Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 16: read the small story tidbit below the poll for more details, OR just vote based on initial impression

(✦ see past poll results + further information HERE (link) ✦)

Yesterday's poll decided that The Adventurer should offer to help the travelers with their broken wagon.....

~

After much internal deliberation (and some zoning out staring at butterflies), The Adventurer decides it would be best to offer his assistance. Technically, he IS still following his goal of not getting distracted, because theoretically it would make his journey much faster if he were able to catch a ride on a carriage. So really, this is all an ultimate big brain genius strategy for maximizing efficient travel.. Or, at least that sounds like a good enough justification to him.

Gathering up all of his social courage, he approaches one of the travelers fiddling with a broken wheel near the far end of the carriage and meekly asks if there's anything he could do to help.

The man was so focused on his task, he seems initially startled to look up and find someone near him. "OH..! Oh, uhh.. help? With the wagon?", he smiles pleasantly, gesturing towards a few wooden boards that are just out of his reach, "Sure, kid. If you could just hand me th-"

"Apologies, but we actually won't be needing your assistance, stranger." A taller man, surprisingly almost matching the stature of the Adventurer, suddenly slinks out from somewhere behind the carriage, sternly placing himself like a barrier in front of the man working on the wheel. Wheel Guy nervously averts his eyes, making himself smaller, silently resuming his work.

The Adventurer tries his best to maintain composure against the weight of the tall man's bitter gaze, but can't seem to muster much of a response "Aeughh,,, uh… b-but, h- Bu--HHHh,,?.."

"Look, disregard whatever my father told you, he's old, never has any clue what he's talking about. It'd be best for you to simply move along." ('Father'? They don't look alike at all, and seem to be nearly the same age..)

"W-well.. he.. he didn't really tell me anything, I me-hhH,,.. I mean, I literally just got here, s-so...."

"Good. Even more reason to be on your way."

Placing a gloved hand firmly on his shoulder, the tall man begins to motion the Adventurer away from the wagon, but a strange noise interrupts, echoing from inside. Perhaps some sort of animal sound? Or a person faintly yelling about something? Or… both?

"WH-wHggg… whAT was t-that???!!" The Adventurer immediately stops in place, pausing to listen as the tall man keeps trying to push him ahead.

"I didn't hear anything, stranger."

"No, t-there.. was dEFinitely, UHH, a-"

"Likely something in the forest."

"Wh--aah... d.. do you think it was an animal?"

The tall man continues a dramatic struggle to 'subtly' drag him further down the road, whilst the Adventurer mindlessly digs in his heels, too distracted to even notice he's being so strongly prompted to leave.

"Many animals do, indeed, exist within forests. This should not be suprising."

"...It's just.. ..eughh… s… so weird…"

"I assure you, it is not."

"I-it really sounded like.. like it came f-from insid-"

"Yes, from inside the forest. Now, please, if you would.."

The noise interrupts again. It's definitely someone, or something, in some sort of distress.. And definitely from inside of the cart.

"wHoAAGH, aa!!! T-tHat's NOT from the f-forest, that-"

The tall man fully just shoves him now, sending the Adventurer toppling across the dirt, clumsily rolling and landing just past the other side of the carriage. A mother and young child who seem to be part of the traveling group simply stare down at him with empty blank gazes, wholly unconcerned about helping him up.

As the Adventurer fumbles back to his feet (still confused as to why he was even pushed in the first place), the tall man looms by the carriage, diligently watching to ensure that he leaves.

"Travel safe, stranger."

Despite his initial obliviousness, the Adventurer begins to piece the situation together as he stares back at the man, now fully convinced something suspicious might be going on...

…What should he do next??

~

~

~

Additional Information

the adventurer's current main quest: follow his map to reach the abandoned castle ruins and see the rare animal specialist about the mysterious egg he has

A Season 6 Bellarke Recap [a.k.a. the Receipts]

Before the finale airs, I thought we were due for a recap of some of the major B/C moments of Season 6, episode by episode.

6x01 “Sanctum”

[a.k.a. “It’s not crazy.”]

This felt like such a turning point for Bellarke, particularly on Bellamy’s end, because you can finally see him starting to fill in the blanks of their relationship. Clarke is so tentative and reticent about addressing the radio calls. Bellamy recognizes her vulnerability, understands the significance of this admission. And by assuring her “it’s not crazy” that she depended on him for six years, he reveals that he relied on her memory just as much, thus affirming the strength and stability of their relationship. Devotion is the name of the game.

6x02 “Red Sun Rising”

[a.k.a. “I don’t need you anymore.” + “This time, you die. Not me.”]

Talk about Foreshadowing™. This episode allowed audiences to get into the heads of each character (sans body snatching) and fully grasp what it is that drives/haunts them. Case in point, during Bellamy’s red sun psychotic episode, his compulsive need to protect and save his people is underscored, as is his deep-seated fear of being abandoned by/losing Clarke. This illustrates how, to a certain extent, Bellamy is terrified of how much he depends upon Clarke, knowing fully well the toll her death took on him for the past six years.

6x03 “The Children of Gabriel”

[a.k.a. “She is. She can speak for us.” + “We’ll bring Madi back. I promise.”]

Though the two are separated for the majority of this episode, Bellamy and Clarke’s “Together” partnership and co-leading dynamic are back in full force. Theirs is a relationship built on trust and mutual respect, a fact made very apparent when Bellamy doesn’t hesitate to allow Clarke to unilaterally conduct diplomatic affairs in Sanctum while he reconnects with their people. Likewise, Clarke entrusts the safety of her daughter to Bellamy in spite of the calamitous series of events that transpired in Season 5. It’s truly a redressal of S5, and it establishes how a relationship as profound as theirs is only strengthened by past disputes, betrayals, and grievances.

6x04 “The Face Behind the Glass”

[a.k.a. “You’re my family, too.” + “You’re too important to me.”]

I found this moment particularly significant when juxtaposed with the B/C dynamic in Season 2. Clarke’s “You’re too important to me” is very reminiscent of her S2 “I can’t lose you, too,” only this time around Clarke doesn’t attempt to diminish Bellamy’s value to her and, instead, recognizes that her love for him is a strength, not a weakness. She conveys to him how deeply she regrets abandoning him at the pits (much like her abandonment of him at the gates of Arkadia in S2), vowing to never lose sight of the fact that he is and always will be family to her.

6x05 “The Gospel of Josephine”

[a.k.a. “How are we on different sides of this?”+ “Who are you?”]

The strength of B/C’s relationship is even further bolstered with Josephine acting as a foil character to Clarke. Bellamy and Clarke know and understand each other so well, and her absence is glaringly obvious to Bellamy when he recognizes how uncharacteristically out-of-sync they are. He is the first and only person to have figured out that Clarke had been bodysnatched purely from knowing who she is as a person—her mannerisms, the way she speaks, the way she thinks, the things she values most (the same cannot be said of her own mother, but c’est la vie).

6x06 “Memento Mori”

[a.k.a. “...the hardest decision of his life: he will not take revenge.”]

Bellamy reveals the depth of his love for Clarke not by being consumed with his desire to exact revenge on her murderers, but rather by pushing aside his rage and grief in order to honor her. His inconsolable, bereaved, emotionally volatile state screams at him to perpetuate the cycle of war and violence, yet he overrrides his natural bloodthirsty instincts, all for Clarke. Bellamy is a fighter, and him choosing not to fight to preserve Clarke’s legacy is precisely why his love for her must be true and abiding—a love that stands the test of time and transcends death.

6x07 “Nevermind”

[a.k.a. “You’re too afraid to face him.” + “I’ll take your deal.” vs. “We’re gonna get her back.”]

The noticeable absence of Bellamy in Clarke’s mindspace (save for the drawings of him on her cell walls) is very weighty, especially when accompanied by Mindspace Blodreina’s spiel about Clarke‘s subconscious being unable to conjure Bellamy up due to fear. Fear that he will always resent her for her mistakes, fear that he views her as a selfish monster. It’s evident that Clarke values Bellamy’s perception of her to an unparalleled degree. Pieces of him are scattered throughout her mindspace (notice how a sketch of him is hanging in the area of her mindspace that symbolizes home, happiness, security, and family). He is literally ingrained in her head. This makes her decision to sacrifice herself to Josephine all the more meaningful. It is only when Clarke assumes Bellamy had given up on her without a second thought that she, herself, gives up. What she doesn’t get to see is how devastated he had been by her death and how determined he is to get her back when he discovers she’s still alive.

6x08 “The Old Man and the Anomaly”

[a.k.a. “You only care about Clarke.” ATTA BOY, JORDAN]

Bellamy is a man on a mission, and he’ll stop at nothing to save Clarke, regardless of the fact that doing so potentially endangers his people and their prospects for peace. While it’s inaccurate to suggest that Bellamy “only [cares] about Clarke,” you cannot deny that in this precarious situation she takes priority above all else. Saving Clarke is more important to Bellamy than ensuring that the peace deal for his people is fleshed out without a hitch. “He’d do anything for her. To protect her. Just makes sense.” Yet another S2 parallel. Bellamy will do whatever it takes to bring Clarke back, consequences by damned. If that entails leaving his people to fend for themselves, then so be it.

6x09 “What You Take With You”

[a.k.a. “Your people are in trouble. I guess you care about her more.” + “Now that’s a weird relationship, isn’t it?” + “I won’t let you die.” + “I’m not leaving you.”]

This episode was truly an ode to the history between Bellamy and Clarke—a complex history characterized by its highs and lows, by reconciliation and betrayal—but a history of devotion, nonetheless. Bellamy’s interactions with Josephine are enlightening, to say the least. The clinical way she breaks down the complicated relationship between Bellamy and Clarke is not only a testament to who she is as a person (i.e. a psychopath) but also to how deeply B/C must care for each other. In spite of everything that’s happened between them, their love and devotion to one another remains. Josephine leaves no stone unturned when it comes to recounting the bad and the ugly aspects of Bellamy and Clarke’s relationship, yet she redacts all of the good (those deep, intimate, emotional moments must be difficult to comprehend through the eyes of a psychopath). Everything about this episode—from Bellamy’s heartfelt “I won’t let you die,” to the terror and desperation in his eyes when J!Clarke is on the chopping block, to Clarke’s adamant “I’m not leaving you”—affirms that their bond is unbreakable.

