Super full Moon August 10 2014
The other night while I was preparing to do a little full moon ceremony for the 'super' full moon, I was thinking about what to do, what I would need. I thought a pretty bowl of water, my crystals and stones....I thought I should take my round mirror to be 'energized' by the full moon. I didn't really know why I would think about that, but I did, so I took it out and set it on the table with the rest. I was thrilled to see there would be a clear sky, and happy that the girl next door joined me as the moon was rising. I didn't know her very well so I felt ever so slightly that I should explain why I had a mirror on my table for the moon.
This is more or less what I told us.
I brought the mirror to be blessed by the moon, for reflection is her essence. The moon is made in such a way that her power is to reflect the sun. She is our guide and teacher, because we are made in such a way that we can not see ourselves, we can never know how we really appear in the world. Therefore how we see ourselves is dependent upon how we are reflected by our environment, and very specifically how we are reflected by each other.
Our blessing and our bane is that we ARE reflected by each other. How we see ourselves is dependent on how others see us, and reflect what they see. This is the source of our great misunderstanding, for we can only reflect others with the clarity we possess within ourselves. Like the moon our light is only as clear or dark as the clouds that drift across her face. At times it is bright and beautiful at times it is dense darkness.
It is for this reason we must seek clarity within ourselves. It is the 'one within' looking out that we must know. The reason for seeking. The quest. When you look into a mirror it is the one who sees, not the one who is seen. Vanity is born of looking at the image, for the image is ever changing, and is ever only an appearance. Clarity is born of looking into the windows where you are looking out.
We spend our time in this maze we name life, seeking the answers within the face of others. We can not help this, it is the way we are made, which means we are led down many paths and each of these paths lead us to growing within, for good or ill, it changes us, so each time we look at the 'one looking' the truth will be new.
The struggles and strife's we experience are from within and cause us to reflect these into the reflection we provide to everyone who comes into contact with us, in the same way the moon is covered and dimmed by rain clouds passing her face. It does not change her light, her light is simply not visible to us watching. In the same way who we truly are becomes clouded and invisible to ourselves and to each other. For when we look into a mirror it is the image we look at, it is the image we have come to believe as the definition of who we are. The one who is seen rather than the one who sees.
This is no small amount of dust on the mirror. From the moment of our birth we look into the eyes of someone else to learn who and what we are. Most of us see first the bright love reflected in the face of our mother, but for many that love is made clouded and not visible by fear and uncertainty. So begins our walk into the maze that will become our 'life'. Layer upon layer of misinformation, and clouded obscured versions of ourselves are reflected by others who have misinformed and clouded obscured versions of themselves........
So I guess I brought the mirror so I could look at myself in her light. Just for a change of perspective.
She said "wow I never thought of it that way". I said " actually, neither did I".
From this I learned that, You truly are loved by something great! You truly ARE something great! it is only that at times the rain clouds need to pass by. When you look into a mirror look deep into the windows for the one who is looking. And when you look at ANYone let your light shine, for they really do depend upon you to see the good in them.
And next time you see the moon, ask her 'who am I really?'.
By Linda Nicholas
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
February 17 th 2014
Due to yet another encounter, this morning I got thinking about the reason people will go to such frustrating lengths to avoid admitting they do not know. I have heard it said they are the three hardest words to say. Only once has a medical Doctor ever said to me "I don't know", it was such a relief! Young people especially have learned, (from being embarrassed and shamed when they make mistakes?), the fear of admitting they simply do not know. This all led my thinking to perhaps it is about humbleness. The humbleness that tells you you do not and never will have all the facts, life is laid out that way, allowing that to be ok provides you with the faith that you can always learn. The humbleness that is never to be confused or compared with sham, humiliation, and servitude. Words and their meaning which have been skewered and mutilated, where they once were honorable and uplifting, they have become enslaving and oppressive.
