traditions
The History Of The Ouija Board
In my opinion the Ouija board is actually not a modern invention. The original concept of the board probably dates back to ancient Babylonian and Egyptian times. I imagine those who were familiar with the mysteries, made their own boards using clay tablets and a pendulum to collect information on just about any subject.
The Ouija board we know today was introduced in the late 1840s when Spiritualism became popular among occultists and secret societies. It was initially more complex, because their methods would involve knocking on the floor in response to letters being called out from the alphabet. Or they would use an intricate device that would have a pencil attached to it, allowing the spirits to guide the inquirer to the letters or numbers on the board.
In 1890, Charles Kennard and some of his colleagues, had the idea to turn this divination tool into a toy. They came up with the name Ouija, because it means “good luck” in Kemetic, the oldest known Egyptian language.
The Magic Of The Plant Kingdom
I recently enrolled in a course to become professional herbalist. Herbs are something I’ve always been interested in. I wouldn’t say I have a green thumb for growing plants and gardening, but I certainly do love immersing myself with the herbs. I love combining them with oils, making tinctures and herbal remedies, and doing all of this in a magical setting with candles and other healing modalities.
One of my herbalist instructors said something that stands out for me. She said that you don’t need to be a great gardener, farmer, or botanist to be an herbalist. She went on to say that many of her greatest students and graduates have been urban dwellers who live in big cities. Rather than growing and harvesting their own herbs, they purchase them from trusted suppliers, both locally and online.
Do You Also Remember Atlantis?
Are you an Atlantean? Since I was quite young, I have been able to remember some of my past lives. I was raised by atheist parents, so I didn’t call them past lives, since I had never heard that phrase before. I called them ‘the other times.’
In one such other time, I was an Atlantean. I have met many Atlanteans on my path in this life. Are you one of them? I remember being always dressed in white, like everyone else there (just like I do now as Kundalini Yoga instructor). White is cleansing and represents purity. More importantly, white deflects negative energy. Black absorbs it.
I have noticed, as technology began to evolve more in recent years, especially since 2000, that I became more nervous, because I remember how technology destroyed Atlantis. Technology is meant to be a good thing, but how it used is a potential danger.
We Are All Equally Spiritual
There is so much terminology and discussion about what it means to be ‘spiritual.’ There are both religious and other esoteric practices that people use, and entire languages developed around spirituality. While I personally believe that much of this is good, it can also often lead to things like elitism and greater polarization of people and groups.
So, the question today is: what does it mean to be spiritual? The answer is far simpler than some might believe, simply because of the original meaning of the term ‘spirit.’
In the Western world much of our religious tradition comes from Greek or Hebrew esoteric writings. In Greek the term for spirit is pneuma, and in Hebrew it is ruach. These are transliterations of the original words.
The Power Of Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini is known as the Energy Yoga which empowers us to release any stagnant energy sitting at the base of our spine, which is connected to the chakra system. When we are feeling anger or fear, Kundalini Yoga can release this tension with quick movements. The intention is to let go.
Typically, more sedate forms of the Yoga discipline is promoted in modern day practice, which tend to focus on deep breathing, flexibility and stretching of the muscles and joints. Kundalini is the polar opposite of this approach. It combines meditation with cardiovascular and muscle strength building exercises.
There is a major caution with this kind of Yoga, since it is best to avoid it if you have any serious back, brain, neck or shoulder conditions. Also, do not do Kundalini if your pregnant, unless the session is specifically geared towards this under the guidance of a reputable teacher. Always consult with a doctor if your unsure and be aware of what your body can do and can’t do in the present moment.
Crystal Singing Bowls
Crystal singing bowls, not to be confused with their similar cousins Tibetan prayer bowls, are made from various kinds of quartz crystal, or fossilized water. If one considers that a large percentage of our bodies also consist of water, it’s easy to see why crystal bowls can create a deeper resonance within us, compared to bowls made from other materials.
In our busy world it’s easy to ignore pure, natural sound – which is one of many benefits of crystal singing bowls. Cultures around the world have known for millennia about the therapeutic properties of music, and more specifically, unique notes or tones. In some Hindu and Buddhist traditions it is believed that the Universe begins and ends with the sacred sound Om.
Has Your Astrological Sign Changed?
Reports have been circulating in the media that scientists discovered that everyone’s zodiac sign has changed, due to a permanent shift in the constellations. The truth is this theory has actually been around since the mid-90’s, and has been causing quite a stir in metaphysical circles ever since.
A scientific study that measured the shift in the Earth’s axis (called the wobble) cites that the constellations are no longer moving in sync with the ancient dates and astrological positions originally assigned to signs of the zodiac in early times. This cast a lot of doubt and has been confusing people as to just what their actual sign might be. Of course, it also gave eager skeptics one more reason to point out why astrological practices aren’t valid.
Unfortunately, the scientists and skeptics who promote these claims base their entire theory on a misconception about how the signs of the zodiac came into being, and what they are really based on. In truth, the signs, degrees and divisions of the zodiac have no connection to the heavenly constellations that bear their same names.
The zodiac signs were originally assigned to an ‘elliptical belt’ that surrounds the earth based on the seasons of the year, rather than the stars above. An easier way to understand this is to remember that our seasons start on the first day the Sun enters a particular sign. The first day of Spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) corresponds to the onset of Aries; Summer to the first day of Cancer; Autumn to the first day of Libra; and Winter to the first day of Capricorn. Continue reading