Dreamweaver's Sanctuary

I have moved my blog!

2007-04-24T07:34:00.000-04:00

http://dreaminthemist.multiply.com/

Please make a note of the new website address.

Dreamweaver

What is magick?

2006-11-11T09:46:00.000-05:00

By Stayce Mason

A few thoughts....

The other day i was thinking just what is magick?? A few things hit me last night at 2 in the morning, please bare with me while i try to sort them out.

To me magick is a rainbow after a devastating storm, the fact that people can pick up an rebuild just because that rainbow is there. Magick is a volcano erupting, causing massive destruction, yet at the same time, rebuilding the earth.

To me magick is a baby's smile. your pets unconditional love, the fact they seem to know exactly when you need them to be there for you without a word being said. The whisperings of your first love, or even your last love, and every love inbetween.

To me magick is being honored with being in the room when someone crosses over. with being honored to be allowed to be in the room when a life comes into this world and to realize what an honor both of those things are.

To me magick is that jolt that you feel when you meet that someoneright, whether that person is right for a few minutes, a few months, a few years, or even that right someone. Its the fact that you have come to love yourself, and know even if that person is the right one,you don't NEED that person to make you feel good about yourself,because you already do.

To me magick is looking at the stars and wondering, what is out there?? That moment of discovery when suddenly something all clicks, even if its as simple as your homework, or finding that cure for that thing you've been looking for. That feeling of accomplishment, when you finish a project, its done and you know YOU did it!!

To me magick is not the fact that we cast spells to solve every problem, but the fact that we can solve problems, even without spells. The fact that when we need to we can cast a spell, say a prayer, or do whatever.

These are just a few things magick is to me......but most of all to me magick is the ability to believe. Believe in what?? Does it really matter in the end?? Its just the ability to believe.

stayce mason
copyright 2005
all right reserved, can be shared as long as proper copyright and credit is given

Aura colors

2006-11-10T13:26:00.000-05:00

I took the test on the Aura colors website and here are my results. I have highlighted the areas that pertain to me the most with various colors. The black areas are basic info or something I feel doesn't apply to me as strongly as the rest of the description.

Blue scored the highest at 12. Here is the description:

Blues are some of the most loving, nurturing and supportive personalities of the Life Colors. They live from their heart and emotions. Their purpose for being on the planet is to give love, to teach love and to learn that they are loved. Their priorities are love, relationships, and spirituality.
Blues are traditionally teachers, counselors, and nurses---basically the loving, nurturers and caretakers on the planet. Blues are constantly helping others. They want to make sure that everyone feels loved and accepted. People are always turning to Blues for comfort and counsel because Blues will always be there for them. They consistently provide a shoulder for others to cry on.
Blues are the most emotional personalities in the aura spectrum. They can cry at the drop of a hat. Blues cry when they are happy, hurt, angry, sad, or for no apparent reason at all. Even watching a sentimental commercial on television can bring on tears.

Second is Crystal and that one scored an 8. Here is the description for Crystal:

Crystal is a rare Life Color. Crystals have clear auras and are known as the "aura chameleons." Like chameleons, their auras will change colors to match those of the people they are connecting with at the time. They then take on the characteristics, behavior patterns, emotions and thoughts of that color.
Consequently, in power Crystals can get along quite well with almost anyone. Yellows , for example, feels they can relate to Crystals who, when they are with them, act and think like Yellows . Later, when the same Crystals spend time with Sensitive Tans, the Tans can feel as if they have found kindred spirits.
However, the Crystals’ inconsistencies can also confuse people. One minute Crystals think and behave like Greens . A short while later, they can act like Blues . The more they connect and bond with others, the more their personalities change.
Because Crystals tend to absorb the colors of other people's auras, people can, at times, feel an energy drain when they are in the presence of Crystals. In power, Crystals can be a clear conduit or channel for healing energy. Being natural healers, the Crystals’ gift is to help their clients clear blockages, thereby enabling the clients' own natural healing processes to take place.
While healing, balanced Crystals are able to keep their thoughts and emotions out of the way, making the healing more pure. Crystals do not always understand their healing abilities. It can often frighten and confuse them or cause them to feel overwhelmed. These rare souls are often physically fragile and delicate.
Because of their unusual sensitivity, they can only heal one person at a time. They then need to go to a peaceful place to cleanse their aura. Working with too many people can short-circuit their system.

Violet tied for second place with a score of 8 also. Here is the description for Violet:

Violets are the inspirational visionaries, leaders and teachers who are here to help save the planet. Most Violets feel drawn to educate the masses, to inspire higher ideals, to improve the quality of life on the planet, or to help save people, animals and the environment.
All Violets have an inner sense that they are here to do something important, that their destiny is greater than that of the average person. Most Violets have felt this way since childhood. As children, many Violets imagined becoming famous, or traveling the planet, possibly joining humanitarian causes such the Peace Corp. Many of these charismatic personalities take on roles as leaders and teachers, while other Violets prefer to reach people through music, film or other art form.
Because this era is currently the "Violet Age," any Violets who are not accomplishing what they came here to do are experiencing an inner “push” — even an inner “earthquake.” Inner forces seem to be shaking them up and pushing them to move into action, to fulfill their life purpose. Violets know they are here to do something significant. However, they aren't always sure what that something is or how to accomplish it.
Many Violets were taught as children that their dreams and aspirations were unrealistic, so they have lost touch with their original visions. It's important for Violets to reconnect with their life purpose and vision, and to take action. Otherwise they will always feel unfulfilled. They will always sense something is missing from their lives. Violets need to learn to slow down long enough to listen to their inner voice and to connect with their higher vision.

Next would be Indigo coming in at a score of 7. Here is its description:

Indigo is the most recent aura color to arrive on the planet. Indigos are ushering in a new energy, a new consciousness, and a new age of peace and harmony. Whereas Violets feel driven to help save the planet, to educate the masses, and to improve life here, Indigos are here to live as examples of a new higher awareness.
At this writing, most of the Indigos are children, although there are a few Indigos who came as forerunners years ago. The words used to describe Indigos include honest, aware, highly intuitive, psychic, independent, fearless, strong-willed, and sensitive.
Indigos are old souls who know who they are and where they've come from. Some consider Indigos to be bizarre. These assertive individuals are born with their spiritual memories intact. Many parents report that their Indigo children regale them with vivid details of past lives or recent encounters with spiritual beings. Parents also report that these children can read their minds and seem to have amazing psychic abilities. Parents are often at a loss as to how to raise these amazing little beings.
An unusual characteristic of Indigos is that they frequently appear androgynous. It is often difficult to tell if Indigos are male or female, homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, or asexual. It's as if Indigos have both the yin and yang, male and female qualities within them. Their sexuality is not their primary concern however; it is their spirituality.

