There are 8 basic mystical festivals that have been celebrated around the world for thousands of years. The names and specific dates may be modified in different cultures, and some of the rituals associated with them may differ – but the underlying theme stays the same.

They are:

The Spring Equinox or Ostara in March – symbolizing re-birth and renewal

Beltaine or May Day, which occurs about 6 weeks after the Equinox – symbolizing spiritual union and fertility

The Summer Solstice or Lithia in June – symbolizing the light of consciousness and spiritual awakening

Lammas or Lughnasadh, which occurs 6 weeks after the Solstice – symbolizing the harvest and first fruits

The Autumn Equinox or Mabon in September – symbolizing balance and transformation

Samhain or Halloween, which occurs about 6 weeks after the Equinox – symbolizing the final harvest and remembrance of things past

The Winter Solstice or Yule in December – symbolizing the triumph of the light and the birth of the divine

And Imbolc or Candlemas, which occurs about 6 weeks after the Solstice – symbolizing change and setting new goals

 

This year Ostara, the Spring Equinox is on March 20th.

This has been a tough winter. Although we saw the first promise of spring at Imbolc in the swelling buds, there were still nights of frost and darkness ahead. But now, finally, spring has arrived and hopefully the dark cold days of winter are past.

Observing holidays is a tradition intertwined with spirituality. The depths of humanity’s need for holy days and the biological connection to the earth’s yearly cycles are subjects worthy of more study.

The spring equinox also known as Ostara, Easter, and St. Patrick’s Day, occurs in the middle of March in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the beginning of Spring and the time when days and nights are of equal length.

 

It is important  to remember that the dawning of spring has been observed for a long time in many cultures around the world. Traditions vary widely from one country to the next. Megalithic people on Europe’s Atlantic fringe calculated the date of the Spring Equinox using circular monuments constructed of huge stones. Germanic tribes associated it with the fertility goddess Ostara. The Mayans of Central America still gather at the pyramid at Chichen Itza which was designed to produce a “serpent” shadow on the Spring Equinox.

 

The Ancient Saxons held a feast day for their version of the fertility goddess, Eostre, on the full moon following the Equinox. Eostre is associated with the symbols of decorated eggs and hares.

The month of March contains holidays dedicated to all the great mother goddesses: Astarte, Isis, Aprhrodite, Cybele and the Virgin Mary. The goddess shows herself in the blossoms, the leaves on the trees, the sprouting of the crops, the mating of birds, the birth of young animals. In the agricultural cycle, it is time for planting. We are assured that life will continue.

March is also the start of the New Year in many traditions, and it is connected with the rebirth or resurrection of many divine sons and lovers of ancient gods and goddesses. Attis, Adonis, Osiris and Dionysus — who, like Christ, die and are reborn each year. These gods and heroes are typically seen as saviors of their people in some way, sometimes through sacrifice. They are often gods of vegetation, dying each year (at harvest) to be reborn in the spring.

Here are some Spring traditions from around the world:

Egypt:

The Festival of Isis was held in ancient Egypt as a celebration of spring and rebirth. Isis features prominently in the story of the resurrection of her lover, Osiris. Although Isis’ major festival was held in the fall, folklorist Sir James Frazer says in The Golden Bough that “We are told that the Egyptians held a festival of Isis at the time when the Nile began to rise… the goddess was then mourning for the lost Osiris, and the tears which dropped from her eyes swelled the impetuous tide of the river.”

Iran:

In Iran, the festival of No Ruz or Nawruz, the Persian New Year,  begins shortly before the vernal equinox. The phrase “No Ruz” actually means “new day,” and this is a time of hope and rebirth. Typically, a lot of cleaning is done, old broken items are repaired, homes are repainted, and fresh flowers are gathered and displayed indoors. The Iranian new year begins on the day of the equinox, and typically people celebrate by getting outside for a picnic or other activity with their loved ones. No Ruz is deeply rooted in the beliefs of Zoroastrianism, which was the predominant religion in ancient Persia before Islam came along.

Ireland:

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17. St. Patrick is known as a symbol of Ireland. One of the reasons he’s so famous is because he drove the snakes out of Ireland. What many people don’t realize is that the snake was actually a metaphor for the early Pagan faiths of Ireland. St. Patrick brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle, and did such a good job of it that he practically eliminated Paganism from the country.

Italy:

For the ancient Romans, the Feast of Cybele was an important spring ritual. Cybele was a mother goddess who was at the center of a Phrygian fertility cult, and eunuch priests performed mysterious rites in her honor. Her lover was Attis (who some say was born of a virgin on December 25^th), and her jealousy caused him to castrate and kill himself. His blood was the source of the first violets, and divine intervention allowed Attis to be resurrected by Cybele, with some help from Zeus. In some areas, there is still an annual celebration of Attis’ rebirth and Cybele’s power observed from March 15 to March 25. A pine tree, which represented Attis, was chopped down, wrapped in a linen shroud, decorated with violets and placed in a tomb in the temple. On the Day of Blood or Black Friday, the priests of the cult gashed themselves with knives as they danced ecstatically, sympathizing with Cybele in her grief and helping to restore Attis to life. Two days later, on Sunday, a priest opened the sepulchre at dawn, revealing that it was empty and announcing that the god was saved. This day was known as Hilaria or the Day of Joy, a time of feasting and merriment. Attis, by his self-mutilation, death, and resurrection represents the fruits of the earth, which die in winter only to rise again in the spring.

Judaism:

One of Judaism’s biggest festivals is Passover, which takes place in the middle of the Hebrew month of Nisan. It was a pilgrimage festival, and commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt after centuries of slavery. A special meal is held, called the Seder, and it is concluded with the story of the Jews leaving Egypt, and readings from a special book of prayers. Part of the eight-day Passover traditions include a thorough spring cleaning, going through the house from top to bottom.

Greece:

Anyone who has been in Greece at Easter time, especially among the more remote peasants, must have been struck by the emotion of suspense and excitement, with which they wait for the announcement, “Christos aneste,” “Christ is risen!” and the response “Alethos aneste,” “He has really risen!” Some of the older peasants still believe that “If Christ does not rise tomorrow we shall have no harvest this year.” Not quite the Eccleisiastical concern for the resurrection, but one that indicates the origins of the festival in antiquity and the general need for a vegetation savior god.

