Messages In This Digest (18 Messages)
- 1a.
- OT: Truisms From: P.Williams
- 1b.
- Re: OT: Truisms From: carol calvert
- 1c.
- Re: OT: Truisms From: Trish Curtis
- 2a.
- Re: Prayer Request From: Lady ckrystal Hawk
- 3.
- Gay Mystic interconnectedness Great Rite From: Wizard_of_Tacoma
- 4.
- Demo video trailer for JERSEY DEVIL From: castoraxis@aol.com
- 5a.
- Breaking News... From: Lady Nightshayde
- 5b.
- Re: Breaking News... From: Colin
- 6.1.
- Insights From: Lady Nightshayde
- 7a.
- Fairy Charm Spell From: Lady Nightshayde
- 8a.
- Famous Movie Lines From: Lady Nightshayde
- 9.1.
- Aromatherapy Tip From: Lady Nightshayde
- 10.
- Dark Current, the Gothic Current, and Magical Spirituality From: Lady Nightshayde
- 11a.
- Magic in Times of Trouble--Part 1 From: Lady Nightshayde
- 12a.
- Magic in Times of Trouble--Part 2 From: Lady Nightshayde
- 13a.
- Pagan Serenity Prayer From: Lady Nightshayde
- 14a.
- Finding Wholeness Through Roundness From: Lady Nightshayde
- 15.
- Fun Friday--Cubism.....With a Twist From: Lady Nightshayde
Messages
- 1a.
-
OT: Truisms
Posted by: "P.Williams" barny_cat@yahoo.com barny_cat
Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:34 am (PDT)
Enjoy!
I have no special talents. I'm only passionately curious. ~Albert Einstein
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Even the pretty ones are all alone sometime.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember the buddy system... because two have more fun than one!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Take time once in a while to just enjoy the moment.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>When someone tries to surprise you, let them think they got away with it.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Don't worry about what you see in the mirror, beauty is in the eyes of the
>>>>> beholder.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember, your mother thinks you're cute...
>>>>>even if no one else does.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Always try to do what you are taught, it can sometimes lead to beautiful
>>>>>things.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Try to give a gentle lift to a friend in need.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Search for the best route to what you're hoping for.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>No goal is too hard to attain when you persevere.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Sometimes it's better to watch from a distance
>>>>>and plan your next move carefully.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Get to know someone first
>>>>>before accepting that he may be your enemy.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Be careful what you put into your body,
>>>>>health is too important to ignore.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Present yourself well and mind your manners.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember, no matter how much you resemble your siblings,
>>>>>you are still unique!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Taking a power nap from time to time
>>>>>can put you back in the pink!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Whenever possible, jump and clap for joy! Always keep in mind that
>>>>>the world is filled with marvels...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
_____________________ _________ __
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>
>
- 1b.
-
Re: OT: Truisms
Posted by: "carol calvert" carolcalvert2003@yahoo.com carolcalvert2003
Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:39 pm (PDT)
P.Williams,
Very beautiful pictured and what color.
Much Love and Many Prayers,
Carol L. Calvert
_____________________ _________ __
From: P.Williams <barny_cat@yahoo.com >
To: 13Witches@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, July 14, 2011 8:34:53 AM
Subject: [13Witches] OT: Truisms
Enjoy!
I have no special talents. I'm only passionately curious. ~Albert Einstein
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Even the pretty ones are all alone sometime.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember the buddy system... because two have more fun than one!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Take time once in a while to just enjoy the moment.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>When someone tries to surprise you, let them think they got away with it.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Don't worry about what you see in the mirror, beauty is in the eyes of the
>>>>> beholder.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember, your mother thinks you're cute...
>>>>>even if no one else does.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Always try to do what you are taught, it can sometimes lead to beautiful
>>>>>things.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Try to give a gentle lift to a friend in need.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Search for the best route to what you're hoping for.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>No goal is too hard to attain when you persevere.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Sometimes it's better to watch from a distance
>>>>>and plan your next move carefully.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Get to know someone first
>>>>>before accepting that he may be your enemy.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Be careful what you put into your body,
>>>>>health is too important to ignore.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Present yourself well and mind your manners.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember, no matter how much you resemble your siblings,
>>>>>you are still unique!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Taking a power nap from time to time
>>>>>can put you back in the pink!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Whenever possible, jump and clap for joy! Always keep in mind that
>>>>>the world is filled with marvels...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
_____________________ _________ __
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>
>
- 1c.
-
Re: OT: Truisms
Posted by: "Trish Curtis" anartfullmind60@yahoo.com anartfullmind60
Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:54 pm (PDT)
I really love this.I was down and this made me happy thanks so much. Trish
From: P.Williams <barny_cat@yahoo.com >
To: 13Witches@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 9:34 AM
Subject: [13Witches] OT: Truisms
Enjoy!
- 2a.
-
Re: Prayer Request
Posted by: "Lady ckrystal Hawk" ladyckrystalhawk@yahoo.com ladyckrystalhawk
Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:42 am (PDT)
Merry Meet,
I am so sorry Carly to hear about Natalie. Healing Energies being sent her way. Will be lighting a candle for Everyone.
Blessed Be
Lady Ckrystal Hawk
Someday
We will look back
Be humble like a Hawk
Fly high with golden wings
To the Sky Above
From: ~*~Carly~*~ <carloo62@yahoo.com >
To: "13Witches@yahoogroups.com " <13Witches@yahoogroups.com >
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:53 PM
Subject: [13Witches] Prayer Request
A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Even if she does survive chances are she could not live past 5 years or so, Please send her some of your wonderful healing energy that I know you all carry. Thanks so much for reading
Her names Natalie Bender
blessings
~Carly
- 3.
-
Gay Mystic interconnectedness Great Rite
Posted by: "Wizard_of_Tacoma" wizard_of_tacoma@yahoo.com wizard_of_tacoma
Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:33 pm (PDT)
Gay Mystic interconnectedness Great Rite
Gay Mystic interconnectedness
sacred equality and harmony,
Sacred Masculinity with in the Divine Feminine.