My final relatively high score was on Green at a score of 6. Here is more on that color:

Greens are some of the most powerful and intelligent people in the aura spectrum. Greens are extremely bright. They process information and ideas quickly; jumping from steps one to ten. They do not like dealing with all the steps and details in between.
A project that is too detailed is tedious and boring for Greens . They prefer to develop an idea, organize a plan, and then delegate someone else to take care of the details.
Greens are very drawn to money, power, and business. These quick-thinkers are very organized and efficient. They write lists and efficiently check off the items on the list as they are completed. Greens recognize patterns and discover solutions very quickly.
When Greens are in their power, they can accomplish anything. They love to set goals and are determined to achieve them. Greens are “movers and shakers” when it comes to taking action. They are also typically the workaholics on the planet.
Greens are highly competitive and enjoy challenges. They thrive on taking risks. Gambling is common for Greens , especially if there is a potential for large winnings.
Being strong-willed, these powerful personalities are determined to have their own way, which they usually feel is the right way. A person is rarely able to win an argument with Greens .

100 things about me

2006-10-08T15:10:00.000-04:00

1) Dreamweaver is a name given to me years ago and everytime I try to change it, I keep coming back to it.
2) Everyone who has heard the song Dreamweaver by Gary Wright say they think of me when they hear it.
3) I've been an environmentalist all my life.
4) I began search for other "paths" because Christianity didn't promote environmentalism.
5) Water and Earth are my favorite elements.
6) I have a horrible fear of spiders.
7) I greatly dislike "Love" spells.
8) I frequently sing in the shower.
9) I'm a hopeless romantic.
10) I would prefer people be honest with me even if it means hurting my feelings.
11) I frequently have visions while sitting on my porch swing.
12) I don't eat beef.
13) I'm an expert in making mountains out of molehills.
14) I am a Virgo sun, Gemini moon and Aries ascendant.
15) I love having pets!
16) I'm fascinated by astrology and the effects the cosmos have on us.
17) I love candles and incense.
18) I love to swim and would do it every day if I could.
19) I hate shoes!
20) My totem animals are Wolf, hawk, butterfly and otter.
21) I love music and singing but I'm not as good at it as I'd like to be.
22) I believe the Universe (aka Wild Magick) provides what we need.
23) I believe the Universe will bend to our will but it will only go so far.
24) I won $56 on the lottery yesterday.
25) I'm well practiced in self-criticism.
26) I don't drink alcohol.
27) I skipped school several times in high school.
28) I love thunderstorms and like to play in the rain.
29) I dislike talk shows like Oprah, Jerry Springer.
30) I love taking care of my family and home.
31) I despise my birth name.
32) Bands I really like are Kip Winger (Pull, SFTOF, and TCSLAD), Godsmack (all albums), Shinedown (most of their music),
Nickleback (most of their stuff) and Cheap Trick (most of their music)
33) My eyes change colors with my moods.
34) I miss living in an area with four seasons, mountains, lakes and rivers.
35) I believe in "true love" but I think our standard definition of it is WAY off.
36) I'm a very impatient person.
37) I eat a lot of rice.
38) I love learning about other cultures. Particularly lost/legendary ones such as Atlantis and Lemuria.
39) An astrological chart I had done said I "was born hungry and will die hungry". It was speaking about wanting more. I fully agree with it. I'm always looking for what is next. The next experience, the next bit of knowledge.
40) I'm strongly empathic/telepathic. Much of the time its hard to tell if the feeling belongs to someone else or myself because I feel it so strongly. I also frequently know people's exact thoughts and answer their questions before they ask them.
41) I'm addicted to raisins.
42) I love to read.
43) I hate getting sweaty.
44) I prefer handmade gifts to store bought ones.
45) I collect stones.
46) I seem to have a talent for handling knives though I can't imagine why. I'm not talking steak knives either!
47) I don't just believe in the Wild Magick. I KNOW it exists for me.
48) I love photography.
49) I have a particularly good sense of smell.
50) I hate cities.
51) Cats like to be with me when they give birth.
52) I have a spirit guide who travels with me through the astral/spirit world and frequently even in my dreams.
53) I have a very high tolerance for pain and a very low tolerance for medication.
54) I almost died once due to a reaction to medication.
55) I've saved someone from drowning.
56) I've had a loaded gun pointed at me.
57) I'm often told my eyes are expressive and can tell stories of their own.
58) It almost always rains on my birthday.
59) I've been knocked unconscious before.
60) I've crawled into an upside down wrecked car to hold pressure on a stranger's bleeding wounds until the ambulance arrived.
61) My favorite place to be is be at a lake surrounded by a forest early in the morning before everyone wakes up and its just me, the fog over the water and nature.
62) I almost always remember my dreams and they are always unusual.
63) I have a terrible memory about most things.
64) I can't seperate the spiritual me from the mundane me.
65) The more open I strive to be, the more mysterious people say I am.
66) I want a tattoo but can't decide on any designs.
67) Most of the magick I do doesn't use tools other than maybe a stick or found seashell or some other natural object where I am doing the working.
68) I'm interested in learning more about aromatherapy and using scent in magick.
69) I had several nicknames as a child (Jenna Ann, Ding dong, Gina roll...pizza roll)
70) My favorite colors are blue, green and purple.
71) I think the wind blowing feels like arms hugging me.
72) I fear doctors.
73) My house is haunted by a ghost named Murphy.
74) Sometimes I need a good cry.
75) I've only recently learned how to properly shield myself.
76) Most people consider me too passionate. (Not just talking sex here)
77) When in person, I prefer to interact with people one on one and hate large groups.
78) I am forming a grey streak in my otherwise brown hair.
79) I'm prone to frequent mood shifts.
80) I prefer to impart my knowledge to others through telling stories and my own experiences since I think its wrong to tell another person how to live their path.
81) I have Native American, Scottish, Irish and French ancestors.
82) Most of my scars are from burns.
83) I have a scar on my left thigh where a broomstick handle stabbed me.
84) I love watching people go through a martial arts routine rather than actual fighting.
85) I love kisses and hugs.
86) My kids think its unfair that I'm empathic/telepathic because I know what they are up to and they can't get away with much.
87) I can tell a lot about a person by their eyes.
88) I don't like crudeness.
89) I don't like scary things.
90) I am always calm in a crisis but get very shakey afteward.
91) I cried through most of The Lake House.
92) I am too immodest.
93) I will NEVER break a friend's confidence by telling their secrets.
94) I don't hate anyone but a few people have crossed the line with me and are put on my "No longer exists" list. To insist they are alive and exist is to put them up as a bulls-eye for my more wicked side.
95) I am told that I am the ultimate Virgo.
96) On my astrological chart, all my signs fall in their natural houses.
97) I love cartoon movies like Mulan, Thumbelina, Atlantis, Pocahontas, etc.
98) In the spring I get allergies so bad that the sinus pressure affects my vision.
99) I'm not offended by nudity.
100) I try to maintain balance in my life.

