Ghost Sigil (a story)

Ghost Sigil

Marcy missed her mom and wanted to see her again. There was no way for that to happen, shy of dying herself. Unless she used magic.

But Marcy knew that would def be for personal gain. Which meant she’d have to protect herself from dark forces.

So she wrote out her intention statement. And put it into a brief and named an elder and an angel to watch over her. And breathed a sigh of relief. Sigils in place.

Marcy stepped into the pentagram and called for her mother. And waited to see if it worked.

She waited an hour. And when nothing came thru, she closed the exchange and left the pentagram. Marcy cried herself to sleep.

And during the night, Marcy’s mom spent the night feeding her memories of good moments of their life together. Like an auto-play of video shorts.

When Marcy woke, she felt much better. She understood that her mom was nearby. And looking out for her still. Because the memories were ones she had forgotten. But she knew they were true nonetheless. Nothing had been asked of her. And she had woken feeling calm and reassured.

It was beautiful.

From Initiate to Adept

Whatever group you want to join, there is a moment when you step in the door and all you bring to it is curiosity, eagerness, and wanting to belong. You’re suggestible to the experience and the people, to varying degrees. You may or may not become successful, to varying degrees.

That’s the base, no matter which group or means of entrance you engage in.

And from that moment on, all you do is learn. Whether you stay or not. You’d have to be pretty obtuse if you learned nothing.

Your experience changes depending on which path you take and how long you stay in the group. And if you chose a path of obedience or resistance/counter culture. And how much you are open to learning. How good your mentors or other group members are. Who are you exposed to?

How intimate is your experience? Is it a large group in a temple, company or class room? Or is it a small group of 2-3 and whatever goals you are focused on/how high-low you can ascend? Is the intimacy communal or is it sexual?

How clear is your mind? Are you able to focus, are you sober? (reverent, reflective, drugs/alcohol) Are you excited/orgasmic?

Have you chosen the path of trials, ecstasy, or isolation/deprivation? Are you eating, drinking, sleeping? Have you changed your diet or habits?

Do you feel you are growing? Understanding? Do you see the larger purposes of the group? Do you have a chance of becoming one of the elite or hierarchy? Do you identify with the leaders? Do you see their ‘gods’?

Sometimes it’s also about if you feel the group has been martyred or persecuted in their history. And how safe you feel in who they are now. Are they involved in things that authority would see as a challenge and prosecute you for?

As you learn more, do you feel a sense of peace, love or do you feel in conflict with yourself or other members/the group?

Do you feel accepted/embraced by the group? Are they aware of and proud of you for your efforts? Do they see what you had to overcome to even be inside the group?

This all works toward how attached you feel to the group and it’s hierarchy. And whether you actually do become an adept among them or if you have to leave to have a chance at being an adept.

Twisted Lights (a story)

Twisted Lights

They did this every year. Waited till the last minute. Then bickered the entire time they made the list and got everything checked off. Instead of working together and having fun, they worked in separate rooms and shouted at each other. Till he had a headache and she was in tears. Miserably sniffing them away in the corner.

And of course, the decorations box always seemed to be hidden. And the lights for the tree were in a twisted mess. Because they’d been in such a hurry to put them away and get rid of the holiday for another year.

And this year was worse. with his father in the hospital. And worrying if he would survive another year…. The pressure was on.

Of course this was the year they had to replace some of the bulbs on the lights. Which meant a last minute dash to the store. Fighting the crowds and higher prices. Because of course the store charged extra for desperation.

And finally Christmas eve arrived. They opened a gift and realized that they had both gotten something the other had been gasping to have and practically begging for. So they had listened after all….

They kissed and held hands. And went to bed happy. Ready for the big day finally. And finally in the right spirit for the day.

No of course it wasn’t about the gift. That was pretty much inconsequential. It was that they had been heard, when they thought the other was too wrapped up in tradition and moods to notice.

They should have trusted each other. Because on Christmas eve, this was always how the struggle ended. In each others’ arms. Happy and together. Again.

Qs about Reason, intuition, instinct, stoicism

When you need to make a decision, do you use your mind, moral code, or instinct? Or a mix?

….

Do you try to remain positive? Is crying, fear or anger tolerable to you?

….

Do you seek support when you need it? Or accept it when given?

…..

Do you associate calm with being masculine or feminine?

…..

Do you tolerate love, sexual interest, caring for others? Do you see those as masculine or feminine?

…..

Do you respect authority?

…..

How do you define a ‘higher power’? Is it societal, relational &/or divine?

…..

Have you individuated from your parents and siblings in what they taught you as a child?

…..

…..

A place to begin when having thoughts about toxic emotions and roles. A place to find yourself, rather than being guided by others.

…..

Something to ponder only.

Q – If you know what ‘good’ is,…..

does that mean you will do ‘good’?

Q – If you know what ‘good’ is,…..

does that mean you will do ‘good’?

• Will you try, will you give up?
• Who or what will you allow to impede you?
• Will you rebel from the path of ‘good’?
• Is it only your definition of ‘good’ that matters? Or does society’s have to match yours?
• Is ‘good’ objective’?

…..

Something to ponder.

 – Plato vs Aristotle –

An Amulet Says – Qué será, será (a story)

An Amulet Says – Qué será, será

Pedrina carefully wrapped the amulets she had bought for her little cottage store. It was a place where she saw women who wanted to push back the veil to the future or past.

The women wanted to see what their lives had been before this one. To know what had shaped the life they had now.

And to see what their future was with the man their parents had picked for them. To see if there was something they had missed usually. They wanted to know if they would be well cared for. If he could provide for her and her children. To see if they had an out.

And they wanted something to protect them. From bad spirits and bad luck.

