I have heard the argument of: If God is Omnibenevolent (infinitely good), then how come so much evil exists in the world? And there are many arguments for this. The most common is that Satan (or some other adversarial force) exists and as such we are tempted to do bad things which cause others misery. Another argument I have heard over the years (which I am inclined to agree with) is that evil is born from human beings feeling such disconnection to the Divine that their desires get warped and in their quest for happiness (which is the human dilemma) they begin to believe that doing things that normal people would consider appalling will be for their greater joy. And then there is another theory. One that makes the most sense to me. Allow me to share.
I call it: the Storytelling Theory; and to put it simply, a man's life is a story being told by God/Spirit/Man's Superconscious. You might think that this sounds strange. I think it will take a little more elaboration than just that one sentence.
We all tell stories. Sometimes they are lies we make up to cover our misdeeds. Sometimes they are thought patterns we tell ourselves that reinforce old beliefs. And then we tell fictional stories to people around us in the hopes of entertaining others. You need not be a Pulitzer winning novelist in order to make a good story. You just need to have the desire to convey an idea to another.
All good stories are about an event that occurred in the author's imagination and they usually revolve around a central figure, force, or person who plays a major role in the event. And all good stories require some form of conflict.
But take the fairy tale of Cinderella for example. If Cindy had no troubles in her life, no conflict had no evil stepmother, no difficulty getting to the ball and winning the heart of Prince Charming, or any kind of conflict with being able to marry him, what would the story have been? It would have been about a girl whom never grew up or evolved. The heroine wouldn't have had any trouble fulfilling her role. And if she grew up not having conflict in her life, having all her needs met and then becomes a princess, the readers of the story would think that she didn't deserve her upliftment in society nor any of the rewards given to her.
The solution was to give her trouble. Cinderella is born without knowing her mother and is abused by her step-mother whom forbids her from going to the ball. On top of that, her inherent beauty is hidden by the ashes of the fireplace where she is forced to sleep. Then through some miracle (either fairy godmother, magic tree and birds, enchanted fish or what not since this part of the story changes with each retelling in the different cultures) Cinderella is amazed by her chance to attend the ball where her beauty is seen by all and in her newfound grace, she enchants Prince Charming and through the test of placing on the glass slipper, she is able to move past her terrible upbringing and live a truly enchanted life.
What was the point of Cinderella's conflict? In the beginning she is mourning loss and she is unaware of her beauty and the power of her faith. When her faith manifests the magic allowing her to go to the ball, Cinderella is able to see her beauty and be uplifted by that, and from the loss of her mother and all the love that would have brought, Cinderella is brought back to find love in the Prince and lives happily ever after.
But enough about Fairy Tale Princesses. The point of my example was that the story was made complete by the fact that there were challenges for the protagonist to overcome. That she was forced to confront herself and grow as a result.
In this same way, God/Spirit is telling your story. And in this telling, there are challenges that come into play for you that you do not always understand. You may have suffered from terrible illness, loss, injury, financial or spiritual setback. You may not know your power. You may not feel as if you can truly love. Or like Cinderella, you may not realize how beautiful you really are.
But you know what? Even though you do not always like the challenges that are in your life, fear not as like all good human storytellers, the author of your own life has your best interests at heart, and has the best outcome for you, even if it is something you do not consciously understand.
We see evil in this world because it is a challenge set for us to overcome. If we had nothing to overcome and face, we would be very bland beings without any dynamic perfection to us. We would be static and unchanging. Change is the only constant of the universe. As such, we need to be dynamic. We need to be able to have something to fight for. Something to get better at. And even something to confront.
And just as any good human storyteller does, God experiences all of the events of your life alongside you. S/he is there to comfort and console you. To make you strong and make sure that the best possible outcome occurs for you. This is done out of love and nothing else.
There is even better news to this too. The story of your life is NOT a monologue told by God/dess. It is in fact a dialogue between you and Hir. You see, as I have said before on many occassion, Man is God. Man is the creator of his own reality. We always have a choice. We may not be consciously choosing to be diagnosed with cancer or get into a huge car accident, but we do choose how we respond to that. And we choose how we can adapt from that experience to grow as people and evolve into the Gods we are.
This can be as small as choosing to react in a certain way when something happens. Or it can be as big as actually creating a change in your reality to learn from the trajedy in your life. We are Magicians, Psychics, and Energy Workers after all. We can do it if we truly desire.
I do not abide by the idea that something outside of Divinity is causing our suffering. And neither should you. Accept the reality you have created for yourself and see where it will take you. I have faith in you.
LVX Amor!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
On Smiles and the Numinous Power they Possess
I have been so blessed in my life to be able to partake in the many miracles of the world all around me. Where I am now, I see much joy in my life, and I am so very grateful for that. I am blessed to have a loving family that happily support me. I am blessed to have a wonderful job that brings me fulfillment. I am blessed to be surrounded by love and holy desire from those I meet. And I am blessed to have the care of the Godhead, whom shines down on me with utter grace. And you know what? That brings a smile to my face.
Yes, a smile. It is so simple and basic to human existence, and yet it is one of the greatest powers we possess. Try doing so right now. Smile (no matter how you are feeling in this moment) and you will see that you begin to feel a lot better. The act of moving our lips in such a way sends dopamine into our brain. A chemical reaction that makes us feel better occurs in us simply by trying. This is a numinous gift.
What's more is that this is a gift that keeps on giving. Your smile has the power to inspire joy in others as much as it does for yourself. Try it out the next you chance you get. Smile from your heart and direct that at another person. A smile is infectious. People tend to feel happier when they see other people expressing joy. It doesn't always work if the person you smile at is stuck in feelings of negativity and doesn't want to release those, but most of the time, it does. And it is a truly magical ability we all have. A smile is the ability to simulate feelings of happiness and spread that happiness towards others. The best part is that it does not cost you a thing.
