I like masks. Not the made in China, you can’t breathe through them, Halloween kind from the store at Halloween, but beautiful Mardi Gras masks and hand crafted fantastical masks used in ritual and ceremony, masks made by craftswo/men who put a little bit of magic into them and that can take you to another place, let you be someone completely different and yet authentically you. …
Details
I read a book recently that was a real eye opener: The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. It’s a book from a professional who runs one of the most effective protection agencies in the world. I was impressed by this because he is common sensical, not advertising his own business (too much), and is trying to combat media hype that is putting us in danger by misinforming us. …
Details
A great deal of people live their lives that way. At least I know what this is about. At least I can deal with how things are right now. What if things changed? Could I deal with it? Would it be worse? …
Details
People talk about memory being connected to scent and food being a motivator for everything, but what we fail to acknowledge is that we are visual beings. We aren’t terrified of bad smells and rarely have any idea what they actually signify without being told, ie Natural gas companies advertising that natural gas is made to smell like rotten eggs. …
Details
Throughout my childhood I was told that I would goto college and get a degree and do something intelligent with it. And that was pretty much the scope of my plans for the future. When I was 18 I forged ahead to find a school and when I got there I focused on getting my degree. …
Details
There are a couple of sayings that run through my mind quite often when I’m out and about in the world. One is a bit obscure as it’s a skit from Kids In The Hall: A young man is on the sidewalk outside a large apt building with a cymbal and a drum stick repeating over and over again “I’ve lost my Indian drum” *crash* “I’ve lost my Indian drum” *crash*. …
Details
People say that “life is busy”, but I like to say “life is full of life”. We no longer live in small villages where you can walk to everything, are fairly self-sufficient, live by the seasons, and rarely go more than 20 miles in any direction. …
Details
I’ve heard it said that teachers in mystery schools are intentionally vague and frustratingly non-sensical when it comes to teaching about the Universe and how to be your best self in it. I’ve experienced that myself and on the one had I understand it because no teacher can give you the experience of doing it for yourself. …
Details
Confrontation has become a really negative word. No one wants confrontation. It’s equated with unnecessary drama, discomfort, awkwardness, and negativity. It’s been associated with anger, fury, and personal attacks, harassment, control, and abuse. It has become something to be avoided at all costs. …
Details
There’s such a thing as black humor. It’s the humor that happens when a situation is grim, stressful, and things have been difficult far too much or too long or too often. Some people find it inappropriate, but when you’re in the middle of things it can really help create solidarity, relieve tension, and break things up for a moment or two. …
Details
