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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

Revolutions do happen when the established order fails to meet the needs of a sufficient percentage of the people.  And if you are listening to this podcast, there is a good chance that your local religious establishment has not met your needs.  You might be looking for something else, but more likely you are looking for something more that will make you feel more fulfilled.  And that's what we're about.

As they said in that TV series "The X-Files", the truth is out there.  And, you can't stop truth. 

Look at the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Found in about 1948, it was decades before folks like you and me got to read their contents.  It wasn't that they were waiting for translation, it was simply that certain people didn't want them circulating among folks like you and me.  But now, it is close to impossible to put a lid on truth.

What does this mean?  Let's do a little exercise.  We'll take a few words that you probably have heard many times, and let's see what those words might actually mean.  I believe that you will  be surprised. 

Some time ago, someone spoke about so-called "liberation theology".  What we have here is genuine liberation.

Look and see.  You'll see what I mean.

Sorry for the delay.  The doctor had me spend Thanksgiving in the hospital.  Details in the podcast.

Of course, there are two kinds of secrets.  One kind of secret is the kind that people don't tell other people.  The other kind of secret is the kind that folks just don't bother to notice.  The secret of the Sabbats is one of the latter kind.  We know it if we've taken any kind of a look at the Sabbats, but most mundanes don't even know that there's something to find.

It's in the very nature of the Sabbats, individually and as the full cycle of eight Sabbats.  In fact, without the secret, the Sabbats would not be able to be what they are.

You can "sort of" find the basis of the secret in the mundane holidays, both the religious and the political/ patriotic ones, but most of the mundane folks have not bothered much about it.  In fact, most of them don't even know that there is anything to bother about.  Look at how much "Christmas spirit" there is on December 26th, and you'll see what I mean.  But we have it in our Sabbats.  And the more I see of it, the more I'm able to appreciate each and every Sabbat.

When you see what I'm talking about, you'll see what I mean.

Maybe the others can learn something special from us and our Sabbats.

They put certain aspects of their lives "on hold" for a while.  Perhaps it was for two years, perhaps it might have been for as much as thirty years.  And now, they have taken off their uniforms and become veterans.

I, Aidan Odinson, am a veteran.  So are several others that I know.  And I have a few things to say.

I have listened to Veterans' Day speeches my entire life.  This time I make one, and I make one from the viewpoint of someone who has experience as a veteran.  Don't expect flowery words.

Do expect to be reminded of the Threefold Law, because I find an implication of it in every celebration of Veterans' Day that I see.  You'll see what I mean.

If you're old enough to enjoy this podcast without having Mom or Dad help you, you're old enough to remember 9/11, and you probably have memories of what you were doing when you got word of it.  And you might also recall on Pat Robertson's "700 Club" a few days later, Jerry Falwell made a statement that 9/11 happened because his God had "lifted the veil of protection from the United States" because the country had gotten too tolerant of gay people.  And Robertson agreed!

I can only imagine what pronouncements are going to be made about the Southern California wildfires.  From Malibu to the north of Los Angeles down to past San Diego and to the Mexican border they raged - and they're not really over yet.  So, there's some ripe sermon-fodder there.

So, what's the real situation?  If we go past any possible agendas to look at what really happened, what will we see?

The issue is summed up on one word, and it is a word that is repeatedly misused.  And it takes a while sometimes to see it.  But it's there.

We don't need to be told, we can look.  And when we look, what are we shown?  Let's see.

Soon Samhain will be upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere, and those in the Southern Hemisphere are welcome to join in, too!

I get excited about Samhain.  And since you are your own Priest or Priestess, you have much to be excited about at Samhain, and for the same reasons.

We've got a wonderful - and powerful - group here, so let's do a Samhain celebration together!  There is so much that we can do!  This is when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest.  That means that we can reach to the other side, and those who are on the other side can reach to us.  There is so much that happens at Samhaintide that there isn't room enough in all of cyberspace to list it all!  But especially, with the frequent focus of Samhaintide being what it is, it is natural to look at endings and beginnings at this time of the Cycle of the Year.

