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Archive for December, 2017

What is anger? Is anger good or bad? There are a lot of people that would say anger is bad and they would be wrong. Anger is a healthy emotion that needs to be recognized, acknowledged and guiltlessly accepted.
Negative emotions like anger are warning signs that something is wrong in our lives. They are a sign that we need to take some type of action to make things better. No one can control their emotions. We can not control how we feel and we should not associate guilt with anger.
We can control our physical actions. Only volitional or willful actions can be wrong or associated with guilt not anger itself. We need to experience all of our emotions for real intimacy with others.
We can get angry with a friend or loved one without fearing they will leave us. Real love requires being real with our partner. Suppressing one emotion weakens our ability to share all the others.
An interesting thing about anger is that as anger goes up our reasoning ability seems to go down. Anger is related to pain. Pain in the future is anxiety. Pain in the present is hurt, loss or sadness. Pain in the past is anger. Anger is about something that has already happened.
The Vikings felt anger was a gift of the gods. When it came upon a warrior in the midst of a battle as a berserker rage the warrior was invincible. In modern society a berserker rage is not seen as a good thing. In life of death situations it still might be.
I remember reading about a study done on Vietnam veterans with spinal injuries and anger. According to the study veterans with spinal injuries that left them paralyzed below the waist did not experience anger in the same manner as they used to before the spine injury. Prior to the spinal injury anger welled up from deep inside and exploded like a volcano. After the spinal injury anger was experienced more like a tempest in a teapot. It did not have the explosive force anymore.
This is important evidence that anger is substantial. It is an energy that travels through the nervous system and does build to explosive force within us at times. It needs a pathway and it needs to be released. It is a physical energy with a physical basis.

Anger causes somatic responses. Our body responds to anger in different ways. What kind of body language expresses anger?

Do you clench your jaw?
Get a stomachache?
Raise your voice?
Refuse to speak?
Want to hurt someone?
Want to get away?
Become verbally or physically abusive?
Sweat or turn red?
Get sarcastic?
Does your tone of voice change?
Do you cry?
Do you shake?

How does anger make you feel?

Do you procrastinate in doing things?
Are you always late for things?
Do you have a sadistic or ironic humor?
Are you sarcastic, cynical or flip in conversation?
Do you sigh frequently?
Are you over polite or “Nice”?
Do you smile when hurting?
Do you have bad dreams?
Do you have trouble sleeping?
Are you bored with things that are usually fun?
Are you more tired than usual?
Do you get really picky and irritable with others?
Do you get tired when you shouldn’t?
Does your anger make you feel guilty?
Do you feel anxious?
Do you feel ashamed?
Do you feel withdrawn from others?
Do you know when you are angry?

What is your anger like?

Does it last to long?
Does it flare up frequently?
Does it express itself even when you are trying to suppress it?
Does it go away quickly?

What does your anger do?

Does it interfere with your jobs or relationships?
Does it contribute to physical problems?
Does it lead to accidents?
Does it get you into legal problems?

Knowing your own anger and how you respond to it is very important. You need to know when you are angry so you can safely do something about it. Take a few minutes going through this list and determine if any of them apply to you. Try to decide if you have a problem with anger or not.

There is a need to use up anger and get rid of it. One is left feeling purified:

Unsafe ways to use up anger:

Stuffers:
Stuffers are conflict avoiders. They are people that will avoid conflict and confrontation at all cost. This makes them easy targets for more aggressive people. They have a lot of stress under the surface and never really confront the issue or problem. People that stuff their anger may become depressed or physically sick with stomachaches or headaches. The only way they know to find relief is to let things get so bad everything falls apart. Then they can start over.

Withdrawers:
Withdrawers are passive-aggressive in dealing with anger. They don’t address the issue or problem directly. Instead they might spread rumors or gossip. These are subtle and not obvious ways of showing anger. Often these people hurt themselves the most by missing out on closer relationships or being misunderstood by others. They often feel guilty and responsible for things that are not in their control. People who withdraw miss out on the power of having their anger work for them.
These people withdraw emotionally. They give others the silent treatment. They might become ill or anxious. They feel they don’t have the right to become angry. They feel anger is not appropriate. They fear they might lose control of their anger and hurt somebody. They can’t cope with strong feelings and avoid them whenever they can. They think people will dislike them if they show anger. They are afraid of losing a job or a friend. They don’t want to hurt or offend anyone.

Blamers:
Blamers express their anger by name calling, attacking, or by putting other people down. They never take responsibility for their own problems. This may cause the people that live with them to have low self-esteem if they believe what the blamer is saying about them. They might also become blamers and never take responsibility for their own problems either. It is very easy to get sucked into a vicious circle of negative behavior around a blamer.

Trianglers:
Instead of dealing with their anger directly trianglers get someone else mad at the same person so they can be mad together. This creates a lot of tension and the victim knows something is wrong but doesn’t really know what it is.

Exploders:
Exploders use violence to express anger. They may push, shove, kick, slap, beat or even kill someone. These are all harmful behaviors. It is not safe to be around an exploder because it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. The exploder is often unpredictable and no one really knows what will set him off.
People that live with expoders are often hyper vigilant, wondering when it is a safe time to do something or bring something up. They often have self-esteem problems and think the exploder might be right in treating them the way they do.
Blamers blow up at people and use intimidation to get what they want in life. They might break things. They might fly off the handle at small things or keep bringing up old grievances. They need to be the boss. They are afraid of getting close to others. They can’t stand to be wrong and don’t know how to communicate calmly when they are angry.

Displaced and distorted anger often causes:

aggressive/overactive sexual activity
violent dreams/misfortune to others
identify self as aggressive
victims/getting even
tiredness/tenseness/pains
over aggression/bullying
over sweet “nice guy”
self-destructive behaviors
subtle sabotage to others

Unhealthy Anger Components:

confused awareness
denying, disguising, prettying up
difficulty/guilt accepting anger
rationalizes, justifies all the time
delayed response-suppressed or diluted
too intense
not intense enough
destructive/manipulative intent
long lasting and corrosive anger
drug abuse
over eating
depression
criticalness
gossiping
anxiety
over exercising/sports
pursuit of perfection
physical ailment/over working

Safe ways to use up anger:

Expressing anger directly:

Write an angry letter. Keep it for a week and then burn it, bury it, or shred it up releasing the anger as you destroy the letter.

Write the person’s name in big letters on a piece of paper and then rip the paper to shreds as quickly as possible releasing the anger as you destroy the paper.

Write the person’s name on the bottom of your shoe and grind the name into the floor with every step you take until the energy is released and you feel better.

Go to a closed room and yell, scream, cry, or beat your pillow until the energy is released and you feel better.

Go to the gym and exercise. Imagine the punching bag as the source of your anger and let go of it wit each punch. Let the energy out and you will feel better.

Pick up the phone and dial the person that you are angry with. When they answer the phone disconnect the phone but continue talking into it about what you are mad about. Often hearing the other person’s voice will help provoke your anger and you can release it completely.

Imagine the other person is sitting in a chair in front of you and really tell them off. Let them know exactly how you feel. Then sit in the chair and pretend to hear their response or lame excuse. Finally, stand back up and really discredit them. Tell them how they are completely wrong.

Split wood, clean the attic, clean the garage, paint the house and scrub the floor. When you are exhausted you will have a feeling of being purified.

Take a walk in the cool air or take a cold shower.

Ridiculous imagery. Imagine them in a rubber duck suit or something.

Don’t blame your anger on another person. Only you can make you feel angry.

Express your angry feelings honestly and assertively so that no one is hurt in the process.

Don’t put the other person on the defensive if possible.

Use “I” statements so others don’t feel attacked.
“I am getting angry.”
“I am getting very upset.”
“I really don’t like what you are doing.”
“I get mad when you do that.”
“I get angry when you are fifteen minutes late every time we get together. I would really appreciate your being on time from now on.”

