The Healing Power of Trees

Introduction

1. In the beginning, the author says that she intended this book to be an introductory book. How do you rate it as an introductory book? If this was your first new age/ spiritual/ pagan book ever would you have been able to follow all of the concepts? Does she define all of the concepts or terms clearly?


I have read multiple introductory pagan books and the tree section are set up fairly well. I appreciated that she had “How To Read This Book,” section. I feel that people new to the genre might have problems with some of the terminology that the book uses since she doesn’t define all of it. There terms that she may use regularly that it didn’t occur to her to define like “Wheel of the Year.” The Wheel of the Year is the annual cycle of changing seasons, the observance of the 8 sacred holidays or festivals. She also uses the terms “Power Within,” which is Social Power, the influence we wield among equals. (Starhawk, 9) and the term “Power Over,” meaning the Power linked to domination and control. (Starhawk, 9) and doesn’t define either of these. A reader that isn’t familiar with these terms may not fully grasp what she is trying to say. By not defining these terms she makes it difficult for readers to follow her arguments. Some readers might the book down if they think the rest of the book is going follow this pattern.



2. How would you classify this book?

I would classify this book as a resource book as opposed to a cover to cover read. Quite a few pagan books are resource books and are not meant to read cover to cover after the first read. So in that way she did a decent of creating a resource book....

3. As a resource book, how would you rate it?

I’m conflicted because on one side, the spiritual side I love this book. But from the point of view of a former student and substitute teacher, this book fails to provide for those new to pagan/ Celtic study. I would have a piece that folded out from the back cover with a glossary of all terms, so that as a reader is reading they can unfold the flap and have an instant reference, while they are reading.

4. Has reading this book made you think about religion or spirituality in your own life in a new or different way? How so? Do you think the author has painted a realistic picture of the presence of spirituality in everyday life?

I have always been drawn to trees and have always found comfort in their presence. I know that I will be adding a lot of what was presented into my own practice. The energies of the trees will be helpful in healings and other works alone. But gesture/hand language used by the druids inspired me to think about how it could be used for deaf pagans. ASL (American Sign Language) does not have signs for common pagan words. How would a deaf pagan participate in a hearing pagan ritual, if there are no signs for them to communicate with? In her chapter/section called, “The Giveaway,” she makes suggestions as to how we can make showing our gratitude and care for them. I don’t however, how many people would have time to follow all of her suggestions.



5. How much did you know about the author and his or her spirituality before you started reading the book? Were you familiar with the author's platform, and did this influence your decision to choose the work? Did the book live up to your expectations of the author? Did it exceed your expectations? Why or why not?



I knew little if anything about the author or her spirituality before I started reading the book. Nor was I aware of her platform, so I can’t say that it influenced the decision to read the book. As I didn’t know of the author or her previous work I couldn’t have had expectations. When I started reading the book however, I became very excited about it. It was clear to me that she was pagan, if not Wiccan. Considering her references to the Wheel of the Year, Power Within and Power Over. She has clearly read Starhawk’s “Truth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority and Mystery.”

How To Read This Book

6. How can we apply the three R’s (Respect ourselves, Respect others, Respect the environment) to our own lives. (p. 10)

The author discusses how caring for and working with trees can teach us to respect others. In respecting our environment we learn to respect others, and in learning to respect others we can learn to respect ourselves. Her argument alludes to the concepts of pantheism and animism. Meaning that we are connected to everyone and all living and naturals things. If we are all connected that means whatever harm we do to ourselves hurts, the environment and others. Whatever harm we do to others, harms ourselves and the environment. What harm we cause the environment harms others and ourselves. I think actively listening to ourselves, others and our environment would be a strong start. Active listening would allow us to gather all the information, so that we can make informed decisions that will impact all of us.



7. What connection, if any, do you have with nature? What is that experience like for you? (p. 10)

I feel that I have a strong connection to nature. In many ways it has always made more sense to me than society. When I was growing up, I could see energy flowing tree to tree and really did give trees hugs, when I was happy or sad. It always made me feel better. The co-ordinator of the conservation outdoor education centre always told us to hug trees. I find them very reassuring.

