We are all born intuitive but people, usually well meaning, begin projecting on us and teaching us from the day we are born. Usually by the time we are 5 or 6  our parents, teachers, siblings, Aunts, Uncles, churches and governments have managed to convince us that we did not see what we said we saw, our imaginary friends aren't real, there are no monsters under our beds and our gifts are completely turned off.
There was a time when all races and cultures had "dreamers" very gifted individuals whose role it was to provide healing and safety for their communities and tribes. They would have been responsible for ensuring food sources were found, keeping individuals and communities healthy, and alerting elders or leaders of danger. They would also have made sure that the Spirits were invoked, honored and included at weddings, births, funerals and Seasonal festivities. Psychic and Intuitives were valued by society and very gifted children were not laughed at or admonished, but trained.

Communism and Christianity, ironically were the biggest threat to intuition. The Church wanted total faith in the Church and Communism wanted total faith in the State and intuitive people who were open about their capabilities would be killed or tortured or both. People with faith and strong spiritual connections are not easy to control. Jesus told his disciples, " and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Certainly he knew what his followers would be up against and so urged his followers to develop a discerning heart so as not to be led astray by those who would use religion to gain power. A discerning heart is simply developing the ability to trust your intuition.

There are reasons why psychics and intuitive are not always well respected and sometimes feared in modern society. The first two we have already mentioned, abilities were a threat. Another reason is that people have either been false psychics or used their gifts to extort money from others or cause harm. Psychic abilities are neither good nor bad in themselves, it is how they are used that makes them good or bad. Sr George King of the Aetherius Society states, " If, for example, you use psychic ability to look at the aura of a patient before giving them spiritual healing, and you see clearly exactly what part of the aura needs special attention, and you then tune in to the exact magnetic energy required to heal that person, this is obviously a good thing to do. If, however, you use psychic ability to satisfy greed or bring harm to someone else, this is obviously a misuse. It is as simple as that." The purpose of psychic gifts are not to make money giving psychic readings ( although that may happen) but to discern information that is usefull to help heal individuals and communities.

Because we feel strongly that everyone can develop thier intuition and psychic abilities and that these abilities can and should be ethically used to facilitate healing, Katie Manning- Hilton, Michele Lyons and I, Barbara Neznek are offering a class on Psychic development. We will share with you how to protect yourself while you are working, different ways to make strong connections with Helping Compassionate Spirits and how to tell healing stories. We hope you will join us. To register you can go to: https://www.willowtreewisdom.com/psychic-devlopment-class/

The great Celtic Tribes were communist and probably most Native American tribes as well. They had leaders that usually served on Councils; the role of the leader was often to insure that the will of the council was enforced, or to ensure that the council’s decisions adequately reflected the needs of the people. The leaders would also be called upon to act as ambassadors to avoid war with other tribes or to lead the people into war if it could not be avoided. With today’s advances in science and technology wars over food should not be necessary. The role of the council was to determine how the needs of the tribe, the entire tribe, not the leaders, could best be met. The United States has a Constitutional Republic as a form of government, which is a good form of government even for a communist society, but the leaders are not fulfilling their rolls and the council has lost their way so, I have become an anarchist. Anarchism advocates a subtle and anti-dogmatic philosophy, with limited government. Anarchism does not offer a fixed body of doctrine but the philosophy ebbs and flows with society’s advancements. There is no big brother to keep us safe from ourselves and we are free to live alone in the Commonwealth or within the safety of a chosen tribe.

Pirate ships were also Communist. The rules for each individual ship were actually determined by the crew. The Captain’s job was to ensure that the will of the crew was carried out. He also was usually the most experienced seaman. Many British Navy sailors’ joined pirate crews when they could. The pay was equitable. Usually with a bit larger portion going to the Captain, who probably funded the original operation and ships carpenter (who also usually served as surgeon too and needed to have good tools). Not just because the pay was better, but because they had a say in how they lived onboard the ship was a great incentive for joining up.

