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Blessing on this Veterans' Day

Beloved Mother Goddess, Beloved Father God, We ask for blessings on all those who have served their country in the armed forces.
We ask for healing for the veterans who have been wounded, in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe.
We pray for those with injured bodies and traumatized spirits. Bring solace to them. May we pray for them when they cannot pray.
Bring peace to all veterans' hearts and peace to the regions they fought in.
Bless all the soldiers who served in any manner. May their calling to serve continue in their lives in many positive ways.
Give us all creative vision to see a world that, growing weary with fighting, moves to affirming the life of every human being and so moves beyond war.
So mote it be!

 

 

A Folded Napkin

The Folded Napkin ... A Truckers Story (as told to me by an anonymous source)

I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and wasn't sure I wanted one. I wasn't sure how my customers would react to Stevie. He was short, a little dumpy with the smooth facial features and thick-tongued speech of Downs Syndrome.

I wasn't worried about most of my trucker customers because truckers don't generally care who buses tables as long as the meatloaf platter is good, and the pies are homemade. The four-wheeler drivers were the ones who concerned me; the mouthy college kids traveling to school; the yuppie snobs who secretly polish their silverware with their napkins for fear of catching some dreaded "truck stop germ" the pairs of white-shirted business men on expense accounts who think every truck stop waitress wants to be flirted with. I knew those people would be uncomfortable around Stevie so I closely watched him for the first few weeks.

I shouldn't have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my truck regulars had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot. After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. All the salt and pepper shakers were exactly in place, not a bread crumb or coffee spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table.

Our only problem was persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were finished. He would hover in the background, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, scanning the dining room until a table was empty. Then he would scurry to the empty table and carefully bus dishes and glasses onto cart and meticulously wipe the table up with a practiced flourish of his rag. If he thought a customer was watching, his brow would pucker with added concentration. He took pride in doing his job exactly right, and you had to love how hard he tried to please every person he met.

Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was disabled after repeated surgeries for cancer. They lived on their Social Security benefits in public housing two miles from the truck stop. Their social worker, who stopped to check on him every so often, admitted they had fallen between the cracks. Money was tight, and what I paid him was probably the difference between them being able to live together and Stevie being sent to a group home. That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place that morning last August, the first morning in three years that Stevie missed work.

He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a new valve or something put in his heart. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome often have heart problems at an early age so this wasn't unexpected, and there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and be back at work in a few months.

A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine. Frannie, the head waitress, let out a war hoop and did a little dance in the aisle when she heard the good news. Bell Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at the sight of this 50-year-old grandmother of four doing a victory shimmy beside his table. Frannie blushed, smoothed her apron and shot Belle Ringer a withering look.

He grinned. "OK, Frannie, what was that all about?" he asked.

"We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay."

"I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was the surgery about?"

Frannie quickly told Bell Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it is." Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Frannie hurried off to wait on the rest of her tables.

 Since I hadn't had time to round up a busboy to replace Stevie and really didn't want to replace him, the girls were busing their own tables that day until we decided what to do. After the morning rush, Frannie walked into my office. She had a couple of paper napkins in her hand and a funny look on her face.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I didn't get that table where Bell Ringer and his friends were sitting cleared off after they left, and Pony Pete and Tony Tipper were sitting there when I got back to clean it off," she said. "This was folded and tucked under a coffee cup."

She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something  For Stevie.

Pony Pete asked me what that was all about," she said, "so I told him about Stevie and his Mom and everything, and Pete looked at Tony and Tony looked at Pete, and they ended up giving me this." She handed me another paper napkin that had "Something For Stevie" scrawled on its outside. Two $50 bills were tucked within its folds.

Frannie looked at me with wet, shiny eyes, shook her head and said simply: "truckers."

That was three months ago. Today is Thanksgiving, the first day Stevie is supposed to be back to work. His placement worker said he's been counting the days until the doctor said he could work, and it didn't matter at all that it was a holiday. He called 10 times in the past week, making sure we knew he was coming, fearful that we had forgotten him or that his job was in jeopardy.

