O let me be alone awhile!
No human form is nigh;
And I may sing and muse aloud,
No mortal ear is by.
Away, you dreams of earthly bliss,
Ye Earthly cares be gone!
Depart, ye restless, wondering thoughts,
And let me be alone!
One hour, my spirit, stretch their wings
And quit this joyless sod;
Bask in the sunshine of the sky,
And be alone with God.
Words by Jesus about the End Times:
“Though I was hungry, you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.”
“That day of wrath, that dreadful day, shall the whole world in ashes lay, as David and the Sibyls say. What horror will invade the mind, at the last trumpet’s wondrous sound, and through the rending tombs, rebound, and wake the nations underground. The judge ascends his awful throne, He makes each secret sin be known, and all with shame, confess their own. Forget not what the ransom cost, nor let my dear-bought soul be lost. Prostrate my contrite heart I rend. Do not forsake me in my end.” Funeral song in the Requiem Mass.
William Blake thought that Druids sacrificed human victims on the London Stone!
The London Stone was first mentioned in a gospel book of the West Saxons before 940 A.D. Stow, in 1598 describes the stone on the south side of Cannon Street as fixed in the ground, very deep, fastened with bars of iron and otherwise so strong that if carts run against it, their wheels be broken but the stone remains unshaken. The original function and significance of this limestone remains a mystery. In the Middle Ages, proclamations would be issued from it and binding agreements sworn over it. When Jack Cade, leader of the Kentish rising in 1450 occupied London for three days, he went straight to the London stone which he ceremoniously struck with his sword. A clue to the stone’s significance is other similar stones, such as the Coronation Stone at Westminster Abbey and the Kingston upon Thames stone upon which seven Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned. It is now thought that the London stone was also originally a symbolic source of power and authority.
The Wraggle-Taggle Gipsies - Anon
Three gypsies stood at the castle gate
They sang so high, they sang so low
The lady sate in her chamber late
Her heart it melted away as snow
They sang so sweet, they sang so shrill
That fast her tears began to flow
And she lay down her silken gown
Her golden rings and all her show
She took it off her high-heeled shoes
A-made of Spanish leather-O
She would in the street in her bare, bare feet
All out in the wind and weather-O
Unconditional positive regard and congruence in Client Centred Therapy
The counsellor’s genuine caring and responsibility needs to be in evidence. If the counsellor is only pretending to have unconditional positive regard, it would be obvious, and a client with healthy discernment would seek help elsewhere. On this particular subject, I had a conversation with my counselling trainer, Tony Merry, who told a story of when he was a counsellor. This particular client had no friends because he was so boring! In the course of therapy, the counsellor had felt so bored for seven consecutive therapy sessions that on the seventh occasion, the counsellor stated that he too was bored.The client grew very angry (which was not boring for the counsellor), and from that point onwards the counsellor was not bored by the client.
I think this was wrong for two reasons. Firstly, the client was not working through his material at his own pace, and secondly he felt the need subsequently to be in therapy to interest his counsellor. I think it is important that a counsellor is congruent, but in a non critical way.
A poem remembered from my childhood:
One day Cogia Efendy went to a bridal festival. The masters of the feast, observing his old and corse apparel, paid him no consideration whatever. The Cogia saw that he had no chance of notice; so going out, he hurried to his house, and putting on a splendid pelisse, returned to the place of festival. No sooner did he enter the door than the masters advanced to meet him, and saying, "Welcome, Cogia Efendy," with all imaginable honour and reverence, placed him at the head of the table, and said "Please to eat, Lord Cogia." Forthwith the Cogia, taking hold of one of the furs of his pelisse, said "Welcome, my pelisse ; pleased to eat, my Lord." The masters looking at the Cogia with great surprise, said, "What are you about?" Whereupon the Cogia replied, "As it is evident that all the honour paid is paid to my pelisse, I think it ought to have some food too." - Pleasantries of the Cogia Nasr Eddin Efendi
Take charge of your life. Write your life story. What have been the major turning points, successes, reversals and relationships?
What is your life purpose? What gives your life meaning? What is your greatest fear? What is your greatest regret? What has been your greatest defeat? What makes you angry? What opportunities present themselves to you today? What are the main beliefs you have about yourself and the world? Are these self limiting beliefs? What have you always wanted to do? What preparations have you made for it? What target date have you for it? What are you in denial about? How can you improve your attitude? What are you grateful for? Write down what you want and put a time on it. Do you need to burn bridges?
Keep a journal with the following sections: Health: Finances: Career: Family: Social: Educational: Home: Emotional: Mental. What will you do in 6 months? What will you do in 5 years? What will you do in 10 years? How might you sabotage yourself?
