Tag: Philosophy

Daily Motivator for Oct. 24th – Vast abundance

Vast abundance

You have much more than you can ever possibly realize. Life is a process of  connecting with deeper and deeper levels of value that have always been there,  and always will.

Does it ever seem that the world has passed you by, or that there are just no  opportunities for you? Then it’s time to move to a more profound and fulfilling  level.

You are capable of much more than you have yet attempted. Fill your heart  with goodness, make the commitment to express that goodness, and there will be a  way.

The reason you get stuck is not because you have too little. It is because  you expect too little.

The way to expect more, at your deepest level, is to make the commitment to  give more goodness to life. Make that commitment, and suddenly new, exciting  possibilities come into view.

Think for a moment, and realize that always, there is something good you can  give. In that simple thought you know without a doubt that life’s vast abundance  is always available to you.

— Ralph Marston

 The Daily Motivator

The Daily OM for October 24th – Emerging from the Grey

Emerging from the Grey

Ways We Numb Ourselves

by Madisyn Taylor

Numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace.

We are born equipped to experience a complex array of diverse emotions. Many of us, however, are uncomfortable confronting our most powerful emotions. We may shy away from delight and despair and deny life’s colors by retreating into a world of monotone grey. We may numb ourselves to what we are truly feeling. It’s easier to suppress our emotions than to deal with them, so we may momentarily turn to pleasures such as alcohol, food, sugar, shopping and too much television. We may even numb our hearts. While it’s normal to temporarily seek distractions as a means of coping with intense emotions, numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace. When you are numb, there is no pain or powerlessness, but there can also be no joy or healing.

The activities that numb you may seem harmless or pleasurable, but using them to numb yourself diminishes the quality of your life. Numbing yourself so that you don’t have to feel intense emotions can often satisfy a surface need while blocking your awareness of a deeper need. You may find solace in food or shopping when what you really need is spiritual nourishment. The less you feel, the less alive you feel. Your feelings add vividness to your experiences and serve to connect you to the world around you. It is possible to disavow yourself of numbing behaviors a little at a time and once again taste life’s rich flavors. When you sense that you are engaging in a particular behavior simply to deaden your emotions, stop and ask yourself why. Examining the feelings that drive you to numb yourself can help you understand what is triggering your desire to emotionally fade out.

With each numbing activity that you cut out of your life, you’ll find yourself being more aware and experiencing a greater emotionally acuity. Senses once shrouded by the fog of numbness become sharp and acute. Traumas and pain long hidden will emerge to the forefront of your consciousness and reveal themselves so that you can heal them. You’ll discover a deeper you—a self that is comfortable experiencing and working through intense emotions with courage and grace.

The Daily OM

How Magic Can Save the World

How Magic Can Save the World

Author:   Tess Whitehurst 

The world appears to be in dire straights. The environment is suffering, species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate, in many parts of the world food and clean water are scarce, and, to top it all off, humans are killing each other. And for just about every imaginable challenge, there are people scrambling to help. We’re recycling, petitioning, protesting, studying, raising awareness, preserving, debating, and donating.

But how can we work holistically toward positive change? How do we get at the cause of all these imbalances, rather than jumping headlong into the mad dash of damage control?

Simple. We do what magical folk do. We shift consciousness. Interestingly, our magical perspective is exactly what the holistic health practitioner ordered. To illustrate, here are some basic magical precepts that can help heal the world.

•Everything is connected, and everything is divine. If everyone very deeply understood that every single thing is interwoven in a complex web of existence, and that all of existence is a part of the divine, there would be no one engaging in activities that caused plants or animals to become compromised or extinct.
•The Earth is our Mother. To us, this is literal, not figurative. Imagine how lovingly our Mother would be treated if everyone understood this as we do.
•Whatever you send out comes back to you multiplied. What you do to someone else, you do to yourself. Mass acceptance of this precept would actually (finally!) give peace a chance.
•We are empowered to change our consciousness in order to create positive shifts in our own lives. When everyone really and truly realizes their true power, they will no longer chase the imaginary power promised by things like greed, violence, hatred, or exploitation.

In the early 1970’s, James Lovelock, the scientist who formulated the Gaia Hypothesis, summarized what people like us already knew: that Planet Earth is a complex, living, breathing organism. Peter Russell took it one step further in his book The Global Brain when he proposed that while rainforests are the lungs and the atmosphere is the circulatory system, humans are the information processors, or in other words, the brain cells.

The brain cells in a fetus or an infant are the same as adult brain cells. They just have not yet formed as many pathways or connections between each other so they cannot function efficiently as a unified whole. Then, little by little, they build connections and begin to redefine themselves as not only one small part of a brain, but as one small part of an entire organism. Similarly (Peter Russell notes) , humans are beginning to form more and more connections and pathways between each other. For example, with one Facebook post, we can communicate instantly with our entire, perhaps global, circle of friends. Or, with one YouTube video, we can conceivably reach several million people within a matter of months.

