Birds and Buddha Bring Message of Joy

Ok, I get it! There needs to be more joy in more life--or, at least, I need to recognize the joy I already have and celebrate it. So how did this message arrive?

Buddha of joy
I was cleaning out my office and came across a Buddhist meditation/prayer that I don't think I have seen in about 2 years. It's called the brahmavihara or the "Four Immeasurables" (so yes, it has 4 parts). The first time I heard this prayer, its message was so clear, simple and encompassing that it stuck with me. But lately, I haven't been so good about following these 4 mantras: love, joy, sympathetic joy and equanimity. So during last week's meditation, I focused on the first one that stood out: sympathetic joy.

Sympathetic joy arises when we join in the happiness of others and wish them well-being and success. Practicing sympathetic joy takes your mind off of yourself and keeps hatred and jealousy at bay. Basically, if someone you know is excited, be excited for them. And even if it seems trivial or something that you don't feel joy over, be excited for them anyway. Joy is important and comes around way too seldom, so we should "rejoice" any time it appears, big, small or somewhere in between. Sometimes we also put off joy in order not to offend or make others feel bad. I'm learning that does no one any good.

Feathers of joy
The other message about joy arrived last night while at a friend's house. There were several people there, and we participated in a special ceremony in which my friend gave us all heron feathers. In some traditions (the specifics escape me), herons represent the ability to quickly change direction--which can be good if we realize we need to make a change.

My friend hands each of us a heron feather, each wrapped in a different color of deerskin. She had meditated earlier with each feather and with each of us in mind in order to receive a message. As she presented the feather, she delivered the message--and mine was one of healing and joy, she said, because she felt that these things are what I needed most right now in my life.

And I think my friend and Buddha are right. I could go on about the many reasons why, but suffice to say that I am going to practice more sympathetic joy; I am going to do more things that bring me joy; and I am going to focus on healing at various levels.

Do you have enough joy in your own life?

Birds and Buddha Bring Message of Joy

Ok, I get it! There needs to be more joy in more life--or, at least, I need to recognize the joy I already have and celebrate it. So how did this message arrive?

Buddha of joy
I was cleaning out my office and came across a Buddhist meditation/prayer that I don't think I have seen in about 2 years. It's called the brahmavihara or the "Four Immeasurables" (so yes, it has 4 parts). The first time I heard this prayer, its message was so clear, simple and encompassing that it stuck with me. But lately, I haven't been so good about following these 4 mantras: love, joy, sympathetic joy and equanimity. So during last week's meditation, I focused on the first one that stood out: sympathetic joy.

Sympathetic joy arises when we join in the happiness of others and wish them well-being and success. Practicing sympathetic joy takes your mind off of yourself and keeps hatred and jealousy at bay. Basically, if someone you know is excited, be excited for them. And even if it seems trivial or something that you don't feel joy over, be excited for them anyway. Joy is important and comes around way too seldom, so we should "rejoice" any time it appears, big, small or somewhere in between. Sometimes we also put off joy in order not to offend or make others feel bad. I'm learning that does no one any good.

Feathers of joy
The other message about joy arrived last night while at a friend's house. There were several people there, and we participated in a special ceremony in which my friend gave us all heron feathers. In some traditions (the specifics escape me), herons represent the ability to quickly change direction--which can be good if we realize we need to make a change.

My friend hands each of us a heron feather, each wrapped in a different color of deerskin. She had meditated earlier with each feather and with each of us in mind in order to receive a message. As she presented the feather, she delivered the message--and mine was one of healing and joy, she said, because she felt that these things are what I needed most right now in my life.

And I think my friend and Buddha are right. I could go on about the many reasons why, but suffice to say that I am going to practice more sympathetic joy; I am going to do more things that bring me joy; and I am going to focus on healing at various levels.

Do you have enough joy in your own life?

Look Ma--I'm Praying on TV!

Can't believe I hadn't posted about this yet, but with being sick and all, it somehow slipped through the cracks. So last night, yours truly delivered the invocation for a meeting of our esteemed local county commissioners! And I slipped in a little shamanic juju without anyone realizing it!

