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wheat
fruitfulness, bounty, and rebirth. Because wheat fields seem to
replenish themselves, the golden plant represented a cycle of resurrection into
light again. Many funeral rites contain offerings of wheat as part of
the ceremonies. Wheat was sacred to the Babylonian god Ishtar, the
Egyptian Osiris, the Greek Demeter, and the Roman Ceres. Kamut is an ancient
wheat with a buttery flavor and chewy texture that is easier to digest
than modern varieties. Spelt is another ancient wheat, though it is not
as versatile as kamut. Bulgher is parched wheat in which the wheat
berry has been cracked and dried. When cooked, bulgher becomes very fluffy.
Farina comes from just the hulled endosperm of wheat. Couscous is a
semolina made from the endosperm of crushed wheat. It is used more like a
pasta than a cereal and carries the same nurturing qualities of Earth
as other varieties of wheat. Sheaves of wheat are a well-known symbol of
prosperity. [Earth +++]
Wine is sacred to the Greek god Dionysus, the Roman god Bacchus, and
the three major Egyptian deities Osiris, Horus, and Isis. Regarded as
the "blood of the vine," wine is thought to contain a living spiritual
presence that encourages harmony with nature and divine love. The royal
cupbearer was always considered one of the most important members of
the medieval court, and wine became part of the sacraments of many
religions. Nearly every monastery or mission ever built had its own vineyard
that produced wine for the spiritual use of its members. Spanish
alchemist Raymund Lully first made brandy by fermenting wine in horse manure,
then he distilled the unsavory concoction to capture its "fiery
spirit." Wines "airy spirit" is released in champagne, the sparkling wine,
through a double fermentation process. [Fire ]
one's own heart and head and hands, and
then work outward from there.
—Robert M. Pirsig
One by one and all together we must learn and practice the ways of peace, cooperation, compassion, forgiveness and understanding. We must put our spirit into action and, be the peace we seek — in our hearts, in our homes, in our relationships and in our communities. In the words of Gandhi, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Surely, this is the humble but firm foundation for Peace on Earth. We are the world, after all.
The way I see it, we are at a cross roads in our evolution. Either we will figure out how we can all live together on one planet without violence. Or we won’t. We expect nonviolence it in our families and at our jobs. We demand non-aggressive, tolerant behavior of our kids at school.
We are modern dinosaurs and it is up to us whether this meteor storm that swirls around us creating devastation in its path will drive us to extinction. As Alice Walker says, "War is a backward step for humanity." Glen, the copier machine mechanic remarked, "this war is like a wake-up call." Well it is actually more like an air raid siren going off in the middle of the night. Emergency! 911.
It is no longer a choice between
violence and nonviolence in this world;
it’s nonviolence and nonexistence.
—Martin Luther King
I have just been reading Chang and Eng by Darin Strauss about the original Siamese Twins who were, in fact, from Siam. Here were two men, fraternal twins, a double-boy, physically dissimilar and with radically different and antagonistic personalities who lived for 64 years connected to each other at the chest by a 5 inch long band of muscle and cartilage which housed their single stomach.
They married two sisters and had 21 biracial children between them — this, in the constrained society of the Victorian American South. These twins managed to make an awkward, untenable, sometimes unbearable situation work because they had to. They couldn’t walk away or hurt the other without suffering that same harm themselves. They learned how to live together because they had no choice.
Can we do less? If we don’t do it who will? And if not now, when? Thetimes could not be more crucial. We must make ourselves accountable.
Today more than ever before, life must be
characterized by a sending of universal
responsibility, not only nation to nation
and human to human, but also human to
other forms of life.
— Dalai Lama
http://www.soulfulliving.com/joyfulliving.htm
by Salle Merrill Redfield
Have you ever had an experience where you felt joyful and wise? Maybe you went through a divorce or you lost a loved one and you grew from the pain and developed a new outlook on life. Or maybe you accomplished something like loosing those extra ten pounds or improving your golf swing. For awhile you felt in the flow of life. Connected. As if everything was going to be all right forever. Then something came along that left you feeling out of balance.
Why does this happen? How can we feel so connected to everyone and everything one moment and equally disconnected the next? And what can we do when this occurs? How can we get back into the flow, and how can we be OK when regaining our happiness takes longer than we want?
Perhaps the answer is following the strategies of people who stay joyful most of the time. After observing and interviewing joyful people over the past ten years I have noticed they share strategies that enable them to navigate life with a positive attitude. Through experience, they have come to the realization that opportunities as well as emotions cycle through ups and downs. During hard times this awareness gives them the faith that "this too shall pass." Because they recognize the preciousness of the good times, rarely do they worry obsessively or lament the past. Instead, they keep their focus on moving through life with a sense of joy and wonder.
