Runecasting - 3 Rune Spread

I decided to do a three-rune spread today, which I haven't done in a while. I included some crystals that represent each of the runes I drew. Nauthiz - Apache Tears, Mannaz - an amethyst skull, merkaba and pyramid, and Algiz -  a Selenite sphere for its Moon Tarot correspondence. A three-rune spread suggests balance to me, which the crystals can help bring about.

Nauthiz, or need, represents absolute necessity, or that which we need to survive. It's the "doing whatever needs to be done" attitude. Nauthiz indicates as well the fundamental realities that govern our existence in the universe. And it also may reflect an inner struggle that arises when our needs conflict with our desires.

Mannaz, or humankind, illustrates the human condition..our intelligence, our memories. It's thought and the behavior which results. Mannaz suggests a progression, or return if you will, from our individuality back to our collective consciousness as we understand our collective reality.

Algiz, is represented by the White Elk, a symbol for our Higher Self. It facilitates the connection with the sacred space where alignment with Source is most felt..the divine sacred energy that connects us all.

I love synchronicity. It allows us to experience our connectedness as we go about our day. If we're all part of the same energy, it makes sense that we would experience this more and more as the frequency rises. The need to survive Nauthiz speaks of, is more than a physical survival. It's a spiritual one. It's a remembrance of why we're here in the first place, and what our real focus should be. Mannaz opens us up to that remembrance of our collective consciousness. And Algiz represents our inevitable alignment with Source. In effect, our most primal need is to remember who we are as an extension of Source. As we do that, we awaken to our true reality, our Higher Self.

The physical world is but a projection and at some point, we will have no choice but to acknowledge this. Our collective energy created this to experience duality. But that's all it is..an experience. It's not reality. Reality is reflected in today's runecast. As we begin to feel the resonance within, it will reflect in our outward behavior. And compassion will return, as we align with Source.

As I draw them, I never know what insight the runes will share. But I'm never disappointed. There's always something to learn, and in today's spread, remember.

~ Blessed Be the Runes! ✵☽✺☾✵

Creating altars..

Altars are fun to create. I try to create one daily to study correspondences for each day of the week. They can center around Sabbats and Esbats as well. Colors, crystals, Tarot, Runes, incense, herbs, tools, and deities are among the correspondences to consider. Elements and moon phase are also important when creating an altar. They can be simple or elaborate. I tend to get carried away with different crystals because I love them so much.

Since today is Sunday, here is today's altar:

The colors for Sunday are gold and orange, I used two of each color for the chime candles. Gold also represents the metal correspondence. Sunday is represented by the Fire Element, so I used red stones, carnelian and red jaspar, to represent Fire. I love spheres, so I used several, with the white moonstone sphere in the center of the pentacle altar tile representing purity and the Akasha Element. 

I included fresh juniper in the cauldron to represent Sunday's herb. Yellow daffodils and the Sun Witch Rune represent the Sun. The selenite wand represents today's magickal tool, as well as the Queen of Wands Tarot card. Strength, The Emperor and The Sun are also included. 

As the moon is waxing crescent, magicks of increase and resolve are represented by both the Sun (success/progress) and Two Rings (love, relationships) Witch Runes. Additionally, I've included five Runes. Thurisaz, Kenaz and Nauthiz represent the Fire Element along with magicks of protection, positive change and new beginnings. Sowilo represents the Air Element and influences magicks of strength, self-confidence, spiritual direction. Inguz (or Ingwaz) finishes the balance by representing both Earth and Water Elements. Strength, success are its magickal influences. 

I love dragons, and I included them as today's mythological being. Myrrh essential oil is simmering above one dragon as today's perfume in lieu of incense. A small bowl of red salt represents both Earth and Fire Elements. Lastly, if you look closely, I inscribed a bindrune representing today's Runes on the white candle holders. Bindrunes are really cool to make by combining runes together..sort of like reducing numbers to their lowest common denominator. They represent the blending of today's magickal influences using my favorite divination tool. I love Runes..whether they be Futhark, Witch or anything else. Symbols, numbers..they all have meaning and frequency, so I always include them.

We're all part of the same God/dess energy, whether in human form or otherwise. In my view, the altar represents balance and harmony, in ourselves and in the world around us. Beginning each day by creating one is a wonderful reminder and helps my focus for the remainder of the day. And I always learn something. 

~ Blessed Be! ✵☽✺☾✵

Runecasting - Celtic Cross

A Celtic Cross is used in Rune divination when you want more information about whatever you're concerned about. Some Celtic Crosses draw six runes, and some draw ten. Following are the positions and their respective meanings. Typically the 1st rune is underneath the second, with the second rune in a horizontal crossed position over the rune. I depicted it to the side for visibility sake.