6x10 “Matryoshka”

[a.k.a. THAT SCENE]

It takes real acting chops to simultaneously rip my heart in half and stitch it back together, yet, within the span of two measly minutes, Bob Morley accomplished the feat seamlessly. When Bellamy is confronted with the reality that Clarke is dead on that operating table, his greatest fears in 6x02 paradoxically come alive before his very own eyes. “I’m not losing her again.” “I need you.” “I’m not letting you go.” The shift from denial to desperation to devastation is as breathtaking as it is heart-breaking to watch. Speaking of the heart, what elevated the CPR scene to a caliber rivaling that of poetic cinema was its overt symbolism. Bellamy is Clarke’s heart. Clarke is Bellamy’s heart. When she’s trapped in her own head, it’s Bellamy’s voice that brings her back and jumpstarts her fighter instincts. When her heart’s stopped beating, he pumps it for her. He’s begging for her to come back to him because she is his touchstone, his other half. “The heart and the head.” “The head and the heart.” In other words, we belong Together. In other words, I love you, and I don’t want to live without you.

6x11 “Ashes to Ashes”

[a.k.a. “You saved me.” “So how do we save everyone that I left behind?” + “For Monty.” “For Monty.”]

The guilt sets in for Bellamy as he begins to think about the potential repercussions of his actions. Leaving everything behind to save Clarke was purely a heart move, and now that he’s got Clarke back, his head is starting to punish itself for shutting down and abandoning his people. Bellamy is off kilter and guilt-ridden. His plans for a peace deal fell apart, and he’s terrified that he won’t be able to protect his people just as he had failed to protect Clarke before (a 6x02 callback). Now, more than ever, it’s evident that Bellamy relies on Clarke to center him. She is his voice of reason, the head to his heart—a heart that, in a lot of ways, beats for her, as evidenced by his adamant refusal to allow her to jeopardize her life by acting as the inside man. Objectively, he knows her plan is the smart play and the only way to ensure that they “do better” per Monty’s charge, but he can’t risk losing her again. Bellamy eventually conceding to her plan illustrates how ideologically-attuned they are now. They’ve never been more Together, and, above all else, they uphold faith in each other.

6x12 “Adjustment Protocol”

[a.k.a. “I left them.” + “What took you so long?”]

Though this was definitely more of a fast-paced, plot-driven episode, the flashes of Bellarke peppered throughout are very telling, teeing up a major emotional moment for them in 6x13. While waiting for Clarke to shut down the shield, Bellamy is once again plagued by guilt for leaving his people behind without a second thought. Octavia’s verbal consolations do little to ease his mind, which goes to show how tormented he is by his actions. He genuinely believes dropping everything to save Clarke was a selfish decision on his part because he couldn’t bear to live without her. It wasn’t so much about Clarke needing Bellamy than it was about Bellamy needing Clarke.

He needs her. Not just as a co-leader, not just as a partner. Bellamy needs Clarke. His person. Never mind that his people may need him. If Clarke’s in trouble, he’ll go through hell and back to save her.

Pivot to the Becho reunion. Bellamy’s just been reunited with his girlfriend, the person he’d entrusted to protect his people while he went off to galavant around the woods with J!Clarke. The pure relief on his face upon being reassured that Echo okay is apparent. He left her behind, she was in trouble, but now she’s okay. He’s comforted by her presence in the same way that he’s comforted by the knowledge that a member of his family is safe.

But that look on Bellamy’s face when his eyes meet Clarke’s and everything around them seems to melt away? That’s more than relief. That’s yearning. That’s devotion. That’s “You came through. I knew you would.” That’s love.

Google's Laugh (part 1)

Google is shaking his head as his brothers argue. He thinks to himself how sometimes it is hard being the eldest brother to three.

"I told you I was sorry." Red pouts angrily.

"This is the tenth time you have done it though so I doubt you are!" Green crosses his arms.

"So I changed your voice box to sound like a little school girl so what." Red shrugs. "Just a prank."

"The problem is that this time it took three week to fix it!" Green looks very annoyed. "You had to pick the most high pitched voice to. It was so annoying."

"Guys lets just take a deep breath. In and out." Oliver as usually being the peaceful one trying to get them to relax.

"Do droids even really take breaths?" Red asks.

"Ummmm if it helps I think so." Oliver said softly.

"As much as I would love to watch this continue further you all need to get back to work." Google sighs. "Red you need to stop messing with the voice boxes. The last three times you damaged one and it takes weeks to fix so quit it. Green learn to take a joke. You always over react to these things. Yellow-" He looks at Oliver softly. "Thank you for your suggestion."

Red lets out a deep huff and gets back on his computer. Green walks to his station and types still upset. Oliver just puts on a smile to lighten the room and continues his work. Google looks at his brothers thinking if all siblings were like this. Red the more aggressive one and more to mess with others. Green the one who prides himself in working and logical. Yellow being the one with the most feelings with a heart of gold, the one who makes the others smile. Each of his brothers had a certain trait for themselves, they also conveyed their emotions more. Google however did not usually show his, he is always straight faced. He hardly shows real emotion unless he thinks it is necessary. He still asks Oliver about emotions since he is the one who seems more in tune with it.

He hears a beep in his head and looks at the message he has received. It is a game request from you. You were online playing some Overwatch. Google Looks at it and he has a drive to go answer the request. Although he did just lecture his brothers about working he should be doing so to. He ignores the request and sits at his computer.

"Come on..." You look at your screen and see he is not online.

It had been three weeks since you two have been playing against each other online. You two have been rivals for this whole time, always trying to outmatch each other. It started with an online game of chess and from there it escalated to more games. Always being on opposite teams you two would go crazy signaling each other out all the time. You had more fun with him playing with you than you used to. The games were more fun with him because it was a friendly competition and it never went to seriously. You got into gaming again because of it.

"On my free day too. I thought I finally have a chance to play." Usually you worked for the week but your boss let you take a day off. You thought now you had the day to yourself you and Google can play for the day. "O well..."

You decide to play some Destiny 2 for the time being on your own. You think back to when you and Google were playing for the first time. It was fun and you had someone who you thought was someone who could challenge you. After a week he sent you a message basically telling you he thought it would be appropriate to meet you in person. You meet with him at a coffee shop and find out who he really is. It took you by surprise since you did like Mark's videos and did not expect to actually be playing games with his ego. He was very forthright about it too. Basically that he likes playing with you and that he wanted you to know that you were playing with him. He also mentioned that he rather not have another incident with someone getting surprise that they were talking to an ego. You were cool with it and said it was fine and you just liked to have someone to play with again.

You chuckle to yourself remembering how Google said the thought meeting at a coffee shop was the most appropriate place as he had seen in movies. You laugh at that admitting to him you didn't even like coffee.

 "For a smart droid you sure are not that good with interactions are you?" You told him.

"I admit I can be awkward to people but I still do not understand appropriate human interactions." Google admits.

"I can tell. You seem more lively online." You admit.

"Well you can not see my face and only see type written messages with could come off more emotional that I really am. Although that may be because I asked for the assistance from my brothers to help me compose a more nice message." Google said.

"Your brothers did?" You look at him surprised. "You mean the other egos?"

"No I mean the other googles that formed from me after my upgrade. They are my brothers. The other egos are my family too but my brothers are closer to me." Google said. You noticed when he mentioned his brothers his tone was somewhat softer.

"It must me nice to have siblings." You tell him.

"It has its moments but as the eldest it is hard to keep an eye on the tree of them and make sure they don't blow each other up." Google sighs. "It is a hard job."

"Awwww but you love them right?" You smile.

"I do care for them and they do help me work. We are all the same and support one another so I must." Google answers.

You know that even if Google is a droid he does have feelings weather he knows it or not. Just as you were about to turn off your PS4 you get a game request from Google. "Speak of the devil." You go into Overwatch and get your headset on. "For a second there I thought you were not going to show up."

"I was not to be honest but I thought after dealing with my brothers antics I deserve some time to myself." Google had his controller and his eyes glow blue as he speaks to you.

"You poor thing you." You tease. "Ready?"

"Of course." Google smirks.

While he is into his game he does not notice that his brothers are watching him from the corner in hiding.

"He looks like he is having a good time." Red grins.

"It seems that Blue is very comfortable with (Y/N)." Green notices.

"They really bring out a different side to him." Oliver smiles. "I'm glad. He really smiles more."

"He does seem to act differently and more emotional with them." Green looks at Google who is sneering the his screen as you use your ultimate on him. "It is nice to see."

"I like (Y/N)." Red said. "They are good for him."

"Yea I think so too." Oliver looks at Google happily with his brothers. "They should go out sometime."

"Hmmm I think that can be arranged." Red has a sneaky smile on his face.

294: How to be the Director of Your Life: 6 Key Components

"You shouldn't dream your film, you should make it!" —Steven Spielberg

To live actively requires we take action.

Seems simple enough, but if teaching my students as well as myself to refrain from using passive verbs versus active verbs in writing indicates anything, defaulting to the passive is happens to be a hard habit to break.

What if we are defaulting in the same way in our everyday life and, even more largely, in our vision of how our journey will unfold?

A new-to-me podcast, Solo: The Single Person's Guide to a Remarkable Life, shared an insightful approach to living life which caught my attention immediately. What if we, instead of being the hero of our own lives, choose to be the director?

Think about it for a moment. When we look at a film from the point-of-view from the real world, the hero in the film/movie/novel/play merely follows the directions of the person behind the camera - the Greta Gerwigs (Oscar nominated director for Little Women), the Kathryn Bigelow (Oscar winning director for The Hurt Locker), the Steven Spielbergs (Oscar winning director for Lincoln), the Amma Asantes (Mrs. America), the Jennifer Getzingers (Orange is the New Black and Mad Men), the Julie Delpys (2 Days in Paris), and the Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman).