One of the administrators said she found my minister web site, therefore the invitation. Unlike some places around the country, we still open each county meeting with prayer (this is the Bible belt, after all). Now, there are some neighboring counties where this practice is under challenge, but locally, no such problems. Naturally, I worried about what to say. Do I shake my rattle and dance a jig around the podium while invoking nature spirits? Do I blow my conch horn and really freak everyone out? Will something I say set off the Christians on yet another "witch hunt?" And--most important--what do I wear?

As an interfaith minister, these aren't easy questions to answer. I knew I wanted some sort of reference to nature and I wanted some form of shamanic elements, too. After researching online, I found part of a prayer that I liked, and then I added my own touches. So instead of praying to Jesus, I invoked the "eternal and unseen spirit of the universe." I thought that was nonspecific enough while also expressing my own opinion that spirit does not take the form of a bearded man in the sky.

I also used the words "sacred circle" to hint at Native American and pagan influences. To honor the 4 directions, I talked about drawing a great circle around the county, mentioning real towns that roughly corresponded to east, south, west, north. The commissioners and visitors might not realize it, but they had just been included in a magickal circle--so let the positive energy flow!

Also, with the spring equinox only a few days away, I mentioned balance and harmony, and tied this into the business of the county. I added a few more nods to taxes, bonds and other such glamour; after all, it's a county meeting, which is what the prayer is supposed to focus on.

What did I wear? Well, my teacher likes to say that one way shamans can "shape shift" is by understanding which mask to wear in which situation. In other words, a kilt and face paint may not be appropriate at the county courthouse! So I decided to rock the suit and bow tie. See, I think that if you sneak up on people with some of this alternative spiritual stuff because you present a more familiar image, then they're likely to get your message. And besides, it was on TV! Only the local cable access channel, but hey--who knows who was watching and may have been touched by something I said. Sure, the fundies may have been puzzled by the lack of "Jesus" every 5 words, but my hope is that my focus on what unites us rather than what divides us got past all that.

Oh yeah, and I included a nod to "Battlestar Galactica," too! Wonder if any one caught that? "So say we all!"

Look Ma--I'm Praying on TV!

Can't believe I hadn't posted about this yet, but with being sick and all, it somehow slipped through the cracks. So last night, yours truly delivered the invocation for a meeting of our esteemed local county commissioners! And I slipped in a little shamanic juju without anyone realizing it!

One of the administrators said she found my minister web site, therefore the invitation. Unlike some places around the country, we still open each county meeting with prayer (this is the Bible belt, after all). Now, there are some neighboring counties where this practice is under challenge, but locally, no such problems. Naturally, I worried about what to say. Do I shake my rattle and dance a jig around the podium while invoking nature spirits? Do I blow my conch horn and really freak everyone out? Will something I say set off the Christians on yet another "witch hunt?" And--most important--what do I wear?

As an interfaith minister, these aren't easy questions to answer. I knew I wanted some sort of reference to nature and I wanted some form of shamanic elements, too. After researching online, I found part of a prayer that I liked, and then I added my own touches. So instead of praying to Jesus, I invoked the "eternal and unseen spirit of the universe." I thought that was nonspecific enough while also expressing my own opinion that spirit does not take the form of a bearded man in the sky.

I also used the words "sacred circle" to hint at Native American and pagan influences. To honor the 4 directions, I talked about drawing a great circle around the county, mentioning real towns that roughly corresponded to east, south, west, north. The commissioners and visitors might not realize it, but they had just been included in a magickal circle--so let the positive energy flow!

Also, with the spring equinox only a few days away, I mentioned balance and harmony, and tied this into the business of the county. I added a few more nods to taxes, bonds and other such glamour; after all, it's a county meeting, which is what the prayer is supposed to focus on.

What did I wear? Well, my teacher likes to say that one way shamans can "shape shift" is by understanding which mask to wear in which situation. In other words, a kilt and face paint may not be appropriate at the county courthouse! So I decided to rock the suit and bow tie. See, I think that if you sneak up on people with some of this alternative spiritual stuff because you present a more familiar image, then they're likely to get your message. And besides, it was on TV! Only the local cable access channel, but hey--who knows who was watching and may have been touched by something I said. Sure, the fundies may have been puzzled by the lack of "Jesus" every 5 words, but my hope is that my focus on what unites us rather than what divides us got past all that.

Oh yeah, and I included a nod to "Battlestar Galactica," too! Wonder if any one caught that? "So say we all!"