I arranged to have his mother bring him to work. I then met them in the parking lot and invited them both to celebrate his day back. Stevie was thinner and paler but couldn't stop grinning as he pushed through the doors and headed for the back room where his apron and busing cart were waiting.

“Hold up there, Stevie, not so fast," I said. I took him and his mother by their arms. "Work can wait for a minute. To celebrate you coming back, breakfast for you and your mother is on me!"

I led them toward a large corner booth at the rear of the room. I could feel and hear the rest of the staff following behind as we marched through the dining room. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw booth after booth of grinning truckers empty and join the procession. We stopped in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups, saucers and dinner plates, all sitting slightly crooked on dozens of folded paper napkins.

"First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess," I said. I tried to sound stern. Stevie looked at me, and then at his mother, then pulled out one of the napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table.

Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath the tableware, each with his name printed or scrawled on it. I turned to his mother.

"There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on table, all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems. "Happy Thanksgiving,"

Well, it got real noisy about that time, with everybody hollering and shouting, and there were a few tears, as well. But you know what's funny? While everybody else was busy shaking hands and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy clearing all the cups and dishes from the table. Best worker I ever hired.

Plant a seed and watch it grow. At this point, you can bury this inspirational message or forward it fulfilling the need! If you shed a tear, hug yourself, because you are a compassionate person.

Blessings!

Too Much or Not Enough?

Google Images

During the holiday season, when the custom of giving gifts is popular, the belief that "Blessed are those who give, for they shall receive sevenfold," seems so appropriate.  There seems to be a blessing in return that comes from giving to and sharing with others. At the same time, the custom often makes us look at our “status” and financial position as we calculate what is affordable as gifts. Will that recipient think less of you if you spend $10 less for that generic brand as opposed to a brand name? How does it make you feel if you have $10 less to your name?

During this time we will find ourselves with questions about what we have because our possessions can hold us back upon the way to perfection if we have so many that they consume our time taking care of them. What happens to your feeling of abundance when you think you must guard what you have instead of sharing? This feeling of guarding your possessions may disengage you from the flow of abundance

So, ask yourself, would it be better to share what you have? Having "things" is so much engrained in our consumer mentality that we might find it an unusual thought to consider "sharing" what we have with others… but it can, no, it should be done, and done happily.

People are taught to consider possessing an abundance of "things" to be a sign of success.  Thus, we have the bumper stickers that say:  "He who dies with the most toys WINS!"  Really? Life is a game? What is the prize?

With wisdom we are shown that the person who is the wealthiest does not want for more, regardless of how much or how little he has.  Whereas the poor man has a plethora of "wants" and feels the lack of his desires.

Of these two individuals, who is the happiest?  Who has the most well-being?

Which one would YOU rather be?

It's worth thinking about…

Next, let’s talk about gratitude………

 

Truly Despicable!

Fox News


Despite silence from many religious leaders, I feel impelled to publicly decry the current policy (it is not the law) that has been implemented by this current President and his administration that results in innocent children, children of all ages and many national origins, being forcefully, physically separated from their parents and/or guardians.

It is my understanding that the illegal crossing of the national border is a misdemeanor offense at worse and a non-offense if the act involved the request of asylum in the United States. Imagine being pulled over for speeding and having your child taken as a result. No child should be used as a negotiation tool at any level. Our immigration policy is in need of an overhaul, complete overhaul, including border security along with the “legal” process of obtaining citizenship. However, this method of forcing change reeks of prejudicial treatment. Condemned by the UN committee for Human Rights, so, we will just leave the committee. How can we as a country then pass judgment on other countries for their inhumane policies and acts? Where does the line get drawn? (Never mind, we can just erase that line, too). We are sinking fast to the ranks of third-world countries when it comes to our political morals and ethics.

