The Student of Life

a Personal Philosophy by Awen Eldorath (Dennis Danielson)

Some years ago, a buddy of mine in the Army once referred to me as a “Student of Life.”  I have found after much study, introspection, and contemplation, that this is one label that I actually feel comfortable with for many reasons.  I even began to refer to myself as a Student of Life, and I continue to do so today.  This title has led some people to ask me, “What is a Student of Life?” 

The simple answer is that it is someone who strives to learn as much as possible from every aspect of Life.  In the book, Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard, the authors list the characteristics and qualities of a Wizard, the first of which is to be “A constant student of Life.” The authors also stress throughout the book the importance of trying to learn from all of life’s many experiences.  Many books–not only those on magick and the occult but also several on self-help, self-improvement, and psychology–similarly stress the significance of learning from Life. Read more

Witchy Films are Coming!

 

You are cordially invited to meet the film-makers behind Witchy Films Productions . . . Part talent search, part production crew recruitment effort, and part info session.
 
Eye of Horus Gallery (2nd floor)

2717 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408

Saturday, September 30, 2006
10:00AM-12:00PM
 
Witchy Films Productions will be at Eye of Horus on Saturday morning 9/30, for an informal “meet & greet” session. They’ll tell you all about their awesome, not-for-profit mission to create witchy training videos, and you’ll get to ask them all kinds of intriguing questions like, “How can I get in on this?”

Whether you want to be an actor or a gaffer, you can learn all about what it takes to be a part of this much-needed community project.

They are specifically looking for people who can help with re-enactments, production, writing, research, etc… So don’t be shy! Come on over and spend the morning with these incredible folks!
 

Major Lunar Standstill

09-09 Saturday to 09-13-06 Wednesday, is the Major Lunar Standstill.  This is the time once every 18.6 years where the Moon’s path in the sky is at it’s southernmost and northernmost extremes.  As a result, at high latitudes, the moon appears to move in just two weeks from high in the sky to low on the horizon. There is an entire Class of Scottish stone rings designed to observe it.  They’re called Recumbant Stone Rings. The Callanish stones, at latitude 58.12 north, are famous for picking up the lunar standstills at their most southerly positions against the hills on the horizon.  The last Major Lunar Standstill was in early 1988.  What were you doing then?  It is the time of the old generation passing and a new one rising.

Lunar standstills are in a sense the polar opposites to solar and lunar eclipses. During a lunar standstill the Moon has to be roughly at right angles to the Moon’s Nodes, as opposed to being on or near these Nodes at times of eclipse. Also the Moon’s Nodes have to be in the signs of Aries or Libra, or Virgo or Pisces: the signs near the equinoctial points. The Moon’s North Node is in Aries or Pisces during the major lunar standstill season and in Libra or Virgo during the minor lunar standstill season.

Historical Notes

Caesar tells us that the Druids went through 20 years of training. Though this may have more accurately been 19 years as the Druids may have used a 19 year lunar cycle calendar (the Meton cycle).

“The historian Diodorus of Sicily wrote in 50 BC that from a circular temple on the island of Hyperborean, the moon appeared to be close to the Earth and that the gods visited the island every 19 years.”
The Lure of the Heavens — a history of astrology by Donald Papon

Sites which mark the Lunar Standstill

(1) STONEHENGE, located at a latitude of 51° in England, is a 5,000 year old solar and lunar calendar and observatory. The stone locations and sightlines indicate summer solstice sunrise, winter solstice sunset, southernmost moonrise, and northernmost moonset. At the latitude of Stonehenge, the angle between the winter solstice sunset and southernmost moonrise directions is exactly 90°.

(2) CALLANISH, SCOTLAND is located at a latitude of 58°, west of the northern part of of the UK on the Isle of Lewis. Also a 5,000 year old solar and lunar calendar and observatory, stone alignments indicate the northern moonrise and the summer solstice sunrise. The full Moon near summer solstice, which must always be opposite the Sun, is very low in the sky (like the winter Sun). At major standstill, the full Moon near summer solstice reaches only 3.5° above the horizon from Callanish and is viewed through the stones.

(3) CHACO CANYON, NEW MEXICO is a 1,000 year old solar and lunar calendar, located high (400′) atop Fajada Butte, inaccessible except by ropes. This site was discovered in 1977 by Anna Sofaer. At noon on the solstices and equinoxes, a dagger of light (called the ‘Sun Dagger’) pierces a spiral petroglyph carved into the rock face of the cliff. The same spiral petroglyph has been shown to also mark the major and minor standstills of the Moon. The Sun Dagger is accepted by archaeoastronomers worldwide as the best example of a culture keeping track of the Sun and also the 18.6 year cycle of the Moon.

(4) THE U.MASS. SUNWHEEL is an 8 year old stone circle — a solar and lunar calendar and observatory located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The stone circle contains 14 stones 8′-10′ tall, marking the cardinal directions, the directions along the horizon to the rising and setting Sun at the solstices and equinoxes, and the directions to the rising and setting Moon at major lunar standstill.

