One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

(Adapted from a forum post I made at C+F)

I am on a distribution list for a Pagan "thought for the day" and I thought I would share my thoughts on the note I received yesterday.

How often do you look up into the sky and see the Moon? Do you know the names of the phases? Do you know what phase the moon is in today? Can you tell just by looking whether the moon is waxing (phase moving toward Full) or waning (phase moving toward New)?

The moon's phases were an important way of noting the passage of time for much of our history, even in cultures that had calendars. Many of the calendars civilizations used (and still use) are based on the Lunar year rather than the Solar year.

And yet, at a time when our species' scientific interest in the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe burns intensely, many of us seldom look up at the night sky, and many of us no longer note the daily changes in the Moon's appearance, as it continues its billion-years dance with the Earth and the Sun.

So, whether you know the Moon's current phase, take a moment to look up tonight or tomorrow morning. Where is the moon in relationship to the Sun? What does it look like?

The moon has been faithfully marking the days for humanity for untold ages. It's figured in our mythology, our science, our philosophy, our dreams.

It's ok to wave, if you feel like it

Namaste

I've been neglecting my blog something awful the last few months, and one of my resolutions was to spend a little more time thinking/sharing spiritually. So here goes.

A quote~~

"Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the Divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love."
~~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky, author.

That's it in a nutshell for me in a lot of ways. Love, learn, perceive, love more. The cycle of love. A cycle it's very easy to lose sight of in the bustle and frustration of daily life. Even more so when faced with difficulties internal or external. But key, and fortunately so easy to recapture with mindfulness.

Allan, though I didn't know you personally, I enjoyed your posts and websites greatly.  And hoped so much for another outcome.  Safe Journey.

 

 

Beware of Geeks bearing Grief

His story

This was an interesting quiz I found on MysticWicks.

 

You scored as Celtic Pantheonic Pagan. Your answers leaned very close to that of the Celtic Pantheon. Very popular now among pagans, the Celtic Gods seem to draw those who are sensitive and insightful, but also very passionate about their beliefs. Many Pagan Holidays are named for this pantheon and here is where you'll find many stories on Horned God, Green Man, and Druids. You likely either have been or want to visit Stonehenge one day. Many Arthurian legnds include references to the Celtic faith, as well. Ecclectic Pagan 75% Celtic Pantheonic Pagan 75% Egyptian Pantheonic Pagan 55% Shamanic Pagan 55% Zoroastrian Pagan 45% Roman Pantheonic Pagan 40% Kabbalistic Pagan 40% Eastern Pagan 30% Sumerian, Babylonian, and Mesopotamian Pagans 25% Greek Pantheonic Pagan 20% Norse Pantheonic Pagan (Asatru) 10% Catholic (Pagan?) 0% What kind of Pagan are you? created with QuizFarm.com Interesting, and fairly accurate I doubt I would have scored so high on the Egyptian pantheon if I weren't such a StarGate SG1 fan.  And obviously my recent interest in Gnostic Christianity had an effect on my score as well.

First:  Want to test your knowledge of Tarot history?  Click here for an interesting quiz.

So, I wanted to go into a little more depth about the Hudes Tarot I mentioned in my last entry.  What is it that is so compelling about this deck?

The artwork is a pleasing combination of collage and water color, but that's not it...

The composition and perspective of many of the cards are unique and arresting.  But that's not entirely it...

The symbolism is spare but effective...but it's not just that...

Many cards, that traditionally are some what scary looking even though the meanings may be quite positive, have been transformed in the Hudes deck into something that captures the essence of the positive meaning without completely abandoning the traditional symbolism.  This is a big part of the attraction of this deck...

But, in the final analysis it is how this deck speaks to me.  How the cards get right to the heart of my own tangled feelings about the issues I wish to explore.

In my next entry I will describe my first reading with the Hudes deck.

Long time no update.  I've been busy with the creation of the characters and armor for the CF forum.  And vacation.  Blessed vacation.

It was a relief to see that my mom is doing pretty well for a woman who fell down the stairs a month ago.  She's doing PT and her broken bones in the shoulder and elbow are slowly healing.

