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
Musings
Saturday, November 29, 2014
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
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Adventure Party
Greetings all,
This week has been jam packed. I just returned this evening from a road trip. I went down to Gatlinburg, TN to collect some of my art work from a gallery that was closing. It was a fast trip I went down yesterday and came back today. I'll be out on the road again next weekend for Victory of Light Psychic Fair in Cincinnati, OH. Come on out and visit me if you're in the region.
So this trip was put together rather quickly and was made necessary by the sad circumstances of losing a selling venue for artwork. My healing practice has expanded quite a bit the past few months, but my artwork has lagged behind as far as finding its way into buyers hands. I'll be honest I was not a happy camper having to make an impromptu trip in what has been a very busy season so far.
With trips I tend to spend a bit of extra time asking for assistance from spirit. Now that we've moved into winter I am even more cautious as I set out. I called on all of my guides, ancestors, power animals, teachers, faeries, and angels to smooth my way this weekend. I noticed a very curious thing on my drive down. I was enjoying what was otherwise a very tedious drive. I even sent Reiki to all the nature spirits as I drove past. I was filled with appreciation and joy for all the fall colors. I had what the Taoists call the inner smile spreading through my insides. I even got messages from passing cars and trucks (License plates and logos are big omen opportunities for me).
I have been repeatedly told in journeys to call on my helpers, power animals, guides and all of my spirit support network. I have dozens of helpful beings waiting in the wings (hah angel pun) for the go sign from me to step in and assist. I have simply gotten out of the habit of asking for help. I don't know why it makes such a huge difference and doesn't take that much time out of my day to send out those silent requests. These helpers are important to the success of my adventures and yet I leave them at the inn half the time. Now I am good about calling on them when I am doing work for a client, but for myself I just can't be bothered regularly to send out the bat signal. So I show up with little support and then complain about how I am not supported.
Guides and spirits need our permission to act on our behalf. Most of them are bursting at the seams to jump in and gift us with their help. They learn and grow in tandem with ourselves. The more they are able to help us on our life path the more they in turn develop.
So does any of this apply to you? Do you have helpers (in flesh or in spirit) that sit idle because you forget to ask for help? Are you so much of a loner that you feel you must tackle everything yourself? Are you stuck in a routine where you don't even stop to think about summoning aid? Well put your team leader hat on and start delegating. If you feel you don't have the right spiritual help put out a cosmic Help Wanted ad. Write out a position description for someone to help you with a particular aspect of your life. Once you have it down make a ceremony maybe put the ad in a fire to send it out. Call on your helpers let them know they've got your say so to start working for you. Do it daily and watch what happens.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
This week has been jam packed. I just returned this evening from a road trip. I went down to Gatlinburg, TN to collect some of my art work from a gallery that was closing. It was a fast trip I went down yesterday and came back today. I'll be out on the road again next weekend for Victory of Light Psychic Fair in Cincinnati, OH. Come on out and visit me if you're in the region.
So this trip was put together rather quickly and was made necessary by the sad circumstances of losing a selling venue for artwork. My healing practice has expanded quite a bit the past few months, but my artwork has lagged behind as far as finding its way into buyers hands. I'll be honest I was not a happy camper having to make an impromptu trip in what has been a very busy season so far.
With trips I tend to spend a bit of extra time asking for assistance from spirit. Now that we've moved into winter I am even more cautious as I set out. I called on all of my guides, ancestors, power animals, teachers, faeries, and angels to smooth my way this weekend. I noticed a very curious thing on my drive down. I was enjoying what was otherwise a very tedious drive. I even sent Reiki to all the nature spirits as I drove past. I was filled with appreciation and joy for all the fall colors. I had what the Taoists call the inner smile spreading through my insides. I even got messages from passing cars and trucks (License plates and logos are big omen opportunities for me).
