COMPASSION FOR THE SUFFERING: HONOR OR AID?

Over the last few years, I've buried myself in my writing, my research, my family and my friends, all the while keeping one eye on current weather patterns, political uprisings, and trends in technological research and

science, doing the best I possibly could not to get emotionally involved as that often proves toxic to my sanity and ability to deal with my own life.  The world is much smaller than it was twenty years ago, subsequently it's much easier to be fed news about events occurring one hundred miles away or all the way on the other side of the world.  It's often extremely difficult not to get emotionally charged and dragged into another's heartbreaking drama when it often times seems the world is going to 'hell in a handbasket.'   The world is filled with humans of all types; those who harm and those who do not, those who watch others harm without interfering, turning away, not wanting to become involved; and those who interfere, who work tirelessly to expose and shut down, arrest and incarcerate those who should be held responsible for their harmful actions, and those who allow another to experience their full potential of suffering by not interfering. Many claim we are in the greatest compassionate shift in human history, but why does it seem that everyday more and more people are suffering?

Billions of souls on planet earth experience suffering in some way or another.  The Masters, those who've walked the earth with elevated consciousness, declare that we are here to experience life in all its dimensions and struggling makes us stronger.  E.A. Bucchianeri, in his book, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly, says this about Jesus's suffering:"If Christ is God, He cannot sin, and if suffering was a sin in and by itself, He could not have suffered and died for us.  However, since He took the most horrific death to redeem us, He showed us in fact that suffering and pain have great power." The bible verse, James 1:2-4 says this about suffering. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Helen Keller, a tragic, yet powerful figure who overcame huge obstacles said this: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience, through trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." Kahlil Gibran, author of the infamous book, "The Prophet" says this: "Out of suffering has emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."

So my dilemma is this: If I see a homeless man or woman, should I have compassion and feel sorry for him or her? Should I try to help if they have not asked me to? Should I look upon them with pity because I have a home to go to? Or, should I honor them for their choice? Should I let them evolve in their own way into that most massive character with scars? Should I acknowledge the fact that they are learning what they came to earth to learn? Should I take home their worries? Do I even know what their worries are? Can I presume to know them better than they know themselves? How about the millions of souls in Japan after the tsunami? How do I as a compassionate human being fall asleep at night knowing how they suffer? I live thousands of miles away, yet the media coverage brought it into my living room and it was extremely difficult not to be moved by the devastation.  As a compassionate human, what can I do for them?  They are experiencing trials and suffering, and according to Helen Keller, their souls are strengthened because of the tragedy. Millions of animals a day lose their lives in kill shelters, by hunters, poachers, brutes who gain pleasure in torturing and killing innocent animals.  How can I stand by and let this happen? How can I not inflict the same atrocity upon them, as I am sometimes want to do? Children suffer at the hands of adults who should be protecting them, not hurting them, exploiting them, destroying their chance at ever having a normal life.  How do I as a compassionate human being allow these horrors to happen? Are they seared with scars, making them massive characters? Does their pain and suffering have great power? I don't know about you, but if I am alerted to anyone, especially an animal or a child, who is being harmed in some fashion or another, I cannot stand idly by and let them gain a greater understanding of themselves at the hands of a brute even if it means placing myself in danger.  Compassion for their suffering compels me to act, to alleviate their suffering, to save them.

How about his scenario, much less graphic than the a fore mentioned, but sometimes tragic all the same.  Let's say, for instance, my son/daughter makes a decision that I am quite aware will place them in danger, or if not danger, the consequence will most likely be unpleasant.  If I am a compassionate human being, should I let them suffer? What if they don't ask for my help or advice? If I know they will suffer as an outcome of their choice, should I step in? Or should I allow them the greatest gift one can give to another; the gift of experiencing what they came to earth to learn.  Oh, it's a tough call and riddled with uncertainties, especially if a loved one is in trouble, begging for help as they've done dozens of times before, saying they promise they'll change if you help them one more time, and, you know they won't.  Maybe compassion for the suffering in this scenario is to allow them to feel the nip of the wringer, to experience their consequence, live their choice, otherwise you've taken away their opportunity to learn, you've stepped in and become their higher power.  Maybe compassion is honoring another's choice even if it interfere's with yours. Maybe compassion is honoring yourself enough to allow another human to struggle. Didn't Buddha say: "If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete?" In Buddhism, the ideal of practice is to selflessly act to alleviate suffering wherever it appears.  We may argue it is impossible to eliminate suffering, and maybe it is, maybe people are supposed to suffer, yet, according to Buddhism, we're to respond anyway.  And, according to Buddhism, having compassion for oneself is paramount to having compassion for others and puts oneself on the road to enlightenment. We should not ignore our own suffering.