So, from a macrocosmic perspective, the global brain (AKA the human race) is rapidly evolving to the stage when it can more easily recognize itself as the consciousness and nerve center of a living, breathing, and harmoniously self-sustaining organism. This evolution, if it moves in the most positive direction possible, is what Albert Einstein was hoping for when he wrote:

“A human being is part of the whole, called by us ‘universe, ‘ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty…We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.”

At this stage in history, it’s easier than it ever has been before for us to create a “new manner of thinking” by setting in motion a magical tsunami of consciousness shifting. But how?

First, we walk our talk. We purify our motives so that they are about love and service. We meditate, we purify and shield our energetic bodies, and we perform ritual and engage in prayer in order to connect with the Divine. We spend time in nature to remind ourselves of beauty, of the rich and vital inner lives and personalities of plants and animals, and of our connection to the whole.

We forgive others and ourselves as we bravely work through old issues and limiting beliefs. We release rigidity of belief and embrace flexibility, openness, and inclusion. We send the energy of love out into the world through our thoughts, feelings, and visualizations. We pray for world peace and perform rituals for planetary healing.

And then, from this place of deep love and integrity, we give gifts to the world from our hearts. We ask our hearts: “what do you want to give?” It might be a painting, a movie, an article, a status update, a specific type of volunteer work, a compliment, a smile, a speech, an idea, or a new way of doing things. We give freely every day, in every situation, as we feel guided, dedicating every single gift we give to the Goddess (or God, or patron deity) and to the healing of the world.

We generously shine our unique light, perspectives, and ideas into the world, knowing that as we do, we are not only increasing our own joy and prosperity (because whatever you send out comes back to you multiplied) , we are also shifting the tide of energy, bringing the cells of the global brain into harmonious unity, and channeling our collective magical energy toward saving the world.

“If powerful men and women
could remain centered in the Tao,
all things would be in harmony.
The world would become a paradise.
All people would be at peace,
And the law would be written in their hearts.”

-The Tao te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell

Daily Motivator for Oct. 23 – Something for something

Something for something

Plenty of people will promise you something for nothing, yet those are always  empty promises. Even when you can manage to get something for nothing, it does  not bring any real joy to your life.

The point of life is not to figure out how to get something for nothing. The  real fulfillment in life comes not from merely consuming, but from creating.

You cannot be truly rich simply by having a certain set of material  possessions. The richness that matters is genuine inner richness, and the  satisfaction that comes from knowing that you’re making a positive difference in  life.

Don’t waste your time wishing, hoping, demanding or begging to get something  for nothing. Joyfully put your energy into creating new, useful and beautiful  value out of the unique abundance with which you’ve been blessed.

The great thing about being alive is that you can, through your creative  endeavors, transform whatever you have into whatever you desire. That amazing,  limitless opportunity presents itself every moment of every day.

If you wish to have something of value, then work to create something of even  greater value. That’s the reliable way to be truly rich in all matters small and  large.

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

Daily Motivator for Oct. 20th – Persistent positive perspective

Persistent positive perspective

If you are resentful about the interruptions, you make those interruptions  last even longer. When you get angry about being hurt, you prolong the pain. 

Negativity wastes your time and your life. In return, it brings you nothing  desirable.

Negativity causes you to see and experience troubles that otherwise would not  be there. Negativity blinds you to the goodness that is all around you, and  separates you from much of life’s richness.

When you feel resentment, anger, envy, despair, anxiety or any other negative feeling coming on, quickly let it go. Make the choice to not allow a negative perspective to drain value from your life.

It can be very easy to be negative in response to life’s various occurrences.  Yet it becomes extremely difficult to live with the consequences of all that  negativity.

It is actually just as easy to let the negativity go. Make that choice, and  fill your life with the real treasures that come from a persistent positive  perspective.

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

Mastering the Element Fire

Mastering the element Fire…

1- Make a list of things which have the combined qualities of having heat and
dryness. Be sure to record the results each day in your magickal diary. Do at
least daily for one week.

2- Find a place that is extremely hot, such as a desert or a dry sauna (not a
steam bath). If those are not possible, find a place where a roaring fire is going. Such a fire could be in a fireplace or a barbecue pit or grill. Remove all of your clothes, or as much as you can, and get as close to the heat source as possible without risking a burn. Once you are in a position where it is uncomfortably hot, but not painful or unbearable, do the relaxation ritual. Focus on your breathing. Again imagine that you are a huge breathing apparatus. Do this for a short while, usually ten minutes. Do not spend any time longer then that. Do this exercise at different times of the day or night for one week.

