tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17497836911449576702024-03-14T08:19:42.098+00:00Moon and RavenMusings of an Insular Gaul.Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-47440892811328855352010-11-08T23:20:00.003+00:002010-11-08T23:48:11.124+00:00Long time, no see<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hullo O Vast Blogosphere,</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It has been but a long time since we've spoken. O how I have missed your camaradery.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What new? Well, I'm single; I'm studying Religious Studies rather than Philosophy now; I'm now attuned in SKHM healing; I live in a house that's not falling apart; one the whole, though, I'm rather darned happy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So... that's the update. Now onto Pagan stuff. Yay!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pagan Society's Saṁain rite was performed by Pagan Soc's and the Students' Union's ex-President Ben Allen, and my old housemate Laura Ross. Within the rite was a short meditation, the details of which I forget, but involved meeting a being at the base of a tree. The being I experienced had the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">“</span>feel<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">”</span> of a person around their mid-30s to mid-40s in human terms, was made of black smoke, and had an angel-like wingspan of raven wings. He also had a single eye (not that he had any physical features, but I got the impression of being looked at with a single, present eye).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I came to the conclusion that that being was Óðinn.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I can't remember exactly if there was a message given per se, but what I feel was that it was a gesture of being present, that is, showing themselves to me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hours before I had invoke Óðinn as psychopomp to make the worldly transitions of the departing and returning souls easier.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This would be the first time that I had fully and formally invoked Him in a solitary sense.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The form presented, however, I find hard the interpret. I wonder what you think?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-53177137819574114652009-07-17T10:42:00.011+01:002009-07-26T13:13:21.159+01:00Lessons learned from a Lama.<a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wEoXtKtfOJRpvgE9YfdG6lWkv_5EcrAB_NfKTmzPySU1im-c0zAUaqi8Na6FR8KBX2OskE74U95dQF0o53xOXsfKqMzniTz1Q91sZiriyKbRWRyyY5BGkuXxeOjlLgx2RJs7SHE7o_w/s1600-h/P1070544.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wEoXtKtfOJRpvgE9YfdG6lWkv_5EcrAB_NfKTmzPySU1im-c0zAUaqi8Na6FR8KBX2OskE74U95dQF0o53xOXsfKqMzniTz1Q91sZiriyKbRWRyyY5BGkuXxeOjlLgx2RJs7SHE7o_w/s400/P1070544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359362935784615346" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There are many things you can learn from a Lama, including:<br />Number one - it's always good to know the courtersies of a different religion (learn the mantric greeting meant to be </span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">given to a Bön lama rather than go "Merry Meet, Rinpoche...").<br />Number two - it's possible to be a spiritual teacher and have a good sense of humour ("You live in microwave culture! Everything so fast... your spiritual searching are like a a greasy plate and a dry sponge - but I am the Ecover liquid and the warm water!"). On Tuesday, I sat in on a question/answer session with Lama Khemsar Rinpoche (second from the right), a Bön lama and the spiritual director of <a href="http://www.yungdrungbon.com/">the Tibetan Yungdrung Bön Study Centre </a>and his students. He's a very interesting and wise fellow. He first spoke of a few interesting points to do with his teachings - he called them drub-dhe (or, the meditation school) which is in contrast to the monastic school, _____-dhe (I can't for the world remember the Tibetan for it).<br /></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Drub-dhe is the very practical version of the spiritual path. It's the difference between those who go into University and carry on being research fellows and those who go out into the world and do manual work, raise families and support the society's infrastucture. Those in the monastery debate, philosophise, talk a lot and just work things out from the canons, texts and practices. The drub-dhe are those who go to a teacher/lama/guru, get taught the practices, learn everything the master can give and then go back out in the world. They have spouses, children and so on, but they are the ones that practice. They do the rituals every day and night. They really go out into the world and make a difference. Rinpoche said that there is little to no merit in the monastic life and that drub-dhe is the really the main way you're gonna go forward on a spiritual life (I enquired about the fact that the Bön tradition have monasteries, and a devotee just said it was all down to culture and habits. They've had monasteries for centuries and old habits die hard). This is where I feel Bön and Buddhism seem to differ; particularly in the Theravadan schools, the monastic sang</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ha are seen to gain the most merit and are more likely to attain enlightenment because their lives are devoted to the practice but Bön puts the same emphasis on practice but on a more practical level. It's by far more pragmatic to the practitioner to be able to combine the mundane life with the spiritual rather than discarding one for the other.<br /><br />Rinpoche's description of the practical school really sunk in as to what Paganism really was about. We are people who in some way or other (thanks mainly to Druidry and Gardner) see ourselves as priest(esse)s. I know very few completely lay Pagans in the traditional term. Most know and can lead rites, all perform home rites, all perform magic in some form, whether subtle or blatant, known or unknown but none of us spend our lives in a monastic setting we are just priest(esse)s. Some of us hire people to perform rites like weddings and baby namings or the seasonal celebrations. With the former, it's rather hard to marry your wife and be the priest; baby namings are done either with a hired clergy or just by the parents themselves and not all rites require outside help. With the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=24065160648&ref=ts">Lampeter</a> and <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CarmsPCN/">Carmarthen</a> crew, the Master of Ceremonies changes and even then the rol</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">e of that person is to welcome and to thank, to make sure the rite runs smoothly. It's usually the person of the most experience or the host - all pragmatic. It's not someone who happens to have some privilidge because of training unless in you are a member of a tradition.<br /><br />In medieval and celtic societies, you may have turned to the local cunningman, the local witch, the local druid for help, but now, we are all witches and cunningfolk and druids and priest. We can do the spells ourselves. Some people do it better than others but again, that's just how life is. Some are natural magicians, born psychics and witches, but we're all magicians in some respect.<br /><br />And I like that. We're all drub-dhe; our practices seem to be only an extension of our mundane existence and a means to experience the world at a different angle and I rather think it should remain like that.<br /></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What was the important teaching though? Practice! Both magical and mundane. And religious practice should have the adherents immersed in the practices and rites. Ritual and magic should be second nature and as normal as making a cup of tea and not chores. I haven't gotten to that level yet, but every morning</span></span></span><a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/Alosel/Random/PaulsPiccies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 164px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/Alosel/Random/PaulsPiccies.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, I try to meditate and do a small rite; if it's the full moon, I try to go out and appreciate it; I imbue my food with intent and magic - every herb has a purp</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ose and reason.<br />The mundane stuffs matter just as much. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; buy organic and/or local; buy ehtically; support green issues; Save the Whales</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">; grow veg or herbs; make wine or ale or mead; cook fresh; use Ecover; love the earth; use public transport; make food using seasonal stuff; attune to the cycles and seasons. The mundane is just as, and sometimes more, important than the magic.</span><br /></span></span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-61681132037099060892009-07-04T11:00:00.005+01:002009-07-04T11:08:01.295+01:00Magical problems?<div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just a short one for today.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Now why is it that Pagans are able to erect a magical </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">barrier which can exclude </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mondomagazine.net/tvvg/willow2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 160px;" src="http://www.mondomagazine.net/tvvg/willow2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">unwanted beings for entering; can dance around circles and raise such a large amount of mana/magic that when sent off, it can almost do anything (such as Gardner/Crowley/Whoever protecting the British Isles in during the Second World </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">War); we can make a simple Witch's Bottle that, when burried, will protect a house; that we can make a staff of hawthorn that can mend the most broken of hearts - but we still can't do the supposedly simple task of levitating pencils?