I have seen the power of my own smile make an impact in the world around me. At my job and out on the town, I do my best to keep a grin on my face no matter what mycurrent situation is, and combined with a kind word or two, it really does make a difference in the lives of others.
Two nights ag, I was approached at work by a patient I had seen in the past. I had barely spoken with her, but I had given her a warm smile and had wished her a great day. As this woman cme to me, she told me that when I had done so to her, it had completely brightened her day after feeling incredibly depressed (even contemplating ideas of suicide). My small gift of joy to her, which I had thought nothing of, had made a difference to her. It had gotten her smiling too, and with that began a little more joy and courage to face on another day of sickness, to work one more step towards healing. And you know what? that put a smile on my face to hear that. And then the joy spread even more.
It truly is that simple yet powerful. Within all of us is the power to bring joy to ourselves an others. It is a gift best shared. It enlivens the spirit and makes the heart grow fond. Give yourself this gift often and share it with as many as you can.
Remember! Your Smile can literally change the world!
LVX Amor!
Yes, a smile. It is so simple and basic to human existence, and yet it is one of the greatest powers we possess. Try doing so right now. Smile (no matter how you are feeling in this moment) and you will see that you begin to feel a lot better. The act of moving our lips in such a way sends dopamine into our brain. A chemical reaction that makes us feel better occurs in us simply by trying. This is a numinous gift.
What's more is that this is a gift that keeps on giving. Your smile has the power to inspire joy in others as much as it does for yourself. Try it out the next you chance you get. Smile from your heart and direct that at another person. A smile is infectious. People tend to feel happier when they see other people expressing joy. It doesn't always work if the person you smile at is stuck in feelings of negativity and doesn't want to release those, but most of the time, it does. And it is a truly magical ability we all have. A smile is the ability to simulate feelings of happiness and spread that happiness towards others. The best part is that it does not cost you a thing.
I have seen the power of my own smile make an impact in the world around me. At my job and out on the town, I do my best to keep a grin on my face no matter what mycurrent situation is, and combined with a kind word or two, it really does make a difference in the lives of others.
Two nights ag, I was approached at work by a patient I had seen in the past. I had barely spoken with her, but I had given her a warm smile and had wished her a great day. As this woman cme to me, she told me that when I had done so to her, it had completely brightened her day after feeling incredibly depressed (even contemplating ideas of suicide). My small gift of joy to her, which I had thought nothing of, had made a difference to her. It had gotten her smiling too, and with that began a little more joy and courage to face on another day of sickness, to work one more step towards healing. And you know what? that put a smile on my face to hear that. And then the joy spread even more.
It truly is that simple yet powerful. Within all of us is the power to bring joy to ourselves an others. It is a gift best shared. It enlivens the spirit and makes the heart grow fond. Give yourself this gift often and share it with as many as you can.
Remember! Your Smile can literally change the world!
LVX Amor!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
On Power and Responsibility
"But you need to let go of your inhibitions and accept the reality you have wished for. You are the Wish Maker. You are a magician of such strength, that your desires manifest into reality at the drop of a hat. This is most likely your creation as is all of the joys and struggles you have experienced in the past." --Excerpt from Chapter Seven of my Writing Project: "Rise of the Magician"
What does power mean to you? Is it influence over the masses? Is it being in complete control of every facet of your life? It is a special gift allowing you access to the forces that permeate the worlds seen and unseen? Or is it being able to stay centered and focused no matter what happens in your life?
Whatever power means to you, the point is how you use it.
How would you use power? Would you use it to start a revolution? Would you use it to ascend in consciousness? Would you use it to inspire great change? Would you use to to fill your ego? Would you use it for your own personal gain? Would you use it to have earthly advantage over others? Would you create joy and love? Or would you create a new life for yourself?
I have considered using my own personal power for all of these reasons and more. Throughout my life, I have desired some great power to control my life and live higher than "lowly mortals". I have also thought of using it for philanthropy and enlivening others. But ultimately, now that I actually am in touch with a degree of my power, I use it to cultivate joy within myself and others. I see myself on the paths of Happiness and LovingKindness and try my bst to use such a path to further those in my life that are suffering, hurt, depressed, or simply downtrodden.
I have seen much pain and suffering, not just in my own life, but in the lives of many others. People not realizing their own power and then sacrificing it for the comforts of their own phobias and despair. This makes my heart ache.
I recently went out with a man, who was a beautiful soul and awakening on the path to his own power, and yet something happened with him. After a very intimate moment where our energies merged momentarily and we felt our presences in a higher state, he broke down. He began to talk about how life had suddenly turned downhill for him and that nothing seemed to turn out right. That it was he was somehow cursed or tormented.
With the highest amount of sympathy I could manage in that moment, I tried to console him, yet I told him outright that this was of his own making. His desires, his emotions, his beliefs and his thoughts had all been used in such a way as to focus on negativity and that in turn had attracted pain into his life. And yet, there was hope.
Despite the fact that our states of suffering are self-created, there is equal liberation in the thought that we can create even greater happiness and fulfillment for ourselves, and instead of living in a personal Hell, make a Heaven on Earth for ourselves.
I may not have reached my personal heaven yet, but I can testify to the fact that I have ascended far beyond my own despair and that I am living an enchanted life for it. And the best part? Anyone can do it too. We can all accept our power, instead of give it away, and then we can choose to use it with responsibility.
We do have the power to create bliss, to live with purpose, to connect ourselves to our spiritual center, and to manifest miracles. It is in the core of our being. I keep saying that Man is God on Earth, and I wholeheartedly believe it. Just as I create synchronicities in my life and find ecstasy in that, so may everybody else see that they too can create what they desire.
