06 June 2010
05 June 2010
04 June 2010
03 June 2010
02 June 2010
01 June 2010
Avatar: the Last Airbender
This is a truly amazing children's animated series that even adults can appreciate.
I really like how this show incorporates: martial arts disciplines (kata forms as a means to practice moving chi), warrior ideologies, learning to work with and manipulate ("bend") the four elements, mental discipline and psychic abilities, "drawing up" deity, reincarnation, and especially taking full inventory of your strengths and weaknesses in order to work to overcome your shortcomings to be a stronger, better, more compassionate person.
The majority of the themes in this show resonate with what we, in Scathach, are working on.
And Uncle Iroh rocks my socks!
I really like how this show incorporates: martial arts disciplines (kata forms as a means to practice moving chi), warrior ideologies, learning to work with and manipulate ("bend") the four elements, mental discipline and psychic abilities, "drawing up" deity, reincarnation, and especially taking full inventory of your strengths and weaknesses in order to work to overcome your shortcomings to be a stronger, better, more compassionate person.
The majority of the themes in this show resonate with what we, in Scathach, are working on.
And Uncle Iroh rocks my socks!
01 May 2010
Demystifying Paganism - Reverend Derrek Younger
This is a truly brilliant sermon, which I think Christians and Pagans alike should watch. I would attend any church this man preaches at.
continue on to Part 2:
and conclude with Part 3:
continue on to Part 2:
and conclude with Part 3:
08 April 2010
preborn
Since I have been pregnant, I have been having some strange dreams. Not even just dreams, but more like this unborn child is taking me on walkabout through the astral plane or Dreamtime. Like s/he wants to meet the people in my life to determine if s/he wants me to be hir mother.
In the dreams I am visiting close friends and covenmates, and we are interacting. About what, I can't recall upon waking, I only know that the conversation could just as likely have happened in real time, because when I am back in real time both me and the people I have interacted with both recall the interaction having happened and that it didn't seem to matter that it was in the astral because it carried over just as if it happened in real time. Telepathy? Astral projection? Aboriginal DreamTime? Can't say for sure. All I am certain of is that I AM interacting with people, regardless of venue, and it IS just as valid as if it happened in real time and in real life.
For those who are familiar with Frank Herbert's "Dune", the term "preborn" comes to mind.
[[Perhaps I should change my choice of name from Alivia to Alia? wait, maybe better not to invoke that kind of crazy, given hir mother... heheh]]
As a "for example", I offer the following dream episode:
Several weeks ago I phoned Logan's mother (unbeknownst to Logan) to inform her she was going to be a grandmother again. On the phone she was cold and distant, sounded almost annoyed to hear from me, and avoided committing to meet with me in person the next time she was in town (I wanted to tell her in person, not over the phone, so asked to meet for coffee). Put off by her reception, I did not tell her I was pregnant and instead wished her well and ended the call.
That night, I dreamt I had the in-person meeting I wanted and told her she was a grandma again. To which she promptly replied "I am not. That is not my grandchild; I will have nothing to do with it, or you."
I woke the next morning upset by this dream, and phoned Logan. I asked if his mother knew I was pregnant, and if she knew I had left him and moved out. He replied that yes, she was well aware (he told her the week before), and that she was "unenthusiastic" about the pregnancy. And continued to impress upon him that she wanted nothing to do with me or my child.
These are the kind of dreams I have been having since becoming pregnant. Encounters in the astral plane / Dreamtime that unfold just as they would if they were in real time with these people.
Has ANYONE else experienced this, or know of someone who has?
In the dreams I am visiting close friends and covenmates, and we are interacting. About what, I can't recall upon waking, I only know that the conversation could just as likely have happened in real time, because when I am back in real time both me and the people I have interacted with both recall the interaction having happened and that it didn't seem to matter that it was in the astral because it carried over just as if it happened in real time. Telepathy? Astral projection? Aboriginal DreamTime? Can't say for sure. All I am certain of is that I AM interacting with people, regardless of venue, and it IS just as valid as if it happened in real time and in real life.
For those who are familiar with Frank Herbert's "Dune", the term "preborn" comes to mind.
