Lady_Elaine
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Posted Mon May 26, 2008 4:39 pm...
Following the Trail of Reason
Written by Misty-Eve
Monday, 26 May 2008
Here in the Ozark Mountains the Cherokee Indians once marked their trails with trees.
Many years ago, the people native to this area, navigated through the Mountains, using an elaborate system of trail markings. The trunks of oak trees were purposely bent to point in a given direction, indicating, food, water, safety, etc.
~ For more pictures and the rest of the story see: http://www.trailtree.com/Tree.htm
These trees are made to point the way by being bent over as young saplings, their tops buried in the ground. The tops eventually rot and drop off and the tree (now growing bent over) struggles to retain its upward growth and sends out an upward pointing branch which eventually continues to develop as the main trunk of the tree. Therefore some of the trees on the above web-site must be about 200 years old from the look of their size.
There are many of these trees that can be found in the hiking trails of the National Forests throughout the Appalachian & Ozark Mountains. Every time I find one, my thoughts return to the native people and their simple wisdom caught so accurately in the Message of Mercury, who rules the month of Gemini:
Look about you, Gods Truth is everywhere!
I often think of the Gemini mind as being very much like the inquisitive butterfly flitting from thought to beautiful thought much like the butterfly flitters from flower to flower. However, the constant changing of perception soon begins to feel unstable. Therefore, to find our way to Truth and Enlightenment through this ever changing maze of perspective we must define what it is were looking for, and firmly set our intention to find it.
What is Truth?
Truth (with a capital T) is that which is true for all people, at all times, in all places. It is our devotion to finding the Truth that leads us onward upon our Path.
If the Truth is everywhere, then what can we use as a trail guide to help us find the Truth for ourselves? Testing what we discover by looking for examples within our own experiences will soon reveal what is really True.
We will feel good about following another persons Truth only when we have tested it against our own experience and can see the truth of it in our own lives. Therefore, personal experience is the best teacher.
How do you Reason your way to the Truth?
Do you go within and ASK for guidance?
Do you blindly follow anothers trail believing they know where theyre going... or do you want to know for yourself?
Its worth thinking about
~ Misty-Eve*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOLLOWING THE WISDOM WITHIN
The Higher Self
The soul can be likened to a great house with many rooms, each of which makes up an integral part of who we are. One of those rooms, or aspects, is what is known as the higher self, a part of us that possesses a range of perception far greater than that of the conscious mind. Your higher self is aware of both your current existence and numerous other possibilities, and cannot be altered or suppressed. It is related to your basic, innate purpose and no matter how much or how often you change, it remains constant.
Some believe the higher self is the most evolved, most perfect "self" and thus can act as a guide on life's journey. In that role, it manifests itself in many ways: as images that flash in your mind inspiring ideas, as a small voice, as intuition, or as a feeling of rightness associated with certain actions.
Becoming aware of and connecting with the higher self is comparable to becoming truly aware of oneself while feeling entirely integrated into the universe. It is like being in your body while looking down at your life from a high vantage point. With such insight, you can find the answers to many questions about your own life and the infinite existence.
Connecting with the higher self, however, takes dedication, discipline, and practice. You may find it difficult because old emotional wounds or negative thoughts block your connection. One technique involves becoming "level" with the higher self through visualization. Begin by sitting in a chair with adequate support for the spine. Relax and breathe deeply. When you have achieved a level of deep calm, rise out of yourself, turn, and see your seated body before you. Visualize the higher self - it may appear as a point of white light above your head. Concentrate on it and slowly move it down to your physical body, letting it envelope you until it reaches the floor. Be sure to ground yourself after doing this exercise by eating a meal, or going out in nature.
After connecting with their higher selves, many people report rediscovering their soul's purpose and feel comfortable living in accordance with it. On the other hand, it is possible to fight the higher self, which can lead to tension and lack of energy. Nonetheless, the higher self is our most open and wise "companion" in life, and a source of unadulterated insight, provided we have the perseverance to bond with it.
Reproductions Permitted http://www.DailyOM.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REASON: QUOTES OF THE DAY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
~ Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) to Peter Carr, 1787
Miracles seem to rest, not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from far off, but upon our perceptions being made finer so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear that which is about us always.