Something as small as a smile can literally change the world. A kind word to another can uplift them to a higher sense of awareness. And an act of service can enliven people to make a difference. That is our power. That is our purpose. One does not need Psychokinesis or super-powers to be powerful and change the world. It all lies in the Body, the Heart and the Mind governed under Spirit, the Soul we all share.
LVX Amor!
What does power mean to you? Is it influence over the masses? Is it being in complete control of every facet of your life? It is a special gift allowing you access to the forces that permeate the worlds seen and unseen? Or is it being able to stay centered and focused no matter what happens in your life?
Whatever power means to you, the point is how you use it.
How would you use power? Would you use it to start a revolution? Would you use it to ascend in consciousness? Would you use it to inspire great change? Would you use to to fill your ego? Would you use it for your own personal gain? Would you use it to have earthly advantage over others? Would you create joy and love? Or would you create a new life for yourself?
I have considered using my own personal power for all of these reasons and more. Throughout my life, I have desired some great power to control my life and live higher than "lowly mortals". I have also thought of using it for philanthropy and enlivening others. But ultimately, now that I actually am in touch with a degree of my power, I use it to cultivate joy within myself and others. I see myself on the paths of Happiness and LovingKindness and try my bst to use such a path to further those in my life that are suffering, hurt, depressed, or simply downtrodden.
I have seen much pain and suffering, not just in my own life, but in the lives of many others. People not realizing their own power and then sacrificing it for the comforts of their own phobias and despair. This makes my heart ache.
I recently went out with a man, who was a beautiful soul and awakening on the path to his own power, and yet something happened with him. After a very intimate moment where our energies merged momentarily and we felt our presences in a higher state, he broke down. He began to talk about how life had suddenly turned downhill for him and that nothing seemed to turn out right. That it was he was somehow cursed or tormented.
With the highest amount of sympathy I could manage in that moment, I tried to console him, yet I told him outright that this was of his own making. His desires, his emotions, his beliefs and his thoughts had all been used in such a way as to focus on negativity and that in turn had attracted pain into his life. And yet, there was hope.
Despite the fact that our states of suffering are self-created, there is equal liberation in the thought that we can create even greater happiness and fulfillment for ourselves, and instead of living in a personal Hell, make a Heaven on Earth for ourselves.
I may not have reached my personal heaven yet, but I can testify to the fact that I have ascended far beyond my own despair and that I am living an enchanted life for it. And the best part? Anyone can do it too. We can all accept our power, instead of give it away, and then we can choose to use it with responsibility.
We do have the power to create bliss, to live with purpose, to connect ourselves to our spiritual center, and to manifest miracles. It is in the core of our being. I keep saying that Man is God on Earth, and I wholeheartedly believe it. Just as I create synchronicities in my life and find ecstasy in that, so may everybody else see that they too can create what they desire.
Something as small as a smile can literally change the world. A kind word to another can uplift them to a higher sense of awareness. And an act of service can enliven people to make a difference. That is our power. That is our purpose. One does not need Psychokinesis or super-powers to be powerful and change the world. It all lies in the Body, the Heart and the Mind governed under Spirit, the Soul we all share.
LVX Amor!
Friday, July 15, 2011
On Boy Wizards and Power
"Every Man and Woman is a Star!" --Aleister Crowley
Today, the final installment of the Harry Potter movie franchise was released today, and you know what? I am sick of hearing about it! Sick and tired of hearing about the boy wizard and his quest to defeat the "Dark Lord". Potter is not the first young man in fantasy literature to go to a wizard school and face off against evil, much less have dark hair, glasses, and a pet owl.
It was one of such previous works that truly inspired me on my path as a magician and mystic: Ursula Le Guin's "A Wizard of Earthsea". It is a book raising the fundamental question of what one would do if gifted with unlimited power, and provided me with much thought as to my own quest for power and illumination.
The story is about a young village boy, whose powers in magic propel him to be enrolled in a Bronze Age school for wizards, and in his ego and selfishness to prove himself, accidentally conjures Death from the Underworld and lets it loose upon his mythical world. The boy then finds himself on a quest to defeat Death and must overcome multiple temptations in the forms of dragons with secret knowledge, beautiful women with the intent of enslaving him and even his own allies overcome by his enemy, in order to fulfill his quest, eventually travelling to the edge of the land of the dead to overcome his opponent, which (SPOILER ALERT!) turns out to be part of himself. As Ged, the boy, defeats his shadow and becomes one with it, he resumes the full responsibilities of his manhood and returns back to the world of the living with greater knowledge and consciousness. Wow!
And in a strange way, I see Ged's struggle in my own life. I have been believed to be incredibly powerful by many members of the mytelekinesis.com website and let that get into my ego, where such thoughts formed many personal demons which I had to overcome alone. In the end, I have come much closer to adulthood and embracing myself not as an idealized superhero of my childish fantasies, but as an empowered young man able to create my world in any way I choose.
We should all come to this realization about ourselves. That we do have power in our lives. That we can overcome our darkness. That we can be fully accountable for our lives and not suffer for it, but be enlivened by this instead.
This is the journey in Psychic/Magical development. To become the shining suns we were meant to be, and not just sheep in a flock. To take responsibility for our lives and our power. To grow into empowerment and wisdom. To be as Bright and Big and Beautiful as we need be.
Many leave this path with the dissappointment that their egos were not satisfied and that the pressures to actually grow as a human being were not what they had hoped for, and I say whizzers on them! The task of the magician is not entered into lightly. This is not the fancy free mayhem of Harry Potter, but the call to one's true nature of Ged in Earthsea.