“Humble perseverance and the ability to observe and grow, in pursuit of making what you love and believe in. Really. THAT is the secret”. —Patty Jenkins, director of Wonder Woman

To be the director of our lives assumes the responsibility of having a larger vision for the purpose of each scene, each chapter; however, within each moment, each interaction and revelation, the director knows fully how to craft a scene so as to bring forth a dedication to being present, fully engaged and intentionally clear and knowing about living fully.

Being a hero, in theory, is not a bad directive, but it neglects the reality of being a hero - whether saving themselves or another or an entire vast swath of others - the climatic drama of adversity is assumed. And then there is the tragic hero. No thank you.

This is not to say that we can direct ourselves to avoid all conflict and adversity. No. From such unwanted and unplanned pains, we grow, we learn, and we gain wisdom, clarity, and strength; however, if we only relegate ourselves to being the hero, we follow a script written by another and directed by someone else as well. While there have been directors who directed themselves, there is a reason why only one has done so and been able to capture an Oscar for both roles - Roberto Benigini in Life is Beautiful (1999), which also one for best Foreign Film as well. It's hard to see yourself clearly - your actions, facial expressions, energy on screen with another, etc..

But wait, if you direct your life, aren't you also the hero? Valid point, and an important one to make. Yes. You are in all actuality both the director and the hero, but again, the director decides who leaves a scene when, how the interactions with others will play out, which details must be included in a shot to further understanding for the audience, what remains out of the shot, the colors of the attire, where the scene is set, the background, the music, all of the details as well as the over-arching storyline (and while often the director is also the playwright or at the very least has some say in how the screenplay is depicted and can mold and tweak it to what would be best for the film, the director has the full reins of the production). What I am saying is we must not forget our primary job - to be the director of our one and only life.

Let's take a look at everyday and large over-arching choices and actions imperative for directing our lives well.

1.Who are you?

Taking the time to know yourself, unearth your talents, becoming honest about your weaknesses but refusing to let them halt the direction you wish to travel sits at the foundation of a well-lived life.

~Read this three-part series on How to Get To Know Yourself

~Read/Listen to this post/episode to discover how knowing ourselves is the most important ingredient for a healthy relationship with another (episode #179)

2. Learn how to love well

Loving well is a skill. We do not know innately how to love another human being as doing so involves emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Models of love or what is purported as love surround us, but many are faulty and derive from a genesis rooted in control, insecurity and many other unhealthy constructs. To follow leads to pain. Knowing leads to peace. Know how to love, and life will blossom.

~In episode #287, discover 5 Things to Do to Build a Healthy Relationship (inspired by the book - How to Be An Adult in a Relationship)

~Listen to episode #166 to discover how to be One Half of a Healthy Relationship

~One of my favorite books on love and being loving in a relationship inspired episode #128 - The Quest for a Soulmate: The Myth Hindering an Amazing Love Life

3. Understand the value of boundaries and understand they will evolve

Boundaries define us, as Henry Cloud reminds. Literally, the lines we put in our lives define what we will step forward and try and what we will not. Boundaries can limit us. Boundaries can protect us. Boundaries paradoxically can set us free.

Knowing how to set boundaries after we have discovered what our boundaries need to be for the chapter in our life we find ourselves gifts us with a powerful foundation. Without boundaries, the wind can take us where it will because we don't know what where we want to go and we certainly don't know how to head in the right direction.

On the flipside, rigidity when it comes to boundaries can be harmful if it prevents us from exploring what we are capable of sharing with the world. Ah, a tenuous dance which requires of each of us to do our own homework, not follow, because it is our heart, our life that will be set free when we find the sweet spot between the right boundaries and vulnerability. (Listen to episode #126 to discover the Powerful Couple that is Boundaries & Vulnerability.)

4. Learn the skill of effective nonviolent communication

For every director who wins praise from their cast and crew, there is a director who bullies, rants and whines. Effective communication, nonviolent communication, is a skill we must choose to learn if we want to have a fulfilling life and strong and healthy relationships with others.

To model said communication, observe someone who understands the components of nonviolent communication certainly helps us to acquire the skill, but we must take it one step further to understand why they are communicating as they are. We must again be the student for our lives to reach their fullest potential.

As I shared in episode #293, I highly recommend reading Marshall Rosenberg's book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life. I have read and will reread this book for understanding how to understand anger, understanding the four basic steps of clear, effective, empathetic communication, and how to honor my own journey, letting go of guilt, shame, anything the outside world wishes me to feel in order to stop me from traveling a path that brings joy.

Effective communication with ourselves and others is the way toward directing an award-winning life to continue with the analogy. To clearly convey and know what you wish to materialize, you need to be able to work with others being empathetic and aware along the way, not only of those who will walk with you or cross your path, but with yourself.

5. Understand and practice the fundamental physical components of you

To delve a bit deeper into the physical aspect of #1, knowing how your body, your mind, your temperament function and how they can function well will give you a roadmap of how to design the set of your life. It will also help you clearly understand what your boundaries need to be.

6. Be Brave

Living an active life, being the director of your own live demands of you to take action.

You cannot wait to see what someone else thinks, whether someone else approves, whether the prices will be this or that or another, at some point, you simply need to act.

Wait a second, you may be saying, didn't I say each of us is the director not the actor? Okay, perhaps a poor choice of words, but not really. Remember, you are the director of those actions. You decide when to take the first steps, when to set out and try something for the first time, when to let go, when to say yes, when to determine a certain chapter of your life has now concluded and you will be stepping into the next.

Being brave. A choice made by the director, and it is no act. Being brave takes raw courage after months, perhaps years of deliberating about when or if you should indeed do just that - be brave. Let me reassure you, being brave will set you free. In the meantime, you will quake, but you will not crumble if what you seek aligns with what you know to be true about yourself (remember #1).

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” —Helen Keller

The analogy of the director does not perfectly align with living our one and only life. After all, we are talking about a fictitious story capable of being enjoyed for generations. Our lives are anything but fictitious. No, we know, our lives are all too real, but do we?

I ask this question because what if poet David Whyte correctly nailed it when he wrote "What if the world is holding its breath - waiting for you to take the place only you can fill?" Why aren't we filling it? Perhaps because we have chosen to follow someone else's script, and not direct our own. Perhaps because we have forgotten to write our own script and direct it as well. We can have chapters in our own lives, the one prior being necessary for the next, not less relevant or bad, simply vital to live the journey we are on, trusting the steps we need to take in a new direction.

Today, tap yourself, hire yourself, assign yourself purposely and intentionally as the director of your life, and I am confident, you will begin to see the positive and desired change which may have only been a dream previously.

SIMILAR POSTS/EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~8 Ways to Become the CEO of Your Own Life, episode #40

Petit Plaisir

—Un Soir à L'Opera candles

Tune in to the latest episode of The Simple Sophisticate podcast

What Is the Narrow Gate Jesus Talked About? by Cecil Maranville

     JESUS said to “enter by the narrow gate”      if we’re seeking life.

     Why did HE seemingly discourage people      from becoming Christians?

1.] What makes the gate so narrow?

     At the beginning of HIS ministry, thousands of disciples      chased after JESUS CHRIST as they would a      celebrity—but after HIS death, that number had      dwindled to only a few hundred      [Acts 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:6].

     These disciples quickly learned that being a      Christian was no walk in the park.

     Following in the footsteps of our Savior means more      than just giving your heart to the LORD—it often means      making difficult choices & doing difficult things.

     [See “How Do You Know You Have the HOLY SPIRIT?”       for more insight into the conversion process.]

     JESUS warned HIS disciples about that while HE      was still alive. HE told them,

     “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate & broad      is the way that leads to destruction, & there are many      who go in by it.

     Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which      leads to life, & there are few who find it”

     [Matthew 7:13-14, emphasis added throughout].

1.1] The narrow gate & the difficult way

     “The narrow gate” is a fairly straightforward concept.

     A narrow gate is harder to pass through than one      that is wide, & only a few people can go through      a narrow gate at once.

     JESUS was describing the pathway to life—true,      eternal life—as something requiring effort & focus to enter.

           Only a relatively small number of people            ever even set foot on that path.

     But getting onto the path is only the first step.

     When HE said, “Difficult is the way which leads to life,”      JESUS was explaining how hard being a Christian really is.

     “Difficult” is from the Greek word thlibo, which means:

           “To press [as grapes], press hard upon;            a compressed way; narrow straitened, contracted.”

     Metaphorically, it can also mean “to trouble, afflict, distress.”

     If JESUS wanted to draw people to follow HIM, why did HE      tell prospective disciples doing so would bring them grief?

     To understand what HE meant, let’s examine a few of the      passages where HE seemingly discouraged people      from following HIM.

     Luke writes of three encounters JESUS had with would-be      Christians as HE & HIS disciples were traveling, & each      of these encounters offers insight into what makes the gate      so narrow & the way so difficult.

1.2] The narrow gate of uncertainty

     One would-be follower made a dramatic statement of      commitment, saying to CHRIST:

           “LORD, I will follow YOU wherever YOU go”            [Luke 9:57].

      JESUS didn’t reply, “Wonderful! Please join us!”

     Instead, HE said something that, at the least, would have      caused the man to have 2nd thoughts &, at the most,      would have turned him away completely:

           “Foxes have holes & birds of the air have nests, but            the SON of MAN has nowhere to lay HIS head” [v.58].

     JESUS was conveying the uncertainty that could      accompany the life of a true Christian.

     To follow CHRIST, we must be willing to accept a certain      amount of volatility in our lives—knowing that we will remain      living in the world without remaining part of the world.      [John 17:9-19].

1.3] The narrow gate of priority

     Luke’s narrative continues with JESUS turning to another      person & telling him, “Follow ME” [v.59].

     The man begged off, asking that he be allowed      to first bury his father.

     Since Jewish custom was to bury the dead as soon as      possible, it is unlikely the man was out with the crowd      around JESUS with a dead father at home.

     More likely, the man was asking to spend whatever      remaining time he might have with an aging or perhaps      ill father—an open-ended request actually.

