Using the terminal powers of Samhain to process trauma.

Using the terminal powers of Samhain to process trauma.

*Originally written by me for Samhain Sirens.  Please see the incredible work by the rest of the Sirens here: http://samhainsirens.blogspot.com/

Samhain.  How many times have we seen it?  Local papers do a special interest story on the witches at Samhain. “Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) means summer’s end.”  It’ll then go on to make endearing noises about how witchcraft  has seen a resurgence in x number of years and how we’re ‘totally not devil worshippers”.  They’ll be sure to include a photo of a non-threatening woman in black (bonus points if they can talk her into a pointy hat!) with a big smile and usually at least five candles.  It’s beyond formulaic at this point.  I’ll admit it’s better than the late 80’s and early 90’s formula of making a genuine effort to communicate on the part of the practitioner, into a spookily lit punch line about ‘the weirdoes’.  

The part these outlets miss is the END in ‘summer’s end’.  I’m sure it’s easier to rest on the finely carved narrative that sensationalizes our beloved dead.  Other cultures and religions have festivals surrounding loved ones who have died, but this is so much juicer because you can include the word, “witch”.  

  Instead of spending our Octobers waiting for stories to validate what we already know, that we’re just human, and trying to make a difference in this world, let us focus on our own endings.  We end things all the time.  Many folks make new year’s resolutions in January for the Julian calendar date.  We avoid the talk of ending things with language surrounding the new.  We fawn over the idea of birthing a new year, forgetting that birth is the other side of death.  

We understand the year as the Wheel of the Year, admitting that time passes.  However circles have no beginning, and no end.  It makes it easier to gloss over the ending portion because we know that there will always be another.  The only flaw with this thinking is that we fail to acknowledge the passing of the current, and the understanding that we aren’t guaranteed another anything, day, week, month or year.  

This time of year is important for releasing the things in our lives who have had their time in the sun, and are ready to die.  Samhain is the perfect time to process our trauma and leave it in the past, before moving on to that shiny and new we look forward to.  Trauma is our brain and body reacting to the painful events in our lives.  Our lives and our years have trauma, insidious events that color our world. 

Using this time of year as a catalyst toward beneficial change is a great blessing.  It needn’t be something as traumatic as a death, a car accident or a physical altercation to cause lasting change in our lives that weighs us down.  Dealing with an abusive boss, ending of a friendship, relationship or dealing with financial worries are all stressful and traumatic.  Any event that leaves you overwhelmed and feeling alone counts.  Just because you may not have experience a death or sudden loss doesn’t mean that you aren’t dealing with things that are difficult.  Life isn’t a contest.  It can feel selfless to worry about the suffering of others close to us because they’re dealing with intense emotions, but don’t let that worry keep you from processing your own emotions.  

It’s time to take time to look at your trauma.  Anyone who promises a “quick and easy ritual to release trauma” is at the very least, pulling your leg.  It’s not easy, but you are worth it.  This is all about your comfort level and ability to deal with the past.  It may be as simple as lighting candles and incense and looking at yourself in the mirror to talk about the things you need to let go of, before moving into the new year.  I will be taking a ritual bath with herbs and oils and examining my scars to acknowledge all of the things I’ve overcome this year.  Some will decide to attend counseling, good for you!  The stigma of getting help is decades past its time to go.  Acknowledging that the events of your life are best dealt with, with someone in your corner is a great step.  

The important part of this process is using the terminal powers of Samhain to process that trauma.  Too often we see carrying the baggage of our traumatic past as a badge of honor.  “See?  I survived!”  Remember, the baggage is weighing you down, now allowing you to celebrate your victory.  The baggage come after the trauma, it’s not proof that the trauma happened.  It feels amazing to say we’ve survived the horrible things that happened to us.  It can be difficult to look that pain in the eyes.  Being able to put down the bags and still honor the survivor in you is the message of this Samhain.  

You have dealt with a lot this year, and over a lifetime of years.  You are Brave.  You are Loved.  You are worth protecting, defending, and loving.  I hope the end of this year finds you feeling stronger than you’ve ever felt before.  You deserve it.  You are magic.  