LVX Amor!
Today, the final installment of the Harry Potter movie franchise was released today, and you know what? I am sick of hearing about it! Sick and tired of hearing about the boy wizard and his quest to defeat the "Dark Lord". Potter is not the first young man in fantasy literature to go to a wizard school and face off against evil, much less have dark hair, glasses, and a pet owl.
It was one of such previous works that truly inspired me on my path as a magician and mystic: Ursula Le Guin's "A Wizard of Earthsea". It is a book raising the fundamental question of what one would do if gifted with unlimited power, and provided me with much thought as to my own quest for power and illumination.
The story is about a young village boy, whose powers in magic propel him to be enrolled in a Bronze Age school for wizards, and in his ego and selfishness to prove himself, accidentally conjures Death from the Underworld and lets it loose upon his mythical world. The boy then finds himself on a quest to defeat Death and must overcome multiple temptations in the forms of dragons with secret knowledge, beautiful women with the intent of enslaving him and even his own allies overcome by his enemy, in order to fulfill his quest, eventually travelling to the edge of the land of the dead to overcome his opponent, which (SPOILER ALERT!) turns out to be part of himself. As Ged, the boy, defeats his shadow and becomes one with it, he resumes the full responsibilities of his manhood and returns back to the world of the living with greater knowledge and consciousness. Wow!
And in a strange way, I see Ged's struggle in my own life. I have been believed to be incredibly powerful by many members of the mytelekinesis.com website and let that get into my ego, where such thoughts formed many personal demons which I had to overcome alone. In the end, I have come much closer to adulthood and embracing myself not as an idealized superhero of my childish fantasies, but as an empowered young man able to create my world in any way I choose.
We should all come to this realization about ourselves. That we do have power in our lives. That we can overcome our darkness. That we can be fully accountable for our lives and not suffer for it, but be enlivened by this instead.
This is the journey in Psychic/Magical development. To become the shining suns we were meant to be, and not just sheep in a flock. To take responsibility for our lives and our power. To grow into empowerment and wisdom. To be as Bright and Big and Beautiful as we need be.
Many leave this path with the dissappointment that their egos were not satisfied and that the pressures to actually grow as a human being were not what they had hoped for, and I say whizzers on them! The task of the magician is not entered into lightly. This is not the fancy free mayhem of Harry Potter, but the call to one's true nature of Ged in Earthsea.
LVX Amor!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
On Eros and Sexuality
This is a topic I have been wanting to write about for a while, and will most likely return to at some point in the future as it plays such an important part in my work as a Magician and a Mystic. That is right: Sex. But more importantly: the ever present creative impulse known to the ancient greeks as Eros.
I make no excuses. I enjoy being a sexual being and actively participate in that process. The joining of body and energy in pleasure is something I hold very sacred. The ideal of physical love and merging with another in celebration of life and creative power is something I heartily enjoy. I even make many jokes with my friends about being incredibly easy and promiscuous.
However, I must confess that it is not just a "screw" (a word I dislike using in approaching such an act) that I seek. It isn't that my partner has large genetalia or can work wonders with his body that draws me in. It is the life force. Plain and simple. The rush of energy that comes with the arousal and the subsequent activity is what truly gets me. The act of being fully alive in the world, connected with another soul in harmony, however brief, is what truly propels me towards this act.
And yet sadly, the sacredness of sexuality has been reduced to a dirty f*ck. Eros, the great god that inflames men's hearts with passion is left as a chubby baby in a diaper, instead of a powerful virile youth. The sexuality of the cosmos is left unnoticed. And the desires of man to join in union with another are left regarded as something either kinky or perverse. I do not believe that it should be in such a way.
You see, sex is not just the penetration of genetalia. It is so much more. It is Earthworms burrowing in the soil. It is the earth rising to meet a strike of lightning. It is flowers opening up to show their faces to the light of the sun. And it is the joining for forces in harmony and pleasure for eachother.
In many ancient cultures, it was sex that set the worlds in motion. To the greeks, the primordial Eros, the protogenos, mates with chaos and gives birth to the heavens and the earth and man and all gods. In the Hindu culture, the coupling of Shakti and Shiva created the universe and all within it. Even in witchcraft sects, such as the Anderson Feri Tradition, it is the Goddess whom falls in love with herself after seeing her reflection in the black mirror of space, and her subsequent masturbation and orgasm explodes outwards, giving birth to all things.
The point is that sexuality is the impulse that brings all life together, and then if in the right circumstances, actually creates new life. I see it as the most life affirming act there is, as what could be more life affirming than an act that creates new life?
Ultimately, it is better to be safe and cautious and to be involved with someone you love instead of just using someone for personal pleasure, I will add. However, that should not stop you from being avaliable to the miracle that exists.
It is our rights as human beings and gods to partake in this creative act. Our joy and ecstasy to kiss the limitless and be entwined in this cosmic dance. So don't think of it as something perverse or dirty. See it as it truly is: life entwined in rapturous embrace.
LVX Amor!
I make no excuses. I enjoy being a sexual being and actively participate in that process. The joining of body and energy in pleasure is something I hold very sacred. The ideal of physical love and merging with another in celebration of life and creative power is something I heartily enjoy. I even make many jokes with my friends about being incredibly easy and promiscuous.
However, I must confess that it is not just a "screw" (a word I dislike using in approaching such an act) that I seek. It isn't that my partner has large genetalia or can work wonders with his body that draws me in. It is the life force. Plain and simple. The rush of energy that comes with the arousal and the subsequent activity is what truly gets me. The act of being fully alive in the world, connected with another soul in harmony, however brief, is what truly propels me towards this act.