1. Heart of the matter
2. Opposing factor or primary obstacle
3. Root cause
4. Known influences
5. Past influences
6. New circumstances or coming influences
7. Your self and your current state of mind or position
8. Surrounding environment
9. Guidance
10. Outcome

In the first position, Sowilo speaks of energy made manifest. In other words, goals, changes we want to see in ourselves, anything that can be achieved using small, incremental changes. 

Fehu, standing in opposition, suggests that the status quo may stand in the way of positive change. We can either approach issues allowing luck to govern the outcome, or we can take charge of the situation, manifesting action from positive energy. Fehu also suggests ownership and debt which, when applied to the self, may not indicate tangible property or possessions, but instead holding on to old beliefs that no longer serve the changes we want to see.

In the root cause position, Berkano indicates birth, rebirth, emergence, and sanctuary. Our environment can shape our beliefs and Berkano suggests that change may be about reassessing those beliefs and emerging into a more fundamental viewpoint. Perhaps sanctuary is achieved by clearing out all the nonsense.

Known influences, in the fourth position, is reflected in Raidho, the journey we take when making decisions. Our inner, moral compass is at work, influencing our decisions based upon our knowledge of right and wrong.

Wunjo is in the fifth position of past influences. Joy, harmony, unity are influences represented by Wunjo and it's telling us to focus on those as a basis for future change.

New influences, in the sixth position, is represented by Jera. Patience is stressed, which makes sense given Sowilo in the first position. If small changes are to be introduced, then clearly in our immediate gratification world, patience will be necessary. Adopting an almost indifferent attitude may be key.

Ehwaz depicts the individual's current state of mind or position on the issue at hand. Trust, partnership, love, friendship are on the mind of the individual. There may be trust issues in a current partnership that need reevaluating. This makes the influences of patience that Jera suggests even more important. Staying present in the moment and not reacting impulsively is indicated.

The current surrounding environment is reflected by Kenaz, the rune to guide the individual on his or her quest. Discovery happens with Kenaz stressing knowledge as power. It offers us the opportunity to reforge our beliefs, creating anew who we want to become.

Inguz provides us with guidance. It's the seed of ideas, knowledge..the process of thought. It's creation, consciousness. Sowilo tells us to proceed incrementally. Inguz guides us to do just that, with a small seed of an idea blossoming into new creation or being. It suggests alignment with Source as a means of integrated centeredness.

In the outcome position, we have Uruz, the rune of becoming. Survival, growth, life force are all represented by Uruz. It suggests that whatever changes we want to make will result not just in our survival, but in control over our lives as we do so. Change isn't always easy, but Uruz indicates that it's part of the natural progression of our lives. Staying present and remaining non-judgmental will keep us undeterred on the path of becoming as we gently move through our lives.

I rarely begin a casting with a specific question. Instead, I simply ask what the runes would like me to know. It's amazing how prescient they can be. And I always learn something.

~ Blessed Be!

Bind Runes and Witch Names

Words have power, so it follows that names do as well. There exists such a thing in Wicca known as a witch name. It's used during rituals and is personal and meaningful. Some Wiccans have more than one name. One is reserved for inner work and the other is reserved for outer work. In other words, one is private and one is public. Numerology is involved in its selection, as is whatever dieties, animals, crystals, elements, etc. one might be drawn to. Witch names can be revealed during initiation, or if you're Solitary like me, you create your own. Some reveal their names, some don't. I happen to be one that doesn't. But I do love rune divination and one of the cool things to do with it is to create a bind rune of your name. So, I thought I would do that with my witch name. It ended up being prescient to say the least.

Bind runes are symbols you essentially bind together from whatever runes you happen to be using. I approach it in the same manner as reducing numbers. I find the commonalities and go from there, trying to create the smallest version of the bind rune possible. Balance is encouraged without being redundant. Writing out my witch name brought forth the following runes:

• Tiwaz - The god, Tyr - justice, balance, self-sacrifice, rational thinking - represents fundamental cosmic law as true reality and our alignment to that reality.
• Wunjo - Joy - understanding, community, harmony, leadership, connectedness - indicates a concern for others and their well-being, and recognizes that feeling joy is our strongest desire.
• Isa - Ice - stillness, self-preservation, focus, ego-awareness - expresses individuality, yet superficially, reflects illusion.
• Laguz - Water - unconscious, psychic power, oneness of all, imagination, dreams, collective consciousness - water symbolizes life as it flows along, our real foundation that exists outside the body, also involves Karma or Wyrd as actions have consequences.
• Othala - Homeland - inheritance, oneness, spiritual awareness and power, paradise - separation fades away leaving only oneness and unity as we accept responsibility for our home and for each other.
• Mannaz - Humankind - intelligence, thought, mind, service to others, incorporation of the divine into the everyday - how we perceive the world has consequences, so the emphasis is on harmony and community and what kind of world we, as co-creators with Source, create. Responsible behavior stemming from responsible thought.
• Nauthiz - Need - necessity, conflict, effort, consequences of behavior, doing whatever needs doing - the focus here is on what we actually need for survival and not neglecting our most basic needs. Recognizes the difference between survival needs and other desires.