 

8. Does the moon play a role in your life? If so in what way? (p. 15)

Not only do I celebrate Esbats, but I use the moon phases, along with the dates and times of my readings. It allows me to track the affect of its energies on those readings as to tell me when I am the most accurate.

9. “Am I just making this up?” is a common question, but when and how do we know it’s real or not? (p. 15)

I think this is a question that everyone who has ever pursued the great mysteries has asked themselves or at least since the patriarchal conversion. We have been socially programmed to see these connections and communications as fake or evil. So naturally when we experience something that is outside the ordinary, we question it. A couple of Christmas’ ago now, my husband put a red bird ornament on his Christmas tree. I hold the ornament in my hand and my guides/angels told me that the ornament had been a gift from his grandparents, on his father’s side. I am lucky, because he was there to validate the information for me. But when we experience something that is true, we know it in our gut.

The Giveaway

10. How many of us put action behind what we say we believe in? How much of what the author is suggesting, would you follow?

Some of what she suggests we do already and some would be easy enough, such as pruning and pick up broken branches. But the time and money to nurture a sapling or to adopt a forest is not available to everyone. I do revere nature and between Jeff and I donate to icare and WWF . I work at a bookstore that sells used books, where you can return used books you get half back in credit towards other used books. Balancing our beliefs and day to day obligations can be very difficult, but we can always find small ways everyday to do something.

 

Trees

11. What was your reaction to ____________ tree?

You know when you have been trying to figure something out and you can’t quite put your finger on it and when it comes to you, you’re like “That’s it!” that’s how I felt about Rowan, Alder, Willow and Ash. I enjoy when things just click. So much of it spoke to me and what I am experiencing now.

12. Is there anything about this tree that you feel you could learn from?

I learned from Rowan why my gift increases around Christmas, like with the red bird ornament. I also learned from Alder about duality and it really exists in everything. I had never really thought about what everything was before. I don’t know if I learn anything new from Willow, but I feel that I received validation for things I already know. I found Willow’s properties really interesting, particularly fertility. The site where my wedding was held had Willows and we saw bunnies frolicking on the spot where we jumped the broom, as well as two swans and a black goose. All of which are also fertility symbols. I find that Ash is also the world tree to be very interesting. I also find it interesting that Odin’s day is known as Ash Wednesday, which coincidently was on March 4th, 1981 also known as my birthday.

13. Is _________ tree one that you might use in your daily life?

I don’t know about my daily life as yet, but I will be adding to my practice for sure. I don’t know if it would have occurred to me to call on varying trees for their energy for ritual work. I will probably work with them in the future.

Many Lives, Many Masters

Preface



1. Why do you think the author spends so much time talking about his background?


I think he was trying to establish that his credibility, so that when he introduces the topic and his experiences that readers will take what he is saying seriously and won’t write it off as “new age fluff.” By introducing us to the book by first talking about his cognitive patterns and approach and his scientific background he tells us that this is how he wants readers to approach the material as well.

 2. Have you ever taken the risk the author took in coming out of the NAS closet?


I came out of the broom closest a few years ago and it went over fairly well. I think this was because my selection in movies, books and Christmas and birthday gifts gave me away long before I told my family that I was Wiccan.


Chapter One



1. Dr. Weiss details Catherine symptoms and how it was affecting her life and then explains the traditional approach that he took to her treatment. Why do you think traditional approaches didn’t work for Catherine? He worked with her for 18 months in the traditional way; do you think they would have made the same progress if they hadn’t used the hypnotherapy?






It’s hard to say as each patient is their own person and has their own psychosis. What works for one person may not be the right treatment for another patient. Catherine may have made more progress if they had stayed with traditional methods, but without the information about what had happened to her I don’t know if she would have been cured.






2. Does Catherine’s lack of experience and knowledge of past lives and catholic upbringing affect the way you think about her regressions?


Catherine’s lack of experience and knowledge of past lives and catholic upbringing makes me question where the information comes from. Are they past life memories or are they memories from lessons from school or travels during her life. I am inclined at this time to believe that the work that Dr. Weiss and Catherine did together is genuine. I believe this because of the regressions I have done with his cd, the work I have done in dream state and what my guides have told me and shown me. There is a certain feeling when you know something is true, not necessarily on a mental or emotional, but spiritual level. You may not be able to quantify it or qualify it, but you know.