The thing some folks forget about endings is that they are paired with a beginning.  They also forget that every beginning is paired with an ending.  And so much of the magick of Samhaintide deals with endings and beginnings.  And what does that mean for us?  Endings and beginnings exist together as pairs.  If we seek an ending to something, we should also seek a beginning.  If we seek a beginning of something, we should also see what ends.  Some pairings are obvious, some are much more subtle.  But they are there.

And let's celebrate this together.  A place is prepared, and it's ready.  Watch with your third eye, and see what you might see!  And see what you might be able to take with you from the celebration!

It has so many meanings, but the one that means the most to me is the basic one that the veil between the worlds is thinnest at Samhain.  And that has a special meaning for us.

If a ritual is going to be powerful at anytime, it will have the most power at Samhain.  And so, if the wind is at our back and we're sailing with the current, let's make the most of it!

And so, some thoughts that can be used at any time, but especially now. 

Of all of the magical messes I've seen people make, they center around one principle - get that one principle, and you'll be ahead of many.  That's just one of a few things worth sharing as Samhaintide approaches.

I feel that this is going to be a most special Samhain.  Here's some ideas on how to "make it so."

Next week: A Samhain Celebration!

It reminds me of the song that used to play on jesusdance.com about the "plasic Jesus, riding on the dashboard of my car."

And that's one of the problems that some folks have.  Their god is actually that small.  For some people, that's all they want.  According to others, that's all they're going to have.  And let's not forget the folks who not only don't want to have any more god than that, they don't want anyone else to have any more than that, either!

There might not be a lot of dime stores left, but there are dollar stores, religious gift shops, Wiccan shops and other places where it is possible to find a nice small figure of a god, goddess, other deity, or other subject of veneration - and at a reasonable price.  Whether it is Jesus, Mary, Shiva, a Buddha, a Saint, or anyone or anything else, thay all have in common one basic factor, and one basic connection to each other.  And that is why that little figure you buy can become so powerful for you.

Take it in common with the infinite nature of the Divine, and you have a weapon for spiritual self-defense.  Not only that, it will show you some of the wonders of the Divine that are beyond the most powerful imagination.

And exploring this can be a lot of fun, too! 

The trouble is, so often the desire for revenge results in some really stupid deeds that cause trouble and/or cause your adversary to want their own revenge in turn.  So, what to do?

We can learn from anyone, so long as we look at the lesson being taught and what is within the message being shown to us.  It might not be what the speaker actually wants us to learn, but nevertheless we can learn.

In this case, I found two sayings which I once considered to be Pollyanna-style advice to do nothing except be trampled upon.  But within them, there is something else - and it is something that we can use.  And there is the secret!

Never lose sight of the fact that what we think and say we want or need might not be what we really want or need.  Look within for the answer, and see what the answer is. 

And we can look at a few examples of how satisfaction was obtained without getting into too much trouble.

Are you wondering what I am driving at?  Download the show and enjoy it!

Then again, Wiccans know "An' it harm none, do what thou wilt" and how much debate and exploration that has inspired.

For this episode, many thanks to the Universal Gnostic Fellowship and their Presiding Archbishop, Dr John Gilbert.  We're looking at the translation found on their web site and I'll touch on some of the commentary that they include. 

But that is certainly not the only translation of The Emerald Tablet, or the only commentary.  Those who have translated and/or commented on it include Trithemius, Roger Bacon, Aleister Crowley, Albertus Magnus, Isaac Newton, and many others.  

There is a basic truth contained within The Emerald Tablet - and perhaps several basic truths, depending on how you count them.  And within it is a major secret, perhaps one which might be called an "ultimate secret."

Eleven lines is a quick read.  A few times through and you'll be able to recite it comfortably.  It won't take an excessive effort to memorize it.  But what will it take to master it? 

A few minutes of your time to read.  A lifetime to grasp, comprehend and discover.  Such is The Emerald Tablet.  And such are the secrets we find in plain sight.   

There are some who might wonder how I can be both a Wiccan and a Gnostic.  After all, most people say that you can't be both a Catholic and a Baptist.  But, you can be a Gnostic and any number of other things.

I've even come across some folks who confuse Gnostic with agnostic - even though they are opposite.  An agnostic claims to not know if there is any sort of deity.  A Gnostic knows - in a very special way.

