Messages In This Digest (4 Messages)
- 1a.
- Reflections on Death and Transformation From: Lady Nightshayde
- 2.
- An Irreverent Look at the SIgns of the Zodiac From: Lady Nightshayde
- 3a.
- Re: Missing ring From: Leeda
- 4.
- Need some banishing help From: Jenny Gleason
Messages
- 1a.
-
Reflections on Death and Transformation
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Wed Oct 5, 2011 8:29 pm (PDT)
Reflections on Death and Transformation
I am a Pagan. The last of my crops are in. I've preserved, dried, salted and stored every last ounce of food I can find to prepare for what might be a long deadly winter. Many of us will not survive to see the sun return. Everything around me is dying. The colors are fading. I know what lies ahead. I pray to my winter gods for kindness, but it's hard not to feel fear.
I live in harmony with nature. I know the cycles of the year and the cycles of life. The dead feed my crops. I work toward a better life and I know that I am not alone. The Divine is within me. I am a part of the life force in every living thing, that which has come before and those yet to
come.
At this time of year there is so much death around me. The spirits of relatives and friends seem so near, or perhaps the memories and tears return more easily. There are ghosts I must face, the emotions of loss - anger, confusion, sadness, and even joy for those no longer suffering. It is a comfort to know that life never ends and that I am a part of the circle.
In another reality this is 1988, 1 live in the city, and I've checked my supplies of frozen fish sticks and microwave popcorn. I do not have to worry about physical exercise until the spring. I have time to sit and think about this past cycle and the year to come.
I started to write this before the sudden death of a brother. Now as I finish it, death is very near and very real. in my grief, I faced my adversaries - my fears about death, my need to be in control, my anger that some things make no sense, my attachments in life and my fear of changing the status quo.
Most deaths make no sense to us. Unless someone dies in old age. we ask "Why did this have to happen?" I know a women who for fifteen years believed God had taken her daughter from her because she hadn't been a "good" mother. Death as God's punishment for our faults? Being kinder or more considerate will not delay anyone's death. it makes no more sense to believe someone died when he did because he was happy, but in our grief we need for things to make sense. We need a rational explanation, to feel we have everything under control. We never will.
Most of us believe we'll live fairly long lives and do most of the things we want to do before it's over. Our egos take a real blow when we realize we have very little control over the most important "decision" about our lives-its length and its ending. I'm ' not afraid of death itself. There are too many unknowns. What I really fear is that death may come before I'm ready.
I looked at the man in the coffin and I remembered him talking two days before his death about the book he thought he had 30 years left to write. Tears came easily, not just for his book and dreams, but for my
own.
I'd rather not think life will end too soon. if I had only six months more to live, what would I do differently to make each day more rewarding, more fulfilling? Some of us would make temporary changes, then quickly fall back into old safe patterns. With sadness we wonder what it would take for us to really want to change.
The irony of living to a ripe old age is having to lose the ones we've loved along the way - not just by death but sometimes by choice. Frequently we outgrow the people or things we've become attached to. But letting go is hard. We tend to stick with the known even when we know it isn't the greatest. Anything seems better than nothing. What if our friends do reinforce our negativity? If our job leaves no room for growth? If our love needs something we can no longer give?
In his interviews with journalist Bill Moyers, mythologist Joseph Campbell repeatedly talked of man's need to find his "bliss", to create a personal heaven here in this life. The ideal heaven of eternal pleasure after death cannot be counted on. Infinity is a concept of time and space on the material, physical plane, Since matter Is energy (Einstein) and matter cannot be destroyed, only transformed, physical death reduces us to pure basic energy forms. Our energy may live eternally, infinitely, but after death our ability to feel time and space will end. We'll never know we're in Heaven. Even if we believe in reincarnation, that our energy form will come back into another physical life, we have no guarantee that life will be better, only different. our only guarantee of heaven is to have the courage to change our present lives, find our bliss now, here on earth and help and allow those we love to find theirs by letting go.