Dealing with the anger of others

The louder and more angry they become the quieter and calmer you should try to become.

Problems Solvers:
Problem solvers can admit they are angry and then look at why they are angry. They put thinking between their feelings and their behavior. They use their anger creatively to solve the problem or to make needed changes. If they can’t use their anger to solve the problem they will express the anger safely and then let it go. People around problem solvers feel safe and learn to make their own anger work for them.

Healthy Anger:

Be aware of and in touch with your own anger.
Admit your anger to yourself and to others.
Accept your anger as a natural thing.
Think about your anger later. It is all right to be wrong.
Express your anger when you feel it. Don’t let it build up.
Only get real mad over important things.
Don’t make mountains out of molehills.
Try to use your anger constructively.
Your anger is energy, express all of it. You will feel better and clean.

Fight Rules:

Learn to speak up when you are angry. It is your right to have angry feelings and to get angry when something is not right. Let the other person know that you are angry.

Fighting between husbands and wives is natural. So is fighting between parents and children. Don’t be ashamed of fighting.

If someone is angry respect his or her right to be angry. Don’t be afraid or run away. Don’t tease them or make them feel worse.

Listen to what the angry person is saying to you and make sure you understand.

Be certain the reason you are fighting is a good one. Attack the behavior or problem and not the person.

Don’t attack the other person. Attacking the other person will hurt and make them more defensive and harder to reach.

Learn to recognize when you are letting off steam. Learn when the other person is letting off steam. Don’t get into a fight unless you need to. Don’t take things so personal.

Don’t keep reminding people of how bad they have been to you.

Don’t say things you can’t take back, things shared in trust or past mistakes.

Don’t fight or try to solve problems when you are tired, hungry, drunk or unstable.

Be able to admit to the other person that you are wrong when you are wrong even if saying so will be embarrassing or painful. It is needed for personal growth.

Anger Management

Study your anger. Make a list of the things that make you angry.

Visualize yourself in the same room with the person you are angry with. Write down what you would tell them.

Choose a time to talk with the other person that is good for both of you. Maintain eye contact and keep a calm voice when talking.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Let yourself be wrong some of the time.

Avoid blaming, attacking or bringing up old problems.

Use “I” statements.

Can this situation be changed or avoided in the future? What has been learned?

Remember you can’t control how other people will act but you can control how you respond.

Use relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or slowly counting to 20. Focus on a peaceful place or thought.

Use positive self-talk. I’m angry but I can leave it and get on with my job or my life.

Know your limits. Seek counseling if anger continues to be a big problem in your life.

Importance of recognizing anger and owning it:

All pleasure and happiness are expressed through emotions.

Negative emotions are a warning that something is not right and we are acting contrary to our well being, happiness and true nature.

We must accept sole responsibility for our anger, for understanding it and dealing honestly with reality.

By working through anger we develop competence and gain self-esteem.

Emotions are natural. Only actions can be right or wrong.

Recognize your own mood swings and take responsibility for them. Tell others you are not in a good mood and maintain a low profile.

Remember it is your resistance to what “IS” that is causing your anger.

If you are angry with any part of your life your beliefs must change because a belief or expectation is not in accord with reality.

Your mind will refuse a boring life and create a crisis unless you create something more exciting instead.

We get angry when we want things to stay the same. All things change. We must befriend change.

We act upon what we believe. The consequence of our actions is reality.

Using anger creatively or constructively:

Dealing with anger:

Learn to recognize feelings of anger. Accept them. Everyone feels angry at times. It’s ok to feel angry.

Explore why you are angry with someone else.

Explore when you are angry for no apparent reason and try to discover the hidden reason certain behaviors make you angry. You may be “over reacting” because of something that happened in the past.

Find alternatives. Are your expectations realistic?

Risks involved in expressing anger:

Fear of rejection
Fear of losing control
Fear of being counter attacked
Fear of hurting others
Fear of being hurt by others
Fear of repeating bad experiences
Fear that the anger is not acceptable to others
Fear of feeling guilty after expressing anger
Fear that others will see us as weak if we express anger

Solutions

Understand what anger habits and patterns prevent you from getting what you want in life.

Don’t waste energy on things you can’t change.

Focus on things you can change, not on other people.

Do something you can get excited and feel joy about.

Your viewpoint determines if your life is hostile or pleasant.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Many people work best in a well defined, structured environment in which expectations are clear. There is not a lot of uncertainty.

Don’t tease or mock people when they are angry.

Give frequent compliments to others when they do a job well.

Be matter of fact when correcting others. Don’t rub it in.

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There is a normal cycle that should be followed in communications: First the speaker brings up a subject. The listener acknowledges by nodding, saying yes or in some manner indicating they are listening. The speaker pauses or stops. The listener gives feedback or acknowledges. Perhaps by rephrasing in their own words. “Is this what you mean?” “I agree.” or “I disagree.”

The speaker acknowledges, listens and gives feedback on the listener’s feedback. “Yes, that is what I was trying to say.” “No, I was really trying to say this.”

When the subject is closed it becomes the listener’s turn to begin a new subject as speaker and the cycle is continued.

Verb Matching
We each process information differently. Some people use visual verbs, some use auditory verbs and some use kinesthetic verbs or feeling verbs. When we use the same type of verbs we feel like we are in tune with each other. Find out what kind of verbs you like to use and learn to use other types as well. Listen to others and learn to match the verbs they are using. It will make the communication better.
Visual: “I see what you mean.”
“It is not very clear to me yet.”

Auditory: “That rings a bell.”
“I hear what you are saying.”
Kinesthetic: “That doesn’t feel right to me.”
“Get a grip on things.”

Obviously phrases like: “I see what you are saying.” are not good practice even though we hear them all the time. We can’t see what someone is saying. We hear what they are saying.

Beginning Conversations/Ending Conversations
As strange as it may sound many of us don’t know how to begin or end conversations. We miss out on making good friends simply by not being able to introduce ourselves. At other times we become trapped in conversations that we don’t want.
Practice beginning conversations and ending conversations with a partner until it becomes natural and smooth. Better yet practice all of these skills and keep them handy just in case you need them.
“Hello, my name is…”
“Hello, may I help you?”
“I would really like to hear more later when I have time.”
“Can we talk again sometime?”
Forcing Conversations/Avoiding Conversations
With a partner take turns playing each role and have some fun with it. One of you try to force the conversation and the other try to avoid it. See who wins and why.

“Excuse me. I need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Hey you in the red shirt.”

“I don’t have time right now.”
“I’m busy right now, perhaps we can talk later.”

Changing the subject/Returning to the subject.
This is perhaps the most powerful technique available. Learn how to change the subject to one that you want. When someone avoids talking about your subject keep returning to it. Most people talk in a random manner with one unrelated thought leading into another.
Random association is the rule. By deliberately choosing the subject you control the conversation.
“Don’t you have a car like that one?”
“But what about …”
“I don’t see what this has to do with …”
“Weren’t we talking about …”

Interrupting the conversation/not being interrupted.
Practice these with someone until you get good at them and see how fun communication can be.
“Excuse me, I have a 2:00 appointment.”
“I’ve got to go to the bathroom.”
“Let me finish what I’m trying to say first.”
“This will only take a minute.”

Expressing Joy/Dealing with joy
“I’m so happy I could scream!”
“We could have so much fun!”
“Let’s do it!”
“You look really great today.”

Expressing Sadness/dealing with sadness
“My car just broke down and I don’t know how to get home.”
“I just can’t seem to stop crying.”
“Here’s a Kleenex.”
“Do you have anyone to talk to?”

Expressing Anger/Dealing with Anger
“I’m warning you.”
“I’ve about had it with the people around here.”
“What are you so mad about?”
“Did I do something to offend you?”

I’ve given some sample ideas to get your thoughts moving. Practice some of these with a partner and get good enough at them to use them in conversations at will. Each one will be a valuable tool that you can take with you. It will be there when you need it.