My son asked what would be the reason to work hard to achieve in a Communist society. The answer is simple, the satisfaction that the needs of all you people were met. Everyone’s skill sets are different and for a society to really thrive the skills of all people are called upon. There will always be those who work harder than others. Those people would probably acquire more cattle, and add more rooms to their houses, however should a fellow tribe member lose their home or cattle, would be willing to share without hesitation. The needs of the many always outweigh the needs of an individual in a tribe.

A tribe would support artists, poets and healers realizing that what value they added to ordinary life was as valuable for quality of life as food and shelter. The old were venerated and infirm cared for. Yes, even pirates made provisions for those who could no longer work. But in a perfect world there would probably be no need for pirates or Robin Hood.

There is so much abundance and wealth on this planet. With current technology and efficient management of resources we really could feed everyone. There are enough resources that everyone could have a home. I don’t envy a hard working individual the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labor. What I despise is a current world economy that only protects the wants, not needs of a few. These wants were bought and kept by ill means. We use mass media to promote the idea that we all need more things and emulate the very people who take advantage of all people everywhere. We blame the poor for poverty and idolize the rich. Wars today are not fought over hunger, but so that a few individuals profit off the building of weapons and reconstruction.

Factories are built in “third world” countries to skirt the environmental and labor laws of “developed countries”. Often these practices are protected by armies; we actually have international peace keeping forces to make sure the needs of the few are protected all over the world. I don’t know if this will change, this is a new Age supposedly by astrological time and the conditions are ripe for people to wake up.

Personally, I am thinking of the Super bowl now) I don’t think I could enjoy a $3000.00 ticket when I knew there was a kid somewhere without a football. I couldn’t buy a Maserati, when I knew somewhere an old dodge would enable someone to get to work and support their family. The thought of receiving a $100K bonus, when I was already making a least a million dollars, would have me so anxious I would have to donate it to an animal shelter or a school that taught English to immigrants. I would not mind to have a summer house to share with my friends, but I could not conceive of having six of them plus a yacht and a ski chalet. There is enough to go around no one has to live in poverty. The world could be a better place if everyone agreed that it should.

When I am working on something important with my drum circle. We usually start by going to a place of gratitude. This puts people in a state where they are able to receive. What they think about to get them into that state opens up an ability to communicate with Spirit through the heart and it is a much clearer form of communication then the head based kind. Spirit understands the heart based communication ( emotional) with much more ease than logical communication.

I do my daily affirmations, take my three breaths. balance my T…. bar blah. blah , blah. Today I thought I would try something different. I thought, “What gives me the most joy.” The answers were: my kids, most of the time. The beach, always. My horses, that was what I was looking for, because the beach is kind of far.

I printed my affirmations. Grabbed my coffee, cigarettes,( because these things in the morning also make me happy) some carrots ( because they make my horses happy) dragged out a chair and sat in the middle of the field. True love is a horse leaving a fresh bale of hay to come and check out why it is that you are sitting in the middle of the field. Apple Jack did this quickly. So he got a carrot. Shiloh was hurt by people and not quite as trusting, but she came once she heard him crunch that carrot. They both rubbed me with their noses, Jack put his head on my shoulder and these interactions created a sense of true joy. So I pulled out the paper with the affirmations. Jack licked it, more joy. Then I started to say them. The entire time the horses were nudging me for carrots and attention. This made the whole session joyful. When I finished, the sun winked at me, so I know they heard.

So, I guess my point is, when performing your daily prayers or affirmations do it from a place of joy, whether you create this sense with your mind or physically go to a place that is joyful. Below are the affirmations I used. Feel free to use them yourself I found them on keeper of the flame .com: A website some of you might also enjoy

AFFIRMATIONS TO BUILD A LIFETIME OF LOVE, JOY & PROSPERITY

THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT, FOR THERE IS NO TIME BUT THE PRESENT. TAKE A MOMENT NOW, TO SPEAK ALOUD, ANY OR ALL OF THE AFFIRMATIONS THAT FOLLOW………..

KNOWING ~ I know that God is my source and supply. I am constantly provided for. I manifest abundance and prosperity with ease. I joyfully anticipate each day’s blessings and give thanks as they appear.