</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I think we need a real-life Willow...</span></div>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-84068069319706864352009-07-01T22:03:00.011+01:002009-07-01T23:04:54.639+01:00Avebury<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGRNGPJAJNM3fzkrHFOYfH7OfFnzNssoT5F5YofE-yXTR3dBKKEgObVREdoxVsIT93_Jm89IsjcY1tGSSygfyXncFmhYLcQBpBy5dCfTarD0cd_4Hkcq3CRo7ShYbq1n_es3cMIHRrJc/s1600-h/P1080499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGRNGPJAJNM3fzkrHFOYfH7OfFnzNssoT5F5YofE-yXTR3dBKKEgObVREdoxVsIT93_Jm89IsjcY1tGSSygfyXncFmhYLcQBpBy5dCfTarD0cd_4Hkcq3CRo7ShYbq1n_es3cMIHRrJc/s200/P1080499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353602989700709554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">So... Avebury was good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We got there on time, around 12pm, but the place was already heaving full of people (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >left</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">) there for the solstice experience. I was quite surprised with the group of people who were there. I'm quite used to the OBOD-type druidic events, where the people are quite ordinary (!), intellectuals and artist types, but Avebury and general Pagan events tend to attract the real hippies and hairies and general bizarre peeps.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Most of the people when we got to the pub were already pissed and rambling about whatever it was they were rambling about (one was talking about waiting to be taken back to the mothership...). There were people placing their hands on concrete posts, attuning to the energies. It was quite surreal.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Even though we got there in good time, parking was awful (as predicted), but Will Rathouse managed to get the National Trust to get the police to allow us to park the minibus locally (as the NT had height barriers in place) and so we were able to wander around without worrying about Will needing to walk a good couple of miles from the other car park.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We were then supposed to join in the open ritual of the Gorsedd of the Bards </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_1BE89cm4zAsqVzIuGOJ3wNtMRDqKVt2YagAvEcVyBv_QAO9m7UnBCDaPx8SeUDmauUhqb5Ub5WFEpVxaU2SwihofDZcM1cXpmQVfMPGH6KtZo9lCS7VUg0OKmlVuHymF6j95nmYSII/s1600-h/P1080491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_1BE89cm4zAsqVzIuGOJ3wNtMRDqKVt2YagAvEcVyBv_QAO9m7UnBCDaPx8SeUDmauUhqb5Ub5WFEpVxaU2SwihofDZcM1cXpmQVfMPGH6KtZo9lCS7VUg0OKmlVuHymF6j95nmYSII/s200/P1080491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353607232582020706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">of Caer Abiri, but they were nowhere to be found (and we looked around the stones and at the usual meeting place!) so we ended up sitting within the main area of the stones and drank sparkling rosé and ate strawberries (and, as an aside, we cleared up. The same can't be said for the majority of the peeps there - bloody pagans!) while we listened to Will telling us the Tale of the Physicians of Myddfai (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >right</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">). It was quite a wonderful experience. It's quite a feeling to be within this temple once used by our ancestors. I wondered, whilst there, if this place was used for the purpose the priestly caste being earthly psychopomps. Many of the sites around here seem to have some focus on death or burial (West Kennet Long Barrow, maybe Silbury Hill etc.) and it does, in a way, have that Graveyard kinda feel - that detached peaceful sensation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">After our brief luncheon, we set off to visit the town a little - we went to cafés, raided the souvenir shop (I bought *laods* of books and a celtic knotwork ring for Kay) before setting off for some of the places such as Overton Hills and The Sanctuary. The former appear to be small versions of Silbury Hill and The Santuary is thought to be a (former) wood-henge where preliminary rites would be performed before traversing the Avenue to Avebury. Liz seemed to be taken by The Sanctuary.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Finally we ended up at the Long Barrow, passing Silbury Hill on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcOe4IZZyAStcJdB-0xXRNvMZ0wrQqSSg-b2sCmbU8KHcRSuFMBq9f91HMe2h9oF6a03wO-NG86n2DR_XGU2SCR1qQIrUUe5Nw2A6MisRexyiYfT7r2nukkUflZjlfxed_y1ShGxJy7g/s1600-h/P1080536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcOe4IZZyAStcJdB-0xXRNvMZ0wrQqSSg-b2sCmbU8KHcRSuFMBq9f91HMe2h9oF6a03wO-NG86n2DR_XGU2SCR1qQIrUUe5Nw2A6MisRexyiYfT7r2nukkUflZjlfxed_y1ShGxJy7g/s200/P1080536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353611768978110754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">the way. I plucked a piece of Elder on the way and, with some local chalk, peeled the bark off before turning it white intended as an offering when I got there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">However, when we got there, we saw a smashing crop circle!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Barrow was interesting. Now, with burial places (mostly dolmens and certain graveyards), I tend to get an uneasy feeling of something/one not wanting me there but with the Long Barrow, I had that same feeling I got in the Avebury circle; of detached peacefulness. It was lovely. There were people inside meditating, candles had been lit, gifts given over (bunches of cereals and flowers) - and some birds were nesting inside!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Again, it was lovely. Such a nice place. We pretty much went home after that. Will dropped me off in Llanelli (really nice thing to do, tbh...) and they al lwent back to Lampeter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So yes, Avebury was lovely; a nice way to spend the Solstice, if not surreal.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1GQgluAlRoP3rVIVEroKTjVh955ZiBdbE728gmfc8YzCEPbjkw55FN4CqzcbNaM_-Qx1JWseYXU-ANb9pbdZ682fDXq7ok34tiShxtJZsNcSmULZK7bBSUkLaEJX1OrLd-DLVKWfe3c/s1600-h/P1080548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1GQgluAlRoP3rVIVEroKTjVh955ZiBdbE728gmfc8YzCEPbjkw55FN4CqzcbNaM_-Qx1JWseYXU-ANb9pbdZ682fDXq7ok34tiShxtJZsNcSmULZK7bBSUkLaEJX1OrLd-DLVKWfe3c/s400/P1080548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353601857523656930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">UWL Pagan Society at West Kennet Long Barrow '09</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We're so sexy...</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZWMWjvhINt7ZJUCCxvmxcs3xr9g4d7uH2EOoW9B_LpmwsmTKxCGx2eDr2iANu5pSHegs6uiXS1VQujrt3THsuZlNyJJrHZcgj_IH0u3mqOMIdrHxSjhwndahMVrLJI6sXGuCmANrV8g/s1600-h/P1080530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZWMWjvhINt7ZJUCCxvmxcs3xr9g4d7uH2EOoW9B_LpmwsmTKxCGx2eDr2iANu5pSHegs6uiXS1VQujrt3THsuZlNyJJrHZcgj_IH0u3mqOMIdrHxSjhwndahMVrLJI6sXGuCmANrV8g/s400/P1080530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353612335163987714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Zach proving we </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >were</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> there...</span><br /></div>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-4380848460783910402009-06-17T19:33:00.004+01:002009-06-17T20:25:32.468+01:00The June Rush<span style="font-family: verdana;">What a month this is turning into! So much happening in closeness with each other.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasminecottage.co.uk/images/avebury.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 177px;" src="http://www.jasminecottage.co.uk/images/avebury.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next weekend is Midsummer. The solstice; when the sun is at his full glory in this part of the world (just a nod to our colder cousins, down south).</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">While normally I would join in a rite with the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CarmsPCN/">Carmarthenshire folk</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, Will Rathouse asked if we were planning a trip to </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-avebury">Avebury</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> in Wiltshire. Organising the event, it feels wrong not to attend so it seems this year, Midsummer will not be with my friends, but with another lot instead. I did attend the ritual planning, though I'm wondering if this was a faux pas - after all, what rite did I have contributing to something that has nothing to do with myself, but rather, should've been one for them? I guess I miss seeing them; the moots are an impossibility to attend while in Uni'. I have to admit though, that recently I've been assessing the way I am with them. I quite loud, crude, opinionated and tackless around them, so I think some change is probably at hand.</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/west-kennet-long-barrow-pictures/slides/eos2_212.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 171px;" src="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/west-kennet-long-barrow-pictures/slides/eos2_212.