Preception & re-location of Refuge

The prospects of a move are good in many ways - but have been disturbing on other levels.

Making a physical move to another location means a letting go of the present physical location, responsibilities of that location and interactions. I have been feeling pretty disconnected from certain present locations - there are other factors involving individuals who have grown uninterested in the whole present location and have let it get run down. This heightens the sad and disconnected feel these 'working' areas now give off.

I had thought it was me not understanding or having lost something along the way in the struggles of the last 6 months - the twists and turns of choices that had to be made carefully. No energy to tend the areas - hope I can transport them to the new location - the wearing of the waiting - game situation.

Then this morning in my attempt to greet the sun -- I peered over to an area I had set up as a sort of refuge for beings both seen and unseen. A stack of long tall twigs with seashells attached in a tee pee sort of arrangement. Then an old wooden and wire bird cage. Some driftwood and a statue of a Fae. This area is outside a door that is not used as an entry way that faces the rising golden sun. The most memorable event that happened there was to share the sun rising a few years ago with a Indian yogi there on the steps as a dark snake looked at us - this yogi has a birth connection with snakes through his mother. The location was met to give a home to beings who would otherwise within the local physical community would not have such. That story being told --- I looked at the spot and thought how I could re-establish such a refuge at the new place if it were to come to pass. Then it hit me or I should say seeped into my weariness - like a memory of happier times. I then understood it was not about loosing faith or vision or location, but about making a connection with what is there. It was very reassuring and a plan was set.

So magic and life are full of unseen things. We must be aware of how they work before we attempt to connect with these, as the article points out that I placed a link too above in the word refuge. But if all I had were twigs, seashells and an old bird cage to connect/practice with to the earth and the unseen around me, then I proceeded - not in assumption - but in what knowledge I had and vision of where I wanted to go and how I wanted to live. Actually living.

It was a good start to the day and the re-connect I had been talking with those unseen around me to bring my perception back into a working one. Well that is what I wanted to say yesterday, but did not have the connected train of thought to do so. An answer came this morning while greeting Ra - "I am reborn upon your arising".

Just take the time to think and re-connect - is good advice.

What dreams are not made of & The Glamour

Well the dust and a bit of disappointment has now settled down - a chance to pick up the pieces is a foot again.

Remember the blog piece about personal changes that were a foot for May 2011. I wanted to wait until now to tell you how it turned out - so far.

Pneumonia came on the scene about the end of January with a 6 day stay in the hospital. This experience put a dent in my endeavors, but did not stop the momentum of the graduate school graduation planning set of May. It still happened though I take the illness as a symptom of not taking/giving my self a bit of slack to rest, while endeavoring. So that is a change. (Possibly the pneumonia event supported by the demiurge/demiurage & a "too" close a look at such in the beginning of January - not something I will involve myself any time soon again - have always gotten stung somehow when attempting to evoke that set of practices.

Next I had originally planned to continue my graduate experience into a certificate program to give me an edge on others in my line of profession, but of course there came the opportunities of employment. I applied three different times with the encouragement of others. No takers on the first application - that one should have been a taker. The second the opportunity interviewed and was a meat hunter of sorts - meaning I could have a year long contract with the hopes of interviewing again for the same position next year (emergency hirer). Yes, I would gain the much needed experience for my profession, but be out of work in this economy next year.... no thanks. The third interview went well - but the claims of the other interviewed individual as to having more experience edged me out of the running - I work in the same field as this other individual - there is no way there was the claimed experiences obtained. HUmmmmm. Next my housing situation is possibly changing to an environment that will enhance both relaxation and my path... a possibility - I may be too early here claiming such a change - we'll know by August.

So what was the meaning of the dream or intuition of change? The message had a urgency back a while ago of life changing events or even a type of death.

I learned - again - that such things are magnified at the receiving end as important. Such intuitive events should be seen as a small tool in gearing up for changes. Intuitive events are built upon the foundation of what is hoped for or being worked on at the time. So again these are tools only and not certainties.

I continue on with goals intact - no earth shaking immediate changes in hand. But I can not say that these multiple unsuccessful in appearance events surrounding May will not provide the basis for contacts with unseen forces - such as others' personal opinions or personal exposure to those out side the circles that I evolve within. The move will be nice if it occurs - but it is not as earth shaking as the dream indicated of a while back.

So use what is felt or interpreted in dreams should be used as tools and not assumed certainties.