What is sadder is the acceptance and support of an egotistical man-child who has empathy only for his bank accounts. He acts like the world is the school yard and if he does not get his way he will either take his ball and go home or bribe the kids with a chocolate bar (aka money). The majority of Americans did not vote for him, despite his many claims. Did he win fairly via the Electoral College? Per the Constitution, yes, he did. (Russian influence or not) So where are all the non-followers? Where is the Congressional action? They have become enablers, just like his cronies. No checks and balances are in play.

Follow the money, as it usually answers so many questions, particularly the “why”. This money trail leads to ransom being paid for the release of the children in return for the coveted “wall”. Is that how real politics works?

Being in my senior years I cannot help but wonder wonder what the reactions would have been if this occurred in the 1960s and '70s. Action in any non-violent legal form at any level is needed to halt or redirect this maniacal regime. Enable or intervene?

The Language of Love

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The following was given to me by a friend with a request to post on his behalf. Please give it a read and feel free to leave some feedback. and, as always, don't forget to click that "Follow"button. Thanks!

Dear Heart!

In this day and era of 2018, we are experiencing the most aggressive changes we have ever seen.  We have witnessed technology take a step forward very quickly. We have witnessed moral values shift to a completely new set off rules and regulations. The mass media is trying to adapt and never before has the stress that steams from these changes affected our children as intensely.

One might ask, if these changes are for the better, or if they are for the worst. Opinions are divided and I have personally witnessed us abandoning our outdoors plans and enrolling in more activities within the four walls we live in! The natural balance has been disturbed by many and with no intention of trying to get it back. Mistakes are a part of being human, they are needed to promote self growth. However, we are suppose to learn from them, and then, embrace the positive changes that are innate.

 I would like to take this chance to send love and blessings to all those out there, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or religious beliefs, as everyone is be entitled to they liberty of expression, thought and belief. Many of us suffer on a daily basis as the society standards of “normal” and of “acceptable” are changing at the speed of light, much too fast for us to keep up. Some develop an emotional type of depression that will end up becoming a vicious cycle of lack of self esteem, a loss of courage, as we become beings that are lost, unbalanced and not even aware of everything that makes us unique. We think our qualities are flaws and all our efforts will never be good enough for us to be recognized as a valuable individual, special and Irreplaceable. My advice would be, look in the mirror, the fact alone that no one else looks like you makes you special and unique. Let that sink in if you feel it is a good idea to do so.
   
Let us all practice forgiveness, let’s love those who love us, and love the ones who criticize us even more, as they hide they own feelings of inadequacy by bullying their peers, their sadness, their loss of hope, take a toll on who they are meant to be. They are suffering, too, and maybe more than what we ever could imagine. Some things are easier said than done but with the proper discipline they are possible. There are very little things we cannot achieve if we have the compatible mindset. Once again, YOU are special, YOU are unique. Let that sink in, if you deem it important.

We might all be different in color, gender, and even nationality, but we should never forget we all have access to a universal language, the one we receive as babies, as we grow up…

Please do not allow yourself to forget this language:

The Language of Love & Forgiveness

Anonymous
   

   

Man's Inhumanity to Man

The phrase "Man's Inhumanity to Man" is first documented in the Robert Burns poem called Man was made to mourn: A Dirge in 1784. It is possible that Burns reworded a similar quote from Samuel von Pufendorf who in 1673 wrote, "More inhumanity has been done by man himself than any other of nature's causes."

In the U.S., overall violent crime levels were pushed upward in 2016 in part by the increase in killings in some major cities such as Chicago. That city saw a drop in both murders and shootings in 2017, according to Chicago police statistics.
What happened in other big cities last year varied across the country. New York City saw a remarkable drop in murders, shootings and crime, with all three numbers continuing to decline.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, had 317 homicide victims last year, up from 277 the year before. Baltimore ended 2017 with a record-setting 343 homicides, prompting the city's mayor to abruptly replace the police commissioner amid increasing pressure to combat the crime there.

Even though some big cities were still seeing more violence in 2017 than the year before, the Brennan Center for Justice said in an analysis last month that it expected the overall crime rate and violent crime rate in the country's largest cities to decline slightly. Mass shootings, however, especially in schools, continue to rise at a meteoric rate.