Resurrection from the Dead

The resurrection theme connected to spring and Easter is shared and possibly inspired by older non-Christian traditions. The name Easter comes from the Saxon dawn-goddess Eostre, whose festival was celebrated on spring equinox. The date of Easter is still determined by the old moon cycle. It is always the first Sunday on or after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Compare the ancient Roman story of Attis described above with the Easter story: On Good Friday, Christ is crucified, a willing sacrifice. He is wrapped in a shroud and placed in a tomb. Altars are stripped, candles extinguished to represent the darkness of the grave. But on Easter Sunday, light springs from darkness, Christ rises from the tomb. If you’ve never attended an Easter vigil, I highly recommend it. (I usually go to a Greek Orthodox church, so I don’t know what the ceremony is like in other Christian churches.) Shortly before midnight all the lights are extinguished and the thronged church is dark and silent. Everyone is holding an unlit candle. The priest lights the Paschal candle, which has been ritually blessed and inscribed with the year. He then lights the candles of those nearby, who light the candles of their neighbors, until the church is ablaze with light and filled with song.

The spring equinox is a time of re-birth and renewal. It is the time when the Light has won out over the Darkness and begins to grow in strength and power. It is a time when the World begins to wake up after the long, cold night of winter. Many of us feel, not only the physical impulses connected with spring but also, the spiritual rumblings deep within us as our souls seek to reach out and embrace the resurrected Light. This spring I encourage you to allow yourself to become conscious to the great mystery of Light that starts as an inner glow but soon expands to illuminate the universe.

 

Happy Spring!

 

 

I’m not a big fan of hunters or hunting or pretty much anything going on in this story. But it makes an interesting point so I thought I’d overcome my own negative attitude and share it.

There was a duck hunter who was looking for a new bird dog – a dog that would fetch the duck after it was shot. He went to several breeders but couldn’t find a dog he liked. Someone told him about a very special breeder who was said to be able to work miracles with his dogs. The hunter went to see him and examined his animals. The dogs were adequate, but the hunter didn’t see anything exceptional.

It’s true the dogs were sharp and keen. They jumped fearlessly into the water on command and swam over to the practice duck without hesitation. Some swam very fast and handled the duck with care. Some sensed the command to fetch before it was even given and threw themselves into the water swimming like otters.

“But,” said the hunter, “so what? All dogs can swim. I’m here because you’re supposed to have something special.”

The breeder shook his head and while pointing to a bright looking dog sitting off to the side he said, “Mister, you seem like a man of discerning taste so I’m going to offer you a one in a million dog.”

“What’s so great about him?” the man asked.

“Just watch.”

The breeder waved his hand and pointed to the practice duck. The dog instantly jumped to his feet and flung himself towards the water. But rather than swimming, he actually started running on top of the water. He reached the duck, retrieved it and brought it to the breeder, his paws barely even damp.

“That’s amazing,” the hunter said. “I’ll take him!”

“You won’t regret it,” said the breeder. “That dog is a miracle.”

The man spent some time alone with the dog, getting to know him, and grew ever more impressed with his incredible skills. But he was eager to show the dog off to his friends, as well. So before too long he called a few buddies over to go hunting with him.

After some time, they shot a few ducks and the hunter ordered his dog to run and fetch the birds. All day-long, the dog ran on water and kept fetching the birds. The man was expecting a compliment or at least a comment about his amazing dog, but never got one. As they were returning home at the end of the day, he asked his friends if, perhaps, they had noticed anything unusual about his dog.

“Yeah,” one of them replied. ”Your dog can’t swim.”

Some people will always miss the miracle.

 

 

There are 8 basic mystical festivals that have been celebrated around the world for thousands of years. The names and specific dates may be modified in different cultures, and some of the rituals associated with them may differ – but the underlying theme stays the same.

They are:

The Spring Equinox or Ostara in March – symbolizing re-birth and renewal

Beltaine or May Day, which occurs about 6 weeks after the Equinox – symbolizing spiritual union and fertility

The Summer Solstice or Lithia in June – symbolizing the light of consciousness and spiritual awakening

Lammas or Lughnasadh, which occurs 6 weeks after the Solstice – symbolizing the harvest and first fruits

The Autumn Equinox or Mabon in September – symbolizing balance and transformation

Samhain or Halloween, which occurs about 6 weeks after the Equinox – symbolizing the final harvest and remembrance of things past

The Winter Solstice or Yule in December – symbolizing the triumph of the light and the birth of the divine

And Imbolc or Candlemas, which occurs about 6 weeks after the Solstice – symbolizing change and setting new goals

This year Imbolc (usually pronounced EE-Molc) is on February 2^nd.

By February, most of us are tired of the cold, snowy season. Imbolc reminds us that spring is coming soon, and that we only have a few more weeks of winter to go. (It’s also Ground Hog Day) The sun gets a little brighter, the earth gets a little warmer, and we know that life is quickening within the soil.

This is the seasonal change where the first signs of spring and the return of the sun are noted. It is the day that we celebrate the passing of winter and make way for spring.

This is a time of purification after the shut-in life of winter, through the renewing power of the Sun. It is also a festival of light and of fertility, once marked in Europe with huge blazes, torches and fire in every form. Fire here represents our own illumination and inspiration as much as light and warmth. Imbolc is also known as Feast of Torches, Oimelc, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Snowdrop Festival, Feast of the Waxing Light, Brighid’s Day, and probably by many other names.

The ancient Egyptians celebrated this time of year as the Feast of Nut, whose birthday falls on February 2 (Gregorian calendar). According to the Book of the Dead, Nut was seen as a mother-figure to the sun god Ra, who at sunrise was known as Khepera and took the form of a scarab beetle.

To the Romans, this time of year halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox was the season of the Lupercalia. For them, it was a purification ritual held on February 15, in which a goat was sacrificed and a scourge made of its hide. Thong-clad men ran through the city, whacking people with bits of goat hide. Those who were struck considered themselves quite fortunate. This is one of the few Roman celebrations not associated with a particular temple or deity. Instead, it focuses on the founding of the city of Rome, by twins Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf — in a cave known as the “Lupercale”.

When Ireland converted to Christianity, it was hard to convince people to get rid of their old gods, so the church allowed them to worship the goddess Brighid (usually pronounced BREED) as a saint — thus the creation of St. Brigid’s Day. Today, there are many churches around the world which bear her name. The Irish goddess Brighid is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. To honor her, purification and cleaning are a wonderful way to get ready for the coming of spring. In addition to fire, she is a goddess connected to inspiration and creativity.

In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed as a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. The Christian St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare, Ireland. Some traditions suggest that Brighid walks the earth on the eve of her day visiting households and blessing the virtuous. Families would have a supper on this night to mark the end of winter. Often, some of the food and drink would be set aside for Brighid. Before going to bed, items of clothing or strips of cloth would be left outside for Brighid to bless. Ashes from the fire would be raked smooth and, in the morning, they would look for some kind of mark on the ashes as a sign that Brighid had visited. The clothes or strips of cloth would be brought inside, and were now believed to have powers of healing and protection thanks to Brighid.