Chapter 2




1. During a trip to the museum, Catherine was able to identify and correct the museum guide despite not having studied or travelled to Egypt. Do you believe that she didn’t have a prior knowledge or do you believe that she remembered this information from a past life? Have you ever had a similar experience, where you knew something about a place or person or thing, without prior knowledge?


At this point in book she has shown no psychic abilities or potential, so we cannot argue that this is how she knew about the artefacts at the museum. Many schools do study ancient cultures, including Egypt as a part of their curriculum. But even if she had studied Egypt, they wouldn’t necessarily have covered all of the things that were displayed at the museum. Now based on my experience, with my past life recalls I can’t really say that she wasn’t recalling information from one of her past lives. I haven’t been somewhere and known things about different places and people because of a past life. But I have had experiences that I cannot prove to other people, so how can I assume that her experience wasn’t genuine.


2. During their next session Dr. Weiss regresses Catherine and she experiences/recounts her life as Aronda. If you had his background, what would your reaction have been to hearing what she was saying? Would you be so quick to believe that what you were hearing was someone reliving/recalling a past life?


He previously told us that he has a scientific background and that he didn’t believe in parapsychology. Yet he doesn’t write off what he hears while Catherine is regressed immediately. He tries to apply his training and questions what he has heard, but cannot explain away that she knows to many specifics about someone the world has never heard of and to many details to be made up. Our society teaches us to be sceptical of anything that is not mainstream. In her book, Truth or Dare, Starhawk discusses how when we converted from matriarchal to the patriarchal, nature lost its content and when the scientific age came, humans lost their content and everything became explainable. If everything is explainable and the scientific approach fails to explain than perhaps it is a matter of perspective. Perhaps it is common sense and we are trying to explain it away. Like trying to explain away why we feel cold in the winter.



Chapter Three






1. At one point Weiss talks about how at that point he did not fully appreciate how daily hurts and traumas are harder to exorcise. Developmental and behavioural psychologists look at the how’s and whys of who we are now by studying the events that occurred from childhood until adulthood to understand problems in a client’s present day. What do you think it would mean for us today if we bring these daily hurts and traumas with us from other lives?


If we carry our daily hurts and traumas into this life, wouldn’t they be like this life’s daily hurts and traumas. Like all of it is a part of one long continuous life and until we deal with each instance we continue to carry it with us. But if we don’t know about the past life hurts, how do we resolve them? Most people can’t go to see Dr. Weiss. Sometimes knowing is enough, what about it isn’t. Learning that my childhood bully and I shared a past life and that in that life she felt I wronged her, was enough to give me closure about her actions in this life. Whereas knowing about what was done to my eyes has not eased my anxiety when someone tries to apply eyeliner.


2. In one of her regressions, Catherine discovers that her boyfriend killed her in another life. She and her boyfriend had a very up and down relationship and he never treated her very well. What do you think this says about our relationships in this life?


I don’t think that we should assume that all good and bad connections/relationships are a result of past lives. Sometimes a crouch neighbour is just a crouch neighbour, and sometimes your best friend is your soul mate. While we often travel with the same spirits over and over again, we do meet new spirits. There is almost a recognition when you meet someone you have known before and a feeling of comfortability that normally takes time to develop, but I have also found times when I don’t like someone and its a strong dislike and there isn’t a reason for it.


 


Chapter Four






1. At one point in their sessions Catherine reveals to Dr. Weiss that the loss of his son paid off the parent’s debts, that his son was an advanced soul and had sacrificed himself to help his parents. (54) What do you think of this? Is it comforting? Does it bother you? Does it explain or make you reconsider the way you think about tragic events?


Not knowing or understanding why something horrible happens can be unbearable. I don’t know if knowing would be better. Sometimes knowing means that after you stop hurting you can let it go. I think that is the message the author is trying to make. But what if you are responsible for something that happened wouldn’t that be as bad as not knowing. Knowing that your debts are paid would be comforting, but knowing the cost is so high? I wouldn’t want someone else to pay my debts, because they are my responsibility.