3- Spend a period of up to three minutes (no more), once a day, imagining that
you are the element Fire. Feel the heat and your ability to transmit the heat.
Know what Fire feels like, what Fire is. Do this for one week.

4- Once you have learned to “be Fire”, the next step is to control the element
Fire. Take a moment and imagine yourself to be Fire. Bring the feeling from the
previous exercise into your consciousness. Next, hold your hands 9-12 inches apart, palms facing each other. Imagine a bottle or box between your hands. Now, as you exhale, visualize all of the Fire element which is in you going out with your breath and into the container between your hands. Three to five breaths should be enough to fill it. Then, with three breaths, inhale it back into you and go back to normal consciousness.

THE TEST
The next time you feel listless or have a total lack of energy, do this exercise. If you feel energized and revitalized, you have succeeded with the test AND mastering the element Fire.

Mastering the Element Earth

Mastering The Element Earth….

1- Make a list of things which have the combined qualities of dryness and coolness. However, don’t to this just out of your head. Rather, make a list of
Earth things that you see each day. Practice this for one week. Be sure to record the results each day in your magickal diary.

2- Find a place filled with nature, such as a field or park. Wear as little clothing as you can (if possible, nudity is best), and sit or lie on the ground so that as much of your skin as possible is touching the ground. This is especially easy for women, as they can simply wear a flowing skirt with no underwear and sit on the ground with the skirt spread out. Spend some time contemplating, feeling the coolness and dryness of the Earth. You should do this at least three times within a week.

3- Spend a period of up to three minutes (no more), once a day, imagining that
you are the element Earth. Feel the heaviness, the slowness, the coolness and
dryness of Earth. Feel the way you can absorb the pains and problems of the world (however, do not actually do so). Become Earth. Do this exercise for at
least a week before moving to the next exercise.

4- Once you have leaned to “be Earth”, the next step is to control the element
Earth. Bring the feeling from the previous exercise into your consciousness.
Next, hold your hands 9-12 inches apart, palms facing each other. Imagine a
bottle or box between your hands. Now, as you exhale, visualize all of the Earth
element which is in you going out with your breath and into the container
between your hands. Three to five breaths should be enough to fill it. Then,
with three breaths, inhale it back into you and go back to normal consciousness.

THE TEST
The next time you feel lightheaded, overweight, just heavy and lethargic, do
this exercise. If you feel lighter and better, you have succeeded, with the test
AND with mastering the element Earth.

Mastering the Element Air

Mastering the element Air…

1- Make a list of the things which have the combined qualities of warmth and
moistness. Practice this for one week. Be sure to record the results each day in
your magickal diary.

2- Find a place where you can be alone, take a lounge chair along with you. Wear
as little clothing as you can (if possible, nudity is best), and sit or lie in the chair. Begin pore breathing. This is started by doing the relaxation ritual. Next, become very aware of your breath. Become aware of the slow in and out motion of the physical air. Notice the way the air feels as it enters your body. Now imagine that your body is nothing more then a huge breathing apparatus. Imagine that every part of your body only has the function of breathing. You should do this exercise daily for one week.

3- Spend a period of up to three minutes (no more), once a day, imagining that
you are the element Air. Feel the lightness, the giddiness, the warmth and moisture of Air. Feel how physical things don’t seem to matter. Do this exercise
for only one week, NO MORE. If you wish to do it again, only do it once a month.

4- Once you have learned to “be Air”, the next step is to control the element Air. Take a moment and imagine yourself to be Air. Bring the feeling from the previous exercise into your consciousness. Next, hold your hands 9-12 inches apart, palms facing each other. Imagine a bottle or box between your hands. Now, as you exhale, visualize all of the Air element which is in you going out with
your breath and into the container between your hands. Three to five breaths should be enough to fill it. Then, with three breaths, inhale it back into you and go back to normal consciousness.

THE TEST
The next time you feel heavy, slow or lazy, do this exercise. If you feel relaxed and refreshed, you have succeeded with the test AND with mastering the element Air.

The Veil as Seen Through the Eyes of a Witch

The Veil as Seen Through the Eyes of a Witch

Author:   Crick   

As I near my twilight years I begin to think of death. Not as a final stage, but rather as a doorway standing before me. The door is closed but through it I shall enter, as we all must at some point in time. Our Sacred Mother decides upon such a time, for it is she who sends her children forth into the Chautauqua of Life. And it is she who calls them back home.

For some the journey is but a moment in time, like a shooting star that appears ever so briefly. One of my sons was such a shining star, here and gone ever so quickly. Like a ripple across a quiet pond, he touched our hearts and then was gone. His moment of existence resonated in our souls like a song that will never end.

For others the stay is longer, like errant children with so much to learn. Perhaps it is life lessons to be repeated or maybe a lesson of our selves unto others. For we all are students of life, seeking to find the answers that allow us to grow. However, at the end of the day, it becomes time for us to return home.

