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Archive for December, 2017

The Mirror

Like a mirror, clear and shiny,
Was my heart in its happiness,
Reflecting in bright rays of love,
Your beautiful image back to me.

Yet you struck this mirror,
In anger, a deceptive man.
With that your image was broken,
And a thousand grimaces I see.

-Mia Holm
translated by Joe Bandel

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Fear is a natural and healthy emotion that lets us know something is dangerous. There are two distinct ways we can respond to fearful situations. In the jungle a lion stalks its prey. Right before the lion pounces for the kill it lets out a fearful roar. The victim either freezes in terror or bolts like lightning. If it freezes in terror its dead. If it bolts in terror it might have a chance to live another day.

Several years ago I studied the martial arts and some of the behavior patterns were sinking into my subconscious. I liked going for walks in the country, especially at night. I would walk along the road next to a creek. One night I was walking along the road when a beaver slapped its tail in the water about six feet away from me. It sounded like a shotgun going off. I was terrified and jumped almost two feet into the air.

The interesting thing is that in mid air I managed to turn around to face the sound and came down crouching in a martial arts fighting stance. When the brain goes numb the body reverts to training. This is something the military knows very well.

In my terror my body responded the way it had been trained. This was a good thing. Now another example. Several years ago I was working a job in a casino as a security guard. We patrolled the entire casino and kept an eye on things. One of my co-workers was making her rounds in the pool area when a baby fell into the pool. The mother froze. All she could do was scream. She couldn’t even make an attempt to save her baby. My co-worker dived into the pool and rescued the baby without even thinking about it.

Again the body reverts to training. Training to escape, training to rescue or even training in self-defense are vital. This is the training that allows our body to function when our minds freeze.

There will always be fearful situations in life. We will at times experience fear. We don’t need to become paralyzed by it.

A very powerful type of self-empowerment is to confront our personal fears and learn to deal with them so they loose their ability to harm us. I am afraid of heights but I can go up on roofs if I need to. I am afraid of water but I have learned how to swim enough that I can save myself in most situations.

I have been afraid of intimacy within relationships but I am learning how to cope with that as well. Confronting these types of fears becomes the work of a lifetime. It is also one of the most rewarding things a person can do.

PS: I’ve started a new Facebook discussion group called Organic Gnosticism. Feel free to join if interested.

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Magic Initiation involves the gradual development of the soul and its natural powers. The soul consists of several different types of energy. These are Abstract Spiritual (unity),Concrete Spiritual (intuitive),Abstract Mental (philosophical),Concrete Mental (perceptive),Upper Emotional (love),Lower Emotional (Anger),Sexual (sexuality), Physical (competency).

To become a complete person each of these energies and areas must be fully developed through intense effort and the generation of that particular type of energy.

This process is mechanical and cumulative in nature. Once a specific type of energy is fully developed an astral body is created out of that energy and the powers of that energy are available. Activity then progresses to the next level of development automatically.

In this respect the Left Hand Path and the Right Hand Path follow similar methods and strive toward a common goal. The common goal is the synthesis of all these energies into an integrated healthy individual with an immortal soul that will carry on beyond the death of the physical body.

The differences between these paths are profound. The Right Hand Path connects with spiritual energy and works from the top downward in mystical experiences or illuminations. It involves condensing spiritual energy gradually into physical energy. If you think about something long enough you will become emotional about it. If you become emotional enough about something you will be compelled to act upon those feelings. This describes the method used and includes prayer and meditation.

The Hallmark of the Right Hand Path is the integrity of the individual ego. You always remain yourself even though who you are may change drastically as you incorporate new beliefs and experiences. This path takes much longer and has difficulty with physical manifestations. Its focus is inner personal transformation and integration with the universe by adaptation.

The Left Hand Path connects with physical energy and works with physical competency upwards to the spiritual levels. The traditional martial arts are examples of this type of training.

The Hallmark of the Left Hand Path is physical manifestation through physical competency. You do what ever it takes to make things manifest even if those things go against your inner nature. There is always a sense of being compromised as you loose part of who you are to become who you want to be. The focus is to manifest physical change through acts of will.

At the highest levels a Master of the Right Hand Path will assist all students to become unique individuals. He will help them collectively through the formation of groups.

A Master of the Left Hand Path will choose one student to transfer his power to and at the death of his physical body will attempt to “possess” the physical body of his chosen student. He will form groups to find the appropriate vehicle.

PS: I have just started a new Facebook discussion group called Organic Gnosticism. Feel free to join if you are interested.

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ELEMENTS WITH SIX ELECTRON SHELLS

Element #86 Radon
This element is a heavy odorless gas and one of the noble gases. This element also has six complete electron shells. Because it’s outer shell is complete it serves as a natural barrier in it’s astral aspect. It resists attempts to pierce through it and is one of the veils mentioned in occult literature.
Because of the barrier it forms it also separates the “tank current” energy of the sixth and seventh electron shells. This effect is to separate “seventh chakra” energy from “sixth chakra” energy.

Element #85 Astatine
This element is extremely unstable and looses electrons readily. An astral body constructed of this element would also loose energy readily and be extremely unstable. We would not expect to find any lasting astral objects or beings in this astral level. In fact this level would act as a constant drain on any astral body that existed in the higher levels. This is true because any astral object or being is tied to its physical counterpart at all times. The “astral cord” would exist here instead of an astral body.

Element #84 Polonium
This element is a radioactive metal with a life span of 103 years. This would form a stable astral body and we would expect to find our “proposed” future life with all of its main events here. As the lowest stable level in this group this is probably the main level of the “dreaming” astral body where we dream of things that happened during the day or things that may happen to us in the future.
This level is probably the base of our individual egos and our concept of self. In the lower levels the concern is for survival of the species. Here the concern is for survival of the individual awareness.

