My universe lately have been fulled with blips that have "The Secret" written all over them. And this despite the fact that I consider The Secret (both the movie and the book) to be more or less just a long commerical for life coaching. For instance, today's Pagan Blog Prompt's weekly blog prompt is (drumroll please) The Secret.
Hence me writing about the Law of Attraction today. My apologies.
I will admit that I have used the Law of Attraction as a magical model or guideline. Every once in awhile, you run into someone who has worked a spell and you can see their real focus is on their debt, or lack of a love life, or their illness, or whatever. And you can just see where all their energy is going. When I notice this, provided that the person is a reasonably open-minded person, I will point it out to them.
I do not mention the Law of Attraction or The Secret. Mainly because most of my friends would mock me for doing so. Especially the monkey loving lodge member.
So why is my universe currently throwing The Secret at me? If the universe is in one long conversation with me, then what is the universe trying to tell me?
I think that the message is that I need to continue to focus on my long term goals, and that I should not let the current bad state of circumstances derail my plans (monetary problems if you are curious---same as everyone in the current economy). So the universe tossing mentions of the Law of Attraction at me is merely the universe trying to give me a hug and a reminder that in the end everything will work out fine as long as I stick to working on my long range goals (getting my college degree and finishing large hunks of writing).
In other words, Work equals Prayer, and the Goddess will Provide to those who Work. It is not how most people would read the conversation, but it is how I choose to.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
QoD John Michael Greer on Herding Cats
In a post about Dr. David Shearman (who seems to think that absolute power is safe in the hands of scientists) and the failure of the climate change movement to understand the politics and economics, John Michael Greer said the following about herding cats:
I long ago lost track of the number of times I’ve heard people in one or another corner of the activist scene throw up their hands in despair and describe the task of organizing people to seek some form of change or other as being like trying to herd cats. In point of fact, herding cats is one of the easiest things in the world. All you have to do is go to the place you want the cats to go, carrying with you a #10 can of tuna and an electric can opener. The moment the cats hear the whirr of the can opener and smell the fragrance of the tuna, they’ll come at a run, and you’ll have your herd exactly where you want them. Now of course that strategy assumes two things. It assumes that you’re willing to go to the place you want the cats to go, and it also assumes that you have something to offer them when they get there.
Given the number of times, my friends and I have joked about herding cats, the quote is just too good not to share. And if you want to understand why the climate change movement is failing flat on its face, go read his entire post.
I long ago lost track of the number of times I’ve heard people in one or another corner of the activist scene throw up their hands in despair and describe the task of organizing people to seek some form of change or other as being like trying to herd cats. In point of fact, herding cats is one of the easiest things in the world. All you have to do is go to the place you want the cats to go, carrying with you a #10 can of tuna and an electric can opener. The moment the cats hear the whirr of the can opener and smell the fragrance of the tuna, they’ll come at a run, and you’ll have your herd exactly where you want them. Now of course that strategy assumes two things. It assumes that you’re willing to go to the place you want the cats to go, and it also assumes that you have something to offer them when they get there.
Given the number of times, my friends and I have joked about herding cats, the quote is just too good not to share. And if you want to understand why the climate change movement is failing flat on its face, go read his entire post.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
And now a word from our sponsor
And now for a word from our sponsor: ME!
Just uploaded the last three 2010 articles that were written for the Hearthstone Community Church Newsletter. Onwards to 2011. The plan is to swap out the 2010 articles for the 2011 articles as the months go by. The 2010 articles will be made into a pdf, so they will still be available. Call it lazy man webmastering.
Also finally wrote a review of The Secret (both the movie and the book).
And now back to your regular programming: ME!
Just uploaded the last three 2010 articles that were written for the Hearthstone Community Church Newsletter. Onwards to 2011. The plan is to swap out the 2010 articles for the 2011 articles as the months go by. The 2010 articles will be made into a pdf, so they will still be available. Call it lazy man webmastering.
Also finally wrote a review of The Secret (both the movie and the book).
And now back to your regular programming: ME!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Pagan Meme Survey
Over on Adventures in Witchery, Veles posted his response to one of those pagan surveys that we get asked to full out in the forums when we join. I tend not to fill them out. Mainly, because like Veles, I find some of the questions to be sub-par (ok, idiotic). Fortunately, I have not ran into the Golden Dawn/ceremonial magic version (though I suspect that there is one out there someplace).
So here are my responses to the same pagan survey...I might not be a nice person.
Basics
Do you have a magical/Pagan name? No, what I have is a pen name and a motto. The second motto I took in Golden Dawn was Morgana Draconis, and I used a variation of it for my pen name. Over my magical career, I have adopted a dozon mottos (each new Order requires a new motto, go figure), but I have never taken on a magical name...unless Smart-A** counts.
