In the United States, the fourth Thursday in November is the federal holiday known as Thanksgiving Day.  Many other countries have a thanksgiving day of some sort during the course of the year.  In the case of the US, it is claimed to commemorate a celebration had by the Plymouth Pilgrims to celebrate a bountiful harvest after a hard winter in which many of them died of starvation and cold. 

It is a mundane holiday, and we are spiritual people.  What can we do with this?

This is a celebration of "the harvest" in the same manner as Lammas, Mabon and Samhain are the celebrations of three distinct harvests.  For those of us in modern times, this might not seem so apparent to someone whose food comes not from a field but from a supermarket.  But there had to be a harvest even if you and I don't experience it.

Another dimension of the mundane Thanksgiving holiday is the number of families who come together, some of them overcoming miles and others setting aside issues for the sake of the celebration.  How well I remember trips to Duluth (Minnesota) for Thanksgiving.  What a way to give thanks, including for family!

But it is a time set aside for giving thanks.

And the kind of thanks we can give at such a special time (or any other time we set aside) is more than just thanks.  It is the basis of something which we can build upon!  And build we shall!

Blessed Be!

When it happens?  Yes, it can happen and it will!  It's what you've been praying about, isn't it?

When it happens, what are you going to do?  As one actor in a commercial for travelers' checks once expressed it, "What will you do?"

You've prayed, you've done (or attended) rituals and other gatherings, and done everything else you're supposed to, and maybe worried about not doing enough, and suddenly - there it is!  What you've asked for is yours.

Strange thing, there isn't much good advice about how to handle things when it happens.  From Sister Sweathog and/or Mrs. Broadbeam at Sunday School to Brother Billy-Bob behind the pulpit telling you about "God's will," there just isn't much decent advice about what to do when you have what you've been asking for!

Will you know what it is when it is staring you in the face?  It might not look like what you thought it would look like, you know.  Some seeds do not look much like the trees which they can become.

Will you know what to do with it once you have recognized it?

Will you have any idea what the next step will be once you understand what is yours?

Please understand that there might be something coming to you.  You do not have to give in to the naysayers, the meddlers and the people who ought to mind their own business.  It can be yours.

And if you can grow that into what you pictured in your minds' eye, what can be next?

Blessed Be!

Here are the ten most popular ways to destroy your own spiritual life!

With the coming and going of Samhain, we have the end of one year and the beginning of another year.  And this is a most appropriate time to reflect for a bit on some of the most basic of basics.

Everyone from the Pope and the Dahlai Lama down to frizzy-haired church gossips will offer advice on how to have a quality spiritual life.  Some of the advice might be excellent.  But, there is so much of "how-to".

Some folks take another approach and speak of "how not to".  They show the more common shortcomings of some efforts in hopes that we'll avoid repeating the mistakes of others.

Here' I've taken a third approach.  Every day, there are people whose spiritual life just sort of whimpers.  One day, someone wakes up and suddenly discovers that their spiritual life is not only gone, it has been gone for a long time.  So, I've decided to show how to make your spiritual life do an outright crash-and-burn!

Now, of course, it is not my intent to encourage you to be spectatular failures.  Rather, it is my hope that in this list of the most popular ways to colossal spiritual failure, you'll find some clues as to how to be a major success.

As is often the case in many fields, the difference between success and failure is the grasping of a basic principle.  Take marketing as an example.  One store prospers over the long run, while another store does very well initially but then just sort of dies and goes out of business.  There's a principle that says that once you've got the customer to come to your store, you need to give that customer reason to come again.  And so one store flourishes over time while another store seems to be doing very well and then suddenly begins to wither away.  It's the same thing with your spiritual life.

And perhaps there might be some clues here as to how to make your spiritual life sizzle!

Blessed Be!

Spiritually, just possibly the most powerful of all Sabbats has just made its yearly visit to us here in the Northern Hemisphere.  So, what now?

The answer can be found in a term often used by athletes and their coaches: follow-through.  In baseball, it's what you do with the bat after it encounters the ball.  In football, it's what your arm does after you release the ball.  In golf, it's what you do with the club after it hits the golf ball.  Sometimes, it seems as if follow-through is as important as anything else you do.  Quite often, it actually is!

We often make jokes about our more mundane friends and the resolutions which they make at the mundane new year - and usually break before February.  Then again, they make the same jokes about themselves.  They make the resolution, but what's next?

Like all Sabbats, this past Samhain will be with us until the next Samhain.  And while our mundane friends make their December 31st/January 1st resolutions to family, friends, the office water cooler and the person filling their glass, we do more.  Samhain is a time for endings and beginnings.  And so, we do well to be a bit more serious.

And how to follow through?  There are some basic principles, and a few "rules" which seem to work for me.  At any rate, at the 2007 Samhain I once again resolved to end my smoking habit, and it seems to be ended.  At any rate, I am 11 months smoke-free.  I can't say that precisely what I did will work for you, but it was follow-through and I share some thoughts on follow-through.

We have some great things to build, and the building begins at Samhain.  And the follow-through continues through the year.

Blessed Be!

It's Samhain!

If there's ever a time when we shouldn't have to mention the specific date, it would be Samhain, and it is Samhain!

According to lore, Samhain is the time of the year when the veil between the worlds is thinnest.  That is when we can most easily reach through the veil to those on the other side, and when those on the other side can most easily reach through to us.  

That is not to say that it is not possible at other times, because it certainly is.  But this is when it is the easiest to get things done which involve both sides of the veil.

This is when we can remember those who have left us, especially those who have left us since last Samhain.  But we can also remember anyone else who has left, even someone who left before we began this particular incarnation.  Not only do I commemorate those I knew, I also commemorate those I wish that I would have known (and maybe might have known in another life).  

This is a time when we can also look ahead to what is to come.  Do you have a vision of what you wish to make of your future?  I certainly do.  And if you do, now is a great time to ask for it.

So long as you remember the basic "rules" about what you wish for, there is no limit.  And, it can happen.

Why do I say that it can happen?  You might recall my comments about Chase Utley, the second baseman of the Philadelphia Phillies.  He and his wife Jen do a lot for animals.  They came to my attention about a year ago when they were involved in the rescue of a dog who had been terribly abused.  I'm not a fan of athletics, but someone like that has my respect.  It became my opinion that someone like that deserved the best honor he could achieve in his profession - and in his case, that would be winning the World Series.  And he did!  And those of you who joined in with me had a part of it.

So, yes you can!

And so, this celebration of Samhain can be the most powerful that you have ever experienced, if you're willing to see what's on the other side of the door.

Blessed Be!

If it hasn't been obvious (and it probably has been blatantly obvious), everything that I've been talking about for the past few weeks has been a lead-up to Samhain.  And the next episode will be the Samhain episode, released on Samhain.  And so, this episode concerns with specifically getting ready for Samhain. 

I consider Samhain to be the most spiritually powerful of the eight Sabbat we celebrate in the cycle of the year.  It is so powerful that other paths have similar celebrations around this time, too. 

The veil between the worlds is at its thinnest.  This is the time when you have the best chances of reaching through the veil to someone who has crossed over and you miss.  It is also the best chance for someone on the other side of the veil who misses you to reach out.  It is also a time for resolutions.  It is a time for beginnings, and it is a time for endings.  Then again, every beginning is an ending and every ending is a beginning, isn't it? 