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">With Avebury, we'll be setting off at around 8am to get there by 11.30 where we'll go visit </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.16504">West Kennet Long Barrow</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.16452">Silbury Hill</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, both burial chambers, as far as I know. We'll have lunch and then go on to the Annual Gorsedd Ceremony which'll be held by whoever happens to be there (it's been variously </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://druidnetwork.org/profiles/people/arthur_pendragon.html">Arthur Pendragon</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://druidnetwork.org/profiles/people/emma_restall-orr.html">Bobcat</a> et al.) after which we'll go visit other places <span style="font-family: verdana;">nearby, hopefully leaving at 5pm to get home by 8.30pm. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not quite sure if we'll be able to see the Gorsedd </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/SilburyHill_gobeirne.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 168px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/SilburyHill_gobeirne.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">ceremony, however, as it may happen the day before, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">but we'll see. We could strike lucky - or even do our own impromtu rite! I'm looking forward, anyway - And I'll be with the Midsummer right in Gorslas in heart, if not in body.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And after all that, there's the moot on the 25th and Susan's Fire workshop on the 27th. There's a lot to do! </span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-47908060331597562882009-06-06T13:17:00.005+01:002009-06-06T13:23:00.886+01:00Gastronomy<span style="font-family: verdana;">After having a meal in the Cwmanne with Erin and talking about poetry, I wrote a new poem, after the gods know how long...</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It originally started as a food poem:</span><br /><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">La Gastronomie!</span><br />Food. Everyone needs food;<br />It is the weakness of hunger,<br />The strength of a fine feast!<br />And, though much of a pleasure,<br />It shall always be a glorious art.<br />As synonymous as the words seem,<br />Pleasure is the danger of art -<br />Its culmunation often mischanneled.<br />To lose oneself in art is pleasure<br />but therein lies its frightening danger -<br />To lose oneself and never come back.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Paul Rousselle Jun'09</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, understandably, Erin recommended only keeping the following, so there it is:</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-family: verdana;"></strong><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;"><strong>Gastronomy</strong><br />Pleasure is the danger of art -<br />Its culmunation often mischanneled.<br />To lose oneself in art is pleasure<br />but therein lies its frightening danger -<br />To lose oneself and never come back.<br /><em>Paul Rousselle Jun'09</em></blockquote>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-41647039526436903332009-06-01T02:56:00.006+01:002009-06-01T03:05:22.752+01:00Change! Now!<span style="font-family:verdana;">Damnit, it would be good to be able to work with a group and perform/channel/direct magic for useful and world changing purposes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">How many Pagans are against deforestation?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">How many are against whaling?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">How many are against tyrants in Africa?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And where are the groups working serious magic in order to bring positive and meaningful change. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Far too many times have I heard lines such as "I'm gonna do a small ritual for a good exam result", "I need more money - better get the corn dollies out" - but when it comes to real, serious stuff, it's almost as though people are scared of their repective karmas; scared of actually being able to change things.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Individual people can do things - but how much better, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >how much more powerful</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> would it be to have groups doing this?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Spells for peace?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rites for democracy?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Circles for fair government?<br /><br />All alongside ordinary mundane action, of course.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-17902049611509337092009-05-28T01:24:00.003+01:002009-05-28T01:42:20.686+01:00A rite what I wrote...<span style="font-family: verdana;">So... the general idea a few weeks ago was to have a rite on or around the June full-moon as a final group ritual for the year with the purpose of being one focused on protecting the Site over the summer' showing out gratitude to the Spirits of Place and blanketing/grounding its energies while we're away.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And after a couple of weeks... still no-one really did anything so... I wrote a rite! Tell me what you think! It's definitely not perfect, and it was typed out in about half hour/three quarters of an hour.</span><br /><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">Roles: Firekeeper; <span style="font-style: italic;">Warden; Herald; Circle Guardian; Elements.</span><br /><br />For the altar: <span style="font-style: italic;">Pot of sea salt; cup of mead; cup of apple juice; plate of food to share; bowl of water; cauldron of incense; incense; horn.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Preliminary-</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Those not involved in the above are gathered at the bottom of the north bank involved with the final banter before the start of the rite, or in personal meditation.</span>)<br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Circle Guardian and/or Firekeeper prepares wood for, and lights, fire and tends to it whilst the Circle area is properly prepared by those involved in the creation of Sacred Time/Sacred Space. Warden consecrates sea salt and casts circle.</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Starting the Rite-</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Facilitator or Warden blasts a sound of the horn</span>)<br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Warden comes from the Circle to the bank and guides the celebrants in a short procession, then taking the position at the entrance shall individually challenge each participant</span>)<br /><br />Warden: [<span style="font-style: italic;">Name</span>]<span style="font-style: italic;">, do you release all ill will?</span><br />Participant: <span style="font-style: italic;">I release all ill will.</span><br />Warden: <span style="font-style: italic;">Then welcome to this Circle!</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Participants enter after the challenge and take one’s place. Warden seals circle with appropriate sigil.</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Sacred Space-</span><br /><br />Warden: <span style="font-style: italic;">We are in Sacred Time and Sacred Space.</span><br /><br />Herald: <span style="font-style: italic;">We have come from the North and the South, the East and the West to this Special Place. Long has this Circle stood, and long may it remain – as such is the purpose of our gathering for we have come to celebrate it existence and bid it farewell as we leave for these summer and autumn months. May the Rite begin!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let us call forth to the Quarters!</span><br /><br />East: <span style="font-style: italic;">Come to us from the East, O Air; bring to us inspired Words upon your swift golden wings!</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and be welcome!</span><br /><br />South:<span style="font-style: italic;"> Come to us from the South, O Fire; bring to us fiery Will through the passion of your vigor!</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and be welcome!</span><br /><br />West: <span style="font-style: italic;">Come to us from the West, O Water; bring to us flowing Intuition riding with your surging tide!</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and be welcome!</span><br /><br />North: <span style="font-style: italic;">Come to us from the North, O Earth; bring us stable Foundation embedded within your hardened stone!</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and be welcome!</span><br /><br />Herald: <span style="font-style: italic;">Let us call upon the Spirits who call this place home.</span><br /><br />Firekeeper: <span style="font-style: italic;">By Land, Sea and Sky, we call upon the Spirits of this Place. You have resided here longer than we can imagine and you have allowed us to use this Special Place for our rites and magic. We have gathered in your tribute, to praise these woods, to honour this site and to protect it from those who damage and desecrate it. We come to bid you our farewells as we travel in these summer and autumn months.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Come, Fair Folk, and rest at the fire’s side and join us at the edge of magic. Accept this mead as libation!</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Firekeeper cast mead into the centre of the fire</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Main Rite-</span><br /><br />Herald: <span style="font-style: italic;">Let us rest in Sacred Space and share our gratitude, appreciation and love for this site.