mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Isis and Intuition
May 6, 2014
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Isis is the mother goddess from Egypt. She rules intuition, magic, and medicine. In our celebration of Mother’s Day let us give thanks for our second sense. Knowing without the reason to know is a gift that can be developed and fine tuned. Notice that certain places, people or objects grab your attention and keep it. Other people and things can come and go without striking up much meaning or memory. The unconscious mind absorbs energy and makes primal instinctive responses. Our emotions are part observation and part deep underground images that are brought to light in various ways. In dreams we only see faces we have seen during our lives. We may not recognize them as we dream, but they represent a symbol, an image, or a story that has meaning for us. The symbols and images we find in dreams and synchronous encounters are encrypted messages from the unconscious.
A centered person has a rich inner sense of spirit, grounded by soul. A balance between rational and intuitive mind is important for emotional wellbeing. As we grow older we may find that more psychic experiences become natural to us. The environment in which we live will determine how freely we can express ourselves on these matters. I think some cases of modern depression result from a tension and polarity between reason and intuition. Our psychic abilities, such as they are, may be a surprise gift. This year for Mother (human or Mother Earth) be grateful for all the gut feelings and saving graces you have had in your life. Be open to more instant insight and enlightenment.
Goddess Archetype
May 5, 2014
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Our own characters often resemble mythological beings in classic stories. Do we portray one myth more than any other? Are we stuck in a certain drama until we finally understand the meaning of it? The study of archetypes is a study of mythology. Metaphor and symbolism create stories that resonate with meaning in our lives. The admirable goddess qualities include wisdom, physical grace and strength, sensuality, beauty, and guidance. In our world today there are many shadow goddesses. The overly indulged celebrities can reflect the shadow goddess. There is commercial pressure to imitate the unhealthy, perfectionist, unkind diva. It may be helpful to learn more about the positive myths.
Do you know the stories of any of these goddesses?
- Quan Yin- Chinese, embodiment of pure compassion
- Isis-Egyptian, motherhood diety
- Oshun-Yoruba, water goddess of beauty, love, and pleasure
- Athena-Greek, patroness of war, politics, and crafts
The associations with female power and myth have been twisted in some modern contexts. Some study and meditation on the energy of these female figures in mythology can bring us closer to understanding our lives. Our relationship with Mother Earth could use some work. Do you bring the goddess concept into your meditations, gentle reader? Do you have a favorite goddess?
Laverna and the Thief Archetype
April 21, 2014
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Stealing is a way of life. Sometimes we are the victims and other times we are the thief. Laverna is the goddess of darkness and criminal intent. She is the patron goddess of thieves and robbers. She teaches a very strong lesson about mortality. If we value that which can be stolen we will be too involved in a world that has no meaning. If we, instead, focus our efforts to create lasting creative work that benefits others it will be impossible to steal those benefits. Dishonest tradesman pray to her for the power to deceive and persuade. She is con woman herself who uses trickery to gain advantage over humans.
None of us will go through life without being tricked or robbed. Frequently these losses are caused by people we know. Financial ignorance is an aspect of Laverna. Allowing others to steal energy, time or valuable assets is submission to her power. The lesson of what is valuable and can never be taken from you is the wisdom she can bestow. Looking back at your life you will be able to find times when you felt significantly cheated or robbed. It is also possible to identify yourself in the role of con artist. Young children often deceive their parents and siblings, for instance. Taking a realistic look at the past, what has treachery and robbery taught you, gentle reader? Have you found that which you own that nobody can steal? Have you ever caught yourself stealing from yourself?
Athena, Goddess of Crafts
April 7, 2014
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- Rose Cabat
Athena is often mentioned as a war goddess because she was never defeated. She is also the goddess of wisdom and crafts. Her protection is important in firing the kiln. The ceramic demons that destroy a firing can take over without her blessing:
Homer’s Epigrams Fragment 14 (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
“Potters, if you give me a reward, I will sing for you. Come, then, Athena [goddess of pottery], with hand upraised over the kiln. Let the pots and all the dishes turn out well and be well fired: let them fetch good prices and be sold in plenty in the market. Grant that the potters may get great gain and grant me so to sing to them. But if you turn shameless and make false promises, then I call together the destroyers of kilns, Suntribos (Shatter) and Smaragon (Smash) and Asbetos (Charr) and Sabaktes (Crash) and Omodamos (Crudebake) who can work this craft much mischief. Come all of you and sack the kiln-yard and the buildings: let the whole kiln be shaken up to the potter’s loud lament. As a horse’s jaw grinds, so let the kiln grind to powder all the pots inside.”