For more information on dealing with emotional trauma please visit

http://ptsd.about.com/od/selfhelp/a/CopingTriggers.htm

and resources for finding help when you can’t afford a therapist

http://greatist.com/grow/resources-when-you-can-not-afford-therapy 

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Rev. Amy Blackthorn does double duty in life as both a witch and ‘personal tea shaman’ but also as a personal defense coach.  She got her black belt in April 2002, and has worked as a certified firearms instructor, and has helped people reclaim their sense of self and safety since January of 2010.  She has been described as an "arcane horticulturalist" for her understanding of Green Witchcraft, her work as a Plant Spirit Oracle and her history of teaching hoodoo and the creation of herbal remedies.  Amy has 24 years in Paganism and various magical traditions. Amy started her formal schooling in horticulture, herbalism, and agriculture more than sixteen years ago, and somehow all of that higher education didn’t stamp out her love for the arcane, occult and mysterious. She has taught classes from Maryland to Toronto, Canada and out to Arizona. She has been called on to act as a Media liaison for ABC television, and the Sci-Fi Channel.  Her interviews have appeared in the Associated Press, Baltimore Sun,BankRate.com, the Boston Globe, the Huffington Post,  Stamford Advocate and the Connecticut Post in matters of alternative religions.  Amy has been an active member of her local religious communities for more than sixteen years.  Amy uses her plant knowledge to create tea recipes from old hoodoo oil recipes. You can view Amy's tea collection at her website http://blackthornhoodooblends.com and like her page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BlackthornHoodooBlends

Pagan Festival season approaches: Safety Concerns

Trigger Warning: This article discusses the topic of sexual assault and rape.

Here's another excerpt from my old Pagan advice column, originally appearing in Thorn Magazine. Reposted for Festival season. -Amy Blackthorn

Of Green and Glass: Where Down to Earth Solutions and a Glass Edge Meet. By Goewin GreenWitch

Dear Goewin,

         The pagan festival season is fast approaching, and I’ve had a group of friends ask me to go with them.  I’m able to take the time off of work, and I’ve saved what I need.  I’m kind of worried, though: I heard from a friend that a dear friend of hers was raped at a festival last year. I want to go, but I’m worried about my safety. Is there a way I can be safe?  Are my fears grounded in reality, or am I just being paranoid as my friends have suggested?

                             Signed, Safe Camper

Dear Safe,

        According to a study reported by womenshealth.about.com, sexual assault is the most rapidly growing violent crime in the US, with fewer than 50% of rapes reported.  Many victims are ashamed of what happens, and may believe they are at fault in some way. This is not the case.  Rape is about power, not sex.  Eighty percent of rapes are committed by someone who knows the victim, and 61% of female victims are under 18 years old. Although the majority involves male perpetrators and female victims, 5% of reported rapes happen to male victims.

Unfortunately, there have been recorded cases of sexual assault at festivals, and not just pagan ones.  Mainstream festivals, campouts and concerts, as well as many other public events, have been known to attract predators.  But don’t let this keep you home and afraid-- then they will have won. 

Just because they walk around hearing “Harm None,” people think that nothing bad could ever happen in a pagan community event. Pagan campouts involve just as much common sense as every other camping event. I have a black belt, I've taken Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Aikido, but I don't go walking down dark alleys, with iPod headphones in my ears.  

Any good friend would be worried about your safety no matter where you’re going, so use that to your advantage and remember the buddy system.  I don’t care if you have to use the Spot-a-Pot at three AM, take a friend with you!  Make a habit of walking with others and stick to paths with good lighting, in public view whenever possible.

Get to know the security at the event you're attending.  You're paying to be here, know what you are paying for.  Ask registration how to contact security in case of an emergency.  What protocols are in place for someone's violation of laws? 

Parties are often found at festivals.  Observe the same rules you would at a bar.  Don’t leave your drinks unattended.  If you MUST, go get a new one.  Don’t take the chance that something went into your drink while you weren’t around. Don’t drink to excess, you want to be in control of your faculties to be able to say “No” if you need to!  If you are too drunk to walk back to your tent, then you are too drunk to fend off an attacker. 