I did come up with a wonderful magic application though with the possible purchase of the property.

There is a body of water on the property - a kind of natural pond that fills with the rains over the year. I suspect there is a spring, but was told that was not the case - but I will consider the source of this information. One of the elements I have worked with in the past has been water - but not in as broad a body as this. I applied the glamour within this evolving process. I have been using the glamour within personal appearances and distance manipulation of situations and the persons involved within these - these persons are given what they are seeking on a primitive level - distracted - more likely to grant what I want from these situations. But this time it was different.

The pond became the foundation for the redirection of negative intended energy into my situation. The flow was directed into the water to the soil (rooted there) then reversed up an image of (selected) gem stones into a spout out into the environment again as positive working energy. Though this energy was not specifically directed to be used in events unfolding - the energy was directed to create wealth in the future. I figured energy is energy and the intent of the energy can be directed when it comes my way from what every source. Waste not Want not as they say. The pressure was taken off the situations and positive potentials arise. I can later on describe this process in detail - but that is the roughed out format. Glamour is the work I keep evolving within.

So to recap, extreme earth shaking change nor death occurred. A process using one of the elements is forming into a successful practice. There is more to be describe, but I will place that here later when it becomes clarified.

I appreciate all who are reading this blog. I just thought it warranted a blog today on what has happened around the May date.

Isis, Mary, Symbols & Magic - a journey

Well it happened again - finding things never change and tend to repeat themselves.

To find visualization material (to go with the medal I purchased) I looked into mystic experiences demarcated by the official stamping of medals and the formation or recognition of saints. Since I don't really need to support my findings - expect to myself - please excuse the wanderings - I will briefly place here some of what I found.

First noted since the catholic church is a male oriented environment, one pope stated that women saints are not usually accurate as to predictions due to the fact that these saints were women. This statement arose from / involved the secret negative predictions associated with the mystic experiences of Melanie Calvat and her relating the words of the Virgin Mary in the form of Our Lady of Lasalette. Apparently the message of future demise of the church through its leadership was not welcome news. Then there was a person named Zoe Laboure, also known as St. Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal (or Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception). Zoe had to convince an adviser priest that what she saw was real and made sense - the message of the Virgin Mary to her at the time. Again since St. Catherine was a woman there were problems getting word out. Then the person/saint that spilled the cart for me was Sophie de Soubiran who though not having a vision of anything had a compassion for the plight of girls and women and decided to take up their cause as a religious. The story moves through the successes, world war and then betrayal by another trusted sister friend and the other religious tossing Sophie and Sophie's work aside. Then of course later after her death she got to be dug up and buried back at the place she founded.

By this time my head hurt, exhaustion had set in and I was into looking at some pretty weird stuff like exhumation of bodies & tests for signs of rotting.

Too much stuff!

So between sorting out where the demiurge ended and men's will began within these wonderful stories of the Virgin Mary and those who were listening to her - I came to the conclusion that it would be too difficult to sort it all out. Then there is the question as to what information would be useful for practices, once the intolerance and nonsense was possibly cleared away. For example in the Melanie Calvat story the Virgin stated that due to men not stopping their work on Sunday they will suffer. I would guess that the milieu or beliefs of Miss Calvat having the vision could interpret the information in this way. Then of course there is sin, sin, and more sin to be dealt with. One person's sin is another person's enlightenment.

So the revisiting of the mythos of the Virgin Mary. I wanted to wear an acceptable symbol full of sigils I could use to focus upon concerning Isis - while in public - a medal that is not specific to a Marian practice would be perfect for the work. Though the Isian and Marian stories are similar and most probably evolved from the Isis stories into the Mary stories. There is too much man-made-drama added and too many frustrated spirits interlocked within the Mary stories to have these stories be useful or flexible when it comes to Magic. The stories and people involve have an essence of an "either or" attribute (intolerance towards non-believers and towards female spirituality) to them - concerning what a person can work with using these symbols and practices. That is my feel from this religious subject revisited again.

Another good try.

The medal is coming and I will sit it with my Isis pieces, then do a few other things to it to cleanse it and provide a stable focus from which to work. Well now to clean up the mental mess I made over the last two days. I am back to myself with no more dreams of nuns in black, roses, dark environments, sick beds, and distant pope hatted men.

It was not so disappointing this time, since I know its not me.