Element #83 Bismuth
This is a brittle white element with a pink tint. It melts easily and gives sharp impressions for casting. The brittleness of this element would suggest that this level would not make a good astral body in itself but could be used to form personal armor and astral barriers and obstacles.
Since it melts easily it would be an excellent choice for astral creations during magical workings. It is probable that here the magician does much of his creative work by melting astral material and reforming it the way he wants. This type of astral “construct” could be expected to retain it’s form as long as it was “protected” by the magician until it became a physical event.

Element #82 Lead
This is a heavy bluish gray element that has been known and used by mankind for many years. It is a poor conductor of electricity and resists corrosion. It also has a toxic effect on humans.
These characteristics suggest that this astral level is not a pleasant place to exist in awareness. An astral body constructed of this metal would be best left alone. In fact, it is very likely that this level is responsible for our experience of pain! This is the first astral level of physical pain. Quite possibly a dull pain.

Element #81 Thallium
This element is a soft bluish gray metal that is toxic and is known to cause nerve damage. This astral level would also be related to our pain experience. As this astral level directly affects the nerves it suggests that this is the level of intense physical pain. The type that occurs immediately upon sustaining an injury.

Element #80 Mercury
This silver colored metal is a liquid at room temperature. It flows very swiftly and is extremely poisonous. The nature of this level also indicates that it is related to our pain experience. The quickness of this element indicate that this levels effects on us happens very rapidly. This is our first awareness of pain at this level. As our energy drains away our awareness drops to a lower level as either sharp pain or a dull throbbing pain.
Here is also a very important clue about how human life exists normally in the astral planes. Since we do not normally experience pain, it suggests that human awareness is above this astral level normally.

Element #79 Gold
This element is a bright yellow metal that is very soft and heavy. It is very beautiful and highly valued for its beauty and its durability. In this respect this is one element that we can’t seem to get enough of!
In contrast to the levels immediately below it, this level brings great pleasure to us. In the form of wealth and in the emotional sensation of pleasure. It has often been said that there is a thin line between pleasure and pain. This level gives us tangible evidence to that truth.
This is not just simple pleasure but a very intense type of pleasure. The most intense type of pleasure possible to experience. This of course is sexual pleasure. This astral level is where we experience sexual energy for the first time as a pleasurable experience.
Astral experiences at this level would be sexual experiences or possibly experiences involving Gold.

Element #78 Platinum
This is a precious silver white metal with a high melting point. It combines easily with other elements and resists corrosion. The desirability of this element suggest that it also is related to our emotional sensation of pleasure. Since it combines easily with other elements this astral layer would include all things that give us the sensation of pleasure with the possible exception of sex and wealth which belong to Gold’s astral level.
Astral experiences at this level would include many pleasurable things. This is probably where we find what is commonly known as “the elemental worlds” of fairies and nature spirits that are benevolent and kind. In reality all life forms found here would also have physical bodies to complete their “resonant circuit”. A fairy or nature spirit would belong to a human that is somehow distorted at that level. Perhaps they never had a normal childhood and that part of their personality never developed as it should.
Here the “child within” delights in playing pranks on others or in doing things not allowed in physical life. This is the realm of fantasy where your secret wishes come true. Here is the experience of enjoyment of life in all of its aspects.

Element #77 Iridium
This is an extremely hard white metal that resists corrosion. Being a hard metal suggests that it acts as a barrier to astral activities. Its resistance to corrosion suggests a protective function. This element as an astral substance would be ideal as armor or tools used block or restrain astral activities.
This barrier aspect suggests that is related to the emotions of being blocked and frustrated. Our happiness and pleasure is suddenly blocked by this hard barrier and we feel trapped and helpless for the first time. Perhaps we even feel fearful. We are no longer in control. Other people or events may control us against our will.

Element #76 Osmium
This element is a hard metal that is twice as heavy as lead. It is used for pen points and phonograph needles. Here is also a barrier aspect, but this level is related to communication, both written and through sound. In this astral level we are confronted by other astral objects and beings. We also communicate with them at this level for the first time.
Here we become acutely aware of societies wishes for us and what we must do to conform and keep our level of awareness as pleasurable as possible. Here we find societies barriers that limit what we can and can’t do.

Element #75 Rhenium
This silvery white element is noted for its high melting point and its resistance to heat. Astral objects and beings constructed of this element would be very resistant to efforts to change them. This then is an important source of strength and stability. Here is stamina and endurance against resistance. Here is our ability to freely choose what we want to do and the ability to do it. This is the foundation of ego strength. “I exist”. I will continue to exist.

Element #74 Tungsten
This hard silver white metal has a very high melting point and is resistant to heat. It is used as a heating element in some light bulbs. In this astral level also gives stamina and endurance and is an important source of strength and stability. The connection with light and illumination suggests that this strength is will power or strength of spirit. Here strength of spirit overcomes obstacles and barriers.
In the occult tradition the sixth chakra is related to both magic working and to the “berserker frenzy” that came upon the Vikings in times of battle and made them “invulnerable”. That tradition supports the concept of these astral levels dealing with stamina and endurance and overcoming obstacles and barriers.

Element #73 Tantalum
This element has a high melting point and refracts light. It doesn’t react with bodily fluids and seals itself when used in capacitors. These characteristics suggest a “healing” ability where injuries are sealed off and prevented from becoming physical events. Here for the first time harmful events are anticipated and any wounds or losses are minimized to prevent further loss of energy.