I have been repeatedly told in journeys to call on my helpers, power animals, guides and all of my spirit support network. I have dozens of helpful beings waiting in the wings (hah angel pun) for the go sign from me to step in and assist. I have simply gotten out of the habit of asking for help. I don't know why it makes such a huge difference and doesn't take that much time out of my day to send out those silent requests. These helpers are important to the success of my adventures and yet I leave them at the inn half the time. Now I am good about calling on them when I am doing work for a client, but for myself I just can't be bothered regularly to send out the bat signal. So I show up with little support and then complain about how I am not supported.
Guides and spirits need our permission to act on our behalf. Most of them are bursting at the seams to jump in and gift us with their help. They learn and grow in tandem with ourselves. The more they are able to help us on our life path the more they in turn develop.
So does any of this apply to you? Do you have helpers (in flesh or in spirit) that sit idle because you forget to ask for help? Are you so much of a loner that you feel you must tackle everything yourself? Are you stuck in a routine where you don't even stop to think about summoning aid? Well put your team leader hat on and start delegating. If you feel you don't have the right spiritual help put out a cosmic Help Wanted ad. Write out a position description for someone to help you with a particular aspect of your life. Once you have it down make a ceremony maybe put the ad in a fire to send it out. Call on your helpers let them know they've got your say so to start working for you. Do it daily and watch what happens.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Heart of it
Greetings all,
Welcome to winter, at least by the Celtic calendar. Halloween marked the end of summer and beginning of winter. The solstice which we sometimes call the first day of winter is actually midwinter. I like to use the old calendar to help connect with the flow of the season it helps me to move more gracefully through the currents of the year.
Winter is the dimming of the light, shorter days, and colder winds. As the external sun dims it is important to stoke the fires of our internal sun, the heart. It is our source of life as sure as the sun. If the sun stops shining life is impossible and if our heart stops beating it is the same. The heart gives us energy and nourishment. It also has quite a bit of neural tissue so it has its own intelligence. The wisdom of the heart is in acceptance, sharing, and making connections. The quantum field is accessed via the field of the heart. To access true magic we must open and surrender to the heart.
I've studied quite a bit of lore and metaphysical paths in the past decade. I have accumulated a good bit of "knowledge" and even applied some of it quite well. I have come to a point where more knowledge will not be of service (no I'm not saying I know it all just that I've got to learn to fully use what I already have). What is needed now is to work on opening my heart and keeping it open and radiating love. Some people do this effortlessly (or they make it look that way at least). It is definitely something I have to "work" at.
Trusting is hard. Particularly in a world where trust is often seen and used as an exploitable weakness. We have very little built in trust in our society. Think I'm wrong? How many lawyer ads have you seen this week on television? Have you read warning labels lately? Signed any waiver forms this month? Trust just isn't what it used to be. You may think because I have a spiritual practice I'm more trusting, but you've got it in reverse. I have a spiritual practice so I can become more trusting (and trustworthy). Without trust you can't create that open heart so it is key. What I'm coming to realize is that if I were to more fully dwell in the space of the heart all of what I currently do would both simplify and become exponentially more powerful. Right now I work at heart space and I get results, but if I dwelled there or just moved within it more easily the entire fabric of my life would change.
There are things I long for, owning a home, finding a good market for my artwork, travel, and relationships. (Yes even the Mooneagle likes a good snuggle). However those are just the outward expressions of my heart. The love of creating is behind my desire for selling work. The exuberance and adventure is expressed through travel. The love of self is embraced in the purchase of a hearth and home. All of these are only reflections of what is in my heart, my work is to bring them out so that my heart can flourish while shining out its light and warmth. In the midst of a world that seems bent against leading with the heart this is a challenge. It is the only challenge really all else is just details.
So how about you? Are you over complicating life? Is it distracting you from excavating the love within? Do you learn and grow only to find satisfaction has slipped through your fingers? What if we came back to the simplicity of love. In a complex crazy world of mind control advertising of adversarial paradigms what if we plugged into the sun within? Try it, love yourself even your broken bits and see what unfolds.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Welcome to winter, at least by the Celtic calendar. Halloween marked the end of summer and beginning of winter. The solstice which we sometimes call the first day of winter is actually midwinter. I like to use the old calendar to help connect with the flow of the season it helps me to move more gracefully through the currents of the year.