The physical and metaphysical journey into the `otherworld'
The physical manifestation of the
Sacred Masculinity and Feminine.
In all of us.
ancient sites and stone circles
are physical manifestation of the worship of the Ancient Gods
reflects the longing to find balance and harmony within
the balance of the Sacred Feminine
and Sacred Masculine within and without.
The Goddess In The Man,
The God In The Woman
men can and do invoke Goddess energy,
Woman can and do invoke God energy
The deities themselves,
split-gender deities and same sexual relations of "gods
the satyr-god Pan
the lovers Pan and Daphnis
Old Pan, the shepherds' god,
Pan preyed sexually upon nymphs and boys
Pan, meaning 'All Things'
Pan is infamous for his sexual seductive powers
The Great Rite
the miracle of love between two people.
it is simply part of nature
conducted as a physical act
in honoring the Great Spirits.
a very beautiful and powerful event
the Great Rite the union interconnectedness
of the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine
Linking the sexual act with divine forces.
as we become the embodiment God
as we become the embodiment Goddess.
Pan, the phallic deity
at your temple
the Sacred Prostitution stands
as holy practitioners;
Go to the temple and with an offering
to the Gods request service
of a Sacred Prostitution
the union of Deities.
honored experiences even to all
even if the union didn't yield a child.
Do not denied your sexual source of magikal power
the of pleasure between partners.
The Great Rite
The rite of sexual intercourse
the actual physical act of two lover.
the The Rite of Pan
Sacred Masculinity is strong on the earth/physical sphere,
Divine Feminine is equally strong on the above/spiritual sphere.
By Wizard 4:58am 7-14-2011
{Robert Owen Scott, Jr}
========
I gave permission to use this poem as long as you get credit to the author.
Have a wonderful day in every way.
Blessed Be and may the Lord and Lady go with you.
A Coven devided against it self can not survive.
)0( So Mote It Be )0( Blessed be )0(
Wizard
- 4.
-
Demo video trailer for JERSEY DEVIL
Posted by: "castoraxis@aol.com" castoraxis@aol.com chrischaos88
Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:54 pm (PDT)
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=bT-UUvU6a8U
http://www.indiegogo.com/The- Search-For- the-Jersey- Devil
Axis Video and Pine Barren Films have joined forces in creating a documentary film "THE SEARCH FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEVIL". We will be interviewing many people that have seen this mysterious beast and others that research this creature.
Help preserve one of New Jersey's curious creatures by contributing to this documentary film.
If you have a story to tell or have information to share anout this New Jersey legend please feel free to contact us and we can set an interview up.
More info will be presented as it unfolds
http://www.indiegogo.com/The- Search-For- the-Jersey- Devil
More information about the NJ Devil:
The Jersey Devil is a legendary creature or cryptid said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey. The creature is often described as a flying biped with hooves, but there are many variations. The Jersey Devil has worked its way into the pop culture of the area, even lending its name to New Jersey's team in the National Hockey League.
Legends and reported encounters:
Most accounts of the Jersey Devil legend attribute the creature to a "Mother Leeds", a supposed whore although the tale has many variations. According to one version, she invoked the devil by saying "let it be the devil" while giving birth to her 13th child, and when the baby was born, it either immediately or soon afterward transformed into a devil like creature and flew off into the surrounding pines. The child was born with horns, a tail, wings, and a horse-like head. The creature revisited Mrs. Leeds every day. She stood at her door and told it to leave. After awhile, the creature got the hint and never returned.
According to legend, while visiting the Hanover Mill Works to inspect his cannonballs being forged, Commodore Stephen Decatur sighted a flying creature flapping its wings and fired a cannonball directly upon it to no effect. Joseph Bonaparte, eldest brother of Emperor Napoleon, is also said to have witnessed the Jersey Devil while hunting on his Bordentown, New Jersey estate around 1820. Throughout the 19th century, the Jersey Devil was blamed for livestock killings, strange tracks, and reported sounds. In the early 20th century, a number of people in New Jersey and neighboring states claimed to witness the Jersey Devil or see its tracks. Claims of a corpse matching the Jersey Devil's description arose in 1957. In 1960, the merchants around Camden offered a $10,000 reward for the capture of the Jersey Devil, even offering to build a private zoo to house the creature if captured.
There are many other versions of the legend. The legends say it was the 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, or 13th child, It was born normal or deformed, and the mother confined it to the cellar or the attic. Although there are many discrepancies in all of these stories, there are 3 pieces of evidence that tie all of the legends of the Jersey Devil's origin together. From the pre 1909 era, few documented records of sightings still exist. The ones that do, confirm the existence of the devil.
Chris Chaos
Axis Video/Pine Barren Films
PO BOX 551
Gloucester, NJ 08030
- 5a.
-
Breaking News...
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:06 pm (PDT)
Breaking News: "Casey Anthony places a call to 911 in fear of her life"....
(Dispatcher) What is your emergency? "Please help me, I have a bunch of people trying to kill me." (Dispatcher) "Okay ma'am, calm down. What is your name?" "Casey Anthony." (dispatcher) "Ok, Miss Anthony try to stay calm, an officer will be there in 31 days !!"
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 5b.
-
Re: Breaking News...
Posted by: "Colin" gunner508@gmail.com gunner508uk
Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:23 am (PDT)
Unfunny.
On 15 July 2011 04:06, Lady Nightshayde <LadyNightshayde9@aol.com > wrote:
>
>
> Breaking News: "Casey Anthony places a call to 911 in fear of her
> life"....
>
> (Dispatcher) What is your emergency? "Please help me, I have a bunch of
> people trying to kill me." (Dispatcher) "Okay ma'am, calm down. What is
> your name?" "Casey Anthony." (dispatcher) "Ok, Miss Anthony try to stay
> calm, an officer will be there in 31 days !!"
>
>
> *
> The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
>
> Love Each Day,
> Lady Nightshayde
>
> **
> http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
> http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
> http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
> http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
> *
> **
>
>
>
- 6.1.
-
Insights
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:07 pm (PDT)
KNOWLEDGE
Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power is a pageant; but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in frame, unlimited in space, and infinite in duration.