2. During their sessions, Dr. Weiss’ not experiencing the past life regressions himself, but is being asked to have faith in something that he is not experiencing first hand. Have you ever been asked to have faith in something that you have not had firsthand experience? Does that faith help to relate to Dr. Weiss experience?


Whenever I talk to my friend, Angel and she talks to me about what her guides or angels or various animals have either told her or shown her; I am being asked to believe something I have not witnessed firsthand. So I can relate to the author’s experience. I think we are all asked to have faith in ideas and people, without firsthand experience all the time. What we are asked to have faith doesn’t have to be spiritual or New Ageish. It could be as simple a new flavour of ice cream.


 


Chapter Five


1. Do you know of ability that you have brought with you from a previous life? Something that even when you started felt like you have been doing it for years, felt immediately comfortable. Do you believe that we carry previous acquired abilities and skill?


I think that it is entirely possible that we bring previous acquired abilities and skills into this life. I had a life where I made necklaces out of clay beads and in this life I make jewellery with beads. When I started beading in this life it was instantly comfortable to me, like it was something old, like something had done many times. However, there are skills that I have that I feel comfortable with now, because I have spent many years developing the skill. For instance, I took dance classes for many years, so now when I go to dance class x number of years later it feels like I am putting on a pair of comfy slippers.


2. Traditional therapy methods can take many months to get the results the Dr. Weiss and Catherine were achieving. How do you feel about this quicker route? Is faster necessarily better? Or is tried and true the best option?


I think therapy is a good thing, because it allows people to let go of the baggage and work past harmful cognitive and behavioural patterns. The barriers and working through them can be frustrating, painful and a long process and sometimes are the reason why it takes so long to make a break through. Regression seems to allow for the removal of these barriers in a pain free way that allows for the therapist and client get to the crux of the matter quicker. Past life work has given me closure for my bully issues, but not my eye issues. In the sessions discussed, Catherine returns to her Egyptian life more than once. But why? Maybe it’s because until we are done learning from that life we don’t move on and will continue to visit until we have learned everything we are to be taught.


 


Chapter Six





1. Why do you think people expect the reincarnated to be someone famous or well known? (80)


History is made up of millions of people that we have never heard of, so it is not surprising to me that Catherine didn’t regress to a life where she was famous or at least someone anyone has heard of. The author mention a high frequency of reincarnated famous people, but after millions of years there is bound to be lots of people who were once someone famous. Lots of people want to be famous, perhaps to feel special. This may also be true for desiring a famous past life. A famous past life would make it easier to prove the existence of past lives, because it would be easier to verify details discovered during a regression.


2. At one point the Masters tell the author through Catherine that we choose when to come into a new life and when to leave. They said that we know when our task is accomplished and then we will accept our death. Is it really a choice or simply a knowing?


To me the ideas that we choose when to leave and we will accept our death are not cohesive, because one suggests we have a choice and the other suggests that we do not. I could say alright I want to drop dead, but nothing happens. I think we sense our time and accept that it is our time. Recently, my friend Sheena, who was very old, told me that she was tired and that she was ready to go. A few weeks later she passed.


 


Chapter Seven






1. Has reading this book thus far made you think about religion/spirituality death/afterlife in your own life in a new or different way? How so? Do you think the author has painted a realistic picture of the presence of spirituality in everyday life?


This book, no. When I was 16 – 17ish I had my first past life/soul mate experience. This was actually how I discovered the author and his second book, “Only Love Is Real.” This book changed the way I thought about love and the people with in my life and started me down the spiritual path that I now follow. Learning about past lives took a lot of pressure off me, because it means that I have time to learn the lessons I am meant to learn, to experience and relationships.






2. Can you imagine recovering completely without the use of drugs and other conventional methods? (p. 92, 105)


I have found that Western medicine has never worked for me. Instead I use herbal teas, but the author isn’t talking about even using natural medicines. The idea that we can heal ourselves emotional, mentally and sometimes physically is not what we have been raised/trained to think. Our society says we need to go to someone else to solve our problems. This suggests we may only need someone to facilitate our healing. Like a spotter from a gym.


 


Chapter Eight






1. Do you agree with the author decision to discard the DNA theory?


His reasoning makes logical sense. With all the different marriages and broken genetic over the generations, he’s right the likelihood is remote. But there have been instances where transplant patients, particularly those who have had a liver transplant begin to take on traits of the organ donor (neurogensis). So I don’t know if I am ready to completely rule out DNA’s contribution.










