Greetings all,
I hope you've had a happy holiday season. We've come to the post holiday season now. Many of us have made resolutions, Many are assessing to see if our pants still fit after all of our feasts with family and friends.
Here in the northern hemisphere we have come to what are generally the coldest and grayest months of the year. We don't have any more big holidays to distract us from the darkness. The cold tends to make us stay in and retreat from the world. Some people like this time if they have personal projects lined up. With less frenetic activity of the other 3 seasons and with no more major holidays until spring it can be an excellent time to limit distractions and make major headway towards personal goals. For others it can be very challenging as the parties are over and in many cases our loved ones have departed to far flung locations. If winter weather events occur we can then feel even more isolated, trips out may be limited to just work and out to get necessities.
I myself am originally from Florida. A real winter wasn't something I experienced until late in my childhood. Every year winter is a struggle for me emotionally. The time between New Years and the spring equinox have often felt like the filler months. I make a lot of plans for the spring and just sort bide my time. This year I have decided not to wait until spring has sprung to get out and see people. While it hasn't been too cold yet I have made an effort to spend at least 20 minutes a day outside walking. This alone has helped me feel better. It isn't just the natural light although that is part of it, but connecting with the world outside my home. Feeling the trees even as they dream of the spring to come helps me to feel a part of something larger than my own life. I hear the crows calling and feel the wind and it makes me feel more alive and less caged in.
Beyond my outside/exercise/spiritual practice I'm also making a commitment to not go full hermit this year. I'm planning movie nights, craft nights and regular game nights. Fun does not have to wait until the world turns green again. Besides all the social plans I also have a ton of planning and work to do for my own business as well putting together my first book. I hope to have that ready by the summer. This year I finally think that I will have no "filler months" in the year, and that every season will be filled with life if a slightly different flavor of it.
So how does this apply to you? Well do you have a season that you see as filler? What if you found a way to get out of your head in that season? What if you used that time to try something different? It couldn't hurt after all the worst that can happen is that it can be a filler of a different sort. What ways can you reach out and connect with something you love no matter the time and circumstances? Ponder it in the time between the holidays and the coming of spring.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Musings
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Sunday, December 28, 2014
24 Roads
Greetings all,
This is the last blog of 2014 and it is the first full year of weekly blogs. It hasn't always been easy or even very poetic or deep, but I still believe that by writing weekly there is more chance for magic to happen on the screen here with my words. I also am pretty sure I've found my voice and that is worth all of the effort to stay true and blog. The blog has helped me focus my mind and observe my thoughts a bit more clearly. I know a bit more of my mind. However it hasn't been the only stabilizing force. This has also been the first full year of my weekly rattling ceremonies that I perform for myself, family, friends, and premium clients. That is 52 weeks of ceremonial momentum punctuated on the quarters of the year by drumming.
So the title 24 roads is not very clear is it? Well this blog isn't the only thing I've been busy typing away at this year. In January I began journeying to the runes of the Norse Futhark in preparation to write my first book. I originally planned to do one rune a week, but life has a way of interfering. There are 24 runes in the Futhark. So far I have journeyed to 23 of the 24. When I am complete I will have walked the 24 roads, and I plan to do that before the clock strikes midnight on the 1st of the new year.
I've taken my time with this project. I've let it build over time. Each road I have walked has added to the power. I've said often this year if no one ever reads this book but me it was well worth the time. I feel like I have learned so much from committing to do this. I have really turned what I have learned in my shamanic training into useful tools of investigation. I've deepened relationships with the powers I've worked with, and I've learned secrets. Some I'll share, and some you will have to discover for yourself. I've invested myself with the spirit of discovery and delving and I believe I have found gold in the depths.
This year has been a year of great opportunities, challenges, exultation, and grave disappointments. It has not once been dull though. It has also been a year when I've been powerfully called by the magic in the world. I've made it a year of ceremony and risks. Those two go well together. If we ask the spirits for help we must be brave. We must be willing to take a few risks. I have traveled far in this realm and the realms of spirit. Now we're on the cusp of the new year and a new creation and there is so much more that is coming.
The past two years have been tumultuous (actually more than the last two really more like the last eight), but years ago I got the sense that by 2015 things would begin to settle a bit. There was a light at the end of the transformational period. I don't think everything will be instantly fine, but I believe now we walk towards a road where things can begin to come together and support each other. I have one last road of spirit to walk before the new year is born and I am curious, what now?