Your witch name should reflect who you are and what matters to you. As an empath, I experience the energetic connection between myself and others. I not only believe we are all one, I know we are. I experience it. Our collective attention is here on this Earth, in this universe, to learn how to relate to each other in harmony and unity. Justice, self-sacrifice, community are all part of that process.

Underlying everything is Laguz, which tells us that our real existence is outside the body, and that everything we do here has consequences. This is a particularly important truth to an empath. We're aware of the collective consciousness that unites us all and that we have a responsibility to embrace the principles of Tiwaz including balance, justice and aligning with fundamental cosmic law while here in this life.

We have our basic human needs that Nauthiz refers to. But anything else is a choice, and we incorporate Mannaz to bring the divine into our everyday lives so that we behave responsibly toward each other. A sense of community results in joy, or Wunjo, which is our strongest desire.

The duality we explore in this life includes expressions of individuality which are not necessarily conducive to oneness and Isa tells us to be aware of the superficiality of the ego and to not let it deter us from embracing all as one. Oneness is preferable to self-preservation and sometimes this takes focus and a stillness so that we can see reality over the illusion.

Othala, the final rune, reinforces our reality of oneness and shows us that as separation fades away, our essential reality becomes all that is. As above, so below.

Runes are so fascinating. Using them offers clarity and perspective in our daily lives. I had no idea when I chose my name that it would contain all of this. I never thought of it in terms of runic divination. Both my date of birth and my birth name reduce down to 9. It also reflects two things I feel connected to. Looking at the runes and their meanings, it's everything I believe. I love synchronicity. Your witch name should reflect alignment with Source. I believe mine does..

~Blessed Be! 

Ostara Runecasting

Othala, Thurisaz, Ihwaz

Today is Ostara, the Spring Equinox, when day and night are of equal length. Wiccans as well as Pagans celebrate the first day of Spring as a time of new beginnings and rebirth. I thought I would honor Ostara by doing a runecasting. Typically, when I do a three rune casting, I'm looking at either the landscape of the coming week, or at Issue, Action and Outcome. Today, however, I'm going to look at Body, Mind and Spirit.

Othala, an Earth Element rune, represents our home, and could also indicate property or possessions. From the Body position, that would indicate our home on Earth. But are we a body with the goal of spirit, or are we spirit living in a body? Where do we actually begin? In my view, we are actually Spirit, part of the collective consciousness created by Source Energy, or God if you prefer. While a portion of our collective attention is here experiencing duality, we primarily exist in the Perfect Oneness of All That Is. And by that I mean Source Energy or God. Othala also represents a connection to our Higher Self. It is there that we should feel at our most grounded and secure. 

Thurisaz, a Fire Element rune, in the Mind position, involves protection, self discipline, tactical and prudent thinking. It also suggests awakening, and the new beginnings represented by Ostara. This projection of duality in which we find ourselves can be tricky to navigate when we forget who we really are. We become caught up in the ego's machinations that further separation. Clarity of thinking, and the positive change that can result from purposeful action, can keep us focused on the task at hand. The task, however, is not a burden as our only function here is forgiveness. We see past the drama of the world and remember that we are One. Thurisaz gives us the self discipline to remain focused on extending love and forgiveness instead of focusing on ego-based drama.  

Each situation then becomes an opportunity to live consciously, embracing each new situation free from fear. In the Spirit position, Ihwaz, a rune of all Elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water, and Spirit, suggests that we are not victims of this world. Our connection to Source Energy assures this fact. As A Course In Miracles states: Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God." Representations of ego, therefore, are not real because they're not reflections of Source or God. Of course, we still experience these things here, but it's how we view them that matters. If we continue to engage with others in drama, the ego wins and we all lose. If, however, we engage with others as if each encounter is a holy one, then old negative energies clear away, leaving only love in their place. Uncomfortable behavior by others is only error..and error can be replace by truth.

We remember who we are, stay focused on extending love and forgiveness, and remain in the Perfect Oneness of All That Is. A wonderful way to begin anew! 

