Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey Chim chim cher-oo! I does what I likes and I likes what I do
Mary Poppins is one of my favorite movies.
I love the chimney sweep character, Bert, played by the talented Dick Van Dyke (awful fake Cockney accent aside).
Bert has some of the best lines in this clever movie! I especially love the quote above which Bert sings in the pavement artist scene.
I ponder phrases like these because they contain powerful wisdom. I does what I likes, and I likes what I do.
In fact, there are many profound lines and lyrics throughout Mary Poppins.
Is it because the movie is geared towards kids (based on the children's book series by P. L. Travers)...and there's something unguarded and open about childlikeness? Which means, a much cleaner, clearer channel for Spirit to come through?
Much like the Fool archetype, childlikeness offers a blank slate absent of preconceived notions, reticence or hyper-self-consciousness.
I does what I likes, and I likes what I do.
I want to do what I like. I also want to like what I do.
This won’t be a memorial post...I’ll do that soon. :o)
But as I was chatting to a few people on Twitter and Facebook, I realized that I’ve received compassionate, wise advice repeated often:
Be gentle with yourself.
Take it easy.
Don’t overdo it.
Of course, this is especially wonderful advice to someone who normally runs on two speeds: Inertia…and “too much is never enough”. I tend to be “all or nothing” in my approach.
As a quadruple Scorpio who has witnessed the death of three people, I’m no stranger to the deeper mysteries and scary things of life.
My first reaction leans towards extreme Hermit mode, wanting to cut off ties from “extraneous” people and “frivolous” pursuits. Then, Destroyer mode kicks in, and I want to scrap everything I’m working on and blow up every blog I run.
But the flip side of the Destroyer is the Creator…arguably the strongest archetype at play in my psyche.
Then, the Sun dawns and I remember to NOT to create means to stagnate. Stagnation equals “not growing”.
When you’re not growing, you die. That is, die before you’re dead.
My Dad wouldn’t be honored if I stagnate; it would be a form of soul-death.
Uprooting the tender shoots of planted ideas wouldn’t serve the living. Turning away from my gifts that vine their way through my writings wouldn’t serve me, either.
Yes, it’s conceivable that I, or anyone else, could “bury” themselves in work or other pursuits to “avoid feeling”.
I know what that feels like. What it looks like.
I’m grateful for well-meaning friends and colleagues reminding me to be easy on myself.
And they’re right.
Yet, I’m discovering that “easy on myself” doesn’t mean quitting writing.
Rather, it means to pay attention to what my soul wants (needs?) to communicate via words—even if only to myself in a private journal. To refuse to play the popularity game that so many writers get caught up in, especially with the admonition to “build your platform!” or “never go dark!” in social media efforts.
I remember the poets, essayists, and storytellers of old who communicated their soul without the help of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ or Klout.
These ones told stories and captured the human condition for others to ponder because they were compelled to, not necessarily because they were ABLE to.
My Dad’s death reminded me of this important distinction: If I’m not writing or communicating from a deeply authentic place, then I’m just doing it because I can. And, even if I write well—and others agree—that doesn’t mean it’s fulfilling or meaningful.
I think we extroverts may get caught up in the “how am I driving?” social media and traffic metrics more than introverts, because we usually look outward for feedback—a sounding board to echo back our effectiveness and to help us refine what we feel, think and value.
None of us know if we’ll be here 24 hours from now. Life is too short to do what deadens you.
According to the book of the same name, the 5 Love Languages are Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Quality Time, Acts of Service and Physical Touch. Thing is, your love language/s may not be what your loved ones "speak" (or "hear").
You see, there's something called the "burn toast syndrome". It goes like this:
Because his wife was in bed sick, a man got the idea to make her breakfast. He lovingly squeezed fresh oranges for juice, scrambled some eggs and darkened the toast. He finished her tray with a single red rose.
Seeing her husband carrying the tray of food towards the bed, the wife sat up and smiled. As he got closer, though, a shadow darkened her face. She couldn't take it anymore. "Why do you always make me burnt toast?!" she exclaimed...the began sobbing.
Getting a tear in his eye, the husband said, "I'm sorry, my love. Because I love burnt toast, I was just trying to offer you what I would have wanted as a favorite meal".
So it goes with the 5 Love Languages. What we "need" in order for our "love tanks" to feel full may not be what our partner, child or loved ones need. Here's a quick run-down of the Five Love Languages and what they entail:
Words of Affirmations- This is when words of praise or encouragement fills up your love tank, making you feel all fuzzy and nurtured.
Gifts - This is when you receive a homemade card, a child's drawing, a present--and it sends you over the moon with feelings of well-being.
Quality Time - This is when someone spends time with you shopping, walking, talking, drinking coffee, watching movies, reading by your side...or "just doing nothing"--and you feel like a million bucks.
Acts of Servce - This is when someone does your dishes, cooks you a meal, takes out the trash, balances the checkbook, cleans the bathroom, runs to get groceries...and your heart swells with gratitude.
Physical Touch- This is when hugs, hand-holding, pats-on-the-back, shoulder rubs, back scratches, tousling hair, tickling or horseplay makes you feel like your heart may burst.
After consider each of these, what Love Languages do you speak? What ones do your parnter speak? Your children? Your parents? Your siblings? Your friends? Remember: what you're "giving out" may very well be your Love Languages...but not the "languages" that your loved ones "speak" for a filled love tank.
Your sense of self is who you are when you’re naked. When your spouse dies, your family disowns you, your faith disappoints you, and your friends abandon you.
Your sense of self is who you are when no one is bolstering your ego or whispering flattery or patting you on the back or encouraging your progress or celebrating your achievements.
Your sense of self is who you are apart from--or without--money, a job, children, a house or a partner.
Your sense of self is who you are without crutches, embraces or applause.
It is you, alone, on the road of life.
You entered the world naked. You will leave that way.
I'm pleased to share this timely guest post by Elaine Seiler with you all!
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, the day we celebrate our caring and love for one another, for our friends, family and beloveds. Thousands of roses will be gifted, boxes of chocolates, elaborate gifts and cards conveying loving and caring sentiments exchanged.
On the surface such gift giving seems sweet, and well intentioned, but is there more to this holiday? What is the bigger picture or deeper understanding when one looks with an energetic eye at Valentine’s Day? What do we learn about our culture and ourselves when we look from a multi-dimensional perspective?
In the third dimension we function primarily from our individual selves. We reach out as personalities and want acknowledgement of our individuality. On Valentine’s Day we seek and expect our loved ones to validate us with expressions of caring. Loving ourselves is not enough; we need a physical, tangible reflection of our love-ability from others.
This often leads to disappointment and frustration in a physical world, when we can’t know one another as consciously as in the energetic realms. It is up to you to convince me that you love me and that I am lovable. And that is a very tall order.
That is what causes disappointment on Valentine’s Day. The pressure of expectation becomes enormous because one individual cannot satisfy another’s expectation. Cards give way to boxes of chocolates which give way to more and more expensive physical gifts. The items given must get bigger and better to be valuable and to convince us that we are lovable. What started out as tokens of love, have become the heavy messages - I don’t love you unless I buy you X, or I don’t love you unless I take you out and wine and dine you in an over-the-top way.
When we look at Valentine’s Day from the energetic or multi-dimensional perspective, we must first become aware that the vibrations on the planet are speeding up. As they become faster, we match our vibrations to the faster frequencies in and around us and we begin to change and evolve.
We are in a bridge or transition state right now in which we are becoming more and more energetic, but are still primarily physical beings. In this state there is more awareness that we are not just individuals. This is the beginning of our understanding that we are part of the collective in a way that fully three-dimensional individuals are not. We understand mutuality, resonance and synchronicity in a deeper way. We begin to experience one another more intuitively and instinctively than ever before.
This instantaneous ‘knowing’ of ‘the other’ leads to a greater sense of being part of the collective and a more complete feeling of self-love. As this occurs, I believe we will see a shift in our rituals. We will begin to have less and less need for Valentine’s Day. The consumerism of this holiday will diminish and the romanticized notice of the other will fall away as a charming, but antiquated recognition of the time when individuals felt compelled to state their love for one another
As we change, we will become more and more able to accept and love ourselves. Every day will be Valentine’s Day as we live in a state of loving Valentine-spirit. There will be less and less need for the outward expressions of caring. Caring will be the way. Good and loving feelings will be like breathing...we don’t celebrate breathing, we just breathe. We won’t need to celebrate love; we will be love.
In the meantime, Happy Valentine's Day!
Author and energetics expert Elaine Seiler (Sigh-ler) is at the forefront of explaining humanity's "energetic evolution" and how we can cope and thrive in the face of rapid change. Elaine is a life and career coach, researcher, mother and grandmother. In 1992, after 20 years of work as a career consultant and life coach, she discovered energetics, the study and use of multi-dimensional energies and their interplay with life on earth. She is the author of Multi-Dimensional You: Exploring Energetic Evolution and Your Multi-Dimensional Workbook: Exercises for Energetic Awakening. Learn more at www.transformationenergetics.com and www.multi-dimensionalyou.com. Contact Elaine at Elaine@transformationenergetics.com
Lovers card pictured above is from the Heart Tarot.
So I wrote this little short story last year involving a Tarot podcaster, conference and a murder.
As some of you might remember, it caused a major brouhaha—including a rather widespread hatefest involving contacting the publisher of my upcoming book (got a real lovely call the day before Thanksgiving from the owner…less than 12 hours after the story went live on Amazon), as well as individuals threatening other Tarot artists/writers to disassociate themselves from me (or else), warning Facebook friends of mine that we shared to unfriend me (or else), calling for mass unfollowing of my Twitter account/unliking my BITT, TIR and Snowland FB pages, widespread “boycott Janet Boyer” blog posts…and even rallying cries to burn my first Tarot book.
One publisher of Tarot decks even banned me from posting on their Facebook page and blog (regardless that I hadn’t visited their social media presences for some time). Others actually stated that I’m capable of murder, was plotting murder and/or should be sued for my “criminality”.
Some spent their time speculating on my mental state, including throwing around psychological disorders and what meds I must be on (or should be on…or, perhaps, am not taking). About a dozen wrote nasty “reviews” of my short story on Amazon, showing their true colors (that bled rather differently than their “loving earth mama” or “I’m so spiritual” online personas).
One even went so far to lay out a curse-laden blog rant, saying she hoped I burned in hell…and that all sorts of bad things would befall my family.
More widespread than you thought, huh?
Of course, I didn’t answer most of these public antics, even when they involved fellow Tarot deck creators or artists lying about their associations with me or otherwise throwing me under the bus amidst the mass hysteria.
And really, this post isn’t about the appalling behavior of many in the online Tarot community, which made them look far, far worse than my first attempt at publishing a short story accompanied by a clear description, including a caveat (that they had to buy via Amazon, mind you).
If I weren’t a stronger woman, I may have given up both Tarot writing and fiction writing in the face of such pettiness, assumption and revulsion. Granted, the last three months haven’t been the easiest.
But it has gotten better!
You know, when you show a different side of yourself that others don’t want to see (or don’t expect), some crazy things can happen. This is why some couples split up when one individual starts to show her whole self (that she hid during dating) or when another begins a path to spiritual growth…and his partner would like him to stay just as he is, thankyouverymuch.
Sometime, somewhere, someone got it into her head that working with/reading Tarot equals spirituality, godliness or perfection (read: in alignment with my idea of what is “right” or “good” or “appropriate”).
Deepak Chopra once said, “The measure of your enlightenment is the degree to which you are comfortable with paradox, contradiction and ambiguity”.
Obviously, most are not even in the ballpark of enlightenment, because any action that violates a preconceived expectation or desired response results in the types of “micro” things I described earlier. Not surprisingly, these types of behaviors are the seeds to what causes rifts, marginalization, bullying, bigotry, discrimination, violence, war and genocide on the “macro” level.
Interesting, no?
So what does this have to do with “switching genres”?
Well, writers take pennames for a reason. The most common reasons are twofold: 1. They want to “hide” a side of them (from family, faith, culture, tribe or employer) 2. They want to differentiate one “side” of them from another
Take, for instance, author James Scott Bell. I’ve known him as an author of excellent writing craft books but, until recently, I didn’t realize he was also a Christy-award winning Christian novelist.
Last year, Mr. Bell decided to create the penname K. Bennett, saying it was to help him separate his new fiction series from his past work…especially for the sake of his readers. What is he now writing about? A female zombie lawyer practicing in L.A.!
Brilliant…but, knowing how pitchfork-prone Christians can be, I can totally see why he decided on a penname for his zombie-at-law series. (For the record, I used to be an ordained Pentecostal pastor…so I know of what I speak).
