Oracle card reading for September

The first card is number 11 and is titled ‘Elephant’ and is taken from Animal Voices by Chip Richards with the keywords ‘Responsibility, Cooperation and Empathy'. Elephants have one of the closest and most loyal family groups in the world. They live together for up to 80 years. They baby-sit each other’s off-spring and if a mother is unwell, others bring food and protect it until it is well again. When an elephant dies, the others cover it with brush and branches. Passing herds stop to offer respect – even if they did not know the individual. Elephants bring great blessings. Their trumpet reminds you that you are a force for good in the world. Ask for help when you need it and look for ways to help others. Take time to say ‘thank you’ to someone who has helped you. Return the kindness by helping them where you can.

Qabalah

What is Qabalah? 
A Rabbinical mystical Philosophy of ancient origin and handed down by word of mouth, the Qabalah (sometimes spelt Kabbalah or without the 'h' in either spelling) refers to the Creative source by four letters, YHVH, often pronounced as Yehovah, as the name of god was too holy to be spoken. The source is shown as a diagram, a glyph, called the 'tree of life', with ten aspects, from the physical world to the immaterial. These ten aspects, known as sephirot or containers, are, at their highest, altruistic and are required for an ethical life and show the importance of truth, compassion, justice, serenity, wisdom, charity, joy, trust, commitment, and other spiritual values which create a living, thriving tree which provides fruit, materials for building, etc., for the whole of the community. 

Tonglen

In Tibetan Buddhism, a breathing meditation practice of giving and taking, sending and  receiving. It is designed to unite self with others. It is one of the special offerings of the self, with patience, concentration, wisdom, joyous effort for others and ethics and reduces self centredness and increases a sense of self renunciation.

The chant of 'OM'

The word 'om' has several meanings:

• The Sound of All Sounds
• The Sound of the Universe
• The Sound of Creation
• The Beginning of Life

It contains 4 separate parts: ah-oh-mmm and silence. 

Sit comfortably with your back straight. Inhale. On the exhalation begin chanting 'om' . Pause, inhale and exhale and chant again in a regular rhythm and without strain.

Recycle, Renovate and Restore

What should be recycled?

Aluminium foil, batteries, cans and tins, cooking oil, electrical equipment, engine oil, glass, mobile phones, paper, printer cartridges, Tetra Pak cartons, tyres, paint, plastics, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc.
Home composting involves garden leaves, food waste, paper, etc. These biodegradable items can be saved from incineration and will provide good quality soil for the next year. Much of the soil on sale in garden centres is from irreplaceable peat bogs from places such as Ireland, so try to buy, if you must, non peat soil. Limestone pavements are also popular rocks seen in garden centres which are precious natural habitats, and get a water butt for the collection of rainwater.

M. Scott Peck

Who was M. Scott Peck?
Scott Peck lived from 1936 - 2005. He was an American psychiatrist, a Christian, and best selling author. ‘The Road Less Traveled’ and ‘People of the Lie’. These were his most well known books.  His childhood was in New York City and his parents were Quakers. He served in the US Army in Japan as a psychiatrist. Delayed gratification, kindness and authenticity were his basic teachings. 

Daan Van Kampenhout - Shaman

The art of shamanism is a communication between souls. Water, stones, animals and humans, all nature has a soul. Nomadic cultures use trance or dream states to bring balance, empowerment and quality of life to the tribe. Daan, from the Netherlands, uses song to transmit energy and to heal, to elevate consciousness and to unite people. When he was in India, he developed a serious illness and had a series of visions. Melodies were given to him in his dreams. http://daanvankampenhout.com/en/  

Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Who was Rumi? 

His life dated from 1207 - 1273, a writer, teacher, Sufi mystic from Persia. His father was a religious teacher and he studied under a Sufi master, a mystic practice that seeks to unite to the divine within the Godhead, a mystical journey and transpersonal attainment. His work became the basis for the Mevlevi Dervish Order which has music from the Afghan and Iranian traditions. 

Who was Origen of Alexandria?

Who was Origen? I would like to introduce readers to this philosopher. His name was Origen and he lived from 185-254AD. He was a writer and teacher of early Christianity and is considered to be the Father of Christian mysticism. He believed in reincarnation and the three aspects of the trinity, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He believed that those in power should pray, yet not pray for material goods but a better understanding of God. 

What is a Mantra?

 

A mantra is a repetitive group of words, that becomes a prolonged chant. Sometimes spoken and sometimes sung. Sometimes the words have meaning - calling upon a deity for instance - and sometimes they are just a group of words to focus the mind on a topic, such as health or happiness. A well known chant is that of Tibetan Buddhism 'Aum Mani Padme Hum' or 'Om Namashi Vaya' a Hindu chant. The repetitive words of many Christian prayers are also a chant, focussing the mind on devotion and clearing the mind of other thoughts. 

John Stuart Mill

Who was John Stuart Mill? 

He was the son of a great philosopher, James Mill. John Stuart was a British Humanist who lived from 1806-1873 and he developed the 'greatest happiness theory'. He believed that we should work towards the greatest good for all people and that we should cultivate self discipline, courage, conscience, unselfishnes, duty and cleanliness. He believed that there is a struggle between good and evil and believed we should treat others as we wish to be treated. He was a founder of the Unitarianism Church. He was an economist and philosopher of science and reputed to ‘everything’. 

Dr Robin Wood - The Green Shift

 

Dr Robin Wood is a Change Agent (otherwise known as an innovation specialist). Here he is speaking on the Information Channel 212 on Conscious TV about 'The Green Shift'. He invites us to transcend and transform our lives through ownership of our future. 60% of people are living in cities, yet cities are places of pollution and waste. Stop - feel - question! By bucking the current system, we can become an explorer, researcher and activist and examine our choices and become responsible for a collective and sustainable future. He has been a Fellow at the Centre for Management Development at London Business School and at the Institute for Coherence and Emergence and is now working in 35 countries on four continents to increase 'thriveability' in business management.