~ Blessed Be ~


NOTE: The above quotation if from A Course in Miracles. Foundation for Inner Peace.

Sunday Runecasting - 2 March 2014

Left to right: Tiwaz, Fehu, Inguz

In today's three rune spread, I drew Tiwaz (Issue), Fehu (Action), and Inguz (Outcome). Representing cosmic law, justice, balance and right-minded thinking, Tiwaz, in the Issue position, reminds us that our moral compass should be driving our decisions. By remaining in alignment with Source, our decisions will be just. A Course in Miracles tells us that "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God". It's our premise..our beginning point, from which everything else emerges. It's our foundation and our guide while we exist here. It speaks to the notion that we should only embrace or place value on what reflects Source or God.

Fehu, in the Action position, represents cattle or wealth, and the status or position that may follow. It's also the point at which individuality starts coming into play. When we're born into this existence, we're dependent upon our parents and the world around us for our survival. Fehu depicts our transition away from dependency to independence. As we begin to own things, wealth may accumulate, which tends to create more separation between people. True wealth, has less to do with acquiring possessions than with the awareness that we cannot exist independent from each other, and the understanding that we are, in fact, One. Wealth in the hands of a few can result in the oppression of many, making the drawing of Tiwaz even more significant as issues of poverty and income inequality affect so many. Remaining in alignment with Source, wealth becomes a means by which unity is achieved rather than the separation that a focus upon duality, or individuality, often brings. 

Tiwaz stresses balance and harmony as we progress through life. And how we do that matters. Inguz, in the Outcome position, represents the seed, or beginning of life..in short, creation. As co-creators with Source or God, we can create a world of duality and all its ego-related problems, or we can create a world that expresses the Perfect Oneness of All That Is. We exist in Reality as One Mind. This universe is a projection of our Collective Consciousness that has our attention at the moment. Inguz represents the continuing process of creation within that projection. When we prefer duality as a basis for creation, we tend to make quite a mess of things. With duality, the outcome is seemingly up for grabs. In Oneness, it's assured.

Runes give us pause. They make us consider a perspective that can improve how we relate to the world. I see them as remembrance of spiritual truth which we can then use to extend love and unity to everyone, making every encounter a holy one.

~ Blessed Be!

Note:  The above quote, as always, was from A Course in Miracles. Foundation for Inner Peace. 2007

Sunday Runecasting - Feb. 23, 2014

Left to Right: Uruz, Tiwaz and Raidho

Uruz (Issue), Tiwaz (Action) and Raidho (Outcome) are today's three-rune casting. Uruz is considered the rune of becoming and survival; Tiwaz is our moral compass, respect for truth, and alignment with Source; Raidho reflects our journey. 

Uruz is thought made manifest. It's the world in which we live as well as our own bodies that make up the world. It's how we influence the environment to not only survive but to also flourish as we do so. The downside of Uruz is, with all our efforts to survive, we tend to hang onto old patterns of behavior that don't serve us well and negatively affect how we go forward. If our lives are governed by the past, it's difficult to respond appropriately to issues that arise.

It would seem then the casting is suggesting with Tiwaz that old patterns, while necessary for a particular time, need to be viewed dispassionately to assess their true value. Do they reflect an alignment with Source? In other words, is any of this working anymore? Have we made everything about us, or are we still capable of extending love to others? If we are in alignment with Source, then Tiwaz suggests that our moral compass should drive right minded behavior. As a navigation rune, Tiwaz guides us as we navigate our messy lives, emphasizing ethical and moral behavior, urging us to stand up for what is right. Sometimes survival is more about letting go of what we think we need and letting the needs of others prevail. Tiwaz reminds us to look at the big picture and not just at ourselves.

Raidho represents life's journey and positive forward momentum, and reflects the inner moral compass that is reinforced by Tiwaz. It encourages us to actually live our lives, instead of waiting for one thing or another to happen before we can go about the business of living. With Tiwaz as our guide, the journey will take full advantage of the positive energy that Raidho expresses, mindful of the fact that life is about change and we should be ready for anything. We live in the present and take responsibility for our choices.

In closing, thought creates form. The form we create can reflect an alignment with Source where positive growth is assured, or it can be something else entirely. Our journey..our choice. Choose wisely..

~Blessed Be! )O(

Sunday Runecasting

Today's runecasting brought forth (left to right) Thurisaz, Uruz, and Dagaz. A three-rune casting involves Issue, Action and Outcome. Runes are broken down into three categories or Aetts. Both Thurisaz and Uruz are from the first Aett that deals with our own personal development as well as how we relate and integrate into the larger community surrounding us. Dagaz, is from the third and last Aett which deals with universal law, truth and ultimately, our true Reality. In short, today's runecasting reflects the process we go through to awaken.