My next focus is to continue to read A. Crowley (another url) and The Egyptian Book of the Dead. These make more sense and are testable situations for me. I dislike enormously being required to believe something and then be warehoused by any organization. This has been a stroll down the memory lane of past experiences with religions.

Now off to do something real. It is a good feeling to know I am on track - at least in my own estimation of my work.


~Post Note~
I forgot to relate the story of St. Gerard Majella. He has an interesting representation on his medals - that of a human skull sitting on a table next to where he is standing. He is known as a healer and the Saint of stressful pregnancy or lack of fertility. I found this statement most interesting about him and his work: "He was also known to have mystical abilities such as powers of prophecy, healing, bilocations, the reading of consciences, and so forth. He even predicted the day and hour of his own death. During his short life he helped many and performed many miracles". Bilocations? And of course the rest of his work, could he have been a Mage or practiced magic? The only other individual I remember who had others claim that he could bilocate was Rabbi Baal Shem Tov. St. Gerard is a possible catholic figure I could work with, I will have to feel out that situation. His story holds possibilities - I just can't put my finger on what it is I sense yet about this possibility. Or maybe it is just another dead end.........

Religion: Check the blank - yes or no

I had to go to a local hospital to get a chest x-ray to check up on the effective treatment of a lung infection.

In answering the questions for the billing department, before I changed clothes into the delightful blue gowns for the x-ray - a question threw me.

"Your Religion?"

I answered spontaneously - "No". Then I said, "none". Then I said, "not right now".

The receptionist smiled and went on with the questions for the form.

I got to thinking about my answer. I also valued that spontaneous situation and question. Though I am sure I should have been embarrassed by my answer or I should have made something up similar to match the religious affiliation of the hospital institution. But I didn't.....

I had read something late last year from another blog entitled, "On Secret Identities". The author discussed the reasons for keeping to one's self what personal practices one is involved in.

Since my practices do not have the mandate of converting anyone - really that is not the purpose of my personal practices - I pretty much keep my practices and religious opinions to my self. When asked I look at the situation as to whether it benefits me for others to know my practices, i.e., would the person feel differently about me or negative about me? It is all about perceptions. Really no one needs to know - unless of course the moral responsibility comes into play and there is a sincere long term need to discuss practice/spirituality with other individuals. This is a sad, but true situation. Just look in the news at the intolerance and the mud slinging over religion and views - around the world.

As I thought about the question arising from the billing information - I thought why did I answer that way?

Well what came to me later is that religion provides no reason for me to accept its tenets. What I mean is why should I be afraid of the ill will offered or imagined toward non-believers by religion? The threats if one does not believe? No one has come back to tell us of the unspeakable horrors (at least credible individuals) that await the non-believer. There are ample unspeakable horrors mete out involving religious intolerance now in life for the living by the living. There is of course evidence of "cause and effect" in the world and in life, but no consistent answers to the tough questions. Questions like why do good people suffer or why does ill will gain rewards? Why is there hate and difference? Why is there war? Why is there birth and death? No one and no religion can provide clear cut commonsense solutions to any of these situations. And really to say it is a god's will is, well a horror too.

So when I said "No", I met just that, that I was not interested and religion for me fails and failed miserably. I felt for the receptionist's confusion, since she would not have anything either positive or negative to place in that blank hole in the form.

One of the barriers to practicing magic for me is this mistrust or non-belief in what religion is based upon. This is a mistrust of the demiurage or demiurge that inhabits the stories and foundation of the major three local religions - not so much the ancient religions or Asian based religions or spiritual practices. I take these religions at face value and use commonsense to test what practices would work for me.

Due to this possible barrier to a full understanding and involvement in magic by my concerns over the demiurage influence of anything; I reviewed the thoughts expressed in another article: "Example of Opere Ex Operato". I do have practices involving Buddhism and Goddess with Family. So I am looking again at Mary from the aspect of her evolution out of Isis/Ancient Egyptian stories carried by the Greeks/Plutarch into the West. The form I found to focus upon is not associated with a male image or demiurage, but is concerned with Mary being mother to all and this association of all being one as her children. I found a medal“CONGREGATION DES ENFANTS DE MARIE” or Children of Mary Congregation. From what I found the Congregation 'was' a loose joining of numerous catholic religious institutions and lay individuals who are practicing helping others and supported by Mary as Mother of all. Plenty here to use in visualization and the directing of intentions and energy to the work at hand. So a benign attempt that does not unsettle me as I look into practice and the Mary I want to meet and work with on some level. That is If she is able to work on compassion and being human, will remain to be seen. But I 'believe' that there is truth in everything and it is possible to examine evidence. The association of Isis with the name Meri and the similar name Mary are closely related. The stories that are similar between the sorrows of Mary and the events in the life of Isis are more than coincidence. Its all there to work with.