ACCEPTANCE ~ I love and accept myself exactly as I am. I support myself, trust myself, and accept myself wherever I am. I accept my body, my weight, my height, my appearance, my sexuality, and my experiences. I accept ALL that I have created for myself, taking full responsibility for all situations in my life. I know that I deserve and get the very best that life has to offer.

ABUNDANCE ~ I always have an abundance of money and an abundance of whatever it takes to create happiness, joy and opulence in my life. There is a continuous supply of all that I need to sustain and express myself here on this plane, and I am open to the guidance that moves me towards my highest good.

RELEASE ~ I release all past experiences, whether good or bad, and I trust the process of life. I understand COMPLETELY at the deepest levels of my mind, that memories of the past keep me from living in the present and this is where I create my future. I release any pattern in me that is creating negative conditions in my life.

SELFLOVE ~ I am a valuable and unique individual. I am powerful and loving. I am totally adequate at all times. Each day I get better and better. I am absolutely wonderful and I FEEL GREAT!!

GUIDANCE ~ I am connected with my Higher Self at ALL TIMES. I am open and intuitive and trust the inner voice that guides me. I am always in charge and every decision I make, I make knowing what is best for me.

JOY ~ As I follow the path of my heart, I discover my true treasures. I choose JOY over all else. Joy is my compass.

CHOICE ~ I use my creative power to bring the best into my life. I choose how I feel about the many experiences and situations that make up my life. At no time do I give up my power to anything or anyone. I am the captain of my ship and I sail only on calm waters.

RISK ~ I take risks in every area of my life. I am willing to risk myself in Love, in work, in play, and in all relationships in my life. I know that my vulnerabiity is my strength. I am all powerful.

ONENESS ~ I see all of life as one and experience myself joined to my brothers and sisters around the planet. I know that what I give to others, I am giving to myself. And so I act to support and nurture others at all times and in all places.

MY INHERITANCE ~ I claim my divine inheritance of Love, Perfect Health, Success, Abundance, Prosperity, and Joy. I have more than enough and I share my blessings with all whom I meet.

CHANGE ~ I welcome change in my life. I understand that changes are occurring all around and inside of me. I give thanks for them all and affirm that they are increasing every day, for I know this is simply a way for me to grow and evolve into the best person I can be.

THE GOOD ~ I look for the good in all my life experiences. No matter what the circumstances, I find something positive that I can learn from them. In this way, I experience all events as enhancing my spiritual growth.

FEAR ~ I now release any and all fear that may be hindering me from expressing the loving, compassionate, caring and understanding person that I AM. Nothing but Love comes to me and nothing but Love goes from me. I HAVE NO FEAR FOR I AM LOVE.

AND SO IT IS

Having just turned 22 years sober, I have been reflecting on how it was 22 years ago and how much I have changed since then. The influences and catalysts for change have been varied and life changing. If I had known then the challenges I was about to face and get through sober, I would not have believed it. I am so grateful for this life today; it really cannot be expressed in words.

Through the challenge of being a bartender and the only sober person in the household, I learned that I really wanted to be sober for me. I learned to rely on my sponsor, new sober friends and the old timers for advice and support.

I had never asked for help before, it was a foreign concept to me. We were brought up to believe in self-reliance. By God, hitch up your britches and strong arm your way through! Asking for help was a sign of weakness in my world. And you couldn’t be weak. So, when I got to the anonymous recovery groups., scared and defeated, it was a battle with my own will to become humble enough to ask for help.

My first mentor in the anonymous recovery group was a 15 yr. recovering woman (Big Book Thumper, as we like t o say)! Thank God for her. When she told her story, I could hear mine! I was amazed as this woman was at least 30 years my senior! To hear my story coming out of her mouth, knowing she had been able to crawl (literally) out of the abyss of alcoholic despair and become the woman she so desperately drank down, was certain inspiration to me. I, for the first time in my life, saw hope for me. I asked for help, crying and unsure it would work for me. I finally asked.

Then, I went to my first anonymous recovery group meeting, a woman’s meeting. I asked for help again. A gentle woman took me by the hand and sat me down next to her. They gave me a half-cup of coffee and a Big Book. I don’t know what was said in that meeting, I was too busy with my tears. I was amazed at the women and how they treated me, accepting and welcoming me. Of all people! I finally felt safe in a place with strangers. And yet, they were not strangers, just fellow family on the same journey. I felt the unconditional love that is talked about in meetings.