2. During two of their later sessions, Catherine returned to her life in Egypt and Greece. Why out of all of the lifetimes that they had explored did they come back to those two?


I think she return to those lives because she wasn’t done learning from them. I think until we have learned everything we need to, we will return to these memories. I learned what I needed to about Emily and what she feels I did and I no longer return to those memories and that life. Whereas I keep returning to the life where I was tortured and burned as a witch, because I haven’t finished learning about that life yet.

Chapter Nine



1. What kinds of things does fear stop us from doing? How do we simply stop being afraid? Can regression help us to not be afraid of lose? P. 121


Fear can stop us from doing almost anything. It can stop us from taking a new job or leaving an old one. Starting a relationship or ending one that is no longer in our best interest. Many people are afraid of dying for any multitude of reasons. I don’t know if I am afraid of death, so much as I fear the how. In the past I have died, by plague and by fire. But is knowing that death is not end, enough to erode the fear of how we die or losing our jobs and loved ones. For me a lifetime isn’t like missing the bus. I can’t take the attitude of “oh well lose and pain mean nothing because I might not have to deal with it next time. I don’t know if regressions can erase fears, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. If past life work can help give me closure about my childhood bully and our past life together, than it quite possible that it can help with fears.


2. What does it mean to you to know that you don’t have to fear death? Or not having enough time? P.122


I can’t remember being afraid of death. As I was growing up I attended many funerals and I think that it helped me to see death and funerals as a natural part of life. When I started learning about past lives, it really only validated that understanding. However, knowing that if I do not pay my debts in this life time, I can pay them in the next one is very reassuring. This knowledge is reassuring because it means that I don’t have to put the pressure on myself to complete them.

Chapter Ten


1. What importance do you think we put on our/your bodies? How does knowing that our bodies don’t matter affect that importance? (body image)


I find people put enormous pressure on themselves to have the right body, beyond just being healthy. We can make ourselves both physically and emotionally sick by putting so much pressure on ourselves. While we justifiably need to maintain our bodies a lot of focus and time is put on it maintenance, that the body itself is almost a spiritual path. I mean there is a whole industries and career fields dedicated to the body and health. But the body is not meant to last forever, the spirit is. Do we put as much emphasis on our spiritual health? Over the last few decades spirituality hasn’t been a focus of mainstream society. We are obsessed with prolonging life and many would consider it heartless to suggest that we not do so. There are many against euthanasia, because they consider it cruel to end a life. But it who is tit cruel to? The patient or the people who are not ready to let go?


2. Mediums speak or see spirits all the time, but how many people understand what they are hearing or that they are hearing? P. 141


We have all been taught that hearing voices means that a person is crazy. But are they? I have always heard other voices and spent the majority of my life confusing the voices with my own inner voice, my conscious and whether I was hearing anything at all. It took a lot of time to learn to distinguish between my inner voice and the voices of my guides, my angels and spirits. Mostly it was hard to learn to believe in them and myself.






3. What do you think of the idea of the superconscious state? P.142


I find that a lot of people have a hard time getting past their issues, because they don’t know what they are. Traditional therapy uses numerous strategies to uncover the real issue behind different cognitive and behavioural patterns. The superconscious state seems to supersede the regular barriers and allow us to know exactly what we need to work on. In knowing what we need to work we are able to start the healing process. Not knowing what are debts are makes it hard to repay those debts since we cannot know what we need to do to repay them because we don’t know what they are.


4. How do you feel about the masters methods of communication? P.145


For people who are not awakened to their psychic potential I don’t know how effective their methods are. Prior to learning about and developing my abilities, I may have completely missed anything that they were attempting to tell me to teach me. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with their methods, I just know if people are able to receive the communication and understand it.


5. What do you think/feel about the implications about surgery and anesthetises based on Catherine’s experience? P. 147


People don’t like negativity when they are fully awake it makes sense then that when they are semi-conscious they would be disturbed or affected by any negativity that occurs during surgery. Outside watching what they say and their tones, what can surgeons and staff do?