Drawing Thurisaz as the Issue rune, suggests that there may be some assumptions or beliefs that need reassessing. Powerful in its nature, Thurisaz indicates that focus and intention are necessary to look clearly upon whatever is standing in the way of our personal growth. Uruz, in the Action position, is considered to be the rune of becoming and survival, but it doesn't always accept challenges well, so drawing Thurisaz gives us the protection and encouragement we need to cast aside old patterns of behavior that create separation from others and a lack of peace in ourselves. Uruz illustrates that our lives are always in flux and at times, immediate action is necessary for either our physical or emotional survival. Thurisaz suggests that judgment isn't always the answer, giving us the push we sometimes need to face up to what's troubling us as well as to make the changes we need for growth. 

Dagaz sits in the Outcome position of the runecasting. It speaks of our essential Reality as part of the Oneness of God. Our entire reason for existing in this projection we call a world, is to remember we are part of that eternal Oneness. We are projected Thought and a part of our Mind is here, experiencing the idea of duality, which actually doesn't exist at all. We have created the idea of time and all that goes with it, to experience again and again, the drama of being in human form. Because it feels real, it is real to us. Dagaz represents the Collective Mind that sits outside of time, observing all that is going on in this projection. The Collective Mind could, at any time, choose to stop looking at this world and simply remain part of the Mind of God, but for whatever reason, we're not done yet. Dagaz reminds us that as our fully conscious and natural state, our spiritual awakening is the only outcome possible . It's the Mind's final rejection of the ego and the remembrance of our Oneness that results in our awakening.

Sometimes we need a swift kick in the behind to wake up to what we already know. We can play out the drama, or we can see the essential holiness in others. And whether or not we accept it, our time here is always a journey back to Oneness. And that's pretty cool when you think about it..

~ Blessed be.

Sunday Runecasting..

Before I begin, I wanted to talk about the amethyst rune set I used today. Typically I use a set I made from an apple wood branch from my backyard. I felt compelled to use the amethyst set today and after pulling the runes that I did, I understand why. Amethyst is a stone of protection and spirituality. It brings a sense of inner peace and helps attract positive energy while dispelling negative energy. Since I tend to absorb energy if I don't shield properly, wearing amethyst is helpful in that regard. 

Today, I pulled Wunjo, Ehwaz, and Fehu. I rarely pull Wunjo, and since it's a positive omen, I was eager to begin my interpretation. Wunjo represents joy, and a feeling of connectedness to others. It signifies friendship and shared identity with others. In a three rune spread, we have issue, action, and outcome. Wunjo suggests that awakening to our oneness with others will result in our collective joy.

Ehwaz emphasizes cooperation, teamwork, partnership and love. It suggests extending love and unity to others, seeing in them their holiness instead of reacting with ego-mindedness. We accomplish this by remaining in the present and refusing to allow the illusory past to influence that moment, preventing the judgment that typically happens. Instead, by choosing love and forgiveness, we further awaken as we join with our brothers and sisters, instead of judging and attacking them.

The result is Fehu, or wealth. Of course, it's not monetary wealth, but true spiritual wealth which occurs when we awaken to the fact that we are part of the collective Oneness that is God. Fehu also indicates freedom as well, which this awakening also represents. Abandoning judgment, we are free to choose a more loving way of seeing each other. Monetary wealth doesn't reflect this. True wealth is reflected in our Oneness.

We begin in joy..choose to see holiness in everyone..resulting in our true wealth in the Oneness of God.. What a lovely rune spread!

Today's Runecasting..Dagaz, Hagalaz, Uruz

In today’s runecasting, I cast  Dagaz, Hagalaz and Uruz. Dagaz suggests a shift in awareness or perspective, as well as increased growth. Hagalaz, a rune of transformation, illustrates that not everything is within our control and sometimes forces are at work that seem to destroy. But not all destruction is negative per se. Sometimes destruction is necessary so that new growth can take place.  Uruz suggests creation or rebirth, so it’s easy to see the message from the runecasting today.

All around us we see a quickening of the world. We’re seeing a shift in perspective take place. Oneness is our reality. Old beliefs are being cast aside, replaced by beliefs of inclusion. But the pull to remain the same, as evidenced in Hagalaz, is everywhere. We see it in our many conversations about how we can live together in love and unity.  We seem to be confused about our role in this life. Another child died in Colorado at the hand of her stepfather, a terrible accident to be sure..yet we haven’t yet agreed that we can stop this without losing who we are, when in fact, in doing so, we actually embrace who we are.  Our oneness. And that’s the rebirth Uruz suggests. A rebirth that will heal our world, filled with compassion, love and unity. A rebirth that will let us all remember that we are one family and that each of us is necessary.