Brighid’s crosses were made at Imbolc. A Brighid’s cross consists of rushes woven into a shape of a cross, with a square in the middle and four arms protruding from each corner.

 

They were often hung over doors, windows and stables to welcome Brighid and protect the buildings from fire and lightning. The crosses were generally left there until the next Imbolc. In western Connacht, people would make a Crios Bríde (Bríd’s girdle); a great ring of rushes with a cross woven in the middle. Young boys would carry it around the village, inviting people to step through it and so be blessed.

For Christians, February 2nd continues to be celebrated as Candelmas, the feast of purification of the Virgin. By Jewish law, it took forty days for a woman to be cleansed following the birth of a son. Forty days after Christmas – the birth of Jesus – is February 2nd. Imbolc (February 2) marks the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the God. Her Candles were blessed, there was much feasting to be had, and the drab days of February suddenly seemed a little brighter

Imbolc also tends to be a time when people turn their thoughts to love. February is known as a month when love begins anew, in part due to the widespread celebration of Valentine’s Day. In some parts of Europe, there was a belief that February 14th was the day that birds and animals began their annual hunt for a mate. Valentine’s Day is named for the Christian priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s edict banning young soldiers from marrying. In secret, Valentine “tied the knot” for many young couples. Eventually, he was captured and executed on Feb. 14, 269 C.E. Before his death, he smuggled a message to a girl he had befriended while imprisoned — the first Valentine’s Day card.

At this time of year, it is appropriate to light multiple candles to remind us of the passing of winter and the entrance into spring, the time of the Sun. It is traditional upon Imbolc to light every lamp in the house – if only for a few moments. Or, light candles in each room in honour of the Sun’s rebirth. Alternately, light a kerosene lamp with a red chimney and place this in a prominent part of the home or in a window.

If snow lies on the ground outside, walk in it for a moment, recalling the warmth of summer. With your hand, trace an image of the Sun on the snow.

Foods appropriate to eat on this day include those from the dairy, since Imbolc marks the festival of calving. Sour cream dishes are fine. Spicy and full-bodied foods in honor of the Sun are equally attuned. Curries and all dishes made with peppers, onions, leeks, shallots, garlic or chives are appropriate. Spiced wines and dishes containing raisins – all foods symbolic of the Sun – are also traditional.

I’ll leave you with an Imbolc blessing.

Carry this light in your heart.
Know that you are loved.
And Know that you are worthy of that love.

 

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I heard this story the other day and I thought I’d share it.

Do people really believe in what they say they believe in? Can they really trust the words of their own heart? What are the consequences of not doing what you believe is the right thing?

Once there was a man who loved to climb mountains. He considered himself to be quite spiritual and saw mountain climbing as a metaphor for his mystical ascent. He decided to climb a particular mountain and was so confident in his own abilities that he didn’t bother researching it or planning the path he would take to get to the top. He packed up his gear and his book of spiritual teachings and started the upward trek.

About half way up he stopped for some food and read from his spiritual book. He stood up and looked over the countryside and thanked God for all the good things he had and for giving him the chance to see this beautiful world from such a height. He tarried a bit longer than he should have, the afternoon sun was setting fast, but he wasn’t concerned. Even when the sky started to turn dark and storm clouds started moving in, the man continued on his mission. But soon the night fell heavy in the heights of the mountain, and the climber got lost and could not see anything. All was black and misty cold and the moon and the stars were covered by the clouds. Undaunted, the man continued climbing the mountain despite his disorientation and confusion. He thought, God will guide me, God will protect me, and I will reach the top of this mountain.

He climbed for hours, not even sure sometimes if he was moving up, down or sideways. Once, the clouds parted, and he thought he saw the peak of the mountain not far ahead of him. But the clouds and the darkness returned and he lost sight of the summit. He continued climbing in the night and the growing cold – moving more by instinct and what he took to be faith than by any true knowledge of his path. And then, while reaching out over an outcropping ledge, he slipped and fell into the air, falling at great speed. He could only see black spots as he went down, and the terrible sensation of being sucked by gravity.

He kept falling, and in the moments of great fear, it came to his mind all the good and bad episodes of his life. He was thinking now about how close death was getting, when all of a sudden he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard. He stopped falling and his body hung limp in the air.

Only the rope was holding him and in that moment of stillness he had no other choice but to scream: “Help me God.”

All of a sudden a deep voice coming from the sky answered, “What do you want me to do?”

“Save me God.”

And God replied “Do you really believe I can save you?”

“Of course I believe.”

“And will you do exactly as I tell you?” the voice asked.

“Of course Lord, whatever you ask of me I will do.”

“Then trust in me, cut the rope tied to your waist – free yourself from the darkness and be saved.”

There was a moment of silence. The man began to weep. He clutched tighter to the rope holding him and felt the cold and the darkness wrap itself around him. And the voice spoke to him no more.

The next morning the rescue team reported that a climber was found dead and frozen. His hands still clutched the rope and his face was a mask of agony.

He was hanging only three feet above the ground!

 Michael A. Michail
Copyright © 2013
All Rights Reserved

 

Charisma is a form of communication, a “super-language” between mind and mind, being and being. Charisma is an energy that radiates out of and around everyone to some degree. It is usually linked with a sense of self-confidence and security of person and it is also linked with the divine, mystical force that flows through the universe. It is beauty, passion and joy. It is energy, power and force of will. It is the radiation of glamour and desire – what some call “star quality.” At its best it is the recognition one person has of another’s true DIVINE self. While some surface level qualities of charisma can be faked with practice – true charismatic radiance comes only by being true to yourself and revealing your inner divine nature. 

Being Yourself

When you express your TRUE SELF – you radiate charisma. Coming to terms with your TRUE SELF – your inner divinity – requires some introspection and self-knowledge. One of the doorways to success in the practical sense is your ability to establish rapport with others. People need to understand you and believe in your purpose. And you need to understand and accept others. By releasing some of the negativity in your life, you will make yourself, automatically, more attractive and likable to others.

The comedian, Richard Jeni, once said “the trick to getting along with people is sincerity – if you can fake that you’ve got it made.”

The mystic shouldn’t have to “fake” sincerity. The mystic really does want what’s best for everyone. And the great thing about the mystic path is that those who travel it eventually get the power to manifest good things for others as well as for themselves.

The trained mystic interacts with the world with honesty, sincerity and personal power born of self-knowledge. This is a highly appealing combination and often takes people by surprise – especially those who have been caught up in negative environments.

The first step in developing rapport with others is to develop rapport with your true self. This means finding your true inner being and letting it be expressed. Being yourself means letting your true inner light clear away the darkness in the lives of others. Through meditation, contemplation and practice your inner light becomes a beacon that attracts people to you – the kind of people who want to help you achieve your goals. By being with you, they become guided to the light and are filled with inspiration to accomplish their own goals. This is the authentic form of charisma the mystic seeks to develop.