One of the books I have owned for a while and use is Jean Houston's "The Passion of Isis and Osiris" - the front of the book has a chapter on how to use the book and the rest of the book is supportive reading based upon academic publications compiled in a readable form by Houston. Anyway a book to look at if you were interested in bridging a gap in spirituality/religion.

I found a CONGREGATION DES ENFANTS DE MARIE medal a few days ago made in the late 1800s early 1900s - an interesting time period the Victorian Age for magic. So I will work with that medal as my focus and see if this work can lead me to something that clarifies my work or enhances it.

The question at the hospital out-patient process for a chest x-ray opened up a means to follow-up on these thoughts. I guess I am a "No" as to conventional/accepted religion. Magic is not a religion, but a tool and state of being - at least in my estimation. I have not found magic emerging from deity nor religion, but the other way around. I add to this that recently I had a dream where my guide told me that he related to me in a way that was to be helpful and offering guidance - not a threat of a deity type. But it was a dream - and I know I don't listen that well with all the distractions while I am awake. Either way I deeply appreciated his communication.

So soon I will be wearing the medal and concentrating off and on upon this new focus as I head off into another goal filled year.

Glamour Affect - magic & perception

The purpose of this blog is to give actual examples and not to persuade any. I felt I had to say that, since the exchange of ideas is valuable to me.

Of recent I have had a very demanding schedule, more demanding than what I would like and more people involved than I care to have involved. It was a time when the purposeful use of a glamour was most appropriate.

I have been working with what I will label a guide here though within my interactions with this entity I use the identifier he gave me. I have found that in my case the use of important symbols and connections with entities is the means to empower the use of the glamour. I use what is familiar to me - things that I feel I can trust and that I have tested. To begin with I started with what I needed and the goals at stake, then I proceeded into what the goals/representation of these other symbols were in relation to my goals. This was the power base and the directions I used to empower the glamour with. I also directed the glamour to 'affect' the intended audience in a certain way that would seem or feel to them of great benefit. I will not go into details here, since I am assuming that each process of preparation will be different for each individual and their needs. But empowering and directing the glamour is very important. It is like the gas in a car and a map of the destination in hand - providing for a most enjoyable and successful trip. A mask worn with a purpose.

This quiet ritual empowered and directed this glamour to affect several meetings over a week's time. The results were more than successful. The affects matched the needs and personalities of each individual involved. I also needed to affect a small group of individuals who were obviously of differing motivations who were attending a meeting I was presenting. The affect upon the two main principles was different, but the results the same for me.

The two things I found important in the process of the application of a glamour are these: 1. a glamour will not replace good preparation by the individual, if what you are presenting or doing is not the best you can do then the quality of results will not be there (obviously); and 2. do not add to what the glamour is doing, just be yourself focused upon the work/event at hand - if you do attempt to 'add', then you will be hampering the work of the glamour upon the situation - the glamour does not need your help.

So to recap the work with a glamour you must through your familiar power sources empower the glamour. Next you must direct the glamour as to what results you want or are needing to be successful upon within the situation or event. And most important you must direct the glamour as to how the glamour will provide the sense of benefit to those you wish it to affect - these means or sense can be on a primitive level for the affected individual or if you absolutely know of a perceived benefit for the person then invoke that perception. The benefit the glamour provides is really only a perception the person thinks they receive from 'accepting' the appearance the glamour is putting forth. Read that sentence again. The glamour is providing an appearance that you as an individual are what is most successful or appropriate during the event or situation - this is not the benefit though to the viewer. The benefit is that the viewer wants to accept this successful perception of the glamour and receive the perceived benefit whether it is the stroking of their ego or some other more primitive base benefit. The glamour is perceived on many levels of perception by the intended audience it is focused upon.

Again I am but a novice and had not intended to work with the process of glamour. The guide has provided the opportunity for this experience and it appears it is something I am good at doing. I have found it very helpful in my work. It will not only be helpful on a personal level, but on a professional level. What comes to mind is it is slightly like shape-shifting, but is not. I felt it important to log my observations and experiences here for those who are following this blog. There is very little data I can find on this process on the net, I am sure there are those out there who have more knowledge on the subject.