(info above from http://www.umass.edu/sunwheel/pages/moonteaching.html. There are pictures of the sites on that page)

What is Qigong (Chi Kung)?

When you watch someone practice Qigong in motion, you see the slow beauty of the movement between physical postures. What you don’t see as clearly are the breathing techniques and focused intention.

Often thought of as a form of martial art, Qigong (“breath technique” or “breath skill”) is actually a technique which is most notibly an aspect of Chinese medicine. As such, it is believed to have health benefits including stress reduction and exercise. Although new to the west, the practices are ancient. Texts which refer to Qi (breath or Prana and Pranayama in Yoga) date back 3,300 years, and it is assumed the practice goes even farther back. It wasn’t until 1953 when Liu Gui-zheng published a paper which explored the various versions of this form of exercise, and called it Qigong (Chi Kung). The practice had, and probably still does, go by other names such as Xiuado, Zhoshan, Jinggon, etc., but they are now recognized as schools of Qigong.

In Qigong, body movement and postures are coordinated with different breathing patterns, and the practice teaches how to manage the breath to maintain optimum energy. As such, it is used as part of martial arts practice to increase stamina and proper energy flow. In fact, Taoist and Buddhist monasteries incorporated Qigong as an integral part of both spiritual and martial arts training. Not surprisingly, any school of qigong which emphasized the spiritual aspects has been discouraged in the People’s Republic of China, the obvious example being the Falun Gong, which gained such a wide following that the government outlawed their practice in 1999.

Qigong also works with the mind through a quiet meditative focus. In fact, there is a practice called “Still Qigong” which emphasizes motionless meditation in lying, sitting or standing positions.

Qigong – beyond the physical

Well-recognized for the health benefits of physical movement and stress reduction, qigong runs against the grain of the scientific community when it talks about the philosophy of qi. Perhaps this is because there are roots in shamanic practices dealing with deity and daemon and the direct manipulation of vital life-energy, or what the Tao Te Ching calls virtue.

Students on a spiritual path are taught that humanity and nature are not seperate, that the dualistic point-of-view keeps us withdrawn from higher energy states (and the subsequent health benefits) which can be accessed with proper training and commitment to healthy spiritual and lifestyle choices. Thus, it is not just the body and breath which need to be in balance: Body, breath, mind and spirit become a part of the universal energy which flows through and around us and through all of nature.

Qigong healing – controversy and cure

A rise of interest in the west has also spawned a number of healers which make miraculous claims about their power to heal through energy manipulation. Since I work in a metaphysical store, I am more open to the possibilities of alternative healing methods such as Reiki, Pranic Healing, and Qigong than the sceptics and scientists who like to categorize anything they do not understand a “pseudoscience.” But to be fair to the critics, I must point out that Qigong’s history shows it was taught as a personal health practice rather than as a practicioner-patient form of psychic surgery, despite some shamanic roots.

It seems logical that if a qigong healer does manipulate your energy, and you are not a practitioner yourself, you will not be able to maintain the proper balance. Thus there would be an initial sense of improvement which would fade in time and require repeated, and possibly non-ending, treatments. Any reputable energy healer would include instruction and training for maintenance. Otherwise, a dependency or “healing addiction” could develop between the practitioner and patient, and it is this type of situation which gives rise to the criticisms and charges of quackery or outright fraud. But these cases are rare. In fact, the Qigong Association of America specifically defines Qigong as a self-healing art.

Qigong – Next Steps

The verifiable healing benefits of developing a personal Qigong practice are well-documented, and research continues. It is well worth looking into if you are interested in developing the mind-body-spirit wellness connection. It is also recommended that you find a qualified teacher for direct training. Imagine if you were an avid golfer, which would you prefer . . . a book on golf written by Tiger Woods, a video demonstration of his technique, or regular sessions where Tiger helps you work on your swing?

Clearly, it would be ideal to have the coach to focus and refine your movement, the book for the philosophy, and the videos to illustrate and remind you of your lesson. But the key is the practice and instruction of a qualified professional. It is the same for any physical discipline. With Qigong, you get the added benefit of observing and experiencing the Qi of a teacher if you learn in person.

Books and Media:

 

Qigong Energy Healing Explore Qigong and the five elements to develop your own custom practice.

Taijiquan, Classical Yang Style by Jwing-Ming Yang: This book provides Master Yang’s complete technique for Taiji style Qigong.

Way of Qigong by Kenneth S. Cohen A fascinating comprehensive study of Qigong as both art and science of healing by a master of the practice and China Scholar.

>More Qigong/Tai Chi Books and Instructional DVDs

 

Related Sites on the Web

Although we don’t necessarily endorse these, but they look very interesting):

• National Qigong Association (US)
• Qigong Association of America
• International Qigong Alliance 
• Chi Kung (Qigong) Article at Yoga Moments
• Body Energy Arts articles at Veritas
• Alchemical Taoism
• Scientific Studies from the Qigong Institute
• The Healer Within Qigong and Tai Chi Community
• The Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Hindu Basics

Ever wonder about Hinduism? In the west, the gurus, sages, yogis just seem to blur. Yoga in the west is all about health and little about spirituality, though this is changing. This article provides a brief introduction to Hinduism and a starting point list of resources for futher exploration.