Element #72 Hafnium
This silver colored metal absorbs neutrons and resists corrosion. Since this element absorbs energy we would not expect to find many astral objects or beings here. We would instead find the “astral cord” or “cable” of occult tradition. It would take large amounts of energy to exist above this level because of its draining ability. Humans would have this ability and energy normally. Some life forms of a more simple nature would not have the needed energy.
Here we are prevented from doing what we really want to do through lack of energy. We settle into a decadent state where we try to enjoy the things we do have until we have the energy to get what we really want. This could be the level of depression and chronic inactivity.

Element #71 Lutetium
This heavy element is noted for its ability to conduct electricity. Astrally this implies the ability to give energy to others or to take energy from others. Here for the first time is the ability to change things in the astral by applying energy to them instead of by simply resisting them. Here the astral body or the “dream” body has energy to spare and it uses it to influence possible future events.
Astral contacts here would involve a definite exchange of energy from one person or object to another. Here is the first evidence of magical power as energy or electricity used for both offense and defense. We are rising above our depression and trying to direct astral energy into the astral events that we want in efforts to physically achieve them.

Element #70 Ytterbium
Very little is known about this element and its characteristics.

Element #69 Thulium
Very little is known about this element and its characteristics. It is used in some x-ray units suggesting that it radiates and gives off energy.

Element #68 Erbium
Very little is known of this grayish-silver element.

Element #67 Holmium
Very little is known of this silver colored metal.

Element #66 Dysprosium
This element is strongly attracted by a magnet. This characteristic is exciting because of its connection to magnetic vortex energy. Occult tradition has long talked of the “cone of power” that is raised during magical workings. That is also applied to the sixth chakra center energies.
At this astral level we would expect to find the astral ability to strongly attract things to us and also the ability to strongly repel things away from us. This is the battle ground for “astral duels” and other astral contacts. In our dreams we are helplessly drawn toward other astral objects and beings. When contact is made energy is exchanged and lost. This continues until one party reaches the pain levels and/or breaks the contact. The one with the most available energy will endure here.

Element #65 Terbium
This silvery metal glows green in certain compounds. Not much else is known about this metal.

Element #64 Gadolinium
This silvery metal is strongly magnetic when extremely cold. This characteristic suggests that this level will strongly attract and repel astral events and objects. This is another “magical” battle ground for astral “duels” where the one with the most available energy wins the prize. Here also magnetic vortex energy suggests the occult “cone of power” and its possible uses.

Element #63 Europium
Very little is known about this soft silver metal. Its softness suggests that astral weapons for use in astral duels may be created here.

Element #62 Samarium
Little is known about this element.

Element #61 Promethium
Little is known about this element.

Element #60 Neodymium
Little is known about this element. It is used in ceramics and lasers. This may suggest potential for astral weaponry.

Element #59 Praseodymium
Little is known about this element. It is used in ceramics.

Element #58 Cerium
This soft gray metal has an electron structure that is easily changed. This suggests that all astral events and beings found at this level can be easily altered at will. Here may be the true level of magical working where astral creations are deliberately fashioned.

Element #57 Lanthanum
This soft silvery white metal tarnishes when exposed to air. Here for the first time astral objects or beings or barriers can be destroyed. Astral material here will tend to weather and decay or age.
Steady resistance at this level will eventually wear an opponent down or destroy a barrier or obstacle.

Element #56 Barium
This soft heavy metal combines easily with other elements. This suggests that here all possible options are available and tried out. Here we find a way “around” the astral obstacles and beings that prevent us from getting what we want.

Element #55 Cesium
This soft silvery metal reacts vigorously to air and water and ionizes readily when struck by light. These characteristics suggest that nothing remains for long at this level. This would be a very draining level and require tremendous levels of energy to maintain awareness for any length of time.
Here we could find the destruction of opponents in astral duels as well as the simple “astral cord” or “cable” leading to higher levels.

In summary this group of elements with six electron rings represents sixth “chakra” energy. It can be broken down into nine separate and distinct categories.

DIVISION VI

This is the barrier or veil that separates fifth “chakra” energy from sixth “chakra” energy. It “isolates” the “tank” current of this group of elements and tries to maintain the stability of this level of the earth’s astral layers.

DIVISION VII

Here we find our “proposed” life span and destiny. This is not set in stone, but it does represent what the earth intends for us at this time and in the future. To change things at this level requires much work and energy.
This level is also the “foundation” of our sense of “self”.
At levels below this we find species “instincts” and awareness of our immediate environment. Animals also have “instincts” and an awareness of their environment but they do not have a sense of “self” as we do. At least not to the degree that we do. An animal’s sense of “self” is constantly evolving just as ours is but it would rarely go beyond the sixth “chakra” energies.

DIVISION VIII

This astral level gives us the awareness of pain. There are three types of pain, immediate pain from an injury, sharp lingering pain that will not go away, and a dull aching pain.

DIVISION IX

This astral level deals with sexual pleasures and wealth. Two things that are very closely related.

DIVISION X

The energies of this level deal with our general enjoyment of life and a full satisfaction of its many pleasures. Here we find contentment in life.

DIVISION XI

Here for the first time we are confronted by social restrictions. What we want for ourselves is in direct competition with what others want and whoever has the most energy wins.

DIVISION XII

At this level we develop Ego strength and will power to resist social pressures that want us to conform. We have the will to compete and fight for the things that we want in life. We make up our minds to battle against the odds to win. We willingly sustain injuries to get what we want.

DIVISION XIII

This level saps our strength and energy. We fall into depression and physical inactivity. If we can’t get what we want we won’t do anything at all. We are fiercely resisting societies pressures and we aren’t winning. This is a stalemate where society doesn’t win and we don’t win either.
The entire struggle is raised to the higher levels and tremendous amounts of energy are used up in this struggle.