Being a compassionate human, I suppose, does not mean standing idly by and watching another suffer if something can be done.  The key here is understanding if another is suffering.  Is the homeless man or woman suffering? Is the teenager stealing and selling drugs suffering? I know I cannot and should not be the arbiter of another's suffering, yet on the other hand, I cannot and should not be the arbiter of another's choice in how they wish to experience their life.  Compassion for myself has led me to this understanding.  Honoring another's choice, not interfering unless asked, understanding that if I do help it will not hinder my serenity, is the greatest  gift I can give myself and another.  Helping in service, not in servitude is how I determine when it's appropriate to step in.  Honoring another, lending a hand, offering aid is offering compassion, but not when it interferes with my or my family's safety, health or well-being.  These are things I must consider if I wish to practice compassion for there is often more at stake than offering a friendly hand.  Compassion is first and foremost something I must give to myself in order to be effective.  If I cannot help, I can honor the sacrifice others have made when they struggled with their suffering such as the victims of the tsunami tragedy in Japan and the victims of the recent earthquake in the Phillipines.

Humans are the highest form of life in the universe, so I believe.  There are no other beings with higher consciousness than a human being.  Seems a bit convoluted when there's so much drama, heartache, heartbreak, and sadness happening around the world.  But since we're in the greatest compassionate shift in human history I can only strive to believe that this shift is an inner shift contrary to what the media presents to us daily.  Around the world there are huge uprisings by those tired of the heavy hand of tyranny.  The compassion millions are beginning to feel for themselves has thrust them from their homes, demanding better treatment from officials and employers, cleaner water, higher wages, fair trade practices, democracy.  Compassion is not just about offering aid to the suffering, it is believing with your whole heart that you deserve better and you'll do anything to see it done.  Maybe the brutes of the world, those who harm, will begin to feel compassion for themselves and stop their brutality. A compassionate person does not inflict harm.  Buddhism is built on compassion and complete harmlessness.  My hope is this: One day, soon, humanity will have fallen in love with themselves so completely it would be impossible to inflict harm on themselves or anyone else, then, peace will surely come to planet earth.

And so, I go forth from today with compassion for myself first and foremost.  Knowing this to be true, I will do my best to alleviate my own suffering so that I might alleviate someone else's.  I will strive to hone my passion, for with this comes compassion.  I will honor other's for their choices and help if they ask if it doesn't interfere with my family's safety, health, or well-being.  I will honor and put into the highest light those who've chosen a life of struggle, of pain, and of lack.  I will not feel sorry for them, this will only dishonor their choice, but I will, if asked, attempt to alleviate their suffering to the best of my ability.  If I have to 'stand behind the short fence' when struggle and strife happen on the other side of the world, or even in my own neighborhood, I will if it means honoring another.  I will not become emotionally involved in the drama, rather I will infuse the situation with light and compassion and understand the outcome as appropriate to their life's plan.  This is not easy, but I will do my best not to add fuel to the fire.  My job, this time around on planet earth, is to anchor light, anchor love, and anchor compassion by being a match holder, a lightworker, a light house.  The light house does not get involved in the drama of the sea, it shines its light so that others might see.  I will do my best and hope I do not let myself or anyone else down.

Namaste,
Paula





   

AUTUMN...THE TIME OF THE CRONE

Autumn Greetings ~
Yes, that was me you saw yesterday. The woman riding her bike, nose in the air, tongue hanging out, teeth bared in a grin, looking like a happy dog with its head out the car window.  It was the most fabulous day ever. I just had to take it all in! The smells, the sights, the sounds, the tastes.

Borrowed from wiicantogether.co

This morning there's a soft, yet brisk quality to the air as crisp and golden as the apple. I close my eyes and imagine the comforting smells of Autumn: sweet, fresh red apples begging to be plucked from nearby orchards and put into pies, the dark, heady smell of smoke drafting past my window from the neighbors who love burning leaves, the musky, easily identifiable scent of crisp, decaying leaves as I walk through them, the strong, green smell of pine needles that can fill the air, the unmistakable, sweet scent of nutmeg or cinnamon sprinkled into a morning cup of freshly-warmed eggnog, the romantic, incredibly potent scent of the vanilla bean gracing anything its added to, the hardy, perennial scent of mint, and of course, the sweet, heady aroma of pumpkin that everyone relates to this wonderful, transitional season, whether it's still in the fields or baking in the oven.  Let's face it: I LOVE AUTUMN.  And, being a Scorpio whose birthday is a few short weeks away, it's no wonder.