So those are the roads I have been walking, but what about you? What avenues of the spirit and the flesh have you walked this year? Did you retread the same neighborhood or venture out into the wilder lands beyond the fields you know? If you stayed close to home did you dig deeper in the clay you are made of? What passions called to you in the night or on the wind? What spirits know your name? Ask yourself which fate am I? Who is to know if you don't ask? What secrets might you learn if you sing out to the trees and spirits in the streams? They have a language you know and it is written in you as much as it is in the land. I challenge you to make yourself a part of the world this year, not just the human world but the larger one outside of words and hands. Stare into natural pools, read the flight of birds, taste the wind, and as always keep walking,
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
This is the last blog of 2014 and it is the first full year of weekly blogs. It hasn't always been easy or even very poetic or deep, but I still believe that by writing weekly there is more chance for magic to happen on the screen here with my words. I also am pretty sure I've found my voice and that is worth all of the effort to stay true and blog. The blog has helped me focus my mind and observe my thoughts a bit more clearly. I know a bit more of my mind. However it hasn't been the only stabilizing force. This has also been the first full year of my weekly rattling ceremonies that I perform for myself, family, friends, and premium clients. That is 52 weeks of ceremonial momentum punctuated on the quarters of the year by drumming.
So the title 24 roads is not very clear is it? Well this blog isn't the only thing I've been busy typing away at this year. In January I began journeying to the runes of the Norse Futhark in preparation to write my first book. I originally planned to do one rune a week, but life has a way of interfering. There are 24 runes in the Futhark. So far I have journeyed to 23 of the 24. When I am complete I will have walked the 24 roads, and I plan to do that before the clock strikes midnight on the 1st of the new year.
I've taken my time with this project. I've let it build over time. Each road I have walked has added to the power. I've said often this year if no one ever reads this book but me it was well worth the time. I feel like I have learned so much from committing to do this. I have really turned what I have learned in my shamanic training into useful tools of investigation. I've deepened relationships with the powers I've worked with, and I've learned secrets. Some I'll share, and some you will have to discover for yourself. I've invested myself with the spirit of discovery and delving and I believe I have found gold in the depths.
This year has been a year of great opportunities, challenges, exultation, and grave disappointments. It has not once been dull though. It has also been a year when I've been powerfully called by the magic in the world. I've made it a year of ceremony and risks. Those two go well together. If we ask the spirits for help we must be brave. We must be willing to take a few risks. I have traveled far in this realm and the realms of spirit. Now we're on the cusp of the new year and a new creation and there is so much more that is coming.
The past two years have been tumultuous (actually more than the last two really more like the last eight), but years ago I got the sense that by 2015 things would begin to settle a bit. There was a light at the end of the transformational period. I don't think everything will be instantly fine, but I believe now we walk towards a road where things can begin to come together and support each other. I have one last road of spirit to walk before the new year is born and I am curious, what now?
So those are the roads I have been walking, but what about you? What avenues of the spirit and the flesh have you walked this year? Did you retread the same neighborhood or venture out into the wilder lands beyond the fields you know? If you stayed close to home did you dig deeper in the clay you are made of? What passions called to you in the night or on the wind? What spirits know your name? Ask yourself which fate am I? Who is to know if you don't ask? What secrets might you learn if you sing out to the trees and spirits in the streams? They have a language you know and it is written in you as much as it is in the land. I challenge you to make yourself a part of the world this year, not just the human world but the larger one outside of words and hands. Stare into natural pools, read the flight of birds, taste the wind, and as always keep walking,
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Presenting Thomas Mooneagle
Greetings all,
Late again I know but the sun hasn't risen yet so I'm getting this post in just under the wire. I've been a busy little bee this week. I've been finishing up my Christmas shopping, baking, writing, and putting on a big drum ceremony.
I never know quite how things will go with my public ceremonies. Every venue is different, and it seems like every solstice I am drumming someplace different. I walk the line between trying to be inclusive and also in integrity with who I am. There are realms of awareness that I visit that seem like fantastic otherworldly kind of places (and they are), but they are part of my normal (or what passes for it for me) experience. This comes out when I teach or lead any kind of public event. I have to figure out what page in the book of worlds my audience has turned to.
Most people in the mainstream would find a lot of what I do or experience frightening. This is not because of anything bad although there are harrowing experiences from time to time, but rather it is so far out of their worldview and point of reference. What I take for granted is high mystery or the twilight zone for much of the western world. What I have found though is that even people in the holistic community have areas where they just don't venture into either through fear of what is there or from fear of looking gullible or silly.