That was the beginning of a wonderful journey of sober life, with all its ups and downs, challenges and rewards, for me. I have not looked back. It has not been easy. Life throws some whammies at you and some unspeakable joy that is also hard to deal with when it is first experienced. I have been through divorce, lost loved-ones, had my first grand-baby die in my arms, moved across the country and started a new life in a strange city. Through it all, my anonymous recovery group. has always been there for me. A few years ago, I took the dream vacation of a lifetime, traveling alone on my motorcycle to a wilderness retreat. A journey of a thousand miles or more…

It all started with that first glimmer of hope 22 years ago. I did not know what was going to happen, but, it was certain to me what would happen if I did not take that leap of faith to try. I will never regret it.

AFDC (originally called Aid to Dependent Children) ADC was created during the Great Depression to alleviate the burden of poverty of families with children and allow widowed mothers to maintain their households. There were other programs that served men, and usually required some kind of work be provided. The programs have grown and today unending government deficits are pushing the United States toward bankruptcy. The U.S. simply cannot afford the massive increases in welfare spending planned by President Barack Obama. Welfare spending is projected to cost taxpayers $10.3 trillion over the next 10 years. Conservatives advocate that, “Congress needs to establish reasonable fiscal constraints within the welfare system. Once the current recession ends, aggregate welfare spending should be rolled back to pre-recession levels. After this rollback has been completed, the growth of welfare spending should be capped at the rate of inflation” (Heritage Foundation”). The solution seems simple, right, but the problem is, where are the jobs going to come from for the people getting off welfare. Not only have most of the menial jobs gone offshore, many of the tech jobs have too. The very, very rich, who employ workers overseas also, can afford to lobby Congress to insure that there are no fiscal ramifications for them doing so. The owners of these multi-national corporations and tax evading paper companies and the Governments that allow their people to be exploited are promoting poverty worldwide. The rich indeed get richer, because they are politically protected.

Liberals scream that we can’t cut programs because they are fail safes for the poor. I am sorry to offend my liberal friends but, the way people in the system live, is no way to live. The solutions presented by both conservatives and liberals aren’t good. We need to educate ourselves to spot and stop corruption and mismanagement. My husband often complains about how public funds are spent in our community but insists he does not have time to attend any of the budget meetings. Don’t complain about things you aren’t willing to try to fix. There are things we can do individually, why not volunteer, mentor, teach, work in soup kitchens or homeless shelters. A small difference is still a difference. Learn to understand rather than judge. I have met children who think cows are fiction because they have never been outside of a city. There are people who have lived their entire lives without seeing a Lake or a Mountain, how could we allow that to happen. I believe that keeping expectations low and not presenting new experiences or expectations is by design. Administering large social programs creates jobs for the administrators in a society that no longer manufactures anything. We will always need programs for the disabled and mentally ill and perhaps, emergency programs for families that have faced crisis. Locally we saw families devastated by floods, and the help from the Government was minimal. The Community did reach out and support their neighbors, and it felt good both to watch and participate in. Currently programs for the mentally ill do not serve their populations and is one reason why so many are homeless. Another problem with government programs, is that they have led many of us to believe we are not responsible for our brother’s wellbeing because, “there must be some government program to address that issue” There are good private organizations that provide support to communities, but they are becoming fewer and as our tax burdens increase our ability to give decreases. Even so statistics show that the middle class donates more of their time and money proportionately than the rich.

We, the working class, rather than addressing our anger where it should be directed, corruption at the top, hate and blame the ones at the bottom for situations that are not entirely within their control. The system has become a multi-generational way of life. Why should a child do well in school so that she can support a family, when she knows that all she has to do is get pregnant and the system will set her up with all her basic needs? Not that people on welfare live well. Believe me, I know, I have both worked and volunteered with no- income families. I have been in homes where kids slept on mattresses on the floor with roaches crawling all over the place. Some may be industrious enough to sell drugs or commit other crimes to supplement their incomes, but I can’t say as I blame them. These people have grown up in the ghettos and don’t know another way of life. With the amount of money we spend on public education to ensure children are educated and employable, why are there still these inner city neighborhoods that resemble post war zones?