Winter is the dimming of the light, shorter days, and colder winds. As the external sun dims it is important to stoke the fires of our internal sun, the heart. It is our source of life as sure as the sun. If the sun stops shining life is impossible and if our heart stops beating it is the same. The heart gives us energy and nourishment. It also has quite a bit of neural tissue so it has its own intelligence. The wisdom of the heart is in acceptance, sharing, and making connections. The quantum field is accessed via the field of the heart. To access true magic we must open and surrender to the heart.
I've studied quite a bit of lore and metaphysical paths in the past decade. I have accumulated a good bit of "knowledge" and even applied some of it quite well. I have come to a point where more knowledge will not be of service (no I'm not saying I know it all just that I've got to learn to fully use what I already have). What is needed now is to work on opening my heart and keeping it open and radiating love. Some people do this effortlessly (or they make it look that way at least). It is definitely something I have to "work" at.
Trusting is hard. Particularly in a world where trust is often seen and used as an exploitable weakness. We have very little built in trust in our society. Think I'm wrong? How many lawyer ads have you seen this week on television? Have you read warning labels lately? Signed any waiver forms this month? Trust just isn't what it used to be. You may think because I have a spiritual practice I'm more trusting, but you've got it in reverse. I have a spiritual practice so I can become more trusting (and trustworthy). Without trust you can't create that open heart so it is key. What I'm coming to realize is that if I were to more fully dwell in the space of the heart all of what I currently do would both simplify and become exponentially more powerful. Right now I work at heart space and I get results, but if I dwelled there or just moved within it more easily the entire fabric of my life would change.
There are things I long for, owning a home, finding a good market for my artwork, travel, and relationships. (Yes even the Mooneagle likes a good snuggle). However those are just the outward expressions of my heart. The love of creating is behind my desire for selling work. The exuberance and adventure is expressed through travel. The love of self is embraced in the purchase of a hearth and home. All of these are only reflections of what is in my heart, my work is to bring them out so that my heart can flourish while shining out its light and warmth. In the midst of a world that seems bent against leading with the heart this is a challenge. It is the only challenge really all else is just details.
So how about you? Are you over complicating life? Is it distracting you from excavating the love within? Do you learn and grow only to find satisfaction has slipped through your fingers? What if we came back to the simplicity of love. In a complex crazy world of mind control advertising of adversarial paradigms what if we plugged into the sun within? Try it, love yourself even your broken bits and see what unfolds.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Refocusing
Greetings all,
I hope you had a wonderful week and a Happy Halloween. This month has been one of transitions for me: one teaching job ended, another one opened up, I became a chapter leader for The Monroe Institute, I let go of more days at my retail position, I put myself out in a more public venue, and I started to step back further out of other people's lives.
Change is the name of the game right now. Everything is in flux. This is a good thing, but it does mean I have to spend a little extra time centering myself and refocusing to make sure I am charting a course through the river of life rather than just getting tossed about the eddies and whirlpools of Fate. There's a fine line between going with the flow and simply being adrift. I have to spend a little bit of effort to make sure the river is taking me where I want to go.
This isn't always easy I tend to get sidetracked and pulled into other people's journeys. Empathy means I feel other people's stuff, and if I'm not vigilant I may take it on or believe it is my stuff. People with a high degree of empathy often tend to be very helpful or involved in some sort of caregiving or social support role. Don't confuse this with general compassion, it sometimes is, but it can just as well be that we don't like how we feel when you aren't doing well. Sometimes I'll go a long way out of my way to get a little peace. This is being selfishly helpful. I may care about you, but I may also just want some quiet. Life has been anything but quiet and true to form I have been running around doing my best to "fix" things so I can get back to work.