Karma - what is described as a ‘law’ but is only a belief! A belief in reincarnation is required! Are we really punished and rewarded for actions in past lives that we have long forgotten? I doubt it! We see unscrupulous people in prestigious circumstances, and the very kindest in appalling squalor. This is not divine justice! And not very intelligent either!
Dharma! Life Purpose! We are here to discover who we are, not who we hope we will be, or might be, but who we really are! Inside us is a budding beautiful person, with compassion, caring, thoughtful consideration and endless capacity for service to others to create a better world for everyone.
You are unique! No-one has ever existed or ever will exist who is like you. You are at one off in the entire universe. Remember your uniqueness! Seek your highest self, your best self, your most generous self, your kindest self. This is your divinity, your eternal self, the one who meets your maker at the end of days.
War Rape is not a violation that is exclusively committed against women alone. Many men are also raped in war, usually by an object, rarely by another man.
Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into that silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you planned; Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray. Yet if you should forget me for a while and afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad.
Poems from my childhood.... The first part only…. The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees, and the moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas. The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, and the highwayman came riding, riding, riding, the highway man came riding, up to the old inn door.
He’d a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin, a coat of the claret velvet, and breaches of brown doeskin. They fitted with never a wrinkle, his boots were up to his thigh, and he rode with a jewelled twinkle, his pistol butts a twinkle, his rapier hilt a twinkle, under the Jewelled sky.
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn yard. He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred. He whistled a tune to the window, and he should be waiting there, but the landlord’s black eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord’s daughter, platting a dark red love knot into her long black hair.
I shall pass this way but once - through this toilsome world!
Alas! Once and only once! And if I can show kindness to any human being, let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again!
In the dark hour before dawn, all the shutters of the great hall were closed against the evil vapours of the night. Under the heavy iron of the curfew, the fire was a quenched dragon's eye. The forms of slumbering knights and retainers lined the walls, and the air sighed with the sound of their breathing and resonated with the occasional glottal snore.
At the far end of the hall, occupying one of the less favoured places near the draughts, and away from the residual gleam of the fire, a young man twitched in his sleep. His brow pleated as the vivid images of his dream took him from the restless darkness of this vast Norman castle to the smaller, intimate chamber of his family's keep at Hamstead......
Lead from a burning church roof had destroyed his father's right eye and melted a raw trail from temple to jaw, leaving him with an angel's visage one side and a gargoyle’s mask of a devil on the other....
"Will I be gone a long time?" his dream self asked in a high treble. "That depends on how long King Stephen wants to keep you." "Why does he want to keep me?" "Because I made him a promise and he wants you beside him until I have kept that promise." His father's voice was as harsh as a sword blade across a whetstone. "You are a hostage for my word of honour".
Gossip is good for us, providing it is positive and true! Avoid critical gossip and lies!
Give people more than they expect!
When you lose, don’t lose the lesson!
Keep improving yourself!
How can you change your life for the better?
Each day, learn something valuable, read a poem, listen to a piece of music, walk in nature, speak to someone in a meaningful way, perform an act of kindness.
Listen as well as talk!
Define your life path!
Remember no-one is perfect, and we argue with others when we are most unhappy with ourselves.
Put values of caring, truth, understanding and compassion at the centre of your relationships.
Look at difficult situations from all perspectives.
Are you listening to the other person?
Do you understand each other’s frustration?
Do you display a sense of superiority, making them feel worthless?
Do you recognise the other person’s achievements?
Do you refuse to shared household activities because you consider yourself the breadwinner and therefore deserve to get easy in the home?
Are you just playing laser and caring?
Is there some other deep-seated anger, which motivates your unwillingness to understand the other persons problems?
Do you want to be happy?
Don’t score points. Be supportive not judgmental. Win-win. Practice forgiveness. Be prepared to say you are sorry and thank you. Decide you really want the relationship to work 100%. Be in the relationship for the long run. Don’t play tricks or deceive. All vulnerability. Celebrate differences. Compromise. Ask for what you need. Learn to handle conflict by listening, caring and allowing times of upset and hurt to heal. Spite will finish the relationship. What qualities are you looking for - and what qualities do you offer? Commit to doing the best for your partner and the relationship.
Towards creating better relationships:
Cut out negative self talk. Admit and celebrate differences. What do you need to do differently?
Get a picture in your mind’s eye of a typical difficult situation. Reduce it in size, colour and volume. Replace the negative scene with a positive memory. Increase the colour, volume and size.