The Awakening

2006-08-13T11:07:00.000-04:00

I found this in a group I am in and haven't yet learned who the author is but found it to be one of those life changing articles so I wanted to share it. When I learn who the author is, I'll give proper credit.

Dreamweaver

The Awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes.
This is your awakening.
You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he or she is not Prince or Princess Charming and you are not Cinderella or Cinderfella and in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact you are not perfect and not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are...and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.)
You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval. You stop criticizing and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are, and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties, and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.
You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. You begin to sift through all the beliefs you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, where you should shop, what you should drive, how and where you should live, what you should do for a living, who you should sleep with, who you should marry, what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with, and in the process you learn to trust your own knowing.
You learn it is truly in giving that we receive, that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a by gone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then, you learn about love, romantic love and familial love. You learn how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away.
You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn you will not be, more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man or woman on your arm or the child that bears your name.
You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn just as people grow and change so it is with love...and you learn you don't have the right to demand love on your terms...just to make you happy.
You learn that alone does not mean lonely...and you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact you will never be a size 3 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up."
You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK...and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things that you want...and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.
You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. You allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his or her touch...and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.
You learn your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul, so you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn, that for the most part in life, you get what you believe you deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn anything worth achieving is worth working for and wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time, FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn no one is punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It is just life happening.
You learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. You learn negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to building bridges instead of walls.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and to make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind and you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and with faith by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
Stumbling out of the cold darkness, led by the warmth of the light ahead, the weary soul is embraced by the mysts and lifted by the healing magickal skills of the enchanted members within. Wrapped in the Enchanted Mysts of all time, the healing begins, the soul's rebirth is now, come allow us to help you embrace your soul's path. Renewed and filled with love, see the radiance of your new Star.
As the veils between the physical and spiritual worlds part, the healing truth can be seen within the enchanted mysts of the magickal creatures who live to serve and guide fellow travelers on their soul's path.
THE LESSON
* Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.
* Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments or true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
* The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.
* If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them for they have helped you learn about trust and The importance of being cautious to when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things. Make every day count.
Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish.
* Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. Most importantly, if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

Gentle Witch

2006-05-09T11:59:00.000-04:00

“Hear ye then how our Fathers before us discover’d the Witche: Mark well their manner, for it is quiet and assumeth naught. It is in peaceful tones they speak, and often seem abstracted. Seeming to prefer the company of Beastes, they converse with them as equals. They will dwell in lonely places, there better (as they say) to know the voices of the Wind and hear the secrets of Nature. Possessing Wysdome of the feildes and forrests, they doe heals and harme with their harvests. They concern themselves not with idle fashion, nor doe worldly goods hold value for them. Be not so confused as to think that only Womankynde harbour the gifts in this matter. Of men there bee many that holde mickle power.”

~ Edward Johnston, Esq, Sudbury, Suffolk, Eng., 1645

IV by Godsmack

2006-05-03T11:44:00.000-04:00

I've done a review of Godsmack's newest album IV. Go to

http://www.witchgrove.org/music/reviews/iv.php to read the review.

Dreamweaver

The Travel Trunk

2006-04-09T07:06:00.000-04:00

Do you remember the old travel trunks? They used to be covered in stickers from the countries and places the owner had visited and they were filled with momentos and precious things the owner had picked up along the way. Yesterday I began seeing my own spirituality as a bit like one of those old travel trunks. With each path I've explored, I've slapped a sticker on it to show I had been there or explored that path to some degree. Among my many stickers are Wicca, Shamanism, Witchcraft, Druidry, Heathery, Christianity, Hindu, Buddhist, Hellenic, Stregheria, etc. Some of the stickers are quite large as I've explored that particular religion or path quite extensively. Other stickers are very small because I've only tested the waters there. But all along the way, I've been collecting momentos and treasures from these paths and safely tucking them away inside my trunk.

What's in a name?

2006-03-19T13:12:00.000-05:00

During recent conversations with friends, I've come to the conclusion that names are very powerful things. Our name is something that is very personal to us. They are an intimate part of who we are. They help to distinguish us from other people. So why is it that we go through life with a name chosen for us, most often at random, by our parents and often times before we are born and before our personality is known to them. Our names usually reflect what THEY like and want to portray. Is that really a good way to do things? Some ancient cultures, many that are still in existence today, let their children choose their own names when they reach a certain age. What an interesting way of doing things. I thought, "What name would I choose for myself?" Well, that choose was relatively easy for me to make but was it right? How could I test it? HA! Numerology! So, I plugged my new name into a program and read the results. Impressive! When I ran the same report with my birthname, I got the shakes over trying to imagine living up to what it said I should be. But with the name I chose for myself, it fit me! It was all about who I am already. How very interesting! I had chosen a more appropriate name for myself than my parents did. Now I need to go ask my kids if they like their names or if they would prefer something else.

I am

2006-02-23T07:08:00.000-05:00

In a group I am in, a very wise person shared about who they are. This is a real bit of enlightenment for me. I was always searching for who I am. Now, its easy to say I am a woman, a mother, a lover, a pagan, an artist, a priestess of the wild magick and a student of the Great Mysteries. These are things that are my essential self. To change them or to quit being any of these things would require a change in my core being.

What I am not is my job, my home, my material possessions or any particular spiritual path. If I had to quit any of these things, my core being would be unchanged. Certainly I'd feel the loss but I would still be who I am.