I create change, and change is loss. As a magician,l am learning not only to change my reality at will but to also change the way I perceive my reality, it is easy to see that one man's beach weather is another man's drought, it is much harder to watch the beauty in the flames burning down your house and look forward to the new and different home you will create. It is hardest yet to willingly put a torch to life as you now know it, to your very being, your personality, your perceptions of self and the fears you hold on to that keep you from changing. Once I expressed to a dear friend my frustration with his seeming unwillingness to change certain patterns of behavior. He replied that he was forty-two years old and this was the way he probably always would be. He seemed comfortable and secure with his definition of self. He had a comfortable, if not blissful, daily routine, a sense of security in the known, and he saw no reason to change much of anything. But within a year, the lives of loved ones around him had changed so drastically that his own sense of self was shattered, out of control. To quote Helen Keller, "Security is mostly a superstition ... It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of human beings as a whole experience it ... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."
Traditionally, the approach of winter, the autumn of life, has been the time of year to face our physical fears. We put on the costumes of death, ghosts and goblins, the skeletons of hunger and the creations of our worst nightmares, and say "You don't scare me!" We also expose a part of ourselves we are normally too afraid to show the public. or even admit to ourselves we want to feel. We shift our shapes and extend the boundaries of who we are.
So after agonizing for six weeks about what to wear to the costume party, some of us remove our izod sweaters and put on something really tacky with fringe, or we cross-dress. We paint our faces as clowns, and maybe it actually feels good to be brazen and to make others laugh. Maybe we become a little less afraid of being thought a clown, of not being what we think others expect us to be. To shape shift, to put on the costumes and act out of character (yet act out a part of ourselves we wish we could be) allows us to push past the limits we set for ourselves. A shy person who dresses as Groucho Marx, who talks to everyone, who makes wisecracks all night and gets laughs, can never fully go back into her shell once the make-up is off. The transformation has started.
When I was a teenager, I wore red a lot. People said it was my favorite color. Yet now I tell myself I can't wear red. When did this happen? And why? I know when I started believing I couldn't sing. I'd warble away and my mother would say, "Sherry, surely you can't feel that bad!" But a part of the adult me wanted to believe I could sing. knew I could sing. So the shaman in me faced my fear and decided to lead a three-day chanting workshop. True, I may never be Linda Ronstadt, but no one ran screaming from the room, and by the third day, I was singing a cappella with a voice from deep within me I never knew I had. Once I've worn red, and like the way I feel in red, I will have pushed my limits one step further out, and I will have come one step closer to removing the words "I can't do that" from my vocabulary, I can cross the boundaries of reality. I can become my spirit animal. I can fly, or become one with a rock. I can love and be lovable. I can pursue any career. The old me will no longer exist. The dance will have begun.
Number XIII in most tarot decks is the Death or Transformation card. This rarely signifies physical death, but usually total change (voluntary or involuntary) and the sometimes sudden and unexpected, yet logical conclusion of existing conditions. Transformation is the end of a cycle, a releasing, letting go, a surrender to rebirth and new beginnings. In the Crowley deck. Death is dancing joyfully, his scythe releasing bubbles of new life. At the bottom of the card is the scorpion, who when trapped, stings itself and dies. This lowest level is the person who can't deal with major change and just wants to curl up and die, or becomes passive and waits for someone else to come along and make things better. At the top is the soaring eagle, the person with the courage to free himself, willing to consciously surrender to the unknown of death and transformation to change and to grow.
Early in my shamanic training, I looked forward to the Death card appearing in a spread. Now I know how hard it is to surrender to and truly accept the loss of anything and everything I may hold dear-not just my life, but my job, independence, friends, family, lover. looks and/or my sanity. Hardest of all is to lose one's faith at the same time. No one else can go through this with you. You alone must feel out of control, in pain and confusion, and fearful of the black hole that exists before rebirth.