What does it mean? It means that if I am going to be called an evil person, then I am going to be the best evil person that I can be.
How did you find Paganism? I think that it found me.
How long have you been practicing? I have been a Witch since 1979, and a card-carrying member of Golden Dawn since 1992.
Solitary or group practitioner? What day of the week is it? And what am I working on?
What is your path? The Viking path of you didn't bolt down your Egyptian gods and goddesses, an equal opportunity path of theft and misappropriation disguised as mercantilism and Victorian pragmatism.
Are you out of the broom closet? Yes, since 1979. It made my mother sad.
Deity
Who is your patron God? What day of the week is it? What am I working on?
Who is your patron Goddess? Bast, and whoever else decides to show up today.
What Gods do you worship? What day of the week is it? What am I working on?
Do you fear darkly aspected Gods/Goddesses? Or do you respect them? Hail Sekmet! Hail Odin! Hail Loki! Hail the Baron! My gods and goddesses eat fluff bunnies and new agers for breakfast.
Do you worship the Christian God? Isn't he the jealous one? Or is he the Gnostic?
Do you ever worship animals? Of course, I am owned by cats.
Or plants? Chocolate, cafferine, sugar beets, sugar cane, and corn.
Nature
Do you regularly commune in nature? Does talking to a friend while working in my herb garden count?
Ever walked barefoot in the woods? No. Isn't that dangerous?
Taken a camping trip just to talk to nature? Camping?! You are kidding, right?! Camping is for drinking and shooting.
Describe the moment that you felt closest to Mother Earth? I think that would be the time I fell off a roof.
Do you have a familiar? No. I am owned by cats, and pets are forbidden by them.
Have you ever called upon the power of an animal in ritual? Kitty, I am trying to mediate here---quit kneading my lap.
Or a plant? There is not enourgh mugwort in the incense burner if you can see the person on the other side of the room.
Do you hug trees? Only if I am about to vomit.
Give them gifts? Water and compost. And thanks when I harvest them.
What is your favorite flower to work with? Marigolds for honoring the dead.
What is your favorite tree to work with? Plum trees makes great wands.
Wheel of the Year
What is your favorite holiday? Halloween.
What is your least favorite holiday? How can you dislike holidays?
Have you ever held a ritual on a holiday? Yes.
Have you ever taken a day off to celebrate a Pagan holiday? No, but I have taken days off to recover from them.
Do you celebrate Yule on December 21st rather than the 25th? I celebrate both.
Have you ever felt the veil thin? Which one? Yes on many of them.
Ever danced the Maypole? Yes. Passerbys looked at us strangely.
Know what the Maypole symbolizes? *giggle*
How do you usually celebrate the Pagan holidays? With laughter.
Divination
Do you use the Tarot? Tarot is not just for divination anymore.
Do you use runes? Runes are not just for divination anymore.
Do you use a pendulum? Only when my Advanced Adept Advisor insists that I use it.
Do you use dowsing rods? You mean that coat hanger I cut up?
Do you use astrology? Astrology is not just for divination anymore.
Any other form of divination? Is your form of divination bolted down?
Spells
What was the first spell that you did? Invisible friend.
What was the latest? Ask me again in ten minutes.
Ever done a love spell? Yes. Though it was more of a "Find someone willing to put up with my insanity" spell.
A job spell? In this economy? You are kidding, right? And does using a "Find new employee" spell count as a job spell?
A healing spell? I am not sure if I would call it a spell.
What was the most powerful spell you have ever performed? This is a very badly worded question. Are we measuring this by EKP? Or results? Or the number of people annoyed?
What deities do you usually call on? What day of the week is it? What am I working on?
Cryptozoology
Do you believe in Vampires? What type? And do CEOs count?
Werewolves? Maybe.
Shapeshifters? Define shapeshifting.
Elves? Cookies!!!!
Fairies? Yes.
Dragons? What nationality?
Nymphs? I once dated a nymph.
Sprites? Ain't they fairies?
Mermaids? Am I going on an ocean journey?
Satyrs? Ain't they fairies also?
Ever "seen" any of the above? Why would I want to admit that I have seen things without the liberal use of drugs?
Ever talked to any of the above? Only when they keep hiding my stuff, tangling my hair, and untying my shoes.
Ever used any of the above in magic? I now have a rule about inviting them into my workspace.
Do you have one of them as a personal guardian? Do I look like a trusting soul?
Random
Do you see a rabbit, man or woman in the moon? Only the aliens that crashlanded on it.