 


Chapter Eleven


1. What is your reaction to the environmental warnings from the Masters? P. 159


I have a strong response every time I hear about the environment and the shape it’s in. The idea of harmony and the need for balance isn’t new. Nor is the idea that without harmony and balance, we’re screwed. So the information from the masters isn’t really new, but does validate what scientist and our own eyes have told us. However, that there is really nothing that we can do to prevent the consequences of the damage we have caused is hard to hear. I think it is human nature to want to do something about it. I think in theory that there is something that we can do, but in order to do anything about everyone would have to agree to the plan and I have no doubt that with so many involved that there would be too many who would not agree, because of the cost to them.


Chapter Twelve


1. What are your thoughts on the 7 planes? P. 171


I find the idea of seven planes interesting, but I find unfortunately I feel like we didn’t get the whole picture. At that time the author and Catherine were not given all the information themselves, so he couldn’t give us that information. Based on what Catherine revealed under hypnotherapy we can argue that the purpose of these planes is to prepare us for our return, but it is also a way for us to understand what we have done and therefore what we need to do when we return. We need to understand what we have done before we can take steps to correct our mistakes and move on. If we know what we need to do, we can form a plan and we can learn. Without these seven planes, we wouldn’t be able to know ourselves and what we need to do. We need these planes to know what to do to ourselves and each other, to make a difference in the lives we lead.


2. What do you think/feel about debts? Having time to pay those debts? And the affect of these debts on our current lives? P.172


It’s comforting to know that we have so much time to pay our debts. But how do we pay them if we do not know what they are. Perhaps we are supposed to pay our debts through our experiences, not knowing that we are paying our debts.


3. What do you think your dominant trait is? P. 172


I think that I have more than one dominant trait. I think faith, trust and the need to help others are my dominant traits. I may have others that I am not aware of, but these are the three that stick out for me. I feel that faith is one of my dominant because even when things have been the most difficult or dark I still have faith. When life has handed me a less than favourable hand, I still think that there must be a way. For example, 60 days before my wedding my maid of honour was offered an opportunity to move to China. Somehow I wasn’t angry, but still believed there had to be a way that it would work out alright. Others might argue that in order to have faith you must also have trust, but trust is something that I have always struggled with, depending on the degree or situation. I’ll trust people with certain things, but will automatically distrust at other times. For example, if someone says they are going to do something I trust that they will do it. However, if someone makes a habit of not returning phone calls after a couple of days, I won’t trust them to call back. I also have this urge to help others, everything just seems to fall into place and work out perfectly.


Chapter Thirteen


1. Why do you think we don’t hear about spirit sightings more often? Do they happen and no one talks about it or do they do not happen often?


With thousands of years of programming I don’t know how many people would be willing to admit that they had seen a ghost. Or if someone was to see a ghost, they may not understand what they are seeing or experiencing and thereby not able to process the information. It may also be that those who see ghosts don’t feel the need to go to the media about it and therefore we don’t hear about it.

Spellwork With A Little Help From My Friends

MM,

Since I started practicing the old religion I have almost always written my own spells, because it allowed me to own my practice.   But also because it means I know what every herb, stone and oil are used for and because it allows me to know exactly what I am sending out into the universe.  Admittedly, I have used a couple of my teacher's spells, but I know her and I know that she would never weave anything bad into her work.  I used one online spell, but used my own wording and did the research first.  Because I firmly believe in a responsible and respectful practice. 
For the last year I have been doing a lot of work with my guides and angels and my patron gods and goddesses.  I am so grateful to them for all they have taught me and for their support.  Recently, I asked for their help in my spellwork.  I am not sure why I didn't ask them earlier, perhaps because I do not do spells often.
Recently, they helped me write a baby blessing for my goddess daughter.  Unfortunatly, I was unable to find the materials they askedmeto use as a part of the ritual.  But the help was still appreciated and I learned about a mineral that I have not heard of before.
Yesterday, I was in my favourite pagan shop The Hedgewitch and I was guided to a ruby zoisite ring.  When the shopkeeper brought the ring out of the case and I picked it up They told me that this ring was for me.  In several dreams and visions they been showing me objects that have a ruby on them.  On these occasions I have been urged to have these objects to protect myself, while following my destiny.  As it turns out rubies are used for protection.  So when I was guided to the ring I was not surprised that it contained ruby.  I was then guided to perform a spell using the ring yesterday night.  Throughout the spell they told me what to do and what to say.  If I hadn't done the work with them this past year I wouldn't have been able to just trust them and do what they wanted.  But because this past year has proven that I can trust them, I know that I can work with them.  I am interested to see where this working relationship will take me with my spellwork.