Hawaii Saved from Tsunami by Waves of Shamanic Energy!

It's almost like "Wonder Twin Powers--Activate!" Well, not exactly. But launching from my last post, here's something else that's stuck in my craw.

Right after the earthquake struck Chile this past weekend, I was watching the unfolding news while also checking my email (I'm such the multitasker). News reports were predicting a possible major tsunami headed across the Pacific, potentially hitting Hawaii. Given my skepticism about praying or otherwise affecting the outcome of things like this, I could only watch. That may sound harsh, but--well, that is the nature of life. We may not like it, but we humans are often powerless, especially in the face of nature, whether it takes the form of major storms or some virus taking over our bodies. We like to think it doesn't work that way--but when has it ever been any different? Of course, all our religions and spiritual traditions teach that if you pray just right or dance in a circle or sacrifice the prettiest virgin, then *poof!* all is well!

Shamanic traditions are full of this sort of thing, too. Contrary to what you might think, I don't believe that shaking a bone is going to halt a hurricane any more than praying to Jesus. I'm attracted to shamanism because I think it has wisdom that can help us powerless humans learn to live with things as they are. Instead of resisting snowstorms and hurricanes and illnesses, how can we adapt, learn from these natural occurrences--and survive? I think most of how we interact with the wider world is based on illusion, and I think shamanism can help shatter those illusions. This means, unfortunately, that floods will come, people will get sick and die, earthquakes will rattle our homes and brains--why should it be any different? The expectation that it should be different is what drives our panic, our suffering, and I think if we can let that go, we can live happier lives, for as long as we have them.

But back to my story. So I opened an email message from the man who led the shamanic mystery school I attended recently--and I was truly disappointed. In the message, he asked us to send "shamanic energy" out to stop the tsunami from striking Hawaii. I respect this man on many levels, but I think he's wrong on this. It bothered me for several reasons. First, if it's possible to do this, then we're really no different than Pat Robertson when he talks of moving hurricanes away from a city--or when he says God sent another storm to punish America for homosexuality. Second, there are lots of other little islands out there in the Pacific, most not as prepared as Hawaii would be. Hawaii is one of my teacher's favorite spots, but it would have been more, I don't know, "loving" of him to include the entire Pacific. And besides, even if we could "protect" Hawaii, wouldn't it just deflect the waves to neighboring islands, endangering them even more? I mean, I at least believe that energy has to GO somewhere.

Then, once the threat had passed, another email went out, thanking us all for protecting Hawaii. Seriously? How about an email asking us to send some kind of help to those poor people in Chile? You'd think if shamanism really works in this way, then some kind of sixth sense would have awakened us in the middle of the night--just like dogs often bark before a quake--so that we could all synchronize our energy fields and shut that quake down. But no, that didn't happen. Chile split open. What's the point of preventing a tsunami if you can't stop an 8.8 earthquake? And it's so simple-minded to say, when things go as we hope, "Look, we saved Hawaii!" But what if it had turned out differently? What would we say then?

I'm glad a tsunami didn't inundate Hawaii or Tahitit or the Marquesas or Easter Island--but I think it had more to do with tectonic plates and ocean floors and waves and even the tug of our own moon than a handful of people having nice thoughts. I'd like to believe things like this are possible. It's just that I've never seen it happen. Not as a Christian way back when and not as a shaman now. The problem here, again, is power. I don't believe being a Christian makes you God's favorite, who then works powerful things on your behalf. I don't believe shamanism gives you special powers, either, over nature or people or things. The only power we can ever achieve, regardless of our belief system, is power over ourselves.

When empowered, we can help those injured in the Chilean earthquake rebuild their lives, or we might work together to improve seismic monitoring technology in the Pacific. We might be empowered to improve building codes and construction technology or evacuation procedures. And we might comfort someone who lost a relative or their home, helping them grieve and helping them find closure. We might also help them to remember that all of this is part of life, part of the world we live in--and it's still good. Shaking our fists makes no difference, nor do futile displays of invoking gods, chanting or praying, or beaming thoughts. Yet, this does not fill me with despair. That's what I want--to see the truth, to shatter all the illusions and still be filled with joy. That is freedom. That is spirit. And that makes life worth living no matter what happens to us.

