October 23, 2007
Empowered Forgiveness
Apologies
In life there will always be times when we are affected by the actions of another person. When this happens, we often receive an apology. More often than not we say, “It’s alright,” or “ It’s okay,” and by saying this we are allowing, accepting, and giving permission for the behavior to happen again. When we say “thank you,” or “I accept your apology,” we are forced to sit in our feelings rather than ignore them.

There are many of us who feel that it is easier to brush off how we really feel than to express our discomfort with something that has happened to us. While this may initially seem like the best thing to do, what it really does is put us into an unending pattern of behavior; since we are not honest with another person, we continue the cycle of letting them overstep our emotional limits time and time again. By doing this we place ourselves in the position of victim. We can put an end to this karmic chain by first acknowledging to the other person that we accept their request for forgiveness; often a simple “thank you” is enough. To truly create a greater sense of harmony in our relationship, however, we need to gently, and with compassion, express our innermost concerns about what has transpired. By taking a deep breath and calling upon the deepest parts of our spirit, we can usually find the right words to say and verbalize them in a way that lets the other person recognize the consequences of what they have done.

If we can remember that our response to others is important, we can begin to realize that trust and forgiveness go hand in hand. And when we react in a way that engenders a greater amount of honesty and candor, we will establish a more positive and empowering way of being and interacting others.

What a beautiful affirmation/prayer:

Give thou thine heart to the wild magic,
To the Lord and the Lady of Nature,
Beyond any consideration of this world.
Do not covet large or small,
Do not despise weakling or poor,
Semblance of evil allow not near thee,
Never give nor earn thou shame.
The Ancient Harmonies are given thee,
Understand them early and prove,
Be one with the power of the elements,
Put behind thee dishonour and lies.
Be loyal to the Lord of the Wild Wood,
Be true to the Lady of the Stars,
Be true to thine own self besides,
True to the magic of Nature above all else.
Do not thou curse anyone,
Lest thou threefold cursed shouldst be,
And shouldst thou travel ocean and earth,
Follow the very step of the ancient trackways.

Today’s reading was for a woman who had concerns about her health. We’ll call her Serane. Serane had gone through some turmoil recently in her life at a time when she was trying to settle things down. This after a very big medical scare, left her feeling unsettled. Now that things in one area of her life were settling down she felt she needed to focus on her health and wanted to gage where she was at.

 

Deep breathing technique was used, and Serane held the cards to her heart. Then I had her pull three. The deck used was “The Ascended Masters Oracle Cards” by Doreen Virtue PhD. Serane noted that over these three cards her hand got extremely warm.

 

1. Purification

2. Come out of the Closet

3. Trust

    

    

Purification: Something about the situation needs purifying. Could be diet, could be spiritual. What I was feeling was that she was living an unhealthy lifestyle. Serane confirmed to me that she was smoking again, something she hadn’t done in many years after successfully having quit 5 years ago. She felt that this more than her weight was the thing that needed purifying.

 

Come Out of the Closet: Contrary to popular belief this is not a card of sexual preference, but it is a card of wearing one’s own soul. What I was advised for Serane, is that while she was attempting to be her true self, she was struggling with fears of rejection that stopped her from being her true self all the time. As a result she was holding back. Serane confirmed this back to me.

 

Trust: Trust is a card that has come up many times for Serane in previous readings. Her problem with trust is that in the past as early as she can remember, the trust she willingly gave to everyone, was abused. Serane has a hard time trusting fully because of it sometimes. For her health’s purposes, trust in this case is a sign that she needs to let go of her previous fears and trust in the path she is on. That even if there is a recurrence of her previous medical issues or new ones crop up, that she has the strength and support system behind her to help her deal with it. When Serane expressed that her fear was of money, being caught in the same medical sinkhole she was in now, I advised her that her worry of money surrounding the medical issues could be more damaging to her. Trust in divinity, angels, guides, friends and she will find a peace that she never knew.

 

*Name was changed for privacy. Reading posted with permission from Serane

 

Adapted from Toltec Dreaming,

by Ken Eagle Feather (Inner Traditions, 2007). 

A main Toltec worldview is to align your energies in a balanced way between Spirit and the world, so that you develop a path that reflects the deepest aspects of yourself. This is the way where you will find harmony. You’ll be able to handle daily problems more easily, and by following your path with heart you will avoid entanglements with the energy of others.

Here are 10 tips that will help you develop this stance:  

1. Use death as an advisor. In the face of death, why waste your last moments with worry?

2. Listen to your inner thoughts and feelings.

3. Accept yourself.

4. Don’t force yourself on the world. Try not to force your views on others.

5. Sense the difference between the directions of others and yourself.

6. Assess situations as they are, not as you want them to be.

7. Speak freely yet thoughtfully.

8. Aim to align yourself with Spirit, not with the thoughts and desires of others.

9. Direct your life toward strong, purposeful goals. Work to achieve them without bending them, yourself, or others out of shape.

10. Take only what you need and leave the rest. Use the world; don’t abuse it.

Today’s reading was for a wonderful woman named Olivia*.

We did a simple three card spread as we were at work.  The deck used was the “Ascended Masters” deck by Doreen Virtue.

1.       Immediate Past-Take Charge of this situation

2.       Present-Energy Healing

3.       Immediate Future-Meditate

When I looked at the first card I received dual meanings for her.  The first was that she had some inner turmoil at home going on that she needed to take charge of.  She had been thinking about it, dealing with it, living with it for long enough.  Now was the time for her to act.