Turns out, many in the online “Tarot community” are quite pitchforky, too. Had I written my short story under a pseudonym, I may have avoided all this vitriol (maybe not, but who knows?) Individuals went so far to assume that the twisted protagonist in my short story WAS me, that the scenario was based on “real life” (yeah, like I have dozens of bottles marked XXX laying around my house)…and that I was plotting to do what my protagonist did. And that my fictional story was actually a “rant” based in actuality.
Bizarre, huh?
Many who glom onto the “Tarot community” label find comfort and support among their fellow “Tarotholics”. Why? Because they have been marginalized from their own family, community or faith of origin for thinking or being “different”. Ironic, isn’t it, when “one of their Tarot own” acts or thinks differently…and receives similar treatment by their hands.
Now, the reason Stephen King, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, John Sandford, Chelsea Cain and Jeff Lindsay don’t get this kind of reaction is because they have built their careers or writing about twisted, violent and/or repulsive folks.
But what happens if you start out as a minister? A Christian author?
Or, like me, someone known for her Mind/Body/Spirit non-fiction?
They want you to stay in that box they’ve built for you. They want to be able to predict and approve of your behavior. No coloring outside the lines. No flexing the creative muscles. No writing outside of your traditional genre. No “acting differently” from what they think the box defines as “appropriate” to your personhood, authorhood or even your “spirituality”.
When you see it here in black and white, it looks pretty absurd, doesn’t it?
And yet, it happens all the time for those who decide to march to a different tune. Some, with minor, albeit troubling, consequences (like mine). Others, with far more serious (even deadly) results.
So other than losing your preexisting author platform, are there dangers to switching genres as a writer? Absolutely.
I just hope your genre switcheroo, should you choose to accept it, is less painful and messy than my own has been…
I say the difference between spirituality and religion is that the former acknowledges the myriad, and necessary, facets of our material being as a vehicle for the Divine (a spirit having a human experience) while religion encourages the compartmentalization and banishment of various “selves” (a human striving to attempt to reach the Divine).
Is it any wonder why so many are fractured? Hateful? Adoring?
Because to hate or admire another person, or a particular trait, is to project unclaimed parts of yourself outwards to an “other”.
Spirituality is the yin/yang. It’s both dark and light. It’s the whole. It’s acknowledge that all parts of our Self have a reason for being…and that reason is to manifest the Divine in our own unique, glorious way. It is whole. It is “us”.
Religion seeks to be either “white” or “black”…never both. It is fragmented. It is bad/good, right/wrong, holy/profane, materialistic/sacred. It is divided. It is “us” versus “them”.
Readers, what do you say? Is there a difference between spirituality and religion? If so, what?
People will write off even the clearest, most loving person in the world when he opposes their belief system. They will invalidate him, negate him, obliterate him, prove that he's wrong, he's a fraud, he's dangerous to society, so that they can protect what they really believe is important. They'd rather be right than free. -- Byron Katie
I thought he was evolved.
I thought she was spiritual.
I thought you had a relationship with God.
Ever hear any of these statements in relation to an author, a teacher or a minister? Or perhaps, even had these kind of statements leveled right in your direction?
I’m always a bit amused when I hear a person say these kind of things about someone.
Even more amused when it’s said to me.
What does it mean to be “spiritual”? And, what is the benefit of defining such a thing? Isn’t that what religion has done for years?
What happens when you go outside the boundaries of dogma? Excommunication and exclusion at best—persecution, discrimination, stake burned or attacked in crusades, at worst.
I once posted about eating bacon on my Facebook page. An occult author (who rarely interacted with me), replied “As a spiritual person, I can’t believe you eat meat and participate in the torture of pigs who…” Her post went on for several lines.
I thought she was joking at first. But then I realized, “OMG. She really believes this. She MEANS this!”
Suddenly, in her eyes, I was “unspiritual” for eating meat.
Sorry, I didn’t get that memo from the Divine.
Then there’s my favorite: spiritual people act nice and sugary to others. (Unless, of course, they get offended, irked or pissed. Then, the gloves come off, and what’s inside comes out. Except, these ones call their reactions “righteous anger” or “holy indignation”…which is, apparently, perfectly acceptable.)
Apparently, I didn’t get that memo, either.
Nor did Jesus (read his words to the Pharisees, the “religious” people of the day), Gurdjieff and other Rude Awakeners.
Enlightenment and spiritual awakening rarely occur in the House of Nice or the House of Appropriate. (Uncle Al, anyone? How about Timothy Leary?)
Why? Because human tendency slouches towards inertia. People enjoy complacency. Millions numb themselves with TV shows, online games, socializing, alcohol, drugs, food and relationships. We don’t want to feel any discomfort, especially in the west—physically, emotionally or spiritually.
The beauty of the Trickster archetype, the Cosmic Rude Awakener, lies in its ability to pierce the veil, to lift the fog, to sound a clarion call. This energy manifests in myth as trickster gods like Hermes, Blue Jay, Coyote, Loki, Raven and so on, as well as in literature and film (Brer Rabbit, The Joker, The Riddler, Star Trek’s Q, come to mind).
The gift of the Trickster? Cracking our clueless veneer, our blind obeisance, our unquestioned beliefs, our fickle loyalties and our capricious “likes” or “loves”—and making us see, know and experience directly…for perhaps the very first time in our lives.
How can such beings be “unspiritual”, especially if they are the very catalyst to shake us, stir us and enliven us—to crack the shell of delusion and slumber, allowing the juicy center of our Being to manifest? To help us discover self-defined reality, truth and meaning?
Unmoving bodies of water get stagnant. There is no life in them (think Dead Sea). But moving, churning water—with an inlet and outlet, multiple channels running through the terrain? Teeming with life.
It’s been said “better the devil that you know than the devil you don’t”.
What devil do you know? What devil do you not?
So what are your thoughts, readers? What is “spiritual”? Why? Really think about this and test it against universal wisdom teachings, life experience and your personal truth. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Also, have you ever been deemed "unspiritual" or even "evil"? Care to share your story here?
Before I go, here are but a few things that people have declared “unspiritual”, “ungodly” or “demonic” over the years. Gives this post some perspective, doesn’t it?
• Music • Sex • Homosexuality • Food • Alcohol • Smoking • Dancing • Aggression • Boldness • Short hair • Long hair • Bare arms • Bare face • Makeup • Bowling • Pants on a female • Divination • Praying to spirits • Honoring nature • Absenteeism from church • Not reading holy scriptures • Lack of prayer • Ambition • Female ministers • Eating meat • Eating shrimp • Wearing clothes of different colors or materials • Making sacrifices • Not making sacrifices • Watching movies • Associating with “unspiritual”, “unclean” or "shunned" people
I'll leave you with a little example of Jesus the badass:
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.”. . . Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. . . . Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. . . . Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? (Matthew 23:13-33)
As the American holiday of Thanksgiving fast approaches, I wanted to take a moment to share my gratitude for supportive colleagues--many who have turned into friends over the years. Thank you, all.
One such person is Judika Illes, consummate independent scholar and wise woman. Judika was instrumental in the publication of my first book, Back in Time Tarot. I treasure her friendship, value her research and admire her contribution to both esoterica and practical spirituality.
Judika's latest book--Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages--is yet another gift to the metaphysical community. HarperOne, her publisher, sent me an extra copy by mistake...so I thought it would be a wonderful way to celebrate the season of giving by offering you a chance to win it!
All you need to do to be entered into the random drawing is to include TWO elements in your one comment: 1. What you are MOST thankful for this Thanksgiving (stories more than welcome!) and 2. The mystic, saint, sage or wise person that MOST inspires you right now. That's it!
Comments are open right now, and will close for the drawing Monday, November 28, 2011 at 10 AM EST. Because of shipping costs, only commenters living in the contiguous United States are eligible for this particular giveaway (this book is heavy!). I trust you understand. However, if you live elsewhere and want to share (I hope you will!), just mention that you live outside the allowed area but wanted to chime in on the gratitude fest.
Let the thankfulness begin (and good luck)! (P.S. I may even put your entries in one big gratitude post. The world NEEDS more good news and uplifting stories, don't you think?)
Years ago, I belonged to a church with a dynamic pastor. His sermons were engaging and practical, mostly empowering and uplifting.
One of the sermons stuck with me, a homily dealing with “averages”.
The minister, speaking from a rather traditional stance mind you, said that God doesn’t measure our lives by a few instances…but rather, “averages”. And, he encouraged the congregation not to judge their life based on a few acts, either, but rather, how they lived “on average”.
What a fantastic concept, especially for those with extreme inner critics that like to cut off at the knees!
The point being that we’re all human, we all make mistakes, and we all have quirks that may not “measure up” to either our own standards or values, or those of others. (After all, in the Greek, the word for “sin”—hamartia—is an archery term that merely means to “miss the mark”).
I’ve found that this “taking the averages” approach a great way for choosing whose ideas, teachings or influence permeates my boundaries.
However, as a public figure, I’ve found it interesting to witness how easily some—especially in the insular (incestuous?) online Tarot world (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re not a part of it, so no worries!)—throw the “baby out with the bath water” (see Part 1 at this link).
For example, some have fawned all over me, Ron, and Snowland Tarot on our Facebook page. They call the images “brilliant”, “innovative”, “inspired” or “extraordinary”. They take time to share how the images affects them, or connect to esoterica or the “down and dirty of life”.
But then, a few join an online Facebook group I was a part of…and see the 5 of Wands or 7 of Swords or Magician part of Janet (as an example). Janet, when in groups, is prone to “shakes things up”…on purpose. Why? Because nothing grows in stagnant pools or manifests without contrast to “goody two shoes light and love”. Because she serves Trickster for a greater cause. Because innovators and pioneers don’t fit snugly among groupthink.
Forgive me for slipping into 3rd person there, but who I am—my soul, spirit, the part without the human trappings, whatever you want to call it—isn’t my earthly persona(s) nor the roles I play. The archetypal masks I don as service TO my soul, and as service for others and the higher good, are not ME. Likewise, the archetypal patterns that YOU play out on a frequent basis. (See, that’s where we get tripped up: confusing our archetypal patterns with Who We Are or what Someone Else Is).
So, I’ve noticed how people have “unliked” the Snowland Tarot Facebook page, or unfriended me on Facebook, or blocked me on Twitter. Interestingly, some of these were the same ones that have gushed over me, my books, my reviews, Ron’s art, the Snowland Tarot concept and so on.
What changed?
These ones—and I’m assuming they’re not just sycophants—loved a large body of work (whether reviews, one of my books, my blogs, Ron’s images, etc.). But something they witnessed, a small snapshot of behavior, caused them to “throw out” the majority of what (they said) they loved.
Interesting, no?
Someone reads a post or Tweet or review that upsets them and—POOF!—their fandom ceases.
Imagine a scale, if you will.
On one side is all the good, desirable, appreciated, stimulating, informative, fresh, agreed with, helpful, beautiful, fill-in-the-blank things that make them “fans” or “likers” or “followers” or even “friends”. Looks pretty darn heaping, that side of the scale.
On the other side of the scale, toss one or a few incidents, comments, reviews, or observations that generate discomfort, disagreement or conflict. Small pile, if that.
But somehow, in the eyes of a viewer, that small pile somehow outweighs all the “perceived good”. Thus, I, my work or Snowland Tarot or whatever…gets tossed out. Janet is now a pariah—excluded, blocked, banned and ignored or, worse, stalked, harassed and slandered.
It’s not just me or my work, either.
How many times have we admired, enjoyed, praised or benefited from someone or his work and, he makes a misstep or says something we don’t like or does something we disagree with and—POOF!—we effectively erase him and his influence out of our lives.
What does this say about us?
How do we grow when the people we admire or respect do what we like or want 100% of the time? Where is the learning through contrast? And what if that admired one eventually screws up (in our eyes)? Says something that upsets us?
Are we then off to the next person who will stroke our egos or make us feel fuzzy or tell us what we want to hear or ensures we stay in our comfort zones?
When I wrote down my intuitive process for working with the Tarot and turned it into my book Back in Time Tarot, my greatest hope wasn't for astronomical sales or gazillions in royalties (yeah, like that can happen with a Tarot book of any stripe!).
Sure, I've always wanted to write a book and have it traditionally published. Some day. And sure, it was a great feeling when it happened in 2008.
But what I really hoped and wanted for Back in Time Tarotwas individuals discovering the amazing layers of intuitive gold buried in memories and their perceptions of stories, songs, art, myths, TV shows, news items, historical events, renowned figures and more.
By mining these "everyday" experiences--whether mundane or profound, joyful or traumatic--and then pairing them with consciously chosen Tarot cards, I knew that a powerful link would form between waking reality and the personal unconscious, the material plane and the vast storehouse of symbols, archetypes and intuitive vision (the collective unconscious).
