the floodgates open. You begin to connect one idea to another and then you have a recipe for say, a business, a kid's activity, a book...you name it, it's there, and the Universe has lots more...like the Cauldron of Abundance in the old Celtic mythologies, the Universe never runs out of food for thought to share. (And it is this process that sparked this blog!)

All you gotta do is sit and be with your boredom. It's the same concept as pushing or pulling into the resistance, instead of pushing/pulling against it, a concept that is common in Asian martial arts such as Tai Chi and Aikido. You can also think of it as learning to be in, as Eckhart Tolle calls it, "The Power of Now." I've tried it, and it works. And I like to do what works. ;-)

Granted, the first couple or three times you try this, you may feel like you want to give up, but this is where the power of perseverance comes in handy. Because aside from working your day job in order to feed your little ones, be they dog, cat, lizard or human, those so-called "important" things that are NOT your day job (like household chores) can wait while you attend to creating your life for a change.*

BB,
Rev Kat ^.^

*Turning on your cell phone in this instance is definitely not required. In fact, disconnecting your regular phone is also encouraged.

New Happenings Here...

As I have 4 other blogs I tend to (just call me Brighid with many irons in her forge), as well as this one, I managed to come up with a way to create content for all of them, every day of the week. Challenging? Yes. Important? Yes.

Generally, the done thing is to have one blog on which you post every day. I like doing the opposite: have one blog for each big topic idea. That way I can stay focused on what I need to do.

Plus, I just love to write, and it keeps me on my toes.

I'll be cross-posting this entry on other blogs as a general announcement. And sometimes I'll cross-post things from here on my blog over at Care2. Depends on the topic.

Here's what I've got lined up for daily post topics:

Mondays will be days I post meditations. They'll be brief, but long enough so you can copy, paste into Word or other word processing program and print them for your personal use *only*.

Tuesdays will tend to be for posts related to my experiments with the Law of Attraction and "Attitude of Gratitude," two chief components of "The Secret."

Wednesdays will be for Spirituality news. I solemnly promise NOT to focus on the same thing as the Biggest/Most Popular 'meme.'

Thursdays will be for "Tip(s) of the Week."

Fridays are going to be spotlighting things I've seen on StumbleUpon that are relevant to the general focuses for this blog...

That pretty much sums it up...see you in the coming weeks when I'm in the thick of this plan.

BB,

Rev Kat ^.^

Scientology Part III: Practices

This is Article IV in the Scientology article series...
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Here are the four major practices involved in Scientology:

Auditing

As some of this information has been presented before, this section will simply be a recap.

Auditing is Scientology's chief practice, and it consists of one-on-one sessions with a counselor and an e-meter. An e-meter is a device which measures small changes in electrical resistance in the body when the participant holds two electrodes shaped like small metal "cans," and a small electrical current is run through them.

This use of the e-meter usually occurs while the participant, also known as a Pre-Clear, or PC, is relating traumatic events in their life. Scientologists claim that the specific use of the e-meter and the results aid in pinpointing areas of concern.

Training

Training is the supervised process of learning and applying Scientology and auditing, and this process is considered almost as important as the auditing itself.

Training usually follows a checklist of which of Hubbard's writings are to be studied. The first four or five levels are called Academy Levels, and each student must show mastery of each topic studied before it can be recorded as a pass on the checklist. Academy Levels 0-4, and Academy Level 5, (also known as New Era Dianetics) are studied for two weeks each, on a 40 hour a week schedule.

Level 6, the Saint Hill Special Briefing course, is studied at special advanced organizations. This level consists of 16 checklists, each completed at 3-4 week intervals. The material involved includes 12,000 pages of material and over 400 lectures.

Silent Birth and Infant Care

Stemming from Hubbard's belief that birth is a traumatic event that might induce engrams, it is encouraged within Scientology that any labor and delivery process should be in as silent a room as possible, with no words, so the child does not grow up and reassociate any specific words with the event of their birth.

While Hubbard believed that women should breastfeed their infants, he discouraged women who smoked, drank or lacked poor nutrition from doing just that. He discouraged the use of commercial formulas currently on the market, however, claiming that all they were was a combination of "mixed milk powder, glucose and water, total carbohydrate." Hubbard created his own alternative, called Barley Formula. His mixture is simply barley mixed with homogenized milk and corn syrup, and though it is still popular with Scientologists, modern medical practitioners deride it as lacking in important nutrients, especially Vitamin C, the lack of which causes scurvy.