</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">All relax and begin pseudo bardic circle as suggested above and community sharing</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Protection-</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Warden goes in front of altar facing north and takes the pot of salt and goes around to each participant. Each takes a portion of the salt – enough is left for Warden to have three odd portions</span>)<br /><br />Herald: <span style="font-style: italic;">In your hands, feel the salt that you hold – appreciate it for what it is. This is consecrated Earth taken from the Sea and dried by the Air. If there is any substance which can consecrate, protect and ground, is it not this salt?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take it and cast it to the ground around you – know that through this act, you are consecrating this Circle and protecting it, but also that you are grounding the energies during our absence.</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">All cast the salt about the land around them while the Warden takes the remainder and walks around the Circle pouring the salt while the Herald says the following</span>)<br /><br />Herald: <span style="font-style: italic;">May the Circle be Blessed and Concecrated! May the Circle be Protected and Cared For! May its energies be grounded!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Now let us make an end of this Rite and take leave of this place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Unwinding Sacred Space-</span><br /><br />Herald:<span style="font-style: italic;"> Let us thanks the Spirits of Place for their help in this rite.</span><br /><br />Firekeeper:<span style="font-style: italic;"> We thank you for your attendance, O Spirits of Place. You are shall be fondly remembered in our hearts as we depart forth to our homesteads. Stay in this land and we supplicate you help us keep this Special Place protected!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Leave our rite, and leave with the love of our hearts and with the peace of our spirits. We thank you, O Spirits of Place.</span><br /><br />Herald: <span style="font-style: italic;">Let us release the Quarters!</span><br /><br />North: <span style="font-style: italic;">Return to the North, O Earth; we thank you for your Foundation in this rite.</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and farewell!</span><br /><br />West: <span style="font-style: italic;">Return to the West, O Water; we thank you for your Intuition in this rite.</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and farewell!</span><br /><br />South: <span style="font-style: italic;">Return to the South, O Fire; we thank you for your Will in this rite.</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and farewell!</span><br /><br />East: <span style="font-style: italic;">Return to the East, O Air; we thank you for your Words in this rite</span><br /><br />All: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hail and farewell!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Ending the Rite-</span><br /><br />Herald: <span style="font-style: italic;">May the energies be left dormant; may this site be protected; may the Spirits feel the conviction and gratitude of our gathering.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let us take leave of this place and remember our times here fondly. May we return again in the autumn season. Hail and farewell, all!</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Warden removes the seal</span>)<br /><br />Warden: <span style="font-style: italic;">Follow me, into the world of the Mundane.</span><br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Warden leads the participants in a silent procession out to the north bank and homebound then returning to unwind the circle; all remaining aid with the clearing of the Circle – then onwards to pub!</span>)</blockquote>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-70148412820950151952009-05-19T11:05:00.003+01:002009-05-19T11:57:14.790+01:00Elements of Magic - Air<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0GMNWDR8TSksmsE9F65J_k4Cf5UWwD3zYcjWXu-LSVXdDejnWd9KSZinOErb0JBn36foKFQeLj1Ft7s3A90BwXdiAxTerCwmqJmXPuuE35aBBga4hZeJrd20fsSIDhr_bTGZLTUiU0I/s1600-h/5eef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0GMNWDR8TSksmsE9F65J_k4Cf5UWwD3zYcjWXu-LSVXdDejnWd9KSZinOErb0JBn36foKFQeLj1Ft7s3A90BwXdiAxTerCwmqJmXPuuE35aBBga4hZeJrd20fsSIDhr_bTGZLTUiU0I/s320/5eef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337474482435142418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Susan and Pinky have recently started organising </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Elements of Magic</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> workshops to </span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">deepen your relationship to each element and sharpen your witchy skills – learn some new ones!</span>" </blockquote><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The blurb goes on to say </span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">in each class we will study one element in depth, deepening our understanding of and relationship to the element. We will learn and develop new skills such as breathing techniques, energy work, voice work, trancework, visualisation, healing techniques and much more.</span><em style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CarmsPCN/message/1961" class="ygrp-subj"><em></em></a></em>"</blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now for Air, I was only able to catch possibly the last couple of hours (they last 6hrs) but I learned some useful skills nonetheless. Importantly, I had the opportunity to practice my vocal skills, if only in a comical fashion by learning the Seven Sacred Voices - now granted, we all know most of these, however, to be working with them like this was rather different to just knowing they exist. Those were:</span><br /><ol style="font-family: verdana;"><li>The Silent Voice</li><li>The Whisper Voice</li><li>The Normal Voice</li><li>The Loud Voice</li><li>The Yell Voice</li><li>The Chant Voice</li><li>The Song Voice</li></ol><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Silent Voice was perhaps the most bizarre. Rather than air coming through the vocal chords, one must produced a </span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">... deep vibration in the chest as close to the heart chakra as one can manage.</span>"</blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It almost sounds like the deep chants the Tibetan clergy do, but even then you can still hear voice. One should feel this vibration but mouth the words rathen then hear what one says. Most difficult.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">To practice for the others, we took a nursery rhyme and practiced each with with it (I changed from Humpty Dumpty to a Pagan chant to a Buddhist chant, just to see the difference). and admittedly, it was an eye opening session on how one can use one's voice for magic workings; one I shall be paying attention to much more.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another useful skills we were taught was using our associations with the elements to really make a call to that particular element/quarter. Usually, I simply jot down a few poetic workds without really thinking of the implications of what I am calling. Why call the Hawk rather than the Robin? Why the Birch rather than some other tree? Why invoke its breeze aspect rather than the whirlwind (I'll explain below)? And why some attributes rather than others?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Susan invited us to jot down what we conceived Air to be, and then work a call from that, so here's what I did:</span><br /><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">"Intellect, sharp-wit, inspired voice, whirlwind, voice, roar-in-a-chimney, scent, Birch, Hazel, rustling leaves, winds of change.<br /><br />I glance towards the Eastern Quarter, to the place of the whirlwind's fury where the Robin glides at the glow of the sunrise.<br />We hear you in the rustling of the birch; we smell you in the sweet bloomin of spring; we feel you in the roaring of the tempest.<br />Air; we ask that you give us your sharp wit and the magic of your inspired voice - come to us with your words riding upon swift golden wings.<br />Hail and be welcome."<br /></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now - why did I choose some of it's more fearful aspects rather than the softer ones? Am I calling trouble? Not neceserally.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I feel in a way that in creating a protective/containment circle, one can either strengthen it or add to it through the elements, so the circle, I give it the fury of a whirlwind emanating from from East. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use the Robin as a personal animal at the moment, and one that is abundant in the woods in Lampeter. The 'sense' calls are based on associations also: the Birch - tree of new beginnings, light in colour, thin, delicate etc.; spring, the time of the emerging Sun, where freshness and newness is abundant; the tempest - self-evident.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A call to inspiration is one that is needed in a rite where things can go wrong, but also is good as a general magical power and sharp-wit (the bardic/jester power) allows for us to make light a situation is it is needed, and to aid us in the release of the elemental powers - should they not wish to leave.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">That said, I'm rather happy with that call, even if it is mediocre at bests. Next workshop is next month, and shall be on Fire.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blessed be!</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-52854332007266532912009-05-18T20:41:00.003+01:002009-05-18T20:46:57.571+01:00And now for a short break.