De Witt Clinton
It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill.
Wilbur Wright
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 7a.
-
Fairy Charm Spell
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:16 pm (PDT)
Fairy Charm Spell
Fairies are respected and feared in Gaelic culture, accepted as a fact of life by a people acknowledging the mystic realm. Victorian visions of gossamer-winged lovelies are actually a romanticized version of the Sidhe, a fairy spirit-race believed by the Scotch/Irish to have powers to harm and confuse the vulnerable, and influence human fate. According to one charming Irish custom, when a child spills a drink at a picnic or outing, the adult refrains from scolding him or her, saying instead: "Leave it to the fairies!" Fairy lore asserts that fairies abhor a miserly spirit. To appease fairies in your life, leave small gifts of food and drink in your garden, on your doorstep, or any outside place you sense might be a fairy ring or fairy tree.
~Karri Ann Allrich
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 8a.
-
Famous Movie Lines
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:16 pm (PDT)
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times when one only remembers to turn on the light."
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 9.1.
-
Aromatherapy Tip
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:18 pm (PDT)
If you have Insomnia yet are exhausted try this blend.
Valerian 5 drops
Lemon 10 drops
Mandarin 10 drops
Use in any aroma lamp
from www.aromathyme.com
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 10.
-
Dark Current, the Gothic Current, and Magical Spirituality
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:26 pm (PDT)
Dark Current, the Gothic Current, and Magical Spirituality
Dark culture has been weaving its way into Paganism at an increasing rate since its inception in the late 1970s. Though many people would like to think that all Witches and "true magicians" are dark, dark, dark creatures, that idea is anything but true. At the same time, I suppose it entirely depends on a person's definition of darkness. In the case of "dark Witches" and "dark magicians," (terms I use to describe magical folk who are attracted to darker energies and aesthetics), the definition is aligned with positive, progressive spirituality rather than so-called "black magic" or an equal hindrance.
In reality, a minor percentage of Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans are heavily involved with or interested in dark culture, including the Gothic-industrial subculture, the vampire lifestyle, and the fetish scene. However, looking around at any good-sized Pagan gathering makes obvious the fact that the "darkly inclined" are some of the most predominant alternative people drawn to magical spirituality.
La Magie de Culture Gothique
Gothic culture, in particular, is constructed around an ideology that embraces the beauty in darkness. Sadness is a common theme but isn't generally felt to an unhealthy degree. Dark art differs from other art forms in the sense that it expresses the shadowy and mysterious. Subtle forces align through the wearing of dark clothing, mournful makeup, listening to or creating dark music, writing eerie poetry, and creating dark art. Dark art is an outlet of personal transformation--that can occur on both a conscious and subconscious level. Expressive arts of any kind serve as magical acts to stimulate personal growth, and many artists channel divine energies, tapping into vibrations stored somewhere in the collective unconscious. The natural need to come to terms with humanity's dark nature is immense.
There are a number of reasons for the overlap between dark culture and magical spirituality. For one, Earth-based practitioners are some of the last people to cast a harmful judgment against this subculture. Pagan acceptance of alternative lifestyles is a blessing to those who are so often condemned for striding their own expressive/philosophical path. Renaissance styles, artistic flair, an appreciation for unique music, as well as liberal political views are all embraced by a good number of non-Gothic Pagans, allowing for an acceptance of alternative lifestyles not found in other religious systems.
Many individuals who are drawn to dark culture--whether the extent be great or small--feel assured when darkness is openly honored in celebrations such as Samhain (in the Celtic system) and New/Dark Moon esbats. It's a sad-but-true fact that many people--even followers of the Pagan path--avoid the reality of "the dark side," hence the rise of the dreaded modern "fluffy bunny New Age Wiccan" stereotype! Yes, our path seeks progression from the depths of unhappiness and unawareness, but that doesn't mean that darkness is its cause. The association between darkness and "evil" stems from an obsolete, fear-based ideology. This view is held in varying degrees in modern Western society. the majority of the population is diurnal, sleeping the solemn night away without venturing exploration of any sort. When a person's visual darkness is associated with sinister motives, discrimination results for those who quite literally wear it on their sleeve. Luckily, this unfortunate stereotype is subsiding more every day.
Celebrating Darkness
For centuries, there was little if no separation between magic and religion. This view is still widely held by indigenous or tribal Pagan cultures across the glove. The division between these two elements occurred much later and was greatly due to Judeo-Christianity's influence. Because modern magic persevered under ancient Western spiritual concepts, modern magical spiritualists of all sorts combine the two, letting them dance in unison to a song of active global and personal change. As already mentioned, Pagan spiritual systems honor the reality of darkness--and all it encompasses- -to provide a holistic and balanced structure of worship. Witches, celebrating the lunar tides just as much as the solar (ideally), understand the unique magical force that nighttime holds. This same force is channeled in dark culture.
Without darkness, celebrations of light would be meaningless. Likewise, celebrations of darkness are meaningless without their corresponding equal opposites. The force of darkness includes aspects of the natural world such as destruction, death, and decay. Without question, these darker aspects of Mama Nature's cycle are in place to provide fluidity; a constant change, renewal, and rebirth of all things. Just the same, the darker portions of our psyche (sorrow, anger, and apathy) exist for the same reasons...the microcosm embodying the macrocosm: As Above, So Below. If these forces are understood, honored, and worked with, a special type of spiritual understanding quite naturally follows.
Dark Witches basically work magic like every other Witch (and generally have similar ethical views), but tend to keep focused on darker currents, certainly not dismissing things like blood magic, body modification, fasting, and emotional introspection. When dark forces are recognized for what they are--as well as the role they play in our day-to-day lives--these energies can be objectively honed and worked with accordingly, for positive means. Emotion and intention are the fuel of magical work, and the dark Witch or shadow magician seeks to bring these aspects to a balanced state. Magic focused on emotional transformation is a strong point of interest for darkly inclined Pagans. Without inner transformation, how can external change occur? Our inner world creates our outer world, and personal darkness cannot be pushed aside.