But come Autumn, there's something else going on.  Every three months there's a change of seasons, a change in the weather, a change in the light.  Summer's days are filled with sunshine, giving little attention to the darkness of night.  However, come autumn, that all begins to change.  The sun begins to recede further into the southern sky, casting longer and longer shadows upon the ground with every passing day. We know in our bones that we'll have to give more attention to the darkness of night as the dark will begin sharing as much time with us as the sunlight of the day.  And in this changing of seasons and light, the Spirit Goddess of the Changing, sometimes known as The Crone, reminds us that, like change, which is inevitable, life and death are but a thought, a moment flashing past eternity. Not to be feared but each to be relished and enjoyed, like with the seasons, each has its own gift.  Autumn is a time for remembering all we have and all we can give. Like the earth herself, offering her bounty in her harvest, we too can harvest our bounty, offer our uniqueness to the world. Autumn is the Croning time,  a time of magic, a time of renewal of spirit.  Autumn allows us to reclaim our identity and status of the ancients, as Crones and Elders. Women are coming of age, accessing our wisdom and acting upon it. Croning is the process of becoming active, wise women, leaders , teachers and counselors who've held our world together with their wisdom and diverse life's struggles.  When you seek the truth, ask a wise woman.  
In all three of my books in the White Bird Series, Illuminating Crystal, Crystal Blue Sky, and Little Blue Star, readers have begun to discover that the Elders Crystal encounters have a certain wisdom about them, but they're not always women.  Men can become Crones with their understanding of this passage. For those of you who love reading, like myself, the book The Crone: Woman of Age, Wisdom and Power by Barbara G. Walker  is a book I'd highly recommend.   The Crone is one aspect of the Triple Goddess (Mother, Maiden, Crone) and is the most misunderstood. If you'd like to understand the aspect of the Crone Goddess better, check out these websites: 
The Crone
Embracing the Dark Goddess
The Wiccan Goddess - The Crone

In the ways of the witch world, this is also a time known as Madron.  Madron, the Autumn Equinox, usually September 21-22, is a time of balance when both day and night are equal. The days start getting shorter, the nights longer and the weather starts getting colder. It is time to seek balance within ourselves, throw out the old, make way for the new. A time for release: regrets, arguments and mistakes cultivated over the year which can hold you back from moving on.  According to Pagans, Madron is one of The Eight Sabbats, celebrated with a Pagan Festival.   The Sabbats are major celebrations for a Witch and revolve around the Wheel of the Year and the changing seasons.  If  you'd like to understand this aspect of Autumn better, check out these websites:
Pagan Festival
The Way of the Witch
Mabon, The Witch's Thanksgiving

And so, with a grateful heart and a smile on my lips, I wonder as I wander through autumn. I wonder of the smells, the sights and the sounds. The tastes, the feel of the air and relish in this beautiful season.  I'll remember that I'm a Wise Woman, a teacher, a leader, one who's had her struggles and her joys.  I've learned from each life lesson, I've let things go: resentments, arguments, and mistakes.  I'll continually strive to seek balance within my life and to embrace the dark nights fast approaching.  I invite you to join me. Learn from The Crone. Embrace this aspect of yourself, the part that oftentimes is unseemly, for it is within this aspect that we've learned the most, embracing that part of ourselves that others sometimes cannot.
I AM THAT I AM.
Namaste,
Paula  

 

POWER ANIMALS

Watching the news lately, hearing stories of rescue and heartbreak, I cannot help but think about all the

animals that are affected by nature's fury.  This year has seen its share of historical fires, floods, tornadoes, and drought...and the wild animals in and along the path of these natural, oftentimes tragic occurrences, are sometimes overlooked.  In no shape or form am I advocating overlooking the people who need help, I am just, at this time, concerned about the animals of our earth who are affected as well.
Only, maybe I don't need to be.  Maybe they don't need my attention; my help.  Maybe they're just fine.  They probably know a lot more than I do how to avoid these natural disasters.  There is, after all, something called instinct; animal instinct.  Living so close to the land they are attuned to their environment, more so than humans give them credit for. I would bet that most species who can survive living in the wild probably know a weather related disaster is coming.   But, can animals really predict disasters? I would tend to answer; yes.  We've all heard of them: tales of dogs barking before a big earthquake hits; wildlife behaving strangely before the big hurricane; earthworms pouring from the ground just before a big flood.  Are these tall tales . . . or true?  My guess is it's a little bit of both.
So then I consider this: If I were to choose which animal's special "sixth sense" I would like to have, knowing that its particular sensitivity could help me before during and after a serious weather incident, which animal would I choose? I guess I would have to do a bit of investigative work and I cannot think of a better place to look than at the indigenous of our world and the practices of the shamans; medicine men and women.