Sometimes we face this return with trepidation, like children who want to stay out past dark. However it is children that we are and when our mother calls it is time to go home. For our knowledge of what lies behind the door that leads through the veil is not a reality. We are like small children whose whole sense of reality has been confined to a small fenced in back yard. We have no real awareness of the whole wide world that lies just beyond our gate.

As we go through this life, we sometimes find ourselves in a state of physical pain. The reason for this I cannot fathom or answer as to why. For the ways of Deity, are not for us to know at this stage in our development. For us to have such knowledge is to be as one with our Sacred Mother. Perhaps the pain that such folks endure is a lesson from another life. Or perhaps it is the beginning of a lesson in this current life.

We often feel love and compassion for those who experience such, and then perhaps that is the lesson intended for us. In the end, only Deity has the answers to such. As it is, when it becomes my turn to stand before the door leading to the corridor of transition from this life to that, I can only hope that I do so with a sense of dignity.

The dear Goddess has given us many gifts in the way of experiences. Some of these lessons were tinged with pain while others carried a note of joy. She has created a complex harmony with numerous opportunities to learn about ourselves and indeed to learn about others as well.

Many folks in this life will mill about at the foot of the mountain of life, their hearts and minds poisoned with fear of what lies ahead. And so their journey through this life will be compromised and with closed eyes, dwelling on what may or may not be.

I personally believe that this persona of fear has been initiated and exploited by those who would seek to control the thoughts and actions of those who succumb to such implanted paranoia’s.

As a witch though, I walk through this existence as an individual. And will indeed climb to the top of the mountain of life, seeing each arduous step, as merely another stride in the spiritual growth that awaits each of us. And once the peak is reached I will extend my hands to the skies and whisper a heartfelt thank you to Deity. Thus in this manner, giving a sign of appreciation for the opportunity to have experienced the lessons of this realm as we become that much closer to the final goal of being one with Deity.

From the moment that we take our first breath, we are walking towards the door that leads through the veil. And so when Deity extends their hand and beckons me forth, I will do as was planned prior to my existence in this realm.

Granted, there will be feelings of sadness, for one cannot enter this realm without creating a comfort zone composed of family and friends. But then there will also be feelings of curiosity and anticipation and of course many unanswered questions.

For instance will Deity be awaiting our crossing with open arms? Will those friends and family who have made the journey before us be waiting to greet and acclimate us to our new existence? Will our Spirit Guides who have planted the seeds of lessons and watched as these lessons blossomed into newfound knowledge be there to congratulate us? Will there be yet other teachers and/or personas from ages past waiting to test us anew?

Will we be allowed to take a moment to contemplate the experiences garnered while in this realm or will we awaken in yet another existence as if our level of awareness was momentarily put on hold? Will our existence in this realm resonate in our ken as but a moment in the over all framework of existence?

Of course all of these questions are pure speculation, as we do not have the knowledge at this point in our spiritual growth to answer such musings. But we do have the ability and knowledge as pagans to break away and reject the mind and heart numbing fear that others would impose upon us for their own limited and selfish devices.

Deity created this path of life, death and rebirth, not man. And therefore I place my trust in the grand scheme of things as designed by Deity rather then the tunnel vision of those who would pervert such ideals into something to be feared and distorted.

And so in summation, I will live my life as a Witch and when it comes time to walk through the veil, I will stroll through as a Witch…

Daily Motivator for October 7th – Love this day

Love this day

Love this day and it will be good to you. Treasure this opportunity to  experience life, and the experience will be beautiful.

The progress you seek does not always come in the ways you thought it would.  Yet when you seek, and persist, and expect it, that progress does always  come.

Don’t let yourself become too troubled by the troubles. Remind yourself to  take it all in stride, and you will find great value and richness along the  way.

Go forward with clear and positive intentions, seeking to make a beneficial  difference for all. In whatever may happen, you will discover new ways to  further your authentic purpose.

In its every aspect, life is predominately the way you consider it to be.  Consider it to be unique, precious, miraculous, filled with opportunity and  abundance, and give each moment of your reality a positive flavor.

Make the decision to love this day, this place, this moment, this special  experience of life with the people around you. And there will be so very much to  love.

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

Daily OM for October 7th – Expanding Their Vision

Expanding Their Vision

Nine Ways to Help Others Awaken to Consciousness

by Madisyn Taylor

 

By simply being yourself, you can help the people in your life see a living example of consciousness.

 

1. Living by your values allows you to become a positive source of inspiration for others. Don’t hide – express yourself and embrace life without reservation. By simply being yourself, you can help the people in your life see how one person can make a difference by being a living example of consciousness.

2. When you communicate your views, do so casually and in a nondogmatic manner. Allow the people you speak with to ask questions. Offer only as much information as they are ready to hear.