<span style="font-family: verdana;">It's gonna be a busy week. I've got two exams (Ethics and An Introduction To The Self And Metaphysics) and straight after the last one on Wednesday, I'm going straight on the bus home to primarily see Kay, and stay there until the 27th-28th.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Time to relax, time to really push Lampeter at the back of my mind. I adore the place, but I need an escape too; but most importantly, some time to make up for almost neglectful amount of time I've spent with Kay. So yeah.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once I get back, there's be Council, Forum and (hopefully!) sorting out the house issue - I may be sharing a house (above the funeral directors) with Cate, Willow and Rachel. Good size rooms, reasonable pricings. nothing's definite there, but we'll see.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Roll on Wednesday!</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-58009547652673851562009-05-18T04:47:00.003+01:002009-05-18T05:01:20.984+01:00... in with the Goddesses.<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst never having having had a </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">personal</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> link with any deity, I mused about how it would be to be totally consumed by a deity - something along the lines of William James's </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Passivity</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">: "... the mystic feels as his own will were in abeyance, and indeed sometimes as if he were grasped and held by a superior power." (James, William, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">The Varieties of Religious Experience</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, p. 381).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ah, I love control! I so adore being at the back seat yet pulling the reigns - but to give oneself up to a </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Goddess!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Erin mentioned once that the energies of Lilith were fully and wholly consuming, in utter submission.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So here's a few lines I wrote, haphazardly, to Ol' Lily... see if she answers!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">"</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Surround me wholly in the whirlwind of your starless night. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Consume me completely in the ego-destroying forces of midnight -</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Owl-woman; desert tempest; shadow mistress.</span>"</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-58108535674724014002009-05-18T04:32:00.004+01:002009-05-18T04:47:37.603+01:00Out with the old...<span style="font-family:verdana;">I've had a strangely cathartic experience, which most of your oldies may find a little trivial.<br />I was going through my Windows Live Messenger contacts list and, as it was far too cluttered and long, I decided to delete old contacts who I hadn't spoken to in years or months, or redundant e-mail addresses.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And it came to a folder with three e-mails. Each other them were of the Pretty family; that of my ex, Connie. And as I don't talk to them, I deleted them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thought I'd share that here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was a strange feeling. Pressing the 'delete' button can be just as satisfying and as emotionally uplifting as riping up an old letter or photo.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e260/TheCollBums2/Partners%20of%20Bums/PaulsPiccies689.jpg%20"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 161px;" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e260/TheCollBums2/Partners%20of%20Bums/PaulsPiccies689.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Which I did also. I don't quite know why - I wasn't screwed over (in any proper se</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">nse) so. I just guess it's my way of dealing with it - even if it was almost two years ago. It still left its mark, however; I yet have to over come certain weights and scars it left.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Though, in a strange way, it was a bizarre means of 'letting go', if the term can be used. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I horde, I keep, I never forget; and here was one way of doing so. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, good-bye.</span></div>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-22558783008274926162009-05-14T11:24:00.009+01:002009-05-14T11:45:23.197+01:00Site and Circle<span style="font-family:verdana;">Lampeter is a strange place.</span> <br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It attracts a unique and bizzare group of people; most or all have emotional (and mental...) issues to sort and as such, this place can make or break you and if you can hack it, it can really be a healing place for you.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Such is the group of people here, that at one time, the biggest and most successful of the University's societies was the Pagan Society - how in Eartha's name does that happen?!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />This year though, the group's pretty small, but nevermind.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the mid-to-late 90s, the University gave them permission to use some of the land that the university would use for the dumping and burning of rubbish. They (and it seems one of those people was an old initiate of Carole's) built a ritual Circle. Circle is within the Site, as its called, which is the immediate land surrounding it - it's withing a dip in the land.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">It seems to have changed over the years - from more of an egg-shape to a circle; different entrances; the building of an altar a few years ago etc.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">And I want to share this place with you:</span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhim9Cikljf8Ie9gqdHKXZCgBv3dE59NdQ9E4hsSYL0X2X5vrnoEwhwNtYu3fkt50PSTLCGQJ_NuNeoPe3wSfI8xC5qiWlFVav5J3uItSVF2YPxZlFaRVvV2pmz96UhQrHVcL2s412QEWo/s1600-h/P1080350.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhim9Cikljf8Ie9gqdHKXZCgBv3dE59NdQ9E4hsSYL0X2X5vrnoEwhwNtYu3fkt50PSTLCGQJ_NuNeoPe3wSfI8xC5qiWlFVav5J3uItSVF2YPxZlFaRVvV2pmz96UhQrHVcL2s412QEWo/s400/P1080350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335625871093861538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">You can see the North entrance there with the firepit and altar.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">If you look to the left of the entrance, there is a holly tree - this would be used as our 'Clootie Tree'<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi12Eg25-rD3K0wU9w1-YWrfazV2E5KOYvLxGd1dA9X2Kh_ehiEL23LDoBoKg4mHrSRw1sdJ_2o3JdAHe7q-iFCYGkOpKYFxFea0qptvhZrWZcwHoUf9Qo4l86099vGyHl7pty124tsQ/s1600-h/P1080355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi12Eg25-rD3K0wU9w1-YWrfazV2E5KOYvLxGd1dA9X2Kh_ehiEL23LDoBoKg4mHrSRw1sdJ_2o3JdAHe7q-iFCYGkOpKYFxFea0qptvhZrWZcwHoUf9Qo4l86099vGyHl7pty124tsQ/s400/P1080355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335626590290446626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The 'Clootie Tree'.<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6t6JUhpsIv7lCqYcKdsN_gJuU5GKLu2CJ8ZtaT7DEEdN7DEmXCvc-Qb51hKkEfuJd6-HpDokT_CHCkNKMXC2BXfTYBmYdwwokxwXfXVpC0HEl88r9nB9il_U4Ipw9chygZ2Vsm4m1DY/s1600-h/P1080351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6t6JUhpsIv7lCqYcKdsN_gJuU5GKLu2CJ8ZtaT7DEEdN7DEmXCvc-Qb51hKkEfuJd6-HpDokT_CHCkNKMXC2BXfTYBmYdwwokxwXfXVpC0HEl88r9nB9il_U4Ipw9chygZ2Vsm4m1DY/s400/P1080351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335627242218848674" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S0h0QddtAwr0TMAOQ1dhXc5oFc51EiPFXBKxHnb8PMnecNpnXsHdbQcTAZ93ir2nCZq8NfYNEa3-PA4Wyi44sD8SHWB-PvrSxwaOPjQd6YktkMcCAWkMiGIREWmaiweWnvEXlau1YRU/s1600-h/P1080352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S0h0QddtAwr0TMAOQ1dhXc5oFc51EiPFXBKxHnb8PMnecNpnXsHdbQcTAZ93ir2nCZq8NfYNEa3-PA4Wyi44sD8SHWB-PvrSxwaOPjQd6YktkMcCAWkMiGIREWmaiweWnvEXlau1YRU/s400/P1080352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335627543069328338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Two entrance perspectives. In relation to the bottom picture, there is a means of access on the left in makeshift, studen-built steps.<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0OCZ3_HRVSfI8SymhIaUJTM4HvvXyl68PtJUTldjw9edaqI_uTomVM71pN6kgereInfs2VJyUaBkB93po2kJ90S_OA1HwJgnxCDxbvuTZk5b-ffxxSWlZ6Fpy_tyKSc6fWGp7UlJobg/s1600-h/P1080431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0OCZ3_HRVSfI8SymhIaUJTM4HvvXyl68PtJUTldjw9edaqI_uTomVM71pN6kgereInfs2VJyUaBkB93po2kJ90S_OA1HwJgnxCDxbvuTZk5b-ffxxSWlZ6Fpy_tyKSc6fWGp7UlJobg/s400/P1080431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335628076974808578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Site in spring. The Circle is behind.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaW1uiAgEIfusmV5TsSZvm3GOjFxX9zV1axY08nCAHBaAMyDjpVHZ5mhJBcU6LML_ycbfsM1nKpJ2GtoNnI4_P2zRGLUnsmzVGavk2QoOLMPEttdZH3ksdc0C3zdk3FvTVna-YFg2-0I/s1600-h/P1080225.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaW1uiAgEIfusmV5TsSZvm3GOjFxX9zV1axY08nCAHBaAMyDjpVHZ5mhJBcU6LML_ycbfsM1nKpJ2GtoNnI4_P2zRGLUnsmzVGavk2QoOLMPEttdZH3ksdc0C3zdk3FvTVna-YFg2-0I/s400/P1080225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335628571782877346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">During Imbolc.</span></div>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-78210219103433348652009-05-14T01:24:00.001+01:002009-05-15T00:52:02.324+01:00Hmm.