Many police agencies suggest carrying pepper spray with you, but since every state has their own restrictions, please check with local law enforcement.  The states with the stricter restrictions include New York, Michigan, Hawaii and Wisconsin. Also, don’t just throw it in your purse, as it is unlikely that you will be able to find it in the bottom of a bag if you need it.  If you have a belt, many spray canisters come with holsters.  It’s a lot less recognizable in a holster than carried in hand.  A few rules to remember when buying pepper spray: When you buy, but two.  Take one outside away from people and pets.  Spray it until it's empty.  You need to know whether it is a stream or fog, how long it sprays, how far the spray will reach, and how long before it is empty.  If you are going to use it on someone, empty that thing.  It's cheap, you can buy another.  You cannot buy another you.  Always buy pepper spray with an expiration date.  That tiny, pink, pen sized canister may be cute, but you need safety, not another accessory.  If it doesn't have an expiration date, it's not worth your life.  Re-purchase yearly.  The propellant that forces the spray out of the can will dissipate over time.  You want to know it'll be there if you need it.  Some brands come with UV dye.  This means that if your attacker escapes and washes their spray soaked face, and the police locate them a few days later, they may still have UV dye on their skin they didn't scrub off. 

Make sure to avoid areas that seem deserted, and stay aware of your surroundings!  It’s harder to sneak up on someone who knows where she is and where she’s going.  An aware and confident stance makes you less desirable as a potential victim.

Just because this is a pagan gathering, don’t fall into the thinking that everyone there thinks the same way you do.  Just because “Harm None” is your motto doesn’t mean that the creepy guy on the other side of the fire circle thinks so too.  Don’t go off with strangers, don’t let them into your camps, and don’t go back to a stranger’s tent. 

What to do if you are assaulted while at festival:

• Get to a safe place, away from your attacker! Many rapists will threaten to hurt you if you report them. They are trying to command power over you. After all, that is why they forced themselves on you to begin with: to command power. Take your power back by taking control of the situation.
• If you are raped, your first instinct might be to take a shower or bath to wash away what has happened to you.  DO NOT bathe, change your clothes, or wash your hands or face! Valuable forensic evidence can and will be lost! If you’re able, you can bring a change of clothes for after your discussion with hospital personnel or doctors. 
• Do not alter the scene, straighten anything, or remove items. If the scene is your tent, zip it up and get out as soon as possible.  The police will want to examine the scene to determine if there is any additional evidence they can use to prosecute.  Fingerprints, fibers and the like can be lost or destroyed, so it’s best to let the forensic team do their job.
• If you are there with friends, find one you trust to come with you to report. You are allowed to have someone support you at the hospital and with police. Witness statements have been proven to be the most reliable within the first twenty minutes of any traumatic event, so you need to get help. If your cell phone has a voice memo feature record your voice relating details of what happened as soon as possible so you don't lose any details with time.
• Every festival has someone in charge. Go to a registration area or find security-- usually, those in charge will have radios. If there isn’t a phone available, get someone you trust or someone in charge to get you a ride to the hospital as soon as possible.  This is very important due to the number of diseases that are spread through sexual contact. In most states, the hospital will have to report the rape to the police.  If no one is available to go to the hospital with you, or you feel shame or fear, victim's advocates are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week in most states to go to the process with you.
• Some victims choose not to press charges because they “just want it to go away.”  Immediate medical attention helps when deciding to report the crime, providing evidence needed to prosecute the rapist if a criminal case is pursued. If you've been raped and think you don't want to report it, you could change your mind later — this often happens — and having the results of a medical exam can help you do this. If evidence is collected, then you are protected no matter what you decide to do.  At any time during the medical exam, you can say if you don't want a certain test performed or evidence collected. Your body is your own, the hospital just wants to help catch the person who assaulted you and make everyone safer.
• If you think you've been given a rape drug, a doctor or technician can test for this, too. Be aware that this toxicology test covers any and all illegal drugs.  If you have used illegal drugs, this does not mean you are at fault for what happened to you, police and hospitals ask this so that they can better understand the timeline of events and possible interactions.
• Lastly, seek professional counseling. Make sure you allow yourself to talk to those around you. Your friends and family are there for you. If you feel you can’t talk to them and don’t have the ability to talk to a therapist, there are many free and anonymous help lines you call to talk to someone who knows what you are going through.  Please, if you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual violence or rape, talk to someone.  Don't deal with this by yourself. 

Now, I hope you understand that I’m not telling you this to keep you away from festival; I want you, all of you, to be safe.  Unfortunately, it seems our society believes that it is more socially acceptable to gossip about who is in what coven now than how to protect oneself in the real world. Discussing protection and pagans doesn’t have to be about which herbs to place around your tent: the real world belongs here, too!  

