The Utah Winter Faire

A few weeks ago my family attended the Utah Winter Faire.  It was a multi-fandom celebration of the holidays & beginning of the winter season.  Being that we love going to conventions to celebrate our geek side, we were quite excited to go. 

Completing a portion of their quest

The Utah Winter Faire was a lovely experience.  It was just a few miles away from our home, and it was  a smaller size than the massive conventions that Salt Lake City has recently hosted.  Many people were dressed up in fun fashions, with steampunk and wintery themes dominating.  Upon entering our children were given a pamphlet that included a quest to find certain people in order to earn a knighthood.  This portion they adored. 

The kids getting knighted after completing all of their quest

There was some good entertainment.  On Saturday, we were greatly entertained by an Irish dancing troupe, Rinceoiri Don Spraoi.  At the end of their performance they invited audience members to join in the fun.  They posted a video YouTube, and you can witness the fun my children had:

 <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AJ661qqYDt4" width="480"></iframe>

(If the embeding code isn't working, click here to be taken to the video)

Zelda has been wanting to get into Irish dancing for a while, and so after the performance I talked with some representatives.  We are all now looking to get signed up for lessons this coming spring.  Quite fitting considering our annual Celtic fest that my family puts on.  

The following morning we attended our highly anticipated special event of the Winter Faire: Brunch with Santa!  I must say, this was such a highlight of the weekend.  It was a small group of attendees,

and I imagine there were more on Saturday’s brunch, so this made for a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.  We were greeted and shown a table that had crafts for the children to do.  Food was soon served buffet style, and it was all super tasty, home-made goodness.  As we enjoyed our selection of food, a steampunk Santa made his entrance with his fanciful elf.  Both of them came to each table to spend time with our children.

"Coolest Santa Ever!" according to Zelda

The children and Sugar Elf

The children loved working on crafts.

My kids were a bit shy, and Santa and his elf handled it wonderfully.  By the end my little ones weren’t shy anymore.  After eating, Santa read a story for all of the children.  Then they were each given a turn on his lap to tell him of their gift wishes, and my daughter said she just wanted everyone to be happy.  Aww.  We were allowed to take several photos.  I must say this event was excellent and we are already looking forward to doing it again next year.  Hopefully we can bring some friends along to share the joy!

Even Shrek came by to hang out at Santa's Brunch

Link and his bag of goodies from Santa

After the brunch we headed back to the main portion of the Winter Faire.  We browsed the vendors, bought a few gifts for family and something for myself, and enjoyed more entertainment.  We were treated to an awesome combat ring where the fighters really went for it, and not with nerf swords!  It was so cool, though it did intimidate my daughter a little.  The attendees and vendors that we visited with were all wonderful.  We made some new friends as we talked about shared interests.

Old school sword combat.  Yes!

Hanging out in the TARDIS

All in all, the Utah Winter Faire is a lovely experience, put on by a fantastic community.  I am glad that we all attended and my family looks forward to joining in next year’s festivities.  My daughter is frequently reminding me to get working on her very own steampunk costume, based off of Becket’s “Key, the Steampunk Vampire Girl”.  She is hooked on the culture and wants to wear it to the next event. 

Brunch with Santa

An awesome 10th Doctor

This guy rules

Check out the Captain!

haha, Brilliant

Zelda got a ring on a bottle and won this dragon!  She  was so proud!

Woah, its December 2014

Holy moly, 2014 is almost over!

I just finished a crazy busy semester at Weber State University.  It is my first semester there and I took 5 classes.  I was just so ambitious and really wanting to do some catch- up since I missed a whole year of school while waiting to get residency tuition after moving to Utah.  I took a mandatory computer course, which was silly and annoying but at least it gave me an A.  I also took Chemistry, Human Biology, Art History, and Nutrition.  I got a B in my Chemistry class, of which I am super proud because that took some hard work!  I also got an A in my Art History, and I'm pretty sure I'll be getting an A in Nutrition.  My Human Biology is another issue...the teacher was terrible and didn't give any information on the final.  I didn't do to good. Considering I got an A on my finals in all of my other classes, then to get a D on my final in Human Biology says something.  Anyway, I'm waiting to find out it if my grade is going to be a B or C.  I'm waiting because my teacher doesn't grade the work on time.  She is two months behind.  A bit frustrating.

Anyway, I'm glad to be done!  Now I have free time!  Its so weird not having a ton of stuff to do.  I'm going to enjoy it.  As one of my friends commented on Facebook, now the holidays can officially begin!