First off, there is the word "gnosis", which is one of two Greek words which can mean "to know", and the difference is very major.    Understanding the distinction is critical to understanding Gnosticism.

Then, there is what gnosis is and how it works.  And there you'll see why many religious leaders who want to have their followers "march in step" are uncomfortable with Gnosticism.

This is a very brief introduction.  Gnosticism isn't for everyone, but many have found comfort and strength in it. 

Know what?  Some people are Gnostics without knowing it.  Sort of like how I say that some people are Wiccan without knowing it.  Give a listen, check a mirror, and see what you see.  

You'll see and understand what I mean when you listen.  If he held an equivalent position here in the US, things might have been different.  But he did not. 

I've said it before: When I was an Episcopalian, I was a traditionalist.  So much so that it got me into trouble.  I am still a traditionalist.  Different traditions, but I honor my traditions.

What is a traditionalist?  I can't give you a definition, but I can tell you what a traditionalist is not.  A traditionalist is not someone behind a pulpit screaming that his way is the only way.  A traditionalist is also not a government functionary whose definition of tradition is what most folks call blind, unquestioning obedience.  And it is easy and downright comfortable to be a traditionalist when one is part of the power structure.  But what if the power structure puts you on the outside looking in?

And so, I want to honor someone who spent half a century honoring his traditions.  His way might have been different from mine, but he had his traditions and he honored them.  And so, I wish to honor him. 

Of course, such breviaries are written by people that you and I don't know, and they take a "one size fits all" approach which doesn't work for most of us.

But, Wiccans have an advantage.  Instead of missals and breviaries, Wiccans have Books Of Shadows - and they are as personal as your athame or your toothbrush.

You already probably do a daily ritual of rituals, even if you don't know it.  Look and see.  And what are you doing with that ritual of rituals?  You are establishing and maintaining a relationship with various people and things.  The first kiss in the morning, the kiss goodnight, the hug when you come home, walking the dog at certain times, putting a baby or child to bed for the night - you're doing more than what you're physically doing.  And if you miss doing something, you really miss it!

And so it is with your prayer life, and this is where a breviary helps.  And it helps even more when you write your own.  And, it is important.  No matter how important your rituals are, this is how you maintain your relationship with the Divine between rituals.

Look and see.  You'll see.

Where is this chapel?  As near as your computer.  Just go to http://www.groveunion.templeofgaiainc.org/ and "follow the signs" and you'll be there. 

The first two to be honored in the Hall Of Honor are Jerome Birnbaum and Tempest Smith.  If you've listened to this podcast for any length of time, you know some of their significance.  If not, we offer a "quick sketch" of who they are on their pages in the Hall Of Honor.

This is something you might be able to do, too.  A special place to honor those who have made a special contribution to your spiritual life.  It can be done any number of ways: a bookshelf, a web page, a page in a photo album.  And, I'm sure yours might include some that the more major faith groups haven't bothered to notice. 

There's also some news about how President Dubya Bush snubbed Roberta Stewart.  And his apology.  But the apology has become a cheap commodity, hasn't it?  I'm offering a couple of suggestions as to how Dubya can atone so that his apology includes some credibility.

If it were phoney, an inconsistency would have been found, just like what happened with the infamous "Hitler War Diaries" of a couple of decades ago.  There would be an inconsistency in the ink, the paper, the language, or known historical facts.  In the case of the Gospel of Judas, it appears to fit perfectly.

Many times, I've pointed to places in writings associated with Yeshua Bar-Joseph and said "How Wiccan can you get?".  And there is a story here that has much bearing on Wiccans, Pagans, and anyone else who deals in magick.  It's the same warning you find in The Sorcerer's Apprentice and in Rumplestiltskin.  And it bears repeating.

There are other revelations in the book.  Taken in context with other evidence, there is a jealousy and rivalry going on among Jesus' disciples that's just like a soap opera.  There's also evidence that Yeshua (and his god) are more like us than your Sunday School teacher would ever allow you to think. 

But above all, there is a lesson here in dealing with magick and the Divine.

Why were they written in poetry back then?  Because they probably were not written down for some time.  This was how knowledge was conveyed - in everything from history to family lineage to practical matters like cooking or sailing a ship. 