In the Shamanic belief, shamans believe that everyone has power animals and are able to use that animal's spirit, lending to you the wisdom of its kind.  Hawks will lend their hawk wisdom; tigers their tiger wisdom, etc. And, they need not be only mammals and can be reptiles, insects or sea creatures. Shamans also believe that everyone has power animals to aid in overcoming illnesses and keeping negative energy from entering their bodies.  They believe that over the course of a human's life, everyone has several power animals, especially during their childhood, otherwise they couldn't survive.
So then what are the attributes of some of these power animals? Better yet, let's call them "Animal Spirit Guides."  We'll start with the bear, since I, for one, know that the bear and its talents has worked with me in my own life.  After all, I asked it to.   And, for those of you who have begun reading my novels in the White Bird Series, you have begun to understand that animals are a very important element in my story.  
When one looks for the attributes of each animal, focusing on what it represents as a power animal, there are hundreds of resources available on the internet.  If you'd like a book on power animals, "Animal Speak" by Ted Andrews is very popular. For the purpose of this article, I will be using information from this website: www.animalspirits.com. It is very popular and well-researched.

The Bear (Emblematic of grounding forces and strength) 

Bear Wisom includes:

• Strength and confidence
• Standing against adversity; taking action and leadership
• Using healing ability to help self or others
• Importance of solitude, quiet time, rest.
• The spirit of the bear provides strong grounding forces.

The Mountain Lion (Master Hunter known for its high intelligence)
Mountain Lion wisdom includes:

• Using leadership power wisely and without ego
• Balancing power, intention, strength.
• Gaining self-confidence
• Freedom from guilt
• Cunning

The Eagle (Symbol of spirit, vision and strength)
Eagle wisdom includes:

• Swiftness, strength, wisdom
• Courage, keen sight, healing
• Illumination of Spirit
• Ability to see hidden spiritual truths
• Rising above the material to see the spiritual
• Grace achieved through knowledge and hard work

The Elephant (Symbol of commitment, royalty and strength)

Elephant wisdom includes:

• Connection to ancient wisdom
• Removal of obstacle and barriers
• Confidence
• Patience
• Using education opportunities
• Royalty
• Strength

The Wolf (Symbol of wildness, social and family values)

Wolf wisdom includes:

• Facing the end of one's cycle with dignity and courage
• Death and rebirth
• Spirit teaching
• Guidance in dreams and meditations
• Instinct linked with intelligence
• Social and familial values
• Outwitting enemies
• Ability to pass unseen
• Steadfastness

The Spider (Grandmother Spider wove the web of the universe)

Spider wisdom includes:

• Weaver of the web of fate
• Wisdom
• Creativity
• Divine Inspiration
• Shapeshifting
• Understanding the patterns of illusion
• Female energy for the creative force of life

The Orca (Record keeper for Eternity)

Orca wisdom includes:

• Creator of the Cosmos
• Freeing the soul from the physical body
• Controlling rainfall on earth
• Soul memory
• Seeing the unseen
• Having the ability to convert raw material into stars, planets, etc.

What I have included in this respective list is just a tiny example of the hundreds upon hundreds of animals in the animal kingdom, each with its own special unique quality.  Animals are our spiritual teachers in so many ways.  If this interests you at all, there are many websites, books, seminars that share their knowledge. You can then begin researching on your own so you can begin learning more about the animals of our world and what they can offer, discover for yourself how each can talk to you and awaken the knowledge that lies deep within your soul. This particular way of looking at animals allows us to honor them for what they can teach us instead of exploiting them just as a food source, or for clothing, medicine, hides, oils, or entertainment. 

We will continue seeing nature rear its head, and sometimes we will feel insignificant against such fury.  But we need not feel as if we are alone.  The animals of our world have chosen to be here, just as we have and they are quite aware of what is going on and will offer their help if asked.  From the tiniest ant to the white sperm whale, each species communes with the earth and understands that the planet, the animals and mankind are at an impasse, moving from one age to the next.  Maybe we should watch the animal kingdom, see how it is reacting to these changes and learn from them.  When environmental changes occur as they are today, accepting and adapting to the changes is a key to survival.  The animal kingdom knows how to do this, mankind, however, still struggles.  I don't know about you, but my eyes will be on them, not the media, proclaiming our world is about to end.  And as I watch our beloved four-leggeds, winged-beings and creatures of the sea, I will do what I can to make sure that I, representing the race of human beings, honor them, respect them, cherish them and listen to them.  Or rather, if I happen to see an army of worms scurrying for higher ground--I will follow.