Important words. Words of power like:
Faith; to give us hope, to wrap each and every human being within a deep Knowing that there is something greater than their worst fears and experiences, both within ourselves and within our world. Faith that we are loved, and loveable and loving. Faith that allows us to leap with ours eyes wide open into the unknown. Never to be confused with or compared to the blindly following cultivation of ignorance; the forfeiting of our will, our choice.
We are here for choice. We have the inherent right to choice. Our choice is our own. Each and everyone of us own our own. It is this right that enables our integrity, the focus of our individual being here. Our choice can only be as accurate as our access to experience and information, whether they be 'right' or 'wrong'. Be that as it may, either way the more information and experience we have the better choices we can make.
How then can we human beings, wrapped firmly in our right to be right and right to be wrong reach out to one another? How can we not reach out to one another? How can our experience be full and complete with out one another? We are each a wealth of unlimited information waiting to be experienced. Some of it accurate, some of it not. Some for good, some for ill. When we think we already know, we have made a choice and we are no longer open to options, which closes us down to the possibility to more, perhaps better choices or the address to the fact that we could have made the wrong choice. Language is a tool of expression, let us use it to explore how much of our own experience is comprehensible to one another.
Let us choose the definition what will enrich our experience; enrichment over deprivation, faith over fear, illumination over blindness, service over servitude, empowerment over shame. Humbleness over humiliation. The humbleness that arises from leaping into the unknown with our eyes wide open guided only by the faith that we are loved, and we will be just fine, and that there is so much more learn.
Due to yet another encounter, this morning I got thinking about the reason people will go to such frustrating lengths to avoid admitting they do not know. I have heard it said they are the three hardest words to say. Only once has a medical Doctor ever said to me "I don't know", it was such a relief! Young people especially have learned, (from being embarrassed and shamed when they make mistakes?), the fear of admitting they simply do not know. This all led my thinking to perhaps it is about humbleness. The humbleness that tells you you do not and never will have all the facts, life is laid out that way, allowing that to be ok provides you with the faith that you can always learn. The humbleness that is never to be confused or compared with sham, humiliation, and servitude. Words and their meaning which have been skewered and mutilated, where they once were honorable and uplifting, they have become enslaving and oppressive.
Important words. Words of power like:
Faith; to give us hope, to wrap each and every human being within a deep Knowing that there is something greater than their worst fears and experiences, both within ourselves and within our world. Faith that we are loved, and loveable and loving. Faith that allows us to leap with ours eyes wide open into the unknown. Never to be confused with or compared to the blindly following cultivation of ignorance; the forfeiting of our will, our choice.
We are here for choice. We have the inherent right to choice. Our choice is our own. Each and everyone of us own our own. It is this right that enables our integrity, the focus of our individual being here. Our choice can only be as accurate as our access to experience and information, whether they be 'right' or 'wrong'. Be that as it may, either way the more information and experience we have the better choices we can make.
How then can we human beings, wrapped firmly in our right to be right and right to be wrong reach out to one another? How can we not reach out to one another? How can our experience be full and complete with out one another? We are each a wealth of unlimited information waiting to be experienced. Some of it accurate, some of it not. Some for good, some for ill. When we think we already know, we have made a choice and we are no longer open to options, which closes us down to the possibility to more, perhaps better choices or the address to the fact that we could have made the wrong choice. Language is a tool of expression, let us use it to explore how much of our own experience is comprehensible to one another.
Let us choose the definition what will enrich our experience; enrichment over deprivation, faith over fear, illumination over blindness, service over servitude, empowerment over shame. Humbleness over humiliation. The humbleness that arises from leaping into the unknown with our eyes wide open guided only by the faith that we are loved, and we will be just fine, and that there is so much more learn.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Winter Solstice 2013
Winter Solstice 2013
I had such a hard time finding the energy of this Winter Solstice Turning. Solstice fell on a saturday. Our feast is on the eve before, as the beginning of the longest night. This is how I personally have it worked out, not to say it is the only one that makes sense. On Monday before I was in dispair of being capable of carring it out at all. Even by Thursday night I only loosly had a direction. The 'power' feels subtle and illusive. The only thing that keeps coming back is that this Winter Solstice is about the Dark. Specifically not evil! About dark and the gifts offered or made possabe by the dark. The velvet quiet, the smooth excitment, the thrill of the darkness. The living breathing expectation and exaltation of senses other than sight.