Letting Others be Themselves

The gift a mystic can bring to others is permission for them to express their own true selves. This is a powerful gift and one that can be appreciated on more than one level. Sometimes the other person doesn’t even know what he or she is experiencing. One of the big tragedies of life is that negative surroundings can so engulf people, they totally lose conscious contact with their own personalities, dreams, ambitions and sense of self. And it does not require massive trauma to do this. Slow, ongoing physical, verbal or emotional abuse and repression can condemn a person to a life of oblivion, self-deception – a crushed and discarded ego. When someone like this encounters a person on the path to enlightenment, whatever tiny spark of self-hood remaining within them rejoices in ways their subdued consciousness cannot communicate even to themselves.

For those of you who want to go beyond the basic aspects of mysticism, this potential to touch the lives of others in positive and affirmative ways will be seen as a worthy ability to cultivate. The energy of your true self connecting with the true selves of others is a way of slowly transforming the entire planet. This ability does not depend on an understanding by the physical brain. It is “deep calling unto deep.” Through meditation and mystical practice you can develop the kind of charismatic aura that encourages and inspires people around you to be their best and, also, to do their best to help you with whatever your goal or mission might be.

 

 

I love the Winter Solstice. The image of the Light being re-born and conquering the forces of Darkness is beautiful and inspiring. The Winter Solstice has influenced the lives of many people over the centuries, particularly through art, literature, mythology and religion.

Many of the customs associated with the Winter Solstice (and therefore with other midwinter festivals such as St Lucy’s Day, Saturnalia, Hanukkah, New Years and Twelfth Night) derive from stories of a mighty battle between the dark and the light, which is won, naturally, by the light. Other traditions record this as the time a savior (the Sun-Child) is born to a virgin mother.

In Ancient Rome the winter solstice festival Saturnalia began on December 17 and lasted for seven days. It was held to honor Saturn, the father of the gods, a gloomy old fellow who carried a sickle like the figures of Death and who ate his own children rather than let them surpass him. For new life to flourish, for the sun to rise again, it is necessary to vanquish this old man. Therefore, the feasting and merriment of the midwinter season are religiously mandated in order to combat the forces of gloom. The festival was characterized by the suspension of discipline and reversal of the usual order. Grudges and quarrels were forgotten while businesses, courts and schools were closed. Wars were interrupted or postponed and slaves were served by their masters. Masquerades often occurred during this time.

It was traditional to offer gifts of imitation fruit (a symbol of fertility), dolls (symbolic of the custom of human sacrifice), and candles (reminiscent of the bonfires traditionally associated with pagan solstice celebrations). A mock king was chosen, usually from a group of slaves or criminals, and although he was permitted to behave in an unrestrained manner for seven days of the festival, he was usually killed at the end.

The day following the Saturnalia, was the Juvenilia, a holiday in honor of children who were entertained, feasted and given good luck talismans.  After vanquishing the Old King, it was time to celebrate the new in the form of children, the New Year’s Baby, or the Son of Man. The celebration of the birth of Christ fit in very well with this concept as He is seen as the New King, the Light of the World who brings Illumination to all.

The Birth of the Sun

In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas. However, Christ’s birthday was not celebrated on December 25th until the 4th century. Before then, December 25th was best known as the birthday of the Persian hero and sun-god, Mithra. The myth tells that he sprang up full-grown from a rock, armed with a knife and carrying a torch. Shepherds watched his miraculous appearance and hurried to greet him with the first fruits of their flocks and their harvests. The cult of Mithra spread all over the Roman empire. In 274 AD, the Roman emperor Valerian declared December 25th the Birthday of Sol Invictus, the Unconquerable Sun. Thus in the Roman world there were 3 important holidays centered around the Winter Solstice – Saturnalia, the Birth of Mithras and the Birth of the Sun. When Christianity rose to dominance, the festival of Christ’s birthday moved to this time to offset the pagan influence. But, as the birth of Christ is seen as the time the true Light came into the world, that celebration fits well with the basic theme of the season.

Festival of Lights

The return of the light is the most prominent feature of most midwinter festivals. In Sweden on St. Lucy’s Day, young girls don white dresses and a wreath of candles and awaken their families with cakes and song. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by lighting candles over a span of eight days. The Christian custom of the Advent wreath, with its four candles, one lit each of the Sundays before Christmas, is another way of re-kindling the light.

The Christmas candle, a large candle of red or some other bright color decorated with holly or other evergreens, was at one time a popular custom throughout Great Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia. One person, usually the eldest or the head of the household, is designated as the light bringer. She lights the candle for the first time on Christmas Eve before the festive supper and during each of the remaining evenings of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The candle sheds a blessing on the household and so is protected from accidental quenching. It had protective or fertilizing powers and was kept as a charm. In Denmark, during a lightning storm, the remnant would be brought out and lit to protect the household.

Christmas is also referred to as Yule, which may have derived from the Norse word jól, referring to the pre-Christian winter solstice festival when ancient believers celebrated the rebirth of the Sun God and days with more light. This took place annually around the time of the December solstice and lasted for 12 days. Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning sun. A Yule or Juul log was brought in to the house with great ceremony on the eve of Solstice and burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god Thor. It is important that the Yule log be the biggest and greenest log available since the Solstice festivities will last only as long as the Yule log burns. Usually it is decorated with holly and ivy and other evergreens of the season. Some people prefer to use the Yule log as a decoration and place candles on it instead, thus transforming it into a candelabra like the menorah or the kinara. A piece of the log was kept as both a token of good luck and as kindling for the following year’s log.

In England, Germany, France and other European countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing but ash remained. The ashes were then collected and either strewn on the fields as fertilizer every night until Twelfth Night or kept as a charm or as medicine. French peasants believed that if the ashes were kept under the bed, they would protect the house against thunder and lightning (just like the Christmas candle in Denmark).

The Solstice Evergreen

Another ancient midwinter custom is decorating with greens. The Romans decorated with rosemary, bay, laurel, holly, ivy and mistletoe. The holly and ivy were also both important midwinter plants in Great Britain and Ireland,

The Christmas tree is of more recent origin, perhaps only going back to the 15^th century German custom of hanging apples on a fir tree as a prop for the miracle play performed on Christmas Eve depicting Adam and Eve being driven out of Paradise.