Experiences - life & the sunrise

I just thought of something else that occurred over the past few weeks that needed mentioned here.

I would stand at work and see the sunrise over the city. I was experiencing what I could see - but what could I feel of it? I then remembered what a cool morning felt like - it could feel too cool if I did not have the right coat on.

There must be a purpose to us feeling and being within the experiences around each of us. The pain, joy, sensual, warm, cold, pleasant, fear, joy, worry - all of these not really a part of the sunrise or sunset we see each day. These are all experiences on different levels. I took a picture one time while fishing on the Snake River of the incredible reflection off the river of the shore. I could only experience this or be aware of this through my sight impression. I could not experience or be a part of the quiet water or the bright blue sky. Do we truly 'experience' anything. Are there beings who experience none of the feelings and are more skilled at experiencing the presence of what is?

Are we each here to experience these experiences for "those" who can not? But still it is not a total sensing of or immersion with all - we are each singly experiencing life. What is the total experience of a sunrise? What does a perfect day feel like? Does any person or entity know? Can it be known?

To answer the old question of why we are here - maybe locked within the experience of a sunrise. I only hope it is a good reason and not one where I find out I was a pawn in a scheme to see what life really feels like to those inhabiting an organic body. If that is the way it is - I will keep my experiences to my self and for ever ignore those who set up this scheme called life. They will never know from me. Anyway an odd thought as I worked, witnessed life and saw some beautiful sunrises.

Glamour - keeping up appearances

Glamour

This has been a very busy three weeks. One would have thought that magic practice would have been lost along the road covered with emotional weather, event obstacles and determined goal arrivals. The past few weeks feel as if I had drove a million miles, but this was due to having to be in so many places to meet deadlines for this semester's study. I have time right now to discuss what happened as in working magic and its outcomes.

I placed here at the beginning a definition for what Glamour means or is met to mean (actually the cache since this avoids the pop-up windows there). When we think of glamour we usually think of fashion or a glamorous appearance. A glamour is like that, it is a change in appearance that markedly changes the perception of others toward the individual who has applied a glamour over their body/image. So it would not be surprising to be able to use a glamour in this manner when it comes to setting a positive appearance for others to see. The glamour is more than combing one's hair right or wearing the right color. A glamour strokes the egos of others so that they will find benefit from an individual's presence within a place or situation.

I had the night before these long hard weeks of meetings and presentations had begun worked with my guide as in wanting to put my best foot forward thus smoothing the way for me and my goals within these future arising situations. I wanted to persuade others I was what they truly needed in that situation. I wanted the appearance of competence within each situation I was in. I wanted a shield from those who were only self-serving.

But I had only in passing thought about the use of a glamour within this discussion with my guide.

As I started to go to these meetings I began to notice that others were making remarks about how I was right for the work or had what they wanted within that situation. I even ran into a person who was very self-serving to an extreme, but her boss was apologetic when I needed to point this out and was supportive of my endeavors. It was very odd. I realized early that I was having a glamour that would manifest to others and was gaining opportunities and positive responses within many diverse situations. This was even pointed out to me by others who had told me certain situations had been impossible for them, but appeared easy for me to work within.

I had a sense that the glamour was present once its workings gained my attention. I would then at that point acknowledge it and promote this image/presence within those situations. At one point it was less automatic within a few situations and so when I invoked that image/presence, others around me responded again in a positive way.

I am sure that my guide had presented with this solution as I had previously describe the situations that were up coming for me in the weeks ahead. This magic work was on a very different level for me. It was almost natural, though not very complicated - it seems familiar and anticipated.

The word glamour and its definition perfectly describes the change of appearance of an individual to elude ill or to attract good. I feel that the use of a glamour is part of giving to others what they want and feel they need - in the pursuit of personal goals. People don't really know what they want, and they say they know what they like when they see it. I am of the working belief that an individual can give the appearance or feel of what others want and at the same time gain what they need themselves from the situation. That is the work with a glamour.

I can not find much written about this work, but it was very apparent that my guide was working with me on this practice, while I was distracted with the events of work over the last three weeks. I plan to continue this work with the use of the glamour as I work toward my goals and studies. It has been very insightful. I feel I can now affect a situation with my knowledge as well as with what I can do to elude ill or to attract good results. I had to take the time today to place these experiences here.