However, the BIT Tarot Method requires work. Plumbing intuitive depths, putting in the time to excavate memories and unearthing the soul is not for the faint of heart. Not only does it require actual physical work (creating a BIT Snapshot, choosing the corresponding Tarot cards and journaling the connections), but deep spiritual, soul work (so much so that this method has reportedly helped people to heal from emotional trauma and actual physical injury--not to mention "blown open" their Third Eye Chakra).
And frankly? People are lazy. Even Tarot people. They want their meanings handed to them for easy digestion and regurgitation. They want experts to tell them the "right" way or the "best" way or the "estoteric-let-me-bore-you-to-tears" way. But create your own meanings? Discover your own inner library? Nuh uh. Not for most. And that's OK! Not everyone is on the Earth at this time for intense soul work!
But when I encounter a brave soul who dives head first in any profound soul work--wow. I smile and give a hearty, silent hell yeah! to them as I witness their amazing journey.
Thanks to the internet, one ways we can witness extraordinary soul journeys is through blogs. I'm privileged to have met a wonderful soul named Michael Baneulos--aka Modern Day Oracle--who bought my book just a few days ago...but already has three incredible blog posts already up detailing his experience with the BIT Tarot Method.
You can visit Michael's site and read his posted experience with my BIT Tarot Method here, here and here.
To say I'm honored, humbled, excited to read Michael's responses to the Your Turn exercise from Back in Time Tarot--well, those apt terms would be an understatement to how I feel, to be perfectly honest. To somehow contribute to a person's going deeper, wider and higher with their symbolic sight and personal growth...wow. That's what I'm all about. That's my purpose.
Thank you, Michael, for buying my book and supporting my work. But what I'm most appreciative of is your courage, commitment and transparency to share your BIT Snapshots with the world. I'm benefiting from your blogs posts, and I'm sure others will, too.
I'll leave you all with two interesting quotes relevant to this blog post. One is a Facebook status update from the revered dream expert, author and shaman Robert Moss. He wrote: Physicists David Bohm and L. David Peat got it right: it takes "courage, energy and passion" to break out of consensual and habitual patterns of thinking. ("Science, Order and Creativity").
The other is a quote from the Illuminara Intuitive Journal With Cardsthat I'm working with right now (which is quite similiar to my BIT Tarot Method, but used with her special art cards). Author and artist Elaine Clayton writes:
When I first began reading intuitively, all of this associative memory came to me as vibrant information when interpreting during a reading. My own meanings and symbols emerged and spoke during the readings, coupled with the spiritual, healing sensation that you get when you know that you and every person alive are part of God and that we are all connected...
I knew that my intuition was linked to those personal meanings I had stored inside of me. Those meanings were not factual or rational, but they were potent and seemed to be a part of an inner library, a pictorial language of my own, a guidance system that I could use for myself and share with others.
Hard to believe, but not all writers love to write.
Me? I usually have a notebook (er, many notebooks) on hand to jot down ideas. I’m not picky: I’ve been known to write down ideas on book jacket covers, bookmarks, grocery lists, receipts, Kleenex…
Some of these ideas turn into full-blown blog posts, reviews, social media postings, portions of eBooks or even parts of a book proposal.
But what if you write (and read and think) so much, you neglect your well-being?
If you love brainstorming and writing and much as I do, you may be swept along in “creator’s high”—a place of exhilarating, tantalizing “what ifs” and the magical birthplace of readable, usable, helpful content.
As I sometimes joke to my husband, “I’m only alive from the neck up”.
And that can present a problem. Or two.
Here’s a recent example: I was experiencing unusual fatigue and sleepiness over the weekend. This lasted two, three days.
My husband said, “You’re dehydrated.”
Whaaa? Me? But, but…I drink three cups of coffee a day! And ginger ale! And sweet tea (decaffeinated!), brewed with loving hands with fresh mint from the garden!
“How much water do you drink?”, he asks solemnly.
No sooner than he asks me this, the other half of the Boyer health police comes barreling in from the other room: “She never drinks water! I even filled up a bottle for her!”
Sigh. Just write me a citation and leave me the hell alone.
Then, Ron mentions a health article he had just read on the symptoms of dehydration.
Lethargy? Check.
Fuzzy thinking? Check.
Yikes.
Isn’t it funny how we tend to ignore our loved ones, even with they are the (divine?) messengers of health and well-being?
What’s up with that? Do we not trust their observations and wisdom? After all, they know us better than anyone!
So today, I’m contemplating how I, as a writing-loving writer, can take better care of myself. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
Physical:
• Drink more water • Sit outside, on the grass • Take deeper, longer breaths • Cut back on coffee • Get moving or walking • Don’t “push through” aches or pains • Make more food “from scratch”
Mental:
• Take time to just “space out” and daydream • Read just for fun (no reviewing in mind!) • Allow thoughts to attach to clouds, then drift by • Watch old black-and-white movies with Noah • Any ideas that arise, write them on note cards for later consideration
Emotional:
• Cuddle more with the kitties • Pursue peace and joy in the moment • Put on feel-good music of choice • Take time to “feel” feelings (Aquarius Moon here!)
Spiritual:
• Check in with my values. Am in living in alignment with them? • Practice loving-kindness meditation • Talk with The Helpers • Actively contemplate a Tarot card or sacred object • Bless others who are brought to mind
In just 24-hours after writing this list, I’ve already referred to it—and used it—twice. It may not stop me from drinking Starbucks (I’m on my second cup of Colombia at this typing) or working marathon hours every time, but at least by mindfully considering this self-care for writers prescription, I can ameliorate some of the drawbacks of being a writing-loving writer and obsessive creative.
What about you, dear reader? What areas of life might yoube neglecting? What steps can you take to increase your own well-being? What self-care tips and tricks can you offer to your fellow writers and obsessive creatives? I'd love to hear your insights in the comments section below!
This afternoon, I watched the 1936 black and white movie Little Lord Fauntleroy with my 12-year-old son. A heartwarming, well-acted film, what struck me most about the storyline is how our vision of a person—what we hold to be true about them, the “picture” in our mind—not only affects how we treat them, but, possibly, what they end up becoming.
In the movie, based on the 1886 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the English Captain Errol dies, leaving his young American wife and their son, Cedric in “genteel poverty” in Brooklyn.
One day, a lawyer named Havisham visits them, saying that Cedric is next in line to become Lord Fauntleroy because his grandfather is Duke of Dorincourt—and he has no living sons to pass on his lineage. The ill-tempered, cold-hearted Duke wants to raise the boy in his English castle, giving him everything he could ever wish for, with one stipulation: the mother, Mrs. Errol, may not live with them in the castle (the grandfather is decidedly anti-American).
Fortunately, the Duke provides her with a nice house and staff nearby the castle, so at least the son can visit her every day.
The point of this blog post, though, is the dynamics and expectations between the mother, young Cedric and the aristocratic grandfather.
Because Mrs. Errol sees the opportunity to give her son a better life, she agrees to the arrangement. Although disappointed and saddened, she isn’t bitter. Knowing that if her son realizes the stipulation for their move to England (that she not live with them in the castle) he would likely be resentful of his grandfather, the mother doesn’t tell him.
Like his mother, the boy is kind and polite. He takes his gentle disposition with him into the castle, none the wiser as to why he must live apart from his mother (she admonishes him to not ask questions and just trust that he’ll understand some day).
Thrilled to meet his grandfather, Cedric takes to him right away. Soon after, the lawyer Havisham confides to the Duke that the mother didn’t tell Cedric that it was the grandfather keeping them apart—which understandably surprises the Duke.
Most mothers in that situation, even kind and sensible ones, would be angry that they couldn’t be with their child. But Mrs. Errol has an overreaching vision, understanding that her attitude and opinion will affect her son—and thus, the attitude and opinion of Cedric towards his grandfather.
Choosing to hold a vision of a kindly man with good intentions, not to mention a better future for her son, Mrs. Errol passes on this “picture” to Cedric. Thus, Cedric treats his grandfather with affection.
And it doesn’t take long for the Duke to take to the endearing grandson. The Duke transforms into a kind, playful and benevolent ruler to the town’s residents—largely because of how Cedric treats him, but also because of how Cedric treats others with respect, generosity and warmth.
Now what if Mrs. Errol chose to infect her son with vitriol—griping about her selfish father-in-law, complaining that they must be separated, asserting that his prohibition was not only unfair, but also unnecessary…?
What if she called the Duke names, monikers easily thrown about in the throes of emotional distress and, in some ways, accurate: self-centered, divisive, cruel and so on?
Not only would her attitude and judgment have affected her son’s view of his grandfather, but it would have also affected what the Duke ended up becoming: benevolent, fulfilled, joyful, connected and magnanimous.
That was my “takeaway” from the movie Little Lord Fauntleroy: how we choose to see others, in the present moment, and how we choose to speak about them (privately and publicly) may, in fact, affect their evolutionary trajectory.
It’s no secret that if you tell a child that he’s worthless, he’ll likely grow up to feel inadequate. If you tell a girl she’s bad, she’ll grow up to feel defective. These are no-brainers.
But have you considered that how you see, treat and speak about your contemporaries, your fellow adults, may not only affect their actions and choices in life—but also what they become? What a concept! What a responsibility!
So before you choose to exclude someone from your circle, consider Little Lord Fauntleroy and the gift that his mother gave him.
Before you speak ill of someone, throwing about a convenient label you hope to be propagated because of your own issues, consider how your “vision” may affect him or her…and everyone they end up touching.
Consider that the vision you hold of another may very well be your mirror.
What do you want to become?
What do you wish for your fellow traveler?
Your thoughts, attitude, words and action may hold the answer to these profound questions.
I first heard of Sonia Ricotti as a fellow Hampton Roads author. I LOVED her book Law of Attraction Plain and Simple, primarily because it was one of the most clear and sensible treatments of the LOA that I had ever read.
When I heard she was coming out with a new book (this time, from the wonderful folks at New Page Books), I couldn't WAIT to read it! I just finished Unsinkable: How to Bounce Back Quickly When Life Knocks You Down a few days ago (review forthcoming) and it's so inspirational. If you're "stuck" or discouraged, I think you'll love Unsinkable--because it's packed with practical wisdom, grounded insights and Sonia's characteristic warmth.
For now, here's an excerpt from Unsinkable, in the section about faith. Enjoy!
Have Faith in What Will Be
Faith is an interesting word. When I researched it in various dictionaries, I found that it has many meanings and definitions. I have also found that it means different things to different people. To some, faith is a religious term; to others it represents hope and belief in something, but regardless of what the word means to you, faith can offer comfort when you are faced with challenging experiences.
I found my favorite definition of the word in the English Word Dictionary:
Faith: A strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.
An “unshakeable belief”—those words really ring true to me; believing in something beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Faith is what I had when everything in my life felt as thought it was falling apart. Without it, I’m not sure how I would have gotten through everything. Believing in something bigger than myself, believing that everything was going to be okay, believing that something incredible was going to come out of it is what helped me move from the deep darkness toward the light.
…Think of a time in the past when something major happened in your life when you thought it was the worst thing that could possibly have happened. Then, a month, a year, or two years later you realized it was the best thing that ever happened to you.
It may not be clear right now why things are happening the way they are. But having faith and trust that it is all unfolding as it is supposed to can having a calming effect when you are in the midst of a chaotic storm. Have faith that it is all unfolding for a higher purpose. Be patient. The purpose will reveal itself with time—if you allow it to.
Click here to see the Unsinkable page on the New Page Books website. Click here to visit Sonia's website. Click here to order Unsinkable from Amazon.com in hardcover, and here for Kindle.
Our wise resident sage Mr. Noah just declared he should be cat-mind, not monkey-mind.
In Buddhism, the monkey mind describes the mental state of turmoil or racing thoughts. Noah, our 12-year old, is currently reading The Mindful Child by Susan K. Greeland. Although geared towards parents, teachers and caregivers, I asked Noah to read it for his own benefit.
Through mindfulness practices such as watching the breath and focusing on the present moment, Noah has benefited greatly in managing stressful thoughts and emotions. I taught him about the "monkey mind", and how it likes to squeal and yell--jumping from one thing to the next.
Apparently, my little lesson took root...because he just made the above comment about wanting a "cat-mind".
We often observe our cats, Neo and Stuart, and I point out how they have no worries of the future, nor do they beat themselves up for the past. They just ARE--and are enjoying every minute of their beingness!
So what kind of mind would YOU like today?
-- Janet (Mom to Noah--another Renaissance Soul Ablaze)
Whether in the Tarot community or Self Help circles, some people use the word “ego” like it’s a bad thing.