Ask questions! Why do you say that? Can you give me an example? What is the cause of the problem? How can we resolve this so we can move forward? Answer with thoughtful caring: I apologise for my part in that because I didn’t notice. I understand you are angry with me about that and I will be careful not to repeat it.
Relating styles:
Prescriptive - this is what you should do!
Informative: I share this knowledge with you.
Confronting: You are not OK.
Cathartic: Emotional.
Catalytic: Reflective.
Supportive: Empathic.
Cognitive: Cerebral.
Are you able to solve complex problems in your life? If not, why not?
Can you maintain yourself as a competent, intelligent, skilful, resourceful and resilient person whatever the stresses on you?
Are you capable of controlling your feelings? This is self empowerment.
Be motivated from within yourself rather than from the world outside yourself.
Free yourself from the need for approval.
Set your own rules of conduct for yourself and boundaries with others.
Be free from the desire for accomplishment, money, and success.
Accept yourself but improve yourself where you can.
Can you deal with disagreements, conflicts and compromises?
Be free from hero worship. No one is perfect!
Become a doer rather than a critic? Easy to criticise if you don’t do much yourself well.
Welcome new people, places and hobbies and interests into your life.
His armour being scoured, his morion transformed into a helmet, his horse named, and himself confirmed with a new name also, he forthwith bethought himself, that now he wanted nothing but a lady on whom he might bestow his service and affection; for the knight-errant that is loveless resembles a tree that wants leaves and fruit, or a body without a soul: and therefore he was wont to say, ‘If I should for my sins, or by good hap, encounter there abroad with some giant (as knights-errant do ordinarily), and that I should overthrow him with one blow to the ground, or cut him with a stroke in two halves, or finally overcome, and make him yield to me, would it not be very expedient to have some lady to whom I might present him?
I constantly learn from you.
The way you treat people is beautiful.
You are strong. I like that.
You are such a good listener and pay good attention to me. I always feel heard by you.
I appreciate your authenticity.
I like how you will stand up and be counted.
You step up to the plate. I like that about you.
Having your confidence is something I aspire to.
You make me feel that I belong.
Your resilience is inspiring.
I like that you will always apologise when you are wrong.
I admire your passion.
Your resilience is inspiring.
Does this person like you, are they interested in you and in how you’re feeling? Do they listen to you and validate your emotions? Are they loving, do they appreciate you and feel proud to be with you? Do they treat you as an equal? Do they believe you are an individual and respect your independence? Do they get on with your friends and family? Do they make excuses for bad behaviour or apologise and make every effort not to upset you again? Can they admit to being wrong and take responsibility for their actions? Do they take an interest in your hobbies? Are they honest and straightforward? Do they play games with people’s feelings? Do they respect you and your choices and wants you to be happy? Do they try to push you into anything you’re uncomfortable with? Are they trustworthy? Do you feel safe and relaxed around them? Do they respect people and keep good company? Are they reliable? Do they understand that no means no? Do they keep secrets? Do they respect your privacy? Do they understand that everyone has a right to end the relationship.
A man was asked to paint a boat. He painted the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him. While painting, he noticed a small hole in the hull, and repaired it.
Possibly…
Freemasons created lodges near their places of work while they worked on a temporary project. These communal living places fostered a close connection between the ‘brothers’.
The Scottish version of the Old Charges was founded by the sons of Lamech who had written their craft secrets on old pillars. Then after The Flood of Noah’s time, Hermarius, a grandson of Noah, found the secrets of geometry and masonry and other sciences on the pillars and taught them to the builders of the Tower of Babel. Then Abraham when he lived in Egypt, taught the geometry to a student named Euclid, who took the knowledge to Greece. When the masons came to Jerusalem, they built the first temple for Solomon. When that was completed, the went different ways to find work. One ended up in France and hired Charles Martel, the grandfather of Charlemagne. Another, named Alban, brought the craft to Britain. Masons were sponsored by the son of King Athelstan whose name was Edwin and he became a mason himself, and wrote the charges down.
Automatic “or trance writing” is sometimes called “psychography”. It is a popular method of channelling, as teachers from the spirit realms deliver a message through a medium who writes the message rather than speaks it. This might be a personal message, or it might be a message for society or for the world. Automatic writing is an activity which is usually carried out alone on a regular basis.