Some people are comfortable with my role as a tai chi instructor, but they balk at me giving readings. Some are okay with readings, but they cringe at practicing Reiki. Some are down for the Reiki, but if I pull out a drum or a rattle they start to squirm. Some are okay with the shamanic practices, but roll their eyes when I start applying quantum physics concepts to healing work. There are those that can come to grip with all of that but if I mention faeries they are convinced I have crossed the threshold into crazy.
It is a rare set of individuals that can groove with all of me. So I do selectively share to meet people at their level of comfort in a way that is comfortable to myself as well. Anyways what brought this up is that I was anointing and blessing candles for people to take home using my Three Mother's Oil blend. Now it is called that because it receives the blessings from the earth mother, the full moon grandmother, and my faery godmother. I was explaining why it as called Three Mother's oil and struggled with finding out how many people were on a page where they'd be alright with it. I probably need not have worried as I was drumming at a metaphysical church, but you'd be surprised how many people in the metaphysics community have no trouble believing in angels but think belief in faeries is for children.
What does this have to do with anything (I know I am rambling it has been a very long day). Well how much do we censor ourselves so that we don't present as someone who is a little touched in the head? This doesn't just apply to metaphysical topics it could be as simple as what music you like or what hobbies you are into.
Well nerves aside the ceremony was a big hit. I had people coming up to me thanking me and complimenting me. I was really blown away by the response. It is my ego I know but I do always worry about how I come off. I know that in the past people have greatly misinterpreted my intent and/or demeanor. There comes a point though where you have to let go of that. Some people are going to project onto whatever you do. You can't control people's responses only your intent and behavior interpretation is up to them.
So how about you? Do you edit yourself for your audience? It's not a bad thing if you do as long as you feel that are still you. Does it create more mental work? Do you feel burdened by your public face? Do you strike a balance between meeting people where they are and standing in your truth? In our world we do have to be mindful about how we present and how our words affect others, but there is that sweet spot the bridging place between us and other. Finding it is a journey, one I am still on, walk with me a bit.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Late again I know but the sun hasn't risen yet so I'm getting this post in just under the wire. I've been a busy little bee this week. I've been finishing up my Christmas shopping, baking, writing, and putting on a big drum ceremony.
I never know quite how things will go with my public ceremonies. Every venue is different, and it seems like every solstice I am drumming someplace different. I walk the line between trying to be inclusive and also in integrity with who I am. There are realms of awareness that I visit that seem like fantastic otherworldly kind of places (and they are), but they are part of my normal (or what passes for it for me) experience. This comes out when I teach or lead any kind of public event. I have to figure out what page in the book of worlds my audience has turned to.
Most people in the mainstream would find a lot of what I do or experience frightening. This is not because of anything bad although there are harrowing experiences from time to time, but rather it is so far out of their worldview and point of reference. What I take for granted is high mystery or the twilight zone for much of the western world. What I have found though is that even people in the holistic community have areas where they just don't venture into either through fear of what is there or from fear of looking gullible or silly.
Some people are comfortable with my role as a tai chi instructor, but they balk at me giving readings. Some are okay with readings, but they cringe at practicing Reiki. Some are down for the Reiki, but if I pull out a drum or a rattle they start to squirm. Some are okay with the shamanic practices, but roll their eyes when I start applying quantum physics concepts to healing work. There are those that can come to grip with all of that but if I mention faeries they are convinced I have crossed the threshold into crazy.
It is a rare set of individuals that can groove with all of me. So I do selectively share to meet people at their level of comfort in a way that is comfortable to myself as well. Anyways what brought this up is that I was anointing and blessing candles for people to take home using my Three Mother's Oil blend. Now it is called that because it receives the blessings from the earth mother, the full moon grandmother, and my faery godmother. I was explaining why it as called Three Mother's oil and struggled with finding out how many people were on a page where they'd be alright with it. I probably need not have worried as I was drumming at a metaphysical church, but you'd be surprised how many people in the metaphysics community have no trouble believing in angels but think belief in faeries is for children.
What does this have to do with anything (I know I am rambling it has been a very long day). Well how much do we censor ourselves so that we don't present as someone who is a little touched in the head? This doesn't just apply to metaphysical topics it could be as simple as what music you like or what hobbies you are into.
Well nerves aside the ceremony was a big hit. I had people coming up to me thanking me and complimenting me. I was really blown away by the response. It is my ego I know but I do always worry about how I come off. I know that in the past people have greatly misinterpreted my intent and/or demeanor. There comes a point though where you have to let go of that. Some people are going to project onto whatever you do. You can't control people's responses only your intent and behavior interpretation is up to them.