External forces are also worked with by dark Witches and magicians. The emptiness and profound nature of night itself is something for any magical person to consider and perhaps use frequently. External reality is a mirror for internal reality, and vice-versa. The darkness of night correlates with the darkness of the mind. It can represent the subconscious, the unseen, the hidden. Just as nocturnal animals and spirits make their presence known in the nighttime, so does our consciousness shift and enter a different mode of operation in these hours--a fact that is, unsurprisingly, both physiological and metaphysical.
Death Energy
I believe that, for the dark Witch or magician, there exists a natural attunement of sorts to death energy. For Goth types who prefer to express themselves visually, this is easily noticeable. In terms of dark art and philosophy, there seems to often be an underlying or overt focus on death. Death is the Great Unknown, and as such, its visceral reality is a point of focus in serious spirituality of any type.
Death is the dark side of a full cycle, and this energy can be utilized for spiritual means alongside the dark lunar and solar tides--for death is the ultimate dark tide of life. Necromancy is a mystical, mysterious and magical art that inherently appeals to many dark Witches and magicians. This has nothing to do with human or animal sacrifice (hey, many of us are vegetarian or vegan!), but with the harnessing of death energy. Goths and other dark culturists are not morbidly fascinated by death, but choose to recognize its power. Death represents the Supreme Unknowable and is therefore aligned to dark, abyss-like vibrations. Though some forms of High Necromancy actually require working with the discarded shell (a corpse) of a person or animal who died of natural causes, more common Necromantic practices are concerned with the magician aligning to chthonic energies in a much less potentially dangerous manner through deep meditation, similar to shamanic journeying. Necromancy and other dark arts confront raw, undeniable energies of existence.
As darker lifestyles and magical spiritual paths grow individually, they will also continue to grow together. For those of us with a foot in each of these spheres, or even those of us who simply dabble in either, we must actively claim our role as alchemists of the dark. Consciousness is rapidly evolving on Earth, and it's up to those unafraid to face darkness, both of the mind and of the world, to help change the plane in which we find ourselves for the better.
The Elements Enshrouded
Here is an idea for an exercise to help you in connecting with darkness. A simple activity such as this can be beneficial for any practicing magician of Witch. If you work with "darker" energies on a regular basis, this can help keep you connected to them. Otherwise, it can serve as a pleasant introduction to the beauty and profundity of nocturnal energy. Keep in mind, however, that simply connecting to the energy of nighttime is only one form of that which can be called "shadow magic." Because there are so many ways that darkness can be perceived, it follows that there are many ways to spiritually integrate with such energy. Nocturnal energy is lulling and soporific, making an exercise like this perfect to perform under shroud of night.
Before this exercise, do some research into the metaphysical properties of the mineral kingdom; ideal reference guides for doing so include Love is in the Earth by Melody, and Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham. Discover which stones align to which element, and let your intuition guide you to make a selection of four stones, one as an offering to each element. You may have these stones on hand or you may have to purchase them from a supplier. Make sure to select good-sized stones rather than pebbles. Also, it's best to ensure that the stones were not harvested in an unethical way, such as strip mining.
Find a black candle. Make sure that it's a true black candle--not a white candle dipped in a black shell. The darker the color the better, as the color energy is released into the atmosphere as the candle burns. It's also a good idea to inscribe various symbols on the wax and to anoint it with an essential oil of your choice.
During the dead of night, bring the stones and candle with you to a serene, natural, and unpolluted area, even if you have to travel to get there. Ensure that the area is relatively private and secluded, and that it has a stream, lake, beach, or other body of water.
Put yourself in a sacred and slowed frame of mind by walking very, very slowly in your chosen location. If there are any cars, lights, or people around, try not to pay too much attention; allow yourself to enter your own little world. Allow this walking meditation to bring your focus to the nature that surrounds you. Observe what you can of the natural world in the darkness. Look at the details of the natural world, admiring the intricate and immaculate side of nature herself.
Still walking slowly, with much peace and calm, discover an area that calls to you. Sit down and bring your attention to the ground beneath your body. Run your hands through the grass, the dirt, the sand, or whatever is beneath you. Softly and slowly feel the grass, the plants, the trees, or whatever surrounds you. Fully bring your attention to the element of earth, recognizing its presence all around you. When you feel truly connected to the element, speak directly to it in a whisper. Tell earth, as an element, that you appreciate, admire, and revere it for all that it is. Here, bury the stone you selected as an offering to earth.
Continue in a similar manner with the other elements. Take plenty of time to stay "in the zone" and fully experience yourself in the darkness with the elements. Next, stand up to experience the element air. Gaze above you, to the heavens. Observe the beauty of the starry (or overcast!) sky. Contemplate infinity. The cosmos stretches forever, and astronomers say that space itself is expanding. Reflect on the grandness of this. Inhale deeply and slowly multiple times, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Smell the air, twirl around a bit, and get to know this most sustaining element. When you feel a connection, grab the stone you selected for air, and throw it as far as you can. As long as it lands somewhere in nature (i.e., not rocketed through someone's window), the offering has been made. Whisper to air your reasons for loving it as an element.
Next is fire. Find a spot to sit down and light the wick of your candle. Let it burn for a few minutes as you meditate and connect to the energies radiating from the sacred flame. Hold your hand above the fire, wave the candle around your aura, hold it high; do whatever you like in order to connect to the flame itself as a representative of fire. When ready, whisper to the flame your admiration to the element and, for a few seconds, char the fire stone in the candle flame. Blow out the candle, sending admiration through the wick's smoke, and put both the candle and stone back in your pocket or bag. Burn this candle down when you get home (keep an eye on it) with the stone at it's base, doing with the remnants what you please.
Finally, approach the nearby body of water. Connect to it as much as possible; if it's seasonal and you're a competent swimmer, take a night swim! Or, simply soak your hands or feet in the water. Play with the water and let it play with you. Feel its serene fluidity, recognizing it as another mystery of existence, and one that both sustains and feeds life. Spend plenty of time connecting to water and reflect on what it represents, both physically and metaphysically. When ready, whisper your fond words to the element and throw your offering stone so that it will sink deep within the watery womb.
by Raven Digitalis,
copyright 2009
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 11a.