Ceremonies

The Church of Scientology provides Sunday services and ceremonies for marriage, birth, and death. These services and ceremonies are usually performed by an ordained Scientology minister.

For example, during a funeral, the minister directly addresses the deceased, forgiving them for any misdeeds done:

"We do not contest your right to go away. Your debts are paid. This chapter of thy life is shut. Go now, dear [deceased], and live once more in happier time and place."

Most, if not all, ceremonies that are currently used were written by Hubbard himself.

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MY THOUGHTS: When I got to reading about Scientology for this article series, I really got curious as to the philosophy behind the concept of silent birthing, as I view it as an unrealistic vision of someone who had never given birth. And as the founder of Scientology was a male, you can guess how unrealistic his idea is. Now, granted, I do believe that children should be able to come into this world not surrounded by chrome and plastic medical equipment and cold rooms, but I also believe that childbirth is called "labor" for a reason, especially for shorter women who end up carrying children up to 9 lbs. And it is for this reason that I also believe women ought to have the right to an epidural, or barring that, scream like hell if they want or need to, something at which a Scientologist would probably reel back in horror. Also, Hubbard's concept of "barley formula" IS lacking in essential nutrients, other than protein. And there is no reason why a new mother who is lacking in poor nutrition couldn't get the nutrition she needs, as long as she has access to excellent prenatal care and is willing to give up smoking and drinking for her child's sake.

Spirituality and 'Memes'

I had an idea this morning to track the number of articles in each Google alert I receive. Two alerts are for my music/creativity blog and one is for this blog. And I got to thinking about my fascination with trendwatching, trendsetting and why, in the savvier sectors of the blogosphere, it is considered repetitive and boring to write about the same stuff as other people.

This led me to further thinking about what 'memes', or ideas and concepts are "hot topics" in the realm of spirituality...

My brief research tallied up Goddess and Women's spirituality as being the biggest thing right now at around 7 articles (and I had a LONG list of spirituality alerts in one email digest!) and at 2 articles each, the topics of spirituality-vs-religion and spirituality-and-celebrities were dead last.

Topics in the middle (at around 4 articles) were about the environment, children and politics.

I understand perfectly why Goddess Spirituality and Women's issues are tight friends and why they're such a big deal. I'm a part of that movement myself. Not so much as a Starhawk fan, as I think she takes it a tad too far, IMO. But rather as a woman who seeks to be in balance with the male gender.

Ergo, it's more interesting to read and write about such a thing. But spirituality and celebrities or the argument of spirituality-vs-religion? Either people are bored with hearing about celebrities flaunting their beliefs and bored with the spirituality-vs-religion debate, or nobody is taking a deeper look into things, preferring to be superficial in their thinking and reporting.

So, I see it as a challenge...why do certain celebrities choose the paths they choose and do they change spiritualities like they change spouses/partners? If not, what makes them stick to the path they're into? Or are they choosing a specific path just for the sake of being controversial?

And the spirituality-vs-religion debate is still something of a fascination, as it seems to be a spin-off of the science-vs-religion debate...

So...maybe I can turn some things on their head...and create a 'meme' of my own: that of actually thinking deeply about topics people think are boring, and giving them a twist--which is exactly what blogging, and writing itself, are about.

BB,
Kat ^.^

Scientology Part II-B: Further Information on Beliefs

This is Article III of the Scientology article series.

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Scientology Part II-B: Further Information on Scientology Beliefs

Continuing the information on Scientology beliefs, let’s recap in a single sentence what Scientologists, particularly the Church of Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, believed about the mind. According to Hubbard, the mind is a bank of mental images, and Dianetics itself deals with the reactive mind, the place where negative images or “engrams” are held.

The Two Triangles and the Tone Scale

Parts of the Scientology symbol are two triangles, one on top of the other. The bottom triangle stands for ARC, or Affinity (emotions), Reality (agreeing on what is real) and Communication. The top triangle stands for KRC, or Knowledge, Responsibility and Control. Scientologists believe that improving one aspect of the bottom triangle increases the levels of the other two.

As regards the top triangle, many auditing processes and training routines are centered on the aim of increasing an individual’s ability to have knowledge of, take responsibility for, and control external elements.