It's a choice

2006-02-10T07:57:00.000-05:00

I know this is one of those silly little inspirations stories passed about in email but I really thought it had a good message that NEEDS to be passed around. So many people don't realize they DO have a choice. So, read it and then, just as it says below, let it really sink in and then choose.

Dreamweaver

LET IT REALLY SINK IN - THEN CHOOSE.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood andalways has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he wasdoing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employeehow to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and askedhim, "I don't get it!
You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choicestoday. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in abad mood.
I choose to be in a good mood."
Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I canchoose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.
Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept theircomplaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose thepositive side of life.
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away allthe junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react tosituations. You choose how people affect your mood.
You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's yourchoice how you live your life."
I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry tostart my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when Imade a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident,falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released fromthe hospital with rods placed in his back.
I saw him about six months after the accident.
When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd betwins...Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through hismind as the accident took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of mysoon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, Iremembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I couldchoose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
He continued, "..the paramedics were great.
They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me intothe ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, Igot really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I neededto take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John."She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors andnurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breathand yelled, 'Gravity'."
Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me asif I am alive, not dead."
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of hisamazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice tolive fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything.
After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Fly from the inside

2006-02-04T06:33:00.000-05:00

I made a post on yahoo 360 some time back about turning inside out. It can be so hard to be on the outside who we truly are on the inside. Sometimes we hide who we really are so deep that we don't even know who we are. We actually hide from ourselves! Well, I decided I'd had enough of that nonsense. I was going to be me, through and through! On that day, I started doing the things I wanted to do. Sure, I still have responsibilities and I take care of them. But like with the things I want to do, my reasons for doing those things for which I am responsible changed as well. Suddenly I was seeing everything in a different light and a huge chunk of my cynicism fell away. Its hard being me on the outside that I am on the inside but it is SO worth it!

Why is it so hard? Well, being on the outside who we are on the inside leaves us standing before the world naked and alone. We put our barest soul out there for others to accept or reject. When we are in hiding, if someone rejects us, we still have that part of us protected that is the most important part. But when we turn inside out, we are exposing the most vulnerable part of ourselves for acceptance or rejection. Rejection is so much more painful when its the real person being rejected and there are those who have rejected me as I am. Thankfully there are many more who are accepting the real me and still love me despite my imperfections. That is a hard concept for a Virgo to grasp. We can accept other's imperfections but it is near to impossible to accept our own. Anyway, though I am grateful for those who choose to accept me, the important thing is that I accept myself now.

By choosing this path, a great many new doors have opened to me. I have more faith in myself now and because of that, my gifts are expanding. Suddenly people's thoughts and reasons are ever more clear to me and not nearly so threatening. As an empath, I've always been able to feel people's emotions and it was frequently overwhelming but now I know more clearly what they are feeling, why they are feeling it and even in group situations, who the feelings are coming from. LOL I feel like Deanna Troi from Star Trek The Next Generation.

Another experience recently is that my spiritual side has opened and expanded even more. Its hard to explain but I didn't stop at turning inside out. I learned to fly from the inside. All throughout my astrology and numerology it says how I'm good with words and a writer and yet, all my words fail me when I try to explain what I mean by this. Perhaps it is like the Great Mysteries. Unless you learn it for yourself, you'll never understand any explaination given so there is no reason for me to try. But, I want to tell everyone out there to learn to fly from the inside.

I still have my days of despair and cynicism. The days where I think everything is hopeless and humanity is lost. The days where I want to give up and not fight anymore. To not be a light shining in the darkness and to have someone carry me. But to not fight....I can't do that. Just like in the Garth Brooks song, "I do this so this world will know that it will not change me." My friend Beast said much the same thing in his blog at Yahoo 360. ( http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-T3YiyCQ2dKKohWwqE5oEhFpJ )

Dreamweaver

Epiphany

2006-01-07T06:10:00.000-05:00

Not the religious holiday but the moment of manifestation of divine power. That point at which we understand something on all levels.

Yesterday was a day of epiphanies for me. As I related some particular skills I have to a dear friend in the context of trying to figure out what to do with my life, I suddenly realized that I don't have to choose one over the others. I can incorporate each of them into my life! What an amazing thought that was and how liberating. I no longer have to agonize over what path I need to travel. Truly it has been agony as I've felt the need to be of service to the world at large and to make some kind of difference. I didn't want a "job". I wanted a career. Something that I could put my heart and soul into and that meant something to me other than a paycheck. Truth be told, the paycheck part has always been the least of my concerns though I was always mindful of making certain the bills get paid. I'm far too Virgo to not be responsible.

When I realized I could use all my skills and had no need to make a choice, I no longer feared making the wrong choice. That had been a tremendous hinderance to me. But now that I no longer have to do choose, I can easily see how they all work together to create a larger picture. In hindsight, my astrology and numerology were correct in that I couldn't see the forest because of the trees. ha ha In this case, the trees were the individual skills and I couldn't see the forest, and consequently my path through it, because I was so busy trying to decide which tree was the best of the lot.

Now I see that I can build the Sanctuary I have seen in a vision and help people without giving up on my crafts or my writing and vice versa. Keeping up with my crafts and writing doesn't mean I have to give up the vision of Sanctuary.

Along those lines, I later had yet another epiphany. Have you ever had one of those moments in time that an idea comes to you, fully formed? It is as if it were meant for you alone and no one else. Just such a thing happened to me yesterday after my first revelation of the day. In regards to my writing, in recent days I had thought on what to write about. What is my story? Well, nothing had come up. Again, I couldn't see the forest because of the trees. Then yesterday, when my mind was on a craft project I was working on (crocheting a shawl), it suddenly came to me. My writing will be in the form of a website. Immediately after that, the name and plot were there, in my mind, fully formed. "Oh, but that is too simple," I thought. I looked up the name and sure enough, it was available! It is just utterly amazing to me that it hadn't been taken already. I immediately purchased the domain name and after my move in February, I'll be going online with the site. In the meantime, I'll be working on the site design and the initial content. I am very much looking forward to going online with this and sharing it with the world.