-
Magic in Times of Trouble--Part 1
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:29 pm (PDT)
Magic in Times of Trouble--Part 1
When we are rested, peaceful, and content, it is easy to gracefully practice the tenet "An it harm none." But what about situations fraught with fear, stress, anger, and panic? Don't most of us revert to the use of domination and force when we feel cornered?
How do you tap into deeper spiritual reserves and inner strength when you are really up against the wall? Can you reach deep down to find ways to see even the most evil and attacking person through a peaceful, Pagan perspective? Are you able to ground yourself spiritually and practice magic in times of trouble?
Three years ago, a shocking incident took place that forced me to find these strengths and develop these skills. I want to share what I learned and practiced in case you have a situation or a person with whom these skills might become necessary. I want to remind you how to use simple magic to protect yourself, practical ways to cultivate good energy, and the natural laws that inform the Pagan practice of "What goes around comes around."
The Troubled Times
Three years ago, my neighbor sued me over a trivial and frivolous incident. Prior to the incident, we had shared a neighborly relationship. I helped her with shopping, we traded food across the street, and I minded her kids every now and then. Two women at home alone with kids, we empathized, laughed, and sometimes cried about life. I thought this woman and I were friends.
One morning a process server arrived at my gate and handed me a $400,000 lawsuit. It was from my friend and neighbor across the road. And yet, the night before when I had taken soup over to her house, she didn't mention the lawsuit. Strange.
My first response was disbelief, which was quickly overtaken by shock, and then anger. Overnight, I went from thinking of her as a friend and neighbor to considering her a danger and a threat--an enemy and attacker. Her actions threatened my home and savings, my possessions, and my security. She was a threat not just to me but to my family and my homestead.
Now, if I lived in a big city, blocks away from this woman, it might have been easy to put her out of sight, out of mind. Or, to just let the issue go and let my lawyer handle it. But I live in a rural village of 1,700 people, and this woman lived directly across a small street. Unable to avoid her, I had to learn how to manage my feelings and responses when I saw her. I also needed to counteract the attacking, negative energy that I perceived from her directed at me. When encountering her in the grocery store, in front of the school, or at the post office, I needed ways to stay safe. This meant not only shielding myself from attack, but also not losing my own self-control.
While I often had the impulse to shout at her across the street to vent my anger and fear, and I thought about placing a curse on her and casting negative spells, in my heart I knew that the eventual outcome would be negative for me, too. So I focused instead on transformation. Transformation of my feelings, her attacking energy, and the situation.
Transforming Troubled Feelings
As a practitioner of transformative magic, I believe that the best way to deal with evil is to transform it, not to attempt to fight or destroy it. I would prefer evil passed by me or went around me, rather than engage me head-on.
My Pagan practice, based on natural law, told me that "What goes around comes around" and it usually returns via The Threefold law: everything you do comes back to you three times. That meant that anything I did, said, or sent to my neighbor would come back to me abundantly. And since I already had a lot of troubles, I couldn't risk stirring up any more.
Ideally, if I were a highly evolved spiritual being, I would have sent this woman positive energy, blessings, and good wishes. But I am not so highly evolved, and initially, I wasn't capable of positive thoughts toward my attacker. Still reeling from the betrayal and attack, I was off balance and felt really vulnerable.
Realizing that I have a lot more influence in my own realm and over my own feelings than I had over someone else's, my first step was to work with and transform my own feelings. I needed to move myself away from fear, anger, and pain toward confidence, safety, and security--a pretty radical transformation.
My early efforts focused on self-protection and employed a huge cast of magical helpers. I hired a lawyer to protect me legally, and a psychotherapist to help me process the feelings of betrayal and hurt and protect myself emotionally I used my journal to record feelings, express my negativity, and transform it. My magical circle helped by cleansing and blessing me, and I did a lot of protection and transformation magic in ritual. My partner became a deeper ally with whom I shared my fears and processed my feelings of betrayal.
By processing the energy in a variety of ways, I came to realize that I hadn't done anything mean, bad, or stupid to anyone. I held my head up and spoke my truth. While I refrained from speaking negatively about my attacker, I didn't silence myself. I spoke about what happened and how I felt. I let the power of my emotions be my medium. I spoke only about what had happened to me and how I felt about it.
While there is no quick fix for traumatic events, even fear, anger, and pain can be transformed through self-care and protective practices. With regular practice, negative energy can be neutralized, dispelled, and deflected. And once that healing has started and your feelings are being transformed, you can continue on to perform some simple self-protection.
Simple Self-Protection
When we are under attack, even from only one person, it can often feel like the whole world is against us. Bad magic , or negative energy, feeds on feelings of vulnerability and fear. So it is important to cleanse and protect yourself. By neutralizing, dispelling, and deflecting negative energy, you protect yourself from being charged with negativity or simply having your good energy sucked out of you. Some of the most effective methods of spiritual and psychic protection are also the easiest.
With your feet planted on the ground, draw Earth's energy up through your body and envision it cascading out the top of your head, showering you with golden light. Use a deep breath to draw the energy up, and exhale to shower it out and around. Continue to breathe deeply until you can feel a perceptible shift in your energy--perhaps a tightening of the scalp or a chill up the back of the neck. Know that you are enveloped in the energy of the Earth, where natural law governs and protects.
Each morning, take a cleansing shower or bath. Use salts to consciously scrub away old, bad energy. Let the negativity be absorbed by the salt and carried off. As you rinse, bid the negative energy farewell, suggesting it go back to where it came from. After you dry yourself, anoint your body with sacred oils to protect and uplift. (Always dilute essential oils before applying them to your skin.) Uplifting oils include lavender, orange, or lemon balm. Protecting oils include magnolia and sandalwood. You can use whatever you feel good about, whatever gives you a good vibe. I used jasmine through my troubled times, because it is reputed to be the healer of broken hearts, and that is what betrayal felt like to me.