And yet sadly, the sacredness of sexuality has been reduced to a dirty f*ck. Eros, the great god that inflames men's hearts with passion is left as a chubby baby in a diaper, instead of a powerful virile youth. The sexuality of the cosmos is left unnoticed. And the desires of man to join in union with another are left regarded as something either kinky or perverse. I do not believe that it should be in such a way.
You see, sex is not just the penetration of genetalia. It is so much more. It is Earthworms burrowing in the soil. It is the earth rising to meet a strike of lightning. It is flowers opening up to show their faces to the light of the sun. And it is the joining for forces in harmony and pleasure for eachother.
In many ancient cultures, it was sex that set the worlds in motion. To the greeks, the primordial Eros, the protogenos, mates with chaos and gives birth to the heavens and the earth and man and all gods. In the Hindu culture, the coupling of Shakti and Shiva created the universe and all within it. Even in witchcraft sects, such as the Anderson Feri Tradition, it is the Goddess whom falls in love with herself after seeing her reflection in the black mirror of space, and her subsequent masturbation and orgasm explodes outwards, giving birth to all things.
The point is that sexuality is the impulse that brings all life together, and then if in the right circumstances, actually creates new life. I see it as the most life affirming act there is, as what could be more life affirming than an act that creates new life?
Ultimately, it is better to be safe and cautious and to be involved with someone you love instead of just using someone for personal pleasure, I will add. However, that should not stop you from being avaliable to the miracle that exists.
It is our rights as human beings and gods to partake in this creative act. Our joy and ecstasy to kiss the limitless and be entwined in this cosmic dance. So don't think of it as something perverse or dirty. See it as it truly is: life entwined in rapturous embrace.
LVX Amor!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
On "Sin", "Satan", and "Hell"
On the day I met my former patient on the street, whom told me that i made a difference in his life, I was also met by a Christian whom tried to get me to go to his church in hopes of converting me to his faith. And since then, I have found myself in much religious debate over my theology and the fundamentalist Christian theology. So I have decided to take the time to actually write about what I feel in regards to what I have been debating against.
Now, before I go any further, I have to say that I have no problems with the religion of Chrtistianity. I think it is actually a wonderful faith filled with doctrine of forgiveness and hope in oppressive times. That we need not feel burdened by the pressures of a material world when a higher spiritual reality beckons us towards enlightenment.
The symbol of Jesus on the Cross is gorgeous. It shows (to me at least) a message that whatever we feel guilty or ashamed about, no matter what brings us down, no matter how awful we feel, we will find forgiveness from that and be released from those burdens to be surrounded in love and joy.
However, I think that people have taken it too far in fundamentalism. Instead of preaching on Self Forgiveness, it has become a doctrine of fear instead. According to most of the Christian faith that I have met or seen in the media (there may be others whom are different, but i have yet to see them), Jesus did not let himself be crucified so that we may find forgiveness in ourselves, but so that God could forgive us. That we as human beings were such awful, miserable people so far away from God's will that we needed the Son of Man to be murdered in the most horrible way so that God may forgive us and allow us into paradise and be "saved" from evil.
There is just way too much to that theology that makes me cringe. The simple truth is that I do not believe in the reality of "Sin", "Satan", and "Hell". They are theats used to control people and not an actuality as would be professed by an omnibenevolent God.
Let me explain. If you do not follow the creeds of the Church fathers, then you are labelled as "Sinful" and as such are against the will of God. Even more to the point that god will literally hold it against you. If you sin too much, then you are under the sway of the source of all evil, named "Satan", who will claim your fragile soul as his away from the beauty of God. And if you let yourself be taken by "Satan" and reject God in any way, then you will be sent to eternal damnation in "Hell".
Tell me. Does that sound like a spiritual truth? To me, it sounds like people in power crafting doctrines to keep people obeying their rules. And for some strange reason, it worked.
Mankind seems to have this strange tendancy of believing that only things outside of himself can bring him peace, and that there is no internal force to bring such a thing. In my experiences, I find the opposite true. Man is the creator of his own reality, his own life, and his own fate. In other words, Man is God.
The bible even teaches this same thing. Jesus stated this in John 10:34 "Is it not written in your law? I said: "You are Gods!""
Sadly, people don't want to believe that. They want to believe that they need a big daddy god to keep them safe and punish the people who do wrong in their eyes. And that is a damned shame.
The truth is that man is as powerful as he believes himself to be. And sadly, people in power saw that too and decided to take away that belief.
This is true for other faiths too. In the Neo-Pagan/Wiccan communities, most people believe that they need the right spell to manifest change in their lives. They need the right words to the spell, the right herbs or crystals or incense, the right garments, or the right entity to make the spell work. When in fact it is one's belief that makes a spell work and that the best spells are the ones that the magician makes for him/herself.
Even in modern secular world, people seem to think that they need the latest medications to make them healthy, the latest technology to make them happy, and the latest fashions to make them accepted. Ultimately all the healing, happiness, and good fortune one desires in found within in the Body, Heart, and Mind.
And yet, people still desire to have all the problems of this world illogically explained to them that an omnibenevolent god would allow for someone who disobeys him to spend eternity in an inferno or allow a terrible fallen angel of negativity to terrorize mankind with "sin".
Sadly, I am not explaining this very well, so I will end it here. Just remember that you do not need a daddy god to forgive you for anything you feel guilty of when you can forgive yourself just as easily.
LVX Amor!
Now, before I go any further, I have to say that I have no problems with the religion of Chrtistianity. I think it is actually a wonderful faith filled with doctrine of forgiveness and hope in oppressive times. That we need not feel burdened by the pressures of a material world when a higher spiritual reality beckons us towards enlightenment.