It is also a good time to share your visions with the Divine, by whatever name or names you address the Divine.  We can begin with the most basic question: What is it that you want to accomplish between now and the next Samhain?  And five years hence?  And ten years hence? 

OK, so if they're listening, it would be a good idea to ask in such a way that you might get what you want - and recognize it when you have it.

And so, let's look into that.  It's a good question anytime, but especially now.

Blessed Be!

In case you haven't figured it out, the last few weeks (and this episode also) have been a lead-in to one of the most spiritually powerful times in the cycle of the year: Samhain.  Not that the rest of the year can't be spiritually powerful, but what sparkles or shines the rest of the year can really sizzle and shine at Samhain.

Last week, we spoke about confronting The Divine, the week before we spoke about confronting your priesthood, and the week prior to that we spoke of confronting tradition.  And this week, we'll look at the three-word phrase which pretty much sums it up.  Yes, there is more to it.  Yes, there are some other considerations if you really want success.  But it all hangs on three words.

Personal responsibility is there, too.  In fact, what we explore in this episode just might be the ultimate expression of personal responsibility we can deal with.  After all, if we're talking about your spiritual life, then by definition we have to be speaking of your personal responsibility for it.  After all, it is yours.  And so, you need to be in charge of it.  Suggestions, advice, teaching and learning are all good and worthwhile, but that does not mean you need to be led around by the nose.

Given that, there's much that can be done.  You might surprise yourself.  And the most powerful point of all reveals the sheer power of all of this in just three words.

Blessed Be!

Samhain is coming soon, and according to many (including me) that is spiritually the most powerful time of the year. 

Hence, this set of "Confronting ...." episodes.  So that you might have an appreciation of the tools and resources you already have.  You might be stronger than you know.  Unfortunately, there are some folks who think that they are weak only because they have been told that they are weak.  And so, some of the strongest people can behave like weaklings.  This can be unfortunate if the person has to deal with someone who is a genuine weakling but has convinced himself/herself that he/she is actually strong. 

And so, we come to confronting The Divine.  It can be done.  In fact, it is very likely that there are times that The Divine wishes to be confronted. 

Some people get told a long list of what you aren't supposed to ask for.  Add to this the things that some say that The Divine cannot do.  And then there's that infamous excuse generally referred to as "God's will." 

Do you know what The Divine's will really is regarding you, me and each and every one of us?

And, so we can go beyond the walls of what may have once been our spiritual prisons and see what lies beyond.  But to do that, we need to know that we can confront The Divine - provided we do it the right way.

Blessed Be!

Last week I spoke about confronting tradition, and this week I'm speaking about confronting your priesthood.  It sounds like a spiritual path can involve a lot of confrontations.  And yes, it can.  Especially if it's successful enough to worry some folks.

We're talking about your own priesthood.  And yes, you are your own priest or priestess.  This doesn't have anything to do with ordination, which primarily concerns taking the authority to act in public in the name of a body.  Your own priesthood concerns your own your own ability and authority to deal with The Divine directly on your own behalf.

There are those who are very uncomfortable with the idea of you having your own priesthood for yourself.  They are the same people who want your spiritual path to fit their agenda.  That's why it can take some courage to claim it and use it.  And you'll need to guard it jealously.


Here's some ideas of where to look and what is built first.  And there's so much more.

Blessed Be!

Back when I was an Episcopalian, I was a traditionalist.  Today, I am a traditionalist.  I may have adopted a different tradition than the one I was following a few decades ago, but I honor the tradition which I follow.

But there are those who are not comfortable with tradition, and especially with traditionalists.  To some, a traditionalist is some individual, too hide-bound to explore, secure in saying that what was good enough for his or her ancestors is good enough for them.  I suggest that a different approach might be more appropriate, and perhaps more common.

Learning about tradition is learning about where you and those who preceded you have been. 

Questioning tradition is a usually-healthy way of exploring the basis of a tradition and seeing how it fits in to your life today.  There are occasions, and I describe one, in which you might discover that the basis isn't really there.  And there are other cases in which the basis is really there, especially if you follow the tradition in the same heart as those who first established it.

And on the way, there can be learning and growth!

Blessed Be!

It's Mabon!  And Mabon is one of the most powerful yet one of the least understood of all of the Sabbats.  Or, at least until you see how the mundane folks have re-arranged the calendar for their convenience.  Most countries have a Thanksgiving Day of some sort, many of them of that very name, but few are on Mabon.

Mabon is the second of the three harvest festivals.  Lammas was celebrated a while ago, and Samhain will follow soon enough.  And for now, we have Mabon!

Like all Sabbats, Mabon has its lessons for us to learn and take with us through the cycle of the year.  Like all Sabbats, Mabon has a contribution in each of the other Sabbats.

And especially, Mabon can help us to see why the year in a cycle is so important.  It teaches us some points that are missed in linear calendars in which the spirit of a holiday is pronounced dead the following day.

Blessed Be!

This is another one of those difficult topics, and for the usual reasons, just like charity is such a difficult topic.  Neither topic is actually difficult, except for the fact that people made them that way.

If a spiritual path actually works, then there can be miracles.  And I think we can agree that the one thing expected of any spiritual path is that its followers expect it to work.

Miracles can be a major source of contentment or contention, and therein lies so much of the problem.  I'll speak more on this in the podcast, especially the contention.  It might be one of the reasons why so many have turned their backs on religion. 

But how do you recognize a miracle?  If you were looking at a miracle right now, would you recognize it?

And if you want a miracle, would you know how to go about it?  And perhaps especially, would you know what to avoid?

Some have forgotten, some have re-discovered, and some knew but were told that they were wrong.  Sound familiar?

I think it might be good to see just how much we can do.

Blessed Be!

Among those who consider themselves clergy, there seems to be two lines of thought on this subject.  There are those who consider it a subject "too hot to handle," and those who don't seem to talk about very much else.  Please note that I am not limiting the scope to any particular kind of clergy. 

In the meantime, it is a subject that we're forced to deal with every day.  If you don't see a poster for some cause, there will be the annual charity drive at work.  And if it isn't the annual fund drive at work, there's the commercial on TV about a hungry child you can sponsor in some far-off land.  And if it isn't a TV commercial, someone will ask for "change" the next time you go downtown.  And as if that isn't enough, there's always the possibility that someone you know will be knocking on your door with either a tale of woe or some great venture for you to invest in.  And we still haven't mentioned the folks who go to church and have a plate passed at them, have we?

Meanwhile, you and your family have legitimate needs.  And if you gave in to all of the pitches you hear and see, you might find yourself in a situation in which you're doing without lunch so that someone else can have beer with their lunch!  And that's not fair.

And then there's the question of attitude.  Actually, it's a question of more than one attitude.  Those who give with the expectation of reward might be disappointed.  And that's a shame, because nature abhors a vacuum.  What goes out will have its place taken, but you've got to give karma some room to maneuver.  And there's the other expectation: the expectation of those who are receiving the charity.   That can wear things down.

And no wonder some consider the subject of charity "too hot to handle", especially in a religious context.