It was also the way that some information might be passed on quietly, beyond the reach of prying eyes.  A poem could contain more than one message.  It could be more than a poem. 

And this is a tool, a portal, and a weapon that we can use today just as well as our ancestors could.

Here's one.  Maybe it's from 750c.e., or maybe it's from 1993c.e. - I'm not saying right now - enjoy it and see what it says.

Here's a door.  Look through and see what might be waiting to be found.

Does this mean that Yuengling, along with your dog and all of the other dogs can have a part in that man's karma?  After all, most people who would listen to this podcast know about poppets and other representations of people used for magickal purposes.  Is a Michael Vick Dog Chew Toy anything else?

And then, there is the work of the Innocence Project, which keeps finding evidence which transforms Death Row inmates into free people.  And a man who briefly lived not far from me who spent two decades fighting for his life on Death Row until DNA proved him clearly innocent.

And, of course, we can't forget O. J. Simpson, can we?

What will activists on either side do when truth comes to the surface?  It will have its effect regardless of which side the newly-revealed truth helps.

So, what to do when there is a situation in which you're forced to take a side even though perhaps not all possible facts are in?

Yet another secret in plain sight, perhaps?

Harry Potter has done a lot of genuine magick in this world, beginning with transforming a single mother on welfare into a renowned author, and going on to transforming kids who thought that reading was "something nerds do" into eager readers.  Not bad for a fictional adolescent!

So, what's the fuss over Harry Potter?

Could it be that there is a secret in the Harry Potter books, waiting to be revealed?  Yes, there is!

And if you see some Fundamentalist Christians ripping the electric lights out of their churches and homes, you'll know that they listened to this podcast and decided that the real message of Harry Potter was really evil!

Go ahead, listen to this podcast!  See what kind of a message Harrry Potter has for you!

I've talked about The Line before: sometimes you must not cross it, sometimes you may cross it, and sometimes it moves.  Let's talk about it in terms of what I call Real Theology.  Some people think of Theology as discussing ancient texts or the color of some saint's toga, nitpicking how to conduct a ritual, etc.  Real Theology consists of taking all of that (and more) and applying it in daily life.

And so, let's take a couple of items in the news recently and see how that applies to you and me.  In both of the cases I'm going to specifically mention, you just might find something to invest emotionally in both cases.  The question is: What do you do?

The "Monday morning quarterbacks" have an easy job, as do the people who don't "connect" emotionally and those who want to talk all in theory.  They're not there in the situation having to make the real decision.  You and I are in the situation of having to make the real decision.

An ancient Hebrew admonition to judges described "The sword of God at your head, lest you set the guilty free; and the fires of hell at your feet, lest you punish the innocent."  And there is where our puzzle begins.

I promised you "Spiritual calisthenics for those who are willing to think."  Welcome to part of my workout.

A form of intimidation that some of us remember from our childhood is The Boogeyman.  If mommy and daddy run out of other ways to influence behavior, there's The Boogeyman.  The Boogeyman comes after children who don't eat their broccoli, children who don't get to sleep by a certain time, and children who wet their beds.  Of course, if The Boogeyman were real, real mommies and daddies ought to do something to protect their children from The Boogeyman. 

In mundane life, do I really believe that allowing the government to read my emails or (as was once proposed) track what books I read is going to keep Osama Bin Laden at bay?

In your spiritual life, many of you have been told about another boogeyman - the Chrisitans' "Devil".  But what can we see about this theological boogeyman if we do a serious examination, including comparing their version of The Boogeyman to other deities - especially the ones who are known for getting nasty.  Some truths might have been stretched a bit.

As a child, most of us eventually figured out that there was a positive reason for getting to bed and sleep at a reasonable time, and that The Boogeyman had nothing to do with it.  In our spiritual lives, there is so much more that can be offered besides avoiding punishment. 

I'll have to admit that nothing gets some Wiccans more upset than to have to hear "the J-name".  But it's not his fault.  Take a look at what he taught and how he lived, and compare that with the stuff you find shouted from pulpits.  I wonder if he would even recognize that which was built in his name as being anything having anything to do with the points he kept trying to make.  Sort of like the story I told you a while back about a certain Air Force captain who kept going around saying "Colonel wants...." until a certain lieutenant asked the colonel.