3. Igniting the spark of consciousness can be as easy as giving someone a gift. A favorite book, a medicine bag, or a beautiful gemstone can pique your loved ones’ curiosity and prompt them to begin an exploration of the soul.

4. Teaching a friend, relative, or colleague to meditate or chant can put them on the path to consciousness while simultaneously reducing their stress levels.

5. Others may want to know more about living consciously but are unsure of how to begin. Starting a discussion group – even a virtual one – can help you reach out to individuals that are eager to learn.

6. By recognizing and acknowledging the inherent value in everyone you encounter, you can teach them how to value others. Sometimes, the easiest way to encourage people – even challenging ones – to respect others is to respect them first.

7. Invite people from your personal and professional lives to join you in attending a ceremony or ritual. The experience may touch them in a profound way or introduce them to a new spiritual path.

8. Casually point out the interconnectedness of all living beings using concrete, everyday examples. Many people are unaware of how their actions affect the world and are intrigued when they learn of the power they hold.

9. Introduce your loved ones to conscious living in a lighthearted and enjoyable way. Serve delicious organic recipes at gatherings, volunteer as a group, and show them how wonderful it can feel to be truly aware and connected to the universe.

Daily OM

Your Daily Horoscopes for Monday, August 26th

We long for peace and quiet today, but the simplistic Taurus Moon isn’t enough to alleviate the cosmic tension that is agitating our lives. Romantic Venus in pleasure-seeking Libra opposes uncontainable Uranus in spontaneous Aries, encouraging reckless behavior that can upset the status quo. However, we still may be confused about what to do or say because the willful Sun and chatty Mercury are engaged in a tug-of-war with surrealistic Neptune.

Aries Horoscope

(Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Although you have responsibilities to fulfill today, it’s difficult to resist creating a bit of mischief, instead. You want to take a risk and break out of your normal routine, even if you realize self-indulgence isn’t the smartest course of action now. You may attempt to justify your behavior, yet your current judgment might not be very clear. Ask a trusted friend for a different perspective before doing something you will later regret. Following your whims is fine as long as no harm comes to others.

Taurus Horoscope

(Apr 20 – May 20)

You feel as if you’re wired for pleasure today since your ruling planet Venus opposes electric Uranus. Nevertheless, your intense desires might create an emotional short circuit if you think that satisfaction is out of reach. Your fantasies may be quite unrealistic, but it really doesn’t matter if you believe in your daydreams or not. You don’t need to follow through with every wish. What’s important now is to give yourself permission to imagine what would bring you happiness if anything was possible.

Gemini Horoscope

(May 21 – Jun 20)

You may hope to float through the day on a cloud of romantic illusions, but an unexpected event can shock you out of your reverie. Even if you quickly adapt to a change of plans, you still might overlook the significance of what is happening. Although you could be surprised by what you learn, it’s still wise to contemplate what the cosmos is attempting to tell you. Taking time to interpret your dreams reveals secrets you could otherwise miss.

Cancer Horoscope

(Jun 21 – Jul 22)

Someone’s reaction to your request at work today might not be what you expect; however, you can take nearly anything in stride with the right attitude. At first, you may be anxious because you don’t want to confront the unknown, but you’re relieved to learn the truth now, even if it catches you off guard. Don’t let your subconscious motivations mislead you into pushing the information away; integrate the new data and alter your plans as needed before moving on.

Leo Horoscope

(Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You are super excited about someone or something new in your life now, but you’re afraid that your current enthusiasm won’t last. You may be overly cautious about letting completely go and enjoying yourself because you believe that your sense of freedom will quickly be restrained by limiting circumstances. Change is inevitable, but worrying about the future doesn’t have to interfere with today’s pleasures. Enjoy the present moment while it lasts.

Virgo Horoscope

(Aug 23 – Sep 22)

You might be surprised by someone’s selfish behavior today and you could even be offended by people’s lack of compassion. Rational analysis won’t help you to understand their actions because logic is not the motivating factor now. Unexplainable changes are to be expected if tension is stressing a relationship. But don’t over-analyze anyone’s motives; simply respond with kindness and honesty. The storm will pass quickly if you keep your heart open and remain flexible in your thinking.

Libra Horoscope

(Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Previously hidden desires may float to the surface today. Your key planet Venus is visiting your 1st House of Self and her opposition to unorthodox Uranus in your 7th House of Relationships can uncover something about your partner that you didn’t previously know. But rather than waiting for anyone to surprise you with an unexpected revelation, take the initiative and be an agent of change, yourself. Embrace the shift proactively instead of resisting it.

Scorpio Horoscope

(Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You would like to let go of old expectations once and for all and express your current feelings spontaneously today as creative Venus opposes progressive Uranus in your 5th House of Romance. Unfortunately, you might not know exactly what you want. Your emotions are slippery now, making it difficult to choose any one course of action. Nevertheless, you have an amazing opportunity to learn something important about love if you’re willing to relinquish control and go with the flow.

