Who says I lose time? Moi? Well, it's actually true; I spend a lot of time keeping up with my doctoral classes online, and then trying to keep up with everything else afterward. Since I work at night a lot, that means that days tend to flow together a bit. Oh, well, temporal stability is overrated.
I was thinking again today about our tendency to fixate on our physical bodies here on Earth. While it is true that we incarnate to learn the lessons that physicality can teach us, the larger part of who we are remains energetic, spiritual, and more. Through the extent of our energy fields in both time and space, we link with everyone with whom we have interacted, no matter how superficially, in this life and in all other lives. Consider it an aspect of the Great Web of Life, or the Tapestry of History.
Ever wondered what happens to those threads the Fates spin, measure, and cut? Energy is neither created nor destroyed, those threads must go somewhere! My sense of things is that Athena, Neith, and all the other weaver-goddesses, take our threads and weave them into the infinite loom of existence. Knowing where we are at a particular place and time—now, for instance—gives us a starting point to flow through the web and see those many connections we have with all living beings.
I use a meditative device to prepare my consciousness for such a journey. I begin by breathing in, then visualizing opening my root chakra on the out breath. Next in breath, I flow the energy up my spine, and open the sacral chakra, then the solar chakra on the out breath. Next in breath, I open the heart chakra, then the throat chakra, then the 3rd eye, and finally my crown chakra. I use the next in-and-out breath to extend my energy awareness above and below my body, anchoring myself in the center of the Earth, and in Infinity out to space. (You can use the center of the galaxy, if that has more meaning to you.)
Once I've established the infinite extension of my energies in the long direction, I bring my awareness back into my heart chakra, then extend my energies out to infinity to the left and right on the next out breath. Back to the heart chakra, and extend my energies to infinity forward and backward on the next out breath. Then I use my breath to circulate the energy in all directions, visualizing myself connected with all time and all space.
You can draw the energy sphere back down close to your body for personal protection, or to feel layers in your own energy field. However, once I've made the connection to the infinite sphere, I shift my attention to my place in the moment as a crossing point in the Web of Life. From this perspective, I can see threads of connection going off in all directions, and can choose to follow them, or can send out a blessing or vibration of Peace to everyone through those connections. That energy then flows outward to everyone everywhere—and since I am connected to the energy of Infinity, there is no loss of energy for me as an individual.
Like yoga, it takes a bit of practice to coordinate the visual elements of this with the flow of breath, and you may have a technique you like better. Just remember that you can always send love, peace, and harmonious blessings outward throughout the Cosmic Web whenever you choose to visualize the infinite Now.
Blessing to all of you,
Michael
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Happy Solstice!
I've decided to create this blog post as a method of presenting insights, thoughts, and teachings on the Goddess, the Gods, and ancient and modern religions from my Temple and Lyceum of Isis of the Stars. Since my home is in foreclosure, my physical temple will have to be moved soon, thus having a blog space lets me remain in virtual existence while in transit.
I have been a priest of Isis since 1994, ordained in the Fellowship of Isis by Lady Lilit of the Lyceum of Isis of Philae. Although I began my studies of shamanism and paganism with the Celtic and Norse deities (my ancestral groups), my call to priesthood came clearly from Isis. My first thought was, "Oh, no, not the Egyptians! They're too weird." Oh, well, I've learned (or relearned) a lot since then. :-)
During my priesthood studies, I received additional calls from two more Egyptian Goddesses, Bast and Nuit. At my ordination, I dedicated my service to Isis (for healing), to Bast (for creativity), and to Nuit (for wisdom). The hard part was keeping it down to three Goddesses, as the Ordination Rite Lady Olivia Robertson created for the FOI required. By the time I completed my initiation and got ordained, I had also received strong calls from Brighid (Celtic), Odin (Norse), and Hera (Greek). I have continued to interact with and learn from the Gods and Goddesses of many different cultures, and my temple has altars to their many forms and perspectives.
I've also studied a number of modern religions; I'm what social psychologists term a "questor" when it comes to religion. From my studies, ancient and modern, I've found that most religions have many precepts in common, such as an orientation toward peace, community with our fellow beings, promoting tolerance and love, charity toward others, and a mindful attitude toward the world around us. The Great Teachers all give us the same message, whether it is Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, or others: Love one another as you would be loved.
I grew up during the Feminist Revolution of the 70s, and saw considerable need for re-imaging the Feminine Face of the Divine. I also saw a great need to counter the antagonistic behaviors promoted by followers of various patriarchal religions; the only True Way is that there is no one, true way. We are present in body in this lifetime to learn the lessons our soul has chosen for us, whatever those may be, and from whomever those may come, without closing ourselves into a box and turning out the lights! Instead of finding ways to see how we are all different, I have chosen to look at the ways that we are the same. And that is the attitude I encourage in those who study with me.
I say this as both a teacher and a student; I learn as much from everyone with whom I come in contact as they do from me. I make no claims to "knowing it all." I just "know it some." But I have studied widely, through many cultures, and thought deeply about what the Divine is, and what our relationship to the Divine may be. I hope you will enjoy these discussions!
I have been a priest of Isis since 1994, ordained in the Fellowship of Isis by Lady Lilit of the Lyceum of Isis of Philae. Although I began my studies of shamanism and paganism with the Celtic and Norse deities (my ancestral groups), my call to priesthood came clearly from Isis. My first thought was, "Oh, no, not the Egyptians! They're too weird." Oh, well, I've learned (or relearned) a lot since then. :-)
During my priesthood studies, I received additional calls from two more Egyptian Goddesses, Bast and Nuit. At my ordination, I dedicated my service to Isis (for healing), to Bast (for creativity), and to Nuit (for wisdom). The hard part was keeping it down to three Goddesses, as the Ordination Rite Lady Olivia Robertson created for the FOI required. By the time I completed my initiation and got ordained, I had also received strong calls from Brighid (Celtic), Odin (Norse), and Hera (Greek). I have continued to interact with and learn from the Gods and Goddesses of many different cultures, and my temple has altars to their many forms and perspectives.
I've also studied a number of modern religions; I'm what social psychologists term a "questor" when it comes to religion. From my studies, ancient and modern, I've found that most religions have many precepts in common, such as an orientation toward peace, community with our fellow beings, promoting tolerance and love, charity toward others, and a mindful attitude toward the world around us. The Great Teachers all give us the same message, whether it is Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, or others: Love one another as you would be loved.
I grew up during the Feminist Revolution of the 70s, and saw considerable need for re-imaging the Feminine Face of the Divine. I also saw a great need to counter the antagonistic behaviors promoted by followers of various patriarchal religions; the only True Way is that there is no one, true way. We are present in body in this lifetime to learn the lessons our soul has chosen for us, whatever those may be, and from whomever those may come, without closing ourselves into a box and turning out the lights! Instead of finding ways to see how we are all different, I have chosen to look at the ways that we are the same. And that is the attitude I encourage in those who study with me.
I say this as both a teacher and a student; I learn as much from everyone with whom I come in contact as they do from me. I make no claims to "knowing it all." I just "know it some." But I have studied widely, through many cultures, and thought deeply about what the Divine is, and what our relationship to the Divine may be. I hope you will enjoy these discussions!
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