Hawaii Saved from Tsunami by Waves of Shamanic Energy!

It's almost like "Wonder Twin Powers--Activate!" Well, not exactly. But launching from my last post, here's something else that's stuck in my craw.

Right after the earthquake struck Chile this past weekend, I was watching the unfolding news while also checking my email (I'm such the multitasker). News reports were predicting a possible major tsunami headed across the Pacific, potentially hitting Hawaii. Given my skepticism about praying or otherwise affecting the outcome of things like this, I could only watch. That may sound harsh, but--well, that is the nature of life. We may not like it, but we humans are often powerless, especially in the face of nature, whether it takes the form of major storms or some virus taking over our bodies. We like to think it doesn't work that way--but when has it ever been any different? Of course, all our religions and spiritual traditions teach that if you pray just right or dance in a circle or sacrifice the prettiest virgin, then *poof!* all is well!

Shamanic traditions are full of this sort of thing, too. Contrary to what you might think, I don't believe that shaking a bone is going to halt a hurricane any more than praying to Jesus. I'm attracted to shamanism because I think it has wisdom that can help us powerless humans learn to live with things as they are. Instead of resisting snowstorms and hurricanes and illnesses, how can we adapt, learn from these natural occurrences--and survive? I think most of how we interact with the wider world is based on illusion, and I think shamanism can help shatter those illusions. This means, unfortunately, that floods will come, people will get sick and die, earthquakes will rattle our homes and brains--why should it be any different? The expectation that it should be different is what drives our panic, our suffering, and I think if we can let that go, we can live happier lives, for as long as we have them.

But back to my story. So I opened an email message from the man who led the shamanic mystery school I attended recently--and I was truly disappointed. In the message, he asked us to send "shamanic energy" out to stop the tsunami from striking Hawaii. I respect this man on many levels, but I think he's wrong on this. It bothered me for several reasons. First, if it's possible to do this, then we're really no different than Pat Robertson when he talks of moving hurricanes away from a city--or when he says God sent another storm to punish America for homosexuality. Second, there are lots of other little islands out there in the Pacific, most not as prepared as Hawaii would be. Hawaii is one of my teacher's favorite spots, but it would have been more, I don't know, "loving" of him to include the entire Pacific. And besides, even if we could "protect" Hawaii, wouldn't it just deflect the waves to neighboring islands, endangering them even more? I mean, I at least believe that energy has to GO somewhere.

Then, once the threat had passed, another email went out, thanking us all for protecting Hawaii. Seriously? How about an email asking us to send some kind of help to those poor people in Chile? You'd think if shamanism really works in this way, then some kind of sixth sense would have awakened us in the middle of the night--just like dogs often bark before a quake--so that we could all synchronize our energy fields and shut that quake down. But no, that didn't happen. Chile split open. What's the point of preventing a tsunami if you can't stop an 8.8 earthquake? And it's so simple-minded to say, when things go as we hope, "Look, we saved Hawaii!" But what if it had turned out differently? What would we say then?

I'm glad a tsunami didn't inundate Hawaii or Tahitit or the Marquesas or Easter Island--but I think it had more to do with tectonic plates and ocean floors and waves and even the tug of our own moon than a handful of people having nice thoughts. I'd like to believe things like this are possible. It's just that I've never seen it happen. Not as a Christian way back when and not as a shaman now. The problem here, again, is power. I don't believe being a Christian makes you God's favorite, who then works powerful things on your behalf. I don't believe shamanism gives you special powers, either, over nature or people or things. The only power we can ever achieve, regardless of our belief system, is power over ourselves.

When empowered, we can help those injured in the Chilean earthquake rebuild their lives, or we might work together to improve seismic monitoring technology in the Pacific. We might be empowered to improve building codes and construction technology or evacuation procedures. And we might comfort someone who lost a relative or their home, helping them grieve and helping them find closure. We might also help them to remember that all of this is part of life, part of the world we live in--and it's still good. Shaking our fists makes no difference, nor do futile displays of invoking gods, chanting or praying, or beaming thoughts. Yet, this does not fill me with despair. That's what I want--to see the truth, to shatter all the illusions and still be filled with joy. That is freedom. That is spirit. And that makes life worth living no matter what happens to us.

Reiki, Prayer, Energy Work: Just Whistling in the Wind?