Requirements: You need to ensure you are warm, comfortable and will not be disturbed for an hour. A ‘Please do not disturb’ note should be placed on your front door and all phones turned off. If possible, there should be soft lighting, such as a well shaded electric light (but not unshielded candles due to fire risk). Well chosen instrumental music can be played quietly in the background providing it doesn’t cause any distraction. A comfortable chair should be selected at a suitable table. You will need to buy a pencil and a large leaf notebook for dates times and written messages. The same writing implements, notebook, chair and table, should be used at every sitting and kept exclusively for the purpose of automatic writing. Certain items of jewellery or clothing can also be selected, such as a ring or headscarf. You need a clock with a delicate alarm. If you go to sleep, you should be woken gently.
We are all familiar with the needs of our immune system which helps our lymphocytes fight disease. There are two types of these specialised defence lord cells, basofils and neutrophils. Vitamin C, D3, and Zinc are thought to boost these defence cells. Maybe Echinacea, and possible garlic also. A healthy and varied diet with high fibre and exercise is also valuable. Small amounts of particular stresses also boosts these defence cells, a cold shower, public speaking and other short term stresses. Sleep is a major factor is boosting our immune system and research has shown the massage is also very effective. Our gut diversity of organisms has been proved to be necessary in having a well functioning immune system.
A school teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could write about their classmates.
Christina and Leah were two sisters who had been brought up in a French convent.When they were children, a cart-horse had run over them, leaving a scar across both their bodies. A gypsy who saw the accident made a pronouncement "Their destiny is tied to blood!"
The date is 1910. Christina, the eldest is a maid looking after a lady and her daughter. They thought highly of Christina as she worked hard but she was paid very little. The convent often wrote to the mistress asking for money, which she gave. Within 5 years, Leah was ready to leave the convent and applied to join the small household. She was accepted but only at no further cost to the mistress. Both sisters slept in the same bed, as they had as children. But they argued about sending what little money they had to their mother who constantly asked for financial assistance, especially as they were not in good health. Christina used the money they would have sent to their mother to make lace ribbons and knitted garments for Leah. The mistress saw the beautiful clothes and thought they were stealing from her.
Of the seven children of Robert Dadd’s first marriage, three, Richard, George, and Maria were to become completely insane, while Stephen had a private attendant but little more is known of his circumstances. Robert the eldest brother, born 13, July 1813 practiced as a chemist for many years in Whitechapel. George was the youngest of Richard’s full brothers, born 13, December 1822. He was a skilled carpenter at Chatham Dockyard. He began to show signs of mental instability when he was 20 yrs old and in 1843, the same year that Richard became unstable. He was admitted to Bethlehem and stayed there until his death in 1868. Though both brothers were confined in the same hospital, it is unlikely they met. John, a half brother, born to his father’s second wife and the second of two boys, was born 24, May 1829. He was apprenticed to Robert and went to America to establish a popular drug store.
William of Hastings
(steward to Henry II) granted meadowland (marsh) near the river Lea on the West
Ham boundary to the Knights Templar Order to build two wooden water mills. Temple Mills was established in the
11th century to mill crops, such as beans, wheat,
oats and barley. The Temple Mills were used mainly for grinding from their extensive lands in Homerton and
the marsh land of the River Lea. Other water mills were
developed in the areas of Hackney and West Ham, one dated approx 1185 on meadow
by St. Mary Hope in Leyton. Their water mill on Leyton land was dated 1278.
Scott Mann posted this story about his mother-in-law.
The Work! I heard this expression from Gurdjieff and others, but Byron Katie has her own take on it with questions! Katie was so depressed she couldn’t get up and felt she didn’t exist any more. She asks of your self judgment statements, is it true? Can you absolutely know it is true? How do you react when you think this thought? How would you be without this thought?
1. Who angers, saddens, frightens, or disappoints you? What is it about them that you didn't or don't still like?
Eg., I am angry at them because they gamble all our money, saddened because they are worth more than a dradful life of gambling debts, frightened because of their anger and aggression, confused because I work hard and have nothing to show for it. (Name) doesn't listen to me. I am angry because he/she doesn't appreciate me. I'm angry because he/she doesn't care about my health. I don't like him/her because he/she argues all the time. I'm saddened due to his/hergambling debts
Avalon Oracle of the Day - LOVE. "This love card relates to the relationship you have with yourself, lover, friend or your family."
We often look at relationships and see them as difficult, hard work, overpowering, unyielding, one sided, imperfect. We see idolized relationships on fictitious shows on TV and wish ours was the same. We want someone else to be more loving, outgoing, helpful, caring etc., etc.,. And so we must ask ourselves, are we all those things we want from someone else, to ourselves ? are we loving, caring, helpful towards ourselves ? Do we give time and effort to ourselves ? When we love ourselves unconditionally, this cultivates an unconditionally loving energy towards others.