What is the root cause of man's inhumanity to man? According to Michael Mason, there are several misconceptions that cause man’s inhumanity to man:

1. Ego identification: we often view ourselves as are our ego. How many disputes between individuals and nations stem from our ego need to be right? This causes endless disputes from quarrels between loved ones to wars between nations. Our ego is the the adversary. If there is a devil, it is our uncontrolled ego.

2. Individualist mentality and separation: We see ourselves as being separate from everyone and everything. ("We Are All One" @ http://liomsaland.blogspot.com/2015/10/we-are-all-one.html) How can we do unto others what we would not have other do unto us?

3. Lack of self-knowledge: We believe that we die. ("Who are You?" @ http://liomsaland.blogspot.com/2015/12/hello-who-are-you.html) This stems from the perception that we are our body. We perceive incorrectly everything and every one outside of ourselves as separate from ourselves. This is because we limit our perception to our physical senses: sight, sound, smell, and touch. These senses tell us, incorrectly, that there is physical space between ourselves and others. Therefore we are obviously separate individuals. Based on the limitations of our physical senses we behave accordingly. We categorize and separate into categories and subcategories that are almost endless: individuals, family, siblings, mates, relatives, friends, neighbors, religious groups, ethnicity, members of our city, state, country, language, professions, gender, age groups, hobbies, belief systems, and on and on. Labels that are stereotypical and misleading at best. Labels that separate us rather than unite us in our commonality. (http://liomsaland.blogspot.com/2017/08/during-these-times-of-internal-conflict.html)

4. Bravado: We lack the fear of pain, fear of failure. Ultimately, all fear boils down to fear of death. This gives us a false sense of security and and invites us to carry those chips on our shoulders.

5. Supply and demand: there is a belief that there is not enough for everyone: not enough food, not enough money, not enough resources, not enough space, housing, healthcare, medicine, clean water, clean air, clothing. This list goes on and puts us immediately in a fight for survival mode, us vs them. One counter measure, the "Universal Law", states that to give is to receive. It is our willingness to give what we wish to receive that keeps the abundance of our existence circulating in our lives.

We can overcome all these short-comings. A start is to return to the so-called lesson of the "golden rule". To do so, however, others must not be really perceived as others”, but, in truth, another part of you. Then the golden rule can be perceived as it was meant to be perceived: do unto that part of you what you would do unto this part of you.

As you perceive the person with whom you are having a dispute with, imagine perceiving the spark of divinity that is the true essence of that person, for Deity is in all of us. As you perceive that spark of divinity, imagine that it is connected to your spark of divinity by an indestructible golden energy beam. Then imagine a powerful magnet that instantly pulls the two sparks together, eliminating the concept of duality as you become one powerful spark of divinity, becoming one with that person and no longer perceiving them as separate, understanding them and their perspective.

Peace and Blessings as you contemplate your daily actions and interactions relative to the ideal of world peace and harmony.   

Imagine a Garden

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During these times of internal conflict, bullying at all levels, bigotry, hatred and divisiveness, please, take a moment to consider the following and by all means like and share.

“The flowers of the earth do not grudge at one another, though one be more beautiful and fuller of virtue than another, but they stand humbly, kindly, one by another, and enjoy the virtues of all. If we, too, were to all stand humbly in the field” (Jacob Boehme) imagine the world-wide peace and harmony that would prevail.

Like each flower, we are all unique, but, hold a beauty and talent of equal caliper. A garden of people, different heights, different colors, different aromas, some colorful, some fancy, some plain, all with a life's purpose, would be a wondrous sight to behold. Perennials next to annuals, blues next to yellows, all shouting out in their glorious uniqueness and beauty. They would stand so tightly together that the “weeds” (haters?) would not penetrate, but enough space allowed for growth of roots, branches and the dropping of seeds for future crops (youth?).

A garden of such kind would require a tremendous amount of care at first, finding the right fertilizing balance of compassion, forgiveness, humor, acceptance, support, nourishment and spacing.  After awhile, the act of caring for and nurturing the individuals would become second nature and not feel like an effort of work at all.

