Huna ---Update. I'm home

I know Aunt Amelia was concerned about me making it home in all this heat.  I so appreciate that.  I cannot tell you how much.  I made it...took it very slow.  It is so brutal out there and now I am home til Monday.


Ugh!!!  The heat and humidity are making a comeback, but did they ever really leave?  Yesterday morning was wonderful with a nice cooling breeze, and by the time I left from work, the breeze had gone and the air was stifling. Well, at least we are half through July.  Then all we have is August and part of September, but I'm sorry, that is far too long for me.  

Well, I finished reading Spirits of the Earth.  A thumbs up from me.  Great book and one that I could not put down.  Received Animal Speak yesterday.  Don't know why it took me so long to get that one.  I've heard so much of it throughout the years.  Next, I would like to get Nature Speak.  Does anyone have that one?  

Well, I haven't started to read Animal Speak as yet.  Instead I chose another little book I had ordered. (Always make sure I order over $25 for the free shipping).  It's called Urban Shamanism.  The author is Serge Kahili King.  What struck me with this book was the word, Urban.  I've always loved learning out shamanism, but kind of felt out of touch since I DO live in the city, so when I saw the title, I said "That's a book I have to have."  What I didn't know was that the book was about Huna, something I have never delved into.  But, because I always say "Everything always happens for a reason" I will see what it's all about.  I actually liked it right from the start.  Huna means secret as well as the esoteric wisdom of Polynesia.  I've always loved things that are secret and esoteric.  Huna is a knowledge of the hidden side of life; its roots lie deep in the ancient past and have been traced throughout several spiritual paths including the Mayan, Tibetan, and Egyptian.  It is a universal teaching about nature, mind, and spirit.

From what I gather, the in the Hawaiian tradition, the typical way of the warrior is not followed; rather, they follow what is called the way of the adventurer.  As it is explained, the warrior shaman focuses on the development of power, control and combat skills to deal with fear, illness or disharmony while the adventurer shaman treats these things as effects, not things and deals with them by developing skills of love, cooperation, and harmony.  My goodness, just writing that gave me goosebumps. It just seems so healing to me...and the benefits of Hawaiian shamanism are:

• It is easy to learn and apply.
• It can be practiced alone or with a group.
• It may be practiced anywhere at any time...home, work, school, while traveling.  This is because it is worked primarily with the mind and body alone.  They do not use drums to induces altered states nor masks to assume other forms.
• And, while you are healing others, you are also healing yourself.  Thus, while you are transforming the planet, you are transforming yourself.

I know what must be thinking.  This woman cannot make up her mind...one day she is reading about animals, the next day huna.  I know, that is what it seems like, and you are absolutely right. But, I love learning and believe that no matter how old you might be, there is always something new out there.  Druidism will always be my path; it has my heart and soul.  But, after so many years of study, I seem to be going over the same materials...over and over again.  I want to add something new.  I want to see what else there is out there, and Huna looks like it just might be what I am looking for.  Who knows?  By next week, it may be a thing of the past...All I know is that I once again I am searching...and this book may offer the answer.

So, I am ending this today with two questions.  Has anyone studied or know about Huna?  And, is there anything on your agenda that you would like to study and learn more about?

Thursday Thoughts

And a good morning to all.  It's a gray day today; the sun is not in sight, but it is just a great day.  It's cool, and there is a wonderful breeze...a short respite in the midst of torturous weather.  It's so sad to see the trees and grasses dying this early in the year.

Thanks everyone, for your comments yesterday.  It's actually quite uncomfortable here.  Can you imagine how it is to have to share an office with someone who doesn't even say good morning or good night?  Well, it's tough that she should feel that way; after all, I and my other co-workers are expected to arrive on time.  What makes her so different?  If I didn't have to share an office with her, the snubs wouldn't really bother me, but there is such an unhealthy aura in there the past few days.  I'm struggling so hard not to let it affect me, but gosh, I have to admit that it's hard.  