There's a problem with being known as someone who can fix a situation, or who is really good at calming people down. Your network starts bringing you people who are in full blown crisis mode. As soon as one is through another crisis (or a different person) shows up. The hardest lesson for sensitive people is to let others have their pain. There are times when it is appropriate to alleviate suffering, and then there are times where a person needs to handle it themselves. Taking that from them is not service. One of the high points (oddly enough which happened at my lowest point as well) came through a period of intense pain and suffering. I am who I am today because of that. I am stronger, and I am more effective with my clients as a direct result.
Now I am not saying to turn a blind eye to all the suffering in the world. I'm simply suggesting that not all of it is your business. There is a difference between being a support in a trying time and being a crutch for life. Human beings were designed to be strong, resilient, and interdependent. We do depend on each other, but a group is healthier when it is made up of strong individuals. So here I am feeling all the swirling maelstroms of emotion around me, and my guidance is saying, "Step back, let them handle it." So I struggle with doing that, letting people deal with their stuff and have their pain.
What about you? Are you popping in to save the day at the first sign of trouble? Are you losing focus on your own goals to quiet the moans from the locals? What would happen if you allowed people to struggle through things that you knew they could handle? What if you took yourself off their emotional emergency contact list? We can't be all things to all people, so why not just step back and chart your course down the river? Don't worry you'll still be of service, but it will truly be a matter of need as opposed to convenience.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
I hope you had a wonderful week and a Happy Halloween. This month has been one of transitions for me: one teaching job ended, another one opened up, I became a chapter leader for The Monroe Institute, I let go of more days at my retail position, I put myself out in a more public venue, and I started to step back further out of other people's lives.
Change is the name of the game right now. Everything is in flux. This is a good thing, but it does mean I have to spend a little extra time centering myself and refocusing to make sure I am charting a course through the river of life rather than just getting tossed about the eddies and whirlpools of Fate. There's a fine line between going with the flow and simply being adrift. I have to spend a little bit of effort to make sure the river is taking me where I want to go.
This isn't always easy I tend to get sidetracked and pulled into other people's journeys. Empathy means I feel other people's stuff, and if I'm not vigilant I may take it on or believe it is my stuff. People with a high degree of empathy often tend to be very helpful or involved in some sort of caregiving or social support role. Don't confuse this with general compassion, it sometimes is, but it can just as well be that we don't like how we feel when you aren't doing well. Sometimes I'll go a long way out of my way to get a little peace. This is being selfishly helpful. I may care about you, but I may also just want some quiet. Life has been anything but quiet and true to form I have been running around doing my best to "fix" things so I can get back to work.
There's a problem with being known as someone who can fix a situation, or who is really good at calming people down. Your network starts bringing you people who are in full blown crisis mode. As soon as one is through another crisis (or a different person) shows up. The hardest lesson for sensitive people is to let others have their pain. There are times when it is appropriate to alleviate suffering, and then there are times where a person needs to handle it themselves. Taking that from them is not service. One of the high points (oddly enough which happened at my lowest point as well) came through a period of intense pain and suffering. I am who I am today because of that. I am stronger, and I am more effective with my clients as a direct result.
Now I am not saying to turn a blind eye to all the suffering in the world. I'm simply suggesting that not all of it is your business. There is a difference between being a support in a trying time and being a crutch for life. Human beings were designed to be strong, resilient, and interdependent. We do depend on each other, but a group is healthier when it is made up of strong individuals. So here I am feeling all the swirling maelstroms of emotion around me, and my guidance is saying, "Step back, let them handle it." So I struggle with doing that, letting people deal with their stuff and have their pain.
What about you? Are you popping in to save the day at the first sign of trouble? Are you losing focus on your own goals to quiet the moans from the locals? What would happen if you allowed people to struggle through things that you knew they could handle? What if you took yourself off their emotional emergency contact list? We can't be all things to all people, so why not just step back and chart your course down the river? Don't worry you'll still be of service, but it will truly be a matter of need as opposed to convenience.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Tempering the Temper
Greetings all,
Another week another post. Ah, but what a week it has been full of emotional highs and lows. Speaking of emotions….