[[Perhaps I should change my choice of name from Alivia to Alia? wait, maybe better not to invoke that kind of crazy, given hir mother... heheh]]
As a "for example", I offer the following dream episode:
Several weeks ago I phoned Logan's mother (unbeknownst to Logan) to inform her she was going to be a grandmother again. On the phone she was cold and distant, sounded almost annoyed to hear from me, and avoided committing to meet with me in person the next time she was in town (I wanted to tell her in person, not over the phone, so asked to meet for coffee). Put off by her reception, I did not tell her I was pregnant and instead wished her well and ended the call.
That night, I dreamt I had the in-person meeting I wanted and told her she was a grandma again. To which she promptly replied "I am not. That is not my grandchild; I will have nothing to do with it, or you."
I woke the next morning upset by this dream, and phoned Logan. I asked if his mother knew I was pregnant, and if she knew I had left him and moved out. He replied that yes, she was well aware (he told her the week before), and that she was "unenthusiastic" about the pregnancy. And continued to impress upon him that she wanted nothing to do with me or my child.
These are the kind of dreams I have been having since becoming pregnant. Encounters in the astral plane / Dreamtime that unfold just as they would if they were in real time with these people.
Has ANYONE else experienced this, or know of someone who has?
28 January 2010
today is my birthday (self-promoting)
It's my birthday. I'm having an Open House / House Party. Come on over for a few hours and hang out. There will be ice cream cake. Yes, it's a school night, but I don't work tomorrow so I'll be awake until I'm asleep.
6765 Lakeview Avenue, Burnaby
Pickup from Edmonds skytrain station; phone Logan (778) 239-4739
I think I'll put out a jar if anyone would like to contribute $10 or so to my "Ange needs a 6' bullwhip already!" fund. That's a worthy cause, isn't it??
6765 Lakeview Avenue, Burnaby
Pickup from Edmonds skytrain station; phone Logan (778) 239-4739
I think I'll put out a jar if anyone would like to contribute $10 or so to my "Ange needs a 6' bullwhip already!" fund. That's a worthy cause, isn't it??
25 January 2010
the colour RED in Japan
Story of Kannon Bosatsu
The Offering of a Red Scarf
from Dreams, Myths & Fairy Tales in Japan.
Einsiedeln, Switzerland, Daimon, 1995.
Courtesy of www.cgjungpage.org/index.php
In this story, the appearance of the red skirt on Kannon's statue is a sign of her having traversed this world from the "other" to help those in need. From Dreams, Myths & Fairy Tales in Japan, 1995. See Hayao Kawai's chapter on "Interpenetration: Dreams in Medieval Japan." Kawai recounts the following medieval story:
There was a man living with his wife and only daughter. He loved his daughter very much and made several attempts to arrange a good marriage for her, but was unable to succeed. Hoping for better fortune, he built a temple in his backyard, enshrined it with the bodhisattva of compassion, Kannon, and asked the deity to help his daughter. He died one day, followed by his wife shortly thereafter, and the daughter was left to herself. Though her parents had been wealthy she gradually became poor and eventually even the servants left. Utterly alone, she had a dream one night in which an old priest emerged from the temple of Kannon in the backyard and said to her, "Because I love you so much, I would like to arrange a marriage for you. A man I have called will visit here tomorrow. You should do whatever he asks."
The next night a man with about thirty retainers came to her home. He seemed quite kind and proposed to marry her. He was attracted to her because she reminded him of his deceased wife. Remembering the words which Kannon had spoken to her in her dream, she accepted his proposal. The man was very pleased and told her that he would be back the next day after attending to some business.
More than twenty of his retainers remained behind to spend the night at her home. She wanted to be a good hostess and prepare a meal for them, but she was too poor to do so. Just then an unknown woman appeared who identified herself as the daughter of a servant who used to work for the parents of the hostess a long time ago. Sympathetic to the hostess' plight, she told the latter that she would bring food from her home to feed the guests. When the man returned the next day, she helped the daughter of her parents' master again by serving the man and his attendants. The hostess showed her gratitude by giving her helper a red ceremonial skirt (Jpn. hakama).
When the time came to depart with her fiancee, she went to the temple of Kannon to express her thanks. To her surprise she found the red skirt on the shoulder of the statue; she realized then that the woman who had come to help her was actually a manifestation of Kannon.
We see in this story not only the realization of what was promised in a dream, but also the Kannon's entry into this life as the former servant's daughter. Added to that is the appearance of the red skirt on the Kannon's statue as a sign of her having traversed this world from the "other."
The Offering of a Red Scarf
from Dreams, Myths & Fairy Tales in Japan.
Einsiedeln, Switzerland, Daimon, 1995.
Courtesy of www.cgjungpage.org/index.php
In this story, the appearance of the red skirt on Kannon's statue is a sign of her having traversed this world from the "other" to help those in need. From Dreams, Myths & Fairy Tales in Japan, 1995. See Hayao Kawai's chapter on "Interpenetration: Dreams in Medieval Japan." Kawai recounts the following medieval story:
There was a man living with his wife and only daughter. He loved his daughter very much and made several attempts to arrange a good marriage for her, but was unable to succeed. Hoping for better fortune, he built a temple in his backyard, enshrined it with the bodhisattva of compassion, Kannon, and asked the deity to help his daughter. He died one day, followed by his wife shortly thereafter, and the daughter was left to herself. Though her parents had been wealthy she gradually became poor and eventually even the servants left. Utterly alone, she had a dream one night in which an old priest emerged from the temple of Kannon in the backyard and said to her, "Because I love you so much, I would like to arrange a marriage for you. A man I have called will visit here tomorrow. You should do whatever he asks."
The next night a man with about thirty retainers came to her home. He seemed quite kind and proposed to marry her. He was attracted to her because she reminded him of his deceased wife. Remembering the words which Kannon had spoken to her in her dream, she accepted his proposal. The man was very pleased and told her that he would be back the next day after attending to some business.
More than twenty of his retainers remained behind to spend the night at her home. She wanted to be a good hostess and prepare a meal for them, but she was too poor to do so. Just then an unknown woman appeared who identified herself as the daughter of a servant who used to work for the parents of the hostess a long time ago. Sympathetic to the hostess' plight, she told the latter that she would bring food from her home to feed the guests. When the man returned the next day, she helped the daughter of her parents' master again by serving the man and his attendants. The hostess showed her gratitude by giving her helper a red ceremonial skirt (Jpn. hakama).
When the time came to depart with her fiancee, she went to the temple of Kannon to express her thanks. To her surprise she found the red skirt on the shoulder of the statue; she realized then that the woman who had come to help her was actually a manifestation of Kannon.
We see in this story not only the realization of what was promised in a dream, but also the Kannon's entry into this life as the former servant's daughter. Added to that is the appearance of the red skirt on the Kannon's statue as a sign of her having traversed this world from the "other."
21 December 2009
Savage Daughter
(Chorus)
I am my Mother's savage daughter.
The one who runs barefoot, cursing sharp stones.
I am my Mother's savage daughter.
I'll not cut my hair.
I will not lower my voice.
My Mother's child is a savage
She looks for her omens in the colours of stones
In the faces of cats and the fall of feathers
In the dancing of fire and the curve of old bones
My Mother's child dances in darkness
And sings heathen songs by the light of the moon
And watches the stars and renames the planets
And dreams she can reach them with a song and a broom
Now my Mother's child curses too loud and too often
My Mother's child laughs too hard and too long
And howls at the moon and sleeps in ditches
And clumsily raises her voice in this song.
Now we all are brought forth out of darkness and water
Brought into this world through blood and through pain
And deep in our bones the old songs are waking
So sing them with voices of thunder and rain.
I am my Mother's savage daughter.
The one who runs barefoot, cursing sharp stones.
I am my Mother's savage daughter.
I'll not cut my hair.
I will not lower my voice.
My Mother's child is a savage
She looks for her omens in the colours of stones
In the faces of cats and the fall of feathers
In the dancing of fire and the curve of old bones
My Mother's child dances in darkness
And sings heathen songs by the light of the moon
And watches the stars and renames the planets
And dreams she can reach them with a song and a broom
Now my Mother's child curses too loud and too often
My Mother's child laughs too hard and too long
And howls at the moon and sleeps in ditches
And clumsily raises her voice in this song.
Now we all are brought forth out of darkness and water
Brought into this world through blood and through pain
And deep in our bones the old songs are waking
So sing them with voices of thunder and rain.