Speaking of auras, I was reading something recently that reminded me of something that occurred over 20 years ago.  At one time, a New Age fair was held in the city every year.  It was really special with lots of lectures, booths, books, experiments...I always looked forward to it and tried to attend as many lectures as I could.  One of these was on seeing auras.  The lecturer discussing ways to teach ourselves to see auras, and at one point, he turned on some type of machine that allowed us all to see each other's aura.  I have no idea today what it was, but I do remember it as being fascinating...and although I have never learned to "see" auras, I have learned to sense them all about me.  


"The aura given out by a person is as much a part of them as their flesh."--Lucien Freud


All living things that need oxygen to survive--people, plants, animals--have an aura...an energy field that can be sensed, felt, and even sometimes seen around the physical body.  Sometimes we even use them to describe the people around us..."She has a glow about her."..."Such a dark aura surrounds him."...We can also tell when someone is full of anger or if someone really does live within their heart.  Sometimes when a person walks past you, very close, they unintentionally take some of your energy.  This explains a common phenomena here on the New York City Subway system when someone squeezes in next to you, they are in "your space."  It's actually quite an uncomfortable feeling. I know for myself, I feel my whole body tensing up; I can no longer concentrate on my reading.  I want to move, but where would I go? Not only are they draining your energy, but you also are picking up on the emotional, spiritual, and and physical aspects of the other person...and this may not be very good.  Thus, no matter how pure a channel you may be, you still pick up on other people's  stuff. Thus, it is always good to cleanse your aura.

Dried sage is an excellent herb to cleanse both the self and your home from negative energy.  Burn a few leaves in a pot, and when the smoke fills the room, hold an intention that this is a strong energetic cleansing and realize that you are protecting the entire area.  You may want to chant "Out with the old energies and in with the new, more positive and loving energies."  You may also want to spray your aura with the essential oil of lime.  Is a great pick-me-up and aura cleanser. 


You may want to meditate and visualize yourself surrounded by white Divine energy, allowing it to pour all over you as gentle rain drops, rinsing off all the negative energy surrounding you.  Afterwards, you might want to recite, "I am totally protected now."  

A smokey crystal quartz is excellent for psychic protection.  Please it in your home or on your person and designate it as your own personal psychic protection crystal.  
 

Wednesday Ramble

"It's raining; it's pouring, the old man is snoring. He went to bed and bumped his head and couldn't get up in the morning."

Remember when we were kids and how we used to say this little rhyme every time it rained?  Ever wondered where it came from?  In all honesty, no one really knows.  Some suggested it started in England which is renown for its rainy weather...sung by children when they couldn't go out and play.  But no one knows for sure; it's just another one of those little tidbits bouncing around out there that lack an explanation.

Well, it is raining, but it's not pouring...and it has done nothing to quelch this darned humidity..hope it at least helps save the trees and the other greenery that is dying all around me.  It's not so hot out today, but by the time I got on the train, the sweat was beginning to run into my eyes.  And, tomorrow, it will be going back into the 90's again...with at least a four-day heatwave.  That's another one I don't understand.  Why does it have to be in the 90's to be a heatwave?  The upper 80's are pretty darned hot, too.  This morning I was wishing I was rich so I could relocate in a country with cool temperatures for the duration of the summer.  The winter of Australia sounds pretty darned good right about now.

Hey, before I forget, I think you all would be pretty proud of me.  Yesterday I had an incident with my office mate and haven't let it bring me down....at least not all the way.  It hurts, I won't deny that, but when you don't do the right thing, sooner or later it catches up to you...and that's exactly what happened to her yesterday.  She comes in late and leaves early every day; no one says a word.   But let the rest of us do it.  Immediately, we're told to put the time on the calendar.  

So, yesterday, I'm scheduled to run "Women's Group" at 10 am; the nurse is scheduled to run "Men's Health" at the same time; and my office-mate is scheduled to run "Stress Management".  It's 10:25 and my group of 12 women is in full swing.  The ladies' look forward to this group because they have a chance to talk about issues they cannot share about in front of the men...sex, menstruation, childbirth, relationship issues,  weight loss....to name a few.  Then, suddenly, there is a knock at the door.