I had a great time visiting with old friends from high school.  Nearly 50 of us returned to the scene of the crimes of twenty-some years ago.  It wasn't an official reunion, just a meeting of good friends who made the effort to converge from all points and spend some precious time together.  We're going to make this reunion a regular occurance.  Maybe once a year.  Definitely every other year.

While on vacation I finally picked up a Hudes deck.  Lovely artwork and I think this deck is going to click for me.

God would like to thank you for your belief and patronage. In order to
  better serve your needs, He asks that you take a few moments to answer
  the following questions.


  Please keep in mind that your responses will be kept completely
  confidential, and that you need not disclose your name or address
  unless you prefer a direct response to comments or suggestions.


  1. How did you find out about God?
  ___ Newspaper
  ___ New Testament
  ___ Torah
  ___ Book of Mormon
  ___ Koran
  ___ Other Book
  ___ Television
  ___ Divine Inspiration
  ___ Word of mouth
  ___ Dead Sea Scrolls
  ___ My mama done tol' me
  ___ Near-Death Experience
  ___ Near-Life Experience
  ___ National Public Radio
  ___ Tabloid
  ___ Burning Shrubbery
  ___ Who?
  ___ Other (specify): _____________


  2. Which model God did you acquire?
  ___ God of Israel
  ___ Jehovah
  ___ Allah
  ___ Just plain God
  ___ Krishna
  ___ Father, Son & Holy Ghost (Trinity Pack)
  ___ Zeus and entourage (Olympus Pack)
  ___ Odin and entourage (Valhalla Pack)
  ___ Gaia/Mother Earth/Mother Nature
  ___ None of the above; I was taken in by a false god


  3. Did your God come to you undamaged, with all parts in good working
  order and with no obvious breakage or missing attributes?
  __ Yes __ No


  If No, please describe the problems you initially encountered here.
  Please indicate all that apply:
  ___ Not eternal
  ___ Not omniscient
  ___ Not omnipotent
  ___ Finite in space/Does not occupy or inhabit the entire universe
  ___ Permits sex outside of marriage
  ___ Prohibits sex outside of marriage
  ___ Makes mistakes (Geraldo Rivera, Jesse Helms)
  ___ When beseeched, doesn't stay beseeched
  ___ Requires burnt offerings
  ___ Requires virgin sacrifices
  ___ Plays dice with the universe


  4. What factors were relevant in your decision to acquire a God? Please
  check all that apply.
  ___ Indoctrinated by parents
  ___ Needed a reason to live
  ___ Indoctrinated by society
  ___ Needed target for rage
  ___ Imaginary friend grew up
  ___ Hate to think for self
  ___ Wanted to meet girls/boys
  ___ Fear of death
  ___ To piss off parents
  ___ Needed a day away from work
  ___ Enjoy organ music
  ___ Needed focus on whom to despise
  ___ Needed to feel morally superior
  ___ Graduated from the tooth fairy
  ___ My shrubbery caught fire and told me to do it


  5. Are you currently using any other source of inspiration in addition
  to God?
  __ Yes __ No


  If Yes, please check all that apply.
  __ Self-help books
  __ Tarot, Astrology
  __ Star Trek re-runs
  __ Fortune cookies
  __ Dear Abby
  __ Psychic Friends Network
  __ Dianetics
  __ Playboy and/or Playgirl
  __ Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll
  __ Biorhythms
  __ EST
  __ Television
  __ Mantras
  __ Jimmy Swaggart
  __ Crystals (not including Crystal Gayle)
  __ Human Sacrifice
  __ Wandering around in desert
  __ Burning shrubbery
  __ Other:_____________________


  6. Have you ever worshiped a false God before?
  __ Yes __ No


  If so, which false God were you fooled by? Please check all that apply.
  ___ Odin
  ___ Cthulhu
  ___ Lottery
  ___ Baal
  ___ Beelzebub
  ___ The Almighty Dollar
  ___ The Conservative Right
  ___ Mick Jagger
  ___ Bill Gates
  ___ The Great Pumpkin
  ___ Ronald Reagan
  ___ A burning cabbage
  ___ Mushrooms
  ___ Other: ________________


  7. God employs a limited degree of Divine Intervention to preserve the
  balanced level of felt presence and blind faith. Which would you prefer
  (circle one)?
  a. More Divine Intervention
  b. Less Divine Intervention
  c. Current level of Divine Intervention is just right
  d. Don't know - what's Divine Intervention?