Own a cat? No. Several cats own me.
When you meditate, what does your happy place look like? What day is it? What am I working on?
Do you work with Charkas? What day is it? What am I working on?
Do you believe in past lives? Yes.
If so, describe a few briefly. Nameless scribe, ancient Egypt. Been in several wars. Low profile stuff.
Do you believe in soul mates? Those would be the "lifetime sentence" people, right?
Do you have a spirit guide? What day is it? What am I working on?
Is it always love and light? What day is it? What am I working on?
So here are my responses to the same pagan survey...I might not be a nice person.
Basics
Do you have a magical/Pagan name? No, what I have is a pen name and a motto. The second motto I took in Golden Dawn was Morgana Draconis, and I used a variation of it for my pen name. Over my magical career, I have adopted a dozon mottos (each new Order requires a new motto, go figure), but I have never taken on a magical name...unless Smart-A** counts.
What does it mean? It means that if I am going to be called an evil person, then I am going to be the best evil person that I can be.
How did you find Paganism? I think that it found me.
How long have you been practicing? I have been a Witch since 1979, and a card-carrying member of Golden Dawn since 1992.
Solitary or group practitioner? What day of the week is it? And what am I working on?
What is your path? The Viking path of you didn't bolt down your Egyptian gods and goddesses, an equal opportunity path of theft and misappropriation disguised as mercantilism and Victorian pragmatism.
Are you out of the broom closet? Yes, since 1979. It made my mother sad.
Deity
Who is your patron God? What day of the week is it? What am I working on?
Who is your patron Goddess? Bast, and whoever else decides to show up today.
What Gods do you worship? What day of the week is it? What am I working on?
Do you fear darkly aspected Gods/Goddesses? Or do you respect them? Hail Sekmet! Hail Odin! Hail Loki! Hail the Baron! My gods and goddesses eat fluff bunnies and new agers for breakfast.
Do you worship the Christian God? Isn't he the jealous one? Or is he the Gnostic?
Do you ever worship animals? Of course, I am owned by cats.
Or plants? Chocolate, cafferine, sugar beets, sugar cane, and corn.
Nature
Do you regularly commune in nature? Does talking to a friend while working in my herb garden count?
Ever walked barefoot in the woods? No. Isn't that dangerous?
Taken a camping trip just to talk to nature? Camping?! You are kidding, right?! Camping is for drinking and shooting.
Describe the moment that you felt closest to Mother Earth? I think that would be the time I fell off a roof.
Do you have a familiar? No. I am owned by cats, and pets are forbidden by them.
Have you ever called upon the power of an animal in ritual? Kitty, I am trying to mediate here---quit kneading my lap.
Or a plant? There is not enourgh mugwort in the incense burner if you can see the person on the other side of the room.
Do you hug trees? Only if I am about to vomit.
Give them gifts? Water and compost. And thanks when I harvest them.
What is your favorite flower to work with? Marigolds for honoring the dead.
What is your favorite tree to work with? Plum trees makes great wands.
Wheel of the Year
What is your favorite holiday? Halloween.
What is your least favorite holiday? How can you dislike holidays?
Have you ever held a ritual on a holiday? Yes.
Have you ever taken a day off to celebrate a Pagan holiday? No, but I have taken days off to recover from them.
Do you celebrate Yule on December 21st rather than the 25th? I celebrate both.
Have you ever felt the veil thin? Which one? Yes on many of them.
Ever danced the Maypole? Yes. Passerbys looked at us strangely.
Know what the Maypole symbolizes? *giggle*
How do you usually celebrate the Pagan holidays? With laughter.
Divination
Do you use the Tarot? Tarot is not just for divination anymore.
Do you use runes? Runes are not just for divination anymore.
Do you use a pendulum? Only when my Advanced Adept Advisor insists that I use it.
Do you use dowsing rods? You mean that coat hanger I cut up?
Do you use astrology? Astrology is not just for divination anymore.
Any other form of divination? Is your form of divination bolted down?
Spells
What was the first spell that you did? Invisible friend.
What was the latest? Ask me again in ten minutes.
Ever done a love spell? Yes. Though it was more of a "Find someone willing to put up with my insanity" spell.
A job spell? In this economy? You are kidding, right? And does using a "Find new employee" spell count as a job spell?
A healing spell? I am not sure if I would call it a spell.
What was the most powerful spell you have ever performed? This is a very badly worded question. Are we measuring this by EKP? Or results? Or the number of people annoyed?
What deities do you usually call on? What day of the week is it? What am I working on?
Cryptozoology
Do you believe in Vampires? What type? And do CEOs count?
Werewolves? Maybe.