Namaste,

Paula    

I AM....OR, SWIMMING THROUGH MUD

Good Morning!
As I look out my window, I reflect that summer is slowly slipping away, and it makes me sad.  Although I

http://humansarefree.com/2011/09/knowing-who-you-are.html

love all the seasons, there's a particularly soft spot in my heart for the beautiful summer months, especially July, filled with hot, sunny days where you can wear as little clothing as possible, run in the hot sun, bike along flower-lined streets and paths, canoe in bright blue waters, watching the sun dance off the tops of the lulling waves.  I adore summer, hot summer, quiet summer, happy summer.  Sigh. Oh well, I must move on, otherwise I will become melancholy and that will just not do.
So, what to discuss today.  I don't know about you, but the energies this month have been confusing, irritating, stressful and a bit ornery, and sometimes I feel like I'm swimming through mud.  I say energies, meaning that invisible hand that seems to either caress or subdue, help or hinder, the energy in the air that seeps deep down into your soul, your gut, your heart.  Most often I dance with these energies, as that is what I've been taught, but lately I've been struggling and often times reflect on my own journey.
Early in the 80s decade, when I began seeking, entering the world of the metaphysical, I, along with my mother, began attending small gatherings, mostly consisting of healers, astrologers, writers, ministers, etc.  Soon, however, these gatherings began to grow, drawing people, like myself, who were your average human, other than there was a deep calling within, a voice asking for a bit more information, seeking, digging, demanding answers.
The question? Who am I and why am I here?
It seemed the more I yearned to know what mystery of life was this, the more irritated, or better yet, the more frustrated I became.  You see, there really is no answer anyone can give the seeker, they have to discover the answer on their own, but in the beginning, one cannot help but ask someone other than oneself.  Thus the frustration.  I detested the answer: No one else can answer the question but yourself.  How can this be? I fumed.  If I knew the answer, why would I ask it?  And so, the hunt began.  Over the river, through the woods, and across the pond I went, searching, seeking, asking, listening.  Finally, after I laid bare my soul, had my ego smashed to smithereens, built it back up again and paired it on an even keel with my spirit, I realized the truth.  I AM THAT I AM.  It is as simple as that.  After hours, hundreds upon hundreds, after listening and meeting Masters, those who can look upon humanity and filter our fears, desires, hopes and dreams, did I come to realize this simple truth.  Although those five words seem a bit obscure, vague and oftentimes irritating in their simplicity, saying them out loud, believing them, owning them, loving them can absolutely turn your life inside out.
Those who have studied the bible recognize these words from EXODUS 3:14 as the response God used in the Hebrew Bible when Moses asked for his name.
According to some who study and follow Buddhism and are familiar with the Buddha Nature Chart, the blueprint of your true identity,  the upper figure in the chart is your Divine Presence, known as the I AM THAT I AM.
According to Kryon, the DNA layer 6, like all the other eleven layers, has a Hebrew name, the sixth being, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh: I AM THAT I AM.
Followers and students of the Seven Sacred Flames, meditate daily, focusing on the different colors of the flames and their purpose, praying, intent on the I Am presence, the Divine Mind, the Mind of God, understanding that within each and every one of us is the presence of God.
But what about me? How do I interpret these five words? For me, the I AM THAT I AM, is a responsibility to myself to remember who I am, a Co-creator Being, owning my true nature as a spiritual being having a human experience, not bowing down to any other entity as superior to me, for within my true nature is all that is, all I need to know, without need to look any further for answers.  Now, this might seem, to some, a bit arrogant. But is it? Isn't this what the Masters have told us all along? What I seek I shall find within?
However, when I say: I AM THAT I AM, I am not claiming to be unique from the human race.  On the contrary, I am admitting to be a part of it, grand beings that we are, connected in more ways than we could ever imagine.  No matter what we were taught in Sunday school, by our parents, our teachers, our neighbors; we, as human beings are the grandest beings in all the universe, born without sin, and that statement in itself is a release.  Why? Because we are experiencing life on planet earth having forgotten who we truly are.  Brave souls that we are, we came to this planet to remember who we are, having dropped the 'veil of forgetfulness' down around us.  What better way is there to remember than to forget?
And so, as we walk out into the world, let us put on the cloak of grandness and remember who we are.  The energies are confusing because we are entering a time never experienced by humanity.  Before, in other ages, we got to this point in our evolution and we didn't survive.  In some fashion or another, we, as a  human race, save for a few hundred souls, perished, only to have to start over again.  But this time we don't have to do that.
Yes, we will become frustrated, confused, frightened, some of us even leaving the planet because it is difficult. But there are avenues to take which will make this time in history much easier.  Even though we are sovereign beings, we are never alone.  And, maybe this is the source of my sadness at the changing of the seasons. Maybe it's due to the change of the ages. I, for one, don't like change, it makes me uncomfortable, brings up bits of sadness from you youth.  Obviously, we live in changing times and it can be oftentimes sad, especially for those of us born before 1987 who still carry with them the residual energies we were born into (I'll explain this in a moment.) Fortunately, along with many other helpful souls, I have found this woman's daily reflections incredibly astute and look forward to her newsletters to help straighten out my day.  Her name is Sarah Varcas, her website is: Awakenings, and I am glad that I found her.
We are the bravest spiritual beings in all universes, all galaxies, because we trusted ourselves enough to go where no others spirits dared, to a place that was supposed to annihilate itself by the end of 1999.  We, those born before 1987, came to this planet to experience the End, but we changed all that, earth and humanity are now set on another course. And now, as earth and humanity enters into the Fifth Age, the age of Illumination, we can begin remembering who we are while still walking the earth.  We won't have to transcend, to die, to go back to where we came from in order to remember like we have so many times in the past.  We can stay here, in the grandest place the angels have ever known.  Our dear Tara, planet Earth, the bluest, most grandest home ever.
I love you all,
Paula