We need to be angry at those at the top. We need to be angry at the overfunded, bloated, mismanaged government programs. We need to be angry at regulations that do not penalize corporations that manufacture goods off shore, and exploit both people and the environment, avoiding our laws but taking our dollars. We need to be angry at ourselves for buying products made in countries where the average wage for a 13 hour day is $5.00. We need to take responsibility and not blame everyone else for allowing things to get so out of control. Write letters, vote, get involved, involve your friends, become your brother’s keeper, speak out and up, care, volunteer, share. Remember there for the grace of God go I. We have to stop what is wrong but not by hating the wronged.

People have always struggled with the idea and act of forgiveness, perhaps a definition of the word would be a good place to start. Merriam –Webster defines to forgive as: to give up resentment of or claim to requital for, to grant relief from payment of to cease to feel resentment against. The definition is pretty straightforward, letting go of a particular deed or act or debt. There are, perhaps, reasons why the internal struggle with forgiveness occurs for many people. The first I think, is because it is easy to forgive a single act, such as a beating by an angry parent, but what if the beatings continue. Then one must remove themselves, or be removed from the abuser. Forgiveness never means, in any religion or spiritual practice, that you should continue to subject yourself to abuse. Once removed from a situation then forgiveness is possible and may be necessary for the mental health of the abused. Along with forgiveness, it may be a beneficial to meditate on the fact that the abuse was probably not personal. Often, in the case of violent crimes such as rape and child abuse, the deficit lies with the victimizer, not the victim. The victim often just happened to be present. The victim often blames themselves for allowing themselves to be abused, and looks within in themselves for some kind of deficit to justify the abuse. It is most important then, in this scenario to forgive themselves for any role they have perceived they played in their own abuse. Don Migue Ruiz, in his book “The Four Agreements” states “Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality and dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

Another reason why it may be difficult to forgive, even when one has distanced themselves from an transgressor, is that, pain, either physical or emotional continues. Life may have changed for the victim as a result of an act, and when they learn that there has been no remorse or disadvantages for the victimizer, forgiveness may feel impossible. Judaic law states, one must go to those he has harmed in order to be entitled to forgiveness. This means that in Judaism a person cannot obtain forgiveness from God for wrongs the person has done to other people. This also means that, unless the victim forgave the perpetrator before he died (murder is unforgivable in Judaism) they will answer to God. This idea is similar to that of Buddhist philosophy that states "In contemplating the law of karma, we realize that it is not a matter of seeking revenge but of practicing mettā and forgiveness, for the victimizer is, truly, the most unfortunate of all.” These ideas help one who has suffered at the hands of another realize that for the unrepentant, justice will eventually be meted out.

Jesus stated when someone struck you, you should turn the other cheek. This basically means, not to mind little insults and stings. We all hurt each other from time to time and usually is unintentional. These little stings should be forgiven quickly for our own benefits. Even the larger hurts, though, violent crimes and persecutions should be forgiven if possible. Studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments. It is indicated that forgiveness improves physical health; when people think about forgiving an offender it leads to improved functioning in their cardiovascular and nervous systems. The more forgiving an individual is the healthier their immune system is. Forgiving, however, does not mean that you continue to subject yourself to abuse.

Some individuals continue to subject themselves to abuse from the same individual or seek out abuse from different individuals, these people need to look inside and see what it is that they are not forgiving themselves for. Why do they feel the need to continue to be punished? Others punish themselves for not being able to forgive. Buddhism, again, sees forgiveness as a practice to prevent toxic thoughts from destroying mental health. Believing that feelings of hatred and ill-will will be detrimental to individuals own good Karma. Don Miguel Ruiz urges us, in all situations, to simply do our best, and if we do we will never feel victim to judgment. So, do your best to forgive yourself and others. Grow, to the best of your ability, from the most painful of situations. Find blessings to count, no matter how terrible things seem. Seek out people and places that nurture you when you feel wounded. Most importantly, be kind to yourself, and if you are having a hard time forgiving when you feel you should, forgive yourself.