And maybe that's why I decided that I needed to say something about charity.  It's not like I can get away with avoiding it!

Blessed Be!

Most countries celebrate Labor Day, or have an equivalent holiday.  When it is celebrated depends on the country and its traditions.  In the United States, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September.

Labor Day is a secular holiday.  It is not a religious holiday, although some faiths hold services and some have special prayers to be said or hymns to be sung on Labor Day (or the nearest Sunday/ Sabbath).  But that does not mean that there isn't something of the Divine to find in Labor Day.  In fact, Labor Day can teach one of the most important spiritual and theological lessons which we all need to learn.

We all labor, and almost all of us at some time in our lives will be doing the kind of labor honored on Labor Day.  It doesn't matter if you're the president of some manufacturing company, or the janitor on the factory floor - it's labor. 

And there, in that point I just made, is the kernel of a theological point worth recognizing.

And Labor Day is when we honor the labor done by ourselves and others.  And that, combined with the previous point, leads us to a morality issue. 

Morality, you question?  Yes, especially if you understand what authentic morality actually is.

And from there, you can see what might be one of the nastier issues facing us today.

And you'll see how there can be a very powerful spiritual and theological lesson found in a secular holiday.

Blessed Be!

Officer Paul Stephens of the San Marcos, Texas Police Department has been spending most of the past week experiencing the enforcement of a law more powerful than any law which he might be called upon to enforce.  He has been experiencing the enforcement of The Threefold Law.  The Threefold Law is one that most of us are very familiar with: Whatever you do, for good or for evil, returns to you threefold. 

Officer Paul Stephens pulled over a motorist for speeding.  As a former police officer myself, I appreciate the situation in which Officer Stephens found himself.  When he found the situation was that a couple was trying to get their seriously ill dog to an emergency vetrinary clinic because the dog's life was in danger, his response was "It's a dog, relax, you can get another one."

My personal guess is that if Officer Paul Stephens has any form of a law enforcement career left after his becoming internationally famous for that remark (captured for posterity on his dashboard video camera), nothing that he can accomplish will be able to overshadow his remark to the desperate parent of a loving poodle who had a medical emergency.

And here is where we can see how this can apply to us.  Admittedly, Officer Stephens was recruited out of the same human race as the rest of us.

And so, let's see what we might be able to see in this incident that can be four our own learning. 

It's hard to tell if Officer Stephens or his bosses learned anything, but that does not stop us from being able to learn from it.

Blessed Be!

Let me invite you to a web site which is full of some of the greatest information you'll find anywhere: http://www.universalgnostic.com/.  And on the front page, you'll find two of the most exciting! 

I'll leave "The Heiroglyphic Monad" for another time.  Right now, I'd like to talk about "The Severn Sermons Of The Dead" by Basalides of Alexandria, as translated by Carl Gustav Jung. 

These seven sermons deal with a great deal, but more than anything else, it is perhaps one of the best sets of writings dealing with what many of us know as either the Law Of Polarities or the Law Of Opposites.  Most books, including some very good ones which have probably been recommended to you, mention that such a law exists, and gives mention to the obvious fact that there are polarities.  This work goes the additional step and tells us how to work with them and deal with them.

Believe it or not, some spiritual paths do not really address balance or polarities except in a black-and-white of way, kind of like "good guys" and "bad guys" in an old cowboy movie in which the "good guy" always wore a white hat and didn't cuss, and the "bad guy" looked like he needed a bath.  And no wonder some of their followers encounter spiritual frustration - it's impossible to be "good enough."

Well, here is a different approach, making use of balance. 

I can't recommend  "The Severn Sermons Of The Dead" enough, and I'm using this episode to introduce them to you. 

They were an eye-opener for me, that is certain!  Enjoy this, and have fun with it!

Blessed Be!

A Bible verse which some Christians hate?  How can that be?

Well, to begin with, it might well be the most well-corroborated verse in the Christians' entire Bible!  It's just about verbatim in three of the four gospels, and it makes reference back to the Old Testament.

If you read just a wee bit more than the single verse, you will see that this was the verse which Yeshua uttered which got him into really big, bad doo-doo!  He might have irritated and angered the powers-that-were in his day until then.  But that was what caused them to decide that he had to go!

There is a definition of ministry which goes: "comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable."  We will do well to remember that in the light of what this verse tells us.

Depending on who you are, it is either a promise, or it is a threat.  It is either a reassurance which gives you comfort, or it is so scary that it is spine-chilling.

Many have avoided the subject, but many more simply try to dodge the thought that it might still be an issue. 

The act of repeating the same action and expecting different results is a popular definition of insanity.  By that definition, an establishment which has the same issues about itself as the establishment which it replaced but does not expect to be replaced - by that definition that establishment is insane!  But that is the aspect of it that is a threat to many.

And the promise?  There might be something there that could be the clue to build something more wonderful that we can imagine!

Blessed Be!

It's Lammas, and it's a time to celebrate the first harvest Sabbat!

We also need to give some honor to Danessa Smith, who crossed over on Monday due to complications from recent surgery.

For those who don't know who Danessa Smith is, she is Tempest Smith's mother.  Tempest Smith, as you know, died a few years ago by her own hand because of the constant torment she was receiving from her classmates due to the fact that she was a Wiccan.  Tempest Smith was twelve years old at the time of her death.

Danessa Smith founded the Tempest Smith Foundation, and I recommend you visit their web site. 

Seeds of sadness were sown in sorrow.  The work of the Tempest Smith Foundation is the harvest that we pray will not stop having a bountiful yield.  And so, Danessa Smith's life illustrates a major point of Lammas and the other harvest Sabbats.

The harvest is a fulfillment of a promise.  There's no quibbling about "God's will" or any of those other cop-outs.  We do our part, the Divine does their part, and the harvest is the fulfillment of the promise!

And that's the point we're celebrating at Lammas!

Blessed Be!

Of all of the words that I can think of, it seems that "freedom" just might be the most over-used, and perhaps the most mis-used.  And where spiritual matters are concerned especially!

I try not to disparage other paths, but there are some times when I can't help it, and this is one of those times.  I will admit to spending some time among the "New Age" folks, but I did not pick-and-choose.  Nor did anyone ever succeed in accusing me of "dabbling."   Either I did or I did not, and there was no in-between.  The New Age are not the only ones who have "pick-and-choosers" in their midst.  We've heard of "Sunday Christians."  And I can't help remembering the episode of the sitcom "Different Strokes" in which the younger brother attends a friend's Bar Mitzvah and decides to become Jewish - until he discovers what else is involved in being Jewish.  And there is one thing I've always wondered about the "pick and choose" crowd: how do they get anywhere, if at all?

Someone I admired greatly wrote in one of his better-known books about how much freedom he had in the Trappist monastery.  Most folks don't associate monasteries with freedom.  Understanding what he meant sheds a whole new light on the concept.

If you draw an analogy to sailing a boat, if you cast off from the dock and went into the middle of the lake/ river/ sea and just got batted around by the winds and the waves, would that be freedom?  No, that would actually be a form of captivity.  Freedom in this context would be the ability to cast off from the dock, and sail to your chosen destination and arrive at about the time you chose to arrive. 