But guess what? That ego thing? It’s a shield to help us interface in this world of duality, this realm of chaos. Without it, most would go nuts.
Yes, it may be constructed of defense mechanisms, personas, disowned parts, and brilliant traits and the cleverly crafted stories we tell ourselves.
And so…what?
Our Ego is the equivalent to the Sun card in Tarot. Interestingly, the Hebrew letter Resh is associated with The Sun.
And what does Resh mean? Head. Or Face. As in, “big head” or “losing face”?
See, that’s where the trouble comes in…when our Ego has us competing against others instead of ourselves…when we worry about “them” and what “they” think.
But that Ego? It’s a lot like a hermit crab’s shell. And isn’t it interesting that The Chariot, another card often associated with “Ego”, is associated with the sign of Cancer…the crab who carries his home on his back.
So what would it look like to get rid of “Ego” anyway? Would you know what it looked like, considering you’re still a human living in a dualistic world?
Why WOULD you want to get rid of your Ego? Maybe it’s what’s keeping you from cracking up…or keeping your on your self-determined course towards an authentic life.
But wait: could it be that some confuse Ego with confidence? With “knowing thyself”…or living by the adage “to thine own self be true”? How could you spot the difference?
For example, I just read somewhere that "The Universe doesn't like a smart ass." SO not true! That's that "tall poppy" bullshit someone created to keep people small and quiet.
Just like the face you present to the world, that “first impression” (or typical M.O.), is what makes you…you. It’s the vehicle your soul chose to incarnate within. I mean, how great is that?! And besides, you can't even attempt to transcend the ego if you don't first embrace it and use it.
But why in heaven's name would you want to get rid of the ego, anyway? Maybe you don’t even know it well (yet). But you can. Just ask The Hermit. He has the Sun in his lamp, and will give it to you whenever you desire to go within.
“Superheroes have learned to live without false boundaries between the personal and the universal. Too often we identify only with an ego that drags around a bag of skin and bones. This then becomes a socially conditioned boundary that leads to a limited sense of self.” -- From the book
Although only 167-pages, this books packs a quantum KAPOW! by showing readers the connection between superhero strengths and the Universal Field that mere humans can access, channel and embody for an integrated earthly existence.
According to Chopra—who uses diverse examples ranging from Silver Surfer to Icarus, Ram to Zeus, Jehovah to Spider-Man, Storm to Daredevil, Jesus to Superman—deities, legends and superheroes contain both the projections and potentialities of humans. By reading and studying their archetypal stories, we can learn what makes them “super”, understand their fatal flaws, discover what orchestrates their triumph over darkness (whether from within or without) and apply these quantum lessons to our own life journey.
And, in The Seven Laws of Superheroes, Chopra connects the dots for readers, so even those who may be clueless about Doctor Strange, Beyonder, Lord Ravan and the like can understand the import of their stories for human potential and, indeed, global transformation.
1. The Law of Balance 2. The Law of Transformation 3. The Law of Power 4. The Law of Love 5. The Law of Creativity 6. The Law of Intention 7. The Law of Transcendence
To give you a taste of some of the BOFF! wisdom in this book, here’s a few of my favorite quotes:
• Superheroes understand that the moment they label or define themselves, they limit themselves.
• In superhero lore, the shadow often appears as the supervillain, but don’t be fooled. In truth, the supervillain is just the superhero who’s been sabotaged by an imbalance in the self…Maintaining that you do not have a shadow is actually denial of it, or standing in total darkness, cut off from the world. If you stand in the light, as superheroes do, then you will always see your shadow. With this awareness, the bright light of higher consciousness can keep an eye on the shadow saboteur.
• Superheroes like Silver Surfer don’t just tap into the qualities of higher consciousness; they embody them. Like the great prophets, their selflessness comprises the highest ideals that we value as a civilization. When they look upon the world and everyone in it, they see themselves and ask, “How can I make things better?’
• Superheroes don’t have to solve all of life’s mysteries, because they ARE life’s mysteries. With his knowledge, superheroes learn to do less and accomplish more and ultimately do nothing and accomplish everything.
• The superhero is independent of the good and bad opinions of others.
In less adept hands, correlating comic book heroes and mythological greats with practical self-help, spiritual truths and human actualization might result in a superficial mash-up of commercial (rather than cosmic) proportions. SPLATT!
But not with Deepak and Gotham steering the galactic superhero ship! No, we get the best of comics and culture—yes, both commercial and cosmic—but this father/son team demonstrates how we can reinvent our individual and collective stories to awaken dormant excellence, activate latent skills, intend for a better future and then DO SOMETHING to make our world a better place.
How cool is that?
ZOWIE!
To get your copy from Amazon, click here. For the Kindle version, click here. (By clicking those links and making any purchase--at any time--a few coins are tossed my way as an Amazon Associate, which helps me pay for hosting costs + more. Thank you!)
One of my favorite pastimes is walking around our huge yard, checking out the growth of trees, shrubs, plants and vines. Has the honeysuckle bloomed yet? Do I need to thread more of its vines along the wire fence? How’s my mint doing? Wow, the Asian lilies are about to unfurl! And look how fast that maple tree, planted from a tiny sapling, grows by the month!
Around chez Boyer, I call this the “3 hour tour” (swiped from the Gilligan’s Island theme song). In fact, I often enlist hubby for the tour—and we stroll around, marveling at the lush foliage and new life we often discover. (If I’m lucky, I can even talk him into transplanting hostas!)
During my 3 hour tours, I often contemplate the Empress archetype (which is natural enough), but also her consort, The Emperor. Tarot enthusiasts tend to associate The Empress with the garden, but The Emperor’s role is just as important. In fact, although she’s often venerated, The Empress—left to her own devices—can be quite destructive in this domain.
It is The Emperor that tills the ground and makes uniform rows for sowing. He also selects the seed or sprouts, often planting them according to an arranged grid or planned harvest.
The Empress nurtures and fertilizes everything in the soil—weeds and desired plants alike. She also nurtures blights and devouring insects, embodying the two sides of the Creator/Destroyer archetype.
The Emperor hoes and weeds the garden, even going so far to erect fences to keep out thieving animals. It is The Emperor who tries out home remedies like spearmint chewing gum to ward off invading groundhogs.
The Empress, however, cheers on pest and pollinator, beetle and butterfly, drought and torrents. It’s all the same to her.
The Emperor, at times overly aggressive in setting and enforcing boundaries, may resort to using poison or chemicals to keep weeds or pests in check. When The Emperor is on a schedule, and he usually is, he’d rather save time and energy by using harsh means to eradicate unwanted nuisances, rather than the slower, more thoughtful process of investigating and implementing less harmful practices.
The Empress generously gives her bounty—dirt, sun, rain and soil-aerating worms. These gifts grow a garden, often producing a delectable harvest enjoyed by both man and beast. Her offerings nourish and strengthen, fill and comfort.
However, her efforts can be short-circuited by the zeal of The Emperor, who wants to get the most out of his land—even if it means ignoring the important cycle of fallowness.
While The Empress loves wildness—the twisting vines, enmeshed stems and creeping foliage—The Emperor recognizes that suckers need plucked and branches need pruned. After all, if non-producing outlets continue to use up vital reserves, the main stems, fruits, vegetables and flowers may suffer.
So The Emperor gets out his shears and clip, clip, clips away. It is the topiary creator or the Bonsai sculptor that falls under the aegis of this archetype.
But it’s a delicate balance.
If he chops or cuts too much, he will kill the plant or tree.
In our neck of the woods here in Pennsylvania, we get something called “monkey vines”. They are quite beautiful, even producing plump, purple berries. When they cover dead shrub or fences, they can be lovely. In fact, they are beneficial for the birds that eat their fruit. However, this invasive species also covers bushes, trees, flowers…whatever it can sink its tendrils into. It can cause damage…massive damage. Ron and I have spent hours pulling them down from pine trees, often resuscitating these majestic ones from their sun-deprived ailments. And boy has it made a difference to these trees!
Mother nature propagates these vines, but its Emperors like us who cut them back so that multiple more species can survive and thrive.
As in a garden, The Empress and The Emperor dichotomy plays out in our lives in many ways. To extend the metaphor, if life is a garden, then what are the weeds? The fruit? The pests? The suckers? The unattractive but necessary worms? The warm sun? Refreshing water? How do unwanted trespassers enter our plot—and how do we welcome them, tolerate them, or eradicate them? Where must fences be erected in our life…and are we keeping the right things out and the good things in?
The Emperor often gets a bad rap among Tarotists, especially feminists and the patriarchal-adverse. Yet, like The Empress, he, too, is needed for balance, healthy growth and a sustainable future...in not only an actual garden, but also our relationships, energy, time and endeavors.
Before I go to sleep, I open to a random passage to read and contemplate—a bit of bedtime bibliomancy I guess you could say. The last two days, I’ve been chewing on this portion of Emerson’s essay "Compensation":
"The good are befriended even by weakness and defect. As no man had ever a point of pride that was not injurious to him, so no man had ever a defect that was not somewhere made useful to him. The stag in the fable admired his horns and blamed his feet, but when the hunter came, his feet saved him, and afterwords, caught in the thicket, his horns destroyed him. Every man in his lifetime needs to thank his faults. As no man thoroughly understands a truth until he has contended against it, so no man has a thorough acquaintance with the hindrances or talents of men until he has suffered from the one and seen the triumph of the other over his own want of the same. Has he a defect of temper that unfits him to live in society? Thereby he is driven to entertain himself alone and acquire habits of self-help; and thus, like the wounded oyster, he mends his shell with pearl. Our strength grows out of our weakness…”
After re-reading this portion many times (Emerson isn’t an author to gulp down!), I realized that his insights could be turned into a profoundly illuminating spread that could be used with any Tarot or oracle deck. I call it the Horns and Hooves spread:
Horns and Hooves Spread
1. Trait Admired (Horns) 2. How is this trait a downfall? A weakness? 3. Trait Despised (Hooves) 4. How is this trait useful? A strength? 5. What do I need to “mend my shell with pearl”? (Advice towards wholeness and integration)
You could select cards 1 and 3 consciously (that is, determine the traits you despise and admire in yourself based on a card's imagery, symbolism, title, esoteric associations, reaction or "just a feeling". Or, if you're feeling adventurous, select cards 1 and 3 randomly, especially if you'd like to uncover shadows within yourself that get either projected onto others or suppressed/denied altogether.
I've found this Horns and Hooves Spread to be quite enlightening. If you choose to try it, do let me know how it works for you! I'd love to hear of your experience.
I know I've already shared this book for my Book Gems #7, but the fabulous Leyane Jerejian from FSB Associates passed along this great excerpt and, since I love the book so much, I'm gladly reproducing this profound bit of wisdom from author Richard Moss.
In an evolutionary sense, feeling is a much older mode of consciousness than thinking. The large brain and highly convoluted cortex that supports the thinking of modern human beings is a newer development than the midbrain and thalamus that govern most of your feelings. It is feeling that dominates a young child's experience because until the ego has developed, thinking is very limited.
Just watch babies, and you can see that they are constantly experiencing ever-changing feelings, from utter bliss and contentment to screaming distress and misery. A young child feels his own internal reality as well as the emotional environment around him. But he does not yet realize that some feelings arise from within himself and that others are being stimulated from outside.
Now try to imagine how a baby learns to deal with feelings as her ego develops, and she begins to see herself as a separate self: Gradually, feelings that seemed to come and go without cause become objects of consciousness that the ego interprets as self. The baby begins to identify with the feelings and to regard herself as happy or unhappy, good or bad, according to the nature of the feelings. Once the ego has claimed these feelings as self, her only defense against them is to try to turn the untamed into the tamed through thinking. In other words, the ego turns feelings into its emotions.
I think this is why the emotions of children change so quickly. A few weeks ago, for instance, I was with a friend and his five-year old son. In the course of an hour or so, the little boy was smiling and happy, closed and complaining, angry and demanding, timid and clinging, crying and inconsolable. . . round and round. The father expressed concern because his son seemed more disturbed and emotional since starting kindergarten. Moreover, whenever his son expressed any unhappiness, the father wanted to immediately do something to take that emotion away; such a normal response for a parent who imagines that something is wrong.
But what I saw was completely normal and to be expected. I saw a young ego trying to come to grips with the flux of feelings (some of them agreeable, and others confusing and dark) that were arising in him because of so many things: having a new daily rhythm, being away from his family more, being in a new environment surrounded by new people (teachers and children with all their own behaviors and emotions), and even the changing of his own growing body.
I could just imagine his young ego bombarded by feelings and his mind racing with thoughts. And because a child has no way to meet feelings with focused-spacious awareness and no way to evaluate his thoughts, those feelings are instantly co-opted by the ego and invariably turned into emotions. For me, it was like looking at the history of humankind and how the thinking mind inevitably makes us all crazy once that which is not of the ego (feeling) has been appropriated by the ego.