<span style="font-family:verdana;">I need more blogger friends...<br /><br />Alas!<br /><br />I know few...<br /></span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-66178439397267845982009-05-13T20:56:00.006+01:002009-05-14T01:17:21.504+01:00The Curse complete with damp and mildew.<span style="font-family:verdana;">The <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24065160648&ref=ts">UWLampeter Pagan Soc</a> 'Library' has been found, located, sorted and filed! I should be a Virgoan. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was at 2 Station Terrace within a nuclear bunker built </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvF5hGlvGnJAs7up1TAfqS5YGCg3FAKIEd6UP3DOhzfeOYxG6QsEE6p-ZBut6g5QqGpR9C-BgLn7GQLfbWzRmy2RebOH-ldCinKbyvzHaoU26glsoRSpEyOpfnJu1fCOQlzvvNBs_Lm4/s1600-h/2009-05-14-04318.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvF5hGlvGnJAs7up1TAfqS5YGCg3FAKIEd6UP3DOhzfeOYxG6QsEE6p-ZBut6g5QqGpR9C-BgLn7GQLfbWzRmy2RebOH-ldCinKbyvzHaoU26glsoRSpEyOpfnJu1fCOQlzvvNBs_Lm4/s200/2009-05-14-04318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335466549178444018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">to 1970s government regulations (that would be, two doors leaned at a 45 degree angle against a wall...). As such it was kept in the damp and the books and papers are covered in mildew. So it seems I'm in possesion of the curse, as it's affectionately (or fearfully!) called.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">It seems most of the books were sold off at some point (though that's been denied, I found a scrunched up piece of paper with the prices of the books to be sold... ho hum!) so there's a few notable ones. Not *bad* books per se, left</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">; but not the ones you'd expect.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The papers themselves are interesting showing things like the budget they had (four times what we have now) and troubles they had etc., also they have some newsletters of old, like the one Carole used to edit called '<a href="http://www.gatesofannwn.co.uk/">Gates of Annwn</a>' and there's also 'Drops of the Awen' which is the seriously old version of '<a href="http://www.myddle-earth.info/">Myddle Earth</a>' along with a 'Wiccan' (now '<a href="http://www.paganfed.org/pdawn.php">Pagan Dawn</a>') and '<a href="http://www.decohen.com/#wood">Wood and Water</a>' and so on. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">So yeah. Some pretty neat things.<br /><br />I'm hoping to add to the box of books, and maybe to revive the society newsletter (which I've found old copies of). The old society newsletter provide some cool insight into how things were run and how popular it actually was (more than 6 people used to turn up to rituals! Shock!) and what the positions entailed - Site Guardian was a far more important position than I used to realise. Talking of which, I'll need to contact the Estates Officer to find out the university stance and the status of the Circle and the Site. It seems it's under review every 5 years...<br /><br />Ho hum. Boing post, but there you go.<br /></span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-15095271875675776372009-05-12T03:40:00.004+01:002009-05-12T04:14:39.199+01:00And a love-life update...<span style="font-family:verdana;">Just a small update regarding a few posts back - the day Kay and I met up again, she ended up asking me out and we've been together since so... yeah. That was an interesting day. We've been together two months last Wednesday.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3757/118/82/543695133/n543695133_6757036_6827981.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 321px;" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3757/118/82/543695133/n543695133_6757036_6827981.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">To be honest, it was quite a roller-coaster </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">at first; from not seeing/talking each other at all to going out but things have now calmed down somewhat. We try to see each other as often as is conviniently possible - she came down on Thursday to attend the UWLampeter President's Ball (and she looked absolutely beautiful - as you can see!), which was a brilliant evening; my hallmates were also glamorous, everyone was having a wonderful time - but most of all, I was accompanying the most glamorous of them all!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.myspace.com/spokessound">Spokes</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.myspace.com/wonderbrasswales">Wonderbrass</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.myspace.com/theamateurtransplants">The Amateur Transplants</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> played and were pretty good (although the sound technician should be given a good slap) but we didn't stay for the whole evening - stayed there for about 3hrs but spent like half an hour in a queue to get some decent pictures taken (thought I think they're worth it). So we left around half midnight, went back to mine for pizza and sleep - we were bloody tired by the time we got back. When did we get old, eh!? Though, now exams are happening, I doubt I'll see her for a good week and half. During her exams, she's got about ten days' worth of study leave, so I'll go see her for some of it and help her with her revision, spend some good quality time and go camping for Paul's birthday!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Alosel/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Alosel/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" />Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-87426388169934711542009-05-12T03:15:00.006+01:002009-05-12T03:40:21.905+01:00Beltane etc.<span style="font-family: verdana;">Golly, I haven't updated in bloomin' ages. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well... I wont bore you with needless updates; but I shall just make a small post on recent stuff.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday was the Carmarthenshire Beltane celebration. First thing I have to say is: since when did I become so elitist?!</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Though the circle went well, the parts was done, community togetherness was achieved and so forth, I just felt... so lacking. After a year of rituals and having experienced different group's rites, it's almost like I have a vision of what one </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">should</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> be like. The most frustrating thing though (for me) is that I don't even have the proper abilities to enact the parts are well as I wish I could. I have difficulty projecting, I panic at the last minute (i.e. I may have learned my lines, but then forget at the pivotal moment). What shocked me the most was how almost scathing I was at some of the people's performances - Ian had beautiful words but totally lacked any passion or conviction; no-one really knew what was happening and just silly things like that. Nagging thoughts like that have been going in my head for some time, like how awful the Carmarthen folk are at drumming, or how the raising of power is usually badly released etc. and I'm guilty of all that I dislike about the rites.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And it feels quite awful to be so critical.<br />And I blame Erin(!) She's planted biases into me head that I can't really seem to shake off. Oh, and Bonewits. And my general arrogance.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">That said, the rite itself was lovely. It was nice to jump the fire, to be in Dom's garden, to be around these wonderful people. I tried telling a story (the story of Taliesin; which was far too long and frankly a bore), we ate and were watered. I loved it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wish I'd stayed longer...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ho hum. Rant over.</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-14645230101400330442009-02-27T14:32:00.003+00:002009-02-27T14:45:26.429+00:00Conferences and conventions and camps... oh my!<span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm gonna give you a list of the places I wish to go to this years, and some I'm already going to:</span><br /><br /><ol><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Peace Mala @ Gurkha Heaven - 21/03</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pagan Federation Mid-West & Wales Spring Conference - 3-4/04</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">A dream workshop - 15/04</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Avalon Witchcamp - 23-28/05</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Anderida Grove of the Seven Hills Summer Conference - 10-12/07</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sunrise Witchcamp - 20-24/08</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pagan Federation Mid-West & Wales Summer Camp - 11-13/09</span></li></ol><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now, if I want to each of them, it would cost a total of £511, not including travel and the Dream Workshop, as the only details I have of it is the date and location. So which to choose? I probably won't go to any opf the Witchcamps, so those are probably for another year. I'm already going to the Peace Mala meal and to the Anderida Conference, and most probably to the Spring Conference and the Summer Camp (though, may not go to the Camp... not sure...). And I'll need more details for the Dream workshop.<br /><br />Who knew being Pagan and supporting charities would cost that much...</span></p>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-17509727890536250682009-02-27T14:16:00.004+00:002009-05-14T01:19:06.838+01:00University and Love.