"Do not believe anything because it is said by an authority or it is said to come from angels or from gods or from an inspired source. Believe it only if you have explored it in your own heart and mind and body and found it to be true. Work out your own path through diligence."—Guatama Buddha

Never forget only dead fish swim with the stream.

To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell; better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.

Why is it when we talk to God we're praying but when God talks back it's schizophrenia?

"Every step you take on earth should be a prayer. The power of a pure and good soul is in every person's heart and will grow as a seed as you walk in a scared manner." ~ Charmaine White Face of the Oglala Lakota

"The doorway of the Mysterious Feminine Is the base from which Heaven and Earth sprang.  It is there within us all the while.  Draw upon it as you will, it never runs dry."  ~ Lao Tzu, Tao te Ching

"The only devils in the world are those running in our own hearts;  that is where the battle should be fought."   ~ Gandhi

"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars" ~ Walt Whitman

peace & light, Sandi

One of my favorite quotes is one by my ownself... I used to keep it in my signature line years ago... and it is still on some of my different web sites

Walk gently upon this magical earth and may you always walk with love in your heart. May you know the shadows but walk in the light for we are both. -- Shewolf Silver Shadows

These are beautiful!

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." - Herm Albright

This wasn't really a joke, but I wasn't sure where to put it, so I thought I would put it here. Its' kind of cute so when I saw it I wanted to share.

To learn your letters you must start
With a clever mind and a willing heart
Each one is special, just like you
And you'll learn them all by the time we're through!
A is athame, the knife that we use
B is for Beltane, when partners we choose
C is for circle where we all are one
D is for deosil, path of the Sun
E is for Esbat, when we gather round
F is for fire and its crackling sound
G is the Goddess in beauty and love
H is the Horned One, our father above
I is for Imbolc, candles light the way
J is for June when its Midsummer's day
K is for Karma, the things that we do
L is for Lammas, harvest's almost through!
M is for Moon, riding way up so high
N is for Nighttime, which darkens the sky
O is for Ostara, when we hunt for eggs
P is for Pan, with hairy goat legs
Q is the quarters and there are just four
R for the rites when we open the door
S is for Samhain, end of the year
T is for Tarot cards, futures to hear
U is Undines from the watery west
V is Vervain for protection and rest
W is widdershins, the path of the moon
X is the sign that's the sign of the God
Y is for Yule and the Sun's return
Z is the zodiac, 12 signs to learn

Let sun warm your life and the rain refresh the day, Patt

August 23, 2005
Steps In The Right Direction
Tools For Balance
The drive to improve oneself and one's life is never ending. Therefore,
it can be helpful to have useful tools for general, everyday
improvements in life. Whatever your need for change and whenever it arises, open
your toolbox and integrate one or more of these tools into your life.

Each day, ask the universe how you may be of service.

Because all people are intimately connected with the universe at large,
we both work for it and benefit from it. When you give to the universe
with positive intentions, you naturally reap abundance. Instead of
waiting for opportunities to be of service to present themselves, ask what
service you may provide. Ask each morning upon waking or meditating. Be
assured the universe will ask nothing more of you than that which you
are equipped to give.

Cook with intention and bless all you consume.

The life force and that which nourishes the spirit is closely
intertwined with what take into our bodies. A Zen tale tells us to see the pot
as our head and the water as our blood. The art of cooking involves
preparing foods mindfully and projecting positive energy into what we eat.
And part of bringing out the life force is showing loving respect for
the labor involved in the cultivation and preparation of food. Speak a
simple blessing over your food before every meal to reinforce your
connection with the circle of life.

Do unto others.

Promoting unselfish love in your life involves expressing spontaneous
and unprovoked kindness toward all people. Pleasant and gracious
behaviors feed the soul of the giver and the recipient, who will often respond
with similar kindnesses. Treat others how you wish to be treated with
simple gestures like a smile, an offer of assistance, a please or thank
you, or gift. Taking the time to be kind will make your life and the
lives of others more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Take time to center yourself daily.