Such a garden starts with one individual seed, sowed into a fertile soil that has been patiently, repeatedly prepped by the gardeners of the world, watered and given norishment of compassion, acceptance, hope and tended to by loving hands of humanity.

Would such a garden need a fence protecting it? Perhaps at the onset, but once it is well-rooted and recognized for being the standard to achieve, it would be secure and free to grow without boundaries." What a Wonderful World It Would Be"! (Thanks Louis Armstrong) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU

Regret

 

 Regret: re·gret
 –verb (used with object)
1. to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.): He no sooner spoke than he regretted it.
2. to think of with a sense of loss: to regret one's vanished youth.
–noun
3. a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction, etc.
4. a feeling of sorrow or remorse for a fault, act, loss, disappointment, etc.
5. regrets, a polite, usually formal refusal of an invitation: I sent her my regrets.

We have all experienced a regret of some kind for different reasons and duration. Some are a result of a conscious act on our part while others happened either accidentally to us or to others with whom we empathize with. The key to dealing with regret is to take a positive from the experience and move on, not forgetting, but using the experience as a positive reference lesson in your future.  By replaying the event in our minds, we can choose a new ending using all that we now know. Holding onto regret is like dragging the weight of the past with us everywhere we go. It drains our energy, leaving less available for life in the present because we are constantly feeding an old issue. This attachment can cause illness the same way watering a dead plant creates decay. We know that something new and beautiful can grow in its place if we only prepare the soil and plant the right seeds.

We also know that we create our lives from our thoughts, so dwelling on the past may actually recreate a situation in our lives where we are forced to make the choice again and again. We can choose to move on right now by applying what we have learned to the present and perhaps even sharing with others, transforming the energy into something that is constructive and creative for ourselves and others.

If the regret is a result of our actions toward others, offer a sincere apology. It is then their choice to forgive or not. We cannot control the actions of others, only our reactions to them. So, if they choose to not forgive, you cannot control that. You can regret your act, offer your apologies and move on, with or without their forgiveness, learning from the experience.

Keeping our minds and our energy fully in the present allows us to fuel our physical and emotional healing and well-being today. This action frees our energy to create the dreams we dream for the future. By taking responsibility and action in the present, we can release our hold on the past and move forward to a positive future.

Blessed Be!

July 4th

On this day in which Americans celebrate their  independence, we offer prayers for our country and its leaders.

Though our nation is far from perfect, it has nevertheless been the source of much goodness, both for American citizens and for the world. We give thanks for the freedom we have to worship and to live out our faith without fear. In today’s world, this is nothing to take for granted and pray that tolerance and mutual respect will allow it to continue.

To our national leaders, political and public leaders of all callings, our nation faces such great challenges, both at home and abroad. May you have the wisdom and courage to seek and accept the truth that all are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Let us not take our freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May we always remember that a very high price was paid for our freedom as our freedom cost others their very lives. We thank those in the past, present and future who serve  to give their lives for our freedom. We are thankful for this nation and for all the sacrifices others have made to build and defend this country. May we acknowledge and be grateful for the opportunities and freedoms we have in the United States of America. May we never to take these blessings for granted.

To all Americans, come together in unity, not only on this day of celebration, but on every day on which we should be celebrating and experiencing our freedom, side-by-side, hand-in-hand. Act with mutual respect and tolerance. Put aside the differences, the hatred, the lies, the partisan politics, all the negative emotions that rise to the top and replace them all with the thread of commonality. May we all safely enjoy this 4th of July with enthusiasm, hope and togetherness! So Mote It Be!

The Basic Essentials

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“What is essential is invisible to the eye.” Saint-Exuprey in “The Little Prince”

Essential is defined as something very basic, necessary. It is said the essentials of life are food, water and shelter. But is that it? Will having those things insure one of a happy, complete life? To those struggling day-to-day to survive the answer is yes, indeed. For those not knowing where or how their next nourishment will be obtained those truly are the basic essentials of life. Those basic essentials are very similar to those in the animal or plant kingdoms, all living things have the same basic essential needs.

