Posts Tagged ‘culture’

Some time ago, I was sifting through my box of notes and papers collected over the years, and among all the documents and media cuttings, I found a list which describes the symbolic meaning of various colored feathers. Finding the list was a lucky coincidence. Or was it?

My husband and I live in a rural area outside a small town in South Eastern Spain. The people here are very friendly. Yet, without intending any disrespect, it is unlike many beautiful Spanish towns. I guess you could say that ours is somewhat soulless? It certainly is devoid of much in the way of any natural beauty, or cultural architecture. Another thing we don’t see much of either, is bird life.

More recently, I was thinking hard about an upsetting situation, while leaving the town hall. The outlook of the problem I was dealing with seemed bleak. But, as I left the building and turned a corner, I looked down and there was a beautiful snow white feather! A sign, or another coincidence? Read the rest of this entry »

The difference between being alone and feeling lonely can be a fairly mixed concept.

After my youngest daughter left home, I certainly had a case of the ’empty nest syndrome’ for a short period of time. I chided myself, for I felt the same way when my oldest daughter moved out. I had that feeling of ‘someone was missing’ and ‘nothing is the same.’ However, this time it was different, for it dawned on me that I had never lived alone before.

I began noticing the difference between my awareness that I was alone, and feelings of loneliness. Read the rest of this entry »

In today’s society people often view acceptance as resignation, giving up, cowardice, retreat, or other unappealing descriptive words. The society that worships, praises, and publicizes Yang energy, the energy of ‘doing,’ typically has little understanding for the power of Yin. Yin energy imagines, envisions, perceives. Yang manifests. We need both.

Yin is a warrior’s path. It is the path of acceptance, before reaction. As an example, the martial art Aikido is defined as a way of unifying with life energy or “moving Zen,” or as “the Way of harmonious spirit.” Aikido is an art that practitioners use to defend themselves, while also protecting their attacker from injury. Read the rest of this entry »

Seeing the world through glittering eyes is no longer a walk in the park for the spiritual optimist. There is such a lack of awe these days; so little wonder.

Our society has successfully stripped itself of most of its metaphysical marvels. Yet, magic prevails everywhere for those who still seek to find it. Despite our cynical age of scientific skepticism, techno-futurism and neo-draconian politics, the mystical and miraculous continues to endure in the hearts and minds of those who choose to believe.

I have seen evidence of this everyday magic in my work with many people all over the world, as well as upon many of my travels. I have known it in the devoted spiritual practices and manifesting projects of my clients. I have observed it in the heroic metaphysical endeavors and healing miracles of my colleagues. And I have even witnessed it at almost every birthday party I have ever attended. Yes, most of us have at some point in our lives whispered a silent wish over the candles on a cake! Read the rest of this entry »

To understand spirituality, it is important to go back to the fundamentals. It need not be overly complicated. Simplicity is recommended. I have noted that when trying to discern or understand complex systems or ideas, really what is most needed are only a few foundational aspects. It is really that easy.

For one, we have a few inherent principles in religion that are structurally similar throughout history. This can be seen in the way they are written, starting from the cuneiform alphabet, to the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, and Asia, with these tenets being spread all across the continents as the cultures migrated and merged. Read the rest of this entry »

Friends, as opposed to acquaintances or associates, are a rare find. We are typically a society of users and takers, where social networking has erroneously become synonymous with friendship. In fact, friendship and networking has very little in common.

As children of the Information Age, we have become acculturated to disconnection as a norm, merely using each other and calling it friendship when it is mutually beneficial, and calling it a variety of unsavory names when it is not mutually beneficial.  Friendship for business and networking is quite different from true friendship. Read the rest of this entry »

You don’t have to be a geologist or gemstone expert to experience the magic of working with crystals and gemstones. Many of us light up when you mention the magic of crystals and gemstones, and we usually have a story to share about a particular stone we own or carry on us for specific intentions, healing, added strength, or protection.

How do the crystals and gemstones work for you? Well, in many magical ways. When you’re drawn to a particular stone, whether it’s the color, texture, shape, or other qualities, the attraction you feel to it is the first stage in the magical process. This attraction is actually the stone’s way of calling you to it, to make contact. Sometimes a stone can be gifted to you by someone, or one way or another just makes its way into your hands. The circumstances upon which you found it, or perhaps how it found you, is just the beginning of a new and magical relationship. Read the rest of this entry »

Many industrialized nations place a great deal of emphasis on being special and getting noticed. These days you can become a celebrated just for existing in the public eye, such as Paris Hilton and the Kardashian family.

Many people would never admit they have this desire or need; many do not notice how ingrained this is in the culture of our society. Yet, many people get psychic and spiritual readings, because they want to be told about their Mission, Purpose or Special Gifts. Many people I work with also have an unbelievable plethora of undefined and persistent physical and psychological ailments that disappear when the person gets busy, or starts being of real service to others.

This leads me to wonder if an egocentric existence, promoted by the mainstream media and bought by the consumer, isn’t one of our primary ailments. Is it not making many of us prime targets for inflated self-importance and grandiosity? Read the rest of this entry »