~ Willa Cather
The appearance of things change according to the emotions and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves.
~ Kahlil Gilbran
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF SPIRIT
~ Quado, through Carrie Hart
The most valuable paths are often surprising and circuitous. If you will but relax and allow sprit to lead, you will find that life is easier and far more interesting.
It is easier, because so much of what you struggle with is of your own making. It is more interesting, because spirit holds for you so much more than you could ever imagine. If you allow paths to open without being burdened by expectation and disappointment, who knows what wonders may unfold?
Your expectations make the passages narrow, where in fact they are wide. Your doubts and disappointments make your passage slow, where in fact everything can be accomplished in the blink of an eye. Overnight, your world can change. A chance meeting, a new love, a new opportunity to shine, exposure of your talents to new people.
To know the truth of this, all you need to do is look back. Of the truly wonderful moments of your life, how many were expected and planned? How many were sudden gifts, chance happenings, surprises? How many wonderful things appeared to be a problem at the beginning, but later became an open door through which you could walk toward the fulfillment of a dream?
Hand it over. Hand over your life to the greater connection you have with all that is, was and will be. Hand your life over to your own higher spirit, the part of you that is deeply connected with the greatest and highest, the good, the all, the one. Give over your frustrations, your anger, your struggles. Give it all over and just let it be.
And when the gifts come, open them. What could be simpler than that?
Todays Affirmation:
I take a deep breath and release everything that is not now. I am now and only now, deeply into this moment. All else is gone from me. All else is released as I dip down deeply into the joy and peace of this moment.
I feel the beauty and wonder that I am. I see the doors and windows opening all around me. I feel the fresh breeze of life blowing through.
My breath is as this wind of promise, blowing through the open doors. I am one with all that is, right now, right here, just as it is, just as I am.
I am one with all. I am all. I AM.
Quado, through Carrie Hart
Reproductions Permitted http://www.carriehart.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KEY to Understanding Gemini: PERCEPTION
The Key to understanding the way we Think lies in understanding Perception. Unfortunately, psychology still does not recognize that perception is something more than mere looking at... or seeing things. People's perceptions vary as widely as people, for each of us sees things our own way. All of us have similar eyes, ears, etc., however, it is no secret that past experiences color our individual perceptions of things that re-stimulate the past.
There are also more secret factors that enhance the picture and color our individual perceptions. These are the factors of INSIGHT and INTUITION.
Insight and intuition are the inward perceptions - the hunch, the feeling, the still small voice within -- these things from within us that color and alter what we see and hear from without. All these inputs, both external and internal go together to make our perceptions. These in turn produce our thinking and our thinking makes us what we are, and do, and become.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GEMINI: I THINK
1st Decan Influence: "REASON"
May 21 May 31
The three influences for Gemini follow as keys to our thinking nature. We find "Reason" as the first influence in the think tank. This decan (or 10 day period) is the cardinal phase of Gemini. A function of the conscious mind, it is reason that sets the human apart and makes us the recipient of the sentience now in our time as Masters of the Earth. The word is derived from the Latin - "Ratio" - meaning "to reckon" and that's about it.
Reasoning is the ability to calculate and to draw conclusions.
Look about your circle of friends and acquaintances. Are any of them a Gemini? Observe them and see them reason to conclusions - it is an ability these Geminis have in abundance. We can learn from them and know that it is by reason that we can all function as humans for it is one of the greatest gifts of our thinking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more on the lessons of GEMINI see: http://druidcraft.us/astrology.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
To learn more about the teachings of the DRUIDIC CRAFT OF THE WISE visit the Courses page on the website: http://druidcraft.us
You are a blessed being!
Misty-Eve*
Druidic Craft of the Wise
The American Rite
http://druidcraft.us
Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted.
Only in a quiet mind is there adequate perception of the world.
~ Hans Margolius
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A WORD TO THE WISE
A Daily Newsletter of Astrological Reflections from The Druid Perspective
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Share A WORD TO THE WISE with those you care about.