Adorn yourself with sacred or consecrated jewelry or symbols at all times. Imbued with the good magic of your circle, solitary practice, and craft, their energy is always with you and can be drawn on in times of trouble. Remember to use the consecrated jewelry as a touchstone--something you can touch and be reminded of goodness and protection.
Use dried sage and sweet grass and smudge yourself, clearing your aura. As you fan the cleansing smoke around your body, think about what you seek to release. Let the smoke absorb the negative energy and take it away, dissipating as the smoke disappears.
Make up your own cleansing ritual that removes the negativity, restores your sense of worth and value, and helps you to maintain equilibrium--even in times of stress.
by Dallas Jennifer Cobb
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 12a.
-
Magic in Times of Trouble--Part 2
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:30 pm (PDT)
Magic in Times of Trouble--Part 2
Protecting Your Property
My home felt threatened both because of the lawsuit and because of the proximity of my negative neighbor. I went to great lengths to protect my physical space from her energy. Some of my techniques might work for you.
Because my garage and parking spot were the closest parts of my property to her property, I started with a simple protection spell for my car. I smudged her and told her how much I valued her. I washed her and then rubbed wax onto her, giving her a shiny exterior to deflect negative energy. Finally, I placed a bumper sticker on the back bumper--the one that faced directly toward my neighbor's house--reading "Follow Your Bliss." I chose this because it was a wish and it was positive. I hoped that every time my neighbor read it she would be uplifted and reminded to think about what really made her happy. I hoped that it would subtly transform her negativity toward me.
Plants and flowers possess magical qualities and can be allies in protection. Because I felt vulnerable in my backyard,which was overlooked by my attacking neighbor, I planted a lot of plants that grow tall, I hoped to create a webbed mesh of greenery that would limit visibility, sound, and energy transference and help me to feel safe.
Because I consider them to be guardians, I planted Russian helianthus--giant sunflowers. they grew to be valiant guardians standing eight to fourteen feet tall, their faces turning with the Sun to watch over my garden, car, and home. Thick fibrous stalks created an impenetrable physical boundary and helped establish a firm psychic boundary.
For color, joy, and inspiration, I planted hollyhocks in a variety of colors. Their flowered stalks grew tall and cascaded brilliant flowers all around. When I looked at them, I felt light and blessed. Beauty can uplift and transform emotions instantly. The hollyhocks also drew birds, bees, and insects to the garden, adding to my sense of abundance and rightness with the natural world. And within the garden I felt safe, protected and nurtured, even though I was still in close proximity to my negative neighbor.
Garden ornaments can be employed to deflect negative energy around the perimeter of your property. Children's toys such as windmills, spinning rainbows, and whirl-a-gigs are ideal for deflecting energy because the movement disperses and deflects negative energy. Mounted at the corners of the property, and in the usual line of sight or contact, they can help to dispel any bad wishes or harm intended for you. I used large, rainbow-colored ornaments that looked happy and cheery when they spun in the wind hoping that they would both dispel any bad energy directed toward me or my property, and inspire happy thoughts and actions. When I recognized that I was hoping my negative neighbor would be inspired to happiness, I realized that even my pain was being transformed.
To feel safe inside your home after a violation, use an herbal smudge or a candle to cleanse the area. Let all the negativity be carried away in the flame of the candle or dissipating smoke. From the door of your home, walk clockwise throughout the space, pausing by each door and window where you can wave extra smoke or draw a protective pentagram. Envision the space lightening and know you are making it safe. Use an incantation for conscious clearing and protection, repeating it often as you smudge. You can draft your own or borrow mine:
I clear this space
and let it be known
goodness and mercy
bless this home.
After clearing and cleansing your space, place at your doors, windows, and gates small protective objects imbued with the magic of protection. Charge them to only allow good people, energy, and ideas in and to deflect, neutralize, or dispel anything with negative intent.
Preparing Yourself for Peril and Bad People
Once you feel safe and have taken the steps to protect your home and property, you can start to think of ways to prepare yourself for meeting bad people or peril in other, more public places.
If you are going somewhere you think you might encounter negative people, prepare yourself beforehand. Use some simple practices for self-protection to cleanse negative energy off of you, and envelop yourself in protective energy. Also, take the time to preview what could happen. Decide in advance how you want to behave and how you want to be perceived--not just by the negative person, but by those who might witness the interaction. Remind yourself of your deepest magical beliefs and how you choose to be in the world. With this preparation, you have a greater opportunity to act rather than react.
Many times when I have encountered my attacker in public, I have opted for silence for a variety of reasons. Initially, it was because I feared if I opened my mouth, only bad things would come out. Later, I chose to simply walk by her as if she did not exist, because negativity was all I could perceive coming from her, and I chose to deflect it. If you don't engage with an angry person, then the anger rests with them.
Choosing to be silent in certain situations should not be confused with being forced into silence. Remember, if you haven't done anything bad, then you haven't done anything bad. And even if someone is trying to shame you, you can hold onto your deep knowledge of natural law and social norms. Good will come to good people, and good actions bring goodness back to you.
Remember: the world is not blind, and people remember. Rest assured that whether it is a few days or a few decades from now, you will be known by your reputation. So even if you are feeling attacked, remember that many people in your community will see you for who you are in action and deed, just as they will clearly see your attacker. This is especially true in a small town or tight-knit community.
Seeing Through Magical Eyes
You will know that magic is at work in your life on a very deep level when you start to be surprised by the transformation of your own thoughts and feelings. For me, there came a time when I started to look across the street at my neighbor and not feel threatened, but feel saddened by how weak and fearful this woman seemed to be.
One day, I saw my neighbor and former friend hauling groceries out of her car, and I caught a glimpse of her energy. She appeared to be empty, flattened, and hollow. I felt a touch of pity for her. I knew then that the lawsuit wasn't something she had done to hurt me, but something she did to try to fill some void inside of her, perhaps with money and a sense of power. That I was the target of her actions was mere coincidence, and perhaps just a result of our proximity.
As I stood there watching her, I recognized the huge shift of perception within me. My attacker was no longer a strong, menacing force, but a weary soul to be quietly pitied. And at that moment, I no longer felt fear or hurt.