     The blunt record of Luke has JESUS responding to      this man’s excuse,

           “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go &            preach the kingdom of GOD” [v.60].

     Obviously, dead people do not bury anyone.

      JESUS was referring to those who were spiritually dead      —people who had not responded to HIS teaching.

     JESUS was telling the potential Christian      that HIS calling was infinitely more important.****

     The same is true for us—we can’t dedicate ourselves to      follow CHRIST if we keep putting vague, open-ended      priorities in front of our calling.

1.4] The narrow gate of commitment

     Then a 3rd man, who was committed to becoming a disciple,      made a seemingly reasonable request to first return home      to say goodbye to whoever was at his house [v.61].

     [It’s unclear if these people were family or guests.]

     To this person, JESUS responded:

           “No one, having put his hand to the plow, & looking            back, is fit for the kingdom of GOD” [v.62].

     We cannot know with certainty, but this person may not      have been as committed as his words make it sound.

     JESUS knew his heart & saw it necessary to remind the      man that looking back was not an option.

     The BIBLE records only the essence of the exchange—      what we need to know to understand the main point.

     All three of these responses add clarity to CHRIST’s teaching      that “narrow is the gate.”

     In this 3rd example, the added lesson was that Christians      must continue to keep their eyes on the goal—      GOD’s Kingdom.

     An experienced plowman immediately       recognizes the point of this analogy.

     When plowing, the farmer fixes his eyes on a rock, a hill or      some other marker, so that he will plow straight furrows.

     Although modern farmers with vast fields often use GPS      equipment to accomplish this, the principle remains the same!

2.] Other narrow gates to consider

     A few chapters later, we find another insightful account      about what we must do to become followers of      JESUS CHRIST.

     With a huge number of people crowding around to hear      JESUS’ every word, HE gave more examples not of      how easy it is to give your heart to the LORD, but

           how heavy the obligation of            becoming a Christian is.

2.1] You must hate your mother and father?

     In Luke 14:26 JESUS said,

           “If anyone comes to ME & does not hate his father &            mother, spouse & children, fellow believers & siblings,            yes, & their own life also, s/he cannot be MY disciple.”

     This instruction seems strange until we understand      the meaning of the original language.

     The NKJV Study BIBLE explains:

           “To ‘hate’ one’s family & even one’s life is rhetorical.            It refers to desiring something less than something else”            [2007, notes on Luke 14:26].

     In other words, a Christian’s love for living GOD’s way      of life has to be greater than the love s/he has for any      human relationship, as well as for their own self.

     Even clarified, the statement is rather unexpected, &      certainly becomes a narrow gate itself as we evaluate      our most important relationships.

2.2] You must overcome and endure trials

     The next example was extremely graphic. JESUS said,

           “And whoever does not bear his cross &            come after ME cannot be MY disciple” [v.27].

     To bear a cross in the Roman world was a death sentence      —because after you were done carrying it where it needed      to go, you would be nailed to it & die on it.

     These words carry all the more weight when we consider      that, when JESUS said this, HE was well aware that very      soon, HE would be bearing HIS own [literal] cross.

     The SON of GOD would die the death of a common criminal.

     Just as condemned criminals were made to carry the crosses      upon which they would be executed, we must be willing to      endure & overcome whatever trials we may face      as Christians.

     These trials are not optional or unexpected—they are      as certain as the ultimate fate of someone bearing a cross.

2.3] This is a narrow gate, indeed.

     YOU must “count the cost”

     Next, JESUS spoke of a construction project.

     HE pointed out that any responsible builder would      consider the cost of the entire project      from start to finish &

     Then ensure he had the necessary funding to complete      the project before he would even start.

     Beginning a construction project without considering      funding could result in an abandoned, partially complete      building—a visual symbol of the builder’s lack of judgment      [v.28-30].

     This principle can also be applied to the narrow gate      of becoming a Christian.

     We need to understand the cost—the challenges &      hardships—that are sure to come when we begin      living GOD’s way of life.

     If we enter onto the difficult path expecting only clear      skies & happiness, we risk running out of steam when      we have to deal with the challenging days that are      sure to come.

     JESUS wants us to have a realistic view of what’s ahead,      not an impossibly optimistic one.

2.4] You must consider your resources

     JESUS then gave an illustration about going to war.

     Quite simply, JESUS said that a king or general counts      his troops before engaging an enemy.

     He wants to know in advance that victory is possible.

     If he doesn’t have sufficient resources to win, he makes      peace instead of going to war [v.31-32].

           As for Christians, our battles are            spiritual in nature.

           In reality, it is impossible for us to            win this war by ourselves.

     Upon becoming a Christian, we will need the help of      GOD’s great power—HIS HOLY SPIRIT—to      achieve victory against overwhelming odds.

     But armed with that power, we can expect victory,      & the narrow gate becomes worth entering.

2.5] You must “forsake all” that you have

     Concluding HIS teaching on this occasion, JESUS said,

           “So likewise, whoever of you does not             forsake all that s/he has cannot be MY disciple”             [v.33].

     The lesson here is that in order to truly follow CHRIST,

          this must become the           most important thing in our lives.

     We must be willing to lose literally everything else in      our lives before letting go of our discipleship.

     Why would JESUS tell people that unless they met      these undeniably stringent standards, they could      not become HIS disciples, Christians?

     Because the gate is narrow, & the path is difficult.

     JESUS wanted to make that perfectly clear      to anyone considering following HIM.

2.6] The narrow gate is designed for quality, not quantity

     Another insightful passage of JESUS’ teaching on      becoming a Christian is found in John 6:25-66.

     This section of SCRIPTURE is a composite of      interactions with a variety of people.

     Some wanted JESUS to repeat the miracle of      producing food.

     Some were in audiences of synagogues at which      CHRIST spoke.

     And some were Jewish leaders critical of JESUS.

     JESUS began talking about physical manna & then      explained that HE was the true manna & that the      way to salvation was by

           “eat MY flesh & drink MY blood”            [v.53-56].

     Not understanding that HE was talking about the      Passover symbols of bread & wine, which      represented HIS flesh & blood, many people      abruptly stopped following HIM [v.66].

     On the surface, it again appears that CHRIST’s      approach seemed illogical, because HIS WORDs      did not entice people to join HIM.

     Clearly, CHRIST did not want just numbers.

     However, HE wanted all who became HIS disciples      —students or learners & members of the spiritual body      called in SCRIPTURE

           “the Church of GOD” [Acts 20:28]

     —to make it through to the end.

     They needed to know that they would      encounter the most difficult challenges      of their lives.

     HE would have been irresponsible had      HE failed to prepare the disciples.

     By analogy, failing to counsel them on the challenges      they would face if they became Christians would be      like taking a group of average citizens & sending      them on a military mission meant for an expert      team such as the U.S. Navy SEALS or      the British SAS.

     Without proper training, the people would not likely      survive such a mission.

     And it would be disastrous for the mission itself.

     GOD wants all to achieve their potential, & HE      wants Christians to understand the serious      nature of their commitment to follow HIM.

     CHRIST never leaves those who commit      to enter the narrow gate.

     Of course, GOD gave other counsel besides warnings      about the challenge of becoming a Christian.

     HE also promised those who did commit to this way of life,      “I will never leave you nor forsake you” [Hebrews 13:5].

     The NKJV Study BIBLE comments,

           “This quotation is one of the most            emphatic statements in the NT.

     In Greek it contains two double negatives, similar to saying      in English, ‘I will never, ever, ever forsake you.’

     JESUS uses the same technique to express the certainty      of eternal life for believers [see John 10:28].”

     You may have heard the military saying

           “Never leave a man behind!”

     Similarly, the FATHER & the SON are fully committed      to those who respond to GOD’s calling.

     JESUS made a similar promise after HIS resurrection,      promising HE would be with Church members      always & forever, “even to the end of the age”

     [Matthew 28:18-20]

3.] What path are you choosing?

     So why would anyone choose the narrow gate,      symbolizing the way Christians must live, when      it is such a difficult path compared to the smooth,      easy way of the world?

     On hikes, there are often adventures, thrills &      vistas available only to those who take the      difficult path.

     The difficult way brings rewards that those who      remain on the smooth & easy way will never know!

     Similarly, the experience of being in GOD’s Church is      incomparably rewarding to those who are called of GOD.

     They become part of the family of GOD now.

     They serve in HIS work.      They are energized by interacting with people of like mind.

           They anticipate reigning with CHRIST            in the coming Kingdom of GOD.

     They deeply appreciate being led by the      HOLY SPIRIT & understand that      godliness has benefits for

           “the life that now is” &            “that which is to come”

     [1 Timothy 4:8].

     Which way are you choosing?

     Look at your level of commitment, which you can      judge by how much you put into practice      what you know GOD would have you do.

     Would “the narrow gate” describe       the way you are choosing to live?

     Or are you choosing the smooth way, the way      that meets the least resistance?

     To learn more about becoming a Christian,      be sure to read the articles in the      “Change” section of this website.

About the Author:

     Cecil Maranville is a minister of the Church of GOD,      a Worldwide Association. He works with the      responses to questions our readers send to this website.

Photo: Gateway to Heaven, Tianmen Mountain | China

10 Things To Do When You Are So Angry At Someone

“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson I recently just extricated myself from a precarious situation. And now, I am incredibly angry at the person that directed a web of lies and spun a factory of fabrication. So I got to thinking. What do you do when you’re this angry with someone? How are you supposed to behave? What steps should you take when all you want to do is scream and shout and yell from the rooftops? The truth? I don’t often get angry. In fact, it’s pretty rare. If you ask anyone that knows me, they would tell you the same thing. But I wanted to convey these feelings as they were fresh in my mind, because one of the most cathartic ways that I know of cleansing my palette of emotions, is to actually write about them. We all have our breaking points, so to speak. We can all take so much and then we crack. I’ve recently reached that point. But it’s only been after a number of things went south. They say that bad things come in threes, but I’m not quite sure if that’s true or if it’s something we’ve convinced ourselves of. Regardless, I’m angry. I’m so angry at someone that I could just cry. Has this happened to you before? I know it’s happened to me. I often default back to the Golden Rule and tell myself that success is the best revenge and that we should leave everything else to karma. But what happens when you don’t want to do that? What else can you do when you’re this angry at someone?  