How can you tell if your ego has appropriated a dark feeling? You find yourself compulsively thinking. Your mind will spin with story after story about what is wrong with you, what strategy to pursue, why your situation is hopeless, why your life is ruined or meaningless, or how you can save yourself. It will find every way it can to attack you, judge you, blame others, or even attack them. It will make you guilty, resentful, terrified, hopeless, impulsive, and aggressive. . . one after the other. It is frantically trying to create a known (albeit, terribly amplified) misery in a desperate attempt to be in control of an unknown and ultimately unknowable feeling that it doesn't even realize that it is reacting to.
But the ego can never control what comes from a deeper ground of consciousness. Even though thinking is a newer evolutionary development that has given human beings great power, it is the wrong mechanism for addressing feeling. The more your ego spins stories in the face of abysmal feeling, the more miserable you come. It is the thinking mind that drives a person to suicide or to abusing drugs and alcohol -- not the actual feeling.
Until you understand what is happening to you and can stop your thoughts and instead turn your full awareness with focused, spacious attention directly toward the dark feeling, you might as well be in hell. Indeed, I believe this is the only hell that exists, and it is purely mind-made. The abysmal feelings in themselves are never as terrible as what the ego creates to try to control them.
Author Bio: Richard Moss, MD, author of Inside-Out Healing, is an internationally respected leader in the field of conscious living and inner transformation. He is the author of six seminal books on using the power of awareness to realize our intrinsic wholeness and reclaim the wisdom of our true selves. He lives in Ojai, California. For a calendar of future seminars and talks by the author, and for further information on CDs and other available material, please visit www.richardmoss.com and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter.
If The Wheel of Fortune is the process of sowing and reaping—the boomerang cause of Karma—then Judgment is the effect: the result of our thoughts, actions and choices.
This "Judgment" may resemble “eating crow”, “comeuppance”, “called on the carpet” or “just desserts”. In fact, the lightning bolt of The Tower seems to be the Universe’s favorite tool of choice for getting its foot in the door to crack open our denseness, but the actual realization that there’s a barrier or external crust is the Judgment experience.
There’s often a trumpet shown on Rider-Waite style images of the Judgment card, alluding to some kind of “call”. Of course, some die-hard Christians would interpret this image as a “call to judgment” or a time of reckoning after physical death—where the good/bad, saved/unsaved are all sorted out at the pearly gates.
Others may interpret the image as a rising of the Spirit while yet alive—being “caught up in the air”, shedding the physical form much like a snake sheds its skin—an actual “rapture” to heaven.
For the more symbolically minded, the Judgment card could be interpreted as a “call to come up hither”—to adjust focus from the temporal to the spiritual, the mundane to the sublime, the everything to the nothing. The rapturous poetry of Rumi comes to mind, or some forms of meditation.
But the concept of duality resides in all those interpretations. There is an “up” and a “down”, a “holy” and a “profane”, a “sacred” and a “mundane”, a “noisy” and “quiet”.
Even when taking a more mystical view, Judgment can be renamed “Awakening”, but that also is part of a dualistic mindset; in this case, “awake” or “asleep”.
But “asleep” to what? “Awake” to what? Oftentimes, dualistic language serves as yet another barrier of “us vs. them” or “me vs. you” (which really comes down to “those I like” and “those I don’t”).
Yet, we’ve incarnated on this dualistic Earth for a reason: we cannot recognize our Light, our beauty, or innate sacredness without having a context for “otherness”. That “otherness” serves as contrast so we can truly behold what we are at core. In this sense, what we project outwardly (whether positive or negative) can serve as a mirror.
Here’s an example of what I mean:
Let’s say you walk into the bathroom to brush your teeth. Midway through brushing, you look in the mirror and notice that you’ve gotten toothpaste on your nose.
Instead of wiping your face, though, you wipe the mirror. “Why isn’t that toothpaste coming off?” you wonder. Well, that’s because you haven’t touched the source…just the reflection.
This analogy holds true for how we see situations and others, too. That’s what Jung meant by “shadow”: it’s something external that is cast from the original object. In the case of idolization or admiration, this would be a “positive shadow”. In the case of demonizing, this would be a “negative shadow”. Either way, some type of behavior or state isn’t being recognized…let alone claimed.
And you can’t integrate what you don’t see, let alone what you won’t claim in yourself.
This is the place between Judgment and before The World: the space where duality gives up its last breath, and oneness is realized, embraced and lived.
Another take on the Judgment card is “hearing a call”. This could be in the form of feeling a pull to service, changing paths or pursuing a dream. In fact, my path to Tarot was a “call”: the way my husband tells it, I was sitting at the dining room table one day and blurted out “I feel to learn Tarot”.
Simple as that.
So not all calls are juggernaut Wheels or sizzling lightning. Sometimes, a call arrives not on a bugle blast, but a whisper. It’s the “still small voice” reminding you of something—or encouraging you to stretch your wings and fly to greater heights or different lands. “Greater” not as in “better than others”—there doesn’t have to be duality in heeding a call—but rather, extending to your full measure of capability here on the Earth. Not necessarily better, but different.
Lastly, Karma isn’t Judgment in the strictest sense. There is no partiality or moral pronouncement in its wake. Rather, it’s merely cause and effect—Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion. This is why I see The Wheel of Fortune as the “law” of Karma—the process.
But Judgment? That’s optional.
After all, Einstein once noted: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Same way with running into the same scenarios or same “types” of people: if you spot it, hon, you got it. It’s not the mirror…it’s you.
So the good news is that there will be no rapture nor will there be a final “Judgment”; the bad news is that whether you want to keep beating your head against the wall is strictly up to you…
But it is possible to get past either/or and just embrace “both”…realizing that duality itself can be swallowed up into Yin/Yang symbol—not a coin with two sides, but a sphere where there are no sides.
In the spirit of Byron Katie and Eckhart Tolle, Inside-Out Healing: Transforming Your Life Through the Power of Presence by Richard Moss takes readers by the hand and reveals how the root of much of the world's suffering (unquestioned thoughts) rob us of joy, peace, equanimity, love--even overall health and vitality. I'm on Chapter 2 of Inside-Out Healing, and am thrilled that yet another helpful book on inquiry has made it to the market. Below is an excerpt:
The sad fact is that we’re not educated to be aware and therefore able to question the reality created by our thinking. We don’t realize that we must take responsibility for our thoughts to find out if they are really true, and then set aside or at least acknowledge those that are simply opinion and bias. We don’t recognize that most thoughts are ultimately judgments, and that the truth of any judgment is how that judgment makes us feel.
Ultimately, the problem with thinking is not merely that you believe your thoughts, but that you build your identity—your sense of self—with them. It is identification with what you tell yourself about yourself: that you are a good person (or not), a lovable person (or not), a smart person (or not), and so on. And that becomes who you believe yourself to be.
This imagined self is the ego. The ego is not an entity, not something real like your body; it is a way of processing information that leads to a false assumption that you are a separate self. At the level of the ego, it never occurs to you that you are also that which can be aware of all those thoughts—aware of all the ways you (as an ego) interpret you perception and feelings. In other words, as an ego, you believe yourself to be outside and separate from life and everyone and everything else instead of part of a divine wholeness.
What is most important here isn’t to focus on the broader problem of ego or thinking in general. Rather, it’s vital to see how you hurt yourself unnecessarily day by day with your own thinking so that you can stop doing it. You suffer because of the thoughts you have about yourself and the situation, not because of who you really are or what the situation actually is.
Click here to purchase Inside-Out Healing from Amazon, and here to get it on Kindle. To visit the author's website, please go to RichardMoss.com. To visit the publisher's website (Hay House), click here.
Another name for present-moment awareness and living in the Now, mindfulness is a state of active observation. It slows down time, helps gather our vital energy resources where it belongs (in our body, right now) and aids us in detaching ourselves from thoughts (and their subsequent emotions) that engender suffering.
Here are five easy ways to promote greater mindfulness in your day:
Eating – Consider the food or meal before you. How does it look? How does it smell? If it’s a finger food, how does it feel? Take a bite of your food. Chew slowly. Savor it. How does it taste? How does the texture feel in your mouth? What is the temperature? Think about where your food came from. What kind of effort can you imagine went into producing the meal before you? Look at your place setting. What does the silverware look like? The plate or bowl? Take another bite. Continue to chew slowly and deliberately as you eat.
Reading – Consider the book in your hand? What does the cover look like? How heavy is the book? How is it bound? What is the author’s name? Say it aloud to yourself. Listen to the sound of the consonants. Open the book. How do the pages feel? How do they smell? What kind of binding is used? What kind of font are the words? Are the words large, or small? Begin to read the book. How does the author use language? How does the word choice make you feel? How are the words used to persuade? Inform? Entertain?
Outdoors – Go outside. Listen to the variety of birdsong around you. How many different types of birds can you hear? Are there voices in your line of hearing? Children laughing? Conversation? Are there lawnmowers, snowblowers, sirens or back-up beeps? Is there traffic? What about dogs barking, doors slamming or engines backfiring? Observe the color of leaves, tree bark, house siding, the street signs.
Indoors – How does the carpet feel under your feet? What about the wood or cement under your shoes? What color are the walls? What is the texture of the ceiling above you? What is the temperature in the room? Does the air feel cool, hot or comfortable? Is the air fresh? Stale? Scented? How is the future arranged? Are there plants? Pictures? Sculptures? Book cases? Tables? How does the upholstery feel to your touch? What is the lighting like?
Body – Really feel your body, this magnificent shell your Spirit resides in. Become aware of the hair on our head, on your arms. Look at your hands. Notice the lines, any spots or markings. Note the smoothness or roughness of your skin. What do your nails look like? Feel your toes, the bottoms of your feet. Scan your body. What aches or tension are you holding in your body? Relax your muscles. Become aware of your breath. How’s your breathing? Deep? Shallow? Breathe deeply. Think of the thousands of functions that your body performs every day, without your help or interference, to keep you alive and well. Be grateful for your body, this physical expression of your Spirit.
How do you incorporate mindfulness into your day? Please share your tips with us!
During Holy Week, millions of Christians commemorate Christ's death on Good Friday, and celebrate his resurrection on Easter/Resurrection Sunday. From a mystical perspective, there is much wisdom and symbolism within the death and rebirth cycle. It is a cycle that no one escapes, and thus, touches us all.
In Astrological terms, the sign of Scorpio and the 8th House of the Zodiac are the domain of death and regeneration. In the Tarot, the Death card can be correlated with the death of Christ and the metaphorical “little deaths" we experience, while the Sun card can indicate the “dawn of a new day” when enlightenment, empowerment, rebirth and restored vitality warms us “back to life”. Also bearing a similarity to the death and resurrection of Christ is the legend of the Phoenix.
The Scorpion
The scorpion is the traditional Sign of Scorpio. When a scorpion loses its tail, it regenerates a new stinger. In addition, a scorpion would be more likely to kill itself than allow another to do so. According to the book of John, the incited crowd was calling for the death of Christ, shouting "crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate responds to the crowd that he finds no fault with Jesus. Yet, the mob responds, "We have a law, and according to our law, he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." (John 19:7). Pilate responds to Jesus' silence by saying, "Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have the power to crucify you, and power to release you?" (v. 10)
But Jesus replies, “You could have no power at all against me unless it had been given to you from above." (v.11) Jesus is echoing what he said in John 10:17-18 "... because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."
The Phoenix
The myth of the Phoenix is strongly associated with the Sign of Scorpio, and the Phoenix is considered the symbol of highly evolved Scorpios. According to mythology, the Phoenix was the size of an eagle, with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage. Its life span was between 500-1000 years, and only one Phoenix lived in the world at any given time. The Phoenix would build a nest, sing a mournful dirge, and flap its wings until the nest is caught on fire.
Another legend has it that the Sun god Ra was so moved by the Phoenix' bewitching funeral song, that Ra stopped his chariot for a moment to listen. After listening to the song, Ra whipped his horses to continue, and sparks flew from the horse’s hooves, setting the nest on fire. After being consumed in flames, a new Phoenix arose from the ashes.
Some myths say the new Phoenix emerges from the body of the old one, embalms the "parent" in myrrh, encases them in an egg, then takes it to the Egyptian Sun temple. Interestingly, myrrh is a bitter, fragrant gum resin that's associated with suffering, and was one of the gifts offered to the Christ child by the Magi. Myrrh also symbolizes power, strength, vitality, and mysticism.