It is obvious to me that Rose Cabat made friends with Athena long ago in order to achieve such masterful results in the kiln. Her work is unique because her special glazes create a silky feel that is her secret weapon. The pots are vivid and beautifully shaped, inviting touch. The soft surface she creates is like no other. She calls the pots feelies, and has become famous for these special touchable forms. Her many collectors are happy to pay $400 and up for a tiny feelie because they only go up in value over time. Rose is still making pots from her wheel chair at age 100, and continues to be in very good standing with Athena. She has a show now at the Tucson Museum of Art featuring her work over her long career. It is incredible to see in person. I have seen her work over the years, but there are so many in one place that it delights the eye..and makes us wish we could feel them. There are some for sale in the Museum shop if you want your own to have and to hold.
Self Image, The Archetypes
March 21, 2014
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Learning about archetypes has taught me to look at life more closely, and free myself of some old restrictive self images. We all play different parts in our own lives. As we age our desires naturally change and our personalities become more complex. In our history we can discern times when one role has been the dominant one, giving way to another as time passed. Some of us never outgrow our rebel, and some are artists whose latent talent is not discovered until a ripe old age. We all have within our psyches a child, a victim, a saboteur, and a prostitute that are brought to the spotlight by different circumstances.
Plato called this phenomena forms. Carl Jung coined the phrase and defined basic archetypes. He taught that these pure images arise in dreams and in reality as a result of the collective consciousness. Carolyn Myss has evolved the work to include many more archetypes, and has created books, cards, and courses to teach the concepts. It is a powerful practice to draw a timeline of your own life and remember when you encountered strong archetypes in yourself and other people, and how that may have been repeated. All religions use archetypes to teach lessons because they are memorable. The archetype in my first house is the hedonist. When that hedonist is good she is very very good, and when she is bad she is horrid. Such is the case with all of these eternal and universal roles. They have both a light and a dark side. The possibilities are endless. Do you have a strong dominant role you have played throughout your life?
Religion Unplugged
January 23, 2014
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Changing Hands Bookstore
book signing
A reformation of religion is happening before our very eyes. As the formal religions loose members and believers the souls are still out there wandering around seeking some meaning in life. This is an era of very lost souls grasping at self help, self hypnosis, and the usual self delusion. I am lucky my parents did not really introduce religion into my life. They attempted, obviously out of guilt, to send me to the Presbyterians when I was about 11, but they told me it was for punishment. Maybe they let it slip, but I had the big picture which was that I was bad and the people at the Presbyterian church could whip me into shape. That was my initiation into fake religion and it did have deep meaning in my formative years. I saw the lack of ethical standards, and besides, that church had a God awful choir. I had no positive reinforcement that would incline me to want to ever go to church. I felt perfectly righteous to rebel, and saw myself as something of a martyr whenever I had to go to any religious service. I have something like the opposite of Catholic guilt. However, I have studied religion and read more books on the subject that most people, I think.
Last night in Tempe at The Changing Hands Bookstore I heard Thomas Moore speak to a crowd about his new book, A Religion of One’s Own, which I read and think is a grand opus…not a long and dry one…a deeply profound work that will change minds and souls. Tom Moore is to religion what Andrew Weil is to medicine. He has the education and credentials that are needed to start a reformation. I was surprised to hear the word reformation in his speech last night, but he knows of what he speaks. He talked about changing the world in the same way Pope Francis does when he makes his own breakfast. Since he spent years as a monk his piety can’t be questioned. Since he has a doctorate in world religion his knowledge of scripture, doctrines, and history are impeccable. Perhaps most important in our current soul crisis is his experience as a Jungian therapist. His direct experience with the suffering of his patients has shown him the sad results of religion served up with a side of hypocrisy and shame.
He asks the readers not to take this book lightly. I can’t imagine the kind of person who would do that, but they surely exist. He is sharing insight and wisdom that can extricate tortured souls from their day to day pain. He suggests that laborare est orare applies to all of us. In other words, each moment on earth has big potential in a sacred context. Every act, chopping wood, carrying water, or washing dishes provides an opportunity to make life a joyous celebration. Bliss and mysticism are states to which we can aspire and attain. We are supposed to be happy, weird, and free. So…here we have it, permission to go be free, from a verified expert in academic knowledge. I hope we will all take him up on this offer, and predict the book will change the world in a very positive way. (Read it.)