It's my superviser.  It seems my office mate had not arrived yet, there are two clients who came to the program drunk who the nurse has to tend to since they are her clients, and there is only myself, my superviser, the nurse, and one other counselor...all to handle 3 groups and these 2 emergency clients.  Totally, totally unfair...not only to the  rest of the staff, but to my women.  

I replied to may superviser,"NOW????  My ladies are already sharing on a topic and you want me to go in there and tell them that group is over?...that they have to go combine with another group?....and just because one counselor does whatever she wants and gets away with it?...Did you not think this would come back and bite you in the ass one day?  Well, it has, and I am not doing it.  I am not covering her ass."


Don't know where I got the courage to speak to my superviser like that;  I guess I am just fed up with it all.  At 10:35 my co-worker finally arrived.  I went back to run my group.  The other counselors both went to my supervisor during that time and expressed their feelings as well.  My courage rubbed off on the others who've been frustrated with her special treatment as well.  And then, after group my supervisor calls my co-worker into the office.

Well, I don't know what was said, but it seems "I" am now the target of my co-workers anger. She refuses to speak to me and slams the door when she goes in and out.  I'm always bringing her food from the restaurant where my son works, but yesterday, she was ordering out and didn't even ask me if I wanted something.  It just so happened that I didn't have lunch.  I'm sorry, but that hurts.  I know I was right, but it still hurts to be treated so meanly.   And my question is, if YOU are the one who was in the wrong, how can you take it out on others? 

I have no answer for that one either.  Fortunately, I had my trusted headphones and music which got me through the day.  I'm not gonna lie to you and say they were the cure.  Yes, some of the negativity rubbed off on me. When the negativity is so close to you, and you are an empath, it's very hard to avoid it...but that's something I continue to work on.  I've got a ways to go, but I am getting better. 

"Sensitive souls draw in the negativity of others because they are so open."--John Gray

Thanks for letting me share and get that off my chest today.

Nature's Wisdom

Good morning.  Rain's in the forecast today, and it looks as though this time they may have finally gotten it right.  We sure could use some about now what with another heat wave on its way.  The heat seems to be non-ending this year...just when  you think there might be some relief, it heads back up in the 90's again.  

"Listen to all of the teachers in the woods.  Watch the trees, the animals, and all the living things--you'll learn more from them than books."--Joe Coyhis--

You know, I've always been an animal lover, always been as close to nature as I can get.  Perhaps that's why I have always refused to live in anything other than a first-floor apartment with a back yard.  That way I can be as close to nature as I can get while living in the city.  So, I ask myself now...why has it taken me 63 years to show interest in learning about the omens and symbols of nature?  Perhaps it is because I am settled.  When I was younger, I loved nothing more than a night out...and it wasn't a night out in my yard. No, I absolutely loved the New York City nightlife.  Now that I am older, I cherish a quiet night out in my yard.  Nothing gives me more peace and serenity.

Remember I said at the eclipse I wanted to learn more about animal totems and such?  Well, I've recently started reading Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies by Bobby Lake-Thom...a book I've had on hand for awhile and have done nothing with except for admiring the cover.  Now that I have started reading it, I cannot put it down.  Already I have learned so much.  I've always known that nature sends us messages about the 'big things' such as the weather..."Red sky tonight, sailor's delight."   But, there are so many other little signs that we fail to pay attention to...or scoff at as nonsense.  

But, the fact is, there is so much we can learn from nature...if we only pay attention to what is being said.  For example...

...that time so long ago when I was just a little girl sitting in church.  I looked down on my lap to see the largest bumble bee one earth (or so I thought) walking along on my lap.  My stomach tightened as I felt the grip of fear take over my body.  I couldn't move, so fearful that if I did, bee would sting.  Out of all the laps in the church, why did he choose mine?  What message did he have for me that day?  And then there is...

...Robin, who came into my life so unexpectedly and stayed with me for a little over a year before crossing over.  What was Robin's message to me?...

...And Mouse.  Well, this is an easy one.  I was watching television one night, oh, about 20 years ago, when a mouse wandered out onto the middle of the floor and began running in circles.  Early the next morning as I was lying in bed, I heard a rumbling and felt a slight shaking of the house. Then it went away.  Later, when I arose, I found out there had been an earthquake on Long Island which had been felt all the way into the city....