The symbol of Jesus on the Cross is gorgeous. It shows (to me at least) a message that whatever we feel guilty or ashamed about, no matter what brings us down, no matter how awful we feel, we will find forgiveness from that and be released from those burdens to be surrounded in love and joy.
However, I think that people have taken it too far in fundamentalism. Instead of preaching on Self Forgiveness, it has become a doctrine of fear instead. According to most of the Christian faith that I have met or seen in the media (there may be others whom are different, but i have yet to see them), Jesus did not let himself be crucified so that we may find forgiveness in ourselves, but so that God could forgive us. That we as human beings were such awful, miserable people so far away from God's will that we needed the Son of Man to be murdered in the most horrible way so that God may forgive us and allow us into paradise and be "saved" from evil.
There is just way too much to that theology that makes me cringe. The simple truth is that I do not believe in the reality of "Sin", "Satan", and "Hell". They are theats used to control people and not an actuality as would be professed by an omnibenevolent God.
Let me explain. If you do not follow the creeds of the Church fathers, then you are labelled as "Sinful" and as such are against the will of God. Even more to the point that god will literally hold it against you. If you sin too much, then you are under the sway of the source of all evil, named "Satan", who will claim your fragile soul as his away from the beauty of God. And if you let yourself be taken by "Satan" and reject God in any way, then you will be sent to eternal damnation in "Hell".
Tell me. Does that sound like a spiritual truth? To me, it sounds like people in power crafting doctrines to keep people obeying their rules. And for some strange reason, it worked.
Mankind seems to have this strange tendancy of believing that only things outside of himself can bring him peace, and that there is no internal force to bring such a thing. In my experiences, I find the opposite true. Man is the creator of his own reality, his own life, and his own fate. In other words, Man is God.
The bible even teaches this same thing. Jesus stated this in John 10:34 "Is it not written in your law? I said: "You are Gods!""
Sadly, people don't want to believe that. They want to believe that they need a big daddy god to keep them safe and punish the people who do wrong in their eyes. And that is a damned shame.
The truth is that man is as powerful as he believes himself to be. And sadly, people in power saw that too and decided to take away that belief.
This is true for other faiths too. In the Neo-Pagan/Wiccan communities, most people believe that they need the right spell to manifest change in their lives. They need the right words to the spell, the right herbs or crystals or incense, the right garments, or the right entity to make the spell work. When in fact it is one's belief that makes a spell work and that the best spells are the ones that the magician makes for him/herself.
Even in modern secular world, people seem to think that they need the latest medications to make them healthy, the latest technology to make them happy, and the latest fashions to make them accepted. Ultimately all the healing, happiness, and good fortune one desires in found within in the Body, Heart, and Mind.
And yet, people still desire to have all the problems of this world illogically explained to them that an omnibenevolent god would allow for someone who disobeys him to spend eternity in an inferno or allow a terrible fallen angel of negativity to terrorize mankind with "sin".
Sadly, I am not explaining this very well, so I will end it here. Just remember that you do not need a daddy god to forgive you for anything you feel guilty of when you can forgive yourself just as easily.
LVX Amor!
Friday, June 17, 2011
On Dreams and Heroic Quests
"Dreams without actions are but fantasies" --Christopher Davis
I have had many interesting experiences that I could write about while at the same time, pushing my theology into it to make some sort of a point on developing or understanding personal power. Well I am not going to be doing that this time around. I am going to write about something much more personal and explain a little of my back-story in the process. So here goes.
We all have a calling in life. We all have a desire for wholeness, a hunch that we can do something great, an inkling that we can, through our own ability, inspire another to create a miracle. This is natural to our human nature and our nature as divine beings in physical form. We all want to do something that will make us remembered with fond memories. I have yet to meet one person who has not wanted this in some form, and I doubt that I ever will.
Well, ever since I was a wee tot raised on Disney movies, I too had a calling. I wanted to explore unknown regions of the world, have some sort of power over myself and others outside of me, and uncover a miracle. It has taken different forms throughout the years, but the desire has ultimately been the same. What has also been the same is little idea as how to become that mystical adventurer i had envisioned myself as.
Well, at fourteen, I discovered my own clairvoyant/clairaudient ability of mediumship, and began to regularly have psychic experiences that confirmed my impossible belief in magic and the unknowable. (Impossible as that sounds.) I spoke with the spirits of trees and lakes and the wind, and enjoyed a wonder for the world.
But instead of this empowering me, I felt more dis-empowered, for I did not understand this in the least, and it did not resolve my fantasy of uncovering mystery. I only heard these beings telepathically and at rare times could I make out an astral form as to what i was "speaking" with. Even worse, I was unaware of the fact that many spiritual beings have agendas of their own. And as such, I allowed myself to be deceived by many of the spirits I called my "friends" and "partners".
I felt a calling and had experiences to somewhat validate that calling, and as a result, I created intense fantasies around this calling of myself as some superhero archangel in human form, in love with a Greek god of sexual desire, on a mission to destroy a powerful source of all evil, and bring about a new age of wisdom. Even worse was that many of the spiritual beings I knew kept pushing those fantasies even deeper, as did normal humans whom wanted to believe in something extraordinary despite that I could hardly prove any of this. All I had were false visions and some misinterpreted verses from the Book of Enoch to try and prove myself.
All the while, I had been unemployed for over two years, had hardly any true friends, and no real direction in life. Despite my "dreams", I was not in a good state of mind or life.
It was only when a psychic and energy worker, that I greatly respected and wanted to impress, told me how "fluffy" I was, how I did not even understand my own power, and how much I could grow as a human being and as a person of power, that I started to grow up.