So how about you? Do you edit yourself for your audience? It's not a bad thing if you do as long as you feel that are still you. Does it create more mental work? Do you feel burdened by your public face? Do you strike a balance between meeting people where they are and standing in your truth? In our world we do have to be mindful about how we present and how our words affect others, but there is that sweet spot the bridging place between us and other. Finding it is a journey, one I am still on, walk with me a bit.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Sunday, December 14, 2014
My side your side
Greetings all,
What a week! I hardly know how to sum it all up. It really ran the gamut from the height of hilarity to the depths of thunderous wrath. Sad to say anger is still one of the best motivators for me to step up my game.
I should set the scene for you. A year ago I sent work off to my first out of state gallery. I was very excited, it was all very official. I had a contract, I wrote out artist statements (something I learned to do while working on my degree) , I had shipping manifests, and I was so very honored to be represented in a gallery. The enthusiasm was not to last. Within the first month or so there seemed to be a problem with prompt payments when work sold. At first I was too shy to bring up the sordid topic of, "Where the hell is my check?" When the first two months turned into the first four I lost some of my decorum. Oh let's just say it like it was, I was pissed. I focused my feelings like a lance and aimed it until I received payment. Mission accomplished but I had never worked so hard for so little.
Fast forward a few more months and my frustration had built again. My attention had been snagged away by not one but two new teaching positions, a family crisis, and my own fantastic voyage this past summer. When I finally turned my inner eye back towards my wayward gallery it was not the eye of compassion. (Think the of the burning eye like Sauron and you'll get the tone of my gaze). The Mooneagle was not a happy camper and used his words of power to express that. (Shameless plug of last week's blog post I know but if you target your words well an email can practically buzz with intent). So I sent my demands and I drove 500 miles roundtrip and retrieved my work because I couldn't trust the gallery to ship it or if they did that it would arrive in anything but shards. I also couldn't wait for the mythical check in the mail any longer. They had checks for me…post dated ones. In hindsight perhaps I should have worn all black and wielded a chicken foot charm when I showed up to reclaim my work. The first check cleared, but this Friday I was informed by my bank that the second one did not.
So here I am. A person who wields magic. Part of me says goto Defcon 1 and launch the devastator warheads (etherically speaking). This part of me is I know heavily influenced by the Ego consortium in my head. Although I suspect there is some Id in that too. My artwork and specifically my pottery are like my babies. The other part of me is saying to hold on wait a minute and see what options present themselves. I who watch these two sides argue know there will be a response, but whichever it is I will not act fully until the anger has cooled. The sad thing is in this world there are people who only respect force. To get by we have to at times be aggressive and sometimes downright destructive for own defense. However as someone who is supposed to be all spiritual whatever that means I am examined under a more harsh lens of criticism (by myself especially) taking "bold" actions.
There are times to let things go. This is not one of those times. I don't like to reward bad behavior. So my challenge is to not let the anger I feel rule me as I take action. There are times when you must feel your anger deeply and let people know about it. Stuffing it down with affirmations or trying to meditate it away is simply lying to yourself and it will come out in other sneaky ways.
How about you? Is there a situation that has been giving you grief? Have you kept quiet about it and tried to be "good about it" while quietly (or not so quietly to your friends) fuming over it? Maybe you are letting your anger run rampant instead of addressing the one thing you need to change? Are you upfront about consequences with people or do you take too much pleasure in letting others know how unwise it is to be on your bad side? The truth is we're going to have an emotional response when people treat us in ways we feel hurt by, this is natural and part of the healing process. What is not natural is to either detach ourselves from those feelings or burn them into our skin like a permanent brand. We must balance the side of us that seeks recompense with the side that wants to move beyond the hurt. I'll try to remember that as I move through legal proceedings this week.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
What a week! I hardly know how to sum it all up. It really ran the gamut from the height of hilarity to the depths of thunderous wrath. Sad to say anger is still one of the best motivators for me to step up my game.
I should set the scene for you. A year ago I sent work off to my first out of state gallery. I was very excited, it was all very official. I had a contract, I wrote out artist statements (something I learned to do while working on my degree) , I had shipping manifests, and I was so very honored to be represented in a gallery. The enthusiasm was not to last. Within the first month or so there seemed to be a problem with prompt payments when work sold. At first I was too shy to bring up the sordid topic of, "Where the hell is my check?" When the first two months turned into the first four I lost some of my decorum. Oh let's just say it like it was, I was pissed. I focused my feelings like a lance and aimed it until I received payment. Mission accomplished but I had never worked so hard for so little.