It was a scramble to the cavern. We had been told of the pitfalls and given good instructions as to the position and size of the entrance. I had grazed my hand and the stinging continued as I neared the cave mouth. As I walked within, the blackness consumed me. There was uneven rock and gravel underfoot. I was amazed how clearly I could hear my laboured breathing and the rapid pulse of my heartbeat. The sound seemed amplified and the reverberation echoed around what could only be a vast chamber. I could smell the scent if wood smoke, slightly perfumed with pine resin. I reached out to touch the side walls. they were cold and smooth and hard, like frozen ice. I shivered in the chill air. As i took a few tentative steps forward, my eyes accustomed to the darkness. Within the cavern were extraordinary shapes, huge columns from floor to roof space - great mountains of rock with strange colours and hues.
Lead by example. Be a guide to others. Meditate on balance, understanding and integrity.
The film above is set in the 14th century when this story was originally written.
King Arthur sits with this Queen and his retinue in his Christmas court in Camelot. His nephew, the gallant Sir Gawain is also in attendance. An enormous noise occurs at the entrance of the baronial hall and a green giant makes a dynamic entrance on a horse. The giant offers his axe and makes a wager with King Arthur. He says that whoever cuts him will face the same cut a year and a day from that date. Sir Gawain steps forward. He has waited a life time to prove he is the most loyal protector to his uncle, King Arthur. Immediately, Gawain strikes the green giant across the neck, slicing off his head. Red blood flows over green cloth! This story is about life and death. How easy it is to behead someone with such a sharp sword! But the green giant is not killed. He picks up his head and rides out of the baronial hall, out of Camelot, and into the far distance!
What do you make of this part of the story? The green giant is similar to tree pollarding and if you chop its head off, another grows! Green is related to nature and nature’s ability to recover after perceived death in winter. Humans are not able to recover from death, so the story is about the vulnerability of Sir Gawain, who was after all, only human. The story might be related to the advantages of agriculture and what can be achieved with knowledge of plant husbandry. Green was related to plant life so it is likely the contest with the Green Man was a contest with the harsh and chaotic realities of nature, of the need to survive the harshest of times.
Great Spirit decided it was time to give the winged (the birds) their colors. Before this time all of the birds were gray. Their feathers did not carry the beautiful colors they do today. Great Spirit told all of the winged to gather at a special lake which was hidden high in the mountains. All of the winged flew to this magical body of water. Great Spirit told them to dive into the water and they would emerge with beautiful colors in their feathers. Brave little Hummingbird dove in first. He didn't stay long but when he came out he was a beautiful green and had ruby on his throat. Jaybird was next. He stayed a little longer than Hummingbird had. When he emerged he was a bright blue and had a white throat. He wore a black necklace low on his neck. Wren splashed into the depths. When he got out of the water he was brown with a golden chest. Cardinal flew into the lake. He stayed in a bit longer than the others. When Cardinal broke the surface he was bright red and beautiful. Bluebird splashed into the water and stayed for a while. He came up blue with his beautiful red breast. Indigo Bunting dived in. He stayed linger than any of the previous birds. He came up such a beautiful blue that the other birds gasped at his gorgeous color.
Pray! Don’t find fault with the man who limps, or stumbles along life’s road. Unless you have the shoes he wears, or struggle beneath his load. There may be nails in his shoes that hurt - though hidden from your view, Or the burden he bears, placed upon your back may cause you to stumble too.
Don’t be harsh with the man who sins or pelt him with words or stones, unless you are sure, yea! doubly sure, that you have no sins of your own. For you know, perhaps, if the tempter’s voice should whisper as soft to you, as it did to him when he went astray, it may cause you to stagger too.
Don’t sneer at the man who is down, unless you have felt the blow, that caused his fall, or felt his shame - as only the fallen know. You might feel strong, but remember those blows, if dealt to you, in the self same way, and at the self same time, it could cause you to fall too!
The book ends with a remarkable story from the island of Nus Tarian, which, at the time he visited, received very few travellers. The story describes his meeting with Tia, a young girl who had special powers, as many young girls have been known to have before their menarche. She was a loner, as many feared and misunderstood her. She saved a man from certain death, and when an elder of the village died in a fishing expedition, she brought him back to life. She was a remarkable dancer, lithe and subtle. She had clashed on several occasions with the Imam who was a friend of her father, but even her father could not control her gifts. The Imam wanted to send the girl from the village but her powerful father was too insistent she stay, however, after one particular confrontation, she fled and as she did so, the mosque caught fire. As harvest time arrived, there was a traditional celebration of the rice where nine aspects of a harvest rite were to take place.
MY SOUL HAS A HAT