Dreamweaver

Mr. or Mrs. Right

2006-01-05T07:59:00.000-05:00

Some people feel that they absolutely require a mate for true happiness. Others feel that the idea of that perfect someone is only harmful. This is a subject I've contemplated many times over the years. In moments of blissful happiness with my mate, I've felt that nothing could be better. In times of disagreement, I was certain that anything would be better than going through the arguing. But over time I've come to realize that while it is possible and likely that we all have a Mr. or Mrs. Right, that mate is NOT responsible for our happiness or our misery. That is clearly up to us. Everyone is responsible for their own actions and happiness! Let me repeat that. Everyone is responsible for their own actions and happiness!

In The Charge of the Goddess as written by Starhawk, she tells us that that which we seek must be found within.

And you who seek to know Me,

know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not,

unless you know the Mystery:

for if that which you seek,

you find not within yourself,

you will never find it without.

It is the same with our happiness. We must be whole as a person in order to be happy in a relationship. We cannot, nor do we have the right to try to change the other person. We can either accept them as they are or choose to walk away from the relationship or change our expectations.

On the whole, we as a society really need to work on accepting responsibility for ourselves rather than blaming our problems on someone else. This is where I repeat myself yet again and say that we are responsible for our own happiness! No one forces us to be abusive to another person nor does anyone force us to remain in a bad relationship. No one forces us to give up on our dreams or to live life in a way that makes us unhappy. No one chooses our path but us.

Stand up and take control of your life. No one will do it but you!

Dreamweaver

A new chapter

2006-01-01T05:11:00.000-05:00

Today is the start of a new year and with it, the start of a new chapter in our lives. As I sit and face the empty pages of the year that are yet to be written, I think on what my goals are for the new year. Oddly enough, it seems the goals I have are not new ones but rather, continuation of old goals. For me, 2006 will be a chance to dig deeper. So, I'd like to share my goals here:

1) My doctor's have warned me that I have a higher chance than normal of losing my hearing due to severe damage of my inner ears as well as my ear drums due to repeated infections. Because of this, it seems prudent to learn sign language so, as part of our homeschooling, my children and I have started learning sign language. So, one of my goals for 2006 is to increase my sign language vocabulary and to use it more frequently.

2) I love needlework! I've been quite the addict since 2000 and my love for this artform only deepens with each passing day. I never tire of taking needle in hand and using it to create beautiful pictures. So 2006 will see a continuation of that work but I also plan to learn a new art/craft. At this time, I'm thinking of something with dried gourds. However, I also plan to get back into beadweaving.

3) I recently started learning about Numerology through a course at Decoz Numerology. I am really enjoying learning this and find it endlessly fascinating. Hans Decoz is very thorough in his explainations of how numerology works as well as showing how to calculate the various numbers in the chart. Its far more intricate than I had expected. So, for 2006 I intend to continue learning the intricacies of Numerology

4) I enjoy writing. Whether in my blogs, email, journals, etc, I really like putting words on paper or on the computer. This year, I have set a goal to write more often. I haven't found my "story" yet, but sooner or later, it will come to me. So in the meantime, I'll just keep writing whatever suits me at the moment.

5) I feel the need to strengthen my relationship with the God & Goddess of my spiritual path. 2006 will see me working on that relationship and one of the ways I intend to do that is with regular meditation. I love the feeling it brings to me.

6) I have gotten into the very bad habit of second guessing myself on most things. I have officially ended that practice and from this day forward, I will trust my instincts.

7) My family and I are moving to another state. At long last we will be leaving Florida and we are very much looking forward to it.

8) Ever since I was given a vision, I have been planning to build a Sanctuary. It will be a place where people can come to escape the world for a short time in total privacy. I have a wide variety of facilities in mind and 2006 will see the beginnings of making the Sanctuary a reality in a place other than my mind and heart.

I encourage everyone to set goals for themselves for the New Year. Don't waste time with resolutions. They are too easily forgotten. Instead, set goals and work toward achieving them. Fill the pages of your new chapter with all of your dreams brought to life. After all, life isn't a dress rehearsal. It is the real thing!

Peace be the journey my friends,
Dreamweaver

Is it time to move beyond tolerance?

2005-12-26T05:31:00.000-05:00

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary tolerate means to "a : to suffer to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction b : to put up with". We all work so hard on being tolerant of others and their paths in life. Some are more successful than others but it seems to be a fairly common goal. But is "putting up with" something enough? It still implies that the choice another has made is inferior to our own. Perhaps it is time to move beyond just tolerating those people and things that are different. Its time now to move on to "acceptance". Merriam Webster's definition of "accept" is b : to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable c : to recognize as true : BELIEVE. If we accept that all other's choices, including their spiritual path, are their own to make and just as normal and true as our own, how much more unity would that foster within the Pagan community? What about within the larger collectives of regional, national and global communities?

Dreamweaver

Halloween Witch

2005-10-27T06:49:00.000-04:00

***If anyone knows the author of this, please let me know. I'd like to give credit where credit is due.***

Each year they parade her about, the traditional Halloween Witch. Misshapen green face, stringy scraps of hair, a toothless mouth beneath her deformed nose. Gnarled knobby fingers twisted into a claw protracting from a bent and twisted torso that lurches about on wobbly legs. Most think this abject image to be the creation of a prejudiced mind or merely a Halloween caricature. I disagree, I believe this to be how Witches were really seen.Consider that most Witches were women, were abducted in the night, and smuggled into dungeons or prisons under the secrecy of darkness to be presented by light of day as a confessed Witch. Few if any saw a frightened normal looking woman being dragged into a secret room filled with instruments of torture, to be questioned until she confessed to anything suggested to her and to give names or what ever would stop the questions.Crowds saw the aberration denounced to the world as a self-proclaimed Witch. As the Witch was paraded through town en route to be burned, hanged, drowned, stoned or disposed of in various other forms of Christian love all created to free and save her soul from her depraved body, the jeering crowds viewed the results of hours of torture. The face bruised and broken by countless blows bore a hue of sickly green. The once warm and loving smile gone replaced by a grimace of broken teeth and torn gums that leers beneath a battered disfigured nose. The dishevelled hair conceals bleeding gaps of to scalp from whence cruel hands had torn away the lovely tresses. Broken twisted hands clutched the wagon for support, fractured fingers with nails torn away locked like groping claws to steady her broken body. All semblance of humanity gone this was truly a demon, a bride of Satan, a Witch.I revere this Halloween Crone and hold her sacred above all. I honour her courage and listen to her warnings of the dark side of man. Each year I shed tears of respect when the mundane exhibit their symbol of Christian love.