And here you can find freedom.  And with that, you gain yet more power.

Blessed Be!

It's time to talk about obstacles.  I know I've talked about them before, but it's time to discuss them again.

You've seen what I've been talking about in the last few episodes, and the result is inevitable: someone, somewhere, is going to think "it didn't work."  And it is amazing when they ask why it didn't work, the ignorant will give all sorts of pseudo-reasons, generally in either the category of "you aren't good enough," or the infamous "God's will."  And of course, there could also be "God's time" and "God's higher plan" (and what did he have to be high on to make such a plan).

Take a look at the obstacles that I mention here, and you'll see that they all have one thing in common: The Divine, by whatever name or names, is not involved in them.  That is because The Divine wants you to have that which you want, need, and love.  Unfortunately, some people think that they are doing The Divine's work by speaking as if they actually knew what The Divine is thinking.

And there's a way to deal with obstacles.  And, there's a way to recognize what the situation is and move appropriately. 

And with this, you might really be equipped!

Blessed Be!

With this episode, we'll take the previous one to one of its logical "next steps."  I'll also use it to give an answer to one of the questions which every Pagan or Wiccan podcaster has already addressed at least twice, and which every teacher of The Craft probably addresses weekly.  That question is the perpetual one: "Why are there so many primers and so few advanced books?"

A major part of the answer to the question lies in the very nature of our path.  What is the main difference between your Book Of Shadows and either the Maryknoll Missal or the Book Of Common Prayer?  What would your most powerful book begin with - or as?  And where is the pen that can write the most powerful book you can ever have?

But it doesn't end there.  Let's never forget balance.  There needs to be balance.  In the same manner as I enjoy pizza but know better than to have pizza for three meals a day, there needs to be balance in peoples' spiritual lives, too!

And so, let's examine how to step beyond the bookshelf.

Blessed Be!

Snatching Excitement From The Jaws Of Dullness!  Now, there is a topic that most of us would at least like to relate to.

Where would we be in technology if fewer elementary school teachers had used math drills as a punishment?  And had more actual interest in science?  I recall how Miss Lauer, my third grade teacher, managed to make mathematics repulsive to me.  We had the little rhyme "Miss Lauer is sour" for a reason. 

And where our spiritual learning is concerned, how much of our earlier (and even later) learning was so concerned with the form that the substance was almost entirely forgotten? 

We got drilled on memorizing the words to prayers, on when to bow our heads and close our eyes, and even how to fold our hands (should the right thumb or left be on top?), but did anyone bother to consider telling us in plain English what the words to the prayers meant?  Or what the particular exercise was supposed to accomplish?  No, we just learned to recite "la-te-da-te-da-te-da", in some cases while Sister Sweathog hovered over our heads with a brass ruler in her hand!

I admit to being lucky.  Instead of being dragged into a Catholic school, I walked into an Episcopal church on my own feet, and the priests I met were a better kind than most you'd meet today.  And they taught me the substance, and let the form fall into place when it came along.  And so, I came to love and find meaning in something that so many people learned as, in essence, an empty drill. 

And so, let's see what it might be to reclaim something that was made into a hollow rote drill, and let's make it exciting!

I'm telling you how I'm going about it with something that I am reclaiming.  And, I'm giving you some specifics.

So, what might you do?  Find something that you can reclaim, and reclaim it for yourself.

The possibilities are limitless!

Blessed Be!

Just like we did a few Sabbats ago with Yule, let's do a retrospective on Litha.

As Wiccans, we have a special advantage with our Sabbats.  Our Sabbats are in a cycle, with each Sabbat having an influence on each other Sabbat.  And the end result is that there really is no such thing as a Sabbat being "over" in the same manner as Christmas is "over" on December 26th.

Sometimes in the mundane and Christian calendars, a holiday being "over" can really be felt.   It's not that way with a Sabbat.

And at Litha, we can ask some of the same questions we can ask about life itself: where am I, where have I come from, and where am I going?  Then again, the cycle of the year does mimic the cycle of life, doesn't it?

And what can we see? 

Our ancestors, most of whom had a closer relationship with the land than we get to have, looked back at the planting and nurturing, and saw at this time the crops and herds growing in the fields and pastures.  They knew what they wanted to have when the olast harvest was over at Samhain.  And from Litha they could look at what has been done and guage what needed to be done in order to arrive at Samhain with what they wanted to arrive with.

Let's look, and see how everything weaves together.

Blessed Be!

It's Litha, and we're celebrating!

It has many names besides Litha.  Summer Solstice is one other such name.  If you want to know the other names, go look. 

There are many ways to look at Litha, but here I'm going to offer one that seems to fit my situation right now.  Litha affords us an opportunity to look back on what we have accomplished, and to look forward to what is yet to be done.  A mid-point to look both ways, if you will.

This is entirely appropriate for me right now, because my Mom passed away this past week.  That means that for the first time in my life, I am without parents.  My real Mom, Deloris, the one who gave birth to me, died when I was 10 years old.  My Dad married Peggy when I was 12 years old, and she finished the job of being the Mom to raise me.  My Dad died three years ago and from that time my roof has also been Peggy's roof.

Two moms and a dad have passed on.  Even if I didn't need them to the degree that I once did, even when Mom (Peggy) may have been more in need of me than I was in need of her, the feeling of permanence, of "roots" means some feeling of stability in an unstable world.  And now, I'm the one everyone looks to for stability.

And so yes, this is the time at which I really need to look back at what has been and look forward to what I need to bring about.

And that makes this a real Litha.  And so we celebrate the Sabbat with a ritual.

Blessed Be!

In the space of a week, we in the US have two occasions which celebrate the masculine.  At least, those of us who are Wiccans and Pagans have such a double-opportunity.  One is Father's Day, which in the US is always a Sunday in June.  The other is Litha, the Summer Solstice. 

Litha celebrates the full maturity of the god who was born at Yule and who will be dying at Samhain to be born again at the Yule which follows Samhain.  He came of age at Beltaine, but this is his full maturity.  In terms which most Americans will appreciate, it means that while he could buy his own drinks at Beltaine, at Litha he's matured enough to not get "carded" anymore. 

There are those who criticize Wicca and Paganism for supposedly over-emphasizing the feminine.  It is true that there are those who might not have bothered with balance, but it is also true that it takes a goddess to give birth to a god.  And those whose idea of the Divine is "A white man in the sky keeping score on you," might see any thought of the Divine including the feminine as being overboard.  But it seems to me that there is a need for both.  And this is the time of year when the god is in full maturity.

What a perfect time to have a celebration of the most important role which a god or a mortal man could have!

And so, let's look at that and celebrate it!

Blessed Be!

And what, would you imagine, is the most censored subject in contemporary society?  If television is any indication, the most censored subject is death.  Yes, death - even more so than sex.  And I think it fair to say that experience dealing with the current mundane world might demonstrate that fact.

Most folks readily acknowledge where babies come from, and that it's not from the stork or a cabbage patch.  But what about where old folks go? 

On TV, you'll see death being a part of war, western, and crime dramas, but then it's the "other people" that die.  In the family-oriented shows, most of the acknowledgment of death is when someone is dressed in black because they had just been to a funeral of someone who was never on the show.