And so they have!  Friday I got to enjoy a school play that my daughter was in.  Saturday I had my last final exam for my Nutrition class.  Because of the exam I could not attend the wedding of my father-in-law to his new bride.  When Ryan and the kids got home from that, we all went out to buy our holiday tree.  Its beautiful, full, and all sorts of crooked and twisted.  We didn't realize that until we got home.  Ha!  oh, well.  I do love the imperfection of nature that causes an enjoyable variety.  We then headed out to enjoy a few hours of the Utah Winter Faire.  What a blast that was!  It was a good small size, which is a relief from some of the conventions that we have attended in the past year.  The costumes were amazing and it was super child friendly.  We also went on Sunday, and so I will write a separate post reviewing it all next.  Just wanted to write a quick update.

Cheers,

Heather

Moon River Brewing Company

http://www.bubblews.com/news/1296569-moon-river-brewing-company

St. Augustine & Savannah Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Start your own Shutterfly Photo Book today.

I got a promo photo book from the National Park Service when I purchased the America The Beautiful annual pass this June.  I just threw together this book when I realized my promo was expiring the next day.  So here is a photo preview of the book I put together :)

Since re-birthing my blogging, I had every intention of keeping up to date with it.  However, shortly after the initial posts, a deeply sad event happened in our lives.  It pained me too much to write about it, and so I held back for the time it would take. I do know that if I want to really work on this blog that I can't ignore it, and I do not want to avoid writing about the happenings in life.

On Monday, August 12, my husband Ryan was informed that his ailing mother was back in the hospital, fighting an infection.  Her immune system had been drastically weakened by her cancer and chemotherapy.  The prognosis wasn't looking good.  Ryan's was picked up by his sister Melanie and his sister Stefanie, who had flown in from California.  They drove up to Logan together to be with their parents and other sister Amanda.  Discussions with the doctor revealed that the cancer had unfortunately spread throughout her body.  His mother, Patty, asked to be able to go home.

She was brought home Tuesday, and her son Rodney had arrived from Arizona.  All of her children, as well as her husband, were there with her.  She was able to be in their loving company through the moment of her passing on Thursday, August 15. 

It is hard for me to write this.  Thinking of it all brings me to tears.  I am so very saddened of her passing, of her suffering, but at the same time immensely struck by the beauty of love.  She was blessed by such a wonderful, loving family. To have them at her side for this moment is a blessing few get to have. 

Her family had a viewing for her on Sunday, as well as another on Monday that was held just shortly before her funeral.  It was amazing to witness all of the people come to show their support, love, and grief.  Her services were lovely.  Her daughters had some wonderful readings of memories and character, her sons sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" which was a request she had, and Ryan shared a poem he wrote for her.  It was all very touching. 

Honestly, I'm not sure what else to say.  I have so many feelings about the circumstances, but my words fail me.  In the near future, I will compile and post some of my favorite memories of Patty Egan.  Be at peace.

Hello, Kitty

Today is International Cat Day.  I thought it would be a great time to write an update about my cat, Tiger Lily.  When importing old entries from another blog of mine, I noticed I last wrote about her a few years ago when we had to give her to a new home.  Well, events have transpired since then that have brought her back into our lives.

In the spring of 2012, my friend Jen, who I affectionately refer to as Tiger Lily's social worker, informed me that the family that adopted Tiger Lily from us was moving and could not take her along.  I jumped at the opportunity to take her back into our home.  She no longer had the problems with pooping in the house. I am certain she was doing that because the previous home owners' dog soiled the carpets and they didn't bother changing them.  Yeah, that is pretty gross.  We replaced most of the carpet in our home, and in the process of removing the carpet we found stains in places that our cat would use, as well as additional spots that she didn't even have access to.  It was a shame to discover that we could have kept her all of this time had we just changed the flooring.  Anyway, a few years and new flooring later, we welcomed Tiger Lily back home.  My children have loved having her around, and, of course, so have I. 

The saga doesn't end there, though.  We moved out of our home in Tampa, Florida this past May.  My husband took the cat out to Utah to be fostered by another dear friend of mine, Rachael.  She volunteered to take care of her while we looked for employment and subsequently a residence.  It has now been 3 months since then.  We do have a place to stay, as I mentioned in my last post.  The home we are staying in currently houses 2 schnauzer dogs.  More than likely they would not get along.  Rachel needed to part with our cat as she is selling her home.  In need of another foster family, our dear friend & housemate Frank suggested a neighbor who may be able to help.  Ryan went over there to introduce himself and explain our situation.  Graciously, our neighbors & new friends agreed to help out by housing Tiger Lily.   We actually brought her to their home today.  I was able to see her for a short time, which was nice.  I'm just so grateful for all of the people who have helped to take care of her. Hopefully soon we will be able to have her back with us for good.  She is one very loved cat!