Author: ~Unknown

Darkness & Light

2005-07-26T21:14:00.000-04:00

I believe that we must not hide our "darker" selves. We must be as open to it as we are to the "light" else the darkness will manifest in often negative and harmful ways. Since this is something I've been working on with myself, I felt creative and made this image of my own eyes. They are often said to be my best features and I've always felt one's eyes are the windows to their souls. You can see a lot in a person's eyes. So here you see, both the light and the dark sides of MY soul.

Meeting My Spirit Guide

2005-07-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

I have been aware of my Spirit Guide for about 3 years now. I particpated in a guided meditation online once in which the purpose was to meet our "Guardian Angel". The leader of the meditation guided us along quite an intricate path but it was easy to follow. We came to a door and then crossed through it. On the other side of this door was to be our "Angel".

When I walked through the door, I was in a "room". In this room there was a stone floor, rather like flagstone. The ceiling was sort of low but I couldn't determine what it was made of. I didn't see any walls at all. They were somewhere in the darkness beyond. It was cool there. I almost felt like I was in a cave but for the flat, laid stone floors. However, in front and to the side stood a large torch in the floor. It lit a small area. Beside it stood a man. He was quite magnificent with black hair that fell just below his shoulders and shimmering blue eyes. There were no halos and no wings here! My first thought was "Wow! He doesn't LOOK like an angel!" Suddenly he chuckled as if he heard what I thought. In hind sight, I know he did. But I walked forward and he said, "My name is..... and I will NEVER leave you!" I was too awed to speak for a moment but then I started sputtering with dozens of questions. Of course it was that moment the leader started calling us back. He smiled and said, "Go! I'm always with you." Then the leader guided us back out of the meditation.

For at least a month after this, I would call his name regularly just to be sure he was there. :) Now, I know he is with me always for I always feel his presence and his guidance has been invaluable to me. He walks with me when I go on guided meditations, when I've done past life regression sessions he is always at my side. When I travel astrally, he is my companion.

I must say I was somewhat surprised that he didn't look or act "angelic" until recently I learned that Angels were not always the Christian conception of angels. Now, rather than considering him an angel, I consider him my spirit guide. He also takes on the form of my totem animal at times. My heart races everytime I see a magnificent Hawk flying near me. (smile)

The Changing Face of Paganism

2005-07-24T14:32:00.000-04:00

The simplest definition of Paganims is "country dweller" but in today's world most people who label themselves pagan fall under one of two categories. They are either Pagan or Neo Pagan. Isaac Bonewit (http://www.neopagan.net) further divides Paganism into Paleo- paganism, Meso-paganism and Neo-paganism on his website and has well written definitions for each type here http://www.neopagan.net/PaganDefs.html .

Speaking in the strictest sense, can we even worship or practice the "old ways"? Thanks to archaeology, anthropology and many dedicated non-professionals, we are able to recreate quite a bit of the old ways but we have a much different view of the world than our ancestors did. We have information they did not and vice versa. Our culture, society and planet are much different than they were in days gone by. We can incorporate many of the ways of our ancestors that we have learned over time but in the truest sense, current society and culture makes it impossible to practice as our ancestors did. On the other hand Neo-pagans tend to embrace all the newest ways of following this path.

But rather than dividing the Pagan community into either one or the other, why not blend the two? Why not follow Mother Nature's example? As times goes on and circumstances change, Mother Nature changes with it. Mountains form and erode, rivers change course, the climate alters, plants and animals adapt. All around, change is taking place. Habitats and ecosystems rise, fall and change into something new. So called "stagnant water" is undergoing change as algae grows and dies using up the resources in the water. Mother Nature never stands still. She is constantly in a state of fluctuation. Cities and towns are also in a constant state of change. Paganism is this way. As Nature, culture, society and technology changes, we are influenced by the changes. We grow and change and like Mother Nature, we keep what works from the old ways and try new things, adopting what works and adapting what doesn't. What is this state of growth, change and adaptation called? EVOLUTION!!!!

From this day forward, I am an "Evolving Pagan".

Dreamweaver

The Wiccan Rede

2005-07-23T07:30:00.000-04:00

"Do what ye will, an harm ye none" This is the short form of the longer, more formal Wiccan Rede. Many see this as a law and other see it as a guideline. For me, it is a part of my way of life. It is an integral and inseparable part of the path I am on.
The first part of the short form Rede is "Do what ye will". This means to me that I can do whatever my heart desires. I am not restrained from following whatever road my journey leads me to. I am free to choose to do or not do anything set before me. It is also an encouragement to actually act (Do) upon what my will is. It tells me not to be lazy or fear the things I desire to do. If I wish to learn about a particular subject, such as astrology, I should make the effort to learn it. If I wish to create a shrine or sanctuary, I should do as my heart leads me without fear or shying away from the effort and responsibility.
The second part of the Rede says "an harm ye none". The simplest interpretation is to not hurt anyone or anything. I feel it is also about respect. I must respect people's right to make their own choices in life. If I interfere, I am harming them. Harm also comes in the form of harsh words, theft, violence and a myriad of other possibilities. Similar to the Christian "Golden Rule" I would not want another to bring harm to me therefore I should not bring harm to them.
Sometimes I may be faced with the decision to choose between allowing someone to harm another or to harm that person by doing what is necessary to protect the one they are trying to harm. This is cause for great debate in the Wiccan and Pagan community. Some feel that the "Harm ye none" portion of the Rede forbids us from taking any action at all that may be harmful to another. Others feel it necessary to step in to prevent, or stop, a bigger harm from being done. In either case, the choice one makes should include consideration of the responsibilities and repercussions of any action, or lack of action we choose.
I feel that I am obligated to aid those in need so I choose not to sit on the side and watch one person deliberately harm another. However, if given time, I would think carefully on what action I might take in order to abate the harm as much as possible for everyone. If an emergency, I go into the situation accepting responsibility for my actions and full knowledge there may be repercussions against me personally. Another thing to bear in mind is that I don't have license to be the "Magickal Police". It is not my place to judge the actions of others. Nor do I have the right to aid one against their wishes.
Simply put, I have the right and responsibility to do what I choose in this life but I do not have the right to deliberately harm another person with malicious intent. Further more, I am obligated to aid those in need of assistance when another is harming them so long as I have their permission to aid them. In extreme cases, I may act without permission but with full knowledge and acceptance of the consequences.