When we see a person at work or on the street do we know if they act that way at home? Do we always know how our kids act away from home? Do we act differently at home and when we are away from home?
Each individual is very complex with many hobbies, interests and life experiences. Even if we know someone very well we can still be surprised at the things they do.
We use the limited knowledge that we have about people and form images or stereotypes. We use these images to help us understand and deal with every person in our lives. Because of these images or stereotypes we are sometimes surprised when people don’t respond the way we are expecting them to.
We may even need to re-evaluate others and treat them differently as we learn more about them. One of the most powerful ways to achieve our goals and to experience the things we want in life is to act, dress and live in a manner that will create the image or stereotype appropriate for achieving our goals.
Through repeated exposure to the image we are projecting others will stereotype us in a manner that is consistent with our goals and treat us the way we want to be treated. When people don’t recognize the image we project the will create one of their own and we probably won’t like it.
Who wants to be labeled as a loser or a freak? We have to give people clues about how we want to be treated. First we create a general image or stereotype that is recognizable to others. Then we can create a sub-category that is unique and individual that reveals more of our true inner self.
We must be true to the stereotype that we project and at the same time be true to ourselves. Remember an image or stereotype tends toward self-fulfillment because everyone else constantly reinforces it. It is up to us to choose what we want to be in life.

Body Language
Body language communicates far more than we ever do with words. Some estimate that as much as 90% of all communication is non-verbal. Anyone interested in true self-empowerment should have a basic understanding of their own body language and the body language of others.
Here are some simple things to notice when you are around other people.

Are the legs crossed? (Is there tension?)
Preening-patting hair, smoothing shirt or dress, straightening tie. Constant movement-can’t sit still, ill at ease, is not giving you their full attention.
Hand movements-what are the hands doing, clenched or open, in pockets or hidden.
Nervous movements-tapping pencil, moving leg.
Movement toward or away from you.
Arms crossed on chest.
Ankles locked.
Relaxed or tense.

These simple things will tell you a lot about a person and what is going on with them. We learn by doing. Practice some of these things with a partner to see how they feel. Take turns doing each position and become aware of how they make you feel. What things are uncomfortable? Are they things you can’t do?

Eye Contact/No eye contact
One person tries to maintain eye contact and the other person tries to avoid eye contact while having a conversation.

Hand Shake
Firm handshake
Finger handshake
Two-handed hand shake
Limp handshake

Slumped shoulders/Erect posture
One person tries to maintain a slumped posture while talking and the other an erect posture.

Proximity Boundary/Too Close
One person moves in too close to the other person deliberately while talking. Some people find this very disturbing.

Proximity Boundary/Too far away
One person moves too far away from the other person deliberately while they are talking. See if the other person moves closer.

Standing/Sitting at desk
One person is standing and the other is sitting behind a desk.

Standing/Sitting
One person is standing and the other remains sitting in a chair.

Turned Away
One person remains turned 45 degrees away from the other person while talking.

The object of these exercises is self-discovery. Learn how they make you feel and learn how they make others feel. Practice them and use them consciously and deliberately to be more effective in your communications with others.

The Will to live
There is an instinct or primal will to live deep within each one of us. It is the collective will of the human species to survive into the future, to grow and to expand. There is something within us that wants the human race to be alive billions of years into the future when our sun goes nova or dies out. There is something within us that wants the human race to explore the stars, build cities beneath the oceans and on top of the highest mountains.
This something wants us to go ever onward in the face of overwhelming opposition. This is the force that we need to tap into when we wish to assert ourselves in life. We need to believe in both the human race and in ourselves and in our right to live the type of life we each desire.
Assertiveness is the taking back of personal power. We choose to create the type of world we want to live in and we believe in our ability to make a difference.

Manipulation Traps
Manipulation traps are unfair ways we try to take advantage of personal relationships and force people into giving us what we desire. Understanding manipulation traps and how to avoid them is vital in reclaiming our personal power and being assertive.

Guilt
“How can you treat me like that?”
“I’ve been waiting all week for you to call.”
“It’s your fault that I’m upset and can’t get to sleep.”

Making someone feel guilty is a common manipulation technique. It weakens and destroys a person’s self-esteem. No matter how upset you are with someone or their behavior you don’t need to make them feel guilt. There is no reason someone should make you feel guilty. Guilt destroys our sense of who we are.
Instead of making a person feel guilty focus on the behaviors instead.
“I don’t like it when you treat me like that.”
“I have been hoping to hear from you all week.”
“Our argument got me upset and I can’t sleep.”

These responses communicate the same feelings or information without making the other person feel guilty. When a person feels guilty they feel attacked and hurt. They are also put on the defensive and may fight back in self-defense.

Anger
Yelling and intimidation to your face. Unfortunately making a scene in public does work for many people. I’ve seen a Lt. Col. Plead with an outraged Sgt. asking her to calm down and stop yelling.
Being considerate and respectful is expected public behavior. People that yell and throw temper tantrums to get their own way are deliberately being rude and disrespectful to cause discomfort. It makes people back down simply because they are uncomfortable.
This is unfair. You can not let someone get their way by intimidation. Once you give in they will constantly take advantage of you in the future.

Criticism/Insecurity
You don’t want to play bingo. Your spouse accuses you of never wanting to do what he or she wants to do. You go play bingo. This is a variant of the guilt trip manipulation. Compromise is an important part of any relationship.
“If we go to bingo this week can we go bowling next week?”

Obligation
If I do this for him, he’ll have to do something for me.
“Here is a free sample; can I have a minute of your time?”

In my mind this is one of the worst manipulation traps. Someone does something for us that we are not asking for or perhaps even expecting and they demand some type of payment or response for what they have done.

“Well I do all the cooking and cleaning around here. The least you can do is take out the garbage.”

The problem is that solutions are not negotiated. Everything is one way, the way the manipulator desires.
What is wrong with:
“I’m going to do the cooking. What are you going to do to help?”
“Can we take turns cooking and cleaning?”

Give the other person a chance to take part in the decision making process. Let their opinions count and their feelings be heard.

Withholding
“If you do that I’ll never talk to you again.”
“If you are going to do that you might as well never come back.”

These are obvious strong-arm tactics to get what you want at any cost. You have raised the stakes so high that there is no negotiation or discussion at all. This is totally one way and grossly unfair. Such extremist behavior can not allow relationships to grow.

Helplessness
“You’re the only one that can help me.”
“How do you expect me to wash the dishes and still get my homework done?”

Pretending to be helpless when you are not is all too easy. At first people are willing to help but later this behavior builds deep resentments and may even cause people to avoid you. Learning to do things and becoming competent is one of the greatest joys in life even if it is hard at times.

“Will you show me how to do this?” is a lot better.
Hurtful Teasing
“That looks like you.”
“You must be related.” (The idea is that the teasing hits too close to home and is hurtful not playful.)

Questions
“Why did you stop at the bar last night?” (You already know the answer but just want to watch him or her squirm and try to get out of it.)

Double bind
“Are you still driving that old wreck?”
“Have you stopped beating your wife yet?”

This manipulation can be very frustrating because either way you answer the question puts you in a bad light. This is the kind of manipulation that makes people look like fools and no one likes that.

Solutions
Manipulation traps are not fair. There are healthy ways of getting your needs met within relationships. They are win-win solutions that allow personal growth and respect for each other at all times. Instead of needing to be in control ensure both of you have choices and that the choices are mutual.
One person can not be making all of the choices in a healthy relationship. All to often the helpless manipulation comes up. Teach each other how to cook a meal, clean the bathroom, start the lawn mower, and check the oil.
Allow each other to become successful in more areas and take joy in their successes. Getting even is a form of revenge. It doesn’t belong in relationships. Replace getting even with justice and fairness. When things are unfair talk about them and find solutions that work for both of you.

Antidotes to manipulation traps

Repeat Technique
Ignore trap and repeat what you want in a calm voice until they give up. This may take 4 or 5 repetitions. Don’t get drawn into the trap. Stay focused and repeat the same words. They understand, you don’t need to say it several ways.