Reproductions are permitted with the use of the following tag line:
(C) Reproductions Permitted: http://awordtothewise.info
Written by Misty-Eve
Monday, 26 May 2008
Here in the Ozark Mountains the Cherokee Indians once marked their trails with trees.
Many years ago, the people native to this area, navigated through the Mountains, using an elaborate system of trail markings. The trunks of oak trees were purposely bent to point in a given direction, indicating, food, water, safety, etc.
~ For more pictures and the rest of the story see: http://www.trailtree.com/Tree.htm
These trees are made to point the way by being bent over as young saplings, their tops buried in the ground. The tops eventually rot and drop off and the tree (now growing bent over) struggles to retain its upward growth and sends out an upward pointing branch which eventually continues to develop as the main trunk of the tree. Therefore some of the trees on the above web-site must be about 200 years old from the look of their size.
There are many of these trees that can be found in the hiking trails of the National Forests throughout the Appalachian & Ozark Mountains. Every time I find one, my thoughts return to the native people and their simple wisdom caught so accurately in the Message of Mercury, who rules the month of Gemini:
Look about you, Gods Truth is everywhere!
I often think of the Gemini mind as being very much like the inquisitive butterfly flitting from thought to beautiful thought much like the butterfly flitters from flower to flower. However, the constant changing of perception soon begins to feel unstable. Therefore, to find our way to Truth and Enlightenment through this ever changing maze of perspective we must define what it is were looking for, and firmly set our intention to find it.
What is Truth?
Truth (with a capital T) is that which is true for all people, at all times, in all places. It is our devotion to finding the Truth that leads us onward upon our Path.
If the Truth is everywhere, then what can we use as a trail guide to help us find the Truth for ourselves? Testing what we discover by looking for examples within our own experiences will soon reveal what is really True.
We will feel good about following another persons Truth only when we have tested it against our own experience and can see the truth of it in our own lives. Therefore, personal experience is the best teacher.
How do you Reason your way to the Truth?
Do you go within and ASK for guidance?
Do you blindly follow anothers trail believing they know where theyre going... or do you want to know for yourself?
Its worth thinking about
~ Misty-Eve*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOLLOWING THE WISDOM WITHIN
The Higher Self
The soul can be likened to a great house with many rooms, each of which makes up an integral part of who we are. One of those rooms, or aspects, is what is known as the higher self, a part of us that possesses a range of perception far greater than that of the conscious mind. Your higher self is aware of both your current existence and numerous other possibilities, and cannot be altered or suppressed. It is related to your basic, innate purpose and no matter how much or how often you change, it remains constant.
Some believe the higher self is the most evolved, most perfect "self" and thus can act as a guide on life's journey. In that role, it manifests itself in many ways: as images that flash in your mind inspiring ideas, as a small voice, as intuition, or as a feeling of rightness associated with certain actions.
Becoming aware of and connecting with the higher self is comparable to becoming truly aware of oneself while feeling entirely integrated into the universe. It is like being in your body while looking down at your life from a high vantage point. With such insight, you can find the answers to many questions about your own life and the infinite existence.
Connecting with the higher self, however, takes dedication, discipline, and practice. You may find it difficult because old emotional wounds or negative thoughts block your connection. One technique involves becoming "level" with the higher self through visualization. Begin by sitting in a chair with adequate support for the spine. Relax and breathe deeply. When you have achieved a level of deep calm, rise out of yourself, turn, and see your seated body before you. Visualize the higher self - it may appear as a point of white light above your head. Concentrate on it and slowly move it down to your physical body, letting it envelope you until it reaches the floor. Be sure to ground yourself after doing this exercise by eating a meal, or going out in nature.
After connecting with their higher selves, many people report rediscovering their soul's purpose and feel comfortable living in accordance with it. On the other hand, it is possible to fight the higher self, which can lead to tension and lack of energy. Nonetheless, the higher self is our most open and wise "companion" in life, and a source of unadulterated insight, provided we have the perseverance to bond with it.
Reproductions Permitted http://www.DailyOM.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REASON: QUOTES OF THE DAY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
~ Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) to Peter Carr, 1787
Miracles seem to rest, not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from far off, but upon our perceptions being made finer so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear that which is about us always.
~ Willa Cather
The appearance of things change according to the emotions and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves.