...and Crow, who, last year found his way to my back fence and became a daily visitor...

Or Cardinal, Squirrel, Raccoon, and now Oppossum.  What of their messages?  And then there are the insects...the spiders, the bees, the fireflys, the butterflies...what of their message?  Or the trees, the rocks...there is just so, so much to pay attention to.  

Animals have been living on Earth and dealing with nature a lot longer than us.  A pet can sense an illness with their owner before their owner does. birds, insects, and other animals have evolved and adapted to deal with floods, changes in the climate...other dangers that occur in their lives.  Paying attention to and using their reactions and knowledge can help us to deal with our own dangers.  

Another Monday Morning

"The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence, we are diminishing our future."--Marya Mannes, 1958

The above words were written 52 years ago.  Are they now beginning to come true?  It's been a strange summer; no, I take that back...it's been a strange few years...from the warm snowless winters to the seemingly almost constant rainfall to last year's cool summer and now this unbearable heat and humidity that has started early and is showing no signs of ending soon.  Is Mother Earth taking her revenge?  No, she is far too kind for that, but perhaps what she is doing is giving us a jolt, trying to wake us up before we destroy everything altogether.

Saturday was my bi-weekly food shopping day.  I always go early in the morning to get it out of the way.  Well, when I turned the corner and neared the park, I was nearly shocked right out of my shoes.  Why, if it wasn't for the heat and humidity, I would have sworn we had skipped right through summer and entered the fall.  Leaves of all shades of brown, red, yellow, and orange were covering the sidewalk, crunching under my feet as I walked by.  Then, looking up, I saw that there were many more leaves of various shades....far from the lucious green you would expect at this time of the year.

"When all the trees have been cut down,

when all the animals have been hunted,

when all the waters are polluted,

when all the air is unsafe to breathe,

only then will you discover that you cannot eat money."

--Cree Prophesy-- 

Animals...or better yet...wildlife. As we continue to encroach on their territories, they now begin enter ours...black bears in New Jersey towns, coyotes attacking little girls in the New York city suburbs...and now, we've discovered that we have an oppossum...and probably more...that travels into our back yard.  I don't know much about them, but from what I have read, they do attack other animals.  So, I am wondering...is it possible that it is the oppossum that killed that poor little squirrel the other day?  And, if so, should I worry about the kittens?...who, by the way, I haven't seen since the day the squirrel died.  If anyone can tell me something about the oppossum, it would be greatly appreciated.

 And finally, today is the day of Manhattanhenge or Manhattan Solstice, an event that occurs twice a year when the setting sun aligns with the East/West streets of the main street grid in the borough of Manhattan.  I've seen it several times...and I must say, it is truly a sight to behold. 

"Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves,

All things are bound together.

All things connect."

--Chief Seattle, 1854--

July 11 Solar Eclipse

In the olden times, an eclipse of the Sun  was viewed with a sense of dread.  The Sun, their great "giver of life" seemed to disappear from the sky, and they had no way to explain it.  It was like everything that they had taken for granted was thrown off as the sky darkened in the middle of the day.  Why, even the birds began to prepare for sleep!  It seemed that something dreadful must be going to happen...and then, the heavens began to lighten, and all was well with the world again.  Just try to put yourself in their place and imagine what they must have been feeling.

New Moons signify rebirth, beginnings, and the start of a new cycle. Eclipses speed up events and situations in our personal lives. They offer challenges. Tomorrow we will experience a solar eclipse, that special type of New Moon that occurs when the Moon (subconscious, instinct, emotion) moves directly between the Sun and the Earth.  The Sun which gives us life and lights our path will be momentarily joined by those dark and mysterious qualities that are a part of the Moon. And this eclipse will occur in Cancer which is not only ruled by the moon, but highlights family, home, roots, and the past.    This is always a very strong lunation during which one has a feeling of celebration...of inner/outer...male/female...a time to create and a time to reflect on the past.  The actions we take now and within the next six months can define our lifepath. 

