The Illuminated Life

   All are equal in the eyes of the Goddess or God. No divine presence has ever lessened the status of women. The ancient written word is subject to the culture of patriarchal societies that could not or did not want to let women fully participate in their religion. The cultural beliefs of men in positions of religious or political power left most women bereft of education(for more than 2000 years), the  one thing that could have given them equality a lot sooner than the 20 th or 21 st century. That said – women still found an even greater way to communicate with the God of their family or state religion; by feeling, praying, loving, sensing, listening, teaching, receiving spiritual guidance, caring for community and using their own unique ritual practices away from prying eyes.     Those that were born in pagan times where Goddesses held precedence over life, love and harvest knew a freer world of respect and reverence. These nature Goddess’s reflected...

What does it mean to be spiritual? Spirituality can be defined as feelings of well-being, divine emotions, emanating love and acts of kindness towards others and the natural world – a sense of oneness with all. Though this may or may not include religion. Many of us have some foundation in religion and therefore have some sense of ritual, reverence and sacred presence of something more. Spirituality is something that comes from within and is all around. You can feel it if you slow down and soak it in. Many tribal people can feel the presence of their homeland terrain and the aura of spirits that protection and dwell within the land. But we are all have our tribes, especially in our family, friends, cultural heritage and spiritual groups. Many are living a life based in the spiritual, while others hold tight to their beliefs in a world of personal turmoil, some say they are not religious or spiritual but their nature of caring and goodness speaks of the illuminated soul within. Ope...

 Aren't they wonderful, those elements of life that we hope will always be there. That we could just walk in the door and everything is as we left it. Life is not predictable, it is fluid and changing and sometimes erases the things we thought would always be there. So today I'm suggesting that you take joy in the things you most take for granted. Those small things like the a cup of tea in your own backyard, or the sun glinting off your child's hair, the wind picking up as the seasons change, the place where you like to sit in the evening or the unique personalities that speak with passion regarding their favourite subjects.  The predictable makes us feel warm, safe and wanted, a blessing to all. Though we all need a change from time to time, it's good to know that you have people or places you can rely on when life is troublesome. Remember that you are probably a predictable pleasure for others and that is a definite indictment of the love and comfort you ha...