Faith Facet Q & A: Christian Science

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

This post is to illuminate the facets of the Christian Science faith.  The answers for this Q&A are provided by Bob Clark.  He is the Christian Scientist media/legislative contact for the state of Florida. 

Christian Scientists worship one supreme and infinite, all good God. "God, our Creator, is a power we see as completely loving, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing, all-active and ever-present. The synonyms we use to describe and understand God are Life, Truth, Love, Soul, Spirit, Principle, Mind.  We see this God as an infinitely available source of healing for all mankind and for all time."

SF: Does your religion teach that divinity exists outside of humanity, within, or both?

Clark: We believe that God is available 24/7 to heal, bless, uplift and redeem humanity. No exceptions.

Christian Science does not teach of any supernatural beings.  In regards to a system of good vs evil, Mr. Clark elaborates that they, "believe that good is more powerful than evil. When the absolute all-ness and reality of God's love is understood, evil and fear lose their reality and their grip on human thought. Healing is the natural and necessary result."

"We teach that man's true spiritual identity is eternal, completely outside of body. We see man as the immortal expression or reflection of God or Soul."

SF: Does the soul have one manifestation or many?

Clark: God, Soul, is manifested in human experience in an infinite variety of ways.

SF: What happens to a person after they die?

Clark: Since the real, spiritual man is never contained or confined within a physical body, when the physical body ceases to function, that real man continues to exist.

SF: Do you teach of a pre-life soul existence, and if so, what was it?

Clark: We believe that man is created and maintained by God and actually has neither an ending nor a beginning.

SF: Do you have sacred scripture/s? 

Yes. We love and study the Holy Bible daily. Our religious textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, helps us to understand the Bible and put its teachings and wisdom to use in everyday life.

SF: Are these scriptures absolute, or interpreted by the individual? 

Clark: The spiritual truth contained in The Bible is absolute. As individuals study and understand this absolute truth and learn how to apply it and live it, healing is the inevitable result.

SF: Do you have a creed? What is it?

Clark: Below are the important points or tenets of Christian Science, as found in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures:

1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.

2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God's image and likeness.

3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.

4. We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.

5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.

6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.

SF:Are there commandments/codes, and if so, what are they?

Clark: We cherish, study and try our best to live by Moses' Ten Commandments in The Bible, as well Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus is our example in all things.

SF:How do you worship?

Clark: We have two church services per week. Our Sunday service is performed by lay readers, elected democratically by the church members. They read a prepared Bible Lesson Sermon from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. The 26 Bible Lesson topics, repeated twice per year, were chosen by Mary Baker Eddy, discoverer and founder of Christian Science. A Bible Lesson Committee at our international church headquarters in Boston, MA, chooses the citations that form each Sunday Bible Lesson and are read as part of the service. 

Our Wednesday evening testimony meeting also utilizes readings from The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The lay reader conducting this service chooses the topic each week. The congregation is invited to share experiences of healing, brought about through the study and practice of Christian Science. At both the Sunday and Wednesday services, there are hymns, silent prayer, an audible repetition of the Lord's Prayer from The Bible, and musical selections. 

Mr. Clark illuminated that Christian Scientists have no rituals.  They also do not have any sacred sites.   

SF: Are all forms, or part, of worship available to public, or only members? 

All of our services are always open to the public.

 
SF: Do you have any holy days? What and when are they?

Clark: We have a special service on Thanksgiving Day. Our services at Christmas and Easter are aimed at helping congregants and visitors deepen their understanding of the significance of Jesus virgin birth and resurrection. We also have a Communion Sunday aimed at a a deeper understanding of Jesus' last days with his disciples and their significance for us, as modern day disciples. 


SF: Does your religion acknowledge holy people? Prophets, teachers, saints, gurus, etc. Please list them, or a few prominent people if the list is long, along with any particular aspect or teaching attribution.

We love and revere the patriarchs and prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible as well as Jesus and his disciples in the New Testament. The discoverer and founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, is greatly loved and deeply appreciated, but never worshiped.

SF: What is your religion\'s pastoral structure? What terminology is used for church service people/leaders?

Clark: We don't have ordained pastors in our church. We find pastoral comfort, guidance and healing in The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Our Sunday sermons are read by lay readers from those two books. We have a board of directors in Boston which oversees the administration of our church and its worldwide branches and activities.

SF: What morals does your religion value?

Clark: Our moral guides are The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Addictive habits of any kind make it difficult to practice Christian Science, so we avoid those. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) in the Bible gives us a solid basis for living a moral life. 