Fast forward a few more months and my frustration had built again. My attention had been snagged away by not one but two new teaching positions, a family crisis, and my own fantastic voyage this past summer. When I finally turned my inner eye back towards my wayward gallery it was not the eye of compassion. (Think the of the burning eye like Sauron and you'll get the tone of my gaze). The Mooneagle was not a happy camper and used his words of power to express that. (Shameless plug of last week's blog post I know but if you target your words well an email can practically buzz with intent). So I sent my demands and I drove 500 miles roundtrip and retrieved my work because I couldn't trust the gallery to ship it or if they did that it would arrive in anything but shards. I also couldn't wait for the mythical check in the mail any longer. They had checks for me…post dated ones. In hindsight perhaps I should have worn all black and wielded a chicken foot charm when I showed up to reclaim my work. The first check cleared, but this Friday I was informed by my bank that the second one did not.
So here I am. A person who wields magic. Part of me says goto Defcon 1 and launch the devastator warheads (etherically speaking). This part of me is I know heavily influenced by the Ego consortium in my head. Although I suspect there is some Id in that too. My artwork and specifically my pottery are like my babies. The other part of me is saying to hold on wait a minute and see what options present themselves. I who watch these two sides argue know there will be a response, but whichever it is I will not act fully until the anger has cooled. The sad thing is in this world there are people who only respect force. To get by we have to at times be aggressive and sometimes downright destructive for own defense. However as someone who is supposed to be all spiritual whatever that means I am examined under a more harsh lens of criticism (by myself especially) taking "bold" actions.
There are times to let things go. This is not one of those times. I don't like to reward bad behavior. So my challenge is to not let the anger I feel rule me as I take action. There are times when you must feel your anger deeply and let people know about it. Stuffing it down with affirmations or trying to meditate it away is simply lying to yourself and it will come out in other sneaky ways.
How about you? Is there a situation that has been giving you grief? Have you kept quiet about it and tried to be "good about it" while quietly (or not so quietly to your friends) fuming over it? Maybe you are letting your anger run rampant instead of addressing the one thing you need to change? Are you upfront about consequences with people or do you take too much pleasure in letting others know how unwise it is to be on your bad side? The truth is we're going to have an emotional response when people treat us in ways we feel hurt by, this is natural and part of the healing process. What is not natural is to either detach ourselves from those feelings or burn them into our skin like a permanent brand. We must balance the side of us that seeks recompense with the side that wants to move beyond the hurt. I'll try to remember that as I move through legal proceedings this week.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Words of Power
Greetings all,
Lately I've been pondering the power of words. Every week I send mine out into the blogosphere hoping they have an impact. Currently I am writing a book about runes, so the power of words is quite pertinent to me. However all of us are constantly under a barrage of language. We get emails, tweets, Facebook status updates, advertisements, billboards, signs, textbooks, and pamphlets all grabbing our attention.
We are so immersed in the sea of language we often don't recognize the power it has over us, nor we over it. We are careless with our words. We say hurtful things to ourselves and each other. Our words shape the world because it is how we transmit our ideas to others. Consider these statements, "We had words. We talked all night." Both of those could describe the same event, but 'having words' leads us to believe the shared words weren't all that pleasant. I read a post recently that said, "Texting is a brilliant way to miscommunicate how you feel and misinterpret what other people mean." Texts tend to be brief with easy to use words that are vague as opposed to letters or emails where we sit down and take our time to really say clearly what we mean. (Except from that inordinately long text I got from somebody one time that left absolutely no doubt what they felt and how they meant it.)
I'm not here to pick on texting. I am simply suggesting that we take our own words more seriously and choose them wisely. The old sticks and stones adage no longer applies. Cyber bullying has brought the cruelty of the playground into our homes, onto our phones where we cannot escape it. Seeing the number of suicides as a result of bullying on the news year after year I thank my lucky stars there was no Facebook or texting when I was in middle or high school. I was bullied quite mercilessly, but at least when I got home the cruel words stopped.
Words build our consensual reality. They make up the building blocks of all our stories. Our stories become our lives. Ah but you were waiting for the words of power that I promised. Yes there are magic words, but they generally only work if you have spent the time learning to channel and focus energy. There are everyday words that hold immense power and the more we use them the more power they exert. The words I AM have an enormous influence on us, because whatever follows them defines who we are. The other words of power are I CAN and I CAN'T, they either open or close an opportunity to us.
