In the News: Loss of City Trees

Read an alarming article today from Discovery News, “Loss of City Trees Costs Billions.”  It talks about how trees in cities are vital and necessary not only to city costs, but to positive environments for us humans.  Some stats and figured included at the end.  Very interesting, and brings up the need to put more green in urban areas.

Spiritual Places

When it comes to very spiritual Pagan places, most probably thing of Stonehenge.  It’s the most well-known and widely-recognized Pagan landmark.  Those in the US probably think of Sedona, AZ, as it’s a metaphysical and New Age hub.  Other than that, what other places are there?  Do we even need special spiritual places?

I’d like to address the second question first.  Many Pagans revere the earth and consider the earth to be sacred or special in some way or another.  This thinking goes back to ancient modes of thought and belief in which the earth herself was something to worship or revere, and was a goddess.  This has become, to varying degrees, a mode of thought in modern Paganism as well.  The earth is treasured and honored, if not worshiped, and many of us honor and work with personified earth goddesses.

So if we see the entirety of the earth as sacred or special–then what is so special or necessary about spiritual sites?

If you subscribe to the idea of natural ley lines and nodes, then a number of spiritual places around the world are special and of spiritual significance because at those locations the earth’s energy is more strongly felt.  Sedona’s vortexes work from this kind of theory, that those areas are pools of natural energy that we lowly humans can feel and interact with.

We tend to need spiritual places of some kind because we’re human.  We prefer to have tangible evidence, and special places of worship or spirituality fulfill that need.  It’s just as true for Pagans as it is for any other faith.  Even Native Americans and other indigenous peoples have sacred places, and they are faiths and peoples very firmly connected to the earth and who do see the earth as a sacred entity.

Not only that, but spiritual places help bring spirituality into focus.  They can help a person to connect more easily with the divine and with nature than can necessarily be achieved in the home.  Areas that have a natural, more divine feel to them, that speak more directly of the gods and the universe, enhances your connection to the divine and can bring you more into focus.  For example, I can see the stars from my house in Maryland–but from the desert out west, I can see the Milky Way.  My view from home is lovely, but it doesn’t compare to the awe-inspiring view of the universe that I found in Arizona, and it doesn’t give me the same feeling that seeing the Milky Way and all those stars gave me.

So while the earth overall can be our spiritual center, those certain special places around the globe that speak to each of us of something greater, of a deeper connection–those are as worthy of reverence as the earth herself, and vice versa, the earth herself is as worthy of reverence as those special places.

As to what those places are; well, they vary widely.  Some people say their special place is the little grove or forest outside their house.  Some people say it’s a cave, or the beach, or a mountain.  Others say it’s the standing stones in Europe or the natural rock formations in Western America.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge isn’t the only magical place on the earth, and while Stonehenge is still worthy of care and reverence, a lot of people have been saying lately that the area feels tired, depleted, as if the energy of Stonehenge had been sapped.  I’m not surprised–so many people flock to the place every year and take of the energy but give nothing in return.

You don’t need to go to Stonehenge.  There are plenty of other places, some even closer than England.  Sedona, Arizona; the redwood forests in California; national parks; standing stones in England, Ireland, and Scotland; and many more.  A little research will yield a great many alternatives, if you’re willing to look a little deeper.

Question of the Week: Metaphysical Authors

I’m starting to get back into Pagan and metaphysical books–I had gotten out of reading them because I got busy and then I wanted to read more fantasy novels than I wanted Pagan books.  But I’m going to be reading some Pagan/metaphysical books in the coming weeks and this week’s question is a result of that.

Who is your favorite Pagan/metaphysical author? Why?

As always, put your answer in the comments section!

Gratitude Journal

It sounds kind of hokey, but I’ve had it suggested recently that I start a gratitude journal.  And I ask what it is and why I should do so.  I actually really like the idea, and as it turns out, I remembered hearing a similar notion on the radio almost a year ago from some guest on the morning show I like.

With a gratitude journal, you’re supposed to write down at least 3 things from your day that you are grateful for or which make you happy.  You’re not supposed to repeat anything in the span of a week, you have to try to come up with different things each day.

At first it can be kind of hard to come up with three things.  You sit there and think about your day and think of all the bad things.  But that’s the point– you’re shoving aside the bad to make room in your thoughts for good things, happy things.  Over time, it gets easier to find the good things and write them down.

Our thoughts are powerful.  Our lives are pretty much defined by our thoughts.  Think about it–you go through your day essentially with a running commentary in your head.  You can’t escape it.  What’s it saying to you?  Is that inner voice saying that you’re an idiot, that your day is ruined because of the moron driver who cut you off, that you screwed up so bad at work that you’re sure to get fired, etc etc?  How would that make you feel?

We all do this.  You are your harshest critic.  You say things to yourself you would likely never say to another person.  But thoughts become things, and can shape your life in ways you may not want.  If you keep concentrating and worrying about bills and how you’re ever going to pay them, you’re only drawing that negative energy to you and helping to make it worse.

A gratitude journal helps change that.  It helps you to find the good things in your life.  It helps identify things that make you happy, and then it starts to become easier to find ways to enjoy your day and enjoy the good things instead of worrying so much about the bad.  The more you invest in positives, the less room there is for negatives.  Choosing to emphasize the good thoughts and the good events in your life can improve your overall outlook on your day.  Ever had one of those days where you were just happy to be alive?  Happy to be out and about and seeing things?  Those days don’t come around very often, but what if they did?  What if you could practice on making yourself happier by seeing the good things you have in your life and then make those happy days come by more often?

If “gratitude” doesn’t work for you, then phrase it as something else.  I like “Happiness Journal,” personally, as then I can write down things that made me happy that day as well as things I’m grateful for.  But you can call it whatever you like.  It is yours to direct, if you want to.

Question of the Week: Artemis vs Athena

Time for a new deity battle!  This time the two are in the same pantheon.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts.  Her favored weapon is a spear and she carries a shield and the Aegis, Zeus’ chest shield.  She wears a helmet when going to battle and is said to ride in a chariot as well.  Her favored animals are the owl and snake.  Athena could be a tough opponent in any battle not only for her physical prowess but for her wisdom and cunning.

Artemis, technically a half-sister of Athena because their father is Zeus, is the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, childbirth, and virginity, and she is associated with the moon.  She carries golden arrows and favors the bow in a fight.  Her animals are hunting dogs and deer, though as goddess of wild animals she can call on any wild beast.  Artemis also drives a chariot.  Artemis would also be formidable in a fight, as she is young and strong and known for her skill with the bow.

If Artemis and Athena were locked in battle against each other (for whatever reason–if it helps, make up a scenario), who would be most likely to win?

Put your answer in the comments below!