Eros and You
January 14, 2014
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Eros Ramazzotti is my favorite Euro pop star and this song was his first giant hit in Europe. I had not seen this video story of his quest to find the love of his life. It is like a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt in which the destination is not known, but clues are gathered. This love story has dream qualities in which strong symbols compel him to continue the search. The Roman god Eros was involved with much mystery and trickery. Eros fell in love with Psyche but concealed his identity while he courted her nightly. His mother Aphrodite was jealous of Psyche’s beauty, and wished her harm. The story has many dramatic twists and turns but in the end the couple does marry and live happily.
Eros has a sexual spark, but it can represent beauty, vitality and flow of life. When a person place or thing turns you on it reminds you of the vital force within your own body. To be sexy or feel attracted is to confirm your own mysterious connection to love and your destiny as a lover. To follow each tiny vital impulse would prove too much, but how can we be sensitive and respond when true love calls? It is possible that only at the end of your life will you be able to look back and identify your true loves, your true dreams, and your true beliefs? Is the treasure hunt for love so subtle and full of mysterious layers that we can only understand in retrospect? What will you hunt for on Valentine’s Day? Where will you find Eros?
Providentia
December 21, 2013
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The Roman goddess of forethought, Providentia, represents the ability to use foresight in human affairs. People study trends in markets today with extreme gravity. Currency exchanges, Bitcoin, and all participants in commerce want to know where markets will go in the future. We know nothing in commerce is static; Graphs and charts can advise us about momentum and direction. There is still an element of divine providence in all transactions, acknowledged or not.
Providentia is a philosophical element, a force, a power. A combination of study and meditation is required to make prudent plans for the future. We may not know what will happen, but if we quiet our mind and listen rather than busy ourselves to distraction, we develop awareness that can guide us. Her image has been used on coins to show that the coin itself is a symbolic gesture. Abundance, wealth, and good fortune all depend on the whim of providence. You can plan to engage this energy by:
- Prudently spending your wealth
- Sharing your talents as well as your material fortune
- Trusting intuition
- Providing for others in meaningful ways
In order to trust in providence one must be in touch with it. Remember times when you received surprise support and encouragement, or a special financial windfall. The element of surprise can be used to spread your good luck. Look for ways to use your resources to uplift the lives of others.
Flaunta, Goddess of Confidence
December 12, 2013
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Flaunta was the second cousin of the goddess Aphrodite. She became the goddess of confidence. Her journey to her vocation to inspire and represent confidence was a story of self discovery. Aphrodite needed no outside assurance to know she was a great beauty. She exuded it. The young Flaunta was not convinced of her own powers, but passed through a jealousy of earth women who enjoyed and were confident in their own good looks. She studied the powerful and confident women, learning their secrets. Eventually her cousin would bestow the title and the powers of confidence goddess on Flaunta. She is active today in the complicated self image issues women face about appearance and competence. Being authentic and unique leads to the highest kind of confidence, as Tank Girl can attest. Confident women know:
- Personal power and charisma are unlocked with confidence
- Spending lots of time and money on appearance defeats confidence
- Standing out from the crowd is a fabulous way to be
- Following fashion can make a monkey out of you
- Your instincts are worth following
- Your artistic style has yet to be fully nurtured and developed
Get to know Flaunta, and take her with you next time you need to look something or somebody right in the eye. Nothing says “I got this” like control of your gaze. Bluffing or not, the first impression you give will remain strong when you show self assurance.
Winter Traditions Unplugged
December 10, 2013
The ancient world was more highly aware of the seasons than we are today because they had to make fire to stay warm or see at night. Religion, tradition, and regional provincialism are woven together at the winter solstice time. We have a food and drink festival that imitates Saturnalia and a birthday the resembles the birth of Mithra. I believe I have inherited some feelings for Christmas from the way my ancestors behaved. I have had the good fortune to be in other countries to celebrate the season, which opened my eyes to the wide variety and regional roots of the holiday practices. I choose the part I like and feel no pressure to perform now that my ancestors are all dead. I see the end of the year as a fun break before tax organization season, and a good excuse to party with friends. We give few gifts, but like to share extra food and drink with friends. I like to embrace it as an upside down time, a season for preparation and clearing. Spring will be right around the corner, when the harvest cycle can begin once more. For now, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; it is time to party.