DIVISION XIV

This is the level of magical power. We have gained our victories over the opposition in this “battle ground”. For the first time things are beginning to work out in our favor. Here we are able to destroy the obstacles that are trying to hold us back. We have energy to spare and we use it to get the things we want in life. We have the power to get what we want.

PS: I have just started a new Facebook discussion group called Organic Gnosticism. Feel free to join if you are interested.

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The general population fell into a great depression following the failure of the Crusades. God favored the Muslims over his own people, and it was unthinkable! Minstrels and troubadours sang melancholy songs about how God had betrayed them. The people were disenchanted by the Church and by Christianity.

Around this time the Bogomil’s moved out of Bulgaria through Constantinople and Italy and then finally settled into fortified areas in southern France after they had been decimated by Muslim armies.

Now I’m going to have to refresh your memory about the Bogomil’s. The Bogomil’s lived in that area of the caucuses, mountain regions, that is called Eastern Europe or the Balkans. I’ve been trying to trace the thread of Organic Gnosticism from that area to the present so this is a very important addition because the Bogomil’s where there in Eastern Europe long before Christianity. In all likelihood, they were influenced strongly by Zoroastrianism and various ancient goddess religions.

I believe that the continuing thread of Organic Gnosticism traveled with the Bogomil’s to finally end up in southern France. Now, southern France was the promised land for heretics. It was the classic ground of sorcery and witchcraft and it was from southern France that witchcraft spread across to all of Europe in later years.

Southern France was unique as a meeting ground of cultures. It was a melting pot of all kinds of races, cultures and religious beliefs. It was actually the highpoint of civilization at the time.

Southern France was filled with Jews and Saracens as well. Rabbis held public schools everywhere and formed bonds between Christians and Arabs through their trading exchanges in Salerno and Cordova.

Cordova was the seat of black magic where the arts and sciences were turned to criminal purposes, such as the creation of distillations, syrups, ointments, and surgical instruments as well as the study of Arabic numbers, arithmetic and algebra. In addition to those forbidden subjects the Kabbalistic teachings of Jews were a tremendous influence on the non-Christian population in that area. So southern France was the big meeting point as I trace Organic Gnosticism and its arrival in southern France with the Bogomil’s.

The Languedoc region had always been the hotbed of heresy and a problem for the Church that just wouldn’t go away. But it included the entire population in southern France. They were totally disenchanted by the teachings of the Church and now were being influenced even more strongly by other non-Christian beliefs.

We’ve already mentioned that the Social Enforcers were represented by Christians who were trying to establish moral teachings upon the population. The Rational Atheists were represented by Jews that didn’t really believe in an afterlife, but believed in logic and reason.

The Arabs were leading in the medical sciences and if anybody was interested in studying these things, they would study from the Arabs because Christianity had plunged the rest of Europe into the dark ages.

We hear a lot about the Languedoc region in southern France. There have been movies about that mysterious area and this is the area where a new form of Manicheanism developed.

Manicheanism existed centuries before and it got stamped out by the Church. But these same old ideas sprang up again among this new group of people called the Cathars.

Somehow Organic Gnosticism also sprang up again in the use of the energies of the physical body to develop the soul. In particular, Tantric practices and love relationships applied for the purposes of spiritual development and soul growth, and it was experiential. It appealed to the non-educated as well as to the educated elite.

We are also going to see how these secret Tantric teachings were incorporated into alchemy, and guess where alchemy had its start? Right here in Salerno and Cordova because this was the central meeting spot. This was the hub of activity.

This entire area was a great threat to the authority of the Catholic Church which was really having some bad problems at the time.

As we talk about distillations, syrups, ointments, surgical instruments and the study of mathematics and the other sciences you can just imagine the excitement that existed in that entire area. Just imagine the passion, the vitality that existed.

Especially in contrast to the repression. In contrast to the inquisitions that were happening elsewhere. This is where the excitement was. This is where the vital life force of the entire Western mystery traditions coalesced in a confluence of emerging sources.

But the important thing here is the reemergence of Organic Gnosticism and how it could very easily be traced to the arrival of the Bogomil’s into that area of southern France.

PS: I have started a new Facebook discussion group called Organic Gnosticism. Feel free to join if you are interested.

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Tobal agreed and to his great surprise Crow headed cross country toward his camp over terrain he had never been through. Crow seemed completely at ease in the rough terrain and several times showed him danger spots he had not noticed. Once Crow kept him from breaking through the ice as they crossed a small ice covered stream.

Since Tobal was not familiar with winter weather his goal was to simply head to his base camp as quickly as possible where he knew it was safe and there was extra food. He didn’t even bother setting snares or looking for food other than what they stumbled across accidentally. They relied exclusively on the food reserves he had brought with him and the frozen food cubes taken from sanctuary.

Firewood was the biggest trouble and they found themselves breaking dead branches off trees and placing them on the sled as they traveled through the day. In this way they had much of their wood when it was time to set up camp in the evening. Camping was greatly simplified and they simply dug trenches into the deep snow drifts in a “v” shape and covered the roof area with branches and the blanket material.

The snow drifts made excellent insulation from the wind. Each leg of the trench was a sleeping area and at the place where the trenches joined they built a small fire using the firewood they had gathered during the day. They also used this fire to melt water and refill their canteens.

They made their way back to Tobal’s base camp by the evening of the fourth day. Tobal had expected it to take five days and was amazed when Crow actually found it. The kid really knew his way around the wilderness.

It felt good to be in a permanent shelter again that was actually warm. It seemed a luxury to heat water for a much needed sponge bath and change of clothes. The next few days were spent just getting things around the camp into good repair and hauling in firewood for the coming week.

