Anxiety and Panic

Panic attacks are very common and are hugely disabling. People who experience a panic attack often feel that they are going to die. Going outside the house, meeting people, just waking up in the morning to face the day, can trigger an attack. Until a panic attack is defined and dealt with, it is a crushing and terrifying illness. It seems to run in families. Even some doctors do not understand, they hand out tablets which have side effects and can cause addiction. If this is happening to you or someone you know, there is a great deal this person can do to help themselves.

Cargoes - A Poem

Cargoes by John Masefield

I am choosing poems I remember from my childhood...

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir,
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
With a cargo of ivory,
And apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,
Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores,
With a cargo of diamonds,
Emeralds, amythysts,
Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,
Butting through the Channel in the mad March days,
With a cargo of Tyne coal,
Road-rails, pig-lead,
Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.

Taoism

What is Taoism? 
Taoism was founded by a Chinese sage who worked - it is believed - as a librarian, and whose name was Lao Tsu. He lived 2600 years ago in ancient China, at a similar time to when Confucius lived. The teaching of Taoism is received through a book titled the 'Tao Te Ching', (reputedly) written by Lao Tzu who also wrote a large number of poems through which he imparted his teachings. There are many extraordinary myths about his life: that he was born fathered coupling between his mother a shooting star, and that he was born after an 82 year gestation with white hair and a long beard. The aim of the method is to achieve a high meditative and relaxed state, which provides inner harmony, poise and contentment. 

Stalking - A Malicious Hate Crime

Stalking is a crime of aggression that leaves no visible scars. Yet the effects of stalking are severely debilitating on emotional, mental and spiritual levels as they leave the victim feeling increasingly powerless and traumatised. The crime is one of veiled threats, harassment, intimidation, control, intrusion and emotional blackmail and it often occurs over a prolonged period, resulting in accumulated confusion, isolation, alienation, and eventually crisis for the victim. 

Stalking may involve information gathering, importuning, parading a new victim, malicious remarks or behaviour, and upsetting remarks or language. The Readers Digest Universal Dictionary defines stalking as “to move threateningly, to pursue or track stealthily, to transverse threateningly or menacingly.” These definitions provide an example of the type of predatory prowling that perpetrators have towards their prey. 

Notes - Socrates - Karen Armstrong

Precis notes from The Case for God by Karen Armstrong

"An unexamined life is not worth living!" Socrates. 

Socrates did not commit any of his teachings to writing, so we rely on the writings of his pupil Plato (circa 427 - 347). Socrates preferred oral teaching when matters could be discussed and points challenged. He did not like fixed or stridently held opinions. 

Socrates sought not only to inform but also to create in the minds of his students a profound psychological change. Wisdom was an insight not an amassing information. He said he had no interest in teaching people anything because he knew nothing. His students did not come to learn anything but to have an experience and a radical change of mind. His dialogues were a spiritual exercise. Socrates was primarily interested in goodness which, like Confucius, he refused to define. 

Instead of analysing and talking about virtue, he wanted to live a virtuous life! When asked for a definition of justice, he replied “instead of speaking it make it an act of life”. This was only possible because Socrates was authentic and his mission was to awaken genuine self knowledge. Those who came to talk to him were involved in a dialectic of rigourous discipline designed to expose false beliefs,  consequently a conversation with Socrates could be disturbing. He forced students to submit to answering questions concerning their present manner of life and the life they have lived, and he would only discuss subjects that they felt comfortable with. 

From Caroline Myss - A Letter

Hi Everyone,  

Well, I appreciate your feedback on my post yesterday. And now I will offer some feedback, if that’s okay by you, as they say. First, there is something to be said for matters of spiritual conscience – not consciousness – but conscience. That is, there comes a time when good people need to speak up when confronted with the face of evil. If not you, then who? Speaking up is not being “political”; it is an act of conscience. I am not promoting anything political. I am pointing a finger at the decline of the quality of life in our nation, in our leaders, in our society-at-large. If we do not speak up, we will ultimately forfeit the right to speak up at all. If you call the right to speak up political, it is you who are mistaken. And I would ask you, “Why are you not screaming from the rooftop?”

Non Violent Language

 

What is NVC? 

Non violent communication is a new method of dealing with conflict. Often communication can escalate when conflict is not resolved. If you would like to speak with someone in a way which respects their point of view but also gets your point of view across in a way which is not inflationary, this is the way to go about it! 

Calm Down Easily with Zen

No matter what is happening, we do not have to react impulsively, but can learn to respond quietly and appropriately. Giving into automatic negative reactions is usually u productive and it’s important to learn how to diffuse negative emotions. The steps offered are simple, but powerful. The more we practice them the stronger we become.

Scandinavian Lagom

"Moderation, centredness, natural, wellbeing, ease of life, good-enough, middle of the road, sustainable, balance, simplicity, harmony, contentment, and connection".

These words above encompass the Swedish philosophy, called "LAGOM" often translated as 'not too much - not too little'. It is a practice that enjoys social norms. All excess, greed and dysfunctional behaviour does not fit this way of life. Lagom shows consideration towards others and encourages self sufficiency, a comfortable home and work life, and quality relationships. The secret is to take regular breaks for self care and relaxation described as 'fiken' translated as time out. One finds meaning and values when exploring Lagom; contributing and volunteering are important to creating a Lagom society. It is a way of life that is suitable for our future ecological world by caring for the planet, its people and other species. Developed from the 8th century Viking world, we realise the Vikings were not the crazy people we thought they were, but a people who were disciplined, intelligent and caring.

Wendy's Post Bag (C)

Q: I am sure the spirit of my Grandma is speaking to me but I cannot quite hear what she is saying. She passed 3 months ago. What should I do?

Wendy's reply: You are a natural voice hearer, as are many mediums, but it’s too early to develop your natural abilities to hear the words of those in the Afterlife. Your grandma wishes to impart a message to you to let you know she is being healed of her illness and any hurts that occurred during her life, as this is a standard process for all who pass to the spirit realms. She is taking rest, so for her, and for you, as it is still early in your bereavement, so wait at least a year before you learn more about mediumship. 

How Do You Feel?

"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind." -Buddha

Do you feel lucky, happy, positive or grateful? And if not, then what do you feel? Luck is a funny word. I've always thought of it as good fortune. According to Merriam Webster it is a force that brings good fortune or adversity. 

Wendy's Dream Column (2)

Q: Shed Your Inhibitions! I am late for an important event. I can't find my clothes and I can't dress myself. I'm in a muddle. My friends leave without me, and I'm running to catch up. I see them enter a building but when I arrive, I am alone in an empty shed. ID

Wendy replies: I think you've an anxiety about keeping up appearances. Free yourself from living up to anyone else's expectations. Meditate on being appreciated, and being with people who enjoy your company. Use the affirmation: I must live my life to please myself. 

Wendy's Post Bag (D)

Q If I use my tarot or oracle cards, am I more likely to have spiritual dreams? Roberta, Brighton.

Wendy's reply: Yes, these cards will trigger your nightly dreams. When you pay attention to the card images, your unconscious mind becomes activated and it produces spontaneous dream stories while you sleep. If you want to increase the likelihood of dreaming, choose cards that are particularly relevant to what you’d like to generate, such as, for psychic ability, work with the High Priestess card, for advancement at work, The Chariot card, or to increase your energy levels, the Sun card. Place the card in a prominent place and spend a few minutes each day looking at it and thinking about its image. Choose a beautiful and meaningful deck, such as the Isis Oracle or any of the goddess decks, the Oracle of Visions or the Enchanted Tarot, which are my personal favourites.