One of the most valuable techniques they adopt is not buying into the belief that their problems are special or unchangeable. While many people allow the thoughts "This will never get better" or "I can not survive" or "Nobody understands what I am going through" to continuously run though their minds, joyful people stop the chatter before it becomes consuming. They prefer to step back and evaluate the problem. Experiencehas taught them that they can survive difficulties. They also know that everyone has challenges, therefore they seek support and advice from friends, family members, counselors, spiritual leaders and books. Learning from the mistakes and successes of others gives them new options. Sometimes this means working hard to change a situation. At other times it means accepting the facts and moving on.
Another of their strategies is actively pursuing healthy distractions. Joyful people might call a friend and tell jokes, hit golf balls at a driving range, or window shop when life begins to feel heavy. They may also take a walk, go to a movie, or play with their children and pets. Activities like these shift their focus onto something they enjoy. This time out helps them lighten their mental load and return to challenges with a fresh outlook.
Focusing on a compelling future is also a strategy. Joyful people like having dreams that pull them into the future. They may aspire to buy a new car, increase personal growth, or take a nice long vacation. They may seek more quality time with their friends and family members. Or they might pursue a career change. Whatever the desire, joyful people like having something to look forward to.
They also know the value of living in the now. They take time to appreciate a beautiful sunset, a good conversation, or a well prepared meal. They make their relationship with themselves and others a priority. And they slow down to enjoy the simple pleasures.
Joyful people also take time for spiritual growth. They pray, meditate, and study spiritual teachings. They love to dialogue about the mystical side of life. And many of them find a spiritual connection when in nature. At some point they begin to think about fulfilling a spiritual mission. Many have achieved impressive financial goals, others have found their greatest satisfaction in raising children or traveling the world. An intuition or the thought "Is this all there is?" or a crisis can signal that it is time to reevaluate their contribution to society. Examining the past, recognizing natural talents, and listening to their heart's true desire, helps them discover what is next.
Joyful people earn wisdom and inner peace. Each time they face a new challenge, they learn. They grow. And they deepen their understanding of the divine plan of the Universe. They are not without bumps, bruises, and scars. They have discouraging moments. And they are not above asking the question "Why me?" Yet, despite momentary frustrations and regardless of unpleasant past experiences, or difficult current life situations, they take responsibility for their own happiness. Sometimes they do this gracefully, and sometimes they do this by kicking up a little dust. Either way, their strategies can enable us all to prosper in a world that challenges, but has the potential to bring tremendous joy.
Copyright© 2000 by Salle Merrill Redfield.
Salle Merrill Redfield is the author of the book, "Creating a Life of Joy." She is also the author of four audio tapes including, "The Celestine Meditations." She lectures internationally with her husband, James Redfield, about joyful living and the evolving spiritual consciousness. Visit her at www.celestinevision.com or email her at <A href="mailto:salleredfield@celestinevision.com" __doClobber__="true">salleredfield@celestinevision.com.
Eight years ago Salle and her husband, James Redfield, created a small publishing company and published James' book, "The Celestine Prophecy." One year later Warner Books, Inc. bought the publishing rights to "The Celestine Prophecy" and published it around the world. Since that time the Redfield's have had 28 separate works, including books and audio tapes, published. Salle’s latest book, "Creating A Life of Joy" is a meditative guide full of strategies for having a happy life.
Earth Cold and Dry. Melancholy.
Water Cold and Wet. Phlegmatic.
Air Hot and Wet. Sanguine.
Fire Hot and Dry. Choleric.
The Three Principles:-
Salt. The Contractive force in Nature. Crystallisation, condensation.
Sulphur. The Expansive force in Nature. Dissolution, Evaporation.
Mercury. The Integrative force, interweaving and balancing that of the Salt and Sulphur. Circulation. Dynamic equilibrium.