~ Kahlil Gilbran
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF SPIRIT
~ Quado, through Carrie Hart
The most valuable paths are often surprising and circuitous. If you will but relax and allow sprit to lead, you will find that life is easier and far more interesting.
It is easier, because so much of what you struggle with is of your own making. It is more interesting, because spirit holds for you so much more than you could ever imagine. If you allow paths to open without being burdened by expectation and disappointment, who knows what wonders may unfold?
Your expectations make the passages narrow, where in fact they are wide. Your doubts and disappointments make your passage slow, where in fact everything can be accomplished in the blink of an eye. Overnight, your world can change. A chance meeting, a new love, a new opportunity to shine, exposure of your talents to new people.
To know the truth of this, all you need to do is look back. Of the truly wonderful moments of your life, how many were expected and planned? How many were sudden gifts, chance happenings, surprises? How many wonderful things appeared to be a problem at the beginning, but later became an open door through which you could walk toward the fulfillment of a dream?
Hand it over. Hand over your life to the greater connection you have with all that is, was and will be. Hand your life over to your own higher spirit, the part of you that is deeply connected with the greatest and highest, the good, the all, the one. Give over your frustrations, your anger, your struggles. Give it all over and just let it be.
And when the gifts come, open them. What could be simpler than that?
Todays Affirmation:
I take a deep breath and release everything that is not now. I am now and only now, deeply into this moment. All else is gone from me. All else is released as I dip down deeply into the joy and peace of this moment.
I feel the beauty and wonder that I am. I see the doors and windows opening all around me. I feel the fresh breeze of life blowing through.
My breath is as this wind of promise, blowing through the open doors. I am one with all that is, right now, right here, just as it is, just as I am.
I am one with all. I am all. I AM.
Quado, through Carrie Hart
Reproductions Permitted http://www.carriehart.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KEY to Understanding Gemini: PERCEPTION
The Key to understanding the way we Think lies in understanding Perception. Unfortunately, psychology still does not recognize that perception is something more than mere looking at... or seeing things. People's perceptions vary as widely as people, for each of us sees things our own way. All of us have similar eyes, ears, etc., however, it is no secret that past experiences color our individual perceptions of things that re-stimulate the past.
There are also more secret factors that enhance the picture and color our individual perceptions. These are the factors of INSIGHT and INTUITION.
Insight and intuition are the inward perceptions - the hunch, the feeling, the still small voice within -- these things from within us that color and alter what we see and hear from without. All these inputs, both external and internal go together to make our perceptions. These in turn produce our thinking and our thinking makes us what we are, and do, and become.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GEMINI: I THINK
1st Decan Influence: "REASON"
May 21 May 31
The three influences for Gemini follow as keys to our thinking nature. We find "Reason" as the first influence in the think tank. This decan (or 10 day period) is the cardinal phase of Gemini. A function of the conscious mind, it is reason that sets the human apart and makes us the recipient of the sentience now in our time as Masters of the Earth. The word is derived from the Latin - "Ratio" - meaning "to reckon" and that's about it.
Reasoning is the ability to calculate and to draw conclusions.
Look about your circle of friends and acquaintances. Are any of them a Gemini? Observe them and see them reason to conclusions - it is an ability these Geminis have in abundance. We can learn from them and know that it is by reason that we can all function as humans for it is one of the greatest gifts of our thinking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more on the lessons of GEMINI see: http://druidcraft.us/astrology.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
To learn more about the teachings of the DRUIDIC CRAFT OF THE WISE visit the Courses page on the website: http://druidcraft.us
You are a blessed being!
Misty-Eve*
Druidic Craft of the Wise
The American Rite
http://druidcraft.us
Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted.
Only in a quiet mind is there adequate perception of the world.
~ Hans Margolius
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A WORD TO THE WISE
A Daily Newsletter of Astrological Reflections from The Druid Perspective
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Share A WORD TO THE WISE with those you care about.
Reproductions are permitted with the use of the following tag line:
(C) Reproductions Permitted: http://awordtothewise.info
If you cant explain it simply, you dont understand it well enough.-- Albert Einstein
Blessings Bright and Dark,
