One Song

The following is a beautiful poem by Rumi called "One Song"

Every war and every conflict

between human beings has happened

because of some disagreement about names.

It is such an unnecessary foolishness,

because just beyond the arguing

there is a long table of companionship

set and waiting for us to sit down.

What is praised is one, so the praise is one too,

many jugs being poured into a huge basin.

All religions, all this singing, one song.

The differences are just illusion and vanity.

Sunlight looks a little different

on this wall than it does on that wall

and a lot different on this other one,

but it is still one light.

We have borrowed these clothes,

these time-and-space personalities,

from a light, and when we praise,

we are pouring them back in.

Die Zauberflöte

Today I went and watched Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte." It's something that I grew up watching and always loved so much. I had never actually seen the live opera so when I saw a poster a few days ago I thought I have to get tickets and go see it! It was especially exciting since I hadn't watched it since I was little.

Something that I never realized about "Die Zauberflöte" are all the references to old religions. Especially the temple of Isis and Osiris. Tamino and Pamina have to pass several tests in order to be initiated and become part of the inner circle.

Here is an English version of one of the songs from the opera, "O Isis and Osiris:"

And here is the same song sung in its original language, German: 

I really think this is so amazing to listen to! I can definitely recommend the entire opera. Here some more bits and pieces I found on YouTube:

A Special Day and One of the Reasons why the Internet is Wonderful

Today I found out that I was one of the winners of a give away contest on the blog "The Wiccan Life" that was done to celebrate the 100th follower. This is so special to me because in my life I can't remember ever winning anything, let alone the first prize :-) I joined the contest more as an excuse to post something and get to know other people who follow a path similar to mine so I was so surprised to see that I actually won. I almost cried because I am just so used to never winning anything. I might be overreacting but it just brings up so many strong memories, especially from my childhood, where I would have liked to win something but never, ever did. So thank you Lady Caer Morganna for having the contest!

To this I would also like to add that "The Wiccan Life" is a really wonderful blog. Lady Caer Morganna really shares a lot from her personal and daily life, past experiences but also how she practices her spirituality. To me who has yet to meet people outside the online world who follow a similar path it is really special to see how others live it. In addition to that and since I am still way in the closet, it is also a great inspiration to see others being so open about their path. I think that is something that's also very special about the internet in general, that there is this possibility to share your own life and glimpse into that of others in a way that you would never be able to do in real life unless you've known the person for a long time. So thank you internet as well!

Witches on YouTube

I thought I would share some of my favorite Youtube Channels when it comes to Witchcraft and Magic:

http://www.youtube.com/user/paganperspective

http://www.youtube.com/user/Krazyboytx

http://www.youtube.com/user/KimiRose771

http://www.youtube.com/user/CharmingPixieFlora

http://www.youtube.com/user/charliesaysgo

http://www.youtube.com/user/avalonmoon91

http://www.youtube.com/user/ABroomandTheMoon

Breathing

What a difference a simple breath can make. It's incredibly easy and yet something I so frequently forget to do. No matter where I am, if I take a deep breath I always feel better. It helps to regain focus as well, supply the body with energy and feel grounded and connected. One thing I especially love doing is breathing in and then to breathe out all the way and then some more. Really go for it until I feel I have not a single bit of breath left in my body. After that I will breathe in again and repeat breathing out so much until it almost hurts (stop before it does start hurting!). Even when I breathe out the first time I already feel like I am cleaning myself from the inside out. A lot of the time I think people do not breathe out all the way (since it does often take a conscious effort) and breath just stays in your lungs. But breathing out all the way makes way for new breath and new energy to come into your system. After repeating this just three times I already feel like my lungs have been completely cleaned out. It's a wonderful feeling and something I would really recommend everybody to try who hasn't already!

Some ways I apply this way of breathing: Before meditation to relax, when I just don't feel that good (I always feel better immediately), to reduce anger, to enjoy a great experience even more, to freshen up, before ritual so that I am not just cleansed on the outside but also on the inside.

Stop Procrastination

I'm a huge procrastinator. I always seem to do the things that I have to do at the very last minute. Especially when it comes to work for university, cleaning, doing dishes, washing clothing. All those necessary things in daily life. I often let my spiritual path get in the way or all those fantastic shops on Etsy. And if it's not Etsy, then I just started reading a book that I absolutely have to finish today or I'm training my dog. All more or less good things to do but none of those are things that need doing right away.

So today, as a deadline is moving closer, I decided to try something new. For one of my classes I have to make a magazine. Now, working on finishing the whole magazine seems like a lot and you first get something good out if at then end when you can start printing. Usually there are also mistakes that you first see when it is printed and then it takes even longer until you have the finished result. So, I decided to divide it up. I started completing the magazine one double sided page at a time. And it's really working! I get super excited about seeing the finished result coming out of the printer and I can watch the stack of finished pages growing relatively quickly. And finishing one double page doesn't actually take that long. These quick results are actually keeping me motivated pretty well. I'm definitely going to try and apply this to all my work.

Here is also a video I found on YouTube by charmingpixieflora. Many probably know this already but it's a great one to watch again and again for some extra motivation.

Offering Stones

I have been looking at a lot of videos by pagans on Youtube because I find it such an inspiration and their are so many fun and helpful things to find out about. One thing that I absolutely love but knew nothing about until today or yesterday (I'm not sure which) when I watched the "How to make offering stones" video by krazyboytx, are offering stones. It seems like such a nice thing to do and applicable in so many ways. Just by watching the video I get tons of ideas of how I can use these: Not just as offerings for when I go out to the woods and collect items that I need but also as an offering to my ancestors on Samhain, or to the fairies that help when I do an oracle reading or to the spirits that keep me and my loved ones and the places we live in safe or as a daily offering to God and Goddess and Spirit. And it looks like such a fun thing to do!

Here is a nice image I found at an Etsy shop that I think are a beautiful example as to what they can look like. If you click here you can go straight to the Etsy shop of Whitemagic who makes these by hand and sells these among many other great items.



One cool thing I just found out: When you purchase Whitemagic's offering stones you also get the recipe on how to make them yourself!

HAPPY SAMHAIN!

Coloring Books for Meditation and Creativity

Recently I ordered a magazine subscription and a wonderful thing about doing that is that you often get a nice welcoming present with your subscription. Now, this magazine gave me a few presents and one of those was a coloring book for grown-ups together with a set of 12 colored pencils. On the pages on the right handed side were always nice images that you can color in and on the left words of wisdom, often about coloring books. Some of the things that were written in these words of wisdom is that coloring between lines can put you in a meditative and relaxed state and help free your creative mind if you are having difficulties with getting new ideas or continuing with something you're working on. And in Japan they actually have a lot of coloring books for grown-ups. Since I really loved coloring in when I was a child and still secretly do I started coloring right away. I definitely felt quite relaxed pretty quickly and had so many ideas that I soon stopped coloring and got right to doing my work. Now I keep the coloring book and the pencils on my desk always at hand just in case I need to relax or am out of ideas and inspiration. It's definitely something I would recommend anybody to try, even if it means printing out a nice black and white picture online and giving that some color. Actually I might try that soon! 

A page from the coloring book.