Just as the story of Christ details death and resurrection, so it is with the story of the Phoenix. Even the egg itself from the legend of the Phoenix represents new life. In fact, in the 1st century, some began associating the Phoenix with Christianity. The parallels are obvious with phrases like "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God", which are attributed to Jesus (John 3:3). Also, Jesus claimed to be the only Son of God, and there is only one Phoenix alive at any one time. In Hermetic traditions, the Phoenix was associated with alchemical transformation and transmutation. While Good Friday is a day of suffering and death, the 3-day process of spiritual alchemy transforms itself to resurrection and glorious rebirth, where all things become new.
The Death Card
In traditional Tarot, the 13th Major Arcana Card is Death. This card also represents transition, transformation, rebirth, and permanent change. The only thing that's guaranteed in life is change, and this is the hallmark of the Death card. The astrological correspondence to the Death card is Scorpio and the 8th House. This card is about required change.
If you don't change willingly, something will slam into your life that will force change. Jesus once said in Matthew 21:44 "The person who falls on this stone will be broken, and on whomever that stone falls, that person will be crushed."
I interpret that verse to mean that there is a way of wisdom and a way of woe.
In other words, if you know that a change needs made but you insist on stasis, you may end up "crushed" by the juggernaut of the Wheel (or the lightning bolt of the Tower) because of this resistance to Death/change. Buddhism says that resistance (along with craving) is the root of suffering. Granted, willing readjustment, adaptation and surrender causes pangs of their own, but you’ll end up being merely “broken” (instead of destroyed).
Let me explain it another way: if a person falls from the roof of a house with muscles rigid, he’d be more likely to get injured. However, if he relaxes or “rolls into” the fall, there’s a greater chance of escaping serious injury.
Same way with the winds of change; if you go “with it”, the process goes a bit easier. Fight it, and it will wear you down.
Thus, if you know you need to make changes (Death) and do not, the rock will fall on you, causing the process to be more devastating and difficult because it lacks the gradation that is a part of making conscious changes willingly.
A real life example would be domestic abuse. Yes, leaving the first time a partner hits you is difficult, especially if you lack economic independence or have children. But what will be the price if stay as the resident punching bag?
In Matthew 16:25, Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." The dichotomy of the Death card is that if you seek to hold onto the familiar with an iron grip, the sweeping winds of change can be devastating. To surrender to All That Is, the Source, is to give up certainty. But in doing so, we gain life and fluidity. To attempt to stave off any change is to court losing the very things we clutch to so tightly.
Built into the Death card is the promise of new beginnings. There's a saying that when God shuts a door, he/she opens a window. Unfortunately, our resistance to change often prevents us from pursuing our bliss and taking risks in relationships, career, finances, etc. There is a hidden blessing when a Death experience touches our life. We can exchange ashes for beauty, much like the mythological Phoenix. But there cannot be a resurrection without a death. So often we want victory, blessings, growth, and profound spiritual experiences, but we don't want the death that may be necessary to make way for resurrection and rebirth!
If someone would have told me that the suffering and death of my husband to leukemia would be shortly followed by following my soulmate, having a precious son and being the happiest I’ve ever been, I would have punched them. In the midst of suffering, it’s often inconceivable that day follows night…but it does (if you surrender to What Is without persistent self-pity and feelings of victimization).
The Sun Card
In the Tarot, 19th Card of the Major Arcana is The Sun card. It represents a portal—an opening in your life. This card is associated with things that are related to the sun: illumination, vigor, healthy self-regard, enlightenment, empowerment, rebirth and newness. The "work" of The Sun card is to purify, cleanse, improve and illuminate—to burn off the “chaff” of painful thoughts and assumptions that cause our suffering.
Understandably, I see this card as representing the Resurrection of Christ, among other things (although some may argue for Judgement). Malachi 4:2 says "...the Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings." Many believe this portion of scripture to be prophetic, referring to Jesus. Sun/Son doesn't appear to be a coincidence, and this picture is once again reminiscent of the ascending, flaming Phoenix. Also, Jesus is often associated with Light, and called "The Light of the world".
In terms of consciousness, The Sun card represents a mind awakened from sleep (granted, it may be the Tower experience that bridges Death and The Sun). Too often, we sleepwalk through life, only to be rudely awakened by a death experience. The wide-eyed clarity that results from this awakening—think cold water in the face—is a ripe opportunity for the illumination of truth and light brought by The Sun card. However, you have to stand in the furnace long enough to get the chaff burned off; just glimpsing the Light (or getting a sunburn) does not enlightenment bring.
The Sun card is also associated with the astrological sign of Leo. When I think of Leo, the mighty lion, I'm reminded of the verse from the highly symbolic and mystical book of Revelation "But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.'" (5:5) Jesus is often called the Lion of Judah. In The Chronicles of Narnia series by Christian theologian C.S. Lewis, the lion Aslan is an anthropomorphic nod to Jesus, because this animal, too, dies for a kingdom and is then resurrected.
Oneness
The last prayer that Jesus prayed in Gethsemane was "...that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us." (John 17:21) As Christ was awaiting his imminent crucifixion and death, he was praying for the Oneness of all of humanity.
When I see the cross, I am reminded that the arms point in two directions: vertically, man being reconciled with God/The Source and to the Divine nature within, and horizontally, man reconciled with man, realizing that All is One, and none is separate (or truly alone). Perhaps one day we, as the corporate body of humanity, will die to the illusion of separateness and be reborn into the totality of Light, Love, Unity, and Life.
Past the darkness of confusion and the mist of despair that often surrounds us through a Death experience—especially as we stand on the precipice of the Unknown, debating whether to freefall or fight for our lives—this is the ultimate message of the death and resurrection of Christ: all-accepting Love, Oneness and Truth through the blazing, illuminating Sun.
Feng Shui, and refers to the invisible life force that permeates all things. Sometimes, chi (also known as qi) moves too quickly, too slowly, or blocks entirely. This results in sha qi, or "bad energy". In Feng Shui, there are nine Celestial Cures that help you alter the flow of chi as it moves through your house, workplace, garden or even your body.
Introducing Feng Shui elements like the nine Celestial Cures can increase harmony in relationships, enhance business prosperity, promote health, and increase personal vibrancy and energy. Each of the nine Cures affects chi in different ways, and some of the strongest Cures perform more than one function.
The Nine Celestial Cures
1. Mirrors
Mirrors are considered the "aspirin" of the Feng Shui medicine bag. This category not only includes mirrors, but anything that reflects or shines light. This would include crystals, chandeliers, lamps, reflective surfaces, shiny ribbons, etc. These cures reflect energy into different directions. If you're feeling claustrophobic in your house or apartment, or lack a back door, if you hang up a mirror, it creates an artificial exit for chi. You'll notice how differently you feel (and how differently the space feels) when you hang up a mirror. If you take down the mirror, the area will feel instantly "closed off" again. Make sure the mirror is whole, though, as opposed to tiled or "fragmented". A chandelier is a powerful Cure because crystals absorb sha qi (bad energy), but also adds the dimension of light.
2. Goldfish
Have you ever noticed how Chinese restaurants have a large tank of goldfish? That's because it's a powerful Celestial Cure! I've also seen tanks in hospital waiting rooms, which is a great idea since goldfish helps calm nervousness. While any fish tank brings good fortune, curved, octagonal, or round bowls invite much better Feng Shui than angular bowls.
3. Household Pets
Researchers have found that pets lower blood pressure and stress, and increase feelings of well being. And it's no wonder--because pets of any kind are a wonderful Celestial Cure! No wonder many nursing homes, prisons, and hospitals are using animals as therapy. According to author and Feng Shui expert Selena Summers, door-to-door salesman report that homes with pets have a happier atmosphere than those who do not.
4. Harmonious Sounds
This Celestial Cure includes wind chimes, bubbling fountains, birdsong, tinkling bells, running water, and buzzing insects. Adding a birdbath and bird feeders to your yard or garden will invite birds to your dwelling--resulting in more birds that will sing and beautify your environment. Many stores now sell electric water fountains. For Christmas, my husband bought me electronic metal chimes; a fan blows from the bottom, moving through the hollow chimes and creating beautiful tinkling sounds. Chimes create harmonious sounds and movement which makes it a powerful Cure. Also, the word "Feng" means wind, so this additional element of "cosmic breath", or spirit, adds yet another powerful dimension to chimes.
5. Color
Adding color to a room is a great way to get rid of bad energy. The color white is associated with death and mourning and drains energy, so it's better to pick colors like cream or antique white if you want a neutral color. Also, pale pastels make for the best Feng Shui for home interiors. In colder climates, you may prefer warmer pastels like peach, lemon, or pink. In warmer climates, you may prefer cooler pastels like lavendar, powder blue, or seafoam green. If you really want to use white, however, you can always add splashes of bright red.
6. Plants and Flowers
I've noticed that since I've added plants like jade to my office/library area, it feels more "alive". That's because plants and flowers are a Celestial Cure. Scientists from NASA have confirmed that plants remove toxins and pollutants from interiors. (Isn't it neat how science continues to confirm age-old wisdom?) According to Summers, spider plants absorb "electric" smog from computers and office machinery. She also says that when setting up a Prosperity Plant, round-leaf plants like jade or maranta make great choices. Pointy-leaf plants like azaleas, however, tend to repel luck. Dried flowers bring an aura of death and is not considered good Feng Shui, and plastic flowers also increase sha qi because they are not made from natural fibers. You can neutralize bad energy from dried plants or flowers by putting it in a crystal vase. Silk flowers are good Feng Shui because silk is a revered natural fiber, connecting with the idea of eternal life.
7. Moving Items
This Cure refers to anything that moves, such as overhead fans, rotary doors, weather vanes, mobiles, fountains, moving lights, whirlygigs, and even grandfather clocks. The gentle movement of the pendulum in a grandfather clock creates chi. Have you ever been to a Chinese restaurant that has chimes on the door? Chimes move, and they also provide harmonious sounds, making it doubly powerful as a Feng Shui Cure.
I have several decorative chimes in my office/library, and although no wind blows strong enough to make harmonious sounds, they do gently sway and rotate, so I still get the benefit of movement. A few years ago, my husband made a neat mobile out of clothes hangers. He straightened up the wire, made a snow flake pattern out of the "spokes", and then covered it with narrow, shiny gold Christmas tree garland. We were going to hang gold sun, moon, and star ornaments on it, but never found them again in the store. This mobile gently rotates because of the natural air circulation. It's not only beautiful to look at, but it reflects light and creates movement, which incorporates two of the Celestial Cures.
8. Heavy Objects
Sometimes, chi moves too quickly in a space. This can be especially true if there is a long hallway where chi can rush through. Statues, wooden screens, stones, and sculptures can all help with blocking or re-directing chi that moves too quickly. If a door is much too wide for a room, you can place a statue on either side of the door to slow down the chi.
9. Musical Instruments
It is believed that flutes carry more power than any other musical intrument because of their hollow shape and their spiritual significance. Bamboo flutes are one of the oldest musical instruments known, as well as those made of bird bones or reeds. Fans are also considered a musical instrument, because when you open one, you hear a soft shhhh sound. In fact, some ancient manuscripts consider the fan a wind instrument! Nowadays, you can get flutes made out of crystal, precious metals, glass, and so on. Two flutes are better than one, but if you're hanging them up for good luck, make sure the mouthpieces point downward. You can tie shiny red ribbons on them for extra luck. You can use flutes as paperweights, set them on tables, and use them as decorative objects.
A 10th Celestial Cure?
According to author Summers, modern Feng Shui practitioners use electric items such as computers, radio, and TV sets to help with chi. Surprised? Well, have you ever walked into a room that seemed lifeless--empty? What happens when you turn on the radio or the computer? The atmosphere of the room changes because electronics create energy. (But if you feel too overwhelmed by chi, you can always filter it out with a spider plant!)
Some of the above information was gleaned from the wonderful book Feng Shui in 5 Minutes by Selena Summers. I highly recommend this book if you want to increase harmony and prosperity in your home, business and life. Click here to order your copy from Amazon.com.
“Conditions that can cause unintentional psychic attacks arise when one person (the aggressor) becomes annoyed with another person (the victim). If the aggressor broods or obsesses over this annoyance with malice, a psychic attack can result. While this attack can happen at any time, it will usually begin during the evening while the psychic aggressor is sitting and quietly obsessing…” – From The Practical Psychic Self-Defense Handbook by Robert Bruce
I was offline for the last few days (only on Kindle, which has limited internet access) because I usually spend Friday through Monday with my family—relaxing, decompressing from marathon writing, laughing, eating too many carbs, etc.
Yesterday I woke up in a great mood, but as the day went on, I was inexplicably “out of sorts”. I rarely have “out of sorts” days, so this bizarre mood was obvious and troubling. It went on all throughout the day. The root cause, unknown, despite us trying to brainstorm (Something I ate? Am I getting a stomach virus? Too much coffee?).