Sagittarius Horoscope

(Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You wish a friend or partner would make a straightforward decision today, but the clarity you seek may continue to be elusive. Instead of receiving a yes or no answer now, you’re required to live with someone’s uncertainty. However, it’s likely that other people’s ambivalence might simply be a reflection of your own, even if you believe that you already made your choice. Don’t push for resolution since it will take time for all the facts to fully emerge. A little patience gives inspiration a chance to strike.

Capricorn Horoscope

(Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You want to gather as much useful information as you can today, since you might mistakenly believe that the solution to your current dilemma is in having all the facts. Unfortunately, you may be in a hurry now, allowing you to make a wrong assumption and jump to an incorrect conclusion that’s based on your desires. Acknowledge what you want, but be smart and postpone any major decision until your energy settles down. Your path should begin to clear in just a few days, bringing success within your reach.

Aquarius Horoscope

(Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Your craving for connection pushes you one way today, while your need for independence pulls you another. You may long for more intimacy in your everyday life, yet still keep others at an arm’s length if you’re afraid of losing your autonomy. Thankfully, a sudden breakthrough in your awareness can zap your heart open and instantaneously intensify the dynamics of a relationship. If lightning strikes, set aside practicalities and be flexible enough to fully engage the magic of the moment.

Pisces Horoscope

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Your perspective on a close relationship could be challenged today, making you weary of the familiar tensions you feel. You don’t want to argue with your partner over another misunderstanding; nor do you want to waste energy justifying your desires. Your needs are simple now; you just want your heartfelt disclosure to be heard and acknowledged. Avoid ultimatums; just share what you need in a gentle manner and then be patient. The dynamics are shifting quickly and you just may receive what you want.

August 19 – Daily Feast

August 19 – Daily Feast

To live peacefully with other people, we need insight and careful judgment. We judge by appearances far too often and that leads to misunderstanding. So much is hidden from ordinary view that it takes time to know something well enough to say anything at all. We have to know that because we have light does not mean there is no darkness. And because we have food does not mean there is no hunger. Can our eyes see all the reasons and purposes in the actions of other people? Unless we have known someone’s pain and carried his burden, we cannot know how we might react in the same circumstances. Our senses cannot tell us everything. Only compassion and understanding show us the truth.

~ O Great Spirit, help me never judge another until I have walked two weeks in his moccasins. ~

EDWIN LAUGHING FOX

‘A Cherokee Feast of Days’, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Daily OM for August 19th – Conditions are perfect

Conditions are perfect

Don’t put off your life waiting for conditions to be right. Conditions are  perfect, right here and now, because you are alive and able to make a  difference.

The day to live life fully is not someday. Someday never comes, yet today is  here for you right now.

Wait no longer, for in this moment is the opportunity you seek. Life can be  as rich and fulfilling as you dare to imagine on this very day.

For life’s richness does not come from arranging your affairs in a certain,  specific way. Life’s true richness is found by allowing, feeling, expressing and  experiencing your own unique beauty as it flows out from you.

Let that beauty flow into whatever circumstances you may find yourself in.  Release the conditions you’ve put on joy, and let it fill your world, however  that world may otherwise be.

On this day, in this moment, in this place, conditions are perfect for you to  fully live. Experience the wonder of your life that is right now.

— Ralph Marston

Daily Motivator

Daily Motivator for August 15th – Positive choices

Positive choices

You can choose to be happy just as easily as you choose to be sad. The  choice, no matter what the situation, is always up to you.

You can choose to get up and get going just as easily as you choose to sit  and do nothing. The choice to actively move your life forward is always yours to  make.

Instead of worrying about who is to blame, focus on choosing your most  positive response. Instead of letting the past get you down, make the choices  that will lift you up.

This is your own life, so live it with your own best intentions. Each moment  gives you a new choice, so make all those choices count.

Sure, there are many things that are out of your control. Yet there are still  plenty of choices that enable you to live your life the way you wish to live  it.

Choose, again and again, to live in alignment with your purpose and your  highest values. Positive choices are what create a positive, fulfilling  life.

— Ralph Marston

Daily Motivator

Daily OM for August 13th – Find a way to care

Find a way to care

Find a way to care about it and you’ll find a way to get it done. Make the  task meaningful enough and you’re sure to make it happen.

Don’t waste your time and drain your energy doing things you don’t want to  do. Put your effort into connecting what you must do to the passions that are  yours.

All your life you’ve been happy to do the things you truly want to do. So  instead of laboring against your desires, make the connection between those  desires and whatever you’re working on.

The tasks you enjoy and find meaningful are the tasks at which you excel.  Whatever you’re doing, remind yourself why it matters and you’ll find yourself  doing it with excellence.