Crow was very curious about the tools Tobal had made and spoke of things he had seen his grandfather make. Crow was a quiet boy that didn’t talk much, but once you got him going he could tell stories for hours. His parents had died while he was young and he didn’t know much about them. He had been raised by his grandfather in the mountains and taught the old ways. His grandfather was a powerful shaman and healer others came to see when they were injured or seeking his wisdom. Crow hadn’t really wanted to come here but his grandfather had insisted.

“Why?” Tobal asked with curiosity.

“He wants me to become a citizen of Heliopolis,” Crow said. “It is also time for me to solo. In my village we can solo at fourteen. It is when we are considered adults.”

“Wait a minute! I’m getting confused. Are you telling me you are already able to solo?”

“My Grandfather says I am.”

“Why don’t you solo in your own village?”

“To become a citizen I need to solo here and have training with you.”

“But you said you were already trained,” Tobal said in a perplexed tone.

“There are some things only the son of Ron and Rachael Kane can teach me. That is what my Grandfather told me. He said you are my next teacher, which is why I am here. Perhaps things like the map reading,” he suggested helpfully.

Tobal was getting baffled and somewhat alarmed at the repeated mention of his parents. He had no clue what he was supposed to be teaching Crow if he already knew enough to solo.

“Where is your pack and equipment then if you are ready to solo?” He asked. “You didn’t have any gear when I saw you at sanctuary?”

“In my village we are only allowed clothing we have made ourselves, a water flask and a knife.” Crow said, “when I went through processing the machine took all of my things.”

Tobal thought back to what Crow had been wearing. He remembered seeing him sitting on a cot with a fur Robe wrapped around him in the dark room. He hadn’t really seen the rest of what the boy had been wearing and for some reason hadn’t thought too much about the fur robe because he had been wearing furs himself.

“What is the name of your village?”

“It has no name,” Crow said, “We just call ourselves People of the Oak. The oak tree is sacred to us. There are many oak trees near our village.”

“Where is your village located?”

“It lies ten days march toward the setting sun.” Crow pointed to the West. “It took me longer to get here because of the weather.”

“I have heard of such a village,” Tobal said slowly. “It is said there are many children and many elders. It is also said many of the elders once came to our gathering spot and shared circle with us.”

“That is not true!” Crow stomped his foot in anger. “Our elders worshiped at the Lake with the Lord and Lady of the Oak. We did not share circle with the evil ones ever! I do not want to join your clan and learn its evil ways but my grandfather says I must. He said the time is right and you will need help in fighting the evil. He also says you need to hear the stories of the Lord and Lady and need to know they speak with me.”

“They speak with you?” Tobal said stunned.

“Yes, at circle and in my visions they come and guide me. I ask them for help and they protect me.”

“The Lord and Lady come to me at circle too,” he told Crow. “We ask their blessings. I see them within the circle and at times above the fire, but they don’t talk to me.”

“Grandfather says the Lord and Lady were once people just like we are,” Crow babbled excitedly. “He says he knew them once. He knew them when they lived at the lake. He even says he hand-fasted them together. Grandfather is a powerful shaman and a good friend of the Lord and Lady. My parents were good friends of them too.” Crow fought back some tears. “My mother and father went with the Lord and Lady and never came back. The Lord and Lady came back but my parents never did. Grandfather said you would tell me why.” He looked at Tobal expectantly.

It was too much. It was just too much! Visions of the Lord and Lady at circle swept through his mind…they couldn’t be his parents, they were the God and Goddess. They were there before he was. He thought of the mass grave down at the lake and the cairn of stones piled high around a large dead oak tree. He thought of Crow’s parents and Howling Wolf who had hand-fasted his parents together. His head felt like it was going to split. He pressed his fingers against his temples rubbing furiously.

“I don’t know yet,” was all he could say. “I don’t know yet but I’m going to find out somehow.”

His gaze met and locked with Crow’s.

“We will find out together,” he said. “I am going to need your help and learn the old stories. Together we will find out about your parents and about my parents and what happened to them.”

Crow rushed over and hugged him fiercely.

“You promise?” He asked.

“I promise.”

The days turned bitter cold and it seemed like they were out in the snow every day doing something. On the worst days they stayed inside. It was sheltered in Tobal’s little valley but there was a lot of snow on the ground. The only way to travel was with snow shoes and pulling a supply sled.

They spent the days trapping and hunting and the evenings working on winter equipment and telling stories. Tobal was amazed at Crow’s abilities. In addition to beaver and muskrat Crow routinely trapped mink, fox and wolf. He kept the hides from every snowshoe hare and was making a rabbit blanket.

He said it would take a long time because he needed fifty rabbit hides for the blanket. But he told Tobal a rabbit blanket would be extremely light and extremely warm. They were considered a luxury to have back in his village.

Crow also snared partridge and kept the wing and tail feathers. Once he trapped an owl and was ecstatic all week over the good omen. He used these feathers to create ornaments and jewelry. Crow was highly skilled at leather working and created functional and decorative winter clothing Tobal envied. As the days wore on it seemed Tobal was the student and not Crow.

Tobal had learned the basics but Crow had grown up in a culture that had gone far beyond the art of simple survival and had turned these skills into an art form. Tobal was fascinated and asked many questions. Together they worked on projects Tobal had never even thought about doing.

Still thoughts of his parents were never far away. He wished he knew more.

It was time for Crow’s initiation in late November and Tobal was thinking about it as they snow shoed their way to the gathering spot. Perhaps he had been initiated and soloed at his own village he mused thoughtfully, not that it mattered. Gaining citizenship meant going through sanctuary and no other way. As they trekked to circle Tobal explained about joining the clan and being initiated into the circle. Crow still wasn’t certain he wanted to become part of the “evil” ones clan.