In the movie "Braveheart," there is a profound quote: "Everyone dies, but not everyone lives."  That is true.  Nothing is more utterly unavoidable than death. 

And so, it might well behoove us to acknowledge it and get some understanding of it, from what genuine knowledge is available.  If you look, you will find some available.  Not a whole lot, but as much of a peek as we'd be able to handle. 

Blessed Be!

Last time, we spoke of Indiana Jones, the fictional hero archaeologist and how he relates to your own spiritual journey.  All that having been said, how about going on your own exploration?  The fact that you're not Indiana Jones or a Schliemann (in real life) doesn't have to hold you back.  Neither does the thought that your travel opportunities might be limited.

First off, it needs to be understood that a lot goes on before any archaeologist gives any thought to packing any bags.  It's always a good idea, after all, to have some idea of where you are going and what you might be looking for.

And what are you looking for?  I know what quests I've been on, and I also know the quest I've been on for the last two years.  Or has it actually been most of my life?  No, in the last two years, I've explored something that has been a major part of most of my life.

You might be surprised at the tools available to you.  And you might be surprised at what you find.

If you are Pagan, Wiccan or Gnostic, you have the opportunity to re-discover what our spiritual ancestors knew.  And if you aren't, you can still find what's at the root of things.  And never lose sight of the fact that you might be dealing with something that took your ancestor many years to learn how to deal with.  And yes, common sense is a good tool, too!

There is much waiting to be found!

Blessed Be!

So, what does Indiana Jones have to do with your spiritual quest?

Perhaps more than you know.  I do know that I was surprised at how much he had to do with my own spiritual quest.  It was only when watching some TV shows concerned with how his latest movie relates to his earlier shows that I noticed some facts that really got my intention.

Notice how the main subjects of Indiana Jones' quests are physical objects which either are, or are related to, something which an aspect of The Divine did for the sake of humankind - or at least the portion group of people withing humankind which that particular aspect of The Divine was caring for.

Notice also how the people who oppose Indiana Jones do an excellent job of embodying a definition of evil.  After all, what else is most evil other than someone (or several someones) perverting something good to fit a greedy agenda? 

And that is merely the beginning.  Indiana Jones is just as much of a frail mortal as you and me.  He might be skilled with a handgun and a bullwhip, he might be fluent in Hebrew, Coptic and Hindi, but he can't speak a word of Hovitos if his life depended on it (it almost did), he can't figure out how to fly a plane, and he becomes a total wuss whenever any kind of snake appears.  But whether we agree with his ideas of right and wrong or not, he is true to what he believes.  And he has respect for all aspects of The Divine, whether it be El Shaddai of the Ark Of The Covenant, or Shiva who gifted people with the lingam.

There is much to discover in Indiana Jones, and some of it you might be able to use on your own spiritual quest.

Blessed Be!

Open eyes are very nice to have, especially if you are looking for something. 

And a statement like that is perhaps reminiscent of the time when Mahatma Gandhi was asked his opinion of Western civilization.  His reply was: "That would be nice."

It is a good idea to have eyes open when looking for something, but sometimes that is easier said than done.  There are always the people who want to mind your business for you and tell you what you are seeing.  And there are the false leads that look like what you are seeking but are not.  And then there are the distractions which try to get you off of your path.  And then, of course, there's the situation in which you are looking at what you are seeking, but you don't recognize that what you are about to overlook is what you've been after all along!

Of course, there are those folks who don't even know that there is something to look for.  But they're not likely to be listening to a podcast like this.

I will admit that I've never had a burning bush want to discuss something with me, and I've never had a heavenly lady, angel, goddess or god suddenly appear and introduce herself/himself and give advice.  But that does not mean that I might not occasionally hear from The Divine or from someone who has gotten to be much closer to The Divine than I am right now.

On my own spiritual quest, the most major discoveries have not been accompanied by a "Eureka," but more often by something to the effect of "Well, DUH!"

And so, something on the subject of open eyes.

Blessed Be!

Sacrifices - a very special topic.  Most Wiccans know a version of the Charge Of The Goddess which explicitly says that She does not desire sacrifices.  But some don't, and others bring the concept of sacrifices as part of their emotional baggage from other spiritual paths.  So, let's look at it from what this show tries to make as its usual point of view - that of practical theology that you can actually use every day.

We know that sacrificing is in the past of our ancestors.  That's how they got food, especially meat.  It was also what had to suffice sometimes as a way to deal with people who were not able to "pull their own weight" in ancient society.  Most interesting is that sacrifices seemed to increase with the fanaticism associated with a dying culture - as if cutting the hearts out of the best warriors would help win a war.

And, sacrifices are a part of modern life, especially spiritual life.  Did you ever hear someone encourage anyone to "give until you feel good?"  No, the saying is "give until it hurts."  And, of course, we cannot forget the preachers and others who will promise blessings to those who put the rent money in the collection plate and "have faith" that their need will somehow be met.

Salvation, if you need it, is not for sale.  Nobody has the franchise on the Heavenly Admissions Desk.  And above all else, The Divine cannot be bribed.  Yes, The Divine might very well accept an offer.  But filling some pastor's collection plate is not the way to get the attention of The Divine.

And do you think that human sacrifice is gone?  When a child is told that someone they loved is dead because of "God's will", the effect is pretty much the same.  To say nothing of what a way that is to introduce a child to The Divine.

And perhaps there is something better.  In fact, there is something better.  Like so much else, it has been waiting for us to make more use of it.  A way that doesn't hurt, and can often do much more than sacrificing could ever do!

Not only can we break the bonds of sacrifice and spiritual blackmail (and guilt-trips), we can move to an even higher level.

Once you see what I'm talking about, you'll see what I mean!

Blessed Be!
 

There is a need for spiritual healing.  That is, spiritual healing of the genuine kind.

For some, the word "healing" connotes a sterile environment with people in white coats and scrubs.  For others, it might bring a mental image of someone at a tent-revival shouting "halleluia" and passing the offering plate.  The real kind is neither, but it is something that is within your grasp when you're called upon to do it. 

Until recently, I never gave much thought to the idea of myself doing any kind of healing.  But then circumstances forced me.  And healing does happen.

It can happen, and it does happen.  It happened twice for me in the last few months.  Joe came home today.  And as you know, Lord Pan went home last week.  That Joe was a healing that worked is obvious, but what of Lord Pan?  True, we would have liked to have him live longer, but eighteen years old is pretty old for a cat.  And he did cross over while he was comfortable and at home with his family, not in some vetrinarian's office.  Cats are mortals too.

And here are a couple basic lessons about healing.  One is the fact that no matter how divine The Divine might be, sometimes you can't transform a bowl of broccoli into a glass of beer.  The other is that if you don't get what you want, you might still get something that you can deal with.  

There are obstacles to healing as there are obstacles to any form of magick, but they can be dealt with.

Anyone might find theirself called upon to heal. 

The complication is keeping the simplicity.

Blessed Be!

Doomsday and divination - no kidding.

Admittedly, people have been preaching that the end of the world is near for so long as people have been preaching.  So, what does this have to do with us?