This notion came from a idea I got about this Turning at 4am Solstice Eve. I awoke, and laying there in warm comfort I asked again what is the message I should offer to my family and friends. I saw: a workshop type circle of people sitting in chairs. Once everyone is settled I ask for the lights to be turned off. Then sitting in total darkness I introduce our guest speaker. This person was born totally blind. Never in her/his life has she seen light. This person is here to share with us a bit about what reality is constructed of with out light.
Try this: Sitting in TOTAL darkness, begin making a list of references to light.
* "Look" at that!
* I "See" as an understanding.
* I had a "Vision"
* The "Light" bulb of idea goes on
* Colors, Any colors.
Pay attention. what do you feel, and hear, smell and taste
Then Keep this idea in mind as you go about your life.
I had such a hard time finding the energy of this Winter Solstice Turning. Solstice fell on a saturday. Our feast is on the eve before, as the beginning of the longest night. This is how I personally have it worked out, not to say it is the only one that makes sense. On Monday before I was in dispair of being capable of carring it out at all. Even by Thursday night I only loosly had a direction. The 'power' feels subtle and illusive. The only thing that keeps coming back is that this Winter Solstice is about the Dark. Specifically not evil! About dark and the gifts offered or made possabe by the dark. The velvet quiet, the smooth excitment, the thrill of the darkness. The living breathing expectation and exaltation of senses other than sight.
This notion came from a idea I got about this Turning at 4am Solstice Eve. I awoke, and laying there in warm comfort I asked again what is the message I should offer to my family and friends. I saw: a workshop type circle of people sitting in chairs. Once everyone is settled I ask for the lights to be turned off. Then sitting in total darkness I introduce our guest speaker. This person was born totally blind. Never in her/his life has she seen light. This person is here to share with us a bit about what reality is constructed of with out light.
Try this: Sitting in TOTAL darkness, begin making a list of references to light.
* "Look" at that!
* I "See" as an understanding.
* I had a "Vision"
* The "Light" bulb of idea goes on
* Colors, Any colors.
Pay attention. what do you feel, and hear, smell and taste
Then Keep this idea in mind as you go about your life.
Winter Solstice 2012
Winter Solstice
2012
Every year for the past 17 years I have hosted a Winter Solstice Ceromony/Celebration. This year, the year of the current dire perdictions, I sit in the middle for my collection of seasonal decorations weeping wondering what I am doing this for...
I do not belive in religion. They all seem to think their way is the only way, and hate and fight anyone who does not agree.
I love the idea that it is about celebrating, seems to me we were born into everything we need to survive, the rest is up to us to do it or not, like it or not. What then. The very intricate mecinisms of the earths rythems are nothing short of magic. So for me celebrating, even worshiping the 'turnings' of our world seems a really good place to start.
So winter solstice. The Return of the Sun,( which got changed to the SON) works for me. But this time I am haveing problems finding the happy feelings about doing it. AND what about THIS year? The famous 2012! December 21, 2012!!
What if all the fears are true? What then, if this is the Last? What would you do for it? Notheing? Everything?
Terry Prachetts, Granny Wetherwax, when asked 'What do you believe or don't beleive about the Gods' ? She said ' I know a few Gods, they mostly play games, with more snakes than ladders, so no I don't have much respect for them. 'What DO you beleive in then?" She said, 'I believe in sweet tea, sunsets, that sort of thing.'