Instead of complaining that you don’t care, frame the task in such a way that  you do care. Instead of assuming that your work is meaningless, be the one to  give authentic meaning to it.

Make the choice to enjoy and find fulfillment in everything you do. Not only  will you feel great, you’ll do great too.

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

Merry Meet & A Very Blessed Tuesday To You & Yours!

Earth Mother

Giver of life

Strengthen me during my life-long strife.

Teach me your ways of perfect love,

peace, and wisdom true.

Spawn from my purest heart

These words to you

May this prayer help me to better

myself in word and deed,

To a higher plane I shall succeed.

Beautiful light of goodness fair

Lore of old we both do share

A Witch’s brew, I drink to you

My love for you, by day, by night

In thought and in sight

Will my soul learn the meaning of this life

again.

—–　

Bright Blessings

by Gina T. Ranney

The Four Rules and The Law of White Witchcraft

The Four Rules and The Law of White Witchcraft

 

**Notice**

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In order to live a full and successful life as a ‘White Witch’, one must first understand what the rules of the game are. The principles which are put forth below are intended to be a very simple, basic way to remember the way of the White Craft.

The total idea may be visualized as a four legged stool. Each of the Rules can be seen as a leg and The Law may be seen as the seat. The Rules without The Law are uncomfortable and nigh on to useless in their function. The Law without the Rules gives you a comfortable place to be, but it is rather impractical and again, nearly useless. However, when all of these are brought together they make a highly stable, functional, and enjoyable life.

The Four Rules

Live – Live each day as if it were your last, for one day you will be right.

Love – Love yourself first and foremost. For when you truly love yourself, loving those around you will come as easily as breathing – and we all must breathe.

Learn – Learn your life’s lessons – each as it comes – for that is the reason we are here.

Enjoy – Enjoy your life, because if you do not most likely someone else will enjoy it for you… and then your time here will have been wasted.

The Law: Harm None.

Explanations

Live

The first Rule put forth sounds pretty straight forward at first. Then you actually try to live it! 🙂 Living each day as if it were your last means maximizing your potential for every moment that you have been given.

If you are let go from your job… that is an opportunity to face truth and see what you can do to make yourself more marketable and go get a BETTER job. Or, if you are highly motivated, dedicated, and a risk taker you can take that chance to start your own company.

When I first began to follow these principles, my business was not very successful, my marriage was only tolerable, and I often felt depressed about my situation as a whole. Then I began to live each moment.’Carpe Diem’ (Seize the day) became my motto. I began to maximize every moment and live in the moment, not for the moment.

This does not mean that in order to be a good witch that you have to work like a rabid squirrel on ‘speed’… but it does mean that you have to be honest with yourself to see what your situation really is and to make the most of it. I believe that if I can go to bed at night and think to myself that I had done the very best I could that day with the information I had at each moment of opportunity, then the day was a success. But if I go to bed thinking that I had let an opportunity slip away I do not beat myself up over it. I simply say to myself, “Gee Torin, that was one you missed. I’ll get it the next time it comes along.”

Love

What is life without love? Honestly, I can’t imagine what that would be like. Yet many people live their lives without the most important form of love there is – the love of the self. If you truly understand yourself and are willing to take responsibility for your own actions you will suddenly find a great love for yourself.

In order to give free and unconditional love to another person you must first have that kind of feeling for yourself. This is all this means.

Learn

One of the cornerstones of The Craft is the belief that our souls are here on this plane of existence at this point in time to learn lessons. Your lessons are different from (although probably quite similar to) my own. Learn what life teaches you. It is no more difficult than this.

Enjoy

The life of the witch does not require you to live your life in suffering nor poverty. There are no mandates for pain, unhappiness, or unpleasantness. We do not see suffering as the ‘key’ to getting into Heaven (or the Summerlands as some of us call it). Indeed, we see such things as exactly what they are… unpleasant! This does not mean that we never have unpleasant things happen to us, nor that we walk around in a constant state of denial.

We see suffering as either the result of an action we took (i.e. going to jail for robbing a bank) or the way that The Unknown (see “The Deities of Witches” by Torin W.) has chosen to teach us a lesson which we need to learn but have not done anything consciously to bring about the circumstances (i.e. the totally unexpected death of a close friend).

Witch Craft allows you to reap all of the happiness and prosperity from your life that you can muster… so long as you stay within the accepted boundaries. For instance, if you work hard at an honest job you like to do then there is nothing which says you should feel badly for being more successful than others. But if you rob a bank, you may be happy with the things that the money can buy for a short period of time, but eventually you will suffer far greater than if you had simply worked for it. (I know this may sound somewhat like a contradiction to what I said earlier, but I do not believe in keeping a job which does not give me enough pleasure, satisfaction, and money to make up for the difficulties I endure.)