Other Cultures and Modern Day Celebrations

In Poland the ancient December solstice observance prior to Christianity involved people showing forgiveness and sharing food. It was a tradition that can still be seen in what is known as Gody. In the northwestern corner of Pakistan, a festival called Chaomos, takes place among the Kalasha or Kalash Kafir people. It lasts for at least seven days, including the day of the December solstice. It involves ritual baths as part of a purification process, as well as singing and chanting, a torchlight procession, dancing, bonfires and festive eating.

Many Christians celebrate St Thomas’ Day in honor of St Thomas the Apostle on December 21. In Guatemala on this day, Mayan Indians honor the sun god they worshipped long before they became Christians with a dangerous ritual known as the polo voladore, or “flying pole dance”. Three men climb on top of a 50-foot pole. As one of them beats a drum and plays a flute, the other two men wind a rope attached to the pole around one foot and jump. If they land on their feet, it is believed that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer.

The ancient Incas celebrated a special festival to honor the sun god at the time of the December solstice. In the 16th century ceremonies were banned by the Roman Catholics in their bid to convert the Inca people to Christianity. A local group of Quecia Indians in Cusco, Peru, revived the festival in the 1950s. It is now a major festival that begins in Cusco and proceeds to an ancient amphitheater a few miles away.

Celebrating the Solstice

During the Winter Solstice, you should enjoy yourself as much as possible. This will help bring Light back into the world. Different traditions mention feasting, gambling, playing pranks, giving gifts, visiting, drinking, dressing up, fornicating, putting on plays and staying up all night. During the dark of winter, invoke all the forces of pleasure and love which make life worth living. Fill your home with lights and sparkling ornaments. But don’t forget about the darkness – that’s important too. Honour the Dark before calling in the Light. Perhaps you could do an “energy fast.” For the whole day, keep all lights and electrical appliances off. Think about your life and the darkness around you. Release your resentments and regrets into the darkness, knowing they will be transformed. Write about them in your journal or write them on slips of paper which you can burn in your Yule fire. Use your holiday cards to make amends to people you’ve hurt or neglected. Then, when you light your candles and your fire, do so with the intention of bringing the True Light into the world. What ways can you think of in which you can help make the world lighter? How can you bring light into the lives of those around you? Think about this and make a conscious effort to increase the amount of light you create.

This is a good time to sing a sun song, like “Here Comes the Sun,” or “You Are My Sunshine.” Pass around a glass of wine or juice and toast the sun. The sun-child is the child of promise. Everyone can talk about a promise they see in the future.

The Winter Solstice represents the birth of light, life and love into the world: Not only the world outside but the world within you as well. If you choose to, you can make this one of the most mystical nights of the year by accepting and honouring the Light and proclaiming your own intention to contribute to Illuminating the world.

Happy Solstice!

 

 

 

The image of an ancient Egyptian sculpture appeared on my Facebook page and caused a bit of controversy. The image shows Egyptian royalty in seated positions. The picture is split to show what the sculpture looks like today and what it might have looked like thousands of years ago when it was first carved.

Someone made a comment that the image depicts the “proper way for white people to meditate.”

Of course this led to many retaliatory comments accusing the person of racism and ignorance. The person tried to defend himself and revealed that he was a student of a school that taught “the best way” to meditate. This was not a good defence. It illustrates the flaw in the common practice of adhering too strictly to one school, method or teacher of meditation – forgetting that we live in a big world with lots of valid and effective traditions and systems for spiritual growth.  The people who sought to “correct” this person’s “error” actually stood on a weaker platform. While he was asserting that “white people” should sit in chairs to meditate while “brown people” should assume the lotus position – the others were arguing that the cross legged poses were the only valid way to meditate for everyone.

In reality, there are many ways to meditate and many suitable positions depending on the individual meditator.

Once a person gains some facility with the process and has direct experience of the meditative state, it becomes possible to meditate in almost any situation or position – sitting, standing, walking, and even swinging from a trapeze.

The learning phase is crucial, however, to getting that direct experience of meditation. True meditation is not simply relaxation or deep thinking, it is almost a restructuring of the nervous system to allow for direct contact with absolute reality or the Divine Spirit – whatever you perceive divinity to be. This restructuring occurs quickly for some people and may take many years for others. And once the first direct experience takes place, it may require much more practice and effort to maintain the contact for more than a few moments at a time. However, even the slightest contact generates positive results in a person’s life and some of us believe that this is a state worth attaining.

 

 

How a person begins the training process depends very much on the person’s background and previous experiences. And this has much to do with culture and even climate – certainly more to do with these than with race or ethnicity. In parts of the world with hotter, dryer climates it is quite acceptable and comfortable to sit directly on the ground or on a mat or pillow. While in colder, wetter climates stools, benches or chairs are much more appropriate.

If you look at images of a region such as India, the place where yogic meditation flowered, from thousands of years ago, you rarely find a picture of anyone sitting on a bench or chair – even when the person is on an elevated platform they still sit on the floor.

Whereas images from Europe from the same time period rarely show anyone sitting on the ground. This, as I’ve said, has more to do with climate than with ethnicity.

 

In Egypt, where the controversial image originated, chairs were used more for formal, ritual events. Important people used chairs while less important people (such as scribes and writers) sat on the ground.

 

In the 21^st century, of course, chairs are found everywhere; yet, most people in the hotter, dryer regions of the world will still prefer to sit close to the ground.

 

Contrast this with my own experience growing up in Canada – a cold, wet country. As a child I sat on the ground only till I completed kindergarten. Once I got to the 1^st grade, I was issued a chair and a desk and sat in a chair ever after. The normal state of things in countries like Canada is that older people sit in chairs and young kids sit on the ground.

Now suppose someone like me, who spent my whole life sitting in a chair, decided to learn to meditate. Would it make sense to force me to assume the cross legged lotus position? The same position that, for example, a person who grew up in a country such as India has spent his whole life practicing?

Now, of course, certain biomechanical processes influence the choice of meditation positions – especially during the initial learning phase. It is desirable that energy, blood and air are able to flow freely. Air flow is particularly essential, thus a position that allows the lungs and diaphragm maximum opportunity to function is ideal. In this case sitting with the spine erect and the chest area free of hindrance is important.  Sitting upright in a chair, with feet slightly apart and the hands resting on the thighs, works very well for anyone.  A simple cross legged pose with the back straight and the chest area fully open for deep breathing, also works very well. Lying on your back is actually less useful as it puts some extra pressure on the lungs. But really, you can learn meditation in any position if you apply enough desire to attain results: this include lying in a hospital bed, sitting in a wheelchair, or being in any kind of restrictive circumstance.

A sincere desire and willingness to make contact with your deeper self and with the greater cosmic reality is key – it is this particular internal position or point of view that is truly the proper way to meditate.

