Order:
1) invite elements in the create sacred space
2) light Aine’s candle And invite her to the space
3) place necklace between candle and me
4) read the rewritten poem & burn it
5) wear necklace
6) close (thank Aine, release elements, blow out candle)
***notes:
Aine i need that -> Aine id love that
The line or so before that one I also say love. Change it to be more cohesive
The story I will use is the classic story of the garden of Eden, however it is specifically the end of that myth that I want to examine through Sod (esoteric) perspective. After Adam and Eve have eaten the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, God speaks to someone about why they should be cast out into the world.
Then the Lord said "See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" - therefore the lord sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken." - GEN 3:22-23
The annotations at the bottom summarizes this as "The Lord God's fear of humans becoming godlike...The term 'us' probably refers to the heavenly court." This is the second time that The Lord God has used the term "us" - the first was when he said "Let us make human kind in our image" (GEN1:26). Now... the annotations are a very literal/Peshat interpretation. I however want to dig a bit deeper, pas the moral of "right and wrong because God said so", and into the deeper spiritual meaning.
As a pagan I believe in multiple gods and there are hints every so often that The Lord God is not the only God in heaven - just the only one humans are supposed to worship. Even the annotation cannot discredit this - both times in Genesis where The Lord God said "us" the notes could only say that he probably refers to the heavenly court. However - we know that angels making up the heavenly court do not resemble humans at all and are terrifying to behold (hence the constant "do not be afraid" greeting when they come bearing messages). So it stands to reason that the other gods that The Lord God is speaking with exist. However, this is still once again a literal view.
I want to go a step deeper and focus on is the fear that The Lord God has of humans becoming godlike, and the connection to the two magical trees in the garden. We know of Two trees that humans were not supposed to eat from, The Tree of Knowledge (of right and wrong) and the Tree of life (immortality). God is so afraid of Eve and Adam becoming equal to him that he lies to keep them ignorant and submissive (GEN 3:2-4), then out of fear of their potential power he banishes them before they have a chance to fulfill that potential. For me personally, this speaks to the esoteric knowledge and power found in nature.
These trees represent a path to reaching godhead (def: divine nature or essence). Humans are already halfway there after Eve took from the tree of knowledge - symbolizing that humans are naturally halfway capable of reaching our own divinity simply through the exploration of knowledge and understanding what is good and what is evil. This is a common thread amongst various religious and spiritual denominations - such as Buddhism and Taoism that we've explored and their emphasis on the good and wise way to live. (Whether one can attain godhead through only good is up for debate.)
The other half of our work to reach godhead is not so easily reached.
Since Eve and Adam were cast out of the garden (which I would say represents the spiritual plane/otherworld) and are forced to toil in the earth (the physical plane/mortal world) there is much to keep them from pursuing godhead, if in fact they are even aware that it was a possibility. Many people do not seem to realize it is a possibility or if they dare to realize it seem to think it is a sin to aim for. For humans to fulfill their potential spiritually, to transmute their divine soul from simply human to that of a god, they must find a way back to "Eden". There are too many theories and methods to attempt this to cover - one might say that doing this is successfully rejoining the Tao or reaching Nirvana.
I would look to the story for the answer - if we already have the capacity to get halfway through connection and knowledge given by nature (the tree) then perhaps it is through connection and following nature that we will find our way back to Eden, giving us a chance to "become like one of us" as The Lord God put it.
Okay so symposium week is officially
Mon Feb 24-wed 26th 8am-9pm
Then there is a mixer the night of the 23rd
And a morning coffee and bagel meeting with Dr wheelers class from last semester on the 22nd.
So I could either leave
Saturday the 21st at like… 6am and arrive for the coffee social. Get to say hi to everyone and give hugs.
Then I might sight see for a bit, see what everyone else is doing. See if anyone wants to play your guide… if not, google is a thing! I’ll especially see what Mike has planned, since I’ll be crashing at his house.