“There is no ‘evil’ in the clan or the circle.” Tobal kept telling him. “The Lord and Lady appear during the rituals and ceremonies so it can’t be bad. Everyone at the gathering place is young and could not have been part of what killed your parents. Many of them were not even been born yet.”

Crow remained suspicious and untrusting. In the end it was the mention of the Lord and Lady being present during the initiations that convinced Crow to finally go through with it and join the group.

“If they are not there, I will not go through with it,” he said simply.

Tobal shrugged, there was not much more to say on the matter.

Tobal filled Crow in on what to expect during his entry into the clan itself. He didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Melanie and he didn’t know the true extent of Crow’s abilities yet. He only knew that Crow was better than he was in survival and he suspected Crow knew quite a bit about taking care of himself self defense wise. He had a feeling that small or not. Crow was not going to be in the Journeyman degree over a year. His hard time was going to be training six newbies to solo simply because it would take up so much time and be boring to him.

They had to snowshoe avoiding areas of possible snow slides and avalanches. Winter travel was certainly different than what he had become accustomed to and carried its own unique dangers. Again more than once Crow showed him dangerous areas and explained how to avoid them in the future. Tobal felt grateful, but he also felt like the student and not the teacher.

It felt good to be going back to circle and he was looking forward to spending time with his friends. After leaving Crow with the guards he made his way into the gathering spot looking for people he knew and chatting with them. The first thing he headed for was the Circle of Elders to see what was happening that month. He saw Ellen there and waved at her. She smiled and waved back. He knew he would have to talk with her later that evening.

At circle Zee’s newbie, Kevin’s newbie, and Wayne’s newbie and two others were at last allowed to solo after a grueling examination by the elders. All of their winter clothing was examined and they needed to have snowshoes, a sled and a two weeks supply of jerky they had made themselves. For the first time they were asked about what they planned to do during their solo month. They were told medics would be checking on them and if they needed help they could signal the medics. One last final warning about frostbite and the elders were done.

Char’s newbie, Rory had soloed and she received her first chevron. Tobal noticed she had also brought a newbie for initiation. It was pretty clear they were planning on spending the winter together without Wayne. Her newbie was a pleasant faced blond girl that seemed a little shy around everyone and didn’t talk much. She seemed friendly enough and Tobal didn’t think Wayne should mind too much.

Besides Crow, Melanie’s newbie, Anne; Becca’s newbie, Derdre; and Nikki’s newbie, Seth were all going to be initiated that night. They would be spending at least the next month in training. They were all being prepared for their initiations. Tobal planned on being introduced to each of them later in the evening. As they waited Nikki got her second chevron and was now tied with Becca and Melanie. It was obvious these three women were more competitive than average.

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Forest Passage

What the forest whispered to me today,
I can tell no one.
What I heard with bliss,
I must bear silently.

Carry a still heart back home,
Each step flowing,
What in me was confused and fuzzy,
Now lies clear, in the light.

My cleverness was ridiculous,
Trembling, I sank down.
I went into the forest without God,
I returned again with Him.

-Mia Holm
translated by Joe Bandel

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Sometimes our attitude sucks! Attitude is a mix of emotions and thinking. Said another way attitude is how our emotions and thoughts meet physical reality. When our expectations are realistic and positive our attitude is positive. When our expectations are unrealistic or negative our attitude becomes negative as well.

What I’m trying to get at here is the idea that attitude embraces the completeness of us at one time. Attitude is a reflection of who we are body, mind and spirit in a unified way at any given time. It reflects our true intelligence and will to live.

Using the metaphor of a robot there are two ways of programming a robot to do a task. One way is to write a computer program line by line and step by step. The computer will read the program and take the robot through the task one step at a time.

This way of programming a robot is roughly equivalent to mentally thinking a project or problem through before physically acting on it. Thinking before acting is a useful way of describing this way of dealing with things.

The problem is that sometimes we get stuck mentally or emotionally. Because our thinking is wrong or our emotions are clouding our judgment we are not able to function as well and we become frustrated. Our mind and emotions are not in accord with physical reality and our attitude sucks.

The second way of programming a robot is to place a programming device or sensor in the robot’s hand and physically move the robot’s arm through the cycle that is desired. The movement is recorded through the device and the robot is instantly able to repeat and perform the desired activity.

Let’s take a newborn infant as an example. The newborn child has no ability to move its arms or legs in a conscious or deliberate manner. No neural pathways have been developing within the brain for such movement. The mother or father plays with the infant moving its arms and legs.

This movement causes nerves to fire within the brain and nervous system and soon the infant learns to control its arms and legs by using the same circuitry within the brain. Physical movement created the neural pathway. Conscious intent used the neural pathway once it was created.

When we are stuck in life and can’t find our way out of a situation mentally or emotionally raw physical activity will burn a new neural pathway we can use. This is why people need to hit bottom when they are stuck. Hitting bottom forces raw physical activity just to stay alive. That physical activity allows a fresh start into new neural pathways. Hitting bottom will either kill us or force us to change our attitude!

An even better solution is raw physical activity without hitting bottom. We don’t need to hit bottom to change our attitude. All we need is to physically doing new things and grow through those experiences. A healthy individual finds joy and excitement in physically doing new things and learning new skills. This new knowledge and these new skills are what allow him or her to find continuing satisfaction and enjoyment in life.

The next time you find yourself stuck in a rut go out and try doing something new, something physical! Burn new neural pathways into your brain, pathways that work!

PS: I’ve created a new Facebook discussion group called Organic Gnosticism. Feel free to join if interested.