A percentage of the human population can survive and live happily as a hermit for example, the remainder are not able to simplify their lives to that extreme and be happy doing so. Those essentials are quickly taken for granted by those who are fortunate to have access to resources that provide these essentials seamlessly. For those, the bar is raised from basic survival needs to needs of fulfillment, happiness and satisfaction. Enter the needs of companionship, human touch, intellectual stimulation, compassion, love, a life’s purpose, etc. For example, a recent British survey (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339523/The-20-necessities-modern-life-simply-live-without.html) showed that Britons feel that a cup of tea, fast internet connections, television, an iPhone all made their top 20 necessities of life list. It should be noted that included in that top 20 list were cuddles, trustworthy friends, hearing “I love you” occasionally and a good cry now and then.

Per the Dali Lama, we are social animals who need friends. We need a community to survive. Friends are made on the basis of trust, which only grows if you are kind to people. Kindness and compassion gives rise to self-confidence, which empowers you to be honest, truthful and transparent. This self-confidence brings peace of mind, which also favors good health. That needed community surrounds us on a daily basis. We are all “One”, from the same source. Differences among us abound, but the commonality far surpasses those differences. They are not often easily visible and effort is needed to uncover them, but they are there everywhere. The same basic beliefs, likes, dislikes, fears are shared by many even if not apparent on the surface. These invisible commonalities are what bind us all together in this Universe of mankind. There is no need to wait for a crisis before uniting under a common cause. Make this lifetime a common cause and be mindful daily of the union of mankind.

May your every day be a blessed day!

Forgiveness

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                                 Forgive: A Powerful Word Waiting to be Used                               

“If you haven’t forgiven yourself something, how can you forgive others?”….Delores Hureta
Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta is a labor leader and civil rights activist who, along with César Chávez, co-founded the National Farmworkers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers.

Forgive. To forgive is to pardon. To pardon is to let it go. To forgive, you must truly let it go. You are not just letting go of the circumstances or wrongs, you are releasing it all. It never happened once. It is forgiven. “True forgiveness does not even remember the injury.” (The Two Seekers) Forgiveness is an activity that moves us past hurts and disappointments and on to serenity and fulfillment.

Forgiveness is a gift that you give to yourself and to others. Forgive yourself. As stated by Robert Watts Jr. in “People Are Never the Problem,” to fully enjoy our potential and to increase the potential in others, we must learn to forgive ourselves and our fellow man. When we forgive others, we are forgiven for the things we do wrong. Forgiveness is the power to start over and try again. Forgiveness is the power to do better next time. Give yourself that chance. The most enriching experience from forgiveness is that we gain a greater understanding of ourselves as a spiritual being.

When one is offended in some nature, intentional or not, it is an opportunity to respond with love and compassion as the Deity within us all would do. Troubled times provide prime opportunities to put our beliefs into practice.

I believe we are all equal and are one as our beginning, everyone’s, starts with the same source, Deity, call Him/Her what you may.

To others, forgiveness is a gift because you are letting the other person take the “wrong” and are letting them release any fear or retribution. They can live in without hiding around a corner in fear. Fear causes many actions, anger and violence as well as illness and depression. The forgiven now feels like they can truly change because you have let go of the idea that they are bad. You release them from negative self-worth. You let them know that there is a clean slate and they alone have the choice to change or not.

Forgiveness does not mean you shouldn’t file the information as if it were a lesson. That is what it should be - a lesson for all concerned. Use it to protect yourself and be sure it is not something that will hurt you again or destroy anything you have worked for. If it happens again, you are in a position to say that the person is noteworthy of trust and should not be part of your life. They lack respect and you cannot put yourself in that situation to be misled again. That person can be forgiven, even again, but you can also ask them to move on in their own life if the wrong is bad enough. Only you can determine if and when that point is reached. It is also a point when you need to ask yourself if you contributed in any way in making certain things happen or led the person to think wrongly. There is always cause and effect and there could be something that leads them to repeat their mistakes. You do not have to forget, just let go of the emotion attached to you don’t become destructive, for if we do not practice forgiveness frequently, it can destroy us from the inside out and can also destroy those we love who are innocent bystanders.