 

I’ve included a picture of the Three Stooges on this post because it’s funny. In reality, however, the Stooges have never committed any of the stupid acts listed here. They were way too cool and respectful of others to do anything this bad. The actions listed here reveal a complete lack of propriety, class and self-respect. They indicate bad upbringing, limited intelligence, social incompetence and major character flaws.

This is by no means a complete list of social stupidity – I’ve left out some major items such as war, racism, fanaticism, drunk driving and twerking. Maybe I’ll include them in a later post. For now I’m just addressing behavior I am forced to witness almost every day in public. There is no excuse for these actions. If you, the reader, are guilty of any of these items please stop and re-evaluate yourself. These are the actions of a goon. You know better, or you should know better – so stop. If you know other people who do these things then tell them to stop. If they get mad at you just show them this post. Tell them I told you to help them become better people. Put the blame on me – I have big shoulders. We’re all forced to live together on this small planet – let’s do it with dignity and a sense of self-worth.

1.  Spitting in public

Spitting is a sign of disease. No one spits unless they are sick. If you are ill, please get medical help and carry around a spit cup of some sort. Be aware that no one wants to be around your disease – it is likely contagious. Don’t spit in public. If you think you are healthy and still insist on spitting then clearly you are a goon.

Again, no one wants to be around you – no one with self-respect anyway. Don’t spit in public. If you can’t understand what I am saying – it’s because you’re stupid.

2.   Stand right, walk left.

This is a simple strategy that has been around a long time. When you get on an escalator, stand on the right and leave room for people to walk up the left hand side. Just like on the road, slow traffic stays on the right and the left side is the passing lane. It’s pretty basic, yet so many people just don’t seem to get it. What’s wrong with you? If you can’t understand the importance of this concept – it’s because you’re stupid.

3.    Bullying

What the hell? Why do I even need to include this? Are you emotionally disturbed? Get help! There’s plenty of it around these days. Bullying of any sort is not acceptable in any type of society. That includes physical, verbal, emotional or even cyber bullying. When you pick on people for any reason you indicate that you are a total asshole. That’s right – an asshole. There is no other way to describe you. Stop it! If you can’t understand why bullying is wrong – it’s because you’re stupid.

4.   Backpacks on the subway

Listen, goon, you are not the only person in the world. Even if your own particular psychological disturbance makes you think so. When you are on public transportation or in any crowded place – take your back pack off! Put it down at your feet. Leave room for others. We all have to share space. Believe me no one would be around you if they didn’t have to be. People are forced to congregate in small spaces out of necessity. Be a decent human being and leave room for others. Stop being a goon. If you can’t understand this concept – it’s because you’re stupid.

5.   Littering

Again, let me remind you that you are not the only person in the world. If you want to befoul and despoil your personal space in private, then fine, do so, be a goon in your own environment. But when you are in public stop and think. No one wants to look at your garbage, no one wants to see the kind of loser you are. If you need attention, join the circus. Just keep the public areas clean. If you can’t understand why littering is wrong – it’s because you’re stupid.

6.   Stoop and scoop

When sharing your life with a pet, you should accept a certain level of responsibility. Just as you should pick up after yourself, you must also pick up after your pet. If your pet craps on the street, or worse on someone’s lawn, do the right thing – stoop and scoop. Pick up the poop. If you don’t want to do this, don’t have a pet. Don’t be a goon. If you can’t understand this concept – it’s because you’re stupid.

7.   Public foul mouth

It used to be just sailors or people that had tough jobs that often put their lives at risk that would swear in public. Now even teenage slackers do it. Stop! It is not cool! There are a million words in the English language – if all you can use is the same 5 or 6 words to express yourself, you need help. Go back to school or read a book. Stop being a goon. When you swear in public you are demonstrating your total lack of class. If you can’t understand this – it’s because you’re stupid.

8.   Public “horseplay”

Perhaps something even worse than swearing in public, is jumping around like an idiot. Once you reach the age of 3 you should develop some self-respect and self-control. Be a jerk on your own time – not when you are around other people. No one wants to see you discharging your hormones – no one with class anyway. Anyone at all with a choice would rather not be with someone like you. Stop! Maintain some discipline. Show some understanding of propriety. If you can’t understand this – it’s because you’re stupid.

9.   Mistreatment of pets

I’m pretty sure that most people should not be allowed the privilege of having a pet. Unfortunately, in our perverse society any idiot can buy or capture an animal and keep it. If you are going to care for a non-human being, show some class – don’t be a goon. I can’t cover every point of stupidity I see when people and animals get together, but here are a few:

Cats

Cats are not slaves and cannot be tamed. They are natural beings. A cat cannot do anything wrong. They are not capable of it. A cat being a cat is perfect in itself. Get this clear in your mind. If a cat does something you don’t like such as scratching the furniture or pooping anywhere outside the sandbox – even in your shoe – it is your fault. You are doing something wrong. Your aura, your psychological profile is flawed and you are causing a disturbance in your environment – the cat picks up on this and responds to it. Get your life under control and the cat will not have to show you what an idiot you are. Learn to meditate. Anyone that punishes, hurts, or mistreats a cat is a bully and therefore a total asshole and should be set on an ice flow and pushed out into the ocean away from decent society. If you don’t understand this – it’s because you’re stupid.

Dogs

Dogs might like being part of a pack and following a leader, but they have the right to expect fair and rational treatment. Dogs don’t like sleeping in the cold. Maybe you saw a movie once about huskies out in the artic sleeping in the snow. Guess what, goon, you don’t live in the artic. And there is no way you have a purebred husky. Your dog wants to be inside with you – not that you deserve its company – give it a nice, warm, dry comfortable place to sleep. Even huskies would prefer not to sleep outside but they are forced to by idiot humans.  And don’t chain the poor thing up outside the store or whatever stupid place you’re going to. Leaving your loving pet out alone, exposed to every danger and inconvenience, with a short chain and muzzle, in the baking sun, rain, sleet, snow, or cold is not fair treatment. Only a goon would do that. And if a dog barks, it’s because it is trying to protect you. Again, because you are a goon, you probably don’t deserve the dog’s love and devotion. Yelling at the dog to shut up marks you as an idiot. Finally, when you take your dog for a walk and it sees another dog – let it say hello. Don’t be a controlling freak! Give the poor thing some space – take two minutes out of your oh so important life and give the dog a chance to be social. And, as with cats, anyone that punishes, hurts, or mistreats a dog is a total asshole. If you don’t understand this – it’s because you are really, really stupid.

10.  Mistreatment of children

This is another item I should not have to mention. Unfortunately, there are far too many people out in public who simply should not be around children. Children are a public trust. They are the future of the world. They are the reason people strive to build up society. If you treat them badly, you are a despicable person. Show them by your example what a good person should be and they will grow to be good people. It is a tragedy that I must include this item on a list of social stupidity. I shouldn’t have to. I should never have to even hear of children being mistreated. But they still are – even in public. It is worse than a crime – it is a blotch on the soul of humanity. If you can’t understand this – it’s because you are worse than stupid – you are blight on humanity and being cast out on an ice flow is too good for you.