Shapeshifters? Define shapeshifting.
Elves? Cookies!!!!
Fairies? Yes.
Dragons? What nationality?
Nymphs? I once dated a nymph.
Sprites? Ain't they fairies?
Mermaids? Am I going on an ocean journey?
Satyrs? Ain't they fairies also?
Ever "seen" any of the above? Why would I want to admit that I have seen things without the liberal use of drugs?
Ever talked to any of the above? Only when they keep hiding my stuff, tangling my hair, and untying my shoes.
Ever used any of the above in magic? I now have a rule about inviting them into my workspace.
Do you have one of them as a personal guardian? Do I look like a trusting soul?
Random
Do you see a rabbit, man or woman in the moon? Only the aliens that crashlanded on it.
Own a cat? No. Several cats own me.
When you meditate, what does your happy place look like? What day is it? What am I working on?
Do you work with Charkas? What day is it? What am I working on?
Do you believe in past lives? Yes.
If so, describe a few briefly. Nameless scribe, ancient Egypt. Been in several wars. Low profile stuff.
Do you believe in soul mates? Those would be the "lifetime sentence" people, right?
Do you have a spirit guide? What day is it? What am I working on?
Is it always love and light? What day is it? What am I working on?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Crowleys Heresy
Apologies to all; this post might be more suitable to my Nerd Blog, but I figure the audience here will get a bigger chuckle from this post. And yes, I am sorry...I play Zynga's Vampire Wars on Facebook (small problem with not being able to sleep if I do studying or writing at a late hour; therefore, I play games on social networks).
The latest Limited Edition Ability Set to be won in Akem's Gamble (drum roll please): Crowley's Heresy
Yep, in the world of Vampire Wars, Crowley is a heretic. Go figure.
It is a typical Limited Ability Set (twenty days to collect the full set).
The first ability is Aiwass' Beckoning. Available January 5, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aiwass' Beckoning is a movement ability (86 attack, 82 defense).
The second ability is Aeon of Isis. Available January 9, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aeon of Isis is a defensive ability (66 attack, 102 defense).
The third ability is Aeon of Horus. Available January 14, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aeon of Horus is a DEFENSIVE ability (63 attack, 105 attack).
Yes, you heard me right; Aeon of Horus is Defensive. But wait, it gets better.
The fourth ability is Aeon of Osiris. Available January 19, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aeon of Osiris is an OFFENSIVE ability (101 attack, 67 defense).
Yes, that is right. The silly people at Zynga have (for one reason or another) decided that Horus is more defensive, and Osiris is more offensive. And so it goes. Oh well, it is just a silly game.
As always with the Limited Edition Ability sets, if by some miracle (or if you have a lot of favor points to burn, typically brought with hard cold cash), if you manage to collect all four of the abilities, you get a special ability as a capstone prize. In the case of the Crowley's Heresy Limited Edition Set, the big bonus ability is Master Therion (illustrated with a picture of the infamous Aleister Crowley making shadow puppets on the wall), an offensive ability that grants 183 attack and 82 defense.
I wonder what Crowley would say.
The latest Limited Edition Ability Set to be won in Akem's Gamble (drum roll please): Crowley's Heresy
Yep, in the world of Vampire Wars, Crowley is a heretic. Go figure.
It is a typical Limited Ability Set (twenty days to collect the full set).
The first ability is Aiwass' Beckoning. Available January 5, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aiwass' Beckoning is a movement ability (86 attack, 82 defense).
The second ability is Aeon of Isis. Available January 9, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aeon of Isis is a defensive ability (66 attack, 102 defense).
The third ability is Aeon of Horus. Available January 14, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aeon of Horus is a DEFENSIVE ability (63 attack, 105 attack).
Yes, you heard me right; Aeon of Horus is Defensive. But wait, it gets better.
The fourth ability is Aeon of Osiris. Available January 19, 2010 to January 25, 2010. Aeon of Osiris is an OFFENSIVE ability (101 attack, 67 defense).
Yes, that is right. The silly people at Zynga have (for one reason or another) decided that Horus is more defensive, and Osiris is more offensive. And so it goes. Oh well, it is just a silly game.
As always with the Limited Edition Ability sets, if by some miracle (or if you have a lot of favor points to burn, typically brought with hard cold cash), if you manage to collect all four of the abilities, you get a special ability as a capstone prize. In the case of the Crowley's Heresy Limited Edition Set, the big bonus ability is Master Therion (illustrated with a picture of the infamous Aleister Crowley making shadow puppets on the wall), an offensive ability that grants 183 attack and 82 defense.
I wonder what Crowley would say.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Current project Splendor Solis coloring page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