I Statement
Without putting yourself down or apologizing state what it is that you want.
“I want to stay at my current job. I don’t want to move closer to your parents.”

Clouding
Respond calmly, acknowledge there may be some truth yet you still will continue to do what you believe is best. Don’t apologize-continue to do what you want.
“I understand that I could find a better paying job. I like the one I have. Money is not everything that is important to me.”

Negative Declarations
Ask questions about the problem until the complaints are exhausted. Admit a mistake or fault without apologizing for it.
“I said I would take out the garbage and I forgot. I will do it as soon as I am done with the paper. Is there anything else you are angry about?”

Compromise without loss of self-respect
Relationships are two way things. Both people have needs to be met and they are not always the same needs. It is important to finds ways to be supportive of each other’s needs and allow compromises when needed. At times it is important to give in as well. Which is more important that tie or the relationship?

Side tracking
changing the subject to something more interesting. This is a lot easier to do than most people would think.
“Is that your dog?” or “I need to go to the bathroom.” can derail most unpleasant discussions.

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symbol- meaning-union

This is the starting point for love. The Ace of Wands represents the new born male and female child. They have not yet met in a meaningful way. The union represented by this card is the union and harmony of the universe itself. The universe exists in harmony even if we can not sense that natural harmony. The world is right and the world is perfect. There is nothing that needs to be changed. We are born into this world in a balanced way.

The male and female experience life very differently. The male regenerates energy by tapping into photon or light energy and the female regenerates her energy by tapping into the atomic and molecular energies of physical matter. From a sexual point of view the male is constantly generating and loosing sperm. The female is born with all the eggs she will carry the rest of her life. These differences are profound in their effect on each of us.

The old nursery rhyme tells us, “Drums and snails and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of. Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of.” The physical body we are born into determines many of our life experiences.

This difference between the sexes is also a difference in polarity. It attracts the male and female together for an energy exchange and attempts to balance and neutralize the inequalities between each of them. Our souls may be both male and female but our physical bodies are not.

When these two meet it is “Puppy Love”! Each can see the God and Goddess in the other. They don’t really see the real person. In that sense this card represents Spiritual Love.

Ace of Wands

Male experience:

The Ace of Wands symbolizes light/electricity bursting through the barriers of old ideas. Conscious awareness and intuitive awareness are one and the same. Here is the spiritual experience of being at one with God or the Cosmic.

The boy child has the experience of becoming part of all things and finding his true destiny in play and nature.
The limitations of language make this experience indescribable and it can be shared with no one. This is very difficult for him to accept. Especially when he tries to communicate with the opposite sex.

This card symbolizes the life force, the phallus and God in physical form. The spirit of life within us is sacred and holy.

Spiritual Light manifests as life energy.

Female experience:

The Ace of Wands symbolizes her union with the spiritual light. She achieves a great understanding in the form of illuminations. She has a strong awareness of being a girl instead of a boy. Instinctively she is aware of the life force in the phallus and of boys being Gods in physical form .

She wonders what it would be like to live forever but no one understands her. Many things remain a secret between God/dess and herself.

She feels small and helpless as she ponders the mighty forces of destiny and the male dominated world.

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It was actually Monday morning when I had a strange dream of two wooden wheelbarrows that I pushed up next to each other. I had no idea what was symbolic about the dream but I figured that wooden wheel barrows had something to do with Organic Gnosticism and my work. I had saved up some Steem tokens and was getting them converted so I could start an Organic Gnosticism discussion group on Steemit. (I already have an Organic Gnosticism discussion group on Facebook)

So I figured that was what the dream was about, transferring the Steem currency and starting another Organic Gnosticism forum. But when I got home I found out that the conversion rate sucked and my 10 Steem dollars only converted to something like 5.8 Steem and I needed exactly 10 to create a forum. I was annoyed and frustrated. I was blocked. What had my dream been about anyway? There was something that I needed to do. What was it?

Now my intention was to share and mingle with more people in a relaxed but meaningful way. I need more social time around people because I spend too much time alone. I had joined a local singles group in the hopes of socializing with them but the three times I forced myself to go to the bar where they were meeting for a weekly dance I literally couldn’t force myself to go up to introduce myself to the group. Something was stopping me.

In contrast last Saturday I went to a local Eckankar meeting held at the local library. This group met once every two months but it was a spiritual group that talked about dreams and sang “Huuuuuu!” It was a powerful experience that I really enjoyed and I was sharing it with other people like myself. I asked to be put on the mailing list so that I would know when the next meeting was. There was a sign up sheet and they also said they had a listing on Meetup. That evening I went online to check out local Meetup groups and there were none of interest except the Ekankar one. I suddenly had the deep realization that I wanted to be around light workers, not drunks.

Suddenly the impulse came to create my own Meetup group and I did! It was a Gaia Ascension and Light worker Meetup group that is to meet twice a month. I scheduled the first meeting for this coming Sunday. That night was the 12/12 portal and there was so much energy flowing through my body that I woke up several times totally surrounded in it. I had obviously unleashed some very powerful energies by my actions. Astral energies were flowing into the physical and energizing a new timeline for me, one that involved my new Meetup group.

At the same time my numerous blog posts about Organic Gnosticism are reaching an end. There are only a few to go. Energetically what happened was my posts were sending energy out into the astral to whoever was reading them and a point was reached where my own energies were finally coming back to me in the form of this Meetup group! My actions of posting about Organic Gnosticism online created the energy to open a timeline for something on the physical plane that was local. It was a physical manifestation of the new energies.

Tonight I see that at least two people have responded that they will be showing up! There is immense energy surrounding this! I would like to add that this is often how the energy works within the astral planes. Tension is built up until something has to manifest physically. I was open enough to be directed in the right way to the Meetup group and not to the bar crowd. It is letting the energy choose the proper place and time and the proper direction instead of using the will. Trust in the heart and things will work out the way they should!

So that was my 12/12 portal event.

Gaia’s ascension is reaching a climax and it will hit this weekend as millions of people rush out to see the new Star Wars movie, “The Last Jedi”. All of the Star Wars movies have been timed to correspond with ascension energetics of mass consciousness. This will be no exception! This is the anticipated trigger event that will ring out through the winter solstice and trigger the masses in a good way! The ascension energies are tipping over into the physical.

Over the past few months I have posted my complete understanding of the western mystery traditions in a way suitable for the modern mind to understand and accept. I sense that as the culmination of my life’s work, the reason I came into this life time was to share as much as I could in this ascension climax. Organic Gnosticism is a viable tradition that has survived in one form or another in all times and places. Now it exists today in the minds and hearts of those I have touched. That work is done.

I will still be posting but it will be a lot less and it will be more personal or even more of my translation work which I love. No more teachings. The energy is basically done for that.

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Today were going to introduce the subject of alchemy. It’s a big subject and an important subject. The best that I can do is just give a little bit on it and people can follow up on their own to their heart’s desire.

Following the 12th-century there was a Renaissance and it was produced by translations of Islamic works of science for English-speaking Christians. People were emerging from a dark age while the Islamic countries had advanced knowledge of the sciences.

There are actually three branches of alchemy and I’d like to say that alchemy can be looked at in several different ways.

One way is the study of the physical sciences like chemistry, healing, medicines, and things like that.

A second way of looking at it is in the development of the soul. This includes the development of nonphysical energies and ways of working with those energies. This type of alchemy is very symbolic and subjective.

A third way of looking at it is changing base metals into gold. What that means is simply the transformation or transmutation of black energy or negative energy, poisons or toxins into good things. This is how to take the things that are bad in life and turn them into empowerments. It’s a form of mental reframing.

There are also three schools of alchemy.

Chinese alchemy is founded on Taoism and what I’ve read of it is based upon five elements. It gets into acupuncture and the energy channels within the body. Kung Fu and the other martial arts all deal with some of these things and it is very powerful.