The push toward progressive thinking, the new Pope's inclusive nature, the growing rejection of the surveillance state, the rejection of war, the outrage at how women are treated in this country and around the world, along with all the attitudes that strive to keep oppression in charge, all represent this conversation we're having. The push and pull of right thinking versus wrong thinking; of unity versus division are part of our rebirth as a loving creation.

We haven’t lost our way..we only forgot for a while.

The First Year in Review..

I started this blog one year ago today on the advice of my youngest son. He felt my Facebook page was too activist and I should have another, more appropriate place to express my views. I guess he didn't realize I could post everything I write here on my wall. In any event, I have to thank him because I really like my blog. I appreciate everyone who has read any of it. I named it Eternally Dazed and Confused because typically that's how I feel. I decided I would write about the things I care about..women's issues, the whole country is going down the crapper, medical cannabis, and things like that. Then came the more metaphysical stuff such as runecasting, The Course, and empath abilities. 

A year ago, I didn't know that four months later my business would end and our lives would be turned upside down. I also didn't know that ultimately, that would be a really great thing. I also would learn that I didn't have the friends I thought I had. That was far more difficult than losing the business. But it's always better to know the truth about things, and evidently their friendship was tied to our business and not to us. And that's okay. Things get confusing when your business is your life. And now that I'm happily unemployed, clarity has finally returned.

I've had time during this year to return to my study of A Course in Miracles. It's not that I stopped studying, I just didn't finish the text. So I, along with my husband, began the text again and I'm almost finished. He listened to the entire book on his IPod and is currently on his second time around. The Course is such a departure from how most people view themselves and the world around them, that it's a blessing that he has embraced it as I have. He might as well since he's been exposed to it for the last thirty years. It's nothing if not familiar.

Studying the Course has also helped me as an empath. Constant awareness of emotions surrounding me tends to leave me feeling drained. It would be nice if it were empowering, but it's not. The noise gets loud and I usually check out until it quiets down. From the Course, I realize that it's really a focus problem. I've always been too distracted by everything that goes on around me. It's sort of like going to a craft store. I have no idea where to start. Creative energy is everywhere and there's so much to look at! The only thing I can do is to start at one end and go through each aisle until I find what I came there for. Empaths are like kids in a candy store with energy. We absorb everything unless we shield ourselves from it. So over the last year, I have been learning how to shield myself more effectively. And that's been a lifesaver.

In July, my abuser died and his wife is now sending me the bills associated with his death. Although we've never met, she had decided that his ultimate victim should be responsible for everything. Nice lady. She apparently also tried to replace his name with her own on my brother's house, which he owned jointly with my brother. She also didn't tell us about a couple of related bank accounts, one of which, unbeknownst to me, I was an actual owner of, and the other we were both beneficiaries of. Unfortunately for her, however, when she alerted the bank of his death by cancelling our father's debit card, the bank contacted my brother to let him know the funds need dispersing. Having no idea what this was about, he contacted the wife and she went nuts.  Grandmaster Parker used to say something to the effect, "greed is the seed of destruction". He was right. It is. So the bills come. If they don't come directly from her, then I contact anyone I have to and explain the situation, and then threaten to sue them if they bother me again. Because after all, daughters who are molested by their fathers don't have to be responsible for the death bills. Wives are. Particularly in community property states. Which they lived in when he died. Women might want to think before marrying late in life. It's telling when daughters cut off contact with their fathers and no one will explain why.

All in all, even with the bumps in the road, the summer was awesome. I reconnected with my home, worked out in my greenhouse, did all the flood irrigation of our pasture, and I'm walking eight miles each day. Yes, eight. Four years ago, my RA had become so bad that I thought I would die. I was in what would become a year long flare. Half way through, I became a cannabis patient. January 2011 was the beginning of the end of my twelve year nightmare. I could barely walk during those years, making even going to the grocery store difficult. Excruciating pain 24/7 is exhausting, so to be able to walk eight miles a day is pretty cool. Unfortunately, Kenpo is another story. I have so much damage from the RA, that I find working out to be tricky, so that's going more slowly. The last thing I need to do is injure myself, but I've been a Black Belt for almost twenty-three years. And not being able to move like one for twelve of those years was devastating. Baby steps..

I hate platitudes, but the one about losing everything to find what you actually need is true. We all get so caught up in illusions that seem to drive our chaotic lives when we need to choose peace. We're only victims of our chaotic lives if we choose to be. We forget how much power we actually have to extend love and unity to others. Anything else doesn't deserve our attention at all..