15 December 2009
Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca
Coming May 2010:
The new edition of Kerr Cuhulain's first book "The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca" has been updated and revised, and is being re-issued as
"Pagan Religions: A Diversity Training Manual"
The new edition of Kerr Cuhulain's first book "The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca" has been updated and revised, and is being re-issued as
"Pagan Religions: A Diversity Training Manual"
Kerr Cuhulain Interview
Kerr Cuhulain interviewed on internet radio show Pagans Tonight
15 December 2009
7 pm PST
www.paganstonight.com
15 December 2009
7 pm PST
www.paganstonight.com
08 December 2009
6 is the new 7
I'm SO relieved that everyone is open to trying a new earlier start time on Sunday evenings.
I've been a remiss little warrior not daring to say anything sooner; just pushing myself along just a little further, a little harder, I'm tough, I can take it... But "who dares, wins"!
And we really HAVE evolved into Sunday evening "family" dinner before classes. I like the extra hour to catch up with everyone without impinging on the class time, and without staying so late after class when most everyone has to go home to be up early Monday morning for work/school.
See you Sunday!
I've been a remiss little warrior not daring to say anything sooner; just pushing myself along just a little further, a little harder, I'm tough, I can take it... But "who dares, wins"!
And we really HAVE evolved into Sunday evening "family" dinner before classes. I like the extra hour to catch up with everyone without impinging on the class time, and without staying so late after class when most everyone has to go home to be up early Monday morning for work/school.
See you Sunday!
04 December 2009
25 November 2009
Pagan Movie Night - December 4
Friday, December 4
movie starts @ 7pm
the Mists of Avalon
6765 Lakeview Avenue, Burnaby
(604) 760-1944
closest skytrain is Royal Oak
more details here
movie starts @ 7pm
the Mists of Avalon
6765 Lakeview Avenue, Burnaby
(604) 760-1944
closest skytrain is Royal Oak
more details here
24 November 2009
Pagan Movie Night
Scathach TV Night
Friday evenings; once or twice monthly TBA
show up anytime after 5pm; movie starts at 7:00
My House has TV of Doom! 6765 Lakeview Avenue, Burnaby (604) 760-1944
Television shows, documentaries, movies, etc that are relevant and informative to us as pagans, as magickians, as warriors, as environmentalists, as politically aware and involved citizens, etc. Examples include (but are not limited to): "Religulous", "What the Bleep Do We Know?" and "Down the Rabbit Hole", "An Inconvenient Truth", TLC or Discovery Channel shows about the paranormal and psychic, "Psychic Investigators", "Fringe", educational shows involving the mind/body connection, spirituality, global consciousness, prophecies, new age, showcasing pagans/wiccans, anything to do with medieval Knights and chivalry (Templars, King Arthur, etc), anything about eastern martial arts & disciplines (Bushido, etc), what else can you think of ...?
Also fiction for the fun of it, i.e.: "Harry Potter", "Doctor Strange", "Practical Magic", "the Craft", "Merlin", "Mists of Avalon", "Avatar: the Last Airbender", "What Dreams May Come", "the Matrix", "the Last Samurai", "Dances With Wolves", "the Spiderwick Chronicles", "Bridge to Terabithia", "Kung Fu Panda", "the Last Mimzy", the list goes on ...
I'll post a note with the movie(s) we're watching, with a link to its writeup on imdb.com so you can read beforehand if the movie is suitable for your kids (which means you can bring them along!)
I'll be sure to post the movie ahead of time, so anyone not local can obtain a copy to watch also. This way, anyone who cannot attend in person can follow along at home.
Then we can discuss like mad on the blog, and use up ALL the available space left on the Internets!!! crazy.
Friday evenings; once or twice monthly TBA
show up anytime after 5pm; movie starts at 7:00
My House has TV of Doom! 6765 Lakeview Avenue, Burnaby (604) 760-1944
- street parking in the cul-de-sac; follow the christmas lights in
- "shuttle" available to/from Royal Oak skytrain station; just call me
- feel free to bring your munchies, pj's, blankies & pillows, whatever!
- 2 couches and 1 papason; if you can bring comfy floor mats and cushions, even better!