 

I recently saw a posting on Facebook that noted all the things we think we have to do each day just to maintain our current lifestyles. We consider ourselves to be living in a free society yet the amount of meaningless activity we are required to perform – even beyond the actions mentioned in the Facebook post – would indicate that we are far from free.

One person commented on the posting that the alternative is to live in a hole.

I disagree.

We are enslaved to certain processes and, although it could be argued that the enslavement is benevolent, the lifestyle we accept, while not brutal, does not really satisfy anything beyond basic needs. Many people rise above the day to day mediocre pursuits and achieve some level of self-actualization. Yet this is often in spite of the living conditions we generate rather than because of them. Our society is based upon money. To be somewhat free in any sense while remaining part of society requires us to have as much money as possible. So, possibly the 1% made famous in recent protests, the few with ample financial resources, are the only ones who might potentially be considered free (although even they suffer from the emotional and spiritual inadequacies built into the framework of society).   Acquiring a lot of money and control of resources seems to be the road to freedom in society – it certainly grants people certain liberties regarding movement and lifestyle choices. But is this all there is to freedom?

To acquire wealth, one must commit to its pursuit whole heartedly – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I’m going to discount from this equation the minority of individuals who are simply born wealthy or otherwise fall haphazardly into wealth. A small percentage of those people might be happy, free and prosperous based on their particular level of spiritual evolution. Most, I would assert, spend their meaningless lives in a hedonistic delusion with no purpose, no self-esteem, and no vision of life – just an insipid gaggle of giggling human geese. I suppose them to be only as free and happy as lunatics in a well-funded asylum who believe themselves to be Napoleon or Catherine the Great. 

The wealthy that actually have a plan and vision for their lives and put out actual effort to achieve their goals are different. They are people who make things happen, who create possibility, and who generate specific, measurable results that are of benefit to their world view.

But are they free?

To re-work an old spiritual dictum – What you pursue enslaves you.

If you pursue wealth, then you are a slave to wealth. If you pursue fame, you are a slave to fame. Now, what if you pursue something like Enlightenment? Well, then, you are a slave to Enlightenment.

The Master Jesus said you cannot serve two masters: God and money. You must choose one. And the subtle point is that whichever you choose puts you into servitude. You become the slave of your chosen master. One of the meanings of Islam is submission to the will of God – in other words slavery to God.

At least in this conception you have a choice in your servitude – a benevolent master or a cruel master. What if you just opt out of the decision making process and float along like flotsam and jetsam on an ocean of vague activity? Sometimes serving one master, sometimes another as the current moves you? This is pretty much the condition of the majority of people in our present society. They amble along, content with their mediocrity, zombie-like and unaware of the possibilities they have passed by. People who have made a committed choice for their servitude are seen as weird or obsessive. The zombie masses are oblivious to their own wretched state.

There is a Zen saying that a true master eats when he’s hungry and sleeps when he’s tired. Even by this simple definition we can see that there are few masters in our society. Most people are told exactly when they can eat and when they can sleep; when they must work and when they can play. Even amusements and leisure time is dictated. But because we actually have something resembling leisure many refuse to acknowledge their non-free status.

To be free, we require certain characteristics to be present. These are just a few of them:

1. We must  be aware of the concept of freedom
2. We must be aware of multiple choices available to us
3. We must have a sense of our own ability to pursue our options
4. We must actually desire freedom, which in many cases, requires effort to maintain
5. We must be willing to pursue freedom
6. We must be prepared to defend our desire for freedom

As the poet says, “stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.”

A person can be free while in a jail cell and a captive while roaming the streets.

If someone tried to put a shackle on your leg, you would likely resist and do whatever you could to release yourself. But when a government or institution imposes their will upon us, many do not realize the danger. In our society, invisible shackles are everywhere. There are many who would happily turn human beings into commodities and many who blithely accept this condition. We are so easily and cheaply purchased with trinkets such as high-speed internet and high definition TV. And we nod cheerfully in our captivity at promises of a shorter work week and a longer retirement.

There are two cats that live with me. I feed them, clean up after them, pay their medical bills, bring to them treats and toys and give them the run of the house. But anyone who knows cats knows that however much they purr while you brush them, they would be even happier outside, hunting for their own food and sleeping on the grass. Cats make do with our hospitality, but they know what real freedom is. They are not afraid to leave the comfort of our armchairs and venture into the unknown. We on the other hand live in terror that our bank accounts might be frozen or our electricity turned off. We are captives of our own insecurities.

Our modern society is based on 4 dynamic pillars: the industrial revolution that created the culture of factory workers, the banking system that finances industry and benefits most from it, and the Leviathan government that backs up the financiers and industrialists with military force if needed. The fourth pillar is our own complacency and tacit complicity in the process. Despite the strength of the other three pillars, without our agreement the whole system would collapse. The politicians, the financiers and the industrialists need us – and they have foisted on us the big lie that WE need THEM.  We don’t. Prior to the industrial revolution and the colonial governments that spread the culture of money around the world, most people enjoyed happy and free lives that included attainment of the highest levels of self-actualization. The person that thought the alternative to living in our society is living in a hole is wrong. The Native American people weren’t living in a hole prior to the European invasion; the Australian aborigines weren’t living in a hole prior to British colonization; the people of Africa, South America, Asia, and the pacific islands were not living in holes prior to Globalization. Rich, ancient cultures thrived for thousands of years without factories, banks and leviathan governments. Of course, there existed war, physical slavery, brutality, greed, corruption and vice of all kinds throughout the world. But look around – these things still exist today despite the dubious protection promised by swift talking politicians and the commercial interests they support. If we have hope for freedom, we must constantly be working to elevate ourselves and our community beyond the need for the violent traits and greedy natures that seem to be inherent in our biology. And to do this requires only knowledge and faith in ourselves. Industrialists, financiers and politicians will not do it for us. They thrive on our ignorance and will not alleviate it. Why should they? If the people allow themselves to wake up and accept the reality of freedom, those sectors of society would cease to exist.

Freedom is the understanding that we do not need industrialists, financiers or politicians to have a happy, meaningful life – THEY NEED US.  When these groups seek to dominate and manipulate the people for their own selfish ends – when they seek to hold back social progress, restrict technology and innovation, plunge society into debt, engage in violent conflict between nations, pervert education, control art and entertainment, and generally enforce a culture of mindless consumerism – the people must stand up and say NO. The politicians, financiers and industrialists are not the masters of society but they are growing in power. They have already curtailed democracy and capitalism and are converting humans into commodities for their own amusement. They must be pushed back into their rightful positions as servants of the people. Remember, despite the lies they spread at every opportunity we do not need them – THEY NEED US!