And, do you know what else this is good for?  When someone tries to "save" you, this is some good information to let it be known that he probably would be more comfortable among us than he would be in the religious establishment built in his name.  Some good intellectual ammunition, I do believe.

Besides, our issues are not with deities or pantheons.  Our issues are with what mortals do while claiming to be serving their deity. 

Enjoy this. 

There was a period of many years when Christians took their faith underground.  In those days, their churches didn't have youth groups, ladies clubs, or picnics.  They came together to say Mass, which remains the core ritual of much of Christianity today.

In between then and a few years ago, our own spiritual predecessors met in secret - and that was if they met at all.  And when they met, the did a ritual.

Does this offer a clue as to what is at the core of who we are and what we do?  And if it nurtured us through the times when we merely wanted to survive, how much more can it do for us now that we've come out into the open?

You never know what power we might already have!

It can be fairly said that a prisoner in jail has freedom of movement - he may move anywhere he wants within his cell. Is our Religious Freedom that constrained?

Let us not forget that Tempest Smith died because of the non-stop teasing, ridicule and bullying she was subjected to. She was twelve years old, and a student at Lincoln Park Middle School.

Much can be said about her classmates who taunted her, and then made such apologies at her funeral. Much might also be said wondering how the faculty and staff at the school could actually claim to not have known what was being done to her.

Suicide is a favorite subject for "Monday morning quarterbacks," since the person most directly involved is not available for comment. But suffice it to say that Tempest Smith died from the torment.

Perhaps there is a lesson for the rest of us to learn from this.

The Jewish Defense League came up with a slogan some years ago which seems to fit this situation: "NEVER AGAIN!"

After becoming a Wiccan, I still didn't pray.  As a Wiccan Priest and for my first few years as a Wiccan High Priest, I did not pray.  There were many, many of other things that I was doing in relation to the various deities in my life.  I would give energy for or about something or someone, I would do rituals, and I would address Gods and Goddesses directly.  But I wasn't praying.

So what was I doing then?  I came to the realization that I was doing the same thing, but without the label.  When I was a Christian, I had issues with what seemed busywork while I was supposed to sit on my you-know-what and wait for their God to get off of His You-Know-What, and that was assuming that I was praying about something that I was supposed to pray about, and that also assumed that what I was asking for was in accordance with His Will.  See why I quit?  See why I did so much by getting rid of the label and its associated "baggage" for a while?

There are some things that do indeed get in the way.  Here's my list of the worst of them, and how to get past them.

On schedule for next week:  Maybe I can stir something.  And it will be appropriate for the coming holiday.

This weekend includes Fathers' Day.  At least, that's when it is in the US.  Something similar might be at other times in other places.  And if there is so such designated day where you are, you're welcome to borrow this one! ;->

If you've heard me mention my Dad before, then I think you know that I miss him.  And, I'm a Dad with two children who are grown and on their own.  And I miss them, too. 

Let me point out that if you think that my Dad and I spent the time we had together as some special incarnation of Ward and Wally Cleaver, guess again.  But we did come to share something that was priceless.  And I'll share some of that with you.

And so, a special offering on the subject of Dads.

Fathers' Day.  A special day to celebrate and honor Dads.  And for those of us who are Dads, a special day.

Thanks, Dad!

You've probably heard my personal theory that a person's spiritual development can be measured in terms of what they fuss about.  What does that mean in a practical sense?

Is there a point that you have to "get" before you move beyond a certain level?  If so, is it something uniquely Wiccan, or is it something that applies to all fails, religions and spiritual paths?  Here, I'll break the usual "rule" and answer that question - it is a point that applies to anyone, regardless of their spiritual path, denomination or religion.  And so, now the bigger question:  what is this point that so many don't get?

That's what this episode is all about! 

For those who already get the point, this will be an affirmation that what others might be nit-picking you about is, in fact, only a problem because they don't get it and you do!

Meanwhile, I have a personal theory that one of the ways to measure a person's spiritual development is to look at the level of things that they fuss about.  If someone is fussing about the style of robe a priest chooses to wear while someone else is trying to tackle a real issue, might that be a clue?