Play most of Saturday and Sunday by ear - maybe make it to a chapel in person on campus?
Monday - Tuesday 8am on campus till 9am
Wednesday 8am and then I’ll probably leave around 4/5 and get home about 9/10 and then work on Thursday.
Naturally I’ll do my homework while there and bring my laptop to check work emails. Can help pass any free time
Here are my thoughts.... This would be once I have a brick and mortar location. Until then I would be limited to an online presence and public meeting locations such as library study rooms and parks.
Something like this would be a DREAM
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3-Lakeside-Dr_Columbia_VA_23038_M69569-10277?from=srp-list-card
Business Card/Sign Idea:
Eternal Flame: Interfaith Church
*Flame Logo*
A Community for shared ritual, spiritual care, and spiritual direction
-------------------------------
Quotes that Contribute to Mission:
Services: Shared Ritual and Spiritual Direction
Each book must:
Presentation: Students will post a 5 minute video presentation to share their children’s book in the corresponding Discussion Thread on Canvas. Presentations should include a reading of the book (pictures included!) and a brief summary of the idea they aimed to convey through the story.
I wrote my childrens book around the basic message of Dhammapada 22: how to be good can come in little actions over time. To me this verse or lesson speaks of redemption, as many people think after a troubled past that there is no way to be good or to redeem onself. On a personal note both my mom and I are recovered addicts and when you are in recovery somtimes you have to take life one step at a time, one day at a time, or if you're having a particularly bad day, one minute at a time to prevent yourself from slipping back into harmful habits. No act of resistence, no act of improvement, no act of healing, or work of good is too small. Little by little you move forward in the same way a jar is filled with water one drop at a time.
In my story I focus on other disruptive patterns or habits that might be arising in children, based off how my friends' kids behave. All three of them are starting to develope a sense of independance and stronger ego leading to them developing strong emotions and rising tempers. So I used a reputation for being mean and angry as the "bad" behavior that needs correcting in my story. I played with different options for this, but ultimatley chose to write something all 3 of the kids I am close to would want to read/have read to them. So I aim to have the target age group be between 6-9 years old.
I have noticed that in the many childrens books I have seen at my friends' houses there are books on kindness, on why its important not to bully, on acceptance, but I havn't seen any on self forgiveness and deciding to do better in the future. There have been plenty of books on why not to bully, but I havn't seen any that tells the bully they can change their ways. So I thought this would be an easy addition to teach on goodness and kindness from another perspective, while also hinting at the way anger should not be displayed.
For my book I chose to go back to my own roots. Although I was cut off of it from a very young age, I was originally raised within the indigenous faith. Still to this day it has influence on my beliefs and ways of thinking, one such example is that stories were often told through animals and their medicine. So, I chose to tell my story in a similar way that indigenous fables were told to me as a child. Salamnder was not an animal I was familair with, so I can't speak to its medicine but its metaphysical meaning (which usually is the same or similar) is that of rebirth, change, overcomming obstacles, passion, and inner strength. They are also heavily associated with the element of fire. I also use the owl, which has many aspects to its medicine including wisdom, insight, and guidance as the teacher in the story. I do want to say that I have not been involved in the indigenous community since I was a child and want to apologize if this comes off as offensive in any way. When I think about teaching and childhood this is where my mind goes, so that is why I chose to tell the story this way. Feel free to email me or message me if you feel this was done in error, as I am always open to learning more.
I am Magic,
Lexie,
In class we are learning about Taoism and its various core values; one sticks out to me more than any other: action/non-action or being/non-being. In our lecture a specialist explores various ways to look at what The Tao, the 6th reinforcing this value: "Tao is the original state of the thing." You know my thoughts about how our modern culture is not sustainable to the human spirit and goes against our innate natures.