To step into this void knowingly, willingly - to change careers, or to leave a long marriage of convenience which has been killing your soul. and to do this with no back-up plans - is to accept that within you is a part of the life force of the universe that will see you through. You surrender your judgments and preconceived notions of what is best. good or bad, and open yourself to all possibilities. Your new life has no limits or boundaries. You are totally free to find your bliss.
The dance of death is the realization that you will survive the loss of who you thought you were, who and what you thought you needed, what you thought you could control. You smile with the sad excitement and anticipation of who or what you will become.
I am a Pagan. Just as the world around me changes with the cycles of the day, the season, the years, I too am flowing, ever changing. I have my times of growth, my times of dormancy and rest. I weather all storms because I allow myself to bend The winter approaching may be harsh and seemingly unending, but within me and within the Earth I have planted the seeds of change that will blossom as new life in the Spring.
Sherry Gamble
http://www.earthspirit.org/firehear t/fhdeatr. html
Sat Oct 8, 2005 2:45 pm
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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
- 2.
-
An Irreverent Look at the SIgns of the Zodiac
Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99
Wed Oct 5, 2011 8:30 pm (PDT)
AN IRREVERENT LOOK AT THE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC
or
TERRIBLE thoughts about your Sign
The signs of the Zodiac begin with Aries and end with Pisces. That is,
they start out uptight and end up loose as a goose, they go from
unbearably pushy and selfish to absurdly agreeable and generous, and
range from fearless sheep to sheepish fish.
Aries is a sheep, I mean a Ram. Sheepishness is not in Aries' nature
(see Pisces). Butting-headedness is. Sheep say Baahhh. Rams say
Baaahhkkk OFF - and you'd better... those horns inflict pain! Every
Aries is pushy and knows everything, and they always cut in
line....stomp, stomp, trample, trample, get ahead, come in first - yep,
just get out of the way, okay? Aries is ruled by Mars, god of "I Win,
you Lose".
Taurus is a cow, I mean a Bull. Cows give milk, bulls don't give you
anything but flaming nostrils and charging-headlong-into-you horns. They
take whatever they want, whenever they want it - your food, your
favorite chair, your time, your energy, your money, your stuff - it's
all theirs. They just graze through life, eating everything in their
paths. Selfish good for nothings! Taurus is ruled by Venus - goddess of
stuff and money.
Gemini is a pair of twins, a schizophrenic whacko. Can't stick to one
position for a minute, and they lie. Fickle, flighty and totally nuts.
Don't go out with a Gemini unless you want to go insane. He loves me, he
loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not. You'll never know the real
answer. Gemini is ruled by Mercury - god of mind-tripping.
Cancer is a crab. That's all there is to it. Bitch, moan, complain, rag,
perpetual PMS - man or woman. Once in a while, when the moon is just
right, Cancer becomes a raving lunatic. That's the only relief you'll
get from their insufferable whining. Nothing is good enough, nobody
helps enough, you're not eating enough, blah blah blah. There's just no
way to please them. The only solution is to put 'em in a pot and boil
em. Cancer is ruled by spooky sister Moon and the wild, merciless tides.
Leo is a beast. Leos strut around like mister and misses perfects - just
like your cat. I mean look at your cat - what is it good for? "Feed me,
Look at my hair, look at my hair, Don't I look perfect? Pet me, adore
me, play with me - now go away" - hiss, scratch. They don't do tricks,
they won't do what you say, and they shed. That's about it. Leo is ruled
by the Sun - Mr. Shiny himself.
Virgo is a virgin. Virgin's are no fun. They're squeaky clean, too pure,
and very picky. Nobody and nothing is good enough for a Virgo. They
stare at you with those penetrating eyes, making mental notes of all
your weaknesses and imperfections. Then they pretend to be your friend
and help you, snickering and laughing at you all the while. Don't trust
them for a minute! Virgo is ruled by Mercury - god of hyper-analysis.