Mantak Chia is extremely effective in explaining a lot of these things. I really enjoyed his books and would recommend them.

The teachings of the East included the development of the immortal physical body. It could be tangible to a degree and awareness existed in it beyond the death of the physical body. This sounds very similar to Organic Gnosticism and the development of the soul.

There is also Indian alchemy. This of course is considered the origin of Tantra. The left-hand path of tantric Buddhism taught the development of the thunderbolt body or diamond body.

This is the same thing as what we see in the east which is called the immortal physical body.

These schools taught the development of a soul body that was very substantial and existed on all levels of the astral planes.

Contrast this with Christianity which taught Sophia and how it involved creating the soul out of mental energy. This was done by totally renouncing the lower levels.

Western Alchemy began with Greek and Roman philosophy. This crossed over into the Islamic culture and after the crusades it started moving into medieval Europe.

Everything was formed from only four elements, earth, air, water and fire. You might think this is entirely symbolic, but here’s a thought. What if you said solids, liquids and gases and plasmas? That’s a different story because there are four states that each element can exist in. So let’s not be too quick to judge these things.

Alchemy coexisted with emerging Christianity in the fourth and fifth centuries and by the middle of the seventh century most of Christianity was alchemical, meaning that it was mystical. It was talking about the marriage of the Christ and Sophia. It was talking about the marriage of the heart with the Christ spirit. So it was taking on religious connotations.

Another favorite topic in alchemy was turning lead into gold, the transmutation of the base into the pure, but also about eternal life. Those were the main things that led to mystical Christianity which came out of this movement.

Here we have the philosopher’s stone which was also the elixir of immortality that flourished in 12th-century Spain. In the 13th century Albertus Magnus and Roger Bacon were monks who taught alchemical subjects and they taught a fairly structured system of alchemical processes that could purify the soul so it could be reunited with God.

In the 14th and 15th centuries you have the beginnings of the Rosicrucians with the mythical life of Christian Rosenkreuz. The Rosicrucian manifestos were written around 1607 to 1616,

They were alchemical in nature, and thought to be written by Michael Maier, Robert Fludd and Thomas Vaughn.

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“The rest was classified and I couldn’t get into it”, Ellen said. She hesitated as if with an internal struggle.

“Our base is part of the secret mountain complex. We are only allowed to use the emergency room and some nearby areas. It is under high security with lots of armed guards. There are field operatives that come and go from the complex all the time. I shouldn’t be telling you this so please keep it to yourselves.”

“Wow,” you’ve certainly given us something to think about,” Rafe shook his head. “This doesn’t sound good to me. There is something wrong, especially if the rogues are really field operatives. Why would field operatives attack us?”

“And attack the Village,” Crow spoke up. “There have been several incidences of villagers being attacked by rogues and we always believed it was clansmen that attacked us. It is beginning to sound like someone wants the clansmen and the villagers to hate each other. Perhaps someone is trying to provoke conflict between us. We need to go to the village and prove we are not attacking them. Too many people have died already.”

“Yeah, and my parents were right in the middle of it,” Tobal said bitterly. “It killed them and it might kill us if we are not careful. He turned to Crow who had been listening intently to Ellen’s story.

“What can you tell us about any of this? It sounds like your grandfather, Howling Wolf was as much in the middle of this as my parents and he is the only one still alive that I know of except Sarah’s father.”

“This is all new to me,” he said. But I will talk with him about it. I will return with any information I feel is important. More than ever I feel there is danger to my village and they need to be warned.”

Tobal was thankful Crow never mentioned the special training on bi-location and the secret meeting place under the waterfall. He was certain that Ellen was too.

“I’m concerned about Apprentices leaving the area and visiting the village.” Ellen told them. “We will be ordered to stop you from going there even though there are no specific guidelines preventing it. Crow seems to have found a loop hole in the system only because he is from the village himself and because it is within our area of coverage. Our orders don’t contemplate such unlikely scenarios. You need to travel as fast as you can.”

She continued, “As long as the air sleds continue to monitor your med-alert bracelets you should be alright”. She paused, “That does mean we will need to patrol further to the west then we have in the past.” She looked straight at Crow. “They are going to try to stop you from reaching the village you know.”

“I know,” he said. “It will be alright. Grandfather is expecting us.”

They left things at that and the conversation moved on. The group gradually broke up and began talking about other things. Tobal and Becca stayed together holding hands as they wandered around the group chatting with other clansmen. They slowly made their way to the beer keg where Rafe had rejoined Dirk.

Rafe and Dirk were both still on the beer task force and grumbling because they had twice the beer to brew since the reserves had been consumed at the Yule party last month. Still they were good natured about it and said they were trying a new recipe that should be quite interesting. It was just as well there was only a small group that month though. They wouldn’t be drinking quite that much.

Becca hadn’t heard about the special brew Dirk and Rafe were cooking up and didn’t really know what to think.

“When will this new beer be ready to drink,” she asked doubtfully?
“Sometime this April probably,” said Dirk chuckling. “Rafe and I both plan on being medics by then. We can administer first aid to anyone that needs it. Pump their stomach or something.”

Tobal snorted and blew beer all over.

“Hey, watch it,” Rafe complained. “It’s not that funny.”

Tobal turned to Dirk, “How did that sure thing match go?”

Dirk turned red, “Not so well.”

“He got his ass kicked.” Rafe chuckled and proudly displayed his own fifth chevron. “Some people actually win once in a while.”

Rafe ducked a playful fist that Dirk threw at him. “Now we get to see who the best man is. We’ve got a bet going on who is going to get their sixth chevron first.”

“You still fighting the girls,” Becca kidded, “or have you gotten to the big boys yet?”

Dirk got a little red but Rafe took it in stride. “I don’t have to worry about it. Everyone is still challenging me. I haven’t gotten to challenge anyone yet.” He grinned at Becca, “I would challenge you if you hurry up and train some more newbies.”

She grinned back. “Perhaps we can always arrange something unofficial.”

This was a side to Becca that Tobal hadn’t really seen before and it interested him and disturbed him at the same time. They filled their mugs and rejoined the crowd. There was a drum circle forming and the sound was deafening in the small building.

Tobal and Becca slept together that night. They cuddled for a long time and shared stories about things they had done and things they wanted to do. The energy between them was different and when Tobal asked about having sex Becca murmured “not tonight. All I really want to do is just hold you and sleep with you.”

With that cryptic answer circling in his brain they kissed, embraced and fell asleep entwined in each other.

The next morning was bright and cold and there were sun dogs circling the sun promising even colder weather. They joined their friends for breakfast and soon Becca was on her way to base camp to continue training with Loki, her third newbie and Tobal set out on the trail toward sanctuary.

As he snow-shoed toward Sanctuary and pulled his sled he wondered at the strangeness of how things had been with him and Becca last night. He had certainly not been prepared for it and didn’t really understand it. It seemed things had been all right but then again it seemed there had been something wrong.

He hoped she hadn’t changed her mind. Perhaps she was sleeping with Loki, the newbie. He instantly crushed that thought. He knew it was not true, but he just didn’t understand and because he didn’t understand he felt a little hurt. He had been expecting something like last month and it had not happened.

As he neared Sanctuary his thoughts turned to the subject at hand. He now had four chevrons with only two more before he was eligible for the Journeyman degree. As he headed toward sanctuary he felt kind of strange because Sarah had really been the last person he had trained and that had been in September and October.

He didn’t really count Crow since Crow had taught him much more than he had taught Crow. That meant he hadn’t been doing much training in four months and he was determined to get going on it again. He wanted to get this training over with and be partnered with Becca more permanently if she was still interested.

He thought of the ways he had changed in the past years and the things he had done. He had gained a reputation as a very good trainer. None of his students had any trouble soloing and their students didn’t seem to have much trouble either. At gathering and circle people came to him with questions on the best way to do things.