Been sick the last several days, coughing til my head hurts, blowing my nose raw and so on. No fever, fortunately--so I think I'll live. But this little physical ailment has got me thinking again, which we all know is dangerous.

Several of my friends have said they would send "healing energy" my way (some are Reiki practitioners), or that they would pray for me, or hold me in "the light" or even break out the crystal bowls and tone for my recovery. It's great to have friends--but does any of this shit work? I mean, it's been almost a week and I'm still sick!

Now, this could indicate any number of things. One, I'm impatient. Two, my symptoms would've been much, much worse without all that healing energy. Or three, no, none of that crap works but it makes us puny humans feel like we can make a difference when the big, bad world unleashes itself on us.

Truth is, you can't tell. No way, no how. Maybe things like prayer help, but there isn't any way to know. You gotta take it on faith. And maybe, faith in and of itself, makes a difference and can actually contribute toward you simply feeling better, which is certainly part of any recovery process. There are even people researching the effects of these methods.

But call me skeptical. It was this sort of thing that caused me to wave bye-bye to Christianity about 6 years ago. I had prayed for all kinds of things but realized I could never say for sure if anyone was listening or acting on my behalf. And really, this is the same thing. So yes, you gotta have faith. But having faith still doesn't make something true. Because if faith alone is enough--then WHY hasn't this guy below knocked on my door yet??

Reiki, Prayer, Energy Work: Just Whistling in the Wind?

Been sick the last several days, coughing til my head hurts, blowing my nose raw and so on. No fever, fortunately--so I think I'll live. But this little physical ailment has got me thinking again, which we all know is dangerous.

Several of my friends have said they would send "healing energy" my way (some are Reiki practitioners), or that they would pray for me, or hold me in "the light" or even break out the crystal bowls and tone for my recovery. It's great to have friends--but does any of this shit work? I mean, it's been almost a week and I'm still sick!

Now, this could indicate any number of things. One, I'm impatient. Two, my symptoms would've been much, much worse without all that healing energy. Or three, no, none of that crap works but it makes us puny humans feel like we can make a difference when the big, bad world unleashes itself on us.

Truth is, you can't tell. No way, no how. Maybe things like prayer help, but there isn't any way to know. You gotta take it on faith. And maybe, faith in and of itself, makes a difference and can actually contribute toward you simply feeling better, which is certainly part of any recovery process. There are even people researching the effects of these methods.

But call me skeptical. It was this sort of thing that caused me to wave bye-bye to Christianity about 6 years ago. I had prayed for all kinds of things but realized I could never say for sure if anyone was listening or acting on my behalf. And really, this is the same thing. So yes, you gotta have faith. But having faith still doesn't make something true. Because if faith alone is enough--then WHY hasn't this guy below knocked on my door yet??

You're Blocking My Vibe Reception!

I'm a skeptic about lots of things. Maybe not as strong as some people, but I'm skeptical about more things than some would expect.

For example, when people say things like, "I'm sending you healing energy right now!" It feels exactly like a Christian prayer and, while there isn't anything wrong with that, it's just that I came to feel several years ago that prayer didn't work. And since "sending energy" feels the same, well, I'm skeptical.

But tonight while eating dinner at home, I got to thinking about this. I was seated at my small dining table, and several feet away sits a radio on top of a chest. The radio was on, and I was listening to some NPR news program. But then the signal suddenly faded until it was almost gone completely. I grumbled about the reception but didn't move to do anything. And then I sat back in my chair--and the signal come in loud and strong!

I realized that it was my own body that was interfering with the signal. Now, this may not be any grand revelation--but it got me to thinking. And I experimented. Whenever I would lean forward over my plate, the signal faded. When I sat back, the signal was loud and clear. So just that relatively small movement made a big difference. My body was interfering with the radio waves, interfering with invisible waves carrying sound over great distances and being attacted to my radio. I don't know why or how exactly, but that's obviously what was happening. I just sat there wondering about this in amazement that it was, one, even possible, and wondering about what other sorts of things are happening all around me that I can't see. Does my physical presence or my actions have more of an influence that I am willing to believe?

We all take radio waves for granted, even if we don't know exactly how they work. We can't see them or feel them. Only 1 of our senses is affected (hearing). It got me to thinkin that there's a helluva lot in this world that I don't understand, and there's a helluva lot going on that I can't sense in any tangible way--yet, something's there. What do you think?