Divination

2005-07-15T09:36:00.000-04:00

I have experimented with several versions of divination. I have a set of Native American Tarot cards that I have had some success with but feel I lack the gift of picking up on the more subtle aspects of tarot reading. I've worked with Numerology and Palm reading to a small degree and find them to be fairly straightforward. Natal Astrology is another form I've learned a bit about. Recently I made a set of runes that have been a slightly successful endeavor and the Correllian Alphabet has been interesting. However, the form of Divination I seem to have the most success with is a pendulum. I have a small, clear quartz point hanging from a silver chain and I typically wear it all the time. I'm not sure why this method seems to be so successful for me but I've tested it on things I would get answers to in the short term. I've had a 90% success rate in the short term (few hours to a few days) and I'm about 75% accurate in the long term (few days to a week or so). I do not know how I would do over the very long term because I've only been practicing with the pendulum for a short time. However, since the future is not written and open to change, very long term answers would only be 50% at best.

I had no reason for trying the pendulum other than sheer curiosity to try another form of divination. I can say that I was fairly surprised when I noticed how well it immediately worked for me and how very accurate it was. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I have been wearing this crystal necklace for over a year. By now the crystal and my body are well in tune with one another.

To share an interesting experience with my pendulum, I decided to use it to divine my true "Spirit Name". We all have a legal name and many of us have a Craft name that we use publicly but I feel we have a Spirit Name as well. It is the name of our soul and is unchanging through time. It is a name I don't feel we should share with anyone. However, I decided I wanted to learn my true Spirit Name. So on a piece of paper, I wrote the alphabet and made a little yes/no section. I asked first for aid in learning my true name and was told yes. Then I asked if my spirit name had a first name? Yes. Does my spirit name have a second name.?Yes. Does my spirit name have a middle name? No. Then I asked for each name if it had 1, 2, 3, 4, etc letters. Once I had that answer, I went to the alphabet section I had made and asked over each letter, "Is this the first letter?" I kept going through all the letters until I had the entire name. When it was complete and I read the whole thing, I was stunned to recall that I had heard this name in a guided meditation I had participated in once. At the time I didn't realize that is what it was or that it was even me being spoken to or that the words were a name. So, now I know my true name.

I can say that the pendulum has been hugely successful for me so far and I plan to keep working with it. However, I also intend to continue trying various methods of divination including more dreamwork and scrying. Scrying has been something I've wanted to try since I first heard of it but have yet felt the leading to actually do it. I generally try to follow those leadings as they are fairly good about having the proper timing which can and does have a tremendous impact on the success of an endeavor.

Magickal Herb Garden

2005-07-11T17:29:00.000-04:00

I have chosen to base this herb garden on the four elements of Air, Earth, Fire and Water. The center of the garden will contain a statue of a man and woman embracing. These are symbolic of the God & Goddess. At the base of the statue, there will be white and purple flowers to represent spirit. At each of the four colored points in the walkways, there will be a special tile in the ground to represent that element. The walkways and surrounding circle will consist of stepping stones or cobblestones.

At this point, I would like to say that I am more comfortable with placing air to the north (winds of winter) and earth to the east (the earth comes alive in the spring). I also feel it gives a more consistent feel when one considers the circle. Water is west and is a feminine symbol therefore I place a feminine symbol (earth) opposite of water. Fire in the south would then be opposite of air and both are masculine symbols. So, when completing the circle, this causes an alternating of feminine, masculine, feminine, masculine as you walk around the circle.

Bed A represents the element of Air and will contain clover, oregano, parsley, sweetgrass, palm, lavender, dandelion, mint, borage and bluebells. I would also place a pole from which hangs windchimes.

Bed B represents the element of Earth and will contain ferns, honeysuckle, jasmine, pennyroyal, blueberry, sage, and verbena. I would also include a large rock.

Bed C represents the element of Fire and will contain basil, bay, coriander, dill, garlic, rosemary, marigolds, sunflowers and parsley. I would also include a sundial.

Bed D represents the element of Water and will contain aloe, catnip, camomile, gardenia, lemon, lemon balm, rose, thyme, cucumber, lily, chives, pansy and strawberry. In this bed, I would include a birdbath.

Astrology

2005-03-28T18:52:00.000-05:00

I used to read my horoscope in the paper or elsewhere and it seemed it was never correct. Then I met a woman who was an amateur astrologer and she did what is called a Natal Chart. I was floored by how absolutely accurate it was. I found it to be utterly amazing that just by knowing my time, date and place of birth would afford someone such intimate knowledge into who I am. So I read more and I learned more about myself and close friends and family by reading about them. I now understand them better than I ever did before and in each case I was shocked how very accurate it was. To that end, I have decided to study astrology more deeply and hope one day to have enough knowledge and experience to help others in the same way I have been helped by this information.

The Sacred Bedroom

2005-02-09T13:50:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting article that I came across. I thought it was quite good. It made me think of how much takes place in our bedroom and how sacred it truly is. Thank you Jon Robertson for writing this!

This book can be found on Amazon or at many other online or local book stores.