I have a temper. Don't laugh its true. Many people are shocked to find out this fact. The Mooneagle does get angry. Not that this happens a lot (barring traffic jams), but it does happen. I'm one of those people that I describe as having a long fuse. Imagine a long trail of gunpowder, you can light it and it may take a while but eventually there's going to be a very big bang. Sometimes the longer the fuse the bigger the bang.
Anger is an emotion that often gets demonized. It can be destructive and dangerous. However it can also act like rocket fuel blasting us off into new heights. We've all had those moments when we're fed up with a situation or relationship and we go off. We either leave the situation or blow it up. I've often said I don't burn bridges, I napalm them. Usually I wait till someone is in the middle of a crossing. While very dramatic and emotionally exhausting this has liberated me from situations (and people) that might have drawn me back into an even more exhausting cycle of suffering.
So anger is useful. It can be at any rate. The problem I often have is that I go directly from peace time picnics to all out war. This is just a tad bit less useful. Anger inspires quick action, but rarely clear thinking. Remember those bridges? While I might have been dancing round the flames in celebration there are so many times where I remembered something important that I left on the other side of that now burning chasm. I've squandered opportunities and had to start from scratch because I was just to eager to strike that match and stoke the fire.
The espresso shot of adrenalin that anger brings can be very habit forming, in fact recent studies suggest that catharsis therapy where you take your aggression out on a pillow or doll can actually make you more prone to outbursts of anger. What happens is that you are creating and reinforcing those aggressive patterns in your neural pathways. The more you do something the deeper the pattern is wired into you. Of course bottling up your anger isn't such a hot idea either, or rather it is too hot. (Remember that bridge before it was charcoal?)
So what to do? If we fire up the flame throwers we just make ourselves more prone to anger, but if we suppress it we risk a meltdown. This seems to be one of those smelly creeks that have boats with only a single paddle. In metal working there is a process called tempering where a piece of metal is cooled quickly, and then carefully reheated below a critical point. This makes the metal more durable and less likely to shatter and break. To simply not be angry is not an option we risk being inauthentic, and also being the world's door mat. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that if you don't stand up for yourself at times people will not treat you very well. You also don't want to go around blasting everyone with vitriol because you're not getting your way.
One of the things that helps me is to ask questions. Why am I angry? Now my initial response is usually well person X did this to me, but you have to dig deeper. Maybe someone did something that hurt my feelings. Why are they hurt? What issue did their actions or words bring to the surface? What in me needs to be healed? What do I need to address within me? Don't think this means that other people get a hall pass though on poor behavior, because along with those questions I'll ask myself what actions I need to take to address whatever triggered the flare up. Sometimes the answer is do nothing, ignore it, or let it go. Other times the answer is confront and tell person X that what they're doing is unacceptable, and that if it continues other actions will follow.
So does any of this apply to you? Do you hold your anger in until you erupt and drown Pompeii in fiery ash and ruin? Do you regularly spit fire at friend and foe alike? Do you temper your responses? Why not look at your anger with the same lens you see any emotion with. It has a job to do showing you where change is needed in your life. If you loved what it did for you without being attached to the feeling would that change your outlook on anger? What if you used the fire of anger to cauterize your inner wounds rather than inflicting more wounds? Most importantly give yourself a little slack we all lose our tempers at some point, no reason to lose your cool over losing your cool.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Another week another post. Ah, but what a week it has been full of emotional highs and lows. Speaking of emotions….
I have a temper. Don't laugh its true. Many people are shocked to find out this fact. The Mooneagle does get angry. Not that this happens a lot (barring traffic jams), but it does happen. I'm one of those people that I describe as having a long fuse. Imagine a long trail of gunpowder, you can light it and it may take a while but eventually there's going to be a very big bang. Sometimes the longer the fuse the bigger the bang.