Strange, how the Mayan calendar, the I Ching, and a few other sources can come up with the same day for it to be happening.  The Mayans and the folks who wrote the I Ching probably did not know much about each other, if at all.  And if the same answer comes from two sources so different, I am going to pay attention.

First off, let's look at divination.  Those of us who have been in The Craft for a while know the difference between divination and "fortune-telling," but let's make the distinction abundantly clear.  And I'm not into "fortune telling," but I take divination seriously.

And what are we supposed to do about it?  Giving the matter some serious consideration would be a good beginning.  And for a follow-up, keeping under control those things which, if doomsday were to happen, would only make it worse.  And it would help if we don't act as if we were totally ignorant.

And there are some things that we might be able to actually do, beginning with looking at the prospect seriously.

And many thanks to those who expressed their sympathies at Lord Pan's passing.  We do miss him.

Blessed Be!

When an exceptionally special friend crosses the veil into the arms of the goddess who had watched over him for so many years, I need to pause and make note of it.  And when it is someone as special as this friend was (and still is), then I would be remiss if I did not share some memories of him with you.

If you visit the Temple of Gaia web site, you'll see pictures of him.  And now, there is a memorial for him in the Memorial Garden of the virtual chapel I maintain at "Aidan's Place On The Web".  You can find that memorial page at  http://www.groveunion.templeofgaiainc.org/lord_pan.htm

He was a very special friend from the day I met him eight years ago, and Lady Stormy had known him for ten years before then.

He was the living embodiment of so many of the principles that folks like you and I keep talking about.  We talk about them and try, but he lived them.  He understood how what is put out comes back.  And I think he was part of the inspiration to that saying that I came up with "If everyone did for one, most of the work would already be done."
 
Lord Pan was a cat, and he was the kind of cat who showed why in our hearts there cannot be any such thing as "just a cat".  He's with Bast now, probably telling her about this place. 

To those who showed him love, he gave abundantly.  I would not dare to count all that he did for me.  And some is simply between him and me and will remain that way.  He knows what I mean.

You know Yuengling, whose bark greets you at the start of each show.  Among his other accomplishments, Lord Pan could be well-described as Yuengling's "foster-dad."  And Yuengling wasn't the only four-footed "child" he fostered.

I'll be back to the regular schedule next week, but please join with me in saying thanks to this special friend for all that he did for so many.


Blessed Be!

Someone is going to jump to a conclusion about this episode before they even hear it, all because of the title I chose.  And they will be very embarrassed with themselves after they discover what I'm actually talking about - as opposed to what they thought it might be!

Clue:  I insist on keeping this podcast as something that anyone and everyone can listen to, and I'm proud of my "clean" rating.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about what this episode is actually about.  It's about a word which might possibly the most mis-used word in the English language.  That is especially unfortunate, since it is so often batted about when religion or spirituality is a topic for discussion.


Most words have a definition in a dictionary, but some fit one US Supreme Court justice's description of pornography: "I know it when I see it."  And that is perhaps the situation here, once you get past the rhetoric and grandstanding that goes on about this particular word.

And once you have a grasp of what that word really means, you might be surprised at how much of it you actually do have.  You might have more than you thought and if you do, you'll be very glad of it.

So, what is this special word that I've got you so curious about?

Listen to this episode and find out!

Blessed Be!

There are any number of miracles that I could talk about, but there are three in my life right now which I think most of you might be able to relate to in one way or another.

There are many that I could choose from, but I chose these three.  Two of them, at least, you might know some about if you've been following this show for any length of time.

Perhaps between them, there's some idea of how miracles happen.  I can certainly tell you that none of them happened by waiting for that infamous "God's Will."

Beginning with a vision, believing it can happen, taking what I'm given and cherishing it, and the whole rest of the thing that I've been talking about.

And there's a catch.  Well, some will see it as a catch.  There's the idea of giving in terms of what you hope to receive.  And there's also the saying that I've been known to say: "If everyone would do for one, most of the work would already be done."  Simply put, The Divine is hoping to hear more from you than "give me, give me, give me."

It can.

It will.

It might already be.  Take a look.  And keep looking.

Blessed Be!

And this podcast celebrates two years of "The Secrets In Plain Sight!"

I probably have several theories that some folks think are crazy.  But in the eyes of many, this one is the craziest.

Of course, it is a theory that has some people afraid.  Some are scared because they fear it might infringe on their franchise to sell salvation.  Others are upset because it might hamper their ability to offer spiritual blackmail, spiritual intimidation, and even bullying in their god's name.  And others cringe in fear of the possibility that they might not know everything!

And here I must admit that what I offer here I could not accept emotionally until fairly recently.  That I could accept it as an intellectual fact is one thing, but to feel it emotionally is  something else altogether.

I can offer you any number of examples, and some teachers will caution against using only one example to illustrate something, but bear with me.  I think this one example illustrates enough for now.  Follow this, and we'll have our own examples to illustrate.

Can you tell the difference between what you want to see, what you think you see, and what you are being shown? 

So many people go around looking for "massages".  Can you tell the difference between the message you were looking for and the message you are being given?

These are a part of my daily struggle, and I cannot imagine anyone who has an easy time with them.

So let's look, so we can put this to use as we move on.

Blessed Be!

It's Ostara!  That's Easter to some of you, Spring Equinox to some others, but Ostara to the rest of us.  And it's time to celebrate.

No matter the name you give the Sabbat/ feast, it is a celebration.  And no matter your tradition, the celebration is about the same thing.  A promise was made a Samhain.  It showed its first steps of fulfillment at Yule, and more at Imbolc.  At Ostara, we know for sure that it is happening.  No hedging about any deity's "will", it is happening. No quibbling about whether it's going to be in any deity's "time", it is not only happening and it is  happening when it needs to happen!

That is part of the wonder of it all, and the wonderment we need to have when we think of the Divine.  So many people look upon the Divine with such a narrow viewpoint that even so-called "tunnel vision" would seem an improvement.  And worse, they miss so much, including the basic point that the Divine is trying to make.

And so, join us for a celebration.  Once again, The Virtual Mission Chapel Of The Archangel Uriel opens its cyberspace doors to one and all for an Ostara celebration with a ritual and a get-together to follow.  Let's greet the Divine with a smile as we celebrate the promise being fulfilled.

Oh, and you'll hear an announcement about something that you've been hearing about over the last couple of weeks.  It's an announcement that demonstrates what Ostara can be about if we only let it!

Blessed Be!

Last week was a wonder check, this week is a priestly reality check!

Priestly?  Yes, because you are your own priest or priestess.  While there are indeed others who will insist on giving such authority to someone else, you do have your own priestly authority where your own ministry to yourself is concerned.  This has nothing to do with ordination, or any body licensing you to perform rituals in their name and under their authority.  The first priesthood which ever existed is your own priesthood to minister to yourself.

And in this, some will accuse me of "talking in riddles," while others will understand it quite clearly.  Then again, that always happens.

It begins with the understanding that as a priest or priestess, each of us is "in the miracle business."  The trick here is simply knowing what to do about that, and what to do with that.  And don't let the word "simply" fool you into thinking that it's easy!  That's where the "reality check" part comes in.