The Law: Harm None

I have been asked to explain this statement more than all of the previous ideas combined. I often describe ‘Harm None’ as “the Law which must remain unbroken, but cannot remain whole at all times.” Think about it, you can’t do it as a human being.

In order to actually harm none you would have to be in total and complete harmony with all things int he Universe at exactly the same time. Your immune system would not kill bacteria and other infections (because that would be harming them). Nor would you allow the bacteria to infect you because that would cause harm to yourself. You would not eat meat, nor vegetables because it would cause the destruction of either. Neither would you not eat because that would harm you. Do you see how this is simply an impossibility?

What I teach my students is to take great pains to Harm None and to think out the results of any act as far as possible ahead of time. I also stress that whenever magics are being worked that the free will of any individual or group should never be infringed.

I have been asked specifically about the use of various types of drugs in witchcraft and their relationship to the ‘Harm None’ principle. I believe that The Bright Ones gave us a sober state of mind for a reason. They also gave our brains some of the most potent chemicals known to man for achieving altered states of consciousness. Therefore i see no reason to alter the chemistry of the brain in order to ‘gain enlightenment’. Ask any recovering drug addict… he/she will tell you that the drugs lie to you.

Because of part of the training I give, I require that no illegal drugs are used while under my tutelage. In fact, if a student becomes sick during training and requires a prescription strength pain reliever, the training schedule is reworked to allow for the purging of the body before training resumes.

One of my students used to do a good deal of psychotropic drugs (i.e. LSD, mushrooms, etc.). Then he and I began to work together. After a few months of training, we worked a circle to allow him to develope his psychic senses (i.e. clairaudience, clairvoyance, etc.) When he left the circle he related to me a feeling such as none he had ever known. His words were, “It was a hundred thousand times better then the best acid trip I had ever taken.”

In short, I personally feel that drugs can be a great hinderance and only cause damage to your soul. But I also recognize the free will of the individual. I can only tell you that in my own perception, drugs do cause harm to you.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Torin W.

You Are Being Guided

You Are Being Guided

We human beings are instinctively being guided to evolve. As with all creatures, we must adapt to changes in our environment to survive and flourish. We can see evidence of this evolutionary trend in our physiology, our society, and in our technology. Our brains continue to develop, an increasingly large percentage of humanity is becoming literate and educated, and technology has provided immediate access to billions of people’s minds through phone cells and chip sets. Satellite and Internet infrastructure is providing a “global mind” where we see and think the same thing at the same time, as one consciousness. The critical mass of what we think shifts the consciousness of individuals on a global scale. How we think affects the quality of our life, and even our survival.

Each day of your life you are provided experiences where you have to make choices in how you think and behave. The more conscious you are the more those choices bring greater happiness and peace into your life. You have learned from your life experiences what brings greater pleasure or pain into your existence, and have adapted your ways of thinking, feeling and behaving to increase the pleasure in your life and reduce the pain. The more conscious you have become, the greater clarity, happiness and peace you have gained by evolving your conscious awareness.

Your instinct has guided you to learn, and grow, and evolve to your highest potential, and it still is. You have been guided to these words to reflect on them. The more conscious you become of how you are being guided, the more you will see how you are being guided. The more conscious you become of the consciousness that is guiding you, the more conscious you become. Your consciousness evolves the more conscious you become of your consciousness. As you become more conscious you gain greater clarity, happiness and peace. It is only when we become unconscious that we think, say or do things that hurt ourselves or others. Only unconscious people hurt others, lie, cheat, steel, abuse or hate. Only an unconscious society disrespect others rights, destroy its natural resources, overpopulates or wages war.

We evolve through the tests and trials of daily living, both individually and collectively as a society. Lessons learned help to evolve us, but when we are not conscious of what we are being tested in we fail the test and get tested again and again until we learn and either further evolve, or perish. You have been guided to this moment of introspection in order to reflect upon your own place in the evolution of your own consciousness, and the role you might play in awakening the collective consciousness of humanity so that we might all live together in happiness and peace. You are part of a rapidly growing segment of the population that is awakening to full consciousness. Your individual awakening is contributing to the critical mass that is shifting the consciousness of the planet; you are preparing the way for an evolutionary leap in human consciousness. You are building the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

From the heart, Steven S. Sadleir

Tarot Card for Monday, February 18th is Strength

Strength

Monday, Feb 18th, 2013

What has traditionally been known as the Strength card represents Nature which, however wild in its primal form, is tamed by our subtler, finer (feminine, interior) self. The will and passion of our instinctive nature does not need to be broken, but refined and brought to consciousness — so that all levels of Creation, inner and outer, may come into harmony.

The feminine soul-force contains a persuasive power that can nurture and induce cooperation from others, stilling disruptive energies by harmonizing differences in the spirit of collective good will.