So we have "tao" - "a way" to reach "The Tao" - "original state". Action/non-action/being/nonbeing is the way of trying to describe the core value of Taoism that pursuing purposeful action is a way of self-undermining. This has a lot to do with the overarching theme of humility and warns against ambition. This seems radical but think about it... ambition is the root of a lot of suffering. We work hard so that we can survive, but the system is set up to feed the ambitions of the wealthy. Greed & ambition go hand in hand... but if we were allowed to just exist we would be in a utopia. There are too many examples to list. Instead of us chasing ambition to change our lives, Taoism would say to exist and what is meant to be pursued will come to you. If you don't accept the identity thrust on you then you will eventually find who you are in your natural state. Action is born out of non action, being is born out of non-being.
Tao Te Ching warns against ambition, taking glory, accruing excessive wealth, using force to form authority... this is clearly about politics. What we have been dealing with today was taking shape in China when the book was written (6th century BC China). This was a feudal era in China, so naturally there was wars and structural changes, caste systems that allowed for corruption and internal power struggles, and a King with total control. The Tao has a lot of critique when it comes to these things... and honestly I wish this was applied more in today's society.
Miss you always,
Pixie
Okay so..... I am thinking of changing my major to Spiritual Direction.
Spiritual Direction and Interreligious Chaplaincy have the same class requirements except for 3 classes:
Chaplaincy:LOLOLOLOLOL
Well... This midterm paper was almost 12 pages but I had to cut an entire section out of it and then play with the margins to keep it within the 7 page limit...
also somehow its 3am. Class ended at 9.
Fuck me.
How the proesentation goes:
1. Give a summary of the reading (The co-leaders can divide the pages for the summary)
2. Raise ONE reflective question the reading evokes within you or offer a critique (i.e. point out weaknesses, and/or strengths) that you have noted and ask for comment from the class. (The co-leaders should bring the question or critique)
You have about 10 mins for your presentation and then you can lead the discussion about 5-10 mins.
Ya know what? I’m watching say yes to the dress and I’m daydreaming again.
I think I’d want a small intimate hand-fasting ceremony, as a commitment ceremony before the gods.
Then have a really big engagement party.
Year and a day later
Have an actual wedding ceremony with the signed certificate and everything with guests. Still want it relatively small, but I would pretty much be doing it for the friends and family. Then a dinner with the wedding party afterward instead of a reception.
I’d want a cruise for the honeymoon~ somewhere where we get to go on excursions and swim in the ocean and just… live and exist together in bliss.
Previously I said Champaign and dusty blue with a burgundy accent… what I’d I change it even more?
Light/dusty blue and champagne, maybe some burgundy accents?
Like I wear a blue dress and my brides maids wear champagne.
Thinking something like this:
With this brides maid dress:
And something like this for my bouquet
Introduction:
Outline:
Option 1: Organized by community - perhaps one day I will end up writing this paper, very in-depth. This one would be too traumatizing to do at the moment as it relies more heavily on Friedman than Wimberly. Given how common Friedman and family systems theory is, I don't doubt it will come back up. Plus I feel this paper would end up being too long.
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As a fiction and poetry writer, I found a great appreciation for Wimberly's method of exploring family systems theory in his book Recalling Our Own Stories. His explanations of the consequences of social triangles and anxious behavior through archetypes was in sharp contrast with Friedman's methodical approach. Wimberly's approach encourages a written story highlighting the consequences of anxious behaviors when gone unchecked, while Friedman examines the fine print as to why such behaviors manifest. I have long associated writing with my spiritual practice and have found writing to be the best method of shadow work (1). Through shadow work one is able to examine their lives and personalities and are able to identify our own mythologies as Wimberly puts it. "By mythology, I mean the beliefs and convictions that people have about themselves, their relationships with others, their roles in life, and their ministry." (Wimberly, 8) Inspired by Wimberly's metaphor, I continue to use vocabulary commonly used amongst modern fiction writers and readers, building on his metaphor and making it my own as I reflect on my own life through the family systems lens.
