Thursday, July 31, 2003

 
In light of current events and bru-ha-ha...

WHY IN THE WORLD ARE FOLKS SO THREATENED BY THE IDEA OF GAY MARRIAGE?

My proposal:

Eliminate the concept of state-sanctioned marriage.

Allow "marriage" to remain in the realm of the personal and religious. Every religious body can make thier own decisions about what they will solemnize.

Create REAL loop-hole-free legal documents that are recognized between all states that create the practical safeties that people need: power of attorney, durable health care power of attorney, inheritance, etc. Let folks pick them up from their local government office, fill them out, have them signed by the parties involved, notarized, and filed back with the state. This will grant committed heterosexuals the legal rights they already have through "marriage". It will allow gay couples to have uncontestable rights to appoint their partners to oversee their affairs. It will allow single people the opportunity to appoint appropriate friends or family members to the duties as would be most appropriate. And it would allow senior citizens to do the same without the financial penalties and family complications that come with legal "marriage" right now - as well as the opportunity to easily appoint someone new after the death of a spouse.

I'm thoroughly disgusted with the crap about this issue that is going on right now. The marriage that is being "defended" right now is clearly a religious issue that is important to a few segments of the US population. Fine. Then leave that issue in the hands of denominations, and leave peace of mind and legal security to the law and the courts.

soulspirals 5:45 PM

Monday, July 28, 2003

 
So, I'm back home. It was a long trip - first to the class and then to my parents'. But good.

Elements of Magic was fantastic - as I said before.

I really wasn't sure what to expect. I knew that parts of it would be basic, but was delighted to find that they offered me knew perspectives, experience and challenges. I met some great people, and did some good networking.

Two of the trance exercises that we did really spoke to me in powerful ways. The clear establishment of a astral place of power, and the tangible gifts from Goddess are things that I think I will really be able to work with.

The chakra work was challenging for me, as I've never felt drawn to doing that kind of work. I'm willing to give it some more exploration, though, and made some interesting personal observations in the process.

One of my dearest friends in the world has given me the gift of taking the next of the four core classes. The Pentacle of Iron class is being offered in September, and I now have a way to pay for it! Much love and gratitude and silly tears to her for that.

In the meantime, I'm really fired up about creating a Reclaiming Community here. I have a couple of interested friends and am looking for more. I'm hoping to see a real core group come together to learn and make messy magic together. I think we can do it. I think the time and the place is right. It now comes down to spirit and logistics.

---

soulspirals 2:30 PM

 

Because believing in God should not make you dumb. Believing in divine power should not make you a blind lockstep jingoist zealot right-wing homophobe drone, bowing and kneeling and feeling unworthy and sinful and then changing the channel to ESPN2 and watching log rolling.

Believing in your own divinity should, of course, make you radiate. And think. And squirm. And ponder and investigate and get calm and wonder and explore and lick and drink good wine and make love to any gender you like and allow that divine definition to shift and transform with time and self and breath. Simple, really. And also very, very messy. As it should be.

~ from Mark Morford
soulspirals 2:18 PM

Sunday, July 20, 2003

 
What an amazing weekend. It's amazing how things you already know can come together in a dramatically new way.

The Elements of Magic class was really fantastic. I'm still a bit high from it, but on my way back down to earth. The people were wonderful. The teachers were generous. We all really took risks and put ourselves out there to each other, to ourselves, to the universe.

It was joyful.
icky.
sweet.
deep.
hard.
smooth.
challenging.
comforting.

I came up against some real personal challenges that I need to figure out how to deal with. I think that only happened because I was finally in a safe enough and strong enough space to be able to see them - and maybe I'm strong enough and brave enough and willing enough to do it.
soulspirals 11:05 PM

 
I'm plunging deeper and deeper and deeper
down
down
rushing
down
deeper

deeper in to myself
deeper in to the mystery
deeper in to energy
energy that is pure spirit that is me that is you that is both that is all that is light that is passion that is flowing that is growing that is changing that is changing me.


A little more than halfway through the Elements of Magick class. Things are happening. Change is happening. I am happening.

The work has been joyous and hard. Much is not new, but I am opening up in new ways.

I know that I am home.
soulspirals 12:20 AM

Thursday, July 17, 2003

 
Ton of Mashed Potato Flakes is Missing
soulspirals 11:23 AM

Monday, July 14, 2003

 
Original Message Follows:

Yahoo! ID: soulspirals

Issue: Technical Support

Media Player: RealOne

Type your feedback here: I was almost totally psyched to buy Yahoo! Platinum. We don't have TV, and I really miss some of my favorite news shows and such. No problem, I thought. I have a cable modem, a 1 gig processor, etc.

WHAT? I have to sell my soul to Microsoft and open myself back up to being tracked and vulnerable to viruses?
I can't use Netscape or Opera? I couldn't view anything on my husband's Linux machine?

No way. If you fix those problems, you might well have a new subscriber. If not, we'll wait until someone else does it in an
environment that support browser and privacy choice.

While Viewing: http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/platinum/platinum-27.html

Date Originated: Sunday July 13, 2003 - 08:57:31


Reply:
Hello,

Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Platinum.

It is through user comments and feedback that we are able to make
continual improvements with Yahoo! Platinum. We always have
something on the drawing board, and many of our best new features
have been suggested directly by users like you.

We may include this feature in a future release.

Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Customer Care.

Regards,

Yahoo! Customer Care

For assistance with all Yahoo! services please visit:

http://help.yahoo.com/

soulspirals 3:54 PM

Wednesday, July 09, 2003

 
Fascinating!
Women May Ovulate More Than Once a Month, Study Says
Tue Jul 8, 5:48 PM ET
Reuters
soulspirals 8:32 AM

 
I love waking up to news like this in the morning. I always read this stuff before I read the "real" news. Which reminds me. The latest issue of The Onion is out as of last night, including the expose: Insecurities Laid Bare in Wal-Mart Shopping Cart.

Elephant Sex Logo Criticized for Lack of Condom
Tue Jul 8,10:20 AM ET
Reuters

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai community groups wanted to use a logo featuring two elephants having sex for next year's World AIDS (news - web sites) conference in Bangkok but the plan was criticized by health authorities because the bull was not using a condom.

"The logo fails to convey any meaning," Dr Sombat Tanprasertsuk of the Thai government's disease control department was quoted as saying in the Nation newspaper on Tuesday.

"There is only one message which people will get: that community workers are obsessed with sex. And it doesn't show the male elephant wearing a condom."

The official logo for the meeting depicts three elephants standing in line. Elephants are Thailand's national symbol.
soulspirals 8:16 AM

Tuesday, July 01, 2003

 
From this week's edition of The Onion | America's Finest News Source:

Wisconsin Has Crush On Minnesota
MADISON, WI—After years of silent ardor, Wisconsin finally admitted Monday to having a serious crush on its neighbor Minnesota. "Dear Minnesota, I've been wanting to say this for a long time, but I've been too shy—I think you're cute," the Badger State wrote in a three-page letter it slipped under the door of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. "I think your Glacial Ridge Trail is so pretty. I'll be sitting between Illinois and Michigan if you want to talk to me." Minnesota, which harbors no romantic feelings for Wisconsin, is reportedly trying to figure out a polite way to let the state down easy.
soulspirals 8:31 PM