How To Deal With Someone You’re So Angry With

Okay, okay, so you’re angry. So am I. What should we do about it? I’ve been sitting here and thinking about different ways of dealing with this situation. I’ve conducted my online searches and have come up with a lot of not-so-great advice. So I’ve dug deep into the far-reaches of my mind and have concluded the following. First, let me premise this by saying that I don’t actually believe in revenge in the evil sense. If you’re looking to deal with someone that’s made you incredibly angry and upset, you could of course voice your opinion in public forums and open spaces. The internet is replete with things of that nature. However, that isn’t always the best option. It isn’t always that great to seek actual revenge against someone because it shifts the focus of the mind in the wrong direction. What’s a better approach than trying to make someone else’s life miserable that has possibly done some very wrong things to you? Well, here’s what I suggest you try…   #1 — Do Not Medicate! Okay, okay, here’s the first thing. In fact, this is actual something you shouldn’t do. Don’t medicate. Don’t drink or do drugs or do anything else that’s going to intensify your feelings. Why? Because, things might spiral out of control before you can reel yourself back in. Don’t pop a prescription pill or use something else that’s going to cloud your judgment. I know that this might be hard for most people, especially if they’re addicted to said medications. Yes. I understand that. But you have to steer clear. Don’t go drinking with your buddies or something else of that nature when you’re in this state of mind. It’s only going to egg you on to do really bad things. Now, I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I don’t take pills. I don’t do anything to pollute my body or my mind. If I did, I don’t think I would be able to run and manage this blog when I have a million other things to do, and do it so effectively. So, that’s my first piece of advice to you. Stay away from medicating at all costs.   #2 — It’s Okay To Feel Angry There’s nothing wrong with anger. It’s okay. You can feel angry. Why not? You’re a human being at the end of the day and you are an emotional monster. That’s not a bad thing. We’re all that way. We’re filled with thoughts and emotions that subsequently affect all of our behavior along with the quality and outcome of our lives. Go ahead and feel the anger. I mean, really feel it. Sit still and allow that emotion to wash over you. Allow the tide to come in and close your eyes. Think about it like an ocean of waves. Okay, maybe a tidal wave! But feel it as it comes ashore in your conscious mind. Feel it as it breaches land and really embrace it. Sounds strange? I know it might be. But that’s just what you need to do. Don’t run from it. Grab hold of it. Walk around it. Look at it from another perspective. Watch yourself being drawn into it. Then let it go. Watch as those waves move away from the shore and out into the distance. Just don’t run from it. It’s part of the healing process.   #3 — Ask Yourself Why Okay, I know why I’m angry right now. But what about you? Has it just been a string of things that have happened? Is it stress that built up over the recent days or weeks or months, or even years for that matter? It’s okay that you bowed and cracked. It’s okay that you lost your cool. But why did it happen? I’ve asked myself that same question recently. Sometimes, it’s the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. It’s not the last event, it’s what occurred almost directly before it. So take a look at what happened. What made you so angry? Why did you feel that way? It really helps to write out your feelings down on a piece of paper. It helps to catalog your thoughts. Ask yourself a series of questions about why this situation made you so angry. Why did you crack under the pressure? Why did you flip? It’s okay. Just write it down so that you can gain some perspective on your emotions.   #4 — What Goes Around Comes Around Okay, before you go seeking revenge, just know this — what goes around, comes around. Yes, we’ve all heard it before. But it’s true. As much as you might want to go hurt another person, it’s really uncalled for. You don’t need to do it. You can get angry and blow off steam, but don’t do something to physically harm that person. It’s not worth it. Karma will act on its own, in accordance with its own Law. You don’t need to do anything for that to occur. If someone intentionally maligned or harmed you, it will come back to them. It might take a very long time for that to happen, but it will. You don’t need to worry yourself about it. While that might not instill immediate solace into your mind, it’s the truth. What goes around will always come around. Let that thought sit and marinate before tiring your mind by thinking about all the things you want to do to hurt a person that harmed you or bruised your ego.   #5 — There Is Pure Power In Focus Rather than worry yourself by focusing on negative things, shift your focus. Negativity will beget negative results. While it’s easy to be so angry at someone and want to seek some form of revenge, by staying in that negative space you will only attract more negative things to your life. For example, if you find yourself getting extremely angry, you’re going to absolve a lot of your energy doing that. Negative energy consumes more personal resources than positive energy. In effect, it’s easier to love than it is to hate. I know that it’s easy for me to make this statement, but it’s far harder to heed this advice, but no truer words have been spoken. Shift your focus. Ask yourself what you could learn from this situation. Ask yourself what you could gain from the knowledge of this interaction should you have to do it again. Don’t seek outright revenge. Focus on love and positivity and spiritual growth. That’s what life is all about.   #6 — Put Yourself In The Other Person’s Shoes Look, we’ve all made mistakes in the past. My life is littered with one mistake after another. What you need to do is realize, first and foremost, that you’re not perfect. Once you realize that you’re not perfect, put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Maybe you’ve done something similar in the past. Maybe you haven’t. Doesn’t matter. Try to think about how they feel. What do you think motivated them to behave in the way that they did? What do you think inspired them to make you so angry? What was the driving force of that? Maybe you’ve done something similar in your life. Just try to envision things from the other person’s shoes. See how you feel. It isn’t the easiest exercise. But pull out a pen and paper and write down how you would feel as the other person. Take it from their perspective. Do your best to restructure the situation so that you can look at things differently.   #7 — Forgive But Don’t Forget The bible states that we have to forgive others. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” — Matthew 6:14-15 However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to forget. So forgive them. They messed up. You’re angry. So what? Why escalate the situation? Fill your heart with love and forgive. Go to church and pray about it if you must. If you’re not religious, then release that energy to the universe. That’s all. The longer you don’t forgive, the longer you will feel this animosity that will entirely consume you. Yes, I too am angry right now, but that’s okay. That doesn’t mean I won’t forgive. I won’t forget. That’s for sure. But I will forgive. Let go of that negative energy and learn to forgive. Your mind will feel much more at ease.   #8 — Go To The Gym Or Go For A Run Okay, so maybe you need to work it off. Go for a run. Go to the gym. Sweat it out. Channel all of that anger into a positive direction by doing something that will benefit your health. Not only will exercising give you physical health, but also mental and emotional health. You’ll feel way better after you’ve worked off all of that aggression. Believe me. If you’re out of shape, all the more reason why you need to do this. Go for a brisk walk. Walk up a hill. Sweat. Do something that’s outside of your comfort zone. You need to get moving and doing things if you don’t want to sit steeped in a certain set of emotions. It’s not easy altering and changing your behavior, but if you’re serious about letting some of that anger go, then you have to. You are going to feel so much better after you’ve had a chance to work off those emotions. Cooler minds will most certainly prevail in a situation like this. Don’t discount the benefits of some strenuous exercise to release all of those built up tensions.   #9 — Let At Least 24 Hours Pass Before Responding You need to give it time. Time will heal all wounds and everything good occurs within a certain frame of time. Don’t fire something off like an email or a message when you’re at the peak of anger. As much as you want to do it, it’s best that you wait. When those emotions and the tide of hate has retreated, then you can respond. And only then. We say terrible things in the heat of the moment. And, the heat of the moment can burn you for a lifetime. So don’t do it. Don’t get so angry and fire something off right away. Sit and think about it. Analyze your emotions and adjust your response. I know it hurts and we are propelled by anger towards what someone did, but don’t allow it to utterly consume you. When you’re angry at someone, it’s your duty to wait to respond. Nothing good will come out of that heated exchange. Nothing. Absolutely zero. Zilch Nada. So think about it a bit.   #10 — Watch A Sitcom Or A Comedy The final way that I would suggest responding to someone after a situation has utterly angered you, is to watch something funny. Maybe it’s a sitcom. Maybe your favorite rerun of Seinfeld or some other series that you love. Maybe you watch a funny movie that you absolutely adore. Comedy instills laughter. And laughter is nature’s tool for healing. Those positive endorphins and enzymes do so much to help us that we often fail to notice it. Just turn off all your devices and watch something funny. Disconnect your smartphone from the internet and power down your laptop. Make some popcorn and sit back and relax for a while. After a turbulent situation, it’s good to just relax and vegetate. It feels good to disconnect and laugh a bit. Don’t take life so seriously. It’s here one moment then gone the next. That’s the fragility of this world. Savor every moment and realize that it could all be gone tomorrow. So don’t be so angry all the time. Read the full article