Anger is an emotion that often gets demonized. It can be destructive and dangerous. However it can also act like rocket fuel blasting us off into new heights. We've all had those moments when we're fed up with a situation or relationship and we go off. We either leave the situation or blow it up. I've often said I don't burn bridges, I napalm them. Usually I wait till someone is in the middle of a crossing. While very dramatic and emotionally exhausting this has liberated me from situations (and people) that might have drawn me back into an even more exhausting cycle of suffering.
So anger is useful. It can be at any rate. The problem I often have is that I go directly from peace time picnics to all out war. This is just a tad bit less useful. Anger inspires quick action, but rarely clear thinking. Remember those bridges? While I might have been dancing round the flames in celebration there are so many times where I remembered something important that I left on the other side of that now burning chasm. I've squandered opportunities and had to start from scratch because I was just to eager to strike that match and stoke the fire.
The espresso shot of adrenalin that anger brings can be very habit forming, in fact recent studies suggest that catharsis therapy where you take your aggression out on a pillow or doll can actually make you more prone to outbursts of anger. What happens is that you are creating and reinforcing those aggressive patterns in your neural pathways. The more you do something the deeper the pattern is wired into you. Of course bottling up your anger isn't such a hot idea either, or rather it is too hot. (Remember that bridge before it was charcoal?)
So what to do? If we fire up the flame throwers we just make ourselves more prone to anger, but if we suppress it we risk a meltdown. This seems to be one of those smelly creeks that have boats with only a single paddle. In metal working there is a process called tempering where a piece of metal is cooled quickly, and then carefully reheated below a critical point. This makes the metal more durable and less likely to shatter and break. To simply not be angry is not an option we risk being inauthentic, and also being the world's door mat. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that if you don't stand up for yourself at times people will not treat you very well. You also don't want to go around blasting everyone with vitriol because you're not getting your way.
One of the things that helps me is to ask questions. Why am I angry? Now my initial response is usually well person X did this to me, but you have to dig deeper. Maybe someone did something that hurt my feelings. Why are they hurt? What issue did their actions or words bring to the surface? What in me needs to be healed? What do I need to address within me? Don't think this means that other people get a hall pass though on poor behavior, because along with those questions I'll ask myself what actions I need to take to address whatever triggered the flare up. Sometimes the answer is do nothing, ignore it, or let it go. Other times the answer is confront and tell person X that what they're doing is unacceptable, and that if it continues other actions will follow.
So does any of this apply to you? Do you hold your anger in until you erupt and drown Pompeii in fiery ash and ruin? Do you regularly spit fire at friend and foe alike? Do you temper your responses? Why not look at your anger with the same lens you see any emotion with. It has a job to do showing you where change is needed in your life. If you loved what it did for you without being attached to the feeling would that change your outlook on anger? What if you used the fire of anger to cauterize your inner wounds rather than inflicting more wounds? Most importantly give yourself a little slack we all lose our tempers at some point, no reason to lose your cool over losing your cool.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Handling the Hierarchy
Greetings all,
This week was a blend of wonderful and maddening in a way I really can't quite put into words. In fact some of this week will pop up in future blog topics. Sometimes when events are intense I don't always write about them immediately, I allow them to marinate for a bit. After I have some perspective on the flavor then I can pull them apart and analyze them. Perspective really is what this blog is all about.
So I will focus on something I have encountered in multiple engagements in the past, hierarchy. The power structure and all its incarnations suffuses our lives. It can be so confining particularly if you are a bit of an oddball like myself. There simply isn't a slot shaped for me to fit into. This not fitting in however is what led me to seek something beyond myself, to seek magic and the path of spirit. In this space of infinite possibility and wonder I thought I had escaped the hierarchical power struggle that rages on in our world. Well you know naivety is as good a teacher as any, if not necessarily a gentle one.