<span style="font-family:verdana;">Pah! I've managed to miss another moot. I can't believe how negelctful I've been of the moots since coming to Lampeter. However, this time was kinda unavoidable as it was a major Student Forum (thought I think I could've actually not have gone). </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There were elections on who should go to the NUS Wales Spring Conference. There were the voting on motions such as not opposing the merger but some of the terms; keeping our Ents Sabbatical; keeping our Welfare Sabbatical; keeping our independent societies; keeping our sports teams; keeping an independent RAG officer; keeping our Liberations officers; putting the ISO back on the Union Exec. and (finally) putting the 'T' back in 'LGB'. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now while Transgendered people shouldn't be simply lumped with the LGBs, and while LGB is a sexuality issue and Transgendered people are a gender issues, more help can be provided for the latter as most organisations are LGBT(Q), as is NUS Wales. Plus this, thus far, only concerns one public Transgender who is leaving this year.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">However, having Forum usually on the last Thursday of the month (and on Thursdays at all) poses quite a few problems for a lot of people such as Cwmanne nights and other events. So I may suggest Forum be moved to Wednesday etc.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And I've started talking to Kayleigh again. She the best friend from back in 2006, but we've had am, er, off friendship. Well. To quote a song "We're not quite just friends; we're just not quite lovers".</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This culminated in a small talk/agument at Christmas. I fell in love with her a few years back and we kept 'getting together' but she would always back out because she couldn't handle it, or she had an emotional issue. Though, at Christmas, we decided to lose contact altogether because of this until, she figured, we were mature enough to just be friends. Though, partway through, I realised that the 'problems' as such weren't with me be more with her so contacted her a month and a half later essentially putting the ball in her court if ever she wanted to get back in contact, gave her all my details etc. And since then... we haven't stopped speaking. What does that say?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And she now wants to meet up when I go home next weekend. Bit soon don't you think?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I sorta know what this means, from hints and comments from others. Nothing bad; potentially amazing - but we'll see.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">It's so cliché, falling for one's closest friend. It's almost storgic.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ho hum. I never put emotional stuff here. Anyway...</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-54935396348352043642008-12-27T19:24:00.004+00:002008-12-27T19:54:05.135+00:00Brownies<span style="font-family:verdana;">This is pure indulgence :-) I love making these! I got the original recipe (and, I find, the best recipe so far) for these <em>Bloomin' Brilliant Brownies</em> from Jamie Oliver's <em>Little Book of Big Treats</em> written for Comic Relief a couple of years back with a few edits/addition</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><br /><u><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ingredients</span></u><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">250g of unsalted butter</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">200g of dark broken up chocolate</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">50g of chocolate drops</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">80g cocoa powder</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">65g plain flour</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 teaspoon baking powder</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">360g caster sugar</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">4 large eggs</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Remember - organic/fairtrade/free-range/available etc etc etc for the above :-)</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).<br />Line a baking tin (mines about 9' by 12' and about half an inch deep) with greaseproof paper. Put a bowl over a pan of boiling water and melt the chocolate and the butter together, stirring until it's smooth. Stir in the chocolate drops, but a small handfull for later. (Tip: My Greataunt said if you put the chocolate in a pan with a dash of milk on a medium to low heat, it shouldn't burn/stick. It's worked so far...)<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">In another bowl, sift in the cococa, flour and baking power, add in the sugar and mix well, then stir it into the chocolate mixture, stirring well. Beat the four eggs and mix it in until its silky.<br />Pour the mixture into the baking tray (scrape well with a spatula - waste not!), smooth it over and sprinkle on the rest of the chocolate drops and place in the oven for around 20-25 minutes (I've got a fan oven, so I put it in for about 20, take them out and let it cook in its own heat then let it cool down).Erm, they shouldn't be cooked to the point that a skewer comes out clean, and the should be a little springy.Let them cool down, transfer to a cutting board, then cut them to appropriate sizes.<br />And, er, enjoy :-)</span></p>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-45025632647166373852008-12-25T16:44:00.003+00:002008-12-25T17:08:34.479+00:00Hi everyone! And meme :)<span style="font-family:verdana;">Hey everyone. I seem to have internet again, at long last! So I'll start again with a nice meme:<br /><br /><u><strong>The Forgiveness Meme</strong></u> (from </span><a href="http://www.paganwisdom.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">PaganWisdom.com</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">)<br /><br />We've all done things we regret that resulted in hurting others, either directly or indirectly. Or we hurt ourselves. The Forgiveness Meme lets you state publicly (or privately) what you did, how you fell about it and provides a way for those who know you to offer acceptance and forgiveness for the action. Once you have been forgiven, either directly or by proxy, let the guilt go and be free of it. Then your friends and random strangers can decide whether you are sincere and whether they will forgive you or not, and possibly provide feedback and support. Just answer these three questions:<br /><br />1) WHAT I DID:<br />2) HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT:<br />3) DO I WANT TO BE FORGIVEN?:<br /><br /><br />1) What I did:<br /><em>In January, I was going out with Cerith but ended up cheating on him with my best friend Kayleigh. At the time I was having doubts about the relationship, about a week after things happened with her, I ended it with him saying I had too much stress going on at the time and couldn't cope with a relationship, which was half-true as it was then that I found out Dad'd been cheating on my Mother (ironic...) and the stress was ridiculous at home.</em><br /><em>Things with me and Kay lasted a further week.</em><br /><br />2) How I feel about it:<br /><em>At the time, I was pretty indifferent. I didn't end it with him so much as to attempt to be with her, but more out of guilt and necessity. Now? I feel like I betrayed him. He really was a nice guy and apart from, ah, certain issues, he'd been nothing but awesome to me. And yeah, I betrayed him and did something I said I'd never do.</em><br /><br />3) Do I want to be forgiven?:<br /><em>I don't want to tell him. And I want him to hate me for it. So no.</em></span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-37805255748689109862008-09-21T22:46:00.005+01:002008-09-26T13:14:06.143+01:00Mabon<p><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Mabon Ritual was quite... something. I'm still trying to understand some of the stuff I was feeling. One of the things that surprised me was one a compulsion to cleanse the area. It didn't feel particularly 'negative' or unwelcoming or, well, in needing of a cleanse, but I still did it.<br />I lit some frankincense, sprayed salt water, rang bells, 'commanded' all energies to leaves, shouted etc.<br /><br />I felt quite empowered.<br /><br /><br />Another thing I noticed was a dislike to using my Athame. I don't relate to that ritual tool at all - or it could mine that I don't like? Whatever the answer, I don't like using it, so I probably wont anymore. And Pinky's wand was acting bizarrely. Well, one thing for sure, my view towards wands have changed since talking to Erin.<br />Plus I think it's a little jealous since I began using other wands...<br /><br />A break down anywho - Don and I arrived at the Temple (Star of Venus looked so bare. It was quite disheartening) and Don promptly got to brushing the floor while I was, as mentioned above, compelled to cleanse the area of all residual energies, positive and negative. I also charged the salt and water for their use. Susan and Pinky arrived and begun with setting out the quarters and the altars, getting everything laid out nicely.<br /><br />The ritual begun with Don and I blessing each other with the smudge stick and the the salt-water, swapping our respective items. We then asked the ladies to stay outside while we went in and consecrated and blessed the Temple, returning outside for the blessing and cleansing of Susan and Pinky.<br /><br />We took our places, and, erm, I can't really remember exactly the order that everything happened. I think Don begun by thanking the spirits of place. Not I have to state here and now that Donald is an amazing orator and ritualist. The words he devises are beautiful and fitting with the mentality of ritual and respect. He wrote out a prose of thanks and welcome to the Genius Loci, and read it out with eloquence.