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!