Finally, around midnight, I asked my husband to do a Tarot reading for me. He decided to do some bibliomancy and grabbed a Tarot book…opening it up at random to select a card (you didn’t realize you can do a Tarot reading without an actual deck, did you? *wink*).
He drew in a breath and pronounced 10 of Swords. Immediately, I said “psychic attack”. He looked up and said “Are you sure?” I replied, “It’s what immediately came to mind. You know, being ‘stabbed behind your back’—a surplus of negative communication/thoughts coming your way…”
He said “Let me turn to another page for clarification”.
He opens the book and lands on…a blank page.
“See?” I said. “Psychic attack”.
Now, I don’t normally say or talk about such things, although my husband and I have a few shielding tricks up our sleeves to energetically protect ourselves from negative energy, gossipers, miserable people or—as especially is the case with me as a public figure and reviewer—haters and the jealous.
Granted, I rarely think to “shield” myself with our tricks until the (temporary) damage has been done (because I have a pretty darn strong auric field that usually keeps such attacks out).
Well, isn’t it interesting that I hop back online and discover this nasty attack (scroll down for the comments) from a self-appointed “Tarot expert” who hosts a free Blog Talk Radio show (like millions of others do). The last time she and I tangled was a year ago; she attacked me on a Tarot forum about a book review I had written…and she didn’t like. I told her I don’t defend or debate my reviews (like I have the time!) and that’s great if she liked the book.
But she wouldn’t let it go. She kept posting what “other reviewers” had said about the book, trying to push her opinion on me. When that didn’t work, she then attacked my own book. Still didn’t work. The issue was very obviously with her and her reactions.
I knew that she was attacking me behind the scenes and getting people to turn on me for the last year; the evidence arose here and there despite me not wanting to see it (or caring about it). And, of course, her repeated accusations that I’m a “bully”. (Huh? As if reviewers who-can’t-be-bought are “bullies”!)
Now, she comes on my blog and decides to attack me on my post about a very personal subject (that I almost didn’t blog about): Autism. You can read the post and her cruel, bizarre comments here.
So, is psychic attack real? Oh, you bet it is. In fact, let me tell you two fascinating stories that Christian minister Joyce Meyer once told in a workshop (when I was a practicing, Pentecostal minister, I LOVED Joyce Meyer! She has a lot of great, common sense wisdom and perspectives on scripture).
The first story concerned Joyce herself. She was out shopping with her daughter, and apparently, the daughter only curled the front of her hair…while the back looked flat and unappealing (in Joyce’s opinion). Throughout their shopping experience, Joyce kept thinking, “Her hair is a MESS. Why didn’t she do anything with the back? Gosh that looks bad.”
A few hours later, her daughter says to Joyce, “You know, I just feel depressed. Out of sorts. It started earlier and has been getting worse. I can’t figure out why! I was having such a good time at first…”
Joyce said she heard a voice in her spirit that said “It’s you, Joyce. Your toxic, negative thoughts about your daughter has affected her feelings, mood and well-being. Your thoughts are out of control, and this is what happens.”
Joyce was floored. She committed herself to monitor her thoughts and attitudes about people after that. And if you think of it, even Jesus said that it’s not the “outside” cleanliness of a vessel that means anything (think Pharisees and their pretension of “godliness”), but the inside (what you’re think and do when no one is looking).
She then told another story that someone related to her: A woman had a potted plant sitting at the top of the first flight of her indoor steps. Every time she passed it to go to the second floor, she noticed one leafy branch that stood out at an angle.
It bothered her. A lot.
So much so, that every time she passed that plant, she thought, “I really need to prune that one branch. It looks off. I don’t like how it looks”.
Weeks passed by and she never got around to pruning the plant.
One day, she was walking up the steps and noticed that ONE branch—and one branch only—was yellowed and looked about ready to die.
It was the branch that she hated and “cursed” every time she looked at it.
Thoughts are things, folks. Sometimes, they even end up in words and actions. When they’re denied or ignored, they become a Shadow (a blog post on that topic forthcoming!). And they affect others, for good or for ill. (See the book The Intention Experiment for a scientific expose on this quantum truth, and the book and DVDThe Shadow Effect for an explanation of projection).
So ask yourself: What are you putting out into the world? To your co-workers? To your friends? Your family? Your politicians? To strangers? Do your thoughts contribute to global peace, understanding and harmony?
Because what you think about (and do) when no one is looking—apart from your online bio, your platform and your empty words—is the “real” you that’s constantly sending intention and creating your reality.
To know more about psychic attack and how to protect yourself from it, The Practical Psychic Self-Defense Handbook by Robert Bruce is now out from Hampton Roads Publishing (the awesome publisher of my first book). Another new book on the market, published by New Page Books, is Defense Against the Darkby Emily Carlin (I have this one, too!).
I'm reading a gentle, yet powerful, book about spiritual awakening calld The Message: A Guide to Being Human by L.D. Thompson. In the spirit of a daily devotional (although not numbered or dated as such), the author offers gentle reminders of the "dream" of reality, our soul's curriculum, personal knowing and spiritual values. I'm delighted to bring you the following excerpt fro The Message as my Book Gems #4:
You believe that you were conceived and born, and that you were a baby who grew into an adult. You have the photographs and the bronzed baby shoes to prove it. Yet that is not what occurred. Furthermore, when it comes time for you to leave this reality and move to the next, you will not wither and die. These are games that your mind plays, because your mind is designed to build continuity, a story. It is designed to connect the dots, so to speak.
Between each of the events that occurs in your life—your journey from home to office, moving from one city to the next, or accomplishing a goal—your mind makes up a continual story thread, with a beginning, middle, and end. Your mind fits the story into the illusion of time.
This dream of life has laws, rules, and guidelines that have evolved. You have been a part of the process of evolving the rules. Though you experience yourself as subject to the rules, they are really subject to you. In order for you to harness the power of your dream, you must grasp this idea: Though you experience your life here as a continuity that fits very neatly into the confines of time and space, this experience is utter illusion.
To order The Message from Amazon, click here. To find out more about author L.D. Thompson, click here. To visit Divine Arts Media, the publisher's website, click here.
Tarot cards, in themselves, are not holy, sacred, or special. They are paper! With pictures on them!
That’s it.
So why, then, is Tarot a powerful tool that engenders sacred and special moments—whether through a reading, contemplation, brainstorming, writing, painting or other endeavor?
It’s because of you. And me. And Spirit. Which, really, is just another name for the unifying All That Is.
If the vast store of cosmic symbols, archetypes and messages are available to you (and, arguably, already within you), then you are the special, sacred and holy one…not the cards.
After all, Tarot isn’t processed, embellished, deconstructed, synthesized and interpreted in a vacuum, right? No, there must be a witness, an observer, an ambassador…someone willing, and able, to tap in, decode and transmit the messages of Tarot.
Thus, you don’t need to sage your cards, light candles, bathe a deck in moonlight, spread out a silk cloth, get out the crystals…
Get the picture?
You are the hallowed component of the Tarot, as are all the wise ones who have grabbed the sacred symbols out of the Great Collective, packaged them into an accessible (albeit, mysterious) pack of cards and then actively sought to do something with them.
Dear readers: What do you think makes Tarot special or sacred? Why? Please share!
Pondering my Tarot birth cards of The Chariot and The Tower, I wondered: “What’s in the Tower?”
Immediately, an answer sprang forth in my head.
Before I get to that, though, let’s explore what’s NOT in The Tower.
Crusty, worn, outmoded beliefs that no longer serve us are not inside The Tower. No, that would be the brick and mortar that makes up the fortress.
And no, it’s not the façade of wholeness, integrity or permanence, because that’s the scaffolding of The Tower. In fact, in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Arthur Edward Waite called the Tower “The House of Falsehood” (stemming from the scripture “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain to build it”). In this light, The Tower’s structure could be connected to the Tower of Babel.
So when the lightning bolt strikes The Tower—whether you consider that a zap from God, a wake-up call from the Universe, an “aha moment” or a summoning of energy via The Magician—and the lid (crown) flies off…what’s inside?
Not the people.
They’ve either bolted in fear from the noise or light, or because the sudden explosion of energy throws them from their encasement, suggesting that the plummeting figures represent arrogance or egotism. Some have correlated the two falling people with Adam and Eve’s banishment out of Eden.
So what’s inside The Tower? Well, the answer that immediately came to my mind was, of all things, the Ace of Cups!
This made sense to me, because one of the earlier names for The Tower was La Maison Dieu, or House of God. But like many “houses of God”, institutions set up by man, this structure is enclosed—which, unfortunately, often results in the energetic and spiritual parallel of “closing out” undesirables or “keeping in” the “special” or “pure”.
In many renderings, especially Rider-Waite-Smith variations, The Tower stands on high, removed from the landscape, suggesting isolation and the sense of being separate.
But take a look at the earlier versions of the Ace of Cups! There, too, is a structure right on top of the chalice! But unlike the fortressed Tower, this structure is an open temple—quite the opposite, wouldn’t you say?
When a temple is “open”, all may come and go freely…exchanging ideas, love, camaraderie and possessions. There are no “citizens” versus “outsiders”, “holy” versus “unclean”, “members” versus “non-members”, “accepted” versus “rejected”.
No, all are welcome in the Ace of Cups! Ego has no place, and all are seen as brothers and sisters, equals. In the book The Way of Tarot, Alejandro Jodorowsky writes this about the open temple on the Ace of Cups: “This humble and vast sentiment of giving supports the body of the cathedral. All human wisdom is based on love. As Walt Whitman put it so well” ‘And whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral dressed in his shroud.’”
Does The Tower experience hurt? Oh yeah, it certainly can. And the best explanation of WHY it almost always hurts can be found in the section on The Tower in the book Meditations on the Tarot, specifically a quoted portion of Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross:
“The dark night is a certain inflowing of God into the soul which cleanses it of its ignorances and imperfections, habitual, natural and spiritual…The soul, by reason of its impurity, suffers exceedingly when the divine light really shines upon it. And when the rays of this pure light strike upon the soul, in order to expel its impurities, the soul perceives itself to be so unclean and miserable that it seems as if God has set Himself against it, and itself were set against God.”
The anonymous author of Meditations on the Tarot goes on to comment: “The thunderbolt which blasts is the divine light which dazzles and bears down; the blasted tower is what the human powers of understanding, imagination and will have erected, which find themselves confronted with divine reality; the constructors who fall represent the ‘school of humility’ for the human powers of understanding, imagination and will.”
School of Humility! Isn’t that the truth? You can’t be touched by a true Tower experience and NOT become humble in its wake (otherwise, you haven’t experienced The Tower, you’ve merely experienced the juggernaut of The Wheel).
The Ace of Cups, for me, is a card of spiritual solace, Divine connection, and intuitive contemplation. It’s a “well that never runs dry”, nourishing the soul by drinking from Spirit. It’s beholding our “face before we were born” in the glassy mirror of its still waters. It’s Being and Knowing. It’s All That Is, in a teacup. The Whole, in a bowl. Infinity, in a droplet.
But in order to truly experience the Ace of Cups at this depth, I suspect that one must pass through a Tower experience first.
Consider this additional insight on the Ace of Cups from The Way of Tarot: “The mind has crossed through suffering, and there it is vanishing in the white light that surrounds the cup like a purified atmosphere. This cup, this temple that is so full, has value only if it pours itself into the world. At the base of love is the desire to give away everything that it has collected.”
And so, dear readers, I offer you my perceptions of what lies within The Tower…and within our very Being.
Images: The Tower from the Universal Waite Tarot published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.; The Tower and the Ace of Cups from the Jean Noblet Tarot by Jean-Claude Flornoy.
In her lively Living Tarot group on Facebook, creator and moderator Ferol Humphrey asks daily questions of the group, probing the Tarot--and our minds--for associations, answers and insights.
A few hours ago, Ferol asked one of her "big questions" of the Tarot: What is the origin of Tarot?
She drew, of all cards, the 10 of Swords.
Now many get spooked by the 10 of Swords, even calling it a "negative" or "bad" card, but I truly see all 78 cards in the Tarot as having a Light/Shadow continuum. The supposed "positive" cards have a detrimental or extreme side and the "negative" cards have a redeeming, helpful side.
In answer to Ferol's question What is the origin of Tarot?, I wrote:
The pain of being human forces us to look for answers and solace wherever we can find it. Tarot, filled with symbols and meaning, became what is is because of humanity's need.
Tarot is often used in the "bad times"--when seekers need insight into heartbreak, strife, loneliness, confusion and boredom. We may ask "Is there all there is?" or "Why do I seem to run into this relationship dilemma on a recurring basis?"
