Quote of Note: Abraham

Many people speak of unconditional love but rarely live it. Instead, when they see a condition that causes them to feel negative emotions, they demand a change in the condition; but in doing so, they set themselves on a long and uncomfortable path of attempting to control others in order to feel good.

When controlling others is necessary in order for you to feel good, you must confine yourself to a very small world over which you can gain control, and then you must give more time and energy than you possess to this impossible effort.

–The Teachings of Abraham in the book The Astonishing Power of Emotions by Esther and Jerry Hicks

Neo-Conservatives/Christ-Cons may not be the only who “attempt to control others in order to feel good,” but they’ve certainly been the most visible. They’ve been losing the Culture Wars for decades by refusing to recognize the truth in the statements above. Until they replace their dogged determination to control with completely unconditional love, they will continue to experience anger, sorrow, and fear as they watch the world progress beyond their subjective views of morality.

Women will never lose the right to choose. State legislatures will continue to recognize equal rights for lesbians and gays. The world will never work exactly how the Neo-Cons think it should (thank God). When they accept these things and recognize that the doctrine they follow is just as fallible as they are, maybe then they’ll emerge from their “very small worlds” and turn their focus to living their own lives.

Book Club’s next title: The Astonishing Power of Emotions

Please join us at A Novel Paradigm beginning Wednesday April 22nd for the discussion of Esther and Jerry Hicks’ The Astonishing Power of Emotions.

Click here for a synopsis.

Book Club’s next title announced Monday April 13th

Are your batteries running low? Finding yourself knee-deep in the muck of present day? Please join us for the reading and discussion of books that inspire and empower at A Novel Paradigm! 

There’s still time to cast your vote or share your suggestions for our next title, which will be announced April 13th. We’ll begin reading and discussion the following Monday, April 20th.

Hope to see you there!

A little humor! The REAL definition of Passover

Clever Secret Muslim Obama Throws White House Seder To Throw Birthers Off Scent of Truth

The (Christian) sky is falling?!

Both the Christian and secular media worlds are ablaze as Jon Meacham’s article The End of Christian America makes its rounds.

From the blogosphere this morning:

Well, I thought of the wrath God must feel for those arrogant blasphemers who reject His law and I also thought about how righteous His judgement will be.

–Shotgun Smith on his response to “some woman in Australia who thought that the death of Christianity was undoubtedly a good thing.”

Easy there, turbo. I’m guessing you didn’t read the entire article, as I suspect many of your Christian brethren won’t. To say the article is about the “death of Christianity” is incorrect and a bit pessimistic.

From page 36: “Let’s be clear: while the percentage of Christians may be shrinking, rumors of the death of Christianity are greatly exaggerated.”

The article actually discusses the decline of Christianity in our country and theorizes that this has occurred due to the lack of distinction between church and state.

While arguing that the influence of either too much secularism or too much religion creates imbalance in the political system, Meacham reminds the reader that “As crucial as religion has been and is to the life of the nation, America’s unifying force has never been a specific faith, but a commitment to freedom – not least freedom of conscience.” In simpler terms, our Founding Fathers neither envisioned nor intended to create America as a strictly Christian Nation, but rather as one in which each citizen had freedom and liberty.

I infer from this that the author sees a correlation between Christianity’s decline and how religious conservatives have long used politics to force their morals and values on the public. It’s easy to see why secular society, resenting attempts by Christian political leaders to forcibly remove Constitutional liberties (a woman’s right to choose, the right of same-sex couples to wed, the need for stem cell research funding, etc.) would want to distance itself from Christianity.

I also speculate that though they may never realize it, the Christ-Con’s sole saving grace is their failure to accomplish their over-arching aim: to rebuild the bulwark of 1950’s Christian America. Had they succeeded in stamping out all beliefs and practices that don’t coincide with their own, it wouldn’t be long before another group rose to power and did the same to them. And schadenfreude aside, that would be a bad for us all.

 

Oppression of anyone is oppression of everyone.
–Stevie Wonder

The power of laughter in the face of the absurd

The wise have long attested to the power of laughter to strengthen the spirit and dissolve negativity.

Have a look at these, then have a good laugh.

And the Christ-Cons wonder why:

 

Video source: YouTube via Blueollie

More on Sowulo and its shadow (Sowilo, Sowelu)

A Novel Paradigm, the fledgling online book discussion group I facilitate, is currently reading Living with Joy by Sanaya Roman. Two passages in Chapter 5 describe each aspect of the rune Sowulo uncannily well. The first describes the “bright side” of the rune:

When you feel strong and in charge of your life, you can come from the heart.

And the second describes Sowulo’s shadow side:

When you feel lacking in control you may feel you must manipulate or engage in power struggles to get what you want. You may think you have to make excuses for your behavior or tell white lies to protect other people’s feelings.

Which of the body’s energy centers (chakras) comes into play when we “engage in power struggles?” The third, or solar plexus chakra, which is the energetic equivalent of Sowulo in our physical and spiritual energy systems.

More on Sowulo at Under a Violet Sun:

Sowulo’s Merkstave?
Sowulu, converse
Daily Rune: Sowulo

Free psychic readings return

I’m currently offering one free reading per week here at Under a Violet Sun. Please see this page to learn how you can participate.

Bright Blessings,

Jerome

Keep your religion off my body, please

Iowa is now the third state in the U.S. to affirm the basic human dignity of committed lesbian and gay couples by recognizing their right to marry. Iowa Supreme Court Justice Mark Cady deserves commendation at the highest level for recognizing and acting upon the need to strengthen the separation between church and state.

The beauty and sanctity of religion is diminished when it’s used to hurt people. Until they “get” this, evangelical Christians will continue to witness an exodus from their ranks and the crumbling of their antiquated institution.

How would Jesus feel about these signs? Would he agree they further his messages of love, charity, and forgiveness? I doubt it, somehow.

Source: The Des Moines Register

Sowulo’s Merkstave? – The dark side of the Sun (Sowelu, Sowilo)

Sowilo by artist Tom Waters (used with permission)

Sowulo and six of the other twenty-four Elder Futhark runes have no reverse position, or Merkstave. This does not mean they are simpler than the other seventeen, nor that their most commonly accepted meanings should be taken for granted.  There is another side to these seven - a ”shadow” which the experienced diviner or astute student can draw much meaning from.

Today we’ll discuss the shadow side of Sowulo.

Though not yet proven by science, human beings require sustenance of spirit in addition to that provided by food, water, and air. Some get this from the higher realms – some get this from people and things in the world around them. The former is the essence of Sowulo; the latter is the essence of Sowulo’s shadow.

Do you seek wholeness from within, or do you look to other people, addictions, and/or material things to make you whole? Those who take the latter path (one many of us have travelled at some point in our lives) often become controlling or bullying, manipulative, emotionally needy, chemically dependent, and/or materialistic. They do whatever is necessary externally to feel whole and worthy, even if this means hurting themselves and others in the process.

Contrary to societal teachings, no person or possession has the power to make us whole. Sowulo’s shadow reminds us that true, sustainable wholeness can only come from within.

More on Sowulo can be found here.

The stunning depiction of Sowulo above originally appeared in the post Rune Magic at Tom Waters’ blog, Starweaver’s Corner.