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ELEMENTS WITH FIVE ELECTRON SHELLS

Element #54 Xenon
This element is an odorless gas and one of the noble gases. This element also has five complete electron shells. Because it’s outer shell is complete it serves as a natural barrier in it’s astral aspect. It resists attempts to pierce through it and is one of the veils mentioned in occult literature.
This barrier separates fifth “chakra” energies from sixth “chakra” energies. It also stabilizes fifth “chakra” energies.

Element #53 Iodine
This shiny, bluish-black element has an irritating odor and goes from a solid directly to a purple gas. Plants and animals require this element for life.
These characteristics suggest that astrally awareness at this level is a cellular or an organic awareness. Here is the base for awareness of the physical body. This is the beginning of ego as a physical being. Below this level we find the species instinct to survive at the lowest level. We also have awareness as “I hunger”, “I hurt”, “I feel Pleasure”. Here we have “I have a physical body”. “I must take care of it.”

Element #52 Tellurium
This element is used in alloys and semiconductor research. It is also used as a catalyst. These characteristics suggest that this level deals with possibly the nervous system and the sensory organs and with the way bio-electrical energy flows through the body.

Element #51 Antimony
This bluish-white metal is brittle and used to harden alloys. Its use on the astral plane suggests a barrier and possibly a form of astral armor.

Element #50 Tin
This white metal has long been in use by mankind. It is very useful in packaging foods and in solders. This elements close relationship to food and to electricity suggest that this level is very beneficial to us. We may draw energy and strength from other “food” or “energy” sources” here. This level is a life sustaining energy source.

Element #49 Indium
element is an extremely soft silver-white metal. This suggests that many astral objects and astral “bodies” are found at this level. They are supported by the level directly below it. If awareness reaches this level it is self-sustaining at this point. This suggests the formation of a permanent type of awareness, perhaps true “self-awareness”.

Element #48 Cadmium
This soft silvery-white metal is used for alloys and plating. It is poisonous. These characteristics suggest that this level is painful and also quite stable. We would expect to find a fairly permanent type of awareness and astral body here.
This level belongs to our “dark” self. Here we find all those things about ourselves that we don’t like. Later as we accept our “pain” and learn to value our “darker” nature we realize that it helps us to relate to others in a more humane way. Here we can empathize with others and feel their pain as well as our own. This pain is emotional pain and not physical pain.

Element #47 Silver
This precious metal is one of the first ever used by man. It is noted for its beauty. It is used in artworks and also kills bacteria. It is an excellent conductor of electricity.
This level belongs to our “light” self. Here we find all the things about ourselves and others that we like. We feel the emotion of love and joy. This is where the healing power of love overcomes illness. Here we really feel alive and vibrant. We are in “love” with life!

Element #46 Palladium
This soft shiny metal is used in surgical instruments and in white gold. This suggests both a beneficial state as well as a corrective, possibly painful experience. The bitter-sweet feeling of personal growth and therapy come to mind. We feel good about becoming more healthy even though it is sometimes painful to give up our old ways.

Element #45 Rhodium
This silvery metal is resistant to corrosion and is very reflective. It is used in mirrors and fine jewelry as well as electrical connections. Here we have purified our inner nature until we have become “bright and shiny”. We no longer identify ourselves with a physical body. We are more than a physical body, we are also an “immortal” body. We have an “immortal” spirit. This is the born again experience.

Element #44 Ruthenium
This element is used to harden metals and is very wear resistant. This suggests use as armor as well as barriers and obstacles. We find that life still throws barriers at us and we still need to resist them. We may be spiritual but we are still living in physical bodies.

Element #43 Technetium
This element is a good radiation source. This suggests that this level is another power source for us if we can reach it in awareness. This would be a type of “spiritual” power.

Element #42 Molybdenum
This hard silvery metal has a high melting point and an important trace element in plants. It is also used in some lubricants. These characteristics suggest its use as a defensive armor that allows troubles and problems to “roll off” and “not stick” to us. At this level no problems can really bother us.

Element #41 Niobium
This soft silver-gray metal is used in steel and in nuclear reactors. It allows neutrons to penetrate easily and withstands high temperatures. At low temperatures it becomes a super conductor of electricity. These characteristics suggest that this level acts as an energy sink.
We reach this level and we don’t try any more. We think that we are at the top. This is a spiritual plateau where we can’t seem to advance no matter how hard we try.

Element #40 Zirconium
This gray-white metal resists corrosion and is heat resistant. The only way to reach this level is by loosing tremendous amounts of energy in the level below it. This suggests that here is public service and public recognition. Energy is given to the world and the world gives energy back in return.

Element #39 Yttrium
This silvery metal is used in the electronics industry and causes the red colors in garnet stone. This is a higher level of public recognition and popularity.

Element #38 Strontium
This soft silvery metal is radioactive and dangerous. It burns with a crimson flare and is used in fire works. These characteristics suggest the “crash and burn” experienced by many celebrities. The public no longer supports their efforts. In fact, the public now opposes their efforts.

Element #37 Rubidium
This soft silvery-white metal is a catalyst and a fire hazard. It oxidizes readily in air and reacts violently with water. The destructive nature of this element suggest that this level belongs to public upheaval and revolutionary forces within the society struggle for supremacy. This is truly a battle zone where the individual battles against the full force of society.

In summary, elements with five electron shells correspond to fifth “chakra” energies. These astral level can be broken down into 17 distinct divisions. These energies are essentially emotional energies.

DIVISION XV

This is the barrier or veil that separates forth “chakra” energy from fifth “chakra” energy. It “isolates” the “tank” current of this group of elements and tries to maintain the stability of this level of the earth’s astral layers.