- cat-free, smoke-free, and fragrance-free for your utmost comfort and enjoyment
Television shows, documentaries, movies, etc that are relevant and informative to us as pagans, as magickians, as warriors, as environmentalists, as politically aware and involved citizens, etc. Examples include (but are not limited to): "Religulous", "What the Bleep Do We Know?" and "Down the Rabbit Hole", "An Inconvenient Truth", TLC or Discovery Channel shows about the paranormal and psychic, "Psychic Investigators", "Fringe", educational shows involving the mind/body connection, spirituality, global consciousness, prophecies, new age, showcasing pagans/wiccans, anything to do with medieval Knights and chivalry (Templars, King Arthur, etc), anything about eastern martial arts & disciplines (Bushido, etc), what else can you think of ...?
Also fiction for the fun of it, i.e.: "Harry Potter", "Doctor Strange", "Practical Magic", "the Craft", "Merlin", "Mists of Avalon", "Avatar: the Last Airbender", "What Dreams May Come", "the Matrix", "the Last Samurai", "Dances With Wolves", "the Spiderwick Chronicles", "Bridge to Terabithia", "Kung Fu Panda", "the Last Mimzy", the list goes on ...
I'll post a note with the movie(s) we're watching, with a link to its writeup on imdb.com so you can read beforehand if the movie is suitable for your kids (which means you can bring them along!)
I'll be sure to post the movie ahead of time, so anyone not local can obtain a copy to watch also. This way, anyone who cannot attend in person can follow along at home.
Then we can discuss like mad on the blog, and use up ALL the available space left on the Internets!!! crazy.
16 November 2009
books! omg books!
I don't know which to squee over more: books or shoes!
Thanks for the double-armload of books last night. My poor bookcases are going to bow under the weight, at the rate I'm going! But my brain is going "wheeee.... more stuffs to learn!"
Looking through some of the small vanity-press newsletter/periodicals, I found a yellow post-it sticky saying "This is my stuff; I want credit for it!" signed by Amber K. Kerr confirmed it was her handwriting all right. That was neat to find. Could you imagine this making its way to a public library and someone signing it out to find this sticky? Cool.
And as much as I don't condone book-burning (unless it's tax law from 50 years ago, and it's the Day After Tomorrow and you need a fire), there were a couple gems in there I thought would serve better as kindling than reading material. But hey, if it weren't for some of those not-so-great books paving the way for the improved upgrades, we may not see the better books being published today.
Last week I started to reorganize my bookcases to accommodate a half-dozen new books I had bought recently that didn't yet have homes... and now I have to do it all over again to make room for these new additions.
Could you imagine if my allergies/asthma didn't prevent me from taking in cats as fast as I take in books and shoes?? yikes!
Thanks for the double-armload of books last night. My poor bookcases are going to bow under the weight, at the rate I'm going! But my brain is going "wheeee.... more stuffs to learn!"
Looking through some of the small vanity-press newsletter/periodicals, I found a yellow post-it sticky saying "This is my stuff; I want credit for it!" signed by Amber K. Kerr confirmed it was her handwriting all right. That was neat to find. Could you imagine this making its way to a public library and someone signing it out to find this sticky? Cool.
And as much as I don't condone book-burning (unless it's tax law from 50 years ago, and it's the Day After Tomorrow and you need a fire), there were a couple gems in there I thought would serve better as kindling than reading material. But hey, if it weren't for some of those not-so-great books paving the way for the improved upgrades, we may not see the better books being published today.
Last week I started to reorganize my bookcases to accommodate a half-dozen new books I had bought recently that didn't yet have homes... and now I have to do it all over again to make room for these new additions.
Could you imagine if my allergies/asthma didn't prevent me from taking in cats as fast as I take in books and shoes?? yikes!
Maeve, Goddess-Queen of Cats
Was it just me, or did anyone else notice that during her Dedication Oath at last night's Arming Maeve's eyes turned green-gold and feline?!?
I couldn't stop staring. And wondering if she has some kind of cat totem...?
Maeve, any thoughts? Inquiring minds are inquiring!
I couldn't stop staring. And wondering if she has some kind of cat totem...?
Maeve, any thoughts? Inquiring minds are inquiring!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