The tone scale characterizes mood and emotion by showing various emotional positions on the scale. The number range is from -40 (considered “total failure”), to +40 (“Serenity of Being”). Again, position on the scale usually indicates mood, but Hubbard said it could also indicate things like health, mating behavior and even the ability to deal with the truth. The essence of this measuring device is that the higher the tone, the better the person’s communication is, and the lower the tone, the worse the communication is.

Dynamics, Morals and Ethics

There are eight Dynamics of survival according to Scientology, and they are eight in number, ranging from Self, to Humanity to the Infinite. The Dynamics, as represented by the cross of Scientology (looks a bit like the Christian cross, except for four extra “spokes” in the middle, pointing outward) must be considered in equal measure.

Concerning morals and ethics within Scientology, there are three key points. The first is that Scientologists follow what is called “The Way to Happiness.” This “Way to Happiness” defines morals as a code of good conduct laid out as a yardstick for individuals and groups, but also cautions that morals can become outdated and outworn, thus inciting revolt and rebellion. The second point is that there is no absolute right or wrong in the sense that most people think of it, but rather there is a gradient of right to wrong.


If any such sense of “absolutes” regarding right or wrong exist for Scientologists, it is solely within the concept that “absolute wrong” is extinction of the universe and of humanity, and “absolute right” is the immortality of the individual, his friends and children and the Universe. Ethics are defined by Scientology as reason, and ethics in this case consist of rationality towards survival across the eight dynamics. It is then considered that reason is humanity’s greatest weapon.

Past Lives, “Secret Levels” and ET’s.

To recap and add to what was mentioned earlier, Hubbard believed that the mind contains past traumas called engrams, but Hubbard also believed that some of these traumas occurred in previous lives. Some of these previous traumas, according to Hubbard were deliberately inflicted by malevolent extraterrestrial dictatorships in the form of “implants” in order to brainwash and control the human populace.

Getting back to Scientology symbols, there is a big “Church of Spiritual Technology” symbol carved on the grounds of Scientology’s Trementina base. This can be seen from the air, and according to former Scientologists, the symbol marks a return point so devoted staff can find the founder’s works upon returning to Earth from other points in the Universe.

Regarding the “Secret Levels,” Scientologists who have reached the state of “Clear” may continue on into the levels of Upper or Operating Thetan. Such levels are only conferred after an evaluation of the person’s ethics, character and contribution to Scientology. Individuals who have reached these levels and read the corresponding materials may not disclose the information they have acquired, for to do so would jeopardize their standing within Scientology.

There are presently eight levels of Operating Thetan, the last of which is only conferred at sea, for the reason that being at sea provides a safe, aesthetic and distraction-free environment. The Church of Scientology enforces strict confidentiality in these matters, especially after Scientology materials were presented as evidence in court proceedings, therefore becoming a matter of public record.

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MY THOUGHTS : Now that I've researched further, I understand more about this topic. It still feels something like a system from one of Hubbard's sci-fi books or similar movies that I've seen that might have fringe-y ideas and symbols, but there's a path for everyone. I still don't understand the point of secrecy and confidentiality with some stuff, however, because if these ideas of Hubbard's are so dang cool and would improve society, why all the hush-hush and the secret levels? I have the same grievance towards the uber-traditional Mystery Schools, such as Gardnerian Wicca and other secrecy-oriented practices.

Scientology, Part II-A: Basic Beliefs

This is Article II of my Scientology Report series...

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Scientology Part II-A: Basic Beliefs

Documentation and Goals…

Unlike Christianity, Judaism, or Islam, Scientology does not have one single particular book, but rather a series of books, which number 18 in totality. Study is achieved by reading each book in chronological succession and thereby mastering the material within.

The goals of Scientology include two major points. The first goal is to have a civilization without insanity, war or criminals; where the able can prosper and honest people can have rights, and where humans can rise above mediocrity. The second goal is for humans to achieve certainty of spiritual existence and certainty of one’s relationship to the Supreme Being.

Beliefs and Terminology

There are a few major beliefs which contain terminology and concepts by which most people outside of the Scientology circle tend to freak out.

The first of these concepts is that a person is a spiritual being who possesses a mind and body, the spirit lives on after the death of the body, and that the spirit has also experienced many reincarnations. To many people, this is not so unfamiliar a concept, but what strikes people as a tad off the beaten path is that in L. Ron Hubbard’s terminology, the soul, or spirit body, is known as a Thetan.