You're Blocking My Vibe Reception!

I'm a skeptic about lots of things. Maybe not as strong as some people, but I'm skeptical about more things than some would expect.

For example, when people say things like, "I'm sending you healing energy right now!" It feels exactly like a Christian prayer and, while there isn't anything wrong with that, it's just that I came to feel several years ago that prayer didn't work. And since "sending energy" feels the same, well, I'm skeptical.

But tonight while eating dinner at home, I got to thinking about this. I was seated at my small dining table, and several feet away sits a radio on top of a chest. The radio was on, and I was listening to some NPR news program. But then the signal suddenly faded until it was almost gone completely. I grumbled about the reception but didn't move to do anything. And then I sat back in my chair--and the signal come in loud and strong!

I realized that it was my own body that was interfering with the signal. Now, this may not be any grand revelation--but it got me to thinking. And I experimented. Whenever I would lean forward over my plate, the signal faded. When I sat back, the signal was loud and clear. So just that relatively small movement made a big difference. My body was interfering with the radio waves, interfering with invisible waves carrying sound over great distances and being attacted to my radio. I don't know why or how exactly, but that's obviously what was happening. I just sat there wondering about this in amazement that it was, one, even possible, and wondering about what other sorts of things are happening all around me that I can't see. Does my physical presence or my actions have more of an influence that I am willing to believe?

We all take radio waves for granted, even if we don't know exactly how they work. We can't see them or feel them. Only 1 of our senses is affected (hearing). It got me to thinkin that there's a helluva lot in this world that I don't understand, and there's a helluva lot going on that I can't sense in any tangible way--yet, something's there. What do you think?

Rick Warren to Lead Prayer at Inauguration: For the Record, I Don't Care

So evangelical superstar Rick Warren is Obama's pick to lead the invocation during the Inauguration. Big deal. What did you expect? Rev. Jeremiah Wright? A pagan priestess? No prayer at all? Obama was elected president of the entire country, not just a small minority of gays, liberals or whomever. Like it or not, American is still a majority Christian country, and so the presidents needs to pick someone who will appeal to the widest audience possible. I don't have to like Rev. Warren in order to understand the relative wisdom of his selection.

What bothers me more are headlines saying, "Gay Leaders Furious With Obama" because he picked Warren, who openly supported Prop 8 in California. Sorry, but shocked I am not. What mainstream Christian pastor out there supports gay marriage? My former pastor does, but then, he ain't in the mainstream, trust me. This is a country in which the Episcopal church, generally known to be "liberal" in Christian circles, is splitting over gay issues.

But these "gay leaders": They don't speak for me. They totally dropped the ball on Prop 8 and the response that followed, urging us all to cool our heels and work with the system. Obama never was our Savior and never will be, so I don't look to him to heal all my wounds. Obama IS now the system--get it? We need to stop looking to politicians and take care of ourselves.

Besides, how important is this anyway?

Rick Warren to Lead Prayer at Inauguration: For the Record, I Don't Care

So evangelical superstar Rick Warren is Obama's pick to lead the invocation during the Inauguration. Big deal. What did you expect? Rev. Jeremiah Wright? A pagan priestess? No prayer at all? Obama was elected president of the entire country, not just a small minority of gays, liberals or whomever. Like it or not, American is still a majority Christian country, and so the presidents needs to pick someone who will appeal to the widest audience possible. I don't have to like Rev. Warren in order to understand the relative wisdom of his selection.

What bothers me more are headlines saying, "Gay Leaders Furious With Obama" because he picked Warren, who openly supported Prop 8 in California. Sorry, but shocked I am not. What mainstream Christian pastor out there supports gay marriage? My former pastor does, but then, he ain't in the mainstream, trust me. This is a country in which the Episcopal church, generally known to be "liberal" in Christian circles, is splitting over gay issues.

But these "gay leaders": They don't speak for me. They totally dropped the ball on Prop 8 and the response that followed, urging us all to cool our heels and work with the system. Obama never was our Savior and never will be, so I don't look to him to heal all my wounds. Obama IS now the system--get it? We need to stop looking to politicians and take care of ourselves.

Besides, how important is this anyway?