<br /><br />Next came the grounding. I was supposed to come up with something for this but I came out blank, so I asked is Pinky could do her Tree of Life visualisation again. I had mentioned some problems with this at the Ritual Planning session, only because I thought it may be good to experiment with something different. It works, of course - just wanted to push the boat out a bit! This particular one was different. I could actually feel warmth from my feet and coolness from my hands and head.<br /><br />Pinky then came around the circle with her wand to 'mark out' or cast the circle itself. For the elements, as with Midsummer, we all each called an element. Air for me, Fire for Susan, Water for Pinky and Don called Earth. Finally we collectively called to Spirit by linking hands. I felt a real connection when we called Spirit - usually one of us has a script, or something thought out to say when we call an element but as we were doing it together, there was no one voice, we worked collectively. I think it was either here (or after the other Beings had been welcomed or acknowledged) that I sorta asked everyone to link hands again and chant with me, three times, the Druidic Vow:<br /><br /></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">We swear by Peace and Love to stand,<br />Heart to heart and hand in hand, Mark,<br />O Spirit, and hear us now,<br />Confirming this, our sacred vow.</span></blockquote><p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I can't say whether it went down well. It wasn't part of the script, but it felt appropriate to me at the time. Pinky and Susan then called to the Deities. One the Goddess side was Persephone, Demeter and Hecate called by Pinky, and for the God was the Mabon called by Susan. I think I called to Taliesin there and then, as the Bardic Circle wasn't taking place, but as Pinky was saying her Poetry anywho.<br /><br />Pinky then acknowledged the Fae. ("Never welcome them... never welcome them...") It was about then that was the time for me to call to the Ancestors and Descendants. I, er, hadn't prepared anything, again. So I decided to make something up on the spot. Strangely, it came quite easily to me and I think it worked well. As well as welcoming them, it was also a sort of visualisation about the Ancestors and Descendants, naming ourselves also as Descendants and Ancestors. I might write it up at some point.<br /><br />Don, with his now customary wordsmithery and art, called out to the totems in poem form and asked us to call our own. Normally I would have called to the Owl and Raven, but I think that they were Power animals for a certain period. I have an affinity with both, but I'm doubting now whether they are actually my Totems. So I called out to whatever totem may be mine, revealed or otherwise.<br /><br />Last was Susan calling the Mysterious Ones.<br /><br />As all the invoking occurred, the ritual went to the main part, or the Tofu - (not the meat of the ritual lawl, to keep vegans happy). It involved the group writing down what aspects they wanted to shed of old (something I associate with Samhain, but it worked all the same) on leaf shaped paper that Don made. They were then to be composted by Pinky, or burned, when they got home. A basket of apples was then passed around where we picked what we wanted to bring in for the coming year. I picked three - one thanking all my friends and family, one thanking all my achievements and one asking to bring in peace in an angry boy.<br /><br />After we did this, we each went to the Altar and gave a Blessed Hazelnut to whoever we wanted saying what we wished for them in the new year. And I ate my gifts heartily ;).<br /><br />I guess it was kinda emotional. Susan was moved, I can't really say for Don and Pinky was... vibrant. I felt sad. I could be over-dramatic and say I always do these days, but that's besides the point. It was highly symbolic. I was shedding the old year in quite a literal sense. I was shedding my old life in a fortnight for University. So I got rid of everything I didn't want to bring there, everything that hindered me this year, and I asked personal forgiveness (by which I mean, I asked my 'Self' to forgive 'my' actions of the year), and asked to be a better friend, to be a better lover, to be a better healer, and a better person. I asked that Kay and everyone else were to be looked after.<br /><br />The energies were palpable. We didn't need to raise energy.<br /><br />Pinky gave us Food and Drink, we devoked and feasted. Unfortunately also, we didn't have time for the Bardic Circle, but that didn't matter. I felt inspired, I felt filled, and Pinky shared her muse, as did Don in his rituality, and Susan had to leave, unfortunately. </span></p>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-3253786916516844502008-09-21T22:37:00.003+01:002008-09-21T22:43:28.730+01:00Mail<span style="font-family:verdana;">I've just been sorting through my room and I've found a pile of mail I haven't sent!! I cannot believe I haven't gotten 'round to sending them! There's Connie's Christmas present (10 months ago!) and Mika's Birthday present in among them (April). So I'll be sending them as soon as possible.<br /><br />Seeing stuff like this makes me incredulous to how lazy and forgetful I can be. This is beyond.<br /><br />Sorry peeps!</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-12342575713492458812008-09-16T05:38:00.003+01:002008-09-16T05:47:57.670+01:00University.<span style="font-family:verdana;">Two weeks and three days. That's how long I have before I enroll at the </span><a href="http://www.lamp.ac.uk/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">University of Wales Lampeter</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. I'm terrified.<br /><br />I understand that it isn't the same as some people who are going far away, like to Birmingham, as Lampeter about an hour and a half away? It's the whole university experience that I'm scared off. Am I doing the right course? Well it's one I love. Though, religious studies/philosophical studies isn't something I'm going to get to use practically after Uni. So will it be 3 years and £15,000+ down the drain? I don't know.<br /><br />Will I make friends? I'm alone and love my own company, but I crave company and I'm a very social animal when it really comes down to it.<br /><br />No doubt it'll go perfectly, and I'll love it, but I still have fears.<br /><br />This is a small initiation. It's living independently from home for the first time, being self-providing. It's the créme de la créme of education at the moment. This is me dedicating myself to a dicipline. <em>This is serious</em>.<br /><br />At the same time however, I welcome the challenge. Beyond the apprehension, I'm excited, I'm full of energy. And I'm not leaving all my friends (who'll be just a couple of bus rides away), I've still got Neil, who's going as well.<br /><br />This is new.<br /><br />Sorry for not writing about anything significant, blog buddies! I just need to find somewhere to say this.</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1749783691144957670.post-32095075116812480192008-09-16T03:40:00.003+01:002008-09-21T22:44:13.460+01:00"It's too early..."<span style="font-family:verdana;">Over the past few days, I've been violently sick, been getting ridiculous heartburn and migraines. I've also been staying up late almost every night as there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything.<br /><br />I know what's been causin it however. It's drinking obscene amounts of coffee in order to stay away. I tried drinking ginseng tea, but that didn't work. What I do, however, is melt down a tablespoon of coffee in a shot-glass topped with a water and drinking three of those at a time.<br /><br />It's stuff like this which really make me realised how little regard I give to my body. I'm overweight and unhealthy. I'm a vegetarian, but I gorge on foods at times, merely out of boredom. I give little care to my physical appearance (small brush of a the hair, put on whatever's available). That said, I'm a physical clean freak. I constantly wash my hands, I shower every day and scrubs diligently, and sometimes I must wash my hair twice a day.<br /><br />This makes me realise, again, the hypocrisy I have when applying my values onto my own life. I constantly encourage my family and close friends to stop smoking, help them eat healthier foods, tell them herbs that will help certain ailments (with what little knowledge I have) but I totally neglect my own. I try to be active to helping the local environment, but my garden is a tip. I've gone to other people's houses to help clean their rooms (this'll sound weird, but it's acutally a bonding session with friends!), or move things about in their houses - but my room is horrible. there is no floor space, the walls need a clean, and I have piles and piles of papers everywhere, and I wonder why I never sleep - it's too cluttered.<br /><br />It's quite bewildering how procrastination stops me from actually applying good values onto one's life. I can't <em>do</em> it. So I spend nightime doing my work, cleaning my room, catching up on tasks because I'm so lazy during the day. Look at me now though - it's almost 4am and I'm online - not doing my jobs!!!<br /><br />The coffee though, just shows it all. I'm an neglecting my body to help fix the laziness that's caused all this. The cycle is vicious. I'm AWAKE by night, and exhausted by day, to the cycle to get things done at night when I can't during the day gets worse.<br /><br />What's more, I hate coffee.<br /><br />Apologies for the rambling, blog buddies. I'm off to drink some peppermint tea to help with me stomach and finaly pack some ruddy boxes.</span>Paul Roussellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903786382919887602noreply@blogger.com1