There is no word “Hindu” in ancient India or Sanskrit. You could be a yogini, a swami, a tantric and a dozen other things. The gods and goddesses and their practice of worship, as well as the language of the people, changed from region to region and even village to village. The first reference to the word “Hindu” is in a Zorastrian sacred text. The term was also used by Muslims who were migrating to the region to distinguish the natives from themselves. In this sense, there is a strong parallel with America. Where “Indian” meant all the indiginous peoples, and their religion, not being the same as the settlers, must have all been one, as well.

The word “Hindu” is actually a corruption of the Sanskrit “Sindhu” which means “river” or even more specifically, the Indus River valley. A variant, “Hindoos” was used by the British during their occupation, probably borrowed from the Muslims. As a result of this, the “Hindus” became united under that banner word quite recently for political purposes rather than religious.

So what is Hinduism Today?

Although the specifics of the dieties and temple customs did change from region to region, there were many similarities, and sacred texts and customs were exchanged freely throughout the country. Hinduism is a term which covers the entire religious tradition, reforms, and movements from the time of the Vedic religion (or Brahminism) of about 6,000 years ago to today throughout the subcontinent of India.

It would be better to think of Hinduism as a tradition of religion than a religious tradition. This is what confuses so many westerners. It is a living tradition, not a static one which is run by some central authority. There is no one final authority or book in Hinduism, though there is a huge canon of writings. Rather, the Hindu recognizes the wisdom which can be gained from all traditions and inspired writings. This is true to such an extent, that a guru from one tradition can guide a student who follows a different path or tradition. The end is the same (enlightenment or god-realization), even if the names change, and an enlightened teacher can help the student on their own personal path until it is time for the student to move on.

If you are interested in starting an exploration into Hinduism, it is necessary to set aside the boundaries, pidgeon-holes, and either-or-ness of what westerners term religion.

Or in Hindu words:

Hinduism differs from other organized religions in the following aspects:

It is not based upon a particular founder.

It is not based upon a particular book.

It is not controlled by a central institution or authority such as a church or a sangha or association.

It is not averse to examine and assimilate fundamentally diverse thoughts and beliefs into its system.

It accepts other religions as various paths to salvation and does not favor organized attempts to proselytize people.

It has been evolving continuously, through internal reforms and as a reaction to the threats and challenges without.

~Hinduism.com

“That which we call the Hindu religion is really the eternal religion because it embraces all others.” – Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo (August 15, 1872 – December 5, 1950) was an Indian nationalist, scholar, poet, mystic, evolutionary philosopher, yogi and guru. His followers further believe that he was an avatar, an incarnation of the Absolute.
(above from Wikipedia–read more about Sri Aurobindo at wikepedia)
Books available by and about Sri Aurobindo

I am proud to belong to a religion which has

taught the world both tolerance and universal

acceptance. We believe not only in universal

toleration, but we accept all religions as true.

- Swami Vivekanada

Swami Vivekananda (January 12, 1863 – July 4, 1902) was one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the Vedanta philosophy. He was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and was the founder of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. Many consider him an icon for his fearless courage, his positive exhortations to the youth, his broad outlook on social problems, and countless lectures and discourses on Vedanta philosophy.
(above from Wikipedia–read more about Swami Vivekananda on Wikipedia)
View Books by or about Swami Vivekananda

Learn More about Hinduism

So what about all the different beliefs? It’s best to go to the experts. For the web, we recommend Wikipedia and Hinduism.com studied in tandem as a terrific starting point.

Books on Hinduism

 

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hinduism by Linda Johnsen: It’s hard to go wrong with a guide like this when you are starting out. The bonus is that it is extremely well researched by a western Hindu and very interesting to read. We also recommend her book on the Hindu Goddess tradition, listed below.

The Living Goddess by Linda Johnsen: This book beautifully explores the non-broken tradition of goddess worship in hinduism. No need to reconstruct anything!

Hindu Gods & Goddesses by W.J. Wilkins: Explore the origins and related myths and legends about the gods and goddesses commonly worshiped in India as well as lesser figures – demons, sacred birds, and other lore.

Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation by Stephen Mitchell Arguably the most popular text in the Hindu library, it is the conversations between Krishna and a warrior before they go to battle, but the discussion is about life. The life and death setting poses a stark contrast to the words. The translator has an absolute genius for getting the literary quality as well as the meaning.

Deepak Chopra’s Kama Sutra The Kama Sutra is about the art of loving and has often had a primary focus as a guide to sex. But it’s a guide to the spirituality and sacredness of sex. Deepak Chopra is not just another “new age guru” but a doctor and a teacher who has a talent for translating Hindu philosphy into terms for westerners, often using western myths, which school teaches us are “just stories.”

Explore over 50 books at our Hinduism Online Bookstore