Candle of Serenity
Use for easing of problems Preferably performed just before the New Moon: the waning moon will help the problems dissipate. Use when everything seems to be going wrong, your self-esteem is low, and everything and everyone around feel imbued with negativity. Have a plate or ashtray nearby, and 7 pieces of paper (not to big). Light a green candle and meditate on the problems afflicting you. If needed, write these down on pieces of paper. Light each piece of paper, one by one, and set them on the plate to burn, repeating the following over and over: "Let my spirit be free as the windthat can be harnessed but never tamedLet the fears and dark thoughts that burden medissipate as light smoke in the breezeLet all evil directed at meturn to ash before my inner flame" Continue repeating these words and focus on the burning paper, visualizing the negativity turn to smoke and ashes. You should feel yourself growing lighter. Let the fire go out by itself, and meditate a moment to purge any negative feelings that have remained in you. Dispose of the ashes in running water and/or setting them to the wind. Make sure no ash is left on the plate. Keep the candle and light it and meditate every time you feel negativity taking over you again. Submitted by Roseflame F
Spell to Ease a Broken Heart
You will need the following ingredients: Strawberry tea (one bag) Some salt (sea salt if you can get it!) 2 pink candles a mirror one pink drawstring bag one quartz crystal a copper penny a bowl that is somehow special to you 1 teaspoon dried jasmine, rose, or strawberry leaves Some rose, strawberry, or cinnamon oil Charge all ingredients first by infusing them with your personal energy. On a Friday morning or evening, when the moon is either new or waxing and close to being new, take a bath with a small handful of salt in it, in the light of a pink candle. As you dry off and dress, sip the strawberry tea. Apply makeup or groom yourself to look your best. Cast a circle around a table with the other ingredients. Light the second pink candle. Mix all oils and herbs in the bowl. While you stir look at yourself in the mirror and say aloud: "Oh, Great Mother Goddess, enclose me in your loving arms and nurture and bring forth the Goddess within me." Gaze deeply into the mirror after you have finished mixing the ingredients and say aloud, "I represent the Great Goddess, Mother of all things. I shine in the light of the Golden Wings of Isis. All that is great and loving only belongs to me." Then put half the mixture in the pink bag and add the penny and crystal. Carry it with you always or until you find another love. Leave the other half of the potion in the bowl, out in a room where you will smell the fragrance.Submitted By Roseflame F
Making your Athame From Raymond BucklandIf you can't buy a suitable piece of steel, use an old file or chisel and work with that. Whatever steel you have, it is going to be hard so your first job will be to soften it for working. Heat the steel till it is a dull red. If you have no other way of doing it, lay it on the burner of a gas or electric stove. You may have to leave it there, with the control turned fully on, for several hours but it will eventually heat up to a dull red. Once it has reached that color, turn off the heat and let it cool down naturally. That's all there is to it. It will now be softened and easier to work. Figure 3.1Mark on the metal, with a pencil, the shape you want it to be (see figure 3.1). With a power handsaw (if you have one), or a simple hacksaw, cut out the profile and file off any rough edges Then start shaping the blade for sharpness. A grinding wheel could come in handy here, though you can work with rough and smooth files. The blade is going to be double-edged, so you are aiming for a diamond shaped cross-section (see figure 3.2). Finish off the blade with 2 grades of wet and dry paper. Figure 3.2Now your blade will need to be hardened and tempered. Heat it up again, this time until it is red hot. Then take hold of it with a pair of pliers and plunge it into a bowl of tepid (not cold, or the blade will crack) water or oil. Allow it to cool off then clean it with wet and dry paper. Figure 3.3 and 3.4 Next, to temper it, reheat the blade to a dull red. Again, plunge it, point downwards, into tepid water or oil, moving it up and down in the liquid. Clean it with wet and dry paper, then heat it again. Watch the blade carefully this time as it changes color. It will go to a bright, light, straw color, then to a medium straw color. Immediately plunge the blade into the water and let it cool off (don't let it get past the straw color; it would go to blue, then purple and green.) Watch the point as that will change color first, At the first sign of "blueing" on the point, plunge the blade into the water. NOTE: The colors appear quickly. Keep the point the farthest from the heat. Once the blade is cold take it outside and plunge it into the ground a couple of times. Now you have Moved the blade through the AIR, Heated it with FIRE, Plunged it into WATER and Showed it to the EARTH. For the handle, take 2 pieces of wood. Draw around the tang (the handle part of the blade) on each of the pieces of wood. (see figure 3.3 and 3.4). Then chisel out the marked sections, each one to ~21 the thickness of the tang. When finished, the 2 pieces of wood should lay together perfectly with the tang inserted between them. When you are satisfied they fit well, slightly roughen the inside wood and then spread a good epoxy resin glue all over. Put the tang in place, press the 2 wooden handle halves together and clamp. When clamping, put on the pressure slowly so as to give a better "spread" to the glue. Leave clamped for at least 3 days. When removed from the clamp, draw a profile of the handle you want on the wood and start cutting/carving it to shape. Some traditions call for certain signs to be carved on the handle. Even if your does not, you may wish to add some decoration. I would certainly recommend at least putting your Craft Name or monogram on it. You might also like to etch something on the blade, this isn't difficult to do
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