 

 

So, once again it’s been a while since I posted. What can I say? Saving the world from yet another zombie apocalypse requires a great deal of energy. (And yes, in my reality the word ‘apocalypse’ used in this sense can have a plural). However, I have a story to share.

Many years ago, while I was attending classes with a certain esoteric organization, I made the acquaintance of a young man whose mystical point of view was somewhat different from my own. Victor was interested in the mystic arts for the purpose of acquiring wealth and power. He truly believed that his happiness would increase if only he could find the secret formula that would give him access to control over the forces of nature. He was intent on using this formula to, so to speak, “gain the world.”

Despite my efforts and the efforts of others, Victor would not be deterred from this path and commitment.

After the classes, I lost contact with him for several years. One weekend, while I was attending a conclave, I bumped into him again. He had not changed his perspective and in fact was even more convinced that mystical powers were available and they could be used to give him personal power on a material level.

He told me an interesting story.

He said that over the years he had travelled far and studied many arcane subjects. He had met many curious individuals and they had reinforced his conviction to seek material power through occult means.

“I have learned,” he said, “about a Stone of Power that can give its possessor unlimited wealth and prestige.”

“Thousands of years ago,” he said, “a powerful sorcerer carved a statue out of stone.

Using magical science he then brought the statue to life. The stone creature could work wonders and brought great prosperity to the town where the sorcerer lived.

But the simple people grew afraid of the beast among them and one night they attacked and destroyed the statue.

They crushed it into rubble and then scattered the stones throughout the world.

Through the centuries, many people had found fragments of the statue and these same people had become great in the eyes of the world. Alexander found a piece and grew powerful until he lost the stone shortly before his death. And Napoleon also had a piece of it but lost it just before his fall from power. Many other great and powerful men right up to recent times have owed their success to possession of a chunk of this ancient statue.

“And now,” he went on, “I have a lead on where a piece of this marvel has been hidden. There is a tiny island in the pacific that I’ll be going to and I am convinced that if I search for it, I will find the secret source of real mystical power.”

I tried to persuade him to give up this quest. I pointed out to him that all the possessors of the Stone came to a bad end. But he was adamant that this was a sure path to his lasting happiness. How foolish some people are, I thought. True happiness, like true mystical power, is found within each of us. If we would only look there and accept the greatness that is our inborn right, we could all be happy.

We went our separate ways and through the years I almost forgot about my wandering friend. Until one day, not too long ago, at another conclave, I met up with him again. Victor was a bit thinner, older, maybe less well dressed then when I last saw him – but he glowed with an inner power and the smile he gave me was genuine and showed he had at last found true peace.

Of course I asked him about himself. He said he now lived quietly on a farm outside the city where he passed his time in meditation and contemplation of the true mysteries of life. I asked him about the Stone. He chuckled and shook his head.

“Yes,” he said, “the Stone.  So much time I wasted looking for the Stone. And yet without that search I would not have found the inner peace I now possess. “

We sat down and he told me his story.

“After the last time I saw you, I made plans to get to the island where one of the Stones had been hidden. I sold off all my possessions and charted a ship. The island itself was also hidden but my books and ancient maps showed me the way. When I got ashore, I immediately sought out the Kahuna, the island’s chief man of power.

I had learned enough of his dialect and he knew enough English for us to communicate. At first he laughed at my quest but I kept after him to show me where the Stone might be found. Eventually he agreed to help me but only if I proved myself by passing several tests and initiations. I committed myself fully to the task. The things he required me to do are not important – they were tests of my resolve if nothing else – and after more than two years of persistent effort, the great man finally showed me where the Stone was hidden.

“He took me to a vast beach covered with rocks and stones of every kind and casually waved his hand over the scene.

I became furious and almost attacked him physically for what I perceived to be his mockery of my life’s passion. He laughed and pushed me aside. ‘You are still not worthy,’ he said. And he turned to walk away. I fell to my knees before him and pleaded with him to show me the Stone.

“Maybe it was mercy or maybe, as I see it now, it was contempt for my vulgarity – either way he revealed a mystery. He said the Stone was there, in plain sight. All I had to do was reach down and pick it up and everything I ever wanted would be mine.  Through my tears I begged him for more information: how would I know the true Stone from all the rest?

“He lowered his gaze in what seemed to be a sad recollection of things he had experienced regarding the Stone. ‘The Stone you seek has power in its core,’ he said in a painful whisper. ‘You will know it by the energy you feel when you hold it in your hand.’

“He turned to walk away and I stopped him again. ‘But how will I find it amidst all this debris?’

“’That is your challenge,’ he said. ‘But give up this quest and go home.’

“I shouted – ‘Never!’ and threw myself at the new task.

“At first I picked up stones randomly and held them in my hands hoping to feel the power. But there were so many and I feared I was picking up the same ones more than once and completely missing others. I then came up with my final great plan. I picked a stone up, held it for a moment, and then threw it into the sea. I didn’t care if I had to do this a million times. I didn’t care if I had to clear the whole beach. Eventually I would find the true Stone of Power and my quest would be at an end.

“I picked up a stone, held it in my hand, and then threw it into the sea. I picked up a stone, held it in my hand, and then threw it into the sea. I picked up a stone, held it in my hand, and then threw it into the sea.

“I pursued this path with mindless conviction. Hour after hour, day after day, I continued. The days turned into weeks, then months, then years – and still I persisted. The villagers, sensing I was on some mystical quest, brought me food and sheltered me during storms. And I continued.

“I cleared a quarter of the beach, and then a third – and still I went on. There was nothing in my life, nothing in my heart, nothing in my mind but the Stone. Year after year I went on – I picked up a stone, held it in my hand and then threw it into the sea.

“Then one day – one strange and terrible day – I picked up a stone, held it in my hand, and felt such immense power and energy flowing through me I thought I would disintegrate.

And then without a thought I threw the Stone into the sea.”

Victor paused and held his breath a moment before continuing. And I felt my heart break at his words.

“As I watched the Stone leave my hand and fly into the sea to forever disappear into the abyss, I collapsed on the beach.

“I awoke some weeks later in a hut in the village. The Kahuna stood over me expressionless and said, ‘Now your true journey can begin.’

“Eventually I recovered enough to leave the island and make my way home.”

I sat silently, completely unsure how to react to this story. But Victor smiled, reached out and touched my shoulder and said, “It’s the best thing that could ever have happened to me.”

He then stood up and walked away, leaving me to ponder my own journey.