The Things That Go Bump In The Night...Part One

MM,


When we were little we were warned about the things that go bump in the night.  If we misbehaved or we didn't close our eyes and go to sleep our parents warned us that the monster under our bed would get us.    We are patronized  because as kids we clearly don't know better. 
When  I was little I believed in the things that go bump in the night.  I slept with a stuffed lion, but he really was a protector.  They couldn't touch me when I had Rex with me.  Now I know what you are thinking.  Every kid has a stuffed animal and every kid thinks their stuffed animal is a superhero.  And I know there are doctors and psychologists that suggest a stuffed animal as a part of a calming ritual.  Lisa Medoff suggests, "You can also have a calming ritual that you do after a nightmare occurs, such as plugging in a special nightlight, petting a stuffed animal (or a pet), or singing a particular song. Just make sure it ends with you saying something like, “I know you’re okay now. I love you. Good night,” and leaving the room. (Medoff) She also argues, that "Nightmares, in both children and adults, often arise during times of stress and uncertainty. Preschool children may be more prone to experiencing nightmares than are older or younger children because they are going though a period of major adjustments." (Medoff)  There is one problem with argument and in that it assumes that every nightmare is cause by stress and uncertainty.  What about kids who live in healthy homes and live in happiness and wellness?  What stress do they have?  Her argument also leaves out the possibility that the kid is right and that there things that go bump in the night.
Why are  we so ready to believe that the things that go bump in the night are not real?  Because we are afraid?  Because it is easier to rule the world if there is nothing more powerful than us?  Children in so many ways are smarter than adults.  They haven't been taught to accept the lie and nor are they willing too.  They are not stupid, they know that if they are scared that there is a reason for it.  Are we so advanced that we are happy to let science explain everything for us?  That now we do not think for ourselves.  If you scrape your knee do you really need science to explain why it hurts.

Seeing The Light - Part One

This year has changed so much for me. I have denied this part of myself, that I didn't know was a part of me my whole life. Now that I know that it is real and have come to truly believe, it has become like breathing and it doesn't occur to me to question what I experience. I have been seeking this peace for so long, but I thought I needed to find love to find this peace, this completion. Without knowing it I was wearing someone else's clothes, now I wear my own skin. I don't feel like I have become something more...its more like I was living only my nurture side and have become my nature side. Learning about my knowingness has started to help me heal my nurture side. For example, learning why one of my childhood bullies hated me so much, when I in this life hadn't done anything to her, gave me closure.

Growing Pains and Doing What is Right?

MM,

This wheel turn has been filled with lessons; some of them have easy, while others have been painful, but of course purposeful. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately what I have learned that everything happens for a reason even if I don't understand. That everything is a part of a bigger plan. I used to cringe when I would tell someone about something I was going through and having that someone tell me that there is a reason for everything. Damn maturity!
Recently, I visited my dear friend, who is an intuitive reader. During a reading about my dear little furry friend, she spoke to me about how there are times when I need to be more disciplinary with Leia. That doing so would be better for her in the long run. As a part of this reading, she told me that I need to honour myself and that through honouring myself that I will honour the Goddess and that I would be able to work through the limits I have put on myself and my magick. Also, she told me that apart of honouring myself means being honest with others about my feelings. I feel that this would be extremely heathly for me, however there are people in my life that in knowing how they would react I know that being honest about feelings would be met with outrage and would never take in what I was saying to see the greater truth and that maybe what I am saying really is what they need to hear. When I say that, I am not saying that I know everything or that I am always right, but that what I have to say may trigger a "click" that helps that person or myself stumble into a greater truth so that we can see ourselves and grow.

Ecstasy

I am truly overjoyed that there is only one more thing I have to get past to go to witch camp. I just have to get my registration and payment in. I am so thrilled, because I get to what I love for 4 days.