Having been mostly self taught for the first half of my magical meanderings I managed to steer clear of most of the politics (yes there are magical politics and if you think normal politics is ugly you have no idea). I have been involved in two different magical groups in the past both of which ended in quite a sour state. I have had several teachers of various metaphysical subjects, as well as those who thought I needed them as a teacher. I am very picky about teachers and I have fired several. The firing has always amounted to someone wanting to control me and decide for me what my energy could be allowed to do. I don't want to harp on teachers, good teachers are invaluable they set you free to fully embody the amazing spirit that you are. They sit with you not above you.
In the metaphysical world so many people are scrambling for some sort of title. I myself have collected a few which to me sound utterly ridiculous when I start listing them. My goal has been for the past several years to be my own Authority. I don't want to ask permission to follow what my spirit and guides tell me. The teachers I have always urge me as well as others to look to their own guidance. We sit in a circle, every point in the circle is necessary for it to exist. The symbolism of the circle is everything a hierarchy isn't. All are one, all are respected and equally important. If you think someone in the circle is not as valid then you can be sure it is your ego at work and not your spirit. Ego loves hierarchy especially when it can sit on top.
So how does this apply to you? Well are you getting lost in the chinks of the hierarchical machine? Are you sizing up everyone and ranking them? Are you giving your own authority away to someone with a title? Are you playing king of the mountain with your life? What if you assessed integrity rather than authority? Now I don't want you to think there isn't room for experts in life, because there is, but how many of the people ruling your life are actual experts? Try it out see people arranged in a circle instead of a pyramid. How does that change your responses?
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
This week was a blend of wonderful and maddening in a way I really can't quite put into words. In fact some of this week will pop up in future blog topics. Sometimes when events are intense I don't always write about them immediately, I allow them to marinate for a bit. After I have some perspective on the flavor then I can pull them apart and analyze them. Perspective really is what this blog is all about.
So I will focus on something I have encountered in multiple engagements in the past, hierarchy. The power structure and all its incarnations suffuses our lives. It can be so confining particularly if you are a bit of an oddball like myself. There simply isn't a slot shaped for me to fit into. This not fitting in however is what led me to seek something beyond myself, to seek magic and the path of spirit. In this space of infinite possibility and wonder I thought I had escaped the hierarchical power struggle that rages on in our world. Well you know naivety is as good a teacher as any, if not necessarily a gentle one.
Having been mostly self taught for the first half of my magical meanderings I managed to steer clear of most of the politics (yes there are magical politics and if you think normal politics is ugly you have no idea). I have been involved in two different magical groups in the past both of which ended in quite a sour state. I have had several teachers of various metaphysical subjects, as well as those who thought I needed them as a teacher. I am very picky about teachers and I have fired several. The firing has always amounted to someone wanting to control me and decide for me what my energy could be allowed to do. I don't want to harp on teachers, good teachers are invaluable they set you free to fully embody the amazing spirit that you are. They sit with you not above you.
In the metaphysical world so many people are scrambling for some sort of title. I myself have collected a few which to me sound utterly ridiculous when I start listing them. My goal has been for the past several years to be my own Authority. I don't want to ask permission to follow what my spirit and guides tell me. The teachers I have always urge me as well as others to look to their own guidance. We sit in a circle, every point in the circle is necessary for it to exist. The symbolism of the circle is everything a hierarchy isn't. All are one, all are respected and equally important. If you think someone in the circle is not as valid then you can be sure it is your ego at work and not your spirit. Ego loves hierarchy especially when it can sit on top.
So how does this apply to you? Well are you getting lost in the chinks of the hierarchical machine? Are you sizing up everyone and ranking them? Are you giving your own authority away to someone with a title? Are you playing king of the mountain with your life? What if you assessed integrity rather than authority? Now I don't want you to think there isn't room for experts in life, because there is, but how many of the people ruling your life are actual experts? Try it out see people arranged in a circle instead of a pyramid. How does that change your responses?
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
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