His opinion was respected. He was also gaining a reputation as someone that kept to himself and was hard to get to know. His closest friends continued to be Rafe, Crow, Ellen, Sarah, Melanie and now of course Becca. People liked him, his friends liked him, he was companionable but in a quiet sort of way. He didn’t have anything to prove and he didn’t show off. He was just comfortable and at ease with the situation, any situation. People respected that.

Tyrone was Tobal’s fifth trainee and the month of late January and early February went by fairly fast and uneventfully. Tyrone was a tall, wiry farm boy from the Appalachian Mountains of all places, a real honest to God hillbilly complete with a Southern Accent and an engaging smile that would drive the girls wild at circle. The training came easy to him since he was already an accomplished hunter and trapper.

The nights were long and Tyrone spent many evenings carving a fiddle and then practicing with it. He had learned the skill from his grandfather back home and Tobal watched in fascination at the precision with which the fiddle was created piece by piece and then lashed together and sealed with pitch. He had never seen anything like it and was appalled at the terrible noise it made until he got used to it.

He used to laugh when Tyrone would pull out the fiddle and start to play because the wolves would start howling to keep company. All in all Tyrone was good company and the month went rapidly. Tyrone was a natural story teller and knew how to make people laugh and Tobal laughed often. Tyrone was like the brother Tobal had always wanted.

Once Tobal asked him how he had heard of Heliopolis way in hillbilly country and Tye had thrown back his head and laughed and laughed. He stretched his long legs and shrugged.

“I never heard of it before,” he admitted. “I was trying for a city named Minneapolis and got my ticket wrong. My head never was that good with names. I knew it was cold there and didn’t give it much thought until we had to start hunting our own meat and making our own clothes. It was so much like back home that I figured something was wrong but thought I’d study on it for awhile.”

Tobal had been drinking tea and it exploded from his mouth and nose as he doubled up in laughter.

“Stop, You’re killing me,” he waved weakly at Tyrone who was doubled over laughing too.

There were melancholy times when Tobal thought back over the past year and how much he had changed. He was more resourceful and inclined to do things by himself or on his own. He didn’t care much about what other people thought. He had learned to judge people not by their appearances, but by what they did and even as important by what they didn’t do.

Almost in spite of himself he found his feelings about Becca were deepening. She down played what she did and seemed to have a quiet competence that went unremarked. She had just a hint of melancholy that matched his own. There was an emotion in his heart that stirred and sang when he was around her. As spring drew closer he found himself thinking about her more and he knew he was in love.

Late February came around as Tobal and Tyrone snow shoed their way to the gathering spot. He dropped Tyrone off with the guards to be prepared for his initiation. There were going to be three initiations that night.

Nikki had proclaimed her newbie, Bran, as ready to solo and he along with Loki and Cheryl had been examined and approved to solo by the elders. Nikki was ecstatic because the winter training had gone pretty well. She was looking forward to training her next newbie.

“Hey Tobal,” she asked, “Think I can get my six trained by mid summer? This winter training isn’t really that bad.”

“That might be cutting it kind of close,” he considered, “but go for it. I’m hoping to get mine done by May if I can.”

“By May?”

“Yeah, when the weather gets warmer I can speed the training up a bit. Or at least I hope I can. Next month will be one year for me. Rafe was finished in one year. I thought I could too but I don’t think I will be able to.”

“It’s more important to do a good job and teach properly than get done quickly,” she said.

He nodded, “I did need to spend some extra time before winter with Melanie and Sarah. I will just see how the last one goes.”

“See you later at circle?”

“Sure,” I’ll probably be with Becca if I can find her.”

He waved and headed for the food area. A quick lunch seemed in order and then helping out with some of the shelters. There were a lot more people this month and the weather was milder even though the snow was deeper.

There were some minor frostbite cases for the medics to treat but not as many as last month. It seemed people were learning they had to be careful. On the down side one of the clansmen had fallen through the ice on one of the creeks. He had managed to get out but not been able to get a fire going. He had frozen to death before the medics got to him. There were more medics at camp. They were going to have a memorial service. Angel had had found him and been unable to help. It was already too late.

The incident served to remind everyone just how fragile and dangerous it really was in the wilderness even with all the safeguards that were in place. The death put a damper on things and people were quiet.

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Soft Wind

Chill surrounds the world, and also
Chills my heart, that stares in heartache
Without tears, without a song
I sit motionless and wait.

The soft wind comes a singing,
Stroking, releasing inside and once more,
Streams glisten, tears sparkle,
And the pain becomes a song.

-Mia Holm
translated by Joe Bandel

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You have the choice of being affected by negativity or not being affected by it. Sometimes it’s hard to believe we do have this choice. When someone is pushing your buttons to get a reaction they know exactly what they are doing and we fall right into it. This is following old behavior patterns unconsciously even when we don’t want to.

When someone pushed my buttons I used to mentally tell myself that I would not loose control of myself to someone else. I would not allow someone else to yank my chain. I reasoned that if they could yank my chain that meant they had a certain amount of control over me. I was not going to allow this.

The result was a tough armor that I needed to call upon time after time. People sensed that I was blocking their attempts and tried harder. I put more armor around myself. People tried harder to push my buttons. It seemed that I was caught up in a vicious circle where I was withdrawing from human interaction.

The final result was I was left alone and lonely. Not exactly what I wanted but it was at least peaceful. After I centered myself and calmed down I was ready to start relating with people again. It was not so easy. I noticed it most with my wife. She would try to pull me into arguments. She complained that I would only relate with her when things were going well. At soon as things got bad I would emotionally leave the relationship. She wanted me to stay and confront the issues so we could work them out. I was very uncomfortable doing this. We were at a stand still.

Gradually I learned that being affected by negativity happened by not confronting it when it occurred. It was an emotional charge and if I confronted it right away I lost energy but felt better. I was a lot better off just getting it over with and moving on. When I let my wife discharge her frustration she felt better. I didn’t try running from it. A side effect was that I started expressing more of my frustration as well.

Being free to express small frustrations and negativity prevented the build up of anger and resentment that produced many of the big blow-ups. This was an important step.

Being able to armor myself was just as important. Imagine being in a restaurant or public place and someone butts in line and starts screaming at you. This is the type of negativity you can block with your armor. Don’t block the negativity from your loved ones. Try to understand it instead.

The only way you can choose is if you are capable of both options. Knowing when to accept negativity is as important as blocking it. The sharing of pain and sorrow is an important part of our important relationships. We need to be supportive of others if we want them to be supportive of us. At times this means accepting their anger and resentment.

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The mystery of the solar cycle is closely aligned with that of the lunar cycle and astrology. Perhaps it is best understood by reflecting upon the lunar cycle and it’s action of alternately expanding and compressing the earth’s astral layers.

There are eight important points in the lunar cycle. These are the new moon, 1st quarter, full moon, 3rd quarter, and the midpoints between these four when the astral layers merge together.

In like manner there are eight important points in the solar cycle. These are Spring equinox, Summer solstice, Autumn equinox, Winter solstice and the four midpoints, Beltane, lugnasadh, Samhain, and Candlemas.

In terms of the science of astrology we would call these positions respectively conjunction, upper square, opposition, lower square and the 45 degree aspects. It is interesting that the 45 degree aspect is considered the most powerful in terms of energy flow. This is because it reflects the time when the astral layers merge together.

Consideration of the gravitational effect of other planets upon the earth’s astral layers could indicate a minor influence at these particular points. The main forces would be those of the sun and the moon. These are the influences that O. A. K. considers the most important since a Magister Templi should have risen above other planetary or astrological influences.

Comparison of these eight points shows that each part of the solar cycle corresponds to a particular astral activity much as the lunar cycle does but on a larger scale.

As a cycle it may be arbitrary where to say the cycle begins and ends since it just repeats over and over again. Still it serves a purpose to have a definite starting point and ending point for discussion purposes. Because nature is eternally in balance it seems natural to pick one of the equinoxes for the starting point because the hours of daylight and darkness are equal then. The next consideration is that astral development usually precedes physical development so our choice as a starting point becomes the Autumn equinox.