I also got that she needed to get control of her new awareness of her healing abilities.  When I met Olivia, I knew right away that she had light inside her.  We all do to a certain extent, but she radiated it.  When I spoke with her for the first few readings we talked extensively of this gift and she admitted that all her life she had some gift within her. This card’s second meaning for her today was that now that she was aware of her abilities, she should learn about them thus taking control of them.  Learning the truth about the gifts she has and not falling into the power trap that people who learn of her gifts may put her in.

The second card for her spoke to me of ties that she has with others who may be feeding her a bit of negativity.  When we connect with people, especially family, we bridge that connection with ethereal cords that are usually tied to our chakras.  Those cords, bridges if you will sometimes need to be scaled back or removed entirely.  I told her that Archangel Michael is a wonderful Angel to help her do that, and I guided her to ask for his assistance to remove those cords so she can clear her energy. I also explained that this card is directly related to the first one in that this is a “present tense” card.  This is something she should do now.

And finally for her third card, the message was one I heard clearly and absolutely.  She must meditate.  Meditation is a useful tool to ground and center anyone, and it is especially useful for people with gifts.  When you work with other people, when you share with other people your energy can sometimes be dispersed.  Meditation even for 5 minutes is an excellent tool to help centralize your energy again.  I advised her that she should try to find 5 minutes in the morning, 10 during the day and 5 at night.  She has children and didn’t think she would find more time than that.  I explained that this would be sufficient and once she sees the progress, she would find time she didn’t know she had. 

*Name has been changed for privacy.  Reading posted with permission from Olivia

October 3, 2007
To Rise Above
Achieving A High Vibration

All matter is made up of energy, and that energy is in motion continually. Everything in the universe, from the smallest molecules to the most complex living beings, has an optimal rate of vibration to keep it healthy. We reach this high vibrational level when we are whole, healthy, and fulfilling our potential. Human beings are able to consciously control these vibrations within themselves using a variety of techniques. We know when we have reached a high vibrational state because we feel good and can sense that we are aligned with all that is. We find we are capable of healing and have good intuition and perception that are a result of our resonating closer and closer to our ideal frequencies. Thoughts, emotions, intentions, choices, and actions contribute to our vibrational state, as do the environments we inhabit. Affirmative activities that leave us feeling joyous, appreciative, loving, and peaceful raise our vibration. Constructive, creative, and expansive thoughts do the same. When we cultivate habits that contribute to our physical health and strength, our vibration is likewise raised. Certain mantra meditations, breathing exercises, and chants are designed to increase vibration. But simply practicing gratitude and forgiveness, surrounding ourselves with loving high-vibration people, eating whole foods, and spending time in nature can also help us transcend our current vibrational limitations.

When your desire for change is strong enough, you will find yourself gravitating toward what can help you achieve and maintain a high vibrational state. A positive outlook will then become the most important tool you possess, and this outlook will sustain you when the path leading toward transformation is wide and winding. As you evolve, your vibrational frequency will also evolve, aiding you in the creation of an even higher reality. Consciously and unconsciously, you will attract auspicious circumstances and positive people that will help you continue exploring the scope of your higher self until you move beyond the earthly plane.

I’m a little late this year with the celebration of Mabon (the lesser sabbat that falls on my birthday).  But it is the beginning of my favorite time of year.  Fall is when the air is crisp, the memories of cinnamon apple spice come aroun, cider is drunk, leaves crunch underfoot, and the changing of the season is imminent.  Today’s post is a celebration if in type only, of the beginning of the brilliantly colorful season of Fall, also know as the Atutumn Equinox, or in Wicca; Mabon. 

Enjoy! 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Mabon
Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.

Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter’s Night, which is the Norse New Year. At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.  

Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.

Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Herbs of Maybon:
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon’s seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.

Foods of Mabon:
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Incense of Mabon:
Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.

Colors of Mabon:
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones of Mabon:
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.

Activities of Mabon:
Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.

Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing! 

Boy is this true today. 

~*~

No Hard Edges

Creating Space in The Body

 

Our minds and bodies are interconnected, and the condition of one affects the condition of the other. This is why meditation is such a powerful tool for healing the body, as powerful as physical therapies. When our minds are cluttered with thoughts, information, and plans, our bodies respond by trying to take action. When the body has a clear directive from the mind, it knows what to do, but a cluttered, unfocused mind creates a confused, tense body. Our muscles tighten up, our breath shortens, and we find ourselves feeling constricted without necessarily knowing why.

 

When we sit down to meditate, we let our bodies know that it is okay to be still and rest. This is a clear directive from the mind, and the body knows exactly how to respond. Thus, at the very beginning, we have created a sense of clarity for the body and the mind. As we move deeper into meditation, the state of our mind reveals itself, and we have the opportunity to consciously decide to settle it. A meditation teacher pointed out that if you put a cow in a small pen, she acts up and pushes against the boundaries, whereas if you provide her with a large, open space, she will peacefully graze in one spot. In the same way, our thoughts settle down peacefully if we provide them with enough space, and our bodies follow suit.

 

When we settle down to examine and experience our consciousness, we discover that there are no hard, definable edges. It is a vast, open space in which our thoughts can come and go without making waves, as long as we let them by neither attaching to them nor repressing them. As we see our thoughts come and go, we begin to breathe deeper and more easily, finding that our body is more open to the breath as it relaxes along with the mind. In this way, the space we recognize through meditation creates space in our bodies, allowing for a feeling of lightness and rightness with the world.

An idea sprang to me today as lightly as the butterfly that danced upon my shoulder. It whispered to me softly as a lover would of things that spoke volumes to my soul. And the seed was planted… And I, the gardener do not know what has taken root, but I know it will grow in its own time, on its own merit, and through love. Love is my water, Light is my air, and peace is my nourishment. These words it spoke to me…

We shall see what grows tended in the garden where we release the inner goddess in us all…