How to Tell When You Are Worshiping the DevilCHUCK DEAN·WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018   Jesus spoke. Many years later, someone thought to write those words down. This is not about questioning the accuracy of those who did the recording, nor the validity of the argument. This is about understanding the meaning behind the message.   There is a logic to follow. This is to be expected. If you believe a hands-on God created the universe to such an exquisite precision and scope which can then be deciphered using complex mathematics, it should be simple enough to understand that any message given to us directly by God incarnate would be self-consistent, and not contradictive. There would be a certain logic to it.  Assumption: Jesus is honest. We can collectively assume Jesus wouldn't lie to us. Whether you ascribe to the notion the Jesus was the son of God, a great philosopher, or a prophet, it is safe to assume he believed the things he said. Even if he could be wrong, he was still being honest.  Assumption: We know what he said. There are many gospels not included in the Bible. Some men decided which would be taught, and which might be misunderstood. Most of the hidden writings have been recovered and examined. Scholars discovered subtle differences in tone and direction. Yet, the things Jesus says in them could have easily fit into the accepted Gospels. The overall meaning in Jesus' message is mostly unchanged. When taken as a whole, the words ascribed to Jesus form a coherent message. This coherency suggests a valid attempt to relay the true spoken words of Jesus. However, the individual words and sentences are not as important as the overall message.   Based on those assumptions, we can now look at his message. Jesus spelled this part out for us. He came to preach the Gospel; namely, that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. It seems like a simple message. Yet, it always seems to get lost in discussions about religion. Christians as a whole seem more fixated on who Jesus was rather than on what his message said. Jesus spoke at length on only a few subjects. They seem to be important to him.  He didn't want us to worry. The themes from the Sermon of the Mount are repeated throughout Jesus' teachings. He believed in the power of positive thinking. He called it faith. If you believe in something strongly enough it will come to pass. He assured his listeners that God knew what they needed. He would take care of them, all they needed to do was have faith. He went on to explain how it was unnecessary to even ask God for things. God knew. Asking implied God was less. He concluded by explaining that when talking to God, we should just thank him and accept whatever happens. We shouldn't worry. Our faith will determine what we receive. To worry is to doubt God.  He didn't want us to judge. The concept of judging has its beginnings in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil may have been an actual tree in the middle of an actual garden. Adam and Eve may have been actual individuals. Eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil could also have been a metaphor for human evolution. As we evolved, we learned the difference between right and wrong. According to the metaphor, this happened shortly after mankind became self aware. Regardless of your point of view, acting on the knowledge of good and evil is where judging begins.    Jesus saw us as all belonging to a single group which must then rely on each other in order to survive. From his perspective, judging others helps no one and hurts the one judging more than the one being judged. Because he saw mankind as a whole, he believed when someone finds faults with another they only expose themselves to the same judgments. He wanted us to accept each other, flaws and all, as unique creations. To judge is to play God.    He wanted us to love one another. He was careful to point out how friends can and do care for each other, but the real test is to care for someone that repulses you. The same point of view regarding judging applies here. Mankind is to be considered as a whole. Each individual has more in common with the other then there are differences.  In other words, we are all in the boat together. We need to get along. He didn't say we must like each other. We just need to recognize that God felt each one of us important enough to be given life. To not love is to question God.    He wanted us to show Mercy.  This is a sub-section to love one another. None can survive on their own. We all need another at some point. Jesus stresses this over and over. If somebody needs your help, you are obligated, just by being human, to help them. It does not matter what caused their need. It does not matter if it was self-inflicted. It does not matter if they made poor decisions. You would only think it matters if you were judging that person's choices. He wanted us to take it to the extreme, to sell all we had to help those in need. He believed if we all did that, there would be no more need.      He warned us. He urged us to follow his directions. He believed we could be perfect. He also carefully pointed out how horribly wrong our lives would become if we didn't listen. God would treat us the way we have treated others. If we did not act as Jesus instructed, a Hell without God awaits.       Those were the primary lessons Jesus used to convey his message. He often used analogies to explain what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. In truth, the rules he sets down also help explain it. If we live without judging, love one another, and show mercy we will find ourselves in the Kingdom of Heaven. We will undo the eating of the fruit and see Eden once again.   There are those who believe they are followers of Jesus, but cannot make themselves live by these rules. They call themselves Christians. They go to church. They tithe. They can quote scripture.  They send their kids to Bible study. They do everything outwardly to show the world how “Christian” they are. They believe they are Christians.    They pray for success. They will tell you they won because they prayed to Jesus. They amassed considerable wealth because the Lord heard their prayers. Illness passed because of prayer. The God of whom Jesus spoke would not listen to such prayers. The God of whom Jesus spoke would not dignify a prayer request with an answer. Prayer requests are a sign of doubt. Prayer should be a “thank you” and “an acceptance” and nothing more. If you pray for success and you receive success, it wasn't God who answered.   They got theirs. If you have amassed a small fortune or are living comfortably well off, and there are people dying from disease and famine in the world, why would you assume your prayers were answered by God?  Many people believe it is possible to rise to great heights no matter how low you start. All it takes is to want it bad enough. They think helping those less fortunate will teach the less fortunate to be dependent. Wealth is something to curry. There should be more laws to protect the wealth of an individual than laws to protect the individual. Freedom means to pursue wealth unfettered. Anyone who tries taking away their wealth will be met with cries of protest, legal challenges, even violence.    Weapon of Choice? God. Filled with righteous indignation, many Christians seek to end behavior they believe goes against their religion. If others do not fit within their narrow range of acceptable behavior, they use whatever quotes they can find as justification for moral outrage. Of course, in order to even notice such misbehavior, they must use finely-tuned judging skills. They must pay attention to what others are doing. They must compare those doings to what they have prejudged as decent. Mercy is not something they bestow. It is not in their arsenal. They will ridicule. They will  mock. They will humiliate. They will wage court battles. Some will murder. They judge. They play God.    Jesus is quoted as saying:     “whatsoever you do to the least of them you do to me.”    “Treat others as you would be treated.”  “Judge not, lest you be judged.”  “If he asks for your cloak, offer also your tunic.”  “If your neighbor compels you to walk a mile, walk two.”  “If he asks for forgiveness seventy times seven times, settle your grudge with your brother before you make your offering to God.”     These are not Non Sequiturs. Taken as a whole, they have meaning. To find peace, we must stop eating the fruit. It wasn't just Eve, it is all of us. Every time we become aware of the actions of others, we immediately organize, catalog, and rate those actions. It is an evolutionary survival tactic. It is because we don't see that eternal “now”. Unlike most other animals on the planet, our brains developed to the point where we could distinguish between the past, the present, and the future. As that happened, prehistoric woman gave birth to Adam. Now aware, mankind used his knowledge of time and his new found memory to study the past in order to predict the future.     He took a big bite of the fruit, and began to judge.     Jesus knew. Jesus saw how our ability to judge the world, ourselves, and each other would be the thing which destroyed us. Taken to the extreme, judgments will cause humanity to turn on itself and tear itself apart.   Personified, many call this “extreme”, Satan. It is easier to pour all of the judgments we feel against others into a threat out there. Yet, where is out there? We see Satan everywhere. We see it in our enemies. We see it in our neighbors. We see it in others. We judge.    We are tearing ourselves apart. As a whole, mankind is doing the exact opposite of the rules Jesus put forth. (Note: Rules. Jesus never asked us. He doesn't say please. He doesn't say thank you. He doesn't debate the issues.) Everything we do as a species is leading us away from the direction Jesus wished for us. Our interactions leave no room for the type of compassion and empathy Jesus expected from us. We lie to ourselves and blame others. We look for short cuts and back doors into the Kingdom of  Heaven. Jesus promised that, if we believe in him, we would get in.    Believe in him. What exactly did Jesus want us to believe? That he was the son of God? Did he say he was the son of God? Others did. He agreed. Yet, he always referred to himself as the son of Man. Our children are some of the main reasons we do things. Jesus was our child. He represented all that was good in mankind. He showed us our own depths to which we would sink if we failed to follow his rules. We butchered him. To believe in him is to believe in the message. To believe in him is to believe  the words he actually uttered. Alas, Christianity is not a religion that follows the teachings of Jesus. Christianity is a religion that follows the life of Jesus. There is a subtle yet profound difference. It is the teachings that allow us back into the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is also quoted as saying,“you cannot serve both God and Mammon.” He understood mankind could not have it both ways. We cannot seek out wealth and reside in the Kingdom of Heaven. They are mutually exclusive personal directions. Saying “I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, that he died for my sins; and I ask that he forgives me of my sins.” is an attempt to back-door a way into the Kingdom of Heaven. That is not believing in Jesus. That is a magic spell. It only works if you follow the rules Jesus spelled out.   “Faith without works is dead.” Consider: Definition of CAPITALISM : “An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.”     In and of itself, there is nothing wrong with Capitalism. It is an effective and logical way of doing business and gaining wealth. However, there is no room in such a system for empathy or compassion towards your fellow man. Empathy and compassion must be brought into the system by individuals. Many try. In business, a company or individual is either in ascension or in descension.  To afford others compassion or empathy, a company or individual risks loosing their share in the capitalistic system. They must choose: God or Mammon.    “What good comes to a man that gains the whole world but loses his soul.” “Wheresoever you store your wealth, so too will your heart be.” Capitalism, therefor, represents a belief system diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus. It is Mammon. It is a belief system. It is a religion opposing Jesus.   It is the Anti-Christ.     Mankind, as a whole, uses capitalism as its primary way of interacting with itself. Even nations that claim to not be capitalists, interact with other nations through capitalism. No one can buy or sell unless they do so through capitalism. As long as we continue to gnaw on that apple, devil worshipers can be found throughout the mirrors of the world. If we do not live by Jesus' rules, we are not believing in him. The Kingdom of Heaven will be forever hidden from our view.   “Faith without works is dead.” In the end mankind will divide itself up, turn on itself, and destroy itself. Each side will be convinced they are fighting for justice and the good of mankind. They will see Satan “over there”. Each side will see the others as the personification of all that is bad.  With righteous anger all around, mankind will consume itself. The only way to stop it?  “whatsoever you do to the least of them you do to me.”   “Treat others as you would be treated.” “Judge not, lest you be judged.” “If he asks for your cloak, offer also your tunic.”“If your neighbor compels you to walk a mile, walk two.”“If he asks for forgiveness seventy times seven times, settle your grudge with your brother before you make your offering to God.” Follow the rules.   “Be perfect as your father in Heaven is perfect.” 

10 Ways To Return With Your Wedding event

There are actually some factors in lifestyle that touches deeper within the heart and continue to be as stunning memory for life - the smile from little ones, first time our experts see our little one speak, when our parents hug our company lovingly and also ecstatically, when our spouse store us snugly when our experts reviewed inspiring purposeful Passion Quotations. Obviously, there are actually much more wonderful names to pick from consisting of Alpana (Wonderful), Bimala (Sheer), Chahna (Love), Devanshi (Magnificent), Fulki (Fire), Grishma (Comfort), Ipsita (Need), Kala (Fine art), Lalima (Charm), Mitali (Pleasant), Nirali (Different), Panchali (Princess), Sarayu (Wind), Usha (Sunrise), and Venya (Lovable). Guy were elevated to convey on their own and get in touch with those around all of them through ACTIVITY. Love is just one of the most stunning traits worldwide that might ever before happen to anybody on earth. 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Whisper Of The Thin Places

It’s said that there are places on Earth that are just a bit closer to God. Holiness can embrace you in these places. Consolation can be experienced directly. The breath of God’s Love can be felt. These are the Thin Places.