Thanks for reading! Your comments are most welcome and so very appreciated!

Sunday/December Runecasting 12/1/13

Nawthiz (need), Tiwaz (cosmic law), and Berkano (life force)

"Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing real exists. Herein lies the peace of God." ACIM

Today's runecasting is interesting. It speaks to some things I've been thinking about lately. Nawthiz refers to need or necessity. What do we actually need to exist in this life? We fill our minds with illusions of what we need, but actually, we need none of those things. We invent a life that is filled with chaos and judgement and forget that we are spirit incarnated here for such a short time. Since our true nature is one of spirit, and not of the body, we evidently get distracted and create whatever mess we choose. But choice has nothing to do with need and that's where the conflict arises. Need is defined by the Creator, not by us.

Tiwaz refers to basic or fundamental universal law. These are the truths that are defined by the Creator, or Source Energy. They are the basis for our moral compass that some in this life find so challenging. Tiwaz speaks of balance and justice, and sacrifice for the common good. It challenges us to engage in "right thinking" and reflects a universal set of truths or laws that govern everyone..even when we don't cooperate. The action is, in effect, to remain true to the blueprint given us by the Creator.

Berkano, or life force, represents birth, rebirth, emergence and sanctuary. Although typically I would interpret this as a rebirth of sorts, in light of the Course, it feels more like an emergence into the sanctuary of the higher self. It's like a clearing away of the mist that has been a veil before our vision for so long.

Only the needs of spirit are real..remaining focused on universal truth, nothing else matters..and in remembrance we emerge peacefully into the light.


You Sister In Oneness,

~ Jan

Sunday's Runecasting.

As a student of A Course in Miracles, I relate my work with runes to the basic premise of the Course.. “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God”. A three rune spread works well for this purpose.

I felt moved to use an amethyst set of runes today instead of my usual apple wood set. Amethyst is a stone of protection and spirituality, fostering spiritual growth and a connection to the divine. Today, I pulled Fehu, Jera, and Dagaz. Typically, a three rune spread will involve Issue, Action and Outcome.

Fehu is represented by cattle, or the herd. It’s the first rune of the first Aett. It’s where we begin in life. We begin our corporeal existence as one of the herd. Fehu suggests that we become more independent with time. Time is the key word here which will have more meaning when I discuss the significance of Jera. Fehu also represents wealth, earned income, position, status. But as we know from the Course, these things are illusions created by the ego, using the past to judge, furthering the separation from each other and the Creator. In my view then, Fehu suggests that true wealth is spiritual in nature and cannot be threatened by the illusory nature of this world.

Jera is represented by time..in this case the Year. It suggests the universe is indifferent to what goes on here. Another way of saying this, is that the Creator makes no judgement. The Course teaches that judgement belongs to the Creator and not to us. That does not mean that the Creator sits around judging any of us..because She does not. Time is attached to the past and, therefore, judgement. Time is a linear construct, relevant only to this world. It doesn’t exist in spirit. It is of the ego; therefore, it is not real. Because as we know, “nothing unreal exists”. Fehu represents not only growth and development, but also erosion and decay...the essential impermanence of this corporeal existence.

Dagaz is represented by the light of Day. Transcending time, it suggests realization or enlightenment. One would think this is the result of a journey, and I suppose in one sense it is, except it’s a journey to what already is. It’s a shift in perspective, or perhaps a realization that perspective is judgement and not relevant at all. We live along the horizontal plane in this life, but as we realize what we actually are, miracles collapse time, and eventually all that’s left is the vertical plane where we truly reside. That’s what’s meant by As Above, So Below..the oneness of the vertical plane where All are One.  Where “herein lies the peace of God”.

To sum up, we are one. We can delude ourselves into thinking this isn’t true, or that it takes time to work out all of our problems so that we can then become one. Actually, the problems we believe we have are actually illusion. The Creator doesn’t even see them. Our wealth, our Fehu is spiritual in nature. It’s our reality that never ceases, no matter how hard we try to forget it. The action in this case, Jera, shows us that time is an illusion and we have only to remember who we are. Time collapses and we move closer to truth. Which brings us to the outcome, Dagaz. It is who we are. We live in the peace of God because we are the peace of God. 

This was a wonderful runecasting today. 

Quotation from A Course In Miracles..