And so, I begin with some good counsel that I got when I was first becoming serious about becoming a priest, and from there going into the cautions, typical pitfalls, and perhaps even how to recognize when you might actually still win!

Blessed Be!

It's time for a Wonder Check.

We've all been faced with reality checks - let's take time for a wonder check.  A reality check is something we know - it's when the needle of reality pops the bubble of some image in our mind.  What about a wonder check?  A wonder check is when we get to see that something that has caused us to wonder actually is a wonder - and worth wondering about!

A reality check brings us face-to-face with illusions and points out the fact that they are illusions.  A wonder check does the absolute opposite.  A wonder check lets us remember to grasp the greatness of something before we get so busy with the details that we forget.

The Divine is a great subject for a wonder check - so many people put limits on the Divine.  And how would it even be possible to limit the infinite?  That's the double problem.  One part of the problem is remembering the infinite nature of the Divine.  The other part is the fact that some folks actually try to force the Divine into their own pre-conceived notions of what the Divine is supposed to be like.

There are some wonderful implications here, too.

So, let's explore a wonder check!

Blessed Be!

No kidding.  Let's look at this idea.

I've mentioned before the idea of borrowing from the Christian path the idea of setting aside February 20th as a special day to honor Tempest Smith.  Now, how about Lent? 

If we take a look at what it's about, you'll see the point.  We keep talking about balance, don't we?  Polarities?  Opposites?  Yin and Yang?  OK, so does this mean that we can go around patting ourselves on the back all day and ignore the times we miss the mark?  I hope not!

But it would also be a good idea if we were to get the point and keep getting the point of it all.  Those of you whose spiritual experience includes Christianity probably have a tale or two about Lent to tell - and it probably illustrates how form can overshadow substance.  And there are a few stories about how kids got to sacrifice during Lent, but grown-ups could always find "exceptions." 

One of the greatest sets of missed points is in their own Bible, conveniently in one chapter (the sixth chapter of Matthew).  Perhaps not an absolute, but some principles about how to do spiritual things most effectively.  And one of the most obvious of those points is that you don't do it for the sake of putting on a show for all to see!  It's between you and the Divine. 

So, what would a Wiccan Lent be like?  Probably not what Christians would think of as Lent, but it would get the job done - and perhaps better.

Blessed Be!

I keep hearing about change all the time, beginning with at the commuter station where I take the train home from work - there's always someone there asking for "change."  But in the US, this is a presidential election year, and this time especially we're hearing candidates talking about "change".

It's not that it's particularly political.  In many of the mainstream churches, there's so much change back and forth that those who are long-time members might not recognize what they one thought was their church.  And in business and in the military service, I saw several instances of change for change's sake , especially if one of the bigger bosses was replaced.

Let's  make one thing clear: there are many situations in which nobody in their right mind is going to like the status quo.  But, there are some things that need to be done if change is going to have any quality. 

Is there a goal?  Is there a plan?  Do we know that we're actually on the path we think we're on?  Are we going to make enemies as a result?  Have we thought of everyone involved?

Words can sound really pretty and they can be very inspiring, but credible specifics to show how something can be accomplished - where are they?

Consider this a timely exercise in practical theology.

Blessed Be!

For this podcast's 100th show, I wish to make a "modest proposal" in quiet seriousness.  I would like to propose February 20th as Tempest Smith Day.

How many of our traditions, rituals, holidays and even deities have the Christians borrowed from us?  Therefore, I consider it fair exchange if we borrow something from them.  With the exception of John the Baptist (who is an acknowledged reincarnation), the day to honor a Christian saint is the day on which that saint crossed the bridge. 

Tempest Smith was a victim of not only bullying, but religious persecution because she was a Wiccan.  I see her as a martyr, and I feel comfortable in referring to her as an Ascended Master.  She crossed over on February 20, 2001 and so I feel that February 20th is appropriate to set aside as a day in her honor.

And so, what should someone do to honor Tempest Smith on her day?  There are some ideas that come to my mind, all of which have something to do with the fact that she crossed over because she could no longer deal with the torment.  There are any number of things appropriate, and some of them offer opportunity to accomplish something in a postive direction.  We're not just talking about stopping the bullying here, but also making sure we're not dehumanized in the eyes of some people.  You might see what I mean.

I didn't coordinate this with anyone.  In fact, I didn't even tell Lady Stormy about this "crazy idea" until I had already recorded the show.  But I want to offer this idea, for better of for worse.

She walked a path that some of us can remember walking. 

I know what I'll be doing in her honor on February 20th.  Want to join me?

Blessed Be!

A point which so many miss.  And such a basic point.  And do you know what happens to those who don't get it?

Quite often, those people spend their entire spiritual lives accomplishing little more than repeating the slogans someone taught them.  And sometimes they were taught by someone who was only able to repeat the slogans that they were taught.  In some instances, some might get paid very well for how they repeat the slogans that they were taught.  But then again, that is not the purpose of spiritual pursuits, is it?

It's a basic point, and an obvious one.  Of course, the fact that it is so obvious might make it obscure to those who have their own particular agenda.  But for those with open eyes, it's plain as day.

It can even be found in the sacred writings used by the people who criticize us the most!

If you've been listening to this podcast for any length of time, this particular point is a familiar one to you, and there's a good chance that you're fairly comfortable with it.  And some of you might accuse me of doing what Christians call "preaching to the choir."  But once choir practice is over, the choir members do have go out into the world and be part of it.  And in dealing with the world, affirmation can be nice.

The point which so many miss is so basic, but it can seem so elusive to those who haven't looked it in the eye.

Maybe that's why so many miss that point.

Hey, it's Imbolc!

One of the more overlooked  Sabbats of the year.  Well, there's a secret to Imbolc, and it's a secret that perhaps some people don't want you to recognize and appreciate. 

The people who do appreciate Imbolc are those who appreciate the land and nature, and pay attention to it.  It's especially appreciated in places where winter is strong enough that spring and summer are appreciated all the more.  It's the middle of the dark time, and it's the time for blessing seeds and consecrating agricultural tools. 

And in that, you can see Imbolc's secret - and power.  Imbolc is the time when we are shown that the promise made will be fulfilled.  There's no quibbling over the Divine's will.  There's also no discussion about the Divine's time - we know the schedule.  And it will be.

There's a word which so many Christians use without much understanding.  Almost like a theological "over and out", to use past decades' two-way radio lingo to describe it.  What does "Amen" actually mean?  The same thing as a phrase so common among those of us who are Wiccans!

And there is the secret of Imbolc.  Find it, and enjoy it!  It has been waiting for you!

Here are a couple of dangerous revelations.  No kidding.

Wars still are fought as a result of them, and at one time wars were fought regularly as a result of them.  And even if people are less willing today to take up weapons, the gossip, shunning and bullying that goes on can be just as deadly - and as evil - as any war.

Please understand that in almost any endeavor, no matter how advanced you become, most of your work will deal with the basics.  And that is the case here.  Two dangerous revelations concerning "Where the rubber meets the road" in theology - especially the theology of leading your daily life.

For some, they are obvious.  For others, they seem hard to grasp. 

You might call them principles - I sometimes do.  You might also call them secrets.  They can also qualify as weapons.

But they are two dangerous revelations.  You'll see what I mean.