THE GRAND SEXTILE

Greetings ~
Have you noticed people acting more strangely this month? Saying or doing things out of character? Maybe you yourself have been acting oddly, feeling irritable, irrational, and sensitive to others. Most likely, this is due to challenging energies that trigger explosive reactions even in the most calm of people.  August has already seen an incredible amount of astrological events, with two full moons.  So, why is this happening now?
There have been whispers swirling around of a grand celestial event in our skies, speaking

Art: Jetter Green from
http://www.mysticmamma.com

of major celestial bodies moving into place to form a six-pointed star, allowing a portal to open to bring in another strong infusion of light to our planet, allowing humans, once again, to consciously and collectively connect to the divine.  
Two grand sextiles  have occurred this summer. The first occurred on 7/29, the next 8/25 finalizing on the 26th of August. Today. For those of you who would like a bit more information, and would like to meditate with this energy, visit: The Sacred Ascension website.
Now, many of you will ask, as I already have, what does this all mean? What is a sextile and why is this one grand? Here is wikipedia's definition, basic at best: "In astrology, the grand sextile is an aspect pattern made between six planets or other stellar bodies, which are all placed approximately or exactly 60 degrees apart from each other, forming six sextiles."

Then we ask, why is this important? Well, for many, this six-pointed star represents the Star of David, or the star tetrahedon; many names and much symbolism is tied into this Sacred Geometry. The essence is that this magical configuration of Sacred Geometry opens a portal of energy that is available for all to use and tune into. for more information about the star tetrahedon and Sacred Geometry, check out this website: Mysticmamma.

Okay, now the second question, what's so important about today? Here in an article title, "A Cosmic Gift Like None Before It," is how Sara Varcas sees it.  Click on the article to read, and afterwards, visit her website: www.astro-awakenings.co.uk.

Today is a mystical, magical day, welcoming the cosmic shift happening all around us as we lightworkers continue to carry the torch.
Have a beautiful day.
PB

LITTLE BLUE STAR

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Hello Dear Ones,
I would first like to express my sincere apology for being absent as of late, but, without boring you with
mundane excuses, I must admit, I've been very, very busy.
2012 and the beginning of 2013 were filled with exciting, tragic, funny, time-consuming, and heartbreaking events, all which took me away from my blog.  And so, without further adieu, I will now jump in with both feet, and promise that I will update my blog twice a month.  I plan on making updates every other Wednesday, devoting Tuesdays to writing.
Now, since I mentioned writing, this is probably the biggest reason I've not been blogging.  Crystal, my main character in my books, has been needy as of late.  She's not leaving me alone, waking me up at night, insisting I change this, then I change that.  You see, I've just released my third book in the White Bird series, Little Blue Star! Without belittling the other two books previously published, I feel this one is the best one yet.  I know, I know, I will probably say this every time I release a new one, which, by the way, I intend on doing every year until probably 2018! That's how many books will be in the series, at least seven!
So, Crystal and I have been very busy.  But now, because the book is done, it is my job to talk about it with anyone who will listen.
In this book, Crystal meets with the Hopi, the creator's chosen people.  Much of my inspiration for this particular piece of Crystal's journey stems from two people: Drunvalo Melchizedek and Robert Morning Sky, both extremely influential teachers in their respective fields.  Click on their names to find out more about them.
Drunvalo and Robert have intriguing ideas about the Hopi and the Ancestral Puebloans, their ancestors who walked the Four Corners area hundreds of years ago.  Many today call them the Anasazi, but that's not an appropriate name for them.  The Hopi and other Puebloans prefer them called Ancestral Puebloans.  For many, many years, strange stories swirled around examining where these people might have gone.  Their ancient ruins looking as if they suddenly picked up, leaving their belongings and anything else they couldn't carry.  Some theorists speculate they exited earth in a mass ascension, some claim it was due to climate change, others say an internecine war broke out within the clans due to the introduction of the religion of the Katsina.
Check out these other websites for these interesting theories:
Anasazi Disappearance,
Solving the Mystery,
Ancient Puebloans.