This is a Celtic observation that the distance between ourselves and God is not so far in certain spots. That the distance between this world and that of Heaven is not so great, that the holy is, for these moments, in these places, within reach.

Perhaps it is a bench in a garden. A pew in a beautiful church. A secluded, sandy spot where the lapping of the ocean can be heard. A view of the mountains. A shrine. An abbey. A field with an endless sky. A dark spot faraway, under a sea of stars. A place your ancestors once worshiped the Lord, where Jesus once walked, where God was. A place where you cannot help but feel it.

What we do in a Thin Place is not set, not planned, not known. Perhaps it is a time to go deeper with a prayer you know, or simply to behold God’s creation, or just spend a moment with the whispering silence, but in these places it seems easier to quiet the tumbling thoughts, to feel the eternity of God stretching out before you. Our contemplations seem to have more meaning, our observations more color, the stillness more depth.

Many people these days have grown to fear silence, but our mind’s chatter of ideas and defenses, worries and anxieties are not of the soul. The soul is in the places under, above and in between. Usually, the soul bursts forth only in silence. The peace of your own soul can take quiet command in these Thin Places, and reveal to you the other half of life. The half you abandoned to live wholly in the world, the half you didn’t know you’d given up, the half that got misplaced behind the chatter, the radio, the television, the phone.

The existence of Thin Places also suggests that Heaven is more near than we believe. It is a notion of the ancient Greeks that after death you go somewhere separate and far off for eternity. The Christian belief is rather that Heaven and Earth intersect. (An interesting Bishop Barron video about this intersection is here.) If Heaven is set on top of the World it only makes sense that they interact, that one can peek through to the other, that the Thin Places must exist.

On the other hand, the Rhineland Mystics might argue that the Thin Places are not a function of the location of heaven because they are, instead, everywhere:

A man may go into the field and say his prayer and be aware of God, or, he may be in Church and be aware of God; but, if he is more aware of Him because he is in a quiet place, that is his own deficiency and not due to God, Who is present in the same way in all things and places, and is willing to give Himself everywhere what is in Him. He knows God rightly who knows Him everywhere.

Meister Eckhart

If this is the case, then all the better.

In anxious moments the peace of God is available if we can still ourselves enough to experience it—regardless of the tension level around or within us. This, of course, is a secret of the saints. All of Creation is a Thin Place. Anywhere you go can be a Thin Place if you can hold fast to the peace of God, the touch of the Prince of Peace. Indeed, you can bring that peace with you into the restless places and, though God, change them. A word of calm or forgiveness can reveal that the distance between us and the holy is sometimes no distance at all, that it can pour into a moment just as much as the chatter of life can seem to drain it away.

Perhaps, then, the Thin Places are doors. The board meeting, the room of screaming children, the end of a long day, are the challenges for those of us not near sainthood, for those of us not adept at bringing peace, only looking, at this point, to find it. But you already know somewhere where it can be found.

We should begin at the Thin Places, give ourselves the time, patience and permission to seek out a spot where God seems near, and to drink in the stillness. Once there, feeling the closeness of Heaven, we can then pray, convey, listen. While the Kingdom of Heaven may be all around us, we can’t all expect to see it everywhere right away. Perhaps it will take some time in the Thin Places for us to begin to understand the rest of life.

And so the mission, in the end, is the same as it was at the start. The next time you feel that you are in a Thin Place, wherever it might be, remember it. Think back to the places where you were able to feel peace. Make a point of returning. Pray there, or be still. Embrace the peace you feel.

They are there for a reason, and so are you.

A Very Cyprian Intermission

This week’s post is a departure from the current series in which I explore the archetypes in ‘Whisperer in the Darkness’ and the magical tech that intersects with this tale from H.P. Lovecraft. 

This post falls on the feast days of Saint Cyprian and as such, I have dedicated myself to the study of his book and towards communicating with the Saint of all Necromancers.

I will freely admit, because I think candor in magical failure is important, that I only started working with Saint Cyprian at the beginning of 2017, when Ghostly Harmless tuned me into the Rune Soup podcast and as the premium membership courses were initiated shortly thereafter. I went through the motions, bought the candle, said his prayers, but largely he was very very quiet. It wasn’t so much that I felt nothing as I felt a very specific absence of a presence. My magical nadir this year, which coincided with the Great American Eclipse, had me almost giving up, I had stopped lighting his candle and had stopped trying to reach out.

Then came his feast days, I decided it was a good time to give it another shot, so I erected a very prominent altar to Cyprian on the feast day of Cyprian of Carthage and have been lighting novenas, saying prayers to Cyprian of Antioch, and reading nothing but the Book of Saint Cyprian and the Cyprianic legends in Jose Leitao’s ‘The Immaterial Book of Saint Cyprian’. 

This is what I have learned.

The first thing that I didn’t expect when I began to read the Book of Saint Cyprian was his alignment with my current obsession, the Cthulhu Mythos. Hold on, hold on, I can hear those incredulous guffaws right through the internet. Just hear me out. Take the below quote that I pulled from ‘The Book of Saint Cyprian: The Sorcerer’s Treasure’ from Hadean Press:

“The Heterodoxy, of course, is not really restricted to these old records, as even today the typical canonical Cyprian legend can be contaminated with echoes from these flexible original practices. With regards to Cyprian’s Antioch, for example, one should know that Antioquia is also. Mythical city sunken in the Galician Lagoa de Antela (province of Ourense), on the upper basin of the Limia River, the river the Romans took to be the Lethe. In this sense one must keep in mind that when a Galician reads the orthodox Antiochian tale of Saint Cyprian, he might be reading something else entirely, adding a random variable to the fixed canonical practice.”

What I am reading in this passage is that Saint Cyprian is the highest priest in the land that is intimately in touch with the spirit world, with ghosts, with monsters, and demons. He is the high priest of xenomorphs, criptids, and pnuemamorphs that also comes from a ‘mythical’ drowned city. To this researcher, Saint Cyprian has a distinct Cthulhuean shape.

The next piece of wisdom I learned from ‘The Book’, and I hesitate to call this magical tech because it had such a profound impact on how I think about my practice, comes from Cyprian’s interactions with the spirit world, particularly those spirits that one might be quick to bind, banish, or run screaming from:

“Regarding ghosts that appear at crossroads, or souls from the spiritual world, who by commandment from God come to this corporeal world seeking prayers and purification from the mistakes they committed in this world against God Our Lord, and as thus sent to mortify its creatures and appear to them as ghosts so as to be prayed for; however, instead of prayers some men banish and curse them; a great error of humanity!”

This is a revelation to me and filled in a gap in my model that I did not know was there. I have felt since invoking the Four Kings for the first time this past Beltane, that the door was now open to me to travel down magical paths that I had previously been terrified to walk. I felt, wrongly, that because of that one ritual I would be immune or as Gordon White phrases it, ‘invincible’ when facing any spirit or demon. My readings of Cyprian this week, and I will refer to this again later, have shown me that not even Cyprian was beyond feeling the terror that spirits and ghosts, especially those with violent or malicious intent, instill in the human animal. What the above phrase tells me, however, is that if one is to walk the path laid out by the Book and by the sorcerer Saint, one must take it as a matter of duty to call on, speak to, and seek out any and all spirits, to stand and face them, and through your terror and their malevolence and chaos, derive from them what they need to find a kind of peace, to be absolved.

Come with me as I dig a bit further into Cyprian-level interactions with the spirit world. How does the Book answer the question, ‘What even am ghosts?’:

“They are visions that appear to certain individuals, possessors of weak spirit and a strong belief that the souls of those who have ceased to exist still visit this world. For ghosts only appear to those who believe in spiritual beings and not to the incredulous, for they would have no advantage in doing so; on the contrary, they would only receive curses.”

If a spirit, demon, or ghost appears to you, or manifests their presence in some way, it is because it is to that spirit’s advantage to do so, or their perceived advantage.

Let me explain that last bit, about perceived advantage. 

I grew up on a dairy farm in the northwestern corner of Illinois, that farm and my grandparents, particularly my grandmother, are so deeply ingrained into my psyche that I regularly visit the farm in my dreams. Wether this is an astral projection to the real place or, as Lovecraft would likely view it, a visit to a version of the farm that exists in a dream dimension is immaterial. The fact is that it is my ‘dream place’, an anchor that I return to again and again. 

These visits, since my grandmother passed away, have become increasingly terrifying. Mostly quiet terror, the type that jars you with a realization that a spirit is present, you know the kind. My grandmother will be there and our interaction will be relatively normal, but then she will give me a sign, something odd, that she is in fact there but not among the living, but a type of dream ghost.

I’ve been operating under the assumption that she is still there in her house, which is dilapidated now, by her own choice. She did love the place. Following this past Decan ritual, however, I paid a visit to this place and for the first time my wife and kids were with me. My daughter ran into the second story bedroom where my Grandma used to sleep and all kinds of poltergeist hell broke loose, the rooms turned black, things started flying through the air, I ran in and grabbed her and my wife and son grabbed me and we were physically pushed out of the room in a very definite fashion.

I awoke with the feeling that my grandmother-as-a-spirit had transitioned from a form that recognized what she used to look like to something altogether more elemental, a force of raw anger, just dark and violent anger. She was never like that in life, so it got me thinking of the evolution of ghosts and spirits, of how, as time passes, they loose track of what it is they want and their perception of what they need from the living (for instance for them to GTFO) is not what they really want. The Book of Saint Cyprian really brings this idea home for me:

“Take heed, my brothers, these words do not come from the tip of my pen, but rather inspired from the depths of my heart! When a vision appears before you do not banish it, for it will curse you, it will damage all your businesses and all in your life will go sour; however, when you feel such a vision resort to the... Orison for the good spirits, for you will immediately relive that beggar who asks for alms from all charitable people... Pray, pray for those poor spirits, and call upon them in all your dealings and in everything you so choose that you will always be successful; this I swear.