Is Your Bedroom Sacred?
by Jon Robertson

Our most life-changing experiences take place in the bedroom. Many of us are born there. We cry there, make love there, pray there, and some even die there. The bedroom is home to our prayers and dreams, our solitude and sexuality. In this inner sanctum, where secrets and spirituality merge, we shed the masks we wear in our public lives and every night become whole again. Whatever occurs during a busy day, we ultimately return to the bedroom after we leave in the morning. This quiet curtained chamber, with its bed, dressers, and closets, is where we release a breath at day's end, don a special costume, or go completely naked without a care. For many of us, the bedroom is our stress-free zone of solitude and relaxation.The bedroom means different things to different people. It is the place to collapse for those craving sleep; the place to make love for those burning with passion. It is where many of us store our clothes and dress up in them, put on a face, and mentally prepare for the day. It's the room where dust collects under the bed, where laundry piles up, where we write in our journals, or where we try out a new look.Stop and think of the bedroom's awesome power. We share our love in the bedroom and create life itself there with our bodies and our hearts. So intimate, private, and personal is the bedroom. It is the only space in the house where guests hesitate to wander and where family members enter under strict rules.We often pray there, soar in orgasm there, and sigh our deepest sighs there. It is perhaps the only place where spirituality, grooming, and sexuality nestle side by side. At its best, the bedroom is a place for union with partner, higher self, and with the Creator in whose image we are made.The bedroom is where we sleep, where each night our dreams take us into higher worlds. We awaken in the night, sweaty from a nightmare or homesick as some perfect dream begins to fade away. We are sometimes startled awake, inspired with ideas, prickly all over with embarrassment, or unexpectedly stimulated and passionate. Vivid realities return to us of a lost childhood love, some forgotten hot-skinned shame, or a replay of grief for someone who passed away long ago.Some of us learned to pray as children there, elbows on the bed before sleep, blessing everyone we could think of, asking to pass a test we were dreading the following day at school. As adults, we have knelt down by the bed to pray like we never prayed before: to pass life-or-death tests we did not expect. In the bedroom, we have known the sudden flash of perfect clarity.The bedchamber is where parents keep secrets from their children, at least for a few years, and where children keep secrets from parents their whole lives. Many of us have been sent there with out any supper. Some of us were beaten there, concluding that there was no God at all. The bedroom is where, as kids, we were made to think about what we had done and to make sure we did all our homework. It is where we sulked when we got grounded. We suffered terribly in the bedroom when we were sick, while Mom brought tender words, medicine, tea, and toast. In the bedroom, we have felt the warmth of the sacred.The bedroom is sometimes a screening room for late-night TV or a sparring ring for bitter and sarcastic arguments. It can be a place for negotiation, for defending personal fortresses, for conquests, treachery, and unions unholy as well as holy. The bedroom is often the place for apologies and forgiveness, a place for solitude when we need to be alone.Our bedroom experiences propel us toward the sacred because they change us forever. Think of the bedrooms far away where we had to take care of ourselves for the first time. I will never forget how my life changed away at camp in a bunk bed and, later in life, in a sleeping bag under the stars. Can you remember a special night in a hotel, motel, the stateroom on a luxury liner, or something that happened in a sleeping car on a train that altered your life?Many of us had our first sexual experiences in dormitories away at school. In bedrooms we have had our share of disappointments, narrow escapes, big mistakes, and we have also known some once-in-a-lifetime ecstasies that opened our imaginations and hearts in ways that could never be undone.Whether you live in an efficiency apartment where the bed pulls down from the wall or in a five-bedroom house by a lake, most of us have a bedroom, from the cradle near Mommy's side to the cemetery on the hill, the final resting place for our worn-out bodies. For these reasons, the bedroom can be considered a sacred place. The bedroom hosts our rites of passage, initiations that test our faith in ourselves, our partners, and in the Creator.There is a link between what we do in this mystical, powerful space and the harmony or disharmony in our lives. If we rediscover the bedroom through its hidden symbolism, we can begin to heal much of our confusion about life, love, and personal identity. Discovering the potential of the sacred in our bedrooms can help us in every other aspect of our lives. This is what The Sacred Bedroom is all about: discovering the sacred potentials in the bedroom activities of sleep, solitude, dreaming, meditation, prayer, sexuality. It is about enhancing our lives by utilizing this undiscovered sacred space to our best advantage, and creating a sacred bedroom in which to strengthen our spiritual life and grow toward the Divine.Spirituality meets SexualityThe fact is, the world's scriptures provide a foundation for making the bedroom a temple in which worship and lovemaking can lie down together, side by side. We can do this in a way that does not offend our belief systems, by looking at the traditions that link these bedroom activities to the sacred.It is ironic, if not humorous, that our spirituality and sexuality live in the same room, but are afraid to look at each other with the lights on. After all, we often pray in the bedroom. We pray for favors and for healing for ourselves and others. We pray for blessings or for disappointments to be taken away. We pray in gratitude and also desperation. We call out the name of God during lovemaking. The prayers of our bedroom may be the most sincere prayers we utter. However, our connection to the sacred in the bedroom goes beyond prayer. We also sleep our sacred sleep, dream our dreams, commune with the Divine in solitude, and make love with our beloved partners.Little more is as natural or taken for granted in our lives as turning in for the night, but we could heal ourselves and our world if we paid more attention to the potential of this most important of rooms. The next time you retire for the night, enter your bedroom feeling entitled to commune with the Highest Power. Whether you are seated in meditation or tucked into bed for the night, be aware of the I AM consciousness, which is naturally open, receptive, and giving. Be aware that God-Is-Love has been within us from the beginning. Remember that each of us is a masculine-feminine lover full of compassion and one with the Creator.In the bedroom, you can rest and recharge, talk to Spirit, express love in its many dimensions, and honor your genuine self -- your soul -- in the knowledge that you (and each person) contain and are made up of the image of God. Set your own rules, based on what you hold sacred in your life, and let the bedroom be your private space in which you rejoice in the divine identity of your authentic self.

This article is excerpted from The Sacred Bedroom, ©2001, by Jon Robertson.

Sacred Salt Jar

2005-01-23T20:03:00.000-05:00

I do not know who the author of this article is but if someone could tell me, I'll gladly give proper credit where it is due.

This is not only great to have for oneself, but it makes a nice gift to someone special if you happen to know what scents or stones they like. Since what you put into it is "yours," it is like giving apart of yourself also.This mixture is excellent to charge stones in and to "simmer energies". Once it has blended for a few months, a pinch can be added to rituals, bathwater, gift to Mother Earth,etc..You can also make a "starter salt" as a gift for a friend. You can also give of your own sacred salt mixture to a special friend to help blend powers and energies when they make their own sacred salt mixture.The mixture should be made and kept in a covered stone or Earthenjar, but can be made and kept in a covered glass jar until you find one that is suitable. There are thoughts on what kind of salt to use. Some use rock salt, some Earth salt and some sea salt, some even use normal table salt. Whatever salt you use, make sure that it is "natural" and not iodized.You blend the salt with chopped or ground herbs, tiny crystals, small stones, jewelry, ground incense and a few drops of your favorite oils, anything that you wish. Even rose petals and other flowers, or a lock of hair that is braided or twined in ribbon (personal salts only). When you have cleansed and charged the stones and crystals by Sun and Moon, place them in this mixture to store until you wish to use them or give them as gifts.

Introduction

2005-01-23T17:43:00.000-05:00

I have created this blog to post about anything and everything. I want a place of my own on the internet where I can post things that are important to me. I don't want to restrict myself to one topic though so you will see a vast array of things posted here over time. I want everyone to feel free to comment or email me at any time. I would love input from readers.