I slowly but surely relinquished my fantasies about being a superhero, my "relationship" with an astral being, my connections with the "gods" that told me of my "future", and what not, that my life as a Human Being on the Planet Earth began to greatly improve.
I now have a driver's license (when I was too scared to get one), a very rewarding job, a much better relationship with my family, a few real friends that I can actually count on, and some measurable success in my own psychic ability. And that is a lot better than having nothing but a fantasy.
I decided to write a novel of all my heroic fantasies instead (which is actually coming along nicely), and life actually makes sense. And I feel very empowered for that and am in a better position to teach and inspire others with my words.
However, despite all this new success, I have received omens that I do not completely understand. They do not fit into the picture of my life in a better stance of balance and joy that I had built for myself. I have been receiving dreams as to what I fear by my having power (of any kind, not just having some psychic gift), and that did not make sense.
I remember reading T. Thorn Coyle's weblog a few weeks ago to see her write how magical/mystical practitioners cannot remain in a lukewarm state of peace forever. That we need to keep challenging ourselves and our discomforts if we want to grow stronger and find ourselves in new brightness. And with these dreams, I remember this pagan mystic's words.
My dreams have centered around me either harming someone in my care despite my best intentions, failing to save someone from dying, being too distracted to prevent disaster, or simply having my best intentions being interpreted as threatening. And that has gone back to what I have always subconsciously feared about my developing any form of psychic or magical ability. That I will be corrupt. That I will be incompetant. That I will be too distracted to make a difference. Or that I will not be able to help if I am veiwed as contrary to what I stand for.
The fact that I am seeing these dreams obviously shows me that something is boiling underneath the surface. Something that is calling my attention.
With my Fairy Tale Tarot cards (they depict a different fairy tale on each card to help divine the meaning better), I took some quiet time and divined what I could from them. the answer I received shocked me very much.
I first asked: What are the subconscious issues within me currently. In response, I drew the Knight of Swords, which depicted one of my favourite stories: Hans Christian Andersen's The Twelve Wild Swans. In the card, one could see the Heroine's twelve brothers (cursed by their stepmother to become swans instead of men) carrying her in a net above the sea, and in the distance is the castle of a Magician whom gives the heroine the necessary means as to break the curse on her brothers.
I initially saw that card indicating some sort of internal journey i needed to take, but looking further into it, i saw something more. A warning of possible danger coming fowards. A need to prepare for the future with creative ideas. This was an answer I expected.
However, my curiosity was not quenched. I then shuffled my cards and asked: "What do I need to prepare for?", and then I drew the most positive card in the deck, The Sun. The Card depicted a lesser known story titled: The Three Animal Kings, at the ending where the heroes have won the day, freed from their curses and are with their wives greeting the morning light, full of joy and happiness. I needed no other explanation than that. But the answer shocked me all the same.
In seeing this I wondered to myself: "How do I come upon this everlasting joy?" and then drew one final card. It was the Page of Wands, depicting another not-so known story called: "Tatterhood". The story revolved around an ugly princess who travels the world protecting her beautiful sister from threats such as Giants and the like. She carries a large wooden spoon, which she uses as a club to harm her enemies, and rides upon a goat, in a tattered dress. Yet at the end, she is late for her wedding to a prince (her reward for saving the day), and when she arrives, the groom asks her why she carries a wooden spoon, rides a goat, and wears a tattered dress. In response, the heroine changes her spoon into a magic wand, her goat into a valliant steed, and her rags into a beautiful wedding gown, and she ends up more beautiful than her helpless sister.
Seeing all of this, a voice came to my mind and stated: "Follow your Dreams!". My questions had been answered with the most encouraging of omens.
The question now remaining: What dream to follow? What will make a difference in my life and bring me through that "Heroic Quest" towards that ultimate joy?
I do wish to complete my superhero novel, I do wish to bring joy to as many people as I can, I do wish to develop my magic to higher levels, I do wish to be on a life transforming journey apart from normal spiritual seeking, and I do with to be a shining light to others trapped in their own quagmire.
I do have an idea as to what path to ultimately take. Yet I am still unsure as how to get there.
Those are questions for another day. In the mean time, I do have an idea as to where I am headed, should I make the right choices.
So while I ponder over what direction my own seeking shall take me, I leave you with this. If you feel called to do something extraordinary... DO IT! If you want to make a difference in someone's life, I should hope you see it through and find everything you have searched for. If you have a dream, put some action into it, and see where it takes you. The time is now to make a change. You are God on Earth. You will find a way.
LVX Amor!
I have had many interesting experiences that I could write about while at the same time, pushing my theology into it to make some sort of a point on developing or understanding personal power. Well I am not going to be doing that this time around. I am going to write about something much more personal and explain a little of my back-story in the process. So here goes.
We all have a calling in life. We all have a desire for wholeness, a hunch that we can do something great, an inkling that we can, through our own ability, inspire another to create a miracle. This is natural to our human nature and our nature as divine beings in physical form. We all want to do something that will make us remembered with fond memories. I have yet to meet one person who has not wanted this in some form, and I doubt that I ever will.
Well, ever since I was a wee tot raised on Disney movies, I too had a calling. I wanted to explore unknown regions of the world, have some sort of power over myself and others outside of me, and uncover a miracle. It has taken different forms throughout the years, but the desire has ultimately been the same. What has also been the same is little idea as how to become that mystical adventurer i had envisioned myself as.
Well, at fourteen, I discovered my own clairvoyant/clairaudient ability of mediumship, and began to regularly have psychic experiences that confirmed my impossible belief in magic and the unknowable. (Impossible as that sounds.) I spoke with the spirits of trees and lakes and the wind, and enjoyed a wonder for the world.