DIVISION XVI

Here is the foundation of physical and organic awareness. This is awareness that we have a physical body and must take care of it in order to survive.

DIVISION XVII

Here we face physical barriers and limitations on the astral plane. We struggle to overcome our limitations and the barriers the world places before us.

DIVISION XVIII

This level acts as an energy source that sustains our astral bodies. We receive energy from other astral “food” sources. We give our surplus energy in exchange for the type of energy that we need.

DIVISION XIX

Here is a complex astral world with complex astral life forms. These life forms also have physical bodies. At this level complex energy exchanges are worked out between different life forms to ensure their physical survival.

DIVISION XX

Here is the level of emotional pain and our “dark” self. We confront those things about ourselves that we are ashamed of and that cause us emotional pain. Here are our personal demons and our personal hells.

DIVISION XXI

Here is the level of emotional “love” and our “light” self. We feel good about ourselves and others. Everything is the way that we want it to be. We are in love. Everything is sweet and happy.

DIVISION XXII

As our personal development evolves we learn to combine our “light” and our “dark” selves. We find that we have a need for both of them. We do that here at this level. This is the level of bitter-sweet. The events of our lives are very intense and move us very deeply. We learn to love these “bitter-sweet” experiences.

DIVISION XXIII

After a while be begin to identify ourselves as spiritual beings and not as physical bodies. We have an immortal “soul” that does not die. This new perspective gives a “born-again” experience and we try to leave the physical world behind.

DIVISION XXIV

Even though we now think of ourselves as spiritual beings we still live in physical bodies in an imperfect world. We struggle to protect ourselves against the disharmonies of the physical world with its trials and sorrows. It is a constant battle to maintain our spiritual perspective.

DIVISION XXV

At this level we tap into a spiritual power source and use it to maintain and strengthen our lives. We find comfort and strength in our spiritual studies and meditations.

DIVISION XXVI

Here everything seems to go right for us. Trials and problems seem to pass completely us completely and have no affect on us at all. We seem immune to all negative influences.

DIVISION XXVII

This level is an energy sink and we fall into spiritual apathy. We think that we are at the top and that nothing is left to accomplish. We feel spiritual pride at our accomplishments and think we are better than others.

DIVISION XXVIII

Here we enter public service and achieve support and recognition from the public. We enter for the first time into the public limelight and we enjoy it.

DIVISION XXIX

At this level we are celebrities. The public loves us and we can’t do anything wrong at all. We are given power by the public to do things that normal people can’t do.

DIVISION XXX

The public removes its support and we are no longer popular. This is where celebrities “crash and burn”. We have a spectacular fall from grace. The energy that we have become used to is now given to someone else and we are ignored.

DIVISION XXXI

We struggle to regain the support and energy of the public by becoming political activists. This is the level of public upheaval and revolutionary forces. We pit our will directly against society in an effort to change society.

PS: I’ve created a new Facebook discussion group called Organic Gnosticism. Feel free to join if you are interested.

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Before I get down into working with magic energies I would like to share this most important concept. The universe is suggestive and tends to do what is expected. What you expect to find has a greater possibility than what you don’t expect.

Physicists are finding that their own expectations seem to influence what happens on the subatomic level.

People are very suggestive and tend to comply with what other people ask unless they have a good reason not to. There is a natural instinct to comply with external authorities. This is survivalist in nature. “Do what you are told or else”.

The Rosicrucians teach that you may petition the Cosmic and it will respond as long as what you ask for is 51% unselfish. That means it will benefit others just as much or a little more than it will benefit you.

Where does all this leave us? In all magic work it is very important to have a strong and vivid image of what you desire. Even more importantly you need to ask for it! You need to ask the Cosmic and you need to ask people. If you are not letting others know what you want how can they let you have it or give it to you?

It is good magic practice every day to clearly state what you want and let people know why it is in their own best interests as well. If you do this deliberately every day it will become a habit and the results will begin to flow toward you magicly!

I’ve seen the greatest results in my marriage. By clearly expressing things to my spouse there is greater understanding and greater mutual support. It helps her to understand me better and I listen to what she wants and gain a greater understanding of what is important to her.

It feels good to know what is important to someone else and be able to do that for them.

Think back over what happened yesterday. Did you specifically ask in prayer or meditation for something you desired? If you didn’t why not? Your intuition can guide you to find the opportunities that seek but you need to listen to it.

Did you specifically state to someone else just what you wanted or did you let a tangled communication slide and not bother making it right? Every time we allow this someone walks away with a wrong understanding of us and what we want.

The last part of this message is about listening to the feedback we are getting from both the universe and from other people. If the universe and other people are saying “no, I’m not going to let you have that” we need to understand why.

There are areas in our lives that are “cursed”. We repel what we want no matter how hard we try. The only way to break that curse is through old fashioned competency and doing things the hard way.

The needed actions come out of our blind spots and the only way to progress is through trial and error. There are lots of errors because we instinctively choose the wrong things and do the wrong things. This can’t go on forever though. If we learn from our mistakes we gradually figure out what we are doing wrong and make corrections. This means becoming more realistic.

Just remember the brick wall manifests when we are going in the wrong direction even if we are convinced it is the right direction. Perhaps the need is to go around some obstacle that is in the way and not through it.

The greatest magic empowerment comes from changing curses into blessings. At the same time it is important to take a rest from the fight once in awhile and smell the roses in your garden. Don’t forget the areas in your life that are blessed. They are more than willing to cooperate with you. They will give you the peace to remain centered and to continue.

PS: I’ve started a new Facebook discussion group called Organic Gnosticism. Feel free to join if you are interested.

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