So how about you? Are you using the power of your words wisely? Are the words that you write, text, and speak serving your greater good? Are they serving your ego at the expense of others? Do you consider the impact of your words before you use them? How about the words you use to describe yourself, are you being kind? How about this, for the next week ponder over your words before you type speak or write out those holiday greeting cards. Choose your words to precisely convey your intent. Dial them in as you would an old radio to be as clear and focused as possible. Do this when you talk to yourself too maybe even in front of a mirror. Watch what happens.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Lately I've been pondering the power of words. Every week I send mine out into the blogosphere hoping they have an impact. Currently I am writing a book about runes, so the power of words is quite pertinent to me. However all of us are constantly under a barrage of language. We get emails, tweets, Facebook status updates, advertisements, billboards, signs, textbooks, and pamphlets all grabbing our attention.
We are so immersed in the sea of language we often don't recognize the power it has over us, nor we over it. We are careless with our words. We say hurtful things to ourselves and each other. Our words shape the world because it is how we transmit our ideas to others. Consider these statements, "We had words. We talked all night." Both of those could describe the same event, but 'having words' leads us to believe the shared words weren't all that pleasant. I read a post recently that said, "Texting is a brilliant way to miscommunicate how you feel and misinterpret what other people mean." Texts tend to be brief with easy to use words that are vague as opposed to letters or emails where we sit down and take our time to really say clearly what we mean. (Except from that inordinately long text I got from somebody one time that left absolutely no doubt what they felt and how they meant it.)
I'm not here to pick on texting. I am simply suggesting that we take our own words more seriously and choose them wisely. The old sticks and stones adage no longer applies. Cyber bullying has brought the cruelty of the playground into our homes, onto our phones where we cannot escape it. Seeing the number of suicides as a result of bullying on the news year after year I thank my lucky stars there was no Facebook or texting when I was in middle or high school. I was bullied quite mercilessly, but at least when I got home the cruel words stopped.
Words build our consensual reality. They make up the building blocks of all our stories. Our stories become our lives. Ah but you were waiting for the words of power that I promised. Yes there are magic words, but they generally only work if you have spent the time learning to channel and focus energy. There are everyday words that hold immense power and the more we use them the more power they exert. The words I AM have an enormous influence on us, because whatever follows them defines who we are. The other words of power are I CAN and I CAN'T, they either open or close an opportunity to us.
So how about you? Are you using the power of your words wisely? Are the words that you write, text, and speak serving your greater good? Are they serving your ego at the expense of others? Do you consider the impact of your words before you use them? How about the words you use to describe yourself, are you being kind? How about this, for the next week ponder over your words before you type speak or write out those holiday greeting cards. Choose your words to precisely convey your intent. Dial them in as you would an old radio to be as clear and focused as possible. Do this when you talk to yourself too maybe even in front of a mirror. Watch what happens.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Gather our Blessings
Greetings all,
I hope those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a nice one. For many years Thanksgiving had been my favorite holiday. I got to spend more time with loved ones than at other holidays and the food was good. People were a bit more relaxed than at Christmas and tended to enjoy themselves a bit more.
Each Thanksgiving I used to make an entry into my journal and list all the things I was thankful for. It was my private part of the holiday. I've not done that practice in a few years, in part because I am writing more regularly with this blog and with other assignments, but also because I try and make gratitude a more regular practice. Being thankful is not only gracious and good manners, but it makes us happier. (http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier)
What I have noticed is that Thanksgiving has been completely absorbed into the consumerist holiday of Christmas. Shopping starts on the day itself. I heard Christmas Carols begin on the radio 3 days before Halloween this year. However even before the rise of Black Friday as its own holiday of greed, Thanksgiving had faded in significance for most people. Many just see it as a day to indulge in large quantities of food and sit around and watch football games. The most fortunate of us that can afford this often do not spend any time reflecting on all the blessings we have.
So in this time when I have a warm bed and good roof over my head I want to reflect a bit on the blessings I personally possess. I live in relative safety far from a war zone. There are millions of people that can't say the same. I've never known true hunger. I have information unparalleled in human history at my fingertips for the asking. I have meaningful work that I enjoy. I've been blessed with favorable health. I grew up free from most forms of violence and crime. I have warm comfortable clothes that fit. I have been fortunate to find good teachers, friends, colleagues, and business partners. I live in an inspiring world of light, magic, and nature. I have been supported and guarded by spirit and flesh alike. These are but a few of the many blessings I sadly take for granted all too often.