The second of Hubbard’s ideas and concepts is that of auditing. This process seeks to rid a person of any traumatic incidents, ethical transgressions or just plain bad decisions that are believed to weigh the person down and prevent him or her from succeeding in life on their desired level. Before the auditing process begins, the person being audited is referred to as pre-Clear. Once the process is underway, the auditing counselor works with the pre-Clear to get rid of any negative instances within the mind. The desired stages to achieve are that of Clear and Operating Thetan, or rather, someone who has managed to get free of the negativity that would hold them back from their desired achievements. Each of these states is said to recover a person’s natural spiritual abilities and to bring mental and physical benefits. Members of Scientology continually study the religion’s tenets in order to go from pre-Clear to Operating Thetan.

Other beliefs include the thought that the tenets of Scientology are not simply matters of faith but rather matters of testable proof and practice. In other words, that which is true for you is what you have observed to be true. Another belief, which has recently become well-known via one or two celebrity Scientologists, is that psychology and psychiatry are considered to be abusive and destructive practices.

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MY THOUGHTS: When I did the research for this second article, I already had knowledge of some of Hubbard's terminology, as I had attempted, at one point, to read Dianetics. But to be quite honest, I couldn't even get halfway through the book. The concepts that Hubbard put forth were somewhat familiar as they are indeed drawn from both psychology and Eastern mysticism, but his personal terminology for the soul and its negative experiences, etc, really says to me that either he has a unique vision for humanity, or he had a system in his sci-fi books that was most likely to be implementable in current-day society and he just went for the gusto. And quite frankly, when it comes to Dianetics and some aspects of Scientology, if my solar plexus had a face, it would have a weirded-out, quizzical expression plastered all over.

I haven't tried reading any of his sci-fi books, but one day, I may scratch that curious itch. After all, I'm willing to try *most* things once. But Scientology itself? Ehhh, I am happy being a Druidic Pagan, I thank ya.

Who Is....

...Steve Pavlina?

In my search through my Google Alerts for Spirituality news, I keep seeing this site called www.stevepavlina.com, and most of the mentions in Google Alerts are from the forums. I finally said to myself, "Okay, I'll bite: who the heck is Steve Pavlina anyway and what does he promote?"

Well, I went, I looked, and was enticed.

Who/What is Steve Pavlina? A Self-Help/Personal Development person who seems to know what he's doing.

What aspects of Personal Development does he target? The full gamut...everything from time management to spirituality practices...

My reaction? I got chills, because in my many in-the-mind talks with God/dess, I was expressing my concern about the way I ought to routinize my spiritual practice and how I could make the most of the weird situation I'm in right now. Stephen Covey's 7 Habits series is helpful for ultimate newbies to the prioritization process, and I'm still working with that on some level. Don Miguel Ruiz's "4 Agreements" book is a boon to those of us who still deal with overreacting, taking things personally, making stupid assumptions and thinking we gotta be perfect people, having no "off" days whatsoever, even if we're puking up our toenails. (yuck!)

But it seems that the Universe has been trying to get my attention because I've been noticing the Steve Pavlina site for a couple or so weeks now...and while I've got a lot on my plate, with no computer in my room yet, like any kitty, my curiosity is getting the better of me.

So, I will explore the Steve Pavlina site and see what happens. There's lots of info, so I will have to digest his material in bits and pieces...but maybe that's the way to do it anyway, so I don't get overwhelmed...

I'll write a proper review of his site and his forum once I get properly into the swing of it.

BB,
Kat ^.^

It seems my

Closed For Inventory

Greetings, all...

I read this article in Google Alerts from the Orangeville, Toronto newspaper about taking stock of one's life, and how we live our collective lives as a community.

The author began by noting a convenience store that was closed at 9 am in order to take inventory. And he went on to mention the Christian season of Lent. It's a season that most people are very uncomfortable with for many reasons. One of which is the concept of fasting or giving up something for the forty-day-forty-night time-span. Not many like the idea of giving up something. I was raised as a Christian Protestant, and we never really did much for the Lenten season just because my parents perceived that they were struggling to make ends meet as it was. Yet...my father and mother have been carrying around 30+ years' worth of belongings, 50% of which my mom is more than willing to let go (heirlooms notwithstanding), but my dad has no interest in getting rid of, or giving up anything that he's acquired. And taking stock is not his favorite activity.

I am not unfamiliar with the most basic concept of taking stock, however. I do it quite often. Not because my Pagan path demands I do it, but because I want to be a better person and help reduce suffering. Taking stock is part and parcel of living life as consciously as possible. For example, from an ecological perspective, if I did not take stock of my life, my views, my perceptions, I could not rightly call myself an environmentalist, let alone a spiritual being.

