The Secrets In Plain Sight!

People make all kinds of comments about religion and religious groups, whether you are talking about a major church, a Hindu ashram, a Wiccan coven, or any other you can list. While much is said about groups which have problems, most of them do not have such problems. Nevertheless, even if the problem is only one percent, how can you recognize that one percent? After all, one percent means enough instances that you need to keep your eyes open. And, just because it isn't “big enough” to get the attention of the TV news doesn't mean that joining the wrong group can ruin your day!

There are “red flags” which you can look for that will identify issues which will identify the group as one which has problems. You need to use your own judgment, and the issues can range from small irritations to valid reasons to leave immediately.

Blessed Be!

Christmas and New Year's Day are two holidays only a few days apart. In fact, in some traditions, Christmas is celebrated over a long enough period that New Year's Day is actually within the twelve days of Christmas. And Christmas and New Year's Day share thoughts of wishing and resolution. Even if you're mature enough not to believe in Santa Claus, there are many other wishes, such as wishing something for another person, wishing to revive a cherished memory, or wishing for something to happen. And, at New Year's, there are resolutions when we wish something for ourselves. A resolutions can be the beginning of something great, or it can become a joke. How many people resolve to quit smoking or lose weight?

Whether we're dealing with a wish or a resolution, there are ways to help it happen, and there are ways to make it actually successful. Some thing are best left alone, while other desires will need to be expressed in a way to allow it to not only succeed, but stay successful. And, of course, you still need to do your part. And, you want it to be a blessing and remain a blessing.

Blessed Be!

When you see a Christian cringe when they hear someone wish them “happy holidays”, the fact is that this time of year has quite a number of holidays. Most of those holidays have religious or spiritual implications, and they are not all Christian or secular. It is the time of the winter solstice, when the sun begins its return. Wiccans and a number of other pagans celebrate the birth of the divine child who takes the place of the god who died at Samhain – the holiday know of us know as Halloween. Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, which celebrates their return from exile in Babylon and their temple coming back to life. And, of course, there is Christmas which on the surface celebrates the birth of the baby Jesus but like with many such celebrations, the implications go beyond the simplistic surface.

I have often said that I cannot understand why there is so much conflict between the various religious path, and this is an example of why I see so little conflict. So many celebrations with so many different names, but all celebrate the basic fact of new beginnings!

Blessed Be!

One of the most common things people want to do, and actually do, spiritually is to reach out across the bridge to those who have crossed over that bridge through death. No matter what we are taught, it happens. What is more, they reach out to us, and we're not stopping them. The question is not whether it is right or wrong, but being in control, recognizing what we are being offered, and what to do with it. Some might call it “occult” or “evil”, but it's more a case of people not knowing. Please note that some of those folks would have called the Internet “witchcraft” 100 years ago.

This is something which happens, whether we want it or not. We might as well recognize them and see what they mean. And with that, we can be blessed even more!

Blessed Be!

Where religion or spirituality is concerned, the first thing it needs to do is WORK. People who don't see it working quit trying – either they go through the motions to be socially acceptable, or they simply quit.. The problem is , so many of those who try to tell us of how The Divine (by whatever name) is active in our lives tend to speak of what one author called “fingerprints of God”, which calls to attention what The Divine has set into motion. What you and I need is to be able to see The Divine as not only caring about us, but also able to see our situations and respond.

Two things to look for are what is already in front of you, and what you can cause to be. Look at what The Divine might have been doing for you which you might have though to be “coincidence”. But then, see what you might be able to cause to be. There are a few things to understand, if it can in fact be!

Blessed Be!

One of the first things you need on your spiritual journey is improving your communication with The Divine, regardless of how the name or names you associate with The Divine. Some people may think that they have never communicated with The Divine, while others are considered to be advanced. While beginners usually know that they are beginners, the truly advanced know how how little they have learned compared to totality of what might be there.

The first questions usually concern what t pray and where to pray. What to pray is a process of knowledge that will span your lifetime and will take many turns. Where to pray is another question which will face most people in one way of another. This is a growth process.

Blessed Be!

The fact that I was away from my keyboard and microphone does not mean that I didn't have my eyes open. And, over the past year, one issue seemed most apparent, and it is the same issue which I addressed in my very first podcast: “Why can't we get along?” It's at least as relevant an issue today as it was in April of 2006. Inn fact, for me the question is more emphatic!

So many of the most bigoted claim to be Christians, but an examination of their Bible tells us something else. Besides the fact that Jesus himself pointed out that some scripture was out-of-date when he was on Earth, there is more which reveals that the gates of their heaven might open wider than many think. Some of the issues which are a big deal to some might not be so big to The Divine.

And, is this one of the issues which are keeping us back. How can we expect to see and understand more when we do not understand what is already in front of us?

Blessed Be!

I've been away for a while, and it has been a difficult journey. But, I am back, and I'm ready to be back. What I went through will certainly contribute to the content of future episodes, but for this one I'm going to talk about the difficult journey itself, so you'll know what happened and you'll have some idea of what happened and what it might come to mean. I know that it has been more than a year since my last podcast, but many have asked when I'll be back.

Lady Stormy was my wife, life partner and High Priestess beginning in 2000 until she died on December 24, 2019. Yes, Christmas Eve. There was so much more that I wish we could have done together. And that was just the beginning. Six months later, almost to the day, I had my own medical issues which led me to an ambulance ride, Emergency Room, and Intensive care, followed by a long time in a so-called "skilled norsing facility". Except for a few minutes, I never got to see my house again. My son packed up what he thought I might need, I found a lawyer to adle the sale of the house, and my son found me a place to live in Eugene, Oregon - the very town I left to begin my life with Lady Stormy. Thankfully, my dog Veronica is with me. That's not all, but that's plenty.

And so it's time to resume and also build.

Blessed Be!

This episode is one for everyone on any path that is spiritual, because it applies to everyone. Simply put, spirit happens. And so, I find something that all can use and many need. To say nothing of it being something that might have been taken from you, perhaps even deliberately.

And so you knock on the door. It opens. Do you know that it is opened? Someone was waiting for you. Come in. This might not be your first beginning, and it probably won't be your last. And each builds on the others.

Blessed Be!

When you were a little child, your imagination was free, and so was your mind! Do you remember an invisible friend, knowing about something that you had no way of knowing about, or seeing things in a way others did not? Many of us did, and others of us had those memories driven from us by parents, teachers, other kids, or others. And, some of us miss them.

If they ever were there, they still are there. And if they are still there, they are waiting for you! Common sense and a sense of good manners will tell you the difference between something genuine and something genuinely unreal. But before we open a door, it's important to know that the door is there.