More often than not we neglect to tell the people closest to us just how much we appreciate them. If respect is the soil in which love grows then gratitude is the water and light it needs to flourish. (My first blog post in the reboot of my blog was about respect). Lately when I perform my weekly ceremony I begin it by thanking all my helpers in spirit. I honor them all beginning with the Creator and the earth herself. This Friday I worked an event at an art center and I made public my weekly rattling prayer ceremony. The focus was growing the spirit of gratitude within our hearts. I am very grateful that I had the chance to do this. Normally I am alone when I do my prayer work, typically in my office. I can forget just how powerful simple ceremony is. When I began the center was practically a ghost town. We hadn't seen any potential customers in over an hour. As soon as I opened my mesa and began setting the space, people began to appear. When I shook my rattle a crowd started to walk by. It was almost like magic. It is easy to forgot just how powerful holding the spirit of gratitude within us can be, and how much of an effect it has on the world around us.
So how about you? Are you dwelling in gratitude or are you stuck complaining about all that is missing from your life? Do you appreciate all the small kindnesses that make the world go round? Do you tell the people who make your life better just how much you care for and appreciate them and all they do? Have you been gathering your blessings and lovingly counting them? If not perhaps you need to spend a little less time moving through the rituals of the season and a bit more time in reflection on all that life has offered you.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
I hope those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a nice one. For many years Thanksgiving had been my favorite holiday. I got to spend more time with loved ones than at other holidays and the food was good. People were a bit more relaxed than at Christmas and tended to enjoy themselves a bit more.
Each Thanksgiving I used to make an entry into my journal and list all the things I was thankful for. It was my private part of the holiday. I've not done that practice in a few years, in part because I am writing more regularly with this blog and with other assignments, but also because I try and make gratitude a more regular practice. Being thankful is not only gracious and good manners, but it makes us happier. (http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier)
What I have noticed is that Thanksgiving has been completely absorbed into the consumerist holiday of Christmas. Shopping starts on the day itself. I heard Christmas Carols begin on the radio 3 days before Halloween this year. However even before the rise of Black Friday as its own holiday of greed, Thanksgiving had faded in significance for most people. Many just see it as a day to indulge in large quantities of food and sit around and watch football games. The most fortunate of us that can afford this often do not spend any time reflecting on all the blessings we have.
So in this time when I have a warm bed and good roof over my head I want to reflect a bit on the blessings I personally possess. I live in relative safety far from a war zone. There are millions of people that can't say the same. I've never known true hunger. I have information unparalleled in human history at my fingertips for the asking. I have meaningful work that I enjoy. I've been blessed with favorable health. I grew up free from most forms of violence and crime. I have warm comfortable clothes that fit. I have been fortunate to find good teachers, friends, colleagues, and business partners. I live in an inspiring world of light, magic, and nature. I have been supported and guarded by spirit and flesh alike. These are but a few of the many blessings I sadly take for granted all too often.
More often than not we neglect to tell the people closest to us just how much we appreciate them. If respect is the soil in which love grows then gratitude is the water and light it needs to flourish. (My first blog post in the reboot of my blog was about respect). Lately when I perform my weekly ceremony I begin it by thanking all my helpers in spirit. I honor them all beginning with the Creator and the earth herself. This Friday I worked an event at an art center and I made public my weekly rattling prayer ceremony. The focus was growing the spirit of gratitude within our hearts. I am very grateful that I had the chance to do this. Normally I am alone when I do my prayer work, typically in my office. I can forget just how powerful simple ceremony is. When I began the center was practically a ghost town. We hadn't seen any potential customers in over an hour. As soon as I opened my mesa and began setting the space, people began to appear. When I shook my rattle a crowd started to walk by. It was almost like magic. It is easy to forgot just how powerful holding the spirit of gratitude within us can be, and how much of an effect it has on the world around us.
So how about you? Are you dwelling in gratitude or are you stuck complaining about all that is missing from your life? Do you appreciate all the small kindnesses that make the world go round? Do you tell the people who make your life better just how much you care for and appreciate them and all they do? Have you been gathering your blessings and lovingly counting them? If not perhaps you need to spend a little less time moving through the rituals of the season and a bit more time in reflection on all that life has offered you.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Friday, November 21, 2014
Holding Back
Greetings all,
Hope your week went well. Mine flew by and I am once more on the road. I'll be working at a big psychic fair this weekend in Sharonville, OH called Victory of Light. I work at my friend's crystal booth a few times a year and it's always a nice break to get out of town. This fair usually marks the end of my traveling season until spring. Winter is not the time for road trips, at least not in my aging chariot.