Life is a wonderful roller coaster, full of ups and downs, filled with excitement and fear. We cannot and should not blame those who journeyed along with us, even if they pushed us off course. We have to find the lesson in where we are at the time and be thankful for being led to a place where we were able to experience it. Good or bad, we had an experience. If it was bad, be thankful for making it through and be thankful by forgiving them and yourself.

Forgiveness can be one of the greatest acts of kindness you can commit. Let go of the past and not only will you grant peace, you will achieve peace.

If we are willing and anxious to forgive others, why not forgive ourselves, for we are as worthy of forgiveness as our equals are. I was told once by a highly respected professional that I was the calmest person she ever met. I grinned at that comment, smugly perhaps, and told her that was because I was at peace. Peace? Yes, and I went on to explain to her that I was at peace because I forgave myself. I accepted the fact that as a human, I made decisions that hurt many others, though that was not my intent. 

Did others have a role in my decisions and actions? Absolutely, but the ultimate decisions were mine. But, as I stated in earlier articles, life is an experience, a learning experience with no right or wrong decisions, for lessons are to be learned from whatever direction we choose.
Let Deity within you guide your actions in good times, turmoil or challenging situations. Listen closely. Deity is there guiding all of us.
There is no need to wait to be asked for forgiveness, for at times the other person may not even realize they have offended you. Is there someone you need to forgive? Yourself? Today is a good day.
Forgive.
Blessed Be!

Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

 

 I do not believe there is a perfect, all-inclusive definition of Wicca. Many variations, interpretation and practices within the Wicca label exists. They are all correct and accurate for that particular practitioner. However, I find the following to be the closest explanation of the basis for Wicca.
Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists. Wicca is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day. It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm summer breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Wicca is the fall of colorful autumn leaves, and the softness of winter snow. It is light, and shadow and all that lies in between. It is the song of the birds and other creatures of the wild. It is being in the presence of Mother Earths nature and being humbled in reverence. To be Wiccan is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver, and a protector of all things. (The Celtic Connection) The Goddess and God are present in all of us, making us all "one", equals at the core (see http://liomsaland.blogspot.com/2015/10/we-are-all-one.html). Our Deities are non-judgemental, leaving the ultimate judgement up to us individually as we plan our life's path before entering our next lifetime in the circle of life.
If none of this resonates with you, please stop reading as the remainder of my points will be moot.
During my interactions with Wiccans and others, Pagans, Christians and all other religious followers, either on-line or in person, I have witnessed surprising and troubling (to me) displays of attitudes and behaviors, intentional and non-intentional, that causes me to review my beliefs and acts and question if they are compatible with the Wiccan belief system.
Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Prejudice is discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of based on the belief that one is superior.
Racism, as intolerable as it is, is not, however the only form of prejudice. Examples are too exhaustive to list, but includes sexual preferences, religious beliefs, disabilities, political affiliations, economic status, etc. Standing idly by witnessing such activity is no better than the physically active abuser.
We are products of our past, experiences and environments. Parents, relatives, older neighbors, friends, athletes, politicians, role-models, etc., all leave marks, positive or negative, on our psyche and how we view others and the world we encounter. Not knowing our fellow human's chart or past experiences leaves us (or should leave us) in a non-judgemental position.
While society norms have changed over the past numerous decades it appears that a number of individuals haven't kept pace. This is true with respect to the public in general, not just Wiccans. However, given the basis of Wicca (see paragraph 1) how does any practice of racism and/or prejudice co-exist with this religious dogma?
Current events have brought the closeted topic of racism and prejudice to the forefront and allows us the opportunity to do some honest self-examinations. How do you grade yourself? Are some changes or adjustments needed? You be the judge, for you alone know the real truth and are the one who looks in the mirror each morning. Do you see what others see?
There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.
Blessed Be!