But instead of this empowering me, I felt more dis-empowered, for I did not understand this in the least, and it did not resolve my fantasy of uncovering mystery. I only heard these beings telepathically and at rare times could I make out an astral form as to what i was "speaking" with. Even worse, I was unaware of the fact that many spiritual beings have agendas of their own. And as such, I allowed myself to be deceived by many of the spirits I called my "friends" and "partners".
I felt a calling and had experiences to somewhat validate that calling, and as a result, I created intense fantasies around this calling of myself as some superhero archangel in human form, in love with a Greek god of sexual desire, on a mission to destroy a powerful source of all evil, and bring about a new age of wisdom. Even worse was that many of the spiritual beings I knew kept pushing those fantasies even deeper, as did normal humans whom wanted to believe in something extraordinary despite that I could hardly prove any of this. All I had were false visions and some misinterpreted verses from the Book of Enoch to try and prove myself.
All the while, I had been unemployed for over two years, had hardly any true friends, and no real direction in life. Despite my "dreams", I was not in a good state of mind or life.
It was only when a psychic and energy worker, that I greatly respected and wanted to impress, told me how "fluffy" I was, how I did not even understand my own power, and how much I could grow as a human being and as a person of power, that I started to grow up.
I slowly but surely relinquished my fantasies about being a superhero, my "relationship" with an astral being, my connections with the "gods" that told me of my "future", and what not, that my life as a Human Being on the Planet Earth began to greatly improve.
I now have a driver's license (when I was too scared to get one), a very rewarding job, a much better relationship with my family, a few real friends that I can actually count on, and some measurable success in my own psychic ability. And that is a lot better than having nothing but a fantasy.
I decided to write a novel of all my heroic fantasies instead (which is actually coming along nicely), and life actually makes sense. And I feel very empowered for that and am in a better position to teach and inspire others with my words.
However, despite all this new success, I have received omens that I do not completely understand. They do not fit into the picture of my life in a better stance of balance and joy that I had built for myself. I have been receiving dreams as to what I fear by my having power (of any kind, not just having some psychic gift), and that did not make sense.
I remember reading T. Thorn Coyle's weblog a few weeks ago to see her write how magical/mystical practitioners cannot remain in a lukewarm state of peace forever. That we need to keep challenging ourselves and our discomforts if we want to grow stronger and find ourselves in new brightness. And with these dreams, I remember this pagan mystic's words.
My dreams have centered around me either harming someone in my care despite my best intentions, failing to save someone from dying, being too distracted to prevent disaster, or simply having my best intentions being interpreted as threatening. And that has gone back to what I have always subconsciously feared about my developing any form of psychic or magical ability. That I will be corrupt. That I will be incompetant. That I will be too distracted to make a difference. Or that I will not be able to help if I am veiwed as contrary to what I stand for.
The fact that I am seeing these dreams obviously shows me that something is boiling underneath the surface. Something that is calling my attention.
With my Fairy Tale Tarot cards (they depict a different fairy tale on each card to help divine the meaning better), I took some quiet time and divined what I could from them. the answer I received shocked me very much.
I first asked: What are the subconscious issues within me currently. In response, I drew the Knight of Swords, which depicted one of my favourite stories: Hans Christian Andersen's The Twelve Wild Swans. In the card, one could see the Heroine's twelve brothers (cursed by their stepmother to become swans instead of men) carrying her in a net above the sea, and in the distance is the castle of a Magician whom gives the heroine the necessary means as to break the curse on her brothers.
I initially saw that card indicating some sort of internal journey i needed to take, but looking further into it, i saw something more. A warning of possible danger coming fowards. A need to prepare for the future with creative ideas. This was an answer I expected.
However, my curiosity was not quenched. I then shuffled my cards and asked: "What do I need to prepare for?", and then I drew the most positive card in the deck, The Sun. The Card depicted a lesser known story titled: The Three Animal Kings, at the ending where the heroes have won the day, freed from their curses and are with their wives greeting the morning light, full of joy and happiness. I needed no other explanation than that. But the answer shocked me all the same.
In seeing this I wondered to myself: "How do I come upon this everlasting joy?" and then drew one final card. It was the Page of Wands, depicting another not-so known story called: "Tatterhood". The story revolved around an ugly princess who travels the world protecting her beautiful sister from threats such as Giants and the like. She carries a large wooden spoon, which she uses as a club to harm her enemies, and rides upon a goat, in a tattered dress. Yet at the end, she is late for her wedding to a prince (her reward for saving the day), and when she arrives, the groom asks her why she carries a wooden spoon, rides a goat, and wears a tattered dress. In response, the heroine changes her spoon into a magic wand, her goat into a valliant steed, and her rags into a beautiful wedding gown, and she ends up more beautiful than her helpless sister.
Seeing all of this, a voice came to my mind and stated: "Follow your Dreams!". My questions had been answered with the most encouraging of omens.
The question now remaining: What dream to follow? What will make a difference in my life and bring me through that "Heroic Quest" towards that ultimate joy?
I do wish to complete my superhero novel, I do wish to bring joy to as many people as I can, I do wish to develop my magic to higher levels, I do wish to be on a life transforming journey apart from normal spiritual seeking, and I do with to be a shining light to others trapped in their own quagmire.
I do have an idea as to what path to ultimately take. Yet I am still unsure as how to get there.
Those are questions for another day. In the mean time, I do have an idea as to where I am headed, should I make the right choices.
So while I ponder over what direction my own seeking shall take me, I leave you with this. If you feel called to do something extraordinary... DO IT! If you want to make a difference in someone's life, I should hope you see it through and find everything you have searched for. If you have a dream, put some action into it, and see where it takes you. The time is now to make a change. You are God on Earth. You will find a way.
LVX Amor!
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