The new solar cycle begins immediately after the physical harvest as the hours of daylight begin to lessen. This means that the critical and key events of the entire year until the next autumn equinox have at this time been firmly embedded within the fixed etheric levels of the Magical planes and those events will happen to us. From this point in time we are working to create the events of the after the one just about to begin, which is just less than two years away. All references to the coming year mean the year starting immediately after the next Autumn equinox.

One final note on the alchemical stages described below. It is quite possible that a person will find themselves going through one stage in terms of one part of their life and a different stage dealing with another aspect of their life. Thus in personal relationships they may be going through the lesser stages but in work they may be going through the after stages. Life is cyclical with no point where it is all finished except perhaps at death.

FESTIVAL OF PEACE

Samhain is the mid point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice and corresponds to the ACE cards in the Tarot deck. It is also related to the Festival of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady which is the final resolution of the Magical planes immediately before the winter solstice.

This period is the end of the fruiting cycle in nature and the end of autumn. It also marks the beginning of winter in terms of snow and freezing weather.

The astral activity is still on the Magical planes as the astral layers merge together. This is a symbolic joining of male and female energies as the old fruit of the past year is given to the earth in total sacrifice. It is the planting of a seed for the coming year. Your actions now determine the direction that the new year will take for you. The key physical events of your life for the current year have already been established and will happen. This final resolution period determines how well you will deal with these upcoming events. Whether they will be seen as opportunities or as difficult burdens that are almost impossible to bear. This determines what your attitude will be like when these things happen in your life this year as physical events.

This time period naturally marks the end of the crucifixion or enthronement period and the beginning of a new birth or resurrection.

In some occult traditions this marks the beginning of the initiation cycle of Earth as the probationer is granted entrance and awaits the first initiation. The Earth cycle is also the last cycle of the initiate so this time also marks the natural last initiation of the advanced initiate into the final mysteries of the Earth. The probationer will experience a new birth and the advanced initiate will experience a resurrection and lifting up as the Magical levels resolve themselves during this period concerning the projected events of the coming year.

FESTIVAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF OUR LADY

This is the time of year when those energies within the Magical planes have resolved themselves into the physical events, attitudes, and experiences for the year that we are currently experiencing leading up to the next Autumn equinox. Those events have been placed within the fixed etheric portions of the Magical planes for the year just beginning. All other energies that could not find resolution into physical events will at this time flood upward into the Spiritual planes as seed activities or events for the coming year almost two years away. They will mix with other potential events that they have affinity with as fringe activities.

In a sense it is a continuation of the merging of the levels beginning with the Festival of Peace but it continues that movement as an astral flow out of the Magical planes and into the Spiritual planes. It is marked by the new moon preceding the winter solstice.

This corresponds to the TWO cards in the Tarot.

FESTIVAL OF REBIRTH

Christmas is the winter solstice and marks the middle of winter weather and officially the beginning of winter proper as the hours of daylight begin to increase. This is the shortest day of the year. It is the middle of the germination cycle in nature and the middle of the Earth initiation.

This corresponds with the THREE cards of the Tarot and the concept of the Trinity.

The new moon preceding this period marked the resolution of astral events within the Magical planes and all unresolvable energies at that time flowed upward into the Spiritual planes to the corresponding level to be recycled. All astral activity now deals with our future long range plans for our entire lifetime and beyond.

These energies that have flowed upward from the Magical planes are seeds that we have planted for future growth and harvest after they have been recycled.

At the time of the winter solstice there is a great in pouring of spiritual love and light into the earth’s Spiritual planes. It is said that at this time God/dess sends love and light into the world for all those that will receive it. This influx of spiritual light will work its way downward through all the astral levels during the coming year.

Our astral creations in the Spiritual planes act as containers that collect and hold this energy. We are at this time each given love and light energy according to our individual capacity to hold it. This represents our major chance during the year to fill ourselves to overflowing with this energy. Our astral creations as seeds are vitalized with this spiritual energy and we experience the birth of the Christ Spirit within our soul.

There is forced growth and expansion on the individual Spiritual planes as this energy enters into us and forces the resolution of other energies one level at a time from the top downward. The levels do not merge but remain separate. Astral events are forced to merge with each other or be destroyed through this forced growth. Society is forced to accept our long range plans for our life or to destroy it. If our astral creations survive they will become critical and key points during our life time and must be allowed to happen as physical events.

It is from these astral events that we gain a full realization and experiential knowledge of what our life’s work will be. It is at this time that we can achieve this full illumination of what our true destiny will be. This is a continuation of the rebirth or resurrection process that was begun during THE FESTIVAL OF PEACE. It is the middle of the Earth initiation where the probationer prepares for the coming initiation and the advanced initiate experiences the birth of the Christ Spirit within his or her soul.

There are three stages of alchemical work that correspond to this time of year.

LESSER STAGE

This is the stage of calcination where our hopes, dreams, and inspirations are consumed in fire and burned to ashes. Our astral creations have no connection to reality and can’t possibly ever become physical so they are destroyed at this time. The Christmas season is a very bitter one for a lot of people that are experiencing life at this stage.

GREATER STAGE

During this stage we experience the coagulation and crystallization of our hopes, dreams, and inspirations. In a burst of insight and realization we understand what it is that we must do in our lives to continue our spiritual development. Death leads to life and a star is born. This is the classic Christmas story about how the Christmas Spirit can perform miracles in our lives by changing the way that we look at things. Our physical circumstances may remain the same but now we have understanding and our life becomes more meaningful.

AFTER STAGE

After the Great Work is accomplished this time of year brings exaltation, elation, joy, knowledge, and a lifting up as we experience the resurrection within our lives. We become living proof that the spiritual path is a valid one that will bring tangible rewards in our lives. We are lifted out of our problems through the action of the Christmas miracle in our lives. We experience the miraculous and our physical lives are totally turned around as are our physical circumstances.

THE FESTIVAL OF DEDICATION

Candlemas or Imbolc marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In nature it marks the end of wintry weather and the beginning of the leafing season. The Earth cycle of initiation is finished and the Water cycle of initiation is about to begin. This time of the year corresponds to the FOUR cards of the Tarot.

During this time the Spirit planes merge together moving from the top downward and resolving each level at a time. For those prepared for it this action comes as a spiritual “baptism” of the Christ Spirit and an intense realization of this Christ Spirit in our lives. It has been determined in the Spiritual planes through the resolution of forces which individuals are key persons in humanities future evolution and this Christ Spirit descends upon them and empowers their personal efforts for the coming year. It also empowers at this time the critical events of the coming year.

This is at times also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and also marks the beginning of the Ascension for those that are ready and prepared for it.

The probationer is now ready to receive the first initiation which is that of Water. This is the beginning of the initiation of Water. It also marks the end of the advanced initiate’s Earth initiation.

It is the symbolic joining of male and female energies and in nature is a time of green sprouting and rapid growth.

THE FESTIVAL OF PROMISE

This time of the year is the Spring equinox and is also linked to the following full moon and Easter. It corresponds to the FIVE cards in the Tarot. It is the official beginning of Spring but also the middle of the leafing season and the middle of the Water initiation.

All of the levels of the Spirit planes experience forced growth and expansion to full size at this time. Our spiritual “baptism” or Ascension begun in the Festival of Dedication continues and that spiritual energy given us forces our long range goals into view. At this time we are given great visions of our future and hope that we may achieve our desires. Society is forced to accept our future plans and alter itself accordingly level by individual level.

Being granted a clear vision of our future inspires us to begin our spiritual quest in earnest. We start by learning to master our emotions and our love. There are three alchemical stages that correspond naturally to this time of the year.