And you might also be able to see what we're building here!

What do you do when you get hurt?

Well, if you really get hurt, one of the things that will happen is a lot of advice, much of it unsolicited, some of it downright unwelcome, and more than you want of it will be of no real use!

What do you do?

This is one of those "dangerous topics" I alluded to a couple of shows ago, and it is something that can happen to anyone, anytime.  And there appear to be very few people who have actual skills in dealing with it, much less the ability to advise others on it.

So then, why am I talking about it?  Nothing makes me so special as to offer advice as to what to do when you're hurting. 

Perhaps instead, I will show you where to look and what to beware of.  And then, you'll be in a better position to find your own answers.  I've been talking about the importance of finding your own answers, and this subject is no exception.

And when this is something you're experiencing, that's what you need: your own answers that work for you.

If you deal with anything spiritual, some topics are dangerous.

More correctly, some people will see certain topics as dangerous.  Whether they actually are dangerous is for you to decide, but some people will indeed see certain topics as dangerous.

And, their actions when confronted with a dangerous topic are predictable.  They might ignore it.  They might use it for their own agenda.  They might cook up their own theory and hope you'll believe it.  Or, they might stir up a big fuss, even if it's really over nothing.

Most often, they see the questions as dangerous because they cause folks like me (and you?) to ask questions that do not have easy answers.

You may have already figured out that it is in confronting those dangerous questions that you find the real answers.  One thing should be apparent to you: the questions will not go away.

I spend a lot of time dealing with what many consider to be dangerous topics.  And so, before we get even further into dangerous topics, let's take the time to examine the topic of dangerous topics.

 

Spiritual first aid?  Of course!  A couple of basic facts need to be acknowledged and dealt with as reality.   

I see it, nobody forges new ground spiritually and gets away with it.  There will always be attackers and detractors for those who try "something different", even (or especially) if it is actually re-discovering something that everyone else forgot.

And, lest we forget, the easiest way to get some people to hate you is for you to do something well. 

Of course, there is also the fact that there are so many of us who came upon our spiritual path as a result of trauma suffered on another spiritual path.

And so, there is need for spiritual first aid.

As a cadet, I experienced an Army training film on basic first aid in combat situations.  The film is indelibly etched in my mind, particularly the three steps in immediate wound care: Stop The Bleeding, Protect The Wound, Treat For Shock.  After all these years, those words echo in my memory along with other bits of wisdom from the film, such as: "Use his first aid kit - you may need yours later."

And there are some basic steps in spiritual first aid.

We do need to know about spiritual first aid.  There is one difference between spiritual first aid and the kind of first aid you learn in a Red Cross class.  For spiritual first aid, the most important first aid you give is the first aid you give to yourself.  And there's a reason for that.

The most important person in bringing about your healing is you.

 

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Special note: This podcast now has its own CafePress shop.  You'll find a link at the podcast's website at http://secrets.libsyn.com, or go directly to http://www.cafepress.com/inplainsight.

 

Could there possibly be a more perfect place in time for the secular New Year's Day than right after Yule?  At Yule, we celebrate a new birth.  And now, the secular world is giving us a time to give the newborn a sense of direction.

What was born for you at Yule?  I gave you a little peek of what was born for me, but not so much that I would be accused of "spilling the beans".  The part about keeping silence has been sufficiently kept.  And you know what was born for you.

And now, between the mudane and the magickal, you can start guiding it.  The limits might not be what you think, and the limitations are rather broad.  The basic rules and principles apply as well as common sense.  But also be mindful of what does not apply.  You'll see what I mean. 

This is an opportunity to get rid of "old tapes" and see what can be!

And yes, it can be and it will be!

Let's not just celebrate Yule, let's celebrate Yuletide!  And why should we just celebrate it when we can be part of it!

We've talked before about visualization, and seeing things with the mind's eye.  At Samhain, you joined with me in the celebration with so many others all over the world.  And now, here's a full-fledged Yule celebration to join in, complete with a potluck feast to enjoy after the ritual!

All of this ties into why Yule is such a natural consequence of Samhain, and here we see how we can harness the power of the birth at Yule.

What is born here?  What will it become?  We can have some input into that if we want to, and yes we do want to.  And on the way, we'll discover yet another of the secrets that has been hiding in plain sight for us to find.

Blessed Be, and a happy Yuletide to each and every one of you!

 

This makes a good lead-in to Yule.  At Yule, we celebrate a birth.  And with the birth, it might be a good idea to have some idea of what course the new like might be able to take.

We've talked about what Saints and Ascended Masters are, and we know that they were people like you and me.  It might not seem that way if you read their official biographies. 

Official biographies might not be the best way to see them, especially as people.  But if you get beyond the official biographies, you'll find some common threads - and much to learn.  And even with their human shortcomings, you'll find something to learn.

And what if I told you that they had something in common?  What if I told you that there were three particular traits that they had in common?

Three traits, and those three traits can be summed up in three words. 

The formula is simple.  The pursuit of those three traits might not be as simple as it appears.  Or it might be just as simple.  You'll have to see.

What makes a Saint or Ascended Master?  Three traits are always there, and their pursuit can be a lifetime quest.  And that's where the excitement begins!

Dig into this, and next week you might be putting this and much else to use.  Next week will be a spiritual experience, and perhaps something special.

 

 

Here we examine the ten most popular ways to ruin your spiritual life.

Please note that I am not talking about letting it gradually weaken until you wake up one morning to discover that you don't have one anymore.  No, I am talking about really ruining your spiritual life, sending it crashing-and-burning almost like a scene in the movies!

It's surprising how easy it is to do, and I know that I've found myself doing some of the things I've listed in this show for you.

So, why would I be talking about how to ruin your spiritual life?

With Yule coming, there is so much secular hype that it's sometimes difficult to remember what Yuletide is supposed to be about.  And maybe here is a good opportunity to look for opportunities.  And maybe here is a chance for something powerful to come to be!

Maybe in here there are some hints about how to make your spiritual life actually come alive and gain strength!  And with that, your Yule (or whatever you are celebrating now) can be more than you ever imagined that it could be!

 

For those who think that only two things in life are certain, I will add a third.  We know about death and taxes as certainties.  Another certainty is that anyone who has a genuine, sincere spiritual path which he or she is seriously pursuing will get assaulted.  The assults might not be physical, but the assults will be just the same.

In my experience, I've had agnostics tell me that what I was following was a symptom of mental illness, while at the same time I heard atheists tell me that what I was pursuing was obsolete superstition.  And all the while, no matter the label on my spiritual path that I or someone else chose for it, there was always someone who claimed that my spiritual path was wrong because it wasn't the same as theirs.  Assaults.

And so, spiritual people need spiritual protection.

When I was given training in marital arts, the first thing I was shown was how to stand, and how to know that we were standing solidly.  It's the same thing here, only it is standing solidly on our own spiritual feet instead of physical feet.  And yes, there is some spiritual foot-care involved.

In both cases, it's easy to miss something and get tripped.  But if you are prepared, then you don't get tripped.  It's that simple.  Those who are the best prepared for a spiritual fight are usually those who get to enjoy genuine spiritual peace.

And it's not what a lot of folks think it's about, either.