If you want some advanced stuff, there is one author I will recommend to anyone who is ready for him.  One book in particular is a challenge - but it is worthwhile.  It opened my eyes.

And what would you look for in an "advanced book"?  And what makes it so advanced?

Some will think that there's a "magickal book" that separates the real ones from the wanna-be's.  On occasion, you'll come across someone seeking the "super-book" which will open new gateways to enlightenment.  They'll still be looking a long time from now.  That sort of accomplishment comes from within - not from a book. 

But, there is a book that helped me change the way I looked at things, especially spiritual things.  It let em see new doors to open and explore, and it also got me to go back and look into doors I thought that I had already seen - and re-open some that I had thought I needed to close.

Powerful - if you're ready for it.

If you are outside the United States,  feel free to join in this one by honoring your own fallen warriors and veterans.

This year will be the first Memorial Day in many years that I see in a positive light.  Most Memorial Day celebrations that I've seen in the past consisted mostly of bigwigs utttering insincerities - and then proceeding to talk out of the other side of their mouth once the speech was over.  But this year is different.

For the first time in the history of the United States, memorial markers with Pentacles as the symbol of faith are being dedicated.  Some replace blank markers.  Others mark graves which went unmarked until there was an appropriate marker.  Some might be new.  It took a fight in court to make it happen. 

There is more to fight for, but this is the time to celebrate what has been won for those among us who stepped forward to answer their country's call.

I had a couple of opportunities to visit this subject in the last few days.  One came from someone I had not heard from in many years.  This person offered an apology for a hurt that I had received (and it still ached after all this time).  Given the circumstances, I was able to learn just how good it can feel to forgive and have an old hurt go away. 

And then there was another.  I had just gotten done telling a friend that now that we're offering rituals via podcast, Temple of Gaia now offers everything Jerry Falwell does except the hatred and bigotry.  And then I see the news that Jerry Falwell died.  Do I forgive that man, the one who claimed that Pagans, gays and liberals were to blame for 9/11? 

News:  Three bulletins concerning our victory in the Veteran Pentacle Quest, and how the victory is manifesting itself.  Celebrations are being arranged and scheduled.

A church should have a chapel that is available at any time, and now ours can be found at http://www.groveunion.templeofgaiainc.org/chapel_courtyard.htm.  If you want, go into the sanctuary while you enjoy this podcast, and if you want, you can join me in this celebration.

This has been in preparation for some time, and finally I decided I might as well try, and see how it goes.  Jerry Falwell has his Sunday services on TV, the local Catholic church has a Mass on TV and/or radio for those who can't go to church, so why not a try in that direction for Wiccans and Pagans?

Next week will be a show in the usual format.  But for right now, let's celebrate this, and see how this goes.

Being right is a very good thing.  Agreement is also very nice.  But, there is definitely something that must be said for fulfillment - and that's what those pictures show.  It has come to pass.

What next? 

We've won one battle, but we have more to come.  And that's only talking about battles.  There's more to do than just fight.

What do we do now?

Perhaps there are some ideas!

Many people contributed in many ways.  It was not the quality of individual threads, it was the fabric we wove from those threads that made the difference!

After all these years of fighting, waiting and hoping, it's done. 

And with every gift comes a responsibility.  The wise use of the gift and the wisdom in light of responsibility might be determining factors concerning what other gifts might be.

So, what next?

Atheists, agnostics, and people whose faith is so weak that they can't tolerate other people having different spiritual paths are forever asking for evidence.  It's staring them in the face, and they don't know it.

And then there's the one who just completed the class required for church membership (confirmation class, or its equivalent) who is all filled with knowledge and wants to spew it forth!  Or anyone who thinks that they've learned all that they need to learn.  There is more, and it's beyond the scope of anything that we've dealt with yet.  And there's proof that it's there.

"Seek and ye shall find" is something we're often told.  But there is no promise that we won't find that there's more still.

And it's pretty good evidence to stop doubters and debaters in their tracks.

This is the third of three on reclaiming.  The first two spoke of reclaiming concepts which some of us walked away from because of how they were presented to us.  And now, let's talk about reclaiming that which always was ours, but others have mis-used and abused.