In my favorite Myth, Sam says 'you gotta believe there is something in this world worth fighting for.' 'What Sam, what is it?' Sam replys,' that there is some good in this world. Heros in the stories are never asked if they want to do this, they are there, they all want to go back, but they go on so there will be something to go back to'
I beleive a bit of both, I beleive there is something good, something beautiful worth going on for. I don't know if it is the Gods or not, but it is real and it is true. And it is ours; each and every one of us, to give and to recieve , to lift up and to be lifted up. It is being lifted by witnessing the sunrise washing the world in golden light. It is being lifted by seeing your childs face light up, espicaly if it is something you did to inspire it! It is being filled with the feeling of bubbles birsting in your chest seeing your friend laugh hard! It is the feeling you get from giving someone destitute something that makes them weep with releif............ There are countless more, you name a few. Because it is ALL that matters. ALL that matters is as little or as much as what matters to you. What you give your attention to is what becomes important.
So if this is the Last Winter Solstice what "GOD" feeling would you regret leaving?
For me, there are many, and you are one.
*I said something like that in the ceremony and I said my God feeling from each one there! What a wonderful feeling!
And by - the- way , this means You! Yes you too!
There is the deep power within each of you that you offten fear to believe in, but it is real. It is true. To me that IS the Gods power! I wish for each of you the tenacity to forgive yourself and eachother for what you feel are your short comings. Your mistakes are your friends, your teaching. Beleive in yourself and you beleive in God. Not nessearily that you ARE God ;-)
2012
Every year for the past 17 years I have hosted a Winter Solstice Ceromony/Celebration. This year, the year of the current dire perdictions, I sit in the middle for my collection of seasonal decorations weeping wondering what I am doing this for...
I do not belive in religion. They all seem to think their way is the only way, and hate and fight anyone who does not agree.
I love the idea that it is about celebrating, seems to me we were born into everything we need to survive, the rest is up to us to do it or not, like it or not. What then. The very intricate mecinisms of the earths rythems are nothing short of magic. So for me celebrating, even worshiping the 'turnings' of our world seems a really good place to start.
So winter solstice. The Return of the Sun,( which got changed to the SON) works for me. But this time I am haveing problems finding the happy feelings about doing it. AND what about THIS year? The famous 2012! December 21, 2012!!
What if all the fears are true? What then, if this is the Last? What would you do for it? Notheing? Everything?
Terry Prachetts, Granny Wetherwax, when asked 'What do you believe or don't beleive about the Gods' ? She said ' I know a few Gods, they mostly play games, with more snakes than ladders, so no I don't have much respect for them. 'What DO you beleive in then?" She said, 'I believe in sweet tea, sunsets, that sort of thing.'
In my favorite Myth, Sam says 'you gotta believe there is something in this world worth fighting for.' 'What Sam, what is it?' Sam replys,' that there is some good in this world. Heros in the stories are never asked if they want to do this, they are there, they all want to go back, but they go on so there will be something to go back to'
I beleive a bit of both, I beleive there is something good, something beautiful worth going on for. I don't know if it is the Gods or not, but it is real and it is true. And it is ours; each and every one of us, to give and to recieve , to lift up and to be lifted up. It is being lifted by witnessing the sunrise washing the world in golden light. It is being lifted by seeing your childs face light up, espicaly if it is something you did to inspire it! It is being filled with the feeling of bubbles birsting in your chest seeing your friend laugh hard! It is the feeling you get from giving someone destitute something that makes them weep with releif............ There are countless more, you name a few. Because it is ALL that matters. ALL that matters is as little or as much as what matters to you. What you give your attention to is what becomes important.
So if this is the Last Winter Solstice what "GOD" feeling would you regret leaving?
For me, there are many, and you are one.
*I said something like that in the ceremony and I said my God feeling from each one there! What a wonderful feeling!
And by - the- way , this means You! Yes you too!
There is the deep power within each of you that you offten fear to believe in, but it is real. It is true. To me that IS the Gods power! I wish for each of you the tenacity to forgive yourself and eachother for what you feel are your short comings. Your mistakes are your friends, your teaching. Beleive in yourself and you beleive in God. Not nessearily that you ARE God ;-)
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