Pedrina said prayers over the amulets. And stored them in the shelf where only she could reach them. All except the ones she put in a display case, so women could see which they wanted.

They had their choice of chain or stone. Some looked better with finer chains and some with thicker ones.

The women thought Pedrina was doing this for them, for the village. But not really. It gave her some pocket money her father denied her. So she could refuse if he brought men for her marry. So she had her escape fund, if anyone got pushy.

Her mother was her ally in this endeavour. The last thing she wanted was her husband picking her daughter’s for her.

So on the night of the full moon, Pedrina and her mom walked to one of the edges of town and buried a jar of money. To hide it from him. And her mom took the rest to her husband. He thought Pedrina wasn’t very fast at making amulets and didn’t sell many. And they let him think that.

Soon, Pedrina would leave for good.. And she had kept enough hidden, even from her mom, so they could both leave, together.

Her prayerful queries were to know if she and her mom would get away free and be happy. Before her father caught on.

Because if he ever found out? They’d both be in deep trouble. And that was why Pedrina was making sure her mom was coming too.

Pedrina was worried. Her one foot itched to go now. Her other foot wasn’t sure if they’d get away or even if they deserved to. She felt dread.

To calm herself, Pedrina sang the song …..

Qué será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Qué será, será
What will be, will be
Qué será, será

Pedrina felt like a fool selling hope to the women and girls who bought amulets from her. But it was her only hope.

Death’s Priestess (a story)

Death’s Priestess

While waiting for the other women, Marwa gathered the herbs and wraps she needed for her task. She carefully laid them out in anticipation of their work.

And carefully, Marwa laid the book of rites and prayers beside the tray of needful things. She automatically said a prayer as she lowered the book. And caressed it’s skin wrapping before she pulled her hand away.

Marwa stopped by the sink to be sure the water was working and the towels were stacked in abundance. This job always took plenty of towels.

Finally, Marwa heard the other women coming down the hall. And put her hair back so she was ready to work.

Though they had made quiet noise in the hall, the women entered the room on mute.

And they all gathered around the body of the newly departed woman to prepare her for her next journey. Each saying a portion of the prayers for the dead as they cleaned her.

The Complicated Man Behind Toxicology – Paracelsus

Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim or Paracelsus is known as the first or father of toxicology. His principles are still in use today.

….toxicology

• Dose and timing matter (threshold)
• People matter (response)
• and so does environment
  source

astrology, alchemy

His work is considered to be key in alchemy as well. He is known as a prophet or diviner. And he was a follower of Hermes Trismegistus.

lay theology

And due to his father’s mentorship, he was educated in the Benedictine philosophies of the Catholic church. He was a lay theologian.

Paracelsus believed that the person who studied and practiced medicine/toxicology must believe in the divine and be of good character. He thought this was inseparable.

Kitchen Witch (a story)

Kitchen Witch

Francesca loved working in her kitchen. She kept it clean and organized like she was in the military. There were no extra things kept in the kitchen. Except two candles on her kitchen hearth and a radio so she could listen to soothing music while she cooked and cleaned the kitchen. Groceries were in their storage bins or the fridge. Dishes were always washed and put away after meals. She was fastidious about mise en place.

When she was hurried or in a bad mood, she said a calming prayer before she entered the kitchen. She didn’t want anything negative entering her food.

She wore a special apron, full of greenery and fruits that looked like they could jump onto a plate and be delicious.

Her family might mumble about her fastidious behaviour, But they couldn’t complain about her food. Or the care she took about their health and happiness. And other than helping make cookies for fun, they were ok with her not letting them in her kitchen. Till they were old enough to understand what hygiene meant when applied to food.

There was a small porch off the kitchen for her herb garden and the BBQ. And a small table and sink there for such things as meat or fish prep. She didn’t want anything butchered in her domain.

Francesca even had a small shelf of balms and tinctures on the porch for those sudden illnesses and injuries that kids get. Even her first aid kit was there. Her kitchen really was bloodless.

Everywhere you looked, you could see Francesca’s intentions and good energy. Which is why her family thrived.

So Francesca was happy. And that was the best intention of all.

The Three Aspects of Isaac Newton

astrology & alchemy

He translated the Emerald Tablet of Hermes from Latin to English:

1. Tis true without lying, certain & most true.
2. That wch is below is like that wch is above & that wch is above is like yt wch is below to do ye miracles of one only thing.
3. And as all things have been & arose from one by ye mediation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.
4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,
5. the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nourse.
6. The father of all perfection in ye whole world is here.
7. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.
   7a) Seperate thou ye earth from ye fire, ye subtile from the gross sweetly wth great indoustry.
8. It ascends from ye earth to ye heaven & again it desends to ye earth and receives ye force of things superior & inferior.
9. By this means you shall have ye glory of ye whole world & thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.
10. Its force is above all force. ffor it vanquishes every subtile thing & penetrates every solid thing.
    11a) So was ye world created.
11. From this are & do come admirable adaptaions whereof ye means (Or process) is here in this.
12. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having the three parts of ye philosophy of ye whole world.
13. That wch I have said of ye operation of ye Sun is accomplished & ended

Christian theologian

He was a devout protestant and had many writings about the Bible and Christian core beliefs

physics & math/calculus

He developed the three basic laws of motion

In the first law, an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it. In the second law, the force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration. In the third law, when two objects interact, they apply forces to each other of equal magnitude and opposite direction.

and the theory of universal gravity

any particle of matter in the universe attracts any other with a force varying directly as the product of the masses and inversely as the square of the distance between them

…….

This would have been the higher thought within the world of his time. (25 Dec. 1642 – 20 Mar. 1726/27) But what he shaped for us is mostly seen in the math & science. He is still seen as one of the most important theorists in our history.