Saturday's Runecast relating to A Course in Miracles

To recap a bit, I began this blog last December. Over the past year or so I've experienced so much drama..and not of my own making. Well, I'm sure I participated, I just didn't cause any of it. So there's that. My landlord evicted us from our commercial space, which also ended our business. We couldn't find a place that was within our budget and given the seasonal nature of our business, we simply didn't feel that we could sign a lease with someone else without knowing how we would pay for it. Neither of us is irresponsible like that, so we took the burden that we're still coping with, both financially and emotionally.

In July, my father died who was also my abuser. Six weeks later, my next door neighbor apparently thought it was just fine and dandy to send his friend over wearing a pistol in plain sight to talk about getting irrigation water on his "crop". I had no idea who that guy was and now we don't speak to the neighbors anymore. If my neighbor had actually done his irrigation over the years, he would know that the properties are sloped in such a way that run off will get on his property. It was why he agreed that we could put a culvert in our driveway so that the run off could irrigate the lower part of his field where water didn't reach. Well, water could get there if they ever re-dug the ditches and actually irrigated that section, but that's another story. So, now I'm the bad guy who apparently needs to be confronted with weapons. Needless to say, now they're allowed only five feet from either side of my ditch and that's it. They're not allowed to be anywhere else on my property, especially at my front door...with a gun.

After my abuser died, his wife began sending me the bills associated with his death. I cut off contact with him over twenty years ago because I had to. The pressure became too great and I wasn't functioning at all. So back to the bills. I've never met this woman. At first, she used her own name in the return address section of the envelope she used. Then, she used his. Time out for a panic attack.. okay..breathing better now. It's as if my abuser is reaching out from the grave to abuse me some more using his wife as proxy. I haven't responded to her. They keep coming.

And then I received a bill from a hospital with my abuser's name on it and my address. She has evidently contacted these places and told them to send the bills to me. I called the hospital while in a panic attack - my heart raced so much I could barely breathe. They were really nice to me and they took care of changing the address back. They won't be bothering me again. Then the helicopter service sent me a bill as well. Another call, another panic attack. They understood as well. I told them everything. I don't go to the mailbox anymore.


I've worked with runes for over thirty years, but not consistently. The same is true for A Course in Miracles. Since losing our business, I've felt compelled to return to the study of both to find my center again. I had no idea all these other things would happen as well. 

Today, I pulled Nauthiz, Fehu, and Ehwaz in a three rune spread. A three rune spread is useful when needing insight on Issue, Action and Outcome. Anymore, that's a daily event for me...

Nauthiz refers to need or necessity. It's the struggle to discern need from desire and the conflict that results when we choose wrongly. The Course would suggest that it's the difference between the ego and our focus on God or source energy. It's living along the horizontal plane instead of the vertical. The Course says that if something isn't of God, it's not real. So in light of the Course, Nauthiz refers to where my focus should now be..away from events caused by man and on the understand that:

Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God.

Fehu, as the action, represents the collective, or in the case of the Course, the sonship. The sonship refers to mankind. Fehu's energy moves us from the pressure to remain with the expectations of the whole to individuality. Fehu also refers to wealth. But wealth doesn't always mean money. Sometimes, as in my case, it refers to something more metaphorical. Abundance can also mean what we give to others. The Course continually brings us back to extension of love and unity as a means of atonement..of bringing the sonship to wholeness, again, living along the vertical rather than the horizontal plane. Fehu also talks about debt or baggage. What do we owe each other as we remember each of us is holy, and an essential part of the sonship? Removing the veil of perception is required so that the individuality Fehu speaks of doesn't make us forget our responsibility to the sonship. If anything, it reinforces that responsibility by illustrating that true freedom and wealth is found in unity with others.

Ehwaz, the outcome, refers to trust and partnership. It's the ultimate outcome of the struggle represented by Fehu. Mastering our reactionary emotions and behavior, and uniting with others is key to a positive outcome. It's also key to our survival, according to the Course. It's understanding that if it's not of God, it's not real, and we can all move past the hurt and the pain and bring about the atonement. We do this by seeing everyone as holy and without error. It involves not judging others, for to do that is to judge ourselves.
 
This runecasting is significant particularly when considering what's happening throughout the world today. It essentially follows the three lines above. Nauthiz becomes..nothing real can be threatened..Fehu becomes..nothing unreal exists..and Ehwaz becomes..herein lies the peace of God. We must understand that the reality is we're all one family. As such, we need each other. As we begin to see this truth as fundamental, the need for separation will will end and compassion will be a given.

And as for me.. my struggle is to see that the past doesn't need to control my present. And that the only person who defines me is me. I'm stronger than I ever believed I could be, because I'm still here. I choose how I define myself. No one else. I survived. And that's everything.


Excerpts from A Course In Miracles, Combined Volume. Foundation For Inner Peace. 2007