The Natural Order of the Magical Universe
There is a natural order to the universe and the cycles of nature govern everything, especially magical work. Whether it is in the physical, psychic, spiritual, or magical realm, what you plant grows and comes to fruition, and that is what you shall reap. After the harvest, what remains is plowed under to compost and regenerate.
Holding an awareness of the cycle of birth, life, death, and resurrection can help you keep moving through times of trouble, knowing they won't last forever. When you expect transformation, your eyes and soul seek it and are more attuned to it' you can call it to you and make space for it in your life. By choosing to flow with the cycle of nature, you may even hasten the passage of the times of trouble, by letting go of resistance and not welcoming further negativity or attack. When everything is said and done, the residue from the times of trouble may just compost and fertilize the soil and soul.
I know that the magical realm is not an instantaneous one. And the rule "What goes around comes around" doesn't promise instant payback or the return of energy in the same form. But natural law and experience have taught me that everything comes around energetically. Through my practice of using magic in times of trouble, I have come to understand how this can work in my life.
Three years have passed. My home is secure and my garden is abundant. I have a deep sense of the magic at work in my life and a stronger appreciation for times of trouble. My neighbor moved about five months ago after a long period of increasing alienation. I hope that she plants better things in her new garden, because everyone reaps what they sow!
by Dallas Jennifer Cobb
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 13a.
-
Pagan Serenity Prayer
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:31 pm (PDT)
Pagan Serenity Prayer
Goddess grant me:
The power of Water,
to accept with ease &
grace what I cannot change.
The power of Fire,
for the energy & courage
to change the things I can.
The power of Air,
for the ability to know the
difference.
And the power of Earth,
for the strength to
continue my path.
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 14a.
-
Finding Wholeness Through Roundness
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:32 pm (PDT)
Finding Wholeness Through Roundness
A Journey to the Goddess through the Venus of Willendorff
As anyone who hears the call knows, the voice of the Goddess comes
unbidden at times we least expect to hear it, and often in ways we never
would have imagined.
I am a thick woman in a thin society. I've been relatively comfortable in
the body the Goddess has seen fit to provide me with. My size or shape have
never prevented me from doing anything and everything I wanted, or
from being healthy, attractive, stylish or active. While content with my
physical being, the only times I have felt ashamed or unattractive were when
OTHERS called into question or were critical of my appearance.
In the summer of 1994, anticipating my participation as an attendant
in the October wedding of my best friend Carol, I found myself confronting
upsetting esteem issues I was unprepared for; old forgotten demons
surfaced.
Ten years prior, I had been excised from the wedding plans of my then-
best friend, with no explanation --except I knew, KNEW, I had not been
invited to participate because the bride-to-be's mother thought I was too
large to wear the glamorous, skimpy bridesmaid's dress that would probably be
selected. The friend's mother did not want a fat girl in the bridal
party--and did not want a fat girl in the pictures--did not want a fat girl in her
memory. My friend had little choice in the matter, and so I received,
simply, an invitation in the mail. With this painful incident wedged in my memory, I
dreaded the impending nuptials of my now-best friend, in fear that the same
would happen. Although I went through the rituals of finding a dress I liked
(and looked lovely in!), helped plan the semi-handfasting ceremony, hosted
the showers, addressed the invitations, attended hair and make-up
appointments, and played the part of devoted bridesmaid, some small
part of me expected--until the very last second when I walked into the gazebo
moments before my beautiful friend--that I would be quietly taken aside and
told "We're sorry, dear. No fat girls in this wedding."
No such thing happened, of course, and the joyousness of that
shimmery autumn day was felt by all who attended. An important event; for
my friend, of course, entering into a new life with her partner; but also, for
myself. I had, with the Goddess' guidance and support, make it through a difficult
experience.
All that fall, I worked on feeling better about myself, walking
regularly, eating healthier. And yet, I remained the same size, the same
weight. It was somewhat discouraging. But then, in a vivid dream, a voice
told me to honor my HOLINESS. Holiness? I am certain I had been reading Starhawk around that time; in the Charge of the Star Goddess, she writes ".. And you
who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not,
unless you know the Mystery: for that which you seek, you find not within
yourself, you will never find it without....." Although I had considered
myself a seeker of the Goddess for a year or so, had read that passage many
times, those seemed empty words. I did not feel holy. I thought I felt the
Goddess IN me, but I did not feel the Goddess in ME.
And then, on a rainy blustery afternoon with the last of the leaves clinging
to the wet pavement like bittersweet confetti, for the first time, I felt
her. In a warmly lit bookstore, smells of cinnamon and coffee, the Goddess
called. Flipping lazily through the glossy pages of a thick art history
book, in a section on Paleolithic art, my eyes fell on her--the Venus of
Willendorff--whose body looked remarkably, uncannily, beautifully, like mine.
Subsequent plates and pages showed front, back and side details, and
all of her beauty--abundant breasts, happy tummy, full moon hips, dimpled
knees--belonged to me. BELONGED TO ME.
And in that moment, I was Goddess.
I wanted to slip into the pages of the book with her, the fat, fecund
little Goddess; to strip naked and stand, embracing her round little
shoulders, and kiss her sweet braided head and say, "Look at ME, sister!"
If I had had the means, or the nerve to fly to Vienna, to break into the
Museum and steal her in that moment, I surely would have.
(I settled on a postcard of her that, serendipitously, I found at the
bookstore, and placed her image on my altar).
In the coming months, I saw images of my round Venus everywhere--in
books, magazines, on clothing, on television. And of course, I saw her in
the mirror each morning! And then one day, around the time of the Winter
Solstice, while daydreaming and playing with some Fimo clay I'd bought to
make millefiori beads (a project abandoned because I found the Fimo
so difficult to knead), I found that my fingers had shaped, unknowingly,
quite miraculously, a recognizable, albeit crude, Willendorff goddess. I
was shaking in wonder at the beauty of the little figure that my fingers,
my heart, had given birth to.