And Tarot is always there to answer. To be sure, its answers aren't always clear or straightforward. But that's when we dig deeply and begin to connect our own innate answers to the image on the cards--a partnership replete with an ongoing dialogue of symbols, phrases, motifs and messages.
This conversation reminds, surprises, reveals and comforts us in both "good" times...and the not-so-good times.
One of the messages I relate to the 10 of Swords is "it can only get better from here"; after all, in the Rider-Waite-Smith version, there's a sunrise in the distance. It's a "bottom of the barrel" place where we turn to something greater than ourselves--or, at least, something/someOne with a higher perspective than ourselves--for a bird's eye view of our condition.
Tarot has the amazing ability to serve both the macro and the micro. We can use the cards to get "above" our situation, enabling us to see patterns or discover clues to navigate life's mazes and forests. On the other hand, we can also zoom in to the tree itself, examining the bark, moss, leaves and critters that populate this beloved, and living, metaphor.
The 10s are "the end" so to speak, before we spiral back to the Ace of promise. But at that place between the 10, and before the Ace, ah...that's the crucible or fullness where we experience some of life's greatest burdens and pleasures.
And before The Wheel turns to another season heralded by the Ace, the Tens may very well be the origin of humanity's yearning for meaning and belonging.
Just wanted to let you all know that I have four eBooks that are now available via Kindle. Two of them involve Tarot/divination, and the other two involve energy, balance, wellness and stress-relief.
You can click on each title for the Table of Contents and to get a sample sent to right to your Kindle. Don't have a Kindle? No problem! You can order any or all of these directly from me on my website at this link and I'll send a .pdf to you via email.
When I see the number 7, including Trump VII The Chariot and the Minor Arcana 7’s, I think of options, variety, choices, strategy, evaluation, imagination, exploration and experimentation. In addition, I see the 7’s as possessing a “lone wolf” energy and Life Path numerology bears this out. Interestingly, The Chariot and all the Minor 7’s in the Universal Waite Tarot deck feature a solitary figure.
Yet, The Chariot card isn’t called “The Charioteer”, which leaves us wondering: what, exactly, does this vehicle represent? And what are those two sphinxes sitting in front of the stone chariot in the Universal Waite Tarot? In the Sharman-Caselli deck, The Chariot shows two high-spirited horses—one black and the other white—pulling the rider in opposite directions.
One could speculate endlessly about what those two creatures could represent, but one thing is for certain: the charioteer isn’t going ANYWHERE in that buggy unless those two cooperate (unless, of course, the charioteer prefers to walk)!
It is a fun, and revealing, exercise to contemplate what type of tension those two creatures might represent in our OWN lives. While The Chariot is often considered an archetypal force since it’s a part of the Major Arcana, the truth is that archetypal patterns don’t happen in a vacuum. In other words, scholastic theorizing about abstract symbology might make for good mental masturbation. However, when the rubber meets the road that our Chariot travels upon, what does the card mean for US? For our clients?
According to Carl Jung, when a person becomes aware of how their personal consciousness (the sum of their experiences) integrates with the collective unconscious (the universal archetypal realm common to all), a state of individuation—or wholeness of self—can be achieved.
In her book Jung and Tarot, author Sallie Nichols makes an interesting observation:
“…as a person gains the independence to be a nonconformist, he also gains the self-assurance to be a conformist. As Jung has often stressed, an individuated person is not the same as someone who is individualistic. He is not driven to conform to custom, but he is equally not driven to defy it. ”
Individuation is a seeker’s process, and often a painful one. Before we can obtain this state on the hero’s journey, though, each of us must go out into the world and “find ourselves”. That is, by experimentation, exploration and choosing (the numerological traits of the number 7), we discover our personal values and preferences. Eventually we realize (perhaps only unconsciously) that when we live out of alignment with our core values, we feel off kilter—much like a careening charioteer.
At the same time, we one day realize (sometimes to our utter chagrin, particularly if we happen to be one of those lone wolves!) that we are not islands. Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm note of The Chariot (from the DruidCraft Tarot companion book):
“The Chariot suggests the control needed to develop the personality and to master difficulties and circumstances…the personality has been forged to work well in the world, and progress can be made.”
So while we balance the fluctuating states of our personality within us, we must, at the same time, deal with external distractions and demands. Sure, we can thumb our nose at society—but at what expense to our personal growth? Alternatively, we can cave in to the expectations of family and culture—but then how would we come to know (and shine) the unique expression of our soul?
Ah—this is but one dilemma presented to us by The Chariot. Other issues arising from this card include achievement, single-minded determination, will, focus, speed and force. One question that The Chariot asks of us is “Does the end justify the means?” I’m reminded of the bumper sticker that reads “He who dies with the most toys still dies” (a wry take on the popular phrase “He who dies with the most toys wins.”)
To be sure, The Chariot can run roughshod over people to get what it wants. Some push their bodies to the limit (and then some), while others might trample anyone that gets in the way of a particular goal. And, ironically, this rigidity limits options rather than opens them.
But is there anything wrong with ambition in itself? I don’t think so. After all, Mother Teresa surely had ambition to help the poor, relieve suffering and offer compassion.
There can be balance with both tension and paradox; in fact, the charioteer is probably safer with two horses trying to pull in separate directions than if they’d both make a hard right into a ditch!
Hard force and steel will can be beneficial when we’re training for a race, for example. And most women who have had natural childbirth (that’s right, no painkillers!) will tell you that pushing, straining and struggling are a part of the birthing process.
Succeeding doesn’t mean that someone else must fail. In fact, I feel that a scarcity mindset pervades our culture where many believe that there isn’t enough to go around, and that if someone else “wins”, they must “lose” or vice versa. Authenticity and creativity can fuel forward movement without the need to disempower others. We can shine brightly without trying to snuff out the light of others…or to attempt to “prove” our strength or worthiness by denigrating someone else. Likewise, the victories of others in no way have to diminish ours.
Marianne Williamson says in A Return to Love that "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." Our “playing small”, or hiding our light under a bushel, doesn’t serve us—or humanity—either.
So as you’re traveling down life’s road in The Chariot of your psyche, consider that you can strive for a win-win situation for all involved—and that an enduring sense of self isn’t dependent upon the approval, nor the rejection, of anyone.
Mandala is a Sanskrit word for "circle" and is a sacred, symbolic diagram used for contemplation. In Buddhism and Hinduism, mandalas usually include images of Buddhas or deities. Yantra is a Sanksrit word for "instrument", and is meant to inspire inner visualizations, meditations, and spiritual experiences. However, since the two terms are often used interchangeably, the word mandala usually refers to any circular image or diagram.
You can create your own mandala for meditation, as well as for a specific intent. For example, perhaps you'd like to allow prosperity and abundance in your life. Or, maybe you'd like to be more courageous and learn how to speak up for yourself.
Click here for a full-size blank mandala template that I've created for you to print and use.
Creating A Mandala With Intention
Step 1: Gather the medium/s you choose to use for creating your mandala. You can use crayons, watercolors, chalk, colored pencils, etc.
Step 2: Find a quiet spot, and consider something that you'd like to allow into your life. Breath deeply, from your belly, slowly inhaling to the count of 5...then exhaling to the count of 5. Do this several times until you feel calm and centered.
Step 3: Working from the center, draw, paint, or color how you feel about what you want to allow in your life. There is no wrong way to create a mandala. This process is a personal one, and for your own empowerment, growth, and peace.
Step 4: After completing your mandala, place it in a prominent position where you'll see it often. You could buy thin magnetic strips with sticky backing to hang it up on your refrigerator or metal cabinetry. Or, frame your mandala and hang it on a wall. This will remind you of your intent, and help you focus and allow what you are wanting to bring into your life.
Examples Of Intention
Here are some intentions for creating a mandala:
*To allow joy *To surrender worrisome circumstances *To allow love into your life *Self-acceptance *For world peace *To allow abundance *For gratitude *To release anger and bitterness *For working through grief *To welcome the job of your dreams *To connect with the Divine *To learn to say NO *To culivate a compassionate attitude
Many blessings to you as you create a mandala for intent!
My husband, Ron, created the mandala above. Click here to see the larger version.
So I had the idea to create a group blog featuring published "woo woo" authors in the hopes of not only demystifying the unseen world, but also reaching a broader audience for us all. Many hands make light work, as the saying goes.
So, without further ado, I'm pleased to announce the Woo Woo Blog! http://woowooblog.com
Get ready for some fascinating, informative blog posts on Past Lives, Divination, Elementals, Psychic Pets, Fae, Ghosts, Lost Lands, LightBeings, Signs & Symbols, White Magic, Psychic Housewives, Santeria and many more "woo woo" topics!
You'll find interviews, how-tos, book profiles and provocative images, as well as videos, giveaways, new releases, media appearances of our staff, trivia, games and much more.
Our bloggers include yours truly, Lucy Cavendish, Dinah Roseberry, Lorraine Roe, Kathy Dannel Vitcak and Ocha’ni Lele. Do stop over to follow us on Networked Blogs, as well as fan us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
And by all means, spread the word! Your support is greatly appreciated.
If you missed me on the Divinity Tree show on Friday, you can listen to it in the archive or download it here.
I had such a wonderful time. Brittany and Tina were amazing hosts, and Oliver was a joy (and fab producer!)
We talked about my book, the BIT Tarot method, my past as a Pentecostal minister and more. A caller even called in to ask if her work with Tarot has invited a spirit that has been pestering her at home!
In fact, some people get quite pissed at me for writing a less-than-glowing review of a book or deck. The irate may be the author, or it may be a friend of the author--or just a long time fan of a particular author's work.
Recently, I noticed some fall-out from a particular review I wrote about three months ago. Some in the Tarot community went so far as to block my Twitter account so I couldn't follow them, while one insulted me rather uglily (is that a word?) in a Forum. I refused to defend my review or allow myself to be baited in what was really a personal attack on me (and even my book).
Silly playground games, I thought.
I can certainly understand the impulse to want to "protect our own" or even become outraged when someone presents an idea or behavior that clashes with our own belief, experience or world-view. But what I find intriguing (now that some time has passed!) is how reactive we are as humans--even ones aiming towards expanded awareness or even Zen-like magnanimity.
We are so quick to "throw the baby out with the bath water", to borrow a cliche, ready to cut off, squash, drown or hide anything that offends us or our sensibilities--even when such actions may be to our detriment. That is, we are so eager to invalidate, castigate or marginalize a person--even when we used to be a "fan" of an author's work and having benefiting greatly from his/her insights. But we're ready to toss it all out when one of our sacred cows or personal beliefs get sacrificed or stepped upon.
Maybe we write off an author because she irks us. Or maybe we seek to destroy a person in a rather public way (anyone remember what Oprah did to James Frey on her show? At least she apologized, but only personally).
I wonder if Oprah would have behaved differently had she known that Frey's son had a genetic neuromuscular disorder? (In fact, the 11-year-old died during the three-year span of the controversy). Or would her personal self-righteousness gave way to compassion?
Could Oprah's public vindictiveness arise out of the unclaimed shadow parts of herself, I wonder? After reading some of Kitty Kelly's biography on Oprah (click here for a surprising New York Times interview), I have to wonder if Oprah reacted in response to her own disowned parts--the ones that she lies about or tries to suppress via intimidation, "freezing out" or even food consumption.
No doubt, we are a fragmented people, we humans. The quest for wholeness and awareness, and the end of suffering, calls for us to seek out those fragmented parts of ourselves--recognizing, integrating and healing those "cast off" parts of our personality or archetypal patterns that we just can't seem to accept.
Those parts may be deemed "bad" or they may be deemed "good". When we deem parts "bad", we tend to demonize others who display that very same trait. When we deem parts "good", we tend to project them in the form of adoration. Either way, we aren't owning them.
And this fragmented Self desperately tries to find wholeness, but it can't even accept the fragmented parts that make up the whole. And if we can't accept ourselves--warts and wondrousness both--we usually can't truly accept it another, let alone actually see it.
Author Debbie Ford addresses this fragmentation and need for wholeness quite brilliantly in both the DVD The Shadow Effect and the book of the same name.
Fragmentation, or disowning our shadow (either "dark" or "light") is what causes ministers to condemn homosexuality while having gay affairs or politicians crusading to eradicate prostitution while frequenting escorts. When someone pounds a particular drum in a repeated, public way, it's usually their own music that they're really trying to drown out.
So I thought I'd share my musings about shadow work (something I've embraced for years--painful stuff!) and how our fragmented humanity often causes us to cut others off...and makes us the poorer.
What are your experiences? Your thoughts? I'd love to hear them, if you're willing to share.