Whatever the case may be, there is an exciting story to be told about this ancient clan of  peoples and I do just that in my story.  I also talk about mysteries surrounding the star, Sirius, the Orion constellation, and Koyaanisqatsi; Life out of balance.   A lover of everything Phillip Glass has ever composed, I fell in love with the cult film with said title in the 1980s and when I discovered the word, koyaanisqatsi is taken from the Hopi language, meaning, for one; a state of life calling for another way of living, and part of the Hopi Prophesies, there was no question I would introduce this concept into my story.

Please take a moment and visit my website, PB Morlen, where you can learn more about my books, about me, and make a purchase.  Whether or not you are an ebook reader or, like me, prefer holding a book in your hand, I offer my readers both formats.  Visit Crystal's bookstore on my website and with one easy click, you can make a purchase.
Thank you for your patience and I look forward to hearing from you all soon!!
Namaste,
Paula (PB Morlen)
  

PE' SLA, THE HEART OF ALL THAT IS

Photo borrowed from RapidCityJournal.com

Mitakuye Oyasin~

A little over a month ago, via FB, I saw my first message pertaining to the auction of close to 2,000 acres of sacred land in the Black Hills to the highest bidder to satisfy a tax lien on August 25th, 2012.  To  the Oceti Sakowin, The People of the Seven Council Fires-the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota nations-this sacred land is known as Pe'Sla, The Heart of All That Is, and consider the site key to their creation story.  To the rest of the world, this 2,000 acre parcel of land is known as Reynolds Prairie, owned by Leonard and Margaret Reynolds of Hill City. 

But Chase Iron Eyes, founder of Lastrealindians.com, Inc., spearheaded an effort to save Pe’ Sla.  Due to this group of young Native Americans who call themselves The Last Real Indians and other hardworking and determined groups in, of and around the Great Sioux Nation getting word of the auction out, the land was pulled from the auction block at the owner's request.  Within days, the collaborative effort to save Pe’ Sla spread far and wide across the Dakotas, and now, the nation.

But the land is still not safe as it is now for sale. Currently for sale is 1,942.66 acres which is in 5 tracts (300 - 440 acres each).

When I came across the message on FB about this piece of land being auctioned off, I immediately followed the link which lead me to Indiegogo.com/PeSla-LakotaHeartland website where I donated money to help the Great Sioux Nation gather funds so they could purchase the land. I've visited this area often and immediately sensed the urgency to take action.

Initially they were looking for $1million dollars, the money needed for the auction of the land valued between $6million and $10million, but then the land was pulled from the auction block.   Should Pe' Sla go into the hands of anyone other than members of The Great Sioux Nation, it's highly likely that it will be developed. The State of South Dakota has expressed that it wants to use eminent domain to build a road right through the heart of Pe' Sla, cutting off the Native Americans access to it and spelling its destruction as a sacred site.

As of today, The Tribes of the Great Sioux Nation are moving forward on their own behalf with Lastrealindians, Inc. in continuing to raise money to ensure Pe’ Sla will be protected as a sacred site, forever.

Ironically, the land Tribal leaders are working to to buy back was stolen from them by the U.S. government.  The Sioux never accepted the Black Hills settlement as proposed by the United States Supreme Court. 

I am delighted to report that as of September 5, 2012, news crossed the wires that Sioux Leaders of Pe' Sla land movement announced a deal between the Reynolds family and the Sioux tribes.  Officially the tribes of the Great Sioux Nation will purchase the 2,000 acres of sacred land.     Chase Iron Eyes and his organization, the Last Real Indians, have raised $325,386 and put down a deposit on the 2000 acres of real estate in the Black Hills, but the tribes must raise additional cash, upward of $9million by the end of November to seal the land deal. This action  was organized by Last Real Indians and the Lakota People’s Law Project. 

For more information about this purchase and what they're up against next, watch the video below: 

As you learned, there are still ongoing fundraising needs.  Please visit the Indigogo website above and make a donation!

On  a personal note: I am pleased to say that in my last book, Crystal Blue Sky, my character, Crystal Blue, visited this sacred land and met her ancestor, Weasel Bear, on the great granite mountainside known to some as Cougar Mountain.  As I wrote this particular passage, I was swept away with the beauty that I remembered this land to be.  As a child I visited the Black Hills often and always felt a sense of sadness as I walked along the paths looking for Fools Gold and beautiful stones I could take home with me. 