Libra is a pair of scales - way out of balance. They keep trying to get
it right, but they never do. They add a little more to this side, a
little more to that, until they're so loaded up with stuff that they
need to hold a yard sale. But of course they won't, and they always want
more. More love, more jewelry, more fun, more money, more beauty, more
friends, blah blah blah.. Libra is ruled by Venus - goddess of tons of
stuff and goodies.
Scorpio is a nasty, stinging scorpion, a venomous vermin, a sneaky,
menacing creature of the dark. NEVER trust a Scorpio. Scorpios don't
trust you, and they'll kill you in a heartbeat. If you treat them just
right, they might make good pets - properly caged of course. Scorpio
crawls about unseen, digging into your private thoughts and dreams and
stealing them like a thief in the night. It's scary. Scorpio is ruled by
Pluto - god of the atomic bomb. (Lady N's Note: I am a Scorpio, LOL )
Sagittarius is a cloddy, tromping, whinnying horse. Stay out of their
way...most Sagittarians are the kind of horse with blinders on so they
can't see on either side and don't know what they've run into. And they
always say exactly the wrong thing, like, "hey - you look so much older
and fatter than last time I saw you", or "what's that thing on your
face?" It's not honesty, it's just plain cruel. Sagittarius is ruled by
Jupiter, the original Mr. Know-it-all.
Capricorn is a goat. A nasty, billy goat. The kind that looks old and
lecherous. They make their way up the mountain, sure, by any underhanded
trick they can conjure! And they have curling horns, just like the
devil! Capricorns will use you and abuse you to get what they want. They
don't care if they have to eat garbage, or if it takes an eternity to
get there. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn - father time, the one with the
scythe.
Aquarius is a wild, space-cadet water-boy (or girl). Aquarians are
completely irresponsible. They have one rule - if it feels good, do it.
Aquarians make intricate, ingenious plans, then break them without a
second thought. They tell you one thing, then let some wild-haired idea
take them off to timbuktu. Don't even try hanging onto an Aquarian,
they're wet, slippery, insane people. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus - god
of lightning, electricity and bikers.
Pisces is a fish. Well actually, two fishes swimming in opposite
directions - always lost. Pisces live in fear because they know that
dangerous fish-eaters lurk everywhere.... Just look at how they dart
around, confused and disoriented, Pisces can't stay on track for two
seconds, and if you throw out some tasty bait - bang, the Pisces is
there in a second, ready to snag your hook. Easy pickins those Pisces
(kinda like sheep). Pisces is ruled by Neptune - god of peace, love and
spaciness.
http://www.mooncatsastrology. com/fun/funnysig ns.htm
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
- 3a.
-
Re: Missing ring
Posted by: "Leeda" lkangelz@aol.com angel_75457
Wed Oct 5, 2011 8:42 pm (PDT)
Yes it does hurt a lot. This weekend I am going to go around the pawn shops
in the surrounding towns and show them the band because my engagement ring
matches it. And I want them to know if it does come in it is stolen.
Leeda
-------Original Message-------
From: Lady Nightshayde
Date: 10/5/2011 5:06:57 PM
To: 13Witches@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [13Witches] Missing ring
So I know someone has had to taken it
Leeda
One of my former best friends stole an entire jewelry box of mine while
helping me move. She made the mistake of pawning some of it at a jewelry
store where one of my daughters worked part-time. So, I was able to recover
some of it, but most of it I never saw again. Some of it was really
sentimental, too. It's bad enough when someone steals from you, but
personal things like special jewelry make it twice as hard on you.
The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.
Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde
- 4.
-
Need some banishing help
Posted by: "Jenny Gleason" dakotamopar98@yahoo.com dakotamopar98
Wed Oct 5, 2011 8:46 pm (PDT)
Merry meet, . In my previous post I had a so called friend try to steel from my work. I called her on her crap and she thinks im running my mouth. I personally dont care what she thinks. I had to tell my employer to save my own butt. Which helped immensily. I just need some banishing of negative people from my life. Id just be happy being a solitare. BB, Jenny
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