Fortunate is the creature that is pursued by spirits, for it is certain that this is a good person and spirits pursue her so that she will pray to the Lord on their behalf, for she is worthy to be heard by the Creator...”

"Fortunate is the creature that is pursued by spirits..."

That phrase more than any other is what really turned my thinking around. I read a lot of accounts of hag attacks and other spirit contact where the writer conveys a sense of evil or maliciousness to the spirit. I subscribed to this view as well, which is why the dream contact from my grandmother troubled me so much. She was never malicious and I don’t believe that was her intent, but that certainly was the ‘feel’ I got from that experience and anyone else that might contact her in this state was certainly level banishments and curses upon her as if she were a nameless violent poltergeist. To view the spirit world through a Cyprian lens, to see them as he saw them as as his book prescribes, is to understand that my grandmother is still my grandmother and that her current manifestation is just an extension of her emotions and confusion and her need for contact.

The next bit of ‘tech’, and this I think I can call tech safely, that I learned from reading the Book and meditating on Cyprian was his particular method of cartomancy. If you are not familiar with the book, cartomancy in the Book of St Cyprian, in a nutshell, uses the Aces through Sevens of a regular card deck, along with all of the court cards as different manifestations of people in the querant’s life and the Jack’s, primarily, as the inner thought-life of those people. Each card is given a bit of a sentence, that is uniform throughout all readings. A noun, a verb, and action, etc. The cartomancer is described as laying out all 32 cards in a grid and then proceeds to read the rows across, using the context of the question to tell a story in what really amounts to prose poetry. I’ve read over this bit a couple of times and really didn’t ‘get it’ until reading it on the Saint’s Feast Days. This time around it triggered that part of my brain that has pushed volumes of (largely unpublished, such is life) poetry out of my brain and through my pen. 

The Cyprian method of cartomancy uses the cards as a prophetic poetic constraint. 

It reminds me of the work of the OULIPO and my attempts to develop similar constraints. Constraints in art and writing are, in my opinion, the mother of creativity. This is distinct from a normal tarot reading, whether you use the archetypes or are an intuitive reader, the result is not a product of constraint, but really the opposite. If tarot is the stream of consciousness free verse of the Beats than Cyprian cartomancy is the variable foot of the Modernists.

Moving on from the Sorcerer’s Treasure, I did some additional research in Leitao’s “The Immaterial Book of St. Cyprian” - gifted to me by the always generous Ghostly Harmless. This little tome helped me put the cultural context of St. Cyprian and how to work with the spirit world into greater focus:

“St. Cyprian says, in a chapter of his book, that on Friday, while passing through a deserted place, he saw so many ghosts around him that he shuddered with fright and lost all of his strength to resist them; these ghosts were, however Bruxas seeking salvation. Immediately one of them approached Cyprian and said to him:

‘Save us, if thou so knows that after this life we shall have another.’

‘How shall I save thee?’ Asked Cyprian

‘How wert thous saved, infamous?’

‘Yes... I am a slave of the Lord! I am a slave of the Lo...’

Cyprian did not finish speaking, for he fell into a deep sleep.

He dreamt that the orison of the Custodian Angel would save him from danger.

As he awoke he saw in front of him an angel, who immediately disappeared... It was Custodian!

Cyprian remember the orison and said:

‘I, Cyprian, exhort and conjure the ghosts who appeared before me, under the penalty of obedience and superior precepts.’

A great thunder roared across the sky. Suddenly Cyprian saw in front of him fourteen Bruxas. 

‘Who art though?’ Asked Cyprian... ‘what dost though wish?’...

‘We wish for salvation and to be like thee, slaves of the Lord.’ Responded the Bruxas as a choir.

Cyprian saved all of these Bruxas, and with the orison of the Custodian Angel bound all demons, so as they could no longer bother them.”

Reading this after being contacted by my grandmother in a dream set off explosions in my head, all of the ectoplasm and the shades of reality from my dream gained a new clarity. In my prayers to the saint, when lighting the novenas during these feast days, I have added this bit in, asking him for small miracles that must be insignificant to someone of his power and promising to him (and now promising in print for the world to see) that if Cyprian assists me, if he allows me to pull from his bottomless well of magical power, I will change the manner in which I interact with the spirit world and align it with this Cyprian vision of all spirits, including the most malevolent, can come to me if they desire to move on to the life beyond the one they now inhabit.

One of the core powers of Cyprian and Cyprianic magical practice is the absolution he is able to bestow on the maleficent. He is the savior of witches that should not fear evil or doing evil or being in league with demons, for as long as they align themselves with Cyprian they are aligned with the good in the world, eventually. Cyprian is a route towards invincibility, towards not feature the world of the spirit or that hell of demons.

The second insight from this little atom bomb of a book centered around the Mouras and their relationship to treasure. From ‘Immaterial’:

"Narratives and accounts featuring [the mythical moura] typically offer no explanation for their existence or placement as treasure keepers... These Mouras, most frequent in the Portuguese North, are understood simply as being ancient, something that survived from another age and is kept in a neither-neither state by an evil enchantment... Thus these translate an idea of a certain alien strangeness. From a folk perspective, all which somehow falls outside of a community’s collective memory or identity is ascribed to these mythical Mouras and Mouras. All pre-Christian constructions, from prehistoric standing stones and hill forts to Roman ruins, are the constructions of the ancient Mouros: the all-encompassing ‘others’ used in the construction of ‘us’ by opposition. They can then be described as either giants or dwarfs... long gone or merely hiding in old, ruined, and wild places such as caves or natural or ancient water basins. They and their immense riches are then often associated and sought in ancient megalithic structures and local landmarks, strange and unusual natural formations such as boulders and barrows.”

The mythical moura is seen as evidence of a pre-human earth populated and governed by xenomorphs or pnuemamorphic beasts. The above passage takes me back to my original assertion, when referencing the drowned city of Antioch and Cyprian as his priest.

“Kept in a neither-neither state by an evil enchantment...”

This is Cthulhu, dead but dreaming, in his drowned city of Ry’leh, is it not? In fact, the entire description of a world where Mouras are a reality in the minds and in the landscape of the Portuguese might as well be an account of Lovecraft’s rural communities and their relationship with the wild and impassable country around their small towns. 

“Living in wild places such as caves or natural and ancient water basins...”

Is this not an account just like what we see in ‘Whisperer in the Darkness’? Is the Immaterial Book of Saint Cyprian not describing a landscape filled with the ancient Winged Ones who traverse the solar system to collect unique resources from the wild places on Vermont’s Dark Mountain. Are those ‘ancient megalithic structures’ described in the passage not the walls and Tower of Jericho? The first tower known, a tower built to track and worship the mechanics of our sun and the stars? I found further connections to my recent explorations in the next quote:

“One other common theme in the North of Iberia and eventually Brazil... is the description of the enchanted Moura as a serpent. Building upon their erotic and sexual character, these serpent Mouras typically present themselves with the intention of being kissed or have some kind of oral contact with their potential male disenchanted, occasionally described as an opportunity to suck his baptismal oils as a means of regaining human form.”

The Moura are both Cthulhu and Medusa.

Looping back to a previous theme, that of Cyprian as a path to invincibility, let’s look at the next few passages from ‘Immaterial’:

“To use the book as a non-specialist is always an act of courage, given the dangerous and possibly lethal side effects that might spring from its use.”

It seems to me what is being said here is that using the Book, or even just possessing the Book of Saint Cyprian, can and is considered an act of initiation, if the idea of magical initiation is to put oneself at risk or in some sort of a dangerous position in the pursuit of understanding magic or gaining magical power. Leitao continues:

“The idea of the book, simply, as a mysterious thing. It’s written content is indifferent, and it’s significance as an object of power in the hands of the specialist is almost total, even if never completely under control.”

The above phrase leads one to think (or maybe not, probably just leads me to think) about artists books theory and how the Book is interpreted as more of what it is physically or what it always has been, a container of information, the Book of Saint Cyprian is not only a container of information but it is also a status symbol, a power symbol, either when presented to humans, or not-humans.

And to continue digging into this theme of how owning the Book is a form of initiation:

“It’s association with [witches and werewolves], priests and [magicians] is really not just a literary convention. This is a book that stands outside of social normality, to touch it, or even nearly speak of it (never mind to actually use it) is a sin... well beyond any Christian definition. This is a social and cultural... undermining of all written and spoken and unspoken rules and conventions of what define society and the rule in place of the individual within it. By reading it, studying it or becoming a specialist in it, all those around you become unable to accurately locate you in the social fabric and read your motivations and ambitions, and logically you become the target of fear and suspicion...”

As an interesting aside, Werewolf (the English translation of the Portuguese word used by Letaio) seems to be the term for the male witch in the Portuguese Cyprian tales... Also, as is mentioned elsewhere, wolves are not the only animal forms taken. This tells me that male witches, as they are referred to in the Cyprian legends, are an extension of an older shamanic skinwalker form.

In summary, the feast days of Saint Cyprian are not over and neither is the lasting impact the saint will have on my own and many others magical practice. 

I learned this week that a Cyprianic magician approaches all spirits equally and with compassion in her heart, regardless of the malevolence or violence that the spirit brings to the encounter. This approach is a real type of ‘othering among others’ as, from what I can tell, spirits and spirit contact is normally considered a very binary event.

I learned that Cyprianic cartomancy is divining through poetic constraint, which opens up so many possibilities for extensions, experiments, and innovations as well as a respite from archetypes or intuitive cartomancy. Cyprianic cartomancy is a legitimate third path outside of the norm.

And finally I learned that to follow Cyprian, to read his book and to chase the insights and the alternate methods of Western magic he offers, I learned that this is in itself a form of initiation, at least in the cultural context from which Letaio writes. The question I am left with here is, considering the viral spread of the Sorcerer Saint through all corners of the Western magical tradition, is this still true? 

Looking at the first two paths that were revealed to me in my work during these days of Cyprian, my hypothesis is that it is true.

Cyprianic magic and the Book of Saint Cyprian itself are a form of magical initiation and a path of absolution and protection for those of us that travel willingly the roads of Hell.