Both in times of strife and in times of calm, remember to direct your
focus inward for a few moments each day. Pay attention to your body,
determine where you are retaining tension, and let it go. Breathe deeply,
close your eyes, and slip into a brief period of meditation. Allow
yourself to be stabilized and strengthened by the earth's energy. When you
have found a calm place, open your eyes and offer gratitude before
continuing your day.

Take time to enjoy the community of others.

Fellowship is a joyful part of being alive, though easy to neglect is
this busy world. Make time to spend with close friends or people who
share your interests. Talking to a special friend can be therapeutic while
gathering in a group can be a potent stress reliever. Remember, shared
joys are increased while shared pain is lessened.

I just thought I'd share some quotes that I've found thought provoking: "Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." - Janice Joplin "Love is a better master than duty." - Albert Einstein "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion." - Thomas Paine Never be too big to ask questions. Never know too much to learn something new. - Og Mandino One thing you can't recycle is wasted time. - Anonymous

Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well with brie

"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus"

No trees were killed in the sending of this message.  However, a large
number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced. ~Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (I think).

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans - John
Lennon

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

“Then I will tell you a great secret, Captain. Perhaps the greatest of
all
time. The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make up
this
station and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves.
We
are starstuff, we are the universe made manifest, trying to figure
itself
out. As we have both learned, sometimes the universe requires a change
of
perspective."
Babylon 5

"It is never too late to become what you might have been "
          ~~George Elliott

"the reason most of us are drawn to such paths, rather than to one of themainstream ready-made religions offering 'all the answers', is that somewhere inside we understand that we are not supposed to be a passive consumer of spirituality, but instead an active participant in a life that is inherently spiritual. We are not in the restaurant, we are in the kitchen! Earth religions like Druidry and Wicca offer us ingredients- ideas for rituals, stories, folklore, techniques- that can bebe combined in dozens of different ways to provide us, our families and friends with exactly what we need. they are ways of empowerment,because they put us in charge of our lives, not ways of disempowerment with with a priest or guru telling us what to do.

In the end, it all boils down to this. There is you and the ocean, you and the sky, you and the land, now and here. The old lore is not meant to remain in a glass case; it is meant to be used, changed, added to and improved. it only stays alive if each of us takes it and uses it in our own way, with our own creative additions and insight, to help us live a life of depth and meaning, beauty and celebration, here and now- upon this earth, beneath this sky, beside this sea." - Philip Carr-Gomm

the hardest part of say good bye is never getting to say it

everyday I change the world even if it is only with My first mornings breath

The Ten Commandments of Mother Earth

I. Thou shalt love and honour the Earth for it blesses thy life and
governs thy survival.
II. Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the
turning of its seasons.
III. Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive
them to extinction.
IV. Thou shalt give thanks for thy food, to the creatures and plants
that nourish thee.
V. Thou shalt educate thy offspring for multitudes of people are a
blessing unto the Earth when we live in harmony.
VI. Thou shall not kill, nor waste Earth's riches upon weapons of war.
VII. Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth's expense but strive
to restore its damaged majesty.
VIII. Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of
thy actions upon the Earth.
IX. Thou shalt not steal from future generations by impoverishing or
poisoning the Earth.
X. Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share
the Earth's bounty.

~Author Unknown

These are great! Thank you for sharing.

The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention. - Richard Moss Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak. - Epictetus It's kind of fun to do the impossible. - Walt Disney Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them? If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy? Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

Say nothing of my religion. It is known to God and myself alone. Its
evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: if it has been
honest and dutiful to society the religion which has regulated it cannot be
a bad one.   -Thomas Jefferson

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Sir Winston Churchill "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. " - Mark Twain "Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be. Become one yourself!" - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Thank you these are really good.

Hi dear friends

warm greetings to u all. I want to know about ESBATS. I've read about them but still fail to understand what it is? Can you please explain me what are esbats? I know its to honor the Great Goddess but I know nothing more than that.

I agree we should discuss Esbats. We should start a thread for it.