National Sexual Assault Hotline | 1.800.656.HOPE

For more information please visit:

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/a/rapehealsurvive.htm 

http://www.rainn.org/  The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
http://rapecrisis.com/ The Rape crisis hotline 24hrs

http://www.malesurvivor.org/

About:  Amy Blackthorn has been Greening her magical world for 22 years.  When she isn’t writing, she can be found teaching classes on Tasseomancy, Floriography, Hoodoo, Magical Perfumery, Herbal Wisdom, Astrology, and a variety of other topics.  She also enjoys reading (with her Tarot Cards, her gardening books or a good Paranormal Romance), cooking for her husband and friends, and walking her dogs. 

Her new Tea Store Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends is now online. 

Of Green and Glass: Where are all the Pagans?

Of Green and Glass:

Where Down to Earth Solutions and a Glass Edge Meet

By Goewin GreenWitch

Dear Goewin,

            This may seem like a silly question, but where is the “pagan community”?

Is there a secret handshake or a hidden sign I’m missing?  No matter where I go, or how hard I look I’m not seeing it / them.  I’m not vain enough to think I’m the only Pagan in my area, where are they hiding, and why doesn’t my area have an easier way of finding them?  I’m new to the Craft, and eager to learn, but how do I learn if I can’t even find others like me? Thanks!

-Lonely Pagan

Dear Lonely,

            No, there isn’t a secret handshake or sign.  It does however take a lot of legwork.  By now I’m sure you’ve googled, “My town” and “pagan groups” or the like.   Have you tried looking at email lists and groups on The Witches Voice or Yahoo Groups?  There are always places like Meetup that offer you a chance to meet other people interested in the same topics as you, whether it be Paganism, scrapbooking or gardening. 

            Here’s a question for you.  If meeting others in person is that important to you, why not start your own meeting or group.  I’m not saying you become that person in every community who reads one book and decides to start their own tradition.  Just put a notice up in area coffee shops, pagan stores and the like that you are creating a safe place for people to discuss similar belief structures, and then you can all learn from each other.  No matter how many years in the Craft, everyone has something that they are better at than everyone else.  There are free and low cost promotional materials available via websites like VistaPrint. 

            All in all, it really takes people that care to get something really good going.  Once you have a core group established, you can take that meeting to free places like The Witches Voice, Facebook, and Yahoo. 

Of Green and Glass: Make (Martial) Arts, not War

Dear Goewin,

            I’ve been on the Wiccan path for quite a few years now, and recently started attending Tae Kwon Do classes with my kids.  It’s fun for us, and I like being able to do something with them, instead of dropping them off somewhere.  How do I reconcile my enjoyment of martial arts with what I have been taught about the Rede and rules governing “harm none”?
                                                                                                            -Martial, not Mean

Dear Martial,

            Doing things with your kids is not wrong.  Enjoying activities that get them out of the house, away from TV and video games is not wrong.  While we’re at it, protecting yourself is not wrong!  

What is wrong is the people in the world that think it’s  okay to get what they want in the world by taking it from other people.  Every day I see it.  Even in this “small town”.  On the news each night, I see people kicking in doors on other people’s homes, to steal and do whatever they like to get whatever they like.  

That does not mean that you are somehow a “bad” person for wanting to protect you and yours!  The Rede may say “Harm None” but allowing someone to come into your home to hurt you, or your family, steal from you and abuse you and then to walk away unscathed?  That’s harm.  That person is going to go do it to someone else, and then their harm is on you as well because you allowed this person to continue harming others.  Let's not forget, there are plenty of Wiccans who don't even follow the Rede, but that's a topic for another day.

Does this make you a “mean” person?  No.  You are not going around kicking puppies, right?  Then to Tartarus with them.  Does this mean that you are looking to get into a fight “just so you can use what you know”?  Absolutely not.  I’m sure that by now you have gotten that from your instructor. The aim of martial arts is not to start fights, but to be able to avoid them. 

            

            I’m sure you have no moral objection to carrying an umbrella in case of rain, am I right?  I look at martial arts in the same way. What you learn in the dojo and its real world application is a tool.  You have it in case you need it, not so you can use it every day.  I feel the same way about responsible gun ownership, but that’s a different topic.  

The bottom line here is, don’t ever let anyone tell you that it is not okay to protect your family in the way you see fit, as long as it is responsible and legally protected.  They don’t have to live your life, or protect your family, that’s your job.  If it feels right to you, go for it. If it bothers them that much, they don’t need to be your friend. 

Of Green and Glass: Funeral wishes and last requests

While going through materials I've written for a book, I thought I'd share some of my 

'Of Green and Glass'  columns I wrote for "Thorn Magazine".

Dear Goewin,

            My family has recently suffered a death in the family.   While it was difficult to process at first, this is not the reason I’m writing to you.  During this mourning process, and funeral I started to wonder about how my funeral would be handled by my loved ones.  If I am not married to a Pagan, or my family does not share my beliefs, how can I explain the funeral customs I would like to partake in? Should I just leave instructions?  What basis do current society’s rituals have in common with earlier pagan rites?  What does a “Pagan Funeral” consist of? 

-Planning Ahead

Dear Planning Ahead,

            I’m sorry to hear of your loss, and hope by the time you read this, the grief will have dulled some.

            Let me start by saying that writing your wishes down only helps if you explain them to the person or people you are going to ask to carry out those wishes once you have crossed to the Other Side.    

            There are many funeral customs that have their roots in superstitions surrounding death and dying.  For instance flowers were placed at the graveside to appease the spirit of the deceased, and special clothing was worn by mourners to disguise their identities from returning spirits.   The loud and rowdy parties referred to as a “wake” were just that, the townspeople and family were trying to see if the person was indeed deceased, or just sleeping.  Twenty one gun salutes started in an earlier form where tribes believed that evil spirits hovered near the dead and the grieving, so they would hurl spears into the sky to drive off the spirits.

            When it comes to Pagan funerals, it’s just like many other things in the realm of Paganism, in that it’s up to individual Traditions and practices.  I polled about sixty Pagans in order to find out what they wanted done after they die.  The two most popular responses I got were, “Bury me without chemicals in the most natural way possible, and plant my favorite tree over my grave,” and “Cremate me, scatter my ashes in a beautiful, meaningful spot and have a party without tears”.   I only got one response of “bury me in the way of my parent faith”.  I did however get a few, “I’m not there anymore so it won’t matter to me” answers. 

            When it comes down to it?  The thing that is important is that you know your wishes will be taken care of by someone you trust.  Whether that person is a spouse / family member or a friend / coven mate that is up to you.  Just try to be as clear as possible, and it’ll all work out.

Int'l Pagan Coming Out Day Part 2: A Price above Rubies

     I intended for this to go live last night.  Instead, I spent my evening counseling a student with a crisis, and then meeting a friend for dinner.  We were meeting discussing her non-profit women’s group she’s launching and wants help with. During part of my evening my Superego was screaming, “International Pagan Coming Out Day is rapidly coming to an end! Cut this short and go WRITE!” and sometime during my evening the Ego said, “Look. This is Important. Your history took almost 22 years to write. Don’t limit your experience to one day.” So here we are, part two.

     With my friends, I’ve been out of the broom closet since I talked to my parents in 1995. At one point, I’m sure people in space knew. Not because I introduced myself, “Hi, my name is Amy and I’m a WITCH!” As silly as it sounds, I’ve met those people too. It’s called immersion. You have a spiritual or identity change and you feel the need to spend more time with those people that identify similarly, because they understand. Most people deal with it for a little while and then happily, move on to a more subdued attitude.

      However, I was attending school in a county where a particularly violent hate group preached in broad daylight on the street corners on Sunday. Being out of the broom closet (OOTBC) was something that was a scary option at first. So, at school, other than some close friends, I was ITBC.

     Back in those days I wore a simple, beautiful crescent moon pendant with a tiny star (not pentacle) on the tip of the moon. One day a girl I believed was a buddy (not friend exactly) of mine asked whether my moon made me Muslim. I gave her a simple explanation about nature, staying away from buzz words like Witchcraft, Wicca, Witches or magic. It turns out this ‘friend’ was holding a grudge that her ex-boyfriend left her, and a month later asked me out and she spread my note (Yes, back in the stone ages before texting.) like wild fire. It came back to me scribbled with horrible things written in the handwriting of most of my grade. One of the ‘popular’ boys went so far as to corner me and threatened to kill me. The Witches Voice had recently featured a sad tale of a 14 year old girl who was beaten to death by members of her high school football team because her school mates found out she was a Witch.

      I brought it home that day, and went next door to my best friend’s house to cry. My 16 year old self was convinced that life was over. He came up with a most inventive and highly cathartic way of destroying the letter and the feelings that I had about those people. It was beautiful and empowering. (Just one of the many reasons my then best friend, is now my husband of 8 years as of May 1.) Even with dealing with feelings of betrayal, loss, and more, someone important in my life helped me see that, though it was an awful day, there can be beauty in all of life’s shitty days.

      It’s important to me to remember the hard days of being Pagan, because honestly, if it were easy, anyone would do it. I’ve had millions of moments of beauty that being Pagan and out of the Broom Closet has brought me. The cruddy moments I can count on one hand and still have fingers left over.

      During Blessed Be and Meet Me in DC in 2001, a particularly moving ritual by Elspeth and Nybor was interrupted by Rugby players from the next field over. The park police that we had informed of our event showed up and the 2 players and 1 coach were escorted from our Space and no harm came to our people. It gave the participants the organizers hope that we could be treated just like anyone else by authority figures.

     In late 2004 I created the Newark (DE) Pagan Meetup (which is still going strong, though I stepped down years ago, and is still being held by original members) and its ranks swelled to 200+. We had a setting on the website to prevent anyone under 18 from joining for liability reasons. If any of the moderators got emails from persons under 18, they were encouraged to discuss it with their parents and their parents could join, and attend meetings with their children for propriety and safety of the minor. A few years after the meetup was established one such request came through. The pre-arranged response was given. The next thing I know, my meetup linked email is filled with email. Screaming, hate filled threats dripped from my inbox. Threats to picket the business where the meetup was held were popular, but also included threats to burn down my house, kill my pets and my family.

     While the hullabaloo lasted a week or less, and never amounted to any actual harm, it was a stressful week. It never made me regret being a public face and doing public outreach for other Pagans. I was glad that I always used my Magickal last name, but it didn’t dissuade me, or make me crawl back into the broom closet or to stop meeting with those of a like mind.

      Just like anything else we do of import, it’s not always easy. It should be. It really should be. It should be easy to just be who you are, no matter your faith. To me, that feeling that my faith is something that has stayed with me almost 22 years, though ridicule, threats, and a near death experience is worth its emotional weight in rubies.

Kyrja, public Pagan, once shot at, now regaining security.

Hate Lives in a Small Town?

     With appologies to Voltaire, hate can be found just about anywhere.  Even in Florida, as Pagan children's author, Kyrja learned recently.  For those of you unfamiliar with the story, either from Facebook or the subsequent post on The Wild Hunt, Kyrja started getting harassing messages on her YouTube Channel, prank phonecalls and late night visitors who would scream obsenties at her home indicating that they knew she was a Witch. 

      The scariest part was during the evening of late March Kyrja's home was shot at.  The first bullets piercing the window where she sits to upload Rupert's Tales to the world.  Kyrja did the right thing, and called the police as well as the Lady Liberty League. 

     The police responded quickly as did the LLL.  Lady Liberty League has now made the approprate recommendations, not the least of which include security system and cameras to act as a visual deterrant as well as to record evidence in case of a return offender or copy cat.  In order to do this, Kyrja has launched an indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise the money needed ($1,100) to make the suggested upgrades. 

     This is where we come in, dears.  If you can contribute, even $1, great.  Let's get the word out to help our fellow human feel safe in her own home again.  It doesn't matter if you're a Witch or not, Pagan or not.  We're all beautiful beings and deserve to feel safe in our homes.  Let's help Kyrja's family know the peace we all deserve in our homes, and any wishes toward Justice for her family would be appreciated. 

Thanks so much my dear friends.

Amy

--------------------
Thanks to the lovely Kallan Kennedy, goddess behind "The Secret Life of the American Working Witch" I'm updating. 

I hadn't heard, but Kyrja's home was also bombed almost three weeks after the inital shooting of her windows!  Two seperate pipe bombs were thrown at the home on April 22nd while Kyrja's step daughter was on the lawn!  Heather had to be treated for chemical inhalation and given medication.  Please help this family realize their dreams of getting a peaceful night's sleep.  The family is offering a reward leading to the capture of those responsible!

Updated story here

Boldness & Magic

Step Up!

     “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:




Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”

-William Hutchinson Murray (1913-1996), from his 1951 book entitled The Scottish Himalayan.

http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth12.htm



     I learned this as one of the belt creeds in my Martial arts training. (Even with the wrong attribution.) But the point for me wasn't the person who said it. It was this "stop living for everyone and everything else" mentality. Stop waiting to live your life. Grab life by the balls and do something with it.  

     When in my teens a dear friend once said to me,"If you're bored, you are boring."  I have lived my life since that moment, to never be bored again.