What began for me that day, although I would not put things into
perspective for a while longer, was an empowering journey on the path to
recognizing the innate holiness in the female body; to understanding that
woman, in all her glorious shapes and sizes, is not only the key to divinity, but
indeed IS divinity.
As a woman who has considered writing my primary creative outlet for
most of my life, then, no one was more surprised than me when I began
sculpting body after body, figurine after figurine from this clay! My
fingers created little women of every imaginable appearance, with almost no
effort--it was like pulling small people directly from the ethers! (For those of
you familiar with automatic writing, the experience was comparable--I
would trance out and emerge with a pile of goddess babies!) The sweet
details of the sculptures made me weep--somehow, some part of me managed to
capture perfectly the bend of an elbow, an arched foot, a hip tilted just so,
a breast with a particularly interesting lilt. It was incomprehensible! But
the more I crafted these tiny figures, the more strongly I felt the presence
of the Goddess in myself, in all women. I wondered how I could share
this feeling of sacredness, fecundity, verdant joy with others.
One day the word "Bodigoddess" came to me as I did an
affirmation: "When I see myself with Goddess eyes, I accept and love my
shape and size." Click. A light went on. And I knew that the Goddess had led me
to a place where I could spread my burgeoning sense of well-being, pride, light and
love--by turning these sculptures into jewelry. Don't ask how, but in the space
of a month--the blink of an eye--just after the turning of the new year,
Bodigoddess sculptures, named after Goddesses, in six different styles, in
all shapes, sizes, and colors, were created, packaged, marketed, and
for sale in several New Age and women's bookstores in my area and featured in
the arts section of a local newspaper! In the past few months, local
counseling practices have adopted the Bodigoddess as a clinical tool in their work
treating women with eating disorders, and a feminist group, Boycott
Anorexic Marketing, has lauded my efforts to empower women of all body
types.
I have been doubly blessed--not only have I been able to derive true use and
significant mind-body-spirit healing from working on the Bodigoddess project,
I am able to share the raw creative energy and sense of feminine
empowerment with others in need of similar healing.
The head-spinning pace at which this all came together--so
effortlessly--seemed truly miraculous to those who followed the rapid
snowballing of the project. But it is not really so surprising actually,
when one considers the absolute importance of positive body imaging
in a society that is so dangerously obsessed with physical appearance. In
the United States, where a woman's worth is calculated according to her
dress size (and diminishes the higher the number climbs), many young women
die because of their obsession with their weight. We kill our bodies and our
spirits by never feeling thin enough, pretty enough, woman enough. I am
angered that societal pressures force us to believe we must conform to an
unrealistic and mythic standard of beauty--the adulation and near deification
of the supermodel is a frightening aesthetic principle in our culture. This
points to the necessity for all of us to come to a full, stunning and
complete recognition of the absolute sacredness of our female bodies--our
individual, and collective, reflections of the Great Mother. To be woman is
to be Goddess.
Months after my own business--my "crusade"--was established, my
journey to Goddess embarked upon, I read with interest Nancy Blair's
explanation, in her companion book to her Amulets of the Goddess, of how
her own journey had begun: "When I first saw a reproduction of the
Willendorff Goddess, I was stunned...my imagination was stirred by Her presence. I felt an inexplicable yet profound sense of belonging. I began researching images of
women throughout ancient cultures....what I uncovered in the rich and
fertile ground of the Goddess comforted my aching spirit. My life and how I
perceived myself in the world changed". YES!! A powerful affirmation not
only of my own experience, but of my belief that this image encompasses far
more than simply four-and-a-half inches of carved limestone. The Willendorff
Goddess, our oldest tangible reminder of our matriarchal heritage,
should be an inspiration to all of us--we must remember that that, as in the
circles we hold, in the power of the Full Moon, in the turn of the seasons,
in the breadth of our hips, in our eyes shining with delight, there is wholeness
in roundness.
by Faith Benedetti
copyright 1998
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Whispering Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/MagickalMe als/
http://groups.yahoo/group/ NightshaydesNews
- 15.
-
Fun Friday--Cubism.....With a Twist
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:35 pm (PDT)
Cubism... with a twist: Artist recreates iconic images using thousands of RUBIK'S CUBES
By Daily Mail Reporter
14th July 2011
An artist has given some of the most iconic portraits of celebrities a unique twist - by recreating them using thousands of Rubik's cubes.
From Michael Jackson to Madonna, the mind-boggling creations are the exact replica of their real life famous faces.
But the colourful portraits are more than just a mirror image, because they appear to jump off the wall thanks to clever subtleties in shading and depth.
Cube caricatures: Josh Chalom recreates iconic portraits and pieces of art, like this one of Marilyn Monroe, using only Rubik's Cubes
King of Pop - art? Michael Jackson gets the Rubik's Cube treatment and, children's favourite Spongebob Squarepants in all his cubic glory
The collections images of musicians, celebrities, politicians as well as recreations of famous Pop-Art pieces and classics like the 'Mona Lisa'.
They are the brainchild of artist Josh Chalom, who along with a team of more than 30 people painstakingly piece and twist the creations together.
He said: 'I simply love the art form - I'm fascinated by old Atari 8-bit video games so this is the perfect medium for it.
'I've been doing this for a little over three years now and have no intentions of slowing down either. It's not so much a hobby but a passion in my life.
'Each one is hand twisted so depending on the size it takes anywhere from two or three days to a week or two to finish, but it all depends on complexity and planning for it.
'The biggest piece so far is the Hand of God - it's 29ft by 14.5ft and we used 12,090 cubes for that. It should be a Guinness record by next year.'
A snip at half the price: Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands is recreated using thousands of cubes
Leaving an impression: Josh Chalom recreates The Hand of God from the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican
Mr Chalom, 52, has built a team of collaborators from graphic architects to 'cubers'.
The aim at his Cubeworks base in Toronto, Canada, is to get more people involved in old masterpieces.
He said: 'We specialise in things that people will come and say "wow" at - the more over-the-top the better in our eyes.
'Other people are doing it but no one else has gone to the size or scope that we have.
'They do it and sell it for £10,000 a piece - we do it for art and charge a 10th of that.'
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
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