But because I adore animals, plants, Mother Earth in Her majestic entirety, I *want* to take stock and have personal goals that further the cause and necessity for being a guardian and steward of the land upon which I walk. I *want* to feed my body and my soul with the healthiest things possible. So I take stock of what I eat and the things I experience.

Taking stock, however, is not solely relegated to being an environmentalist. Taking stock can mean looking at how we treat each other, and making amends to those whom we have sometimes treated not so nicely. The list could go on. The point is, whether or not you are of any faith path in particular, if you wish to be a better person in general, going within, soul-searching and tallying up what's gone on in your life so far...things completed, things not completed, things that you've not even begun to tackle...these are key to helping your life get better. And this can be a successful discipline to have, regardless of whether you are Christian, Pagan, Muslim, Jewish, etc.

BB,
Rev. Kat ^.^

Scientology: Part I--Origins and History

Here is the first of the Scientology posts I promised I'd write...I am going to use a different font for my research articles than I do for my regular postings.

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Scientology, Part I: Origins and History

How It All Began…

Scientology, as an applied religious philosophy, was created in the early 1950’s by American sci-fi author L. Ron Hubbard. It was created as a sub-study of Hubbard’s earlier self-help system, Dianetics, a while after the original Dianetics center failed due to financial issues. The first Church of Scientology was begun in 1953.

Scientology encompasses a rehabilitative philosophy and covers topics such as morals, ethics, education and so on. The Church of Scientology has been labeled as a cult and an “unscrupulous commercial enterprise” by many areas of society and the world. There is also a charge against Scientology for harassment and abuse of the trust of its adherents. Its members refute such claims by saying that most of the controversy is negatively spread and motivated by certain interest groups and that most of the controversy is considered past history.

Though the word ‘scientology’ in itself has been mostly associated with L. Ron Hubbard, its use predates him by a few decades. Three writers have used it to define their own thinking, including philologist Allen Upward, who used the term as a synonym for pseudoscience, and Argentine-German writer Anastasius Nordenholz used it in a more positive light, using a definition of ‘scientology’ that is not unlike Hubbard’s.

The Church of Scientology defines ‘Scientology’ as “a study of truth.” The word itself is a combination of the Latin word ‘scientia’ (knowledge, skill), which is a form of the verb ‘scire’ (to know), and the Greek word ‘logos’ (reason, inward thought, logic or ‘an account of’). The term and related words are trademarks held by the Religious Technology Center, which grants the mother church, Church of Scientology International (CSI), all rights to use said trademarks and license their use to other Scientology entities and churches.

Influences...

Hubbard’s creation is influenced by many people and other religious thoughtforms. Chief among these are Freud, Jung, Alfred Korzybski, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Tao Te Ching and even Christian Gnosticism. He even claimed that the Hindu Vedas were “Scientology’s earliest ancestor” and credited Buddha for being one of Scientology’s forerunners. Indeed, the practice of “auditing,” a one-on-one, two-hour counseling session, seeks to rid the reactive, unconscious mind of what Hubbard called “engrams,” or negative occurrences affecting the unconscious mind and emotions, therefore supposedly healing any physical or emotional hindrances to life success. The goal in Buddhism to ease suffering due to what usually goes on in the reactive mind is something similar to Hubbard’s goals and ideas, but the approach is quite different.

Despite the influence of other greats on both Dianetics and Scientology, such as Freud and Jung, whose theories Hubbard studied copiously, he did not place Scientology within the realm of psychiatry or psychology. In fact, he blamed the American Communist Party for most of the hostile press towards his ideas, and in later years, he developed the belief that the true origin of the criticisms was from the psychiatric profession, and that the profession secretly controlled most of the world’s governments.

End of Part I

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MY THOUGHTS: I was surprised at how many sources L. Ron Hubbard drew from, especially Hinduism and Buddhism. I was also surprised to find out where the Church of Scientology's hostility towards the psychiatric community came from. I am unsure of whether psychiatry actually has as much control as Hubbard claimed, though as a mystic, I am personally not too fond of the current attitudes coming from the psychiatric community towards anyone who is not supposedly "normal." They have also not stopped to consider that what is making our children mentally whacko is all the processed foods, sugars and environmental pollutants/hazards to human health.