LESSER STAGE

This is the alchemical stage of Solution where the ashes are dissolved into a liquid form by the addition of this spiritual energy. The missing details and hidden aspects of our future life are filled in so that it becomes capable of becoming physical reality. Our wishes, dreams, and inspirations are brought into awareness and we struggle to discover some way of making them realistic. We do this with the help of the spiritual energy that we have received.

GREATER STAGE

At this stage our wishes, dreams, and inspirations are seen as potential parts of humanities and our own future. We nourish and feed these astral creations with our love. They grow more and more glorious as they develop and move downward into the fixed etheric regions of the Spiritual planes. These begin to take the final forms that they will have in physical reality.

AFTER STAGE

This is the stage of multiplication and propagation. In the Spiritual planes our life’s work is fully created and set out before us. Now the implications of that life’s work begin to show up as our future life acts as an anchor point and catalyst for key events in humanity’s future. Ripples of influence spread out in all directions in a willingly creative act that multiplies itself and it’s love. The act of giving love multiplies that love and increases its fire. Astral events have reached a point where the momentum has built up enough to be self- sustaining.

THE FESTIVAL OF UNIFICATION

Beltane marks the midpoint between the Spring equinox and the Summer solstice. It signals the end of the leafing season in nature and the beginning of the flowering season. It also marks the end of the Water initiation and the beginning of the Air initiation. This time of year corresponds to the SIX card of the Tarot.

The astral levels are merging during this time on the Spiritual planes. Our “baptism” or Ascension is at an end and our future is secured. As the levels merge there is an outpouring of love upon the entire world. They merge from the top downward and the resolution of these energies acts as a spiritual blessing on those whose life is affected in their downward movement. These Key events cast ripples of cause and effect onto the entire world. It marks the beginning of the Transfiguration or the Unification on our lives if we are prepared for it.

This is a symbolic joining of male and female energies in a spiritual marriage of unity, fertilization, and blessing. Nature rejoices in a flowering growth as life matures and comes of age. Everything holds a promise of the bright future that lies ahead.

The key events of our lives for the coming year are at this time embedded in the fixed etheric levels of the Spiritual planes and the energy within them reaches a climax during the following full moon known as the Christ Festival as that energy rushes downward into the corresponding astral events within the Magical planes. This energy is preparing those key events in advance and happens before astral activity in the Magical planes is fully operational. These key events get a head start to ensure that they will come into being as physical events.

FESTIVAL OF JOY

The Summer solstice marks the middle of the flowering season and the middle of the Air initiation. While the official beginning of summer it is also the longest day of the year and marks the shortening of daylight hours. This time corresponds to the EIGHT cards of the Tarot.

The Christ Festival of the full moon immediately preceding this corresponds to the SEVEN cards of the Tarot. At that time key events and individuals in the Magical planes received a down pouring of spiritual energy from the Spiritual planes to ensure that they would become physical reality.

Now at the time of the Summer solstice all astral activity takes place on the Magical planes. There is forced expansion at all levels of the Magical planes to ensure that the harvest will be complete. In nature the flowers mature at their full size.

From a spiritual perspective this is the time when light pours into the minds of men and they are able to perceive clearly and understand truly. They are given illuminations and clear vision concerning the important affairs in their lives.

There are three alchemical stages that correspond to this time of year.

LESSER STAGE

This is the stage of separation and distillation. The process of analysis and extraction divides the subtle from the gross and we can see for the first time the unrealistic aspects of our hopes, wishes, and dreams. We can see what we are doing wrong and also what we are doing right. We gain personal understandings of ourselves that helps us to be more effective.

GREATER STAGE

Here is the stage of sublimation and vaporizing. Here we attempt to transform our lives into something higher and more refined. We receive illuminations and new insights that transfigure our understanding and we see things in a new way. We gain understanding of what we must do to achieve the things we want in life.

AFTER STAGE

This is the alchemical stage of projection and the proving of the perfect. Here we have become a catalyst to others. By casting forth our light or wisdom into the world we transmute all that we touch into spiritual gold. By being ourselves we help others to progress on the spiritual path.

FESTIVAL OF TRANSFORMATION

Lugnasadh marks the mid point between the Summer solstice and the Autumn equinox. In nature it is the end of the flowering season and the beginning of the fruiting season. In like manner it marks the end of the Air initiation and the beginning of the Fire initiation. It corresponds with the NINE cards of the Tarot.

It is at this point that the levels of the Magical planes begin to merge together from the top downward. The resolution of each level will bring about the final physical harvest at it’s conclusion. We also receive the first fruits of our labors at this time. The final events of the coming year beginning with the nearby Autumn equinox are at this time being resolved through our actions. We are impelled at this time to do those things that are physically important to us in the astral creation of our future life beginning with the next Autumn equinox that is fast approaching. We are rushing to finalize the important and critical events before it is too late to change them.

This is the symbolic joining of male and female energies that leads to the crowning with the Christ Light of the Initiate and Priest-King. This brings also the astral creation on the Magical planes of the Priest-King’s entire future life time. The key events of the entire life have with this crowning entered into the Magical planes to gradually find their way into physical manifestation as well as the key events for the coming year. At this time the Priest-King’s life is surrendered in service to those that recognize him.

FESTIVAL OF CONSUMMATION

This relates to the TEN cards in the Tarot deck. This is the Solar Festival of Consummation and a full harvest of what has gone before. Here we achieve the natural results of our labor for the past year. The seeds we have planted have given the full physical results and we receive that which we have earned. This time brings us either crucifixion or enthronement. There are no more alterations of this years coming events. They are now permanently set within the fixed etheric levels of the Magical planes and programmed to become physical reality throughout the year. Instead the focus is now once more upon the year after this one, the one that is almost two years away.

This time period is linked to the first full moon after the equinox and involves a forced expansion on all levels of the Magical planes. At this time the Magical planes are swelling with energy as all true initiates use this energy as a light for others. This is where spiritual understanding is put into action to achieve physical results.

In occult traditions this is the time of year when the initiation into the mysteries of fire takes place. There are three stages of the alchemical process that naturally occur during this time of year.

LESSER STAGE

This is the alchemical stage of conjunction and putrefaction. This is where high spiritual expectations merge forcefully with physical reality and die because they are not realistic. This energetic union between subtle and gross is called the Chymical Wedding. The resulting death of ideals as they rot into blackness create what is known as the FIRST MATTER.

GREATER STAGE

This is the stage of fermentation and leavening. Here there is a general stirring up and excitation that enters into our lives. We attempt to put our thoughts into action to achieve physical results. We try to give service and help others to grow spiritually. This is also where we experience the creation of the”soul body” when we are ready for that experience.

AFTER STAGE

This is when we naturally experience the physical harvest, the completion, glorification, and Sabbath of the Great Work. This reflects the causal link between the astral and physical reality made manifest for the first time in our lives as physical results.

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The Princess of Wands contains the essential elements of the Tarot Trump cards THE EMPRESS, HIEROPHANT, CHARIOT, THE LOVERS, THE HERMIT, and THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE.

THE Princess is also related to the ACE of Wands, ACE of Pentacles, TWO of Wands, TWO of Pentacles, THREE of Wands and THREE of Pentacles. Her Element is Fire.

The Princess of Wands contains all things within her and is a mirror that accurately reflects the unseen worlds. She is very intuitive and able to perceive things the way they really are. She has a strong sense of being part of the entire universe. She knows she belongs and is happy in that knowing.

She has true vision into astral events and is a natural psychic. She enjoys ideas and abstract thoughts. She reads lots of books and is good at planning things. Her basic outlook on life is set in stone and she will resist all attempts to change the things she believes in. She is extremely opinionated and strong willed.

The Princess of Wands has a deep ability to love that can overcome all obstacles. She has strong bones and nervous system and has the ability to think imaginatively and creatively about things. She enjoys the fine arts and good music.
You might recognize her as someone you have seen at the library or the local art store. Perhaps you have seen her art or heard her music. One thing is certain, she is an artist and loves the fine arts.

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