Thesis sentence for options 1: In this paper I will deep dive into the "myths" and roles that I have played throughout my life in various communities chronologically, focusing on the development of each myth and the consequences of the anxious behaviors they bring, and ending with how my future communities in ministry would be affected if I do not complete my re-authoring of such myths.
Thesis sentence for option 2: In this paper I will deep dive into the various "myths" and roles I have played throughout my life; I will analyze what communities the anxious behaviors arise in, the consequences of such behaviors, the various influential contexts that lead to their development, and end with how my future communities in ministry would be affected if I do not complete my re-authoring of such myths.
Stress is a top contributor to the chronic issue of caregiver burnout found amongst the clergy, which is why self-care has become such an important aspect ( Walker-Barnes, 8). Family systems theory is a unique tool for self-care that one has to examine areas in their life that addresses the cause of the stress as opposed to the symptoms (1). If a clergy member were feeling intense stress in regards to their job, Friedman would suggest that instead of changing jobs to remove the perceived stressor, such as overworking, the best approach would be to look at the connections within the clergy member's system of relationships to see which were forming triangles and adding additional pressure to their job (Friedman, 18). Friedman's approach to family systems theory allows a objective view of a person's life to diagnose and treat anxious behavior, which is vitally important for those called to spiritual service because when there is a dysfunction in a system it will then bleed into other systems such as interactions with care-seekers or congregates unconsciously (Friedman 21). While Friedman's approach looks at the details of the system of a relationship, Wimberly categorizes anxious behaviors into his archetypical myths. As we move forward in this paper, I will use a combination of both approaches to examine my own.
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Other quotes that will come in handy as I describe my role in the communities around me:
PM1001
Mid-Length Project: Ecomap
Pixie Sawyer
Ecomap Reflection: A Genogram Alternative Assignment
Table of Contents
Title page and Ecomap
Introduction: Family Systems Theory
Part 1: Personal Myths
Part 2: Family Myths
Part 3: Ministry Myths
Conclusion: Re-authoring and Self-Care
1) Write a paper describing yourself in its larger cultural, socio-economic, geographic, and historical contexts, including a brief account of your religious history.
3) Examine the strengths and assets, as well as the sources of conflict and challenges, within
your network of important people, close relationships, and key connections.
4) Finally, indicate what you have learned concerning issues you may need to be aware of in
your own interpersonal relational styles and dynamics and in your styles of pastoral/
spiritual care-giving.
Length: 6-7 pages
Organized by Myth
Introduction:
Opening: carrying on the "stories metaphor" and what myths I fall into overall.
Structure of the paper: What Myths I fall into
How the myth developed
the socio-economic, cultural, historical, and religious context involved
Anxieties that occur because of it and how they are addressed
Personal Myths
Examine each myth and how it came to be
how they manifest: behavior, anxieties, conflicts, and consequences (closeness vs distance)
How I self differentiated
"Family" Myths
Examine each myth and how it came to be
how they/might manifest: behavior, anxieties, conflicts, and consequences (closeness vs distance)
How I self differentiated/plan to self differentiate
Ministry Myths
Examine each myth and how it came to be
how they/might manifest: behavior, anxieties, conflicts, and consequences (closeness vs distance)
How I self differentiated/plan to self differentiate
Conclusion:
Summary
Reauthoring and room for improvement
The importance of self care
Citation/Bibliography
Lartey, Emmanuel Y., and Hellena Moon, eds. Postcolonial Images of Spiritual Care:
Challenges of Care in a Neoliberal Age. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2020.
Friedman, Edwin H.. Generation to Generation : Family Process in Church and Synagogue. New York: Guilford Publications, 1985. ProQuest Ebook Central.
Wimberly, Edward P. Recalling Our Own Stories: Spiritual Renewal for Religious Caregivers.
Minneappolis: Fortress Press, 2019. 978-1506454771