Week by week life presents me with challenges and opportunities. These become grist for the mill of this blog. I am not trying to be narcissistic (it comes naturally without effort), but I hope that my experiences can shed light on some of yours. More often than not I have found that my own struggles parallel the issues that many others face. We are all human (mostly anyways I haven't done a serious poll) and that means we have similar needs. One need in particular is to grow and sample new experiences and relationships.
So much of what we do is driven by our emotions. However due to societal pressures we tend to hold back our feelings and not only fail to express them but to even let ourselves fully feel them. Holding back is something I catch myself doing a lot. Finding out what is behind that is crucial if we want to live deep meaningful successful lives. For me it is fear. Sounds simple yes, well it is not just one fear. This fear has layers and flavored sprinkles. There is for example the fear of offending or hurting someone. There is the fear of failure as well as the fear of success. There is the fear of disappointing the ones I care about.
Failure covers a lot of ground. The road to any sort of self growth means making mistakes. Depending on our schooling and general upbringing we can get conditioned into thinking of mistakes as the most horrible thing that could happen. Mistakes are either unfortunate things we have to suffer through, teachable moments, or possibly even break through experiences. There is an old saying that says, "Your last mistake is your best teacher." As an artist (yes dear reader I have another career outside of metaphysical services) I struggle with this demonization of mistakes, I can get fixated on an outcome and hold back if I am uncertain I can achieve it instantly. The best ideas usually take several attempts or more (it took me several years to come up with a blue glaze I was happy with) to realize. When I get stuck in that loop of doubt it often leads to procrastination or not putting in much effort. The odd thing is that some of my best creations have come out of "mistakes" that were really happy accidents. Sometimes a wrong turn leads you down a road that is better than where you planned to go.
This weekend I intend to shine out my light. I am not holding back. What about you? Are you stifling yourself? Do you bite back your emotions, desires, talents or dreams? What would happen if you embraced that raw spark within yourself and followed it. What if that flickering light let others know it was okay to be both imperfect and loved? What if you allowed yourself to fully geek out about what you love? Try it out don't hold back and watch your light shine.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Hope your week went well. Mine flew by and I am once more on the road. I'll be working at a big psychic fair this weekend in Sharonville, OH called Victory of Light. I work at my friend's crystal booth a few times a year and it's always a nice break to get out of town. This fair usually marks the end of my traveling season until spring. Winter is not the time for road trips, at least not in my aging chariot.
Week by week life presents me with challenges and opportunities. These become grist for the mill of this blog. I am not trying to be narcissistic (it comes naturally without effort), but I hope that my experiences can shed light on some of yours. More often than not I have found that my own struggles parallel the issues that many others face. We are all human (mostly anyways I haven't done a serious poll) and that means we have similar needs. One need in particular is to grow and sample new experiences and relationships.
So much of what we do is driven by our emotions. However due to societal pressures we tend to hold back our feelings and not only fail to express them but to even let ourselves fully feel them. Holding back is something I catch myself doing a lot. Finding out what is behind that is crucial if we want to live deep meaningful successful lives. For me it is fear. Sounds simple yes, well it is not just one fear. This fear has layers and flavored sprinkles. There is for example the fear of offending or hurting someone. There is the fear of failure as well as the fear of success. There is the fear of disappointing the ones I care about.
Failure covers a lot of ground. The road to any sort of self growth means making mistakes. Depending on our schooling and general upbringing we can get conditioned into thinking of mistakes as the most horrible thing that could happen. Mistakes are either unfortunate things we have to suffer through, teachable moments, or possibly even break through experiences. There is an old saying that says, "Your last mistake is your best teacher." As an artist (yes dear reader I have another career outside of metaphysical services) I struggle with this demonization of mistakes, I can get fixated on an outcome and hold back if I am uncertain I can achieve it instantly. The best ideas usually take several attempts or more (it took me several years to come up with a blue glaze I was happy with) to realize. When I get stuck in that loop of doubt it often leads to procrastination or not putting in much effort. The odd thing is that some of my best creations have come out of "mistakes" that were really happy accidents. Sometimes a wrong turn leads you down a road that is better than where you planned to go.
This weekend I intend to shine out my light. I am not holding back. What about you? Are you stifling yourself? Do you bite back your emotions, desires, talents or dreams? What would happen if you embraced that raw spark within yourself and followed it. What if that flickering light let others know it was okay to be both imperfect and loved? What if you allowed yourself to fully geek out about what you love? Try it out don't hold back and watch your light shine.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
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