  8. God also attempts to maintain a balanced level of disasters and
  miracles. Please rate on a scale of 1 to 5 God's handling of the
  following 1 = unsatisfactory, 5 = excellent):


  Disasters:
  1 2 3 4 5 Flood
  1 2 3 4 5 Famine
  1 2 3 4 5 Earthquake
  1 2 3 4 5 War
  1 2 3 4 5 Pestilence
  1 2 3 4 5 Plague
  1 2 3 4 5 AOL
  1 2 3 4 5 Republican Congress
  1 2 3 4 5 Jerry Lewis
  1 2 3 4 5 Dubya
  1 2 3 4 5 My last relationship


  Miracles:
  1 2 3 4 5 Rescues
  1 2 3 4 5 Spontaneous remissions
  1 2 3 4 5 Crying statues
  1 2 3 4 5 Water changing to wine
  1 2 3 4 5 Walking on water
  1 2 3 4 5 Stars hovering over towns
  1 2 3 4 5 VCRs that set their own clocks
  1 2 3 4 5 Clear and competent statements by the President
  1 2 3 4 5 My present relationship


  9. Please rate the following on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = unsatisfactory,
  5 = excellent):


  1 2 3 4 5 God's Courtesy
  1 2 3 4 5 Answers to your prayers
  1 2 3 4 5 Are your spiritual needs being met?
  1 2 3 4 5 How are your shrubs doing?


  10. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions for improving
  the quality of God's services?


  Thank you

Yesterday, Midsummer and Full Moon was a magical day.  Truly magical in so many ways.  But I want to talk about one short private moment.  I took a walk to the nearby remnants of an oak grove.  Now there is an office complex on the site.  But there are still a few ancient giants that were carefully preserved, with much root space between them and the parking lots.  These few stately trees are heritage trees tracked by the state and illegal to cut down or deface. 

I walked out to two brother-trees who are so near each other their root systems are shared.  These two trees have created a shared canopy, each approximating a half of a hemisphere high in the sky.  The limbs are long, twisted and gnarled, stretching out so far it seems they must fall from the weight.  But, they don't fall.

I sat under one of the trees, closed my eyes and breathed.  Slowing my heart.  Feeling the earth.  Feeling the life all around me.  Feeling the tree's presence.  It was difficult to let go and be in the present because of the noise from a nearby freeway.  In fact, it was impossible.  And then I realized that it's impossible for the tree to sink into the now-time of a forest as well.  I began to feel the presence of a shadow-forest.  A forest I've never seen.  A forest long gone and never known by the people who live in this community and work in this office complex.  "But," I thought, "What of all the new trees that have been planted?  The sycamore?  The willow?  And it sank in.  The trees surrounding these old lonely Giants are young and are domesticated.  They bear little resemblance to their own wild ancestors.  And they have no wisdom to share with the remnants of a forest that they were meant to replace.

I leaned back against the tree and stared up.  Through the leaves the mid-day sun streamed, bright and crystalline, throwing each leaf, each twig, each fold of bark into sharp relief.  There were no birds in the branches.  There was no sound of frogs or crickets.  There were no chattering squirrels.  These beautiful oaks, preserved and protected, live in a psychic desert that is unrelieved by the irrigation systems.  The deep meditative hum that I usually feel in the presence of a mighty oak or redwood was fitful and irritated.

I promised the two trees that I would come back again soon.  And I walked slowly away in the bright almost unearthly light of the solstice sun.

Brightest Blessings this Midsummer.

I hope you will take a moment to visit Libby's blog and read the following entry.  And check out the links.  I am sickened by this child's plight. But he's one of how many who've been forced to endure "re-education".  What is the cost in human life?

http://libbychic.braveblog.com/entry/11825

Now to do something about it.