When I first began getting the idea to write this series, I knew without a doubt that my heroine would visit the Great Sioux Nation first before she began her journey traveling around the world.  The message for me was loud and clear, she should visit with the Tribal Leaders of the Great Sioux Nation to strengthen her ghost, heal her past and cleanse her spirit with fire and water.  There is a strength to the Sioux that I can appreciate and I wanted to honor them by taking Crystal to their Sacred Hearth so she could prepare herself for her journey. 

And now,  I can smile and know that maybe, just maybe, just possibly, Crystal's visit to their land had a little something to do with their new found hope that they could possibly, once again, call this sacred piece of land their own.  

  
Mitakuye Oyasin~
Paula

BLUE MOON

image from surfersvillage.com

Today I thought I'd reflect on the rare observance of a Blue Moon that occured August 31st.  Now, when we say there's a blue moon this month, what does that mean? According to modern folklore, when there are two full moons in one calendar month, it is called a blue moon.  But is the moon really blue? I thought I'd check.  Last Friday night the sky was clear and I looked at our beautiful full moon and determined that it wasn't blue at all, but even so, it was absolutely brilliant.



Happy Labor Day!!

Typically, there is a full moon every month, although sometimes there isn't one in February. Our word 'month' came from the word 'moon.'
So let's consider why we call this a blue moon and why it is so rare.  In order for a month to have two full moons, the first full moon has to be in the first few days.  This year, the full moon occured on August 1st and August 31st.  This happens every 2 to 3  years, the next one not occuring until 2015.

According to folklorists, the term "Blue Moon" is at least 400 years old. The earliest known references to a blue moon were intended as examples of improbable events or something that could never happen. As time passed the expression evolved to mean something that rarely or never happened. Hence the expression "Once in a Blue Moon" which is still popular today.

The idea of a Blue Moon as the second full moon in a month stemmed from the March 1946 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine, which contained an article called “Once in a Blue Moon” by James Hugh Pruett. Pruett was using a 1937 Maine Farmer’s Almanac, but he simplified the definition. He wrote:

Seven times in 19 years there were — and still are — 13 full moons in a year. This gives 11 months with one full moon each and one with two. This second in a month, so I interpret it, was called Blue Moon.
 

In the 1970s, EarthSky's Deborah Byrd happened upon this issue and began using the term Blue Moon for the second full moon in a calendar month in her radio shows and the term stuck.
But many scholars consider that this is in error.  They say the article found in Sky and Telescope Magazine says the original definition of a Blue Moon referred to 4 Full Moons in one season. The article also indicates a season is defined as the time between a Solstice and Equinox or an Equinox and Solstice.
There is another speculation that the original term Blue Moon came from observing the bluish tinge of a full moon through smoke.
Here is a 2012 YouTube from Nasa on Blue Moons produced by volcanos and fires. Video
 
This is modern folklore's take on this lunar occurence, but what about ancient cultures.  Did they perform ceremonies using the full moon's powers? 
When I was doing research for my books in the White Bird series, I was not surprised to learn that many ancient cultures around the world experienced the moon as the essence of the Divine Sacred Feminine. Because her nature and wisdom is that of transformative powers, during a full moon the Sacred Goddess can gather full power.  But what about a Blue Moon? Is this more powerful? Did ancient Shamans, healers, medicine men and women harness this power for healing and growth?


In the pagan community, the origins of the meaning of a Blue Moon vary. Follow the link to discover how the second full moon is observed in the pagan community.

Here is a message from the Pledian Delegate pertaining to this year's Blue Moon.

There are some great resources online for taking advantage of the Blue Moon and suggested rituals. Here are a couple for your information:

How to celebrate the Blue Moon.
Ritual for the Blue Moon (Wiccan rite)
The Rare Blue Moon
Full Moon Ritual - Casting the Full Circle
Celebrating the Full Moon
Moon Facts

This is some information about this particular and heavenly rare occurence.  But what about the stories I am hearing about people experiencing so much chaos in their lives.  Remeber, we are in a quantum shift and things are changing very rapidly.  We are releasing the old making way for the new.  As the messenger from the Pleidias said: Stay Present and Stay in Love.  Two full moons in one month can cause mass confusion, and I for one have experienced this in my own life.  I had to make a conscious effort to stay in the present moment and not dwell on the chaos surrounding me.  It was very, very difficult but I managed not to be drawn into the drama.

We are making history, stepping into a new age consciously and it will get a bit rocky.  But remember, you are never alone.

Espavo,
Paula