The sign of Cancer (intuitive, protective, sensitive) is important to all of us.  It evokes the Mother, the ebb and flow of the tides, the nurturing womb and the emotional body that animates our Souls.  This means all the more to us for we, in today's society, are far too busy to pay attention to the ebb and flow of our lives, too stressed to listen to our emotional body, and we have poisoned our waters so they are no longer a source of nourishment.  You may also feel a strong pull to the past, something I have been feeling these past few days...remembering the early days of my pagan life...and the pull to return...not a wish to return to the past per se...but the opportunity to return for just one day to those early days in the city...to the pagan friends I met who taught me so, so much...those whom I have lost contact with throughout the years.  Just one day to walk into one of those creaky old bookstores.

All eclipses indicate change. And change itself is inevitable.  I can wish for a day in the past, but reality tells me it is time to move forward. Solar eclipses signify beginnings and usually manifest as events in the outer world.  Now is the time to begin something new, to make promises to ourselves, commit, rise up to the challenge, and take a chance. I've been thinking of something new and am ready to delve in headfirst.  Throughout the years of my studies, I've touched upon Shamanism and have learned so much about it, but have never put it to practical use...and, I do not know of my power animal for that is something I never touched on.  Today I am feeling the pull towards Shamanism and power animals. It's a new beginning for me.  See, you are never too old to learn.

On the day of the eclipse, examine what has begun to change and transform in your life...and make new effort to bring it to fulfillment. This is a powerful new beginning that we are now being offered, and it is up to each of us to make good use of it. Be very careful of your emotions at this time, not that you should suppress or deny them.  Just beware of the consequences should you act rashly on them.  Remember!!! Changing the world begins with us.  


What changes are you ready to make? 

 
 

Friday Rant

Sorry all, just have to get this off my chest.  Last night it took me 2 1/2 hours and 3 trains and a bus to get home. I am only 12 stops away from my job....one train.  What I want to know is...where is my money going?  You keep raising the fare year after year...and the the service just keeps on getting worse and worse.  I'm sure that, even though most of you do not have to deal with the evils of public transportation, you do have something...someone who keeps raising prices, but lowering services...be it health care, electricity, etc. that you can, in some way, identify with what I am feeling.

Now, mind you, transit says they are broke.  BROKE!!!!  So, in the meantime, the transit workers get these extravagant raises.  This year, because of the mess the city is in, they are asked to forgo their raises this year.  Their answer is "NO"; they don't care that services will be cut.  The heck with the public.  The heck with us who pay their salary.  We can struggle.  Now, I can totally understand their feelings; if asked to forgo my raise, I would balk, too.   But, the starting salary of a transit worker is over  $52,000 a year.  That is STARTING salary. I make almost $20,000 less...and get this, the starting salary for a police officer is $25,000. I've also read that there are over 8,000 people employed by NY Transit that make over $100,000.

Of course, I cannot blame the workers for such shoddy service, but it really does irk me when I go to the booth to put some money on my metrocard and have to wait for the clerk either to finish reading his newspaper article or finish his telephone conversation...which, I know is not business because he is laughing away in there.  Then, one time he had the NERVE to make me wait while he not only finishes his conversation, but changes his music in his radio.  And for that he makes $50,000. Complaints to the transit authority are just a waste of time.

Now, suffice it to say, I don't have the answers of how to fix this thing...how to make the subway run like it used to...to make it safe again...because, I will be honest with  you, it scares me...scares me badly. I don't think the high salaries are totally at fault and don't even know how much would be saved if the salaries were lower, but what I do know is that not much is being done in the way of repairs. This isn't the first time something like this has happened since the heatwave began.  It's happening all over the city, on all of the trains...and it is all heat-related power shortages.  Last night my son was in the train ahead of me.  He was stuck in the tunnel for 55 minutes.  Thankfully, he had AC, but what if next time there is nothing but darkness.  (Slap myself.  Stop thinking that way) But, I can't help but worry.  We've got a long, hot summer ahead of us....and I just don't think they are equipped to handle it.   


Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.  Tomorrow, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming.