The Dhammapada

March 31, 2005 | Leave a Comment

(the path of the Dhama)

The Dhammapada consists of 423 verses in Pali uttered by the Buddha on some 305 occasions for the benefit of a wide range of human beings. These sayings were selected and compiled into one book as being worthy of special note on account of their beauty and relevance for moulding the lives of future generations of Buddhists. They are divided into 26 chapters and the stanzas are arranged according to subject matter.

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Fresh News 

Being Real

March 29, 2005 | Leave a Comment

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind
don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

– Dr. Seuss

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Mythic Musings 

Spring In!

March 20, 2005 | Leave a Comment

The Vernal Equinox took place on Sunday, March 20, at 6:33 AM (Central Time). Which means that Minneapolis had a major snowstorm two days ago. We are looking forward to the thaw and spring planting and Labyrinth building! For more info on our Labyrinth project, check out our Labyrinth Page We are also looking forward to some roof repair . . . more on that when it is scheduled. We will remain open during the process.

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Fresh News 

March 17th: the Irish Holiday

March 14, 2005 | Leave a Comment

March 17th is the day generally celebrated as St. Patrick’s day by many Irish and many who wish they were Irish. The actual date is the the accepted date of his death. Patrick was not actually Irish himself. He was a Britain, the son of a Christian deacon, who had been sold into slavery to an Irish Druid. He lived and worked in Ireland as a shepherd for six years, until he walked 200 miles to the coast and escaped back to Britain.

It is widely acknowledged that the legend of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland is false. There had been no snakes in Ireland since the previous Ice Age. It is generally understood that the “snakes” he cast out were the Druids, since the snake was a symbol of wisdom for the Druids. It must be wondered whether Patrick was not taking revenge against those who had enslaved him. Part of the methodology he used was to beat the Druids using a “Christianized” version their own magic . . . cursing fields and blighting crops and cursing the Druids themselves. He referred to Christ as his Arch Druid. As the Christianization continued, hundreds of Druidic texts were burned and there was general upheaval in society, and many of the Pagan Holidays and sites were given christian names.

Therefore, we have borrowed from some Heathen friends and declared March 17th as All Snake’s Day at Eye of Horus, in gentle memory of those whom Patrick cursed.

If you would like to read more about the history, check here:

Here is a terrific write-up of the Holiday and the history:
http://www.wintersteel.com/St_Patricks_Day.html

St. Patrick from a protestant point of view, here is a website where Patrick is derided for co-opting some pagan practices:
http://qumran.com/Holiday_Files/stpatrick.htm

St. Patrick from a pagan point of view:
http://crystalsands.wiccan.net/articles/stpat.html

Go SNAKES!

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Fresh News 

The Sun Orbits the Earth

March 4, 2005 | Leave a Comment

At least it does according to 20% of Americans. 17% believe the earth revolves around the sun once a day ( The Week, Jan. 7,2005). That factoid plus a number of others about the American Superiority Complex are outlined here:

City Pages Article: America by the Numbers
It’s like the T-Shirt says: I see dumb people, they’re everywhere. They don’t know they’re stupid.

Sigh. Everytime I run across something like that, I keep thinking that yes, we are in the Hindu end-time age of Kali Yuga –> What this means and we have about 427,000 years to go. Basically, it means it sucks to live with a bunch of idiots but it’s a great time to work out your enlightenment. It goes much faster when you have to find the grace to deal.

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Fresh News