We've spoken much about what gives you power, and how to avoid that which costs you energy.  And so, now is a good time to step back for a while and take a good look at how to construct a ritual.  In any endeavor, it's worthwhile to occasionally take a step back and remember the basics.  Then again, we're talking about a form of endeavor in which the advanced stuff is nothing more than application of the basics anyway.  It's much the same as in mathematics - all of the fancy stuff is nothing more than sequences of the basic operations.

And so we come here, to see what it takes to put a ritual together.

And please understand, it does not have to be a fancy ritual at a permanent altar.  You'll also have plenty of opportunity to do them when you don't have set-aside facilities.  In fact, there might be occasions in which you might need to do one in which nobody around you knows that you're doing a ritual.

And the most important mortal in your ritual is, of course, you.  Don't worry, Mrs Broadbeam, Sister Sweathog and Pastor Platepass who tried messing with your spirituality before are no longer around to bother you, so don't worry about them.

And, armed with the right basics, there is no telling just how much you might be able to accomplish.  Do not be surprised if you surprise yourself!

Blessed Be!

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"Mass For The Shut-Out", Temple of Gaia's video cast, can be seen at http://www.veoh.com/search/videos/q/lordaidan

This was intended to be an on-line ritual, but there were enough words to say that they deserved their own episode. 

Tempest Smith died on February 20, 2001.  She died by her own hand because she could no longer deal with the daily harassment and bullying she was receiving from her classmates.  At her funeral, there were numerous statements from those who should have been her friends about how sorry they were.  Well, words are like arrows:  Once they've hit the mark, how much good does taking them back accomplish?

And in her honor, some words of warning, and words of promise as well.  And they come right from the Christians' own Bible.  They might not be verses which some folks know, but they are there, waiting for those who want to learn.  Three words of warning and promise, in plain sight.

If The Divine is as infinite as if must be, there is a whole lot which we simply do not know.  But, we can begin by knowing that we do not know everything.  And we can know that what we grasp of The Divine is one small part of one small corner.  And that's regardless of what name or names we use for addressing The Divine.

And when our minds are grown to the point that we might be able to grasp more, then we'll see things differently.  And things that seemed so terribly important today will become so terribly trivial!

And the warnings contain promises of what can be ours if we grasp the lesson to be found in Tempest Smith's story.

Blessed Be!

In a town in Illinois, there is a protest going on against the environmental education program going on in their local elementary school.  It seems that some of the grownups don't like the idea of children being taught such concepts as recycling, global warming, and environmental responsibility.  One person called it "environmental indoctrination"

It reminds me of when I was growing up in Oregon, and some of the grown-ups didn't appreciate the idea that the schools were teaching us kids that people whose skin was a different color had the same rights as everyone else!

There will always be those who stand in the way of what's right, but the fact is that the truth is being taught.

And then there is Chase Utley, second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies.  I am not a sports fan, but I am a fan of his.  For all he does for our four-footed friends, I'll cheer for the Phillie so that he will have success.  And I first heard of his efforts because of a story of a much-abused dog.  And I've noticed that since he's made such an effort, more and more big-name people are rescuing animals from shelters.  The man is making saving a life the "in" thing to do!  Those who have heard me tell any of Yuengling's story know why that would mean so much to me.

And so, we see positive.  Children are learning the right things, and a role model is taking the lead in caring for animals. 

And this comes together in magick!

The negative is always easy to find.  The positive is sometimes more difficult to find, but it can be found anywhere.  Not only that, but when the positive is found within the negative, it makes the positive shine even more.

And what does this have to do with magick?

As you will see, it has everything to do with it!

Blessed Be!

There is a time for critical self-examination.  The trick is, once again, to maintain balance.  Don't be so over-critical of yourself that you judge yourself to be beyond redemption, but also don't make excuses for yourself, either.  There can be a danger here of a downward spiral similar to that experienced by some folks who experience bullying or a smear campaign. 

One prime example of this is the issue of prejudice.  Prejudice begins with a dichotomy, two facts in opposition to each other.

Everyone has prejudices.  There are more causes of prejudice than I've got time or disk space to list.  But the chief causes include what you learn from parents, friends, classmates, and your own experience. 

Look at the word "prejudice".  "Pre" means "before".  "Judice" means "judgment".  So, it's judgment in advance.  Jumping to a conclusion before the facts are all in.  And we all do it.

And so, let's look at it.  And let's see what we can do about it.  And if it's unavoidable, can we make some use of it?

And that's one of the secrets in plain sight!

Blessed Be!

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