SF: How does practicing your religion personally enrich your life?

Clark: Practicing Christian Science enriches my life by bringing me a constant source of comfort, joy, hope and healing.

---------------

Many thanks to Bob Clark for his submission for this interview.  For further information on Christian Science:

Christian Science official Site

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy

Energy: With-in and With-out

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

I tend to refer to spiritual energy often, and here is an elaboration of this concept.

Energy at its most basic source is neutral.  Much in the way of the Dao (Tao), what is just is, and life energy is simply flowing.    For a human to be perfectly content, aspiration towards this neutral form of energy would be best.  However, humans are quite complicated, and our energy is equally complicated.  Our conscience awareness, and perception of differences, reflect on how energy fluctuates.  We are aware of generosity, love, happiness, togetherness, selfishness, separation, anger, etc. It is through actions and intent that manifestations of this energy gain a life of its own.  Neutrality is simple as it is the basis, yet it is complicated because balancing in the realm of neutrality can be difficult in modern life.  There are internal and external actions that help to deem what energy has the most influence on us at a given time. 

Connecting with existing energy can make a person spiritually stronger, or dark.  If a person repeatedly causes harm, whether to others or to themselves, they get caught in the negative energy from that harm.  One can even seem to be stuck in a perpetual loop of negativity.  This can manifest physically, mentally, and/or spiritually.  Everyone has their moments of negativity, though we must be vigilant to not stay stuck in that track. 

Likewise, a person can work toward positive energy.  Doing good for others and oneself can bring one further into this realm of energy.  One must take care with doing good for themselves as to not make it selfish, but rather that the good he does also causes no harm to others.  As the positive actions grow, the positive energy outside of them responds and connects to the individual.

To quote Albert Einstein, "Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another."  What energy we put out of ourselves continues to exist.  It may transform into other manifestations, but it will never end. What we put out we attract.  In this way, happiness seems simple: to be happy, act happy.  Even manipulating your body to smile when you don't feel happy can cause your brain to release a small amount of hormones that you feel when you are happy, and therefore may cause you to start to feel happy.  The same is for the opposite: frown, and you may start to feel upset. 

There is a spiritual effect that is similar.  Spiritual focus in particular direction will cause you to feel that spiritual energy.  It is taught by some gurus that mantras, or chants, are "words of power".  A particular mantra for an aspect of spiritual focus would have been previously chanted by many people for many years.  Some mantras are ancient.  It is believed that the energy from the chanting has its own life in the universe, and by chanting the mantra the individual connects directly with this energy aspect that is in existence.  This gives the mantra power, and therefore the chanter can begin to absorb this power.  Most are focused for worship, some for healing, higher-self/love connection, and other purposes.  Prayer, rituals, spells, hymns, and ritual dancing all work in a similar manner.  Its like turning on a radio to a particular station, hearing the song, then singing along and becoming a part of the music.

Energy can also have its own imprinted existence in physical locations.  A location used for the focus of positive work, like a church or other sacred ground, will have a positive energy that can be perceived even when the work is not presently active.  Locations of dramatic events can maintain the energy of that event for quite some time.  Because we are beings of energy, what happens in our lives can be left behind as energy residuals.  This is the cause of some locations being haunted.  There may not be any spirits or ghosts present, but the energy residual is still there, and at times even repeating the event like a scratched track on a vinyl record.

Energy is constantly being manipulated, simultaneously created and absorbed in a flow of impermanence.  Our Universe is expanding, using this created energy in its growth.  In turn, we humans can also use this energy awareness in our spirit growth.  Connect with the energy for that which you want to grow, through repeated acts that work for you, and by visiting locations that give you a sense of spiritual strength.

Challenging "The Devil"

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

A modern view of the Christian devil as a ruler of evil is reflects several various beliefs also found in other religions.  References in the Bible can be viewed as describing separate characters, rather than each reference describing one and the same embodiment.  Passages that are attributed to one being include characters such as the famous serpent in the story of the Garden of Eden, satan (Hebrew for accuser/adversary), and a devil (from the Greek word for slanderer), among a few others.  The term I find the most interesting is "prince of this world".  This could be allegorical for a person that is entirely materialistic, with no regards for spirit.

A religion based on dualism, Zoroastrianism, was one that was going strong during the birth of Christianity, and was still being practiced in some areas of Persia that had not become entirely Muslim in the middle ages.  Zoroastrian scripture holds that gods of good and evil were twins born out of chaos.  The battle between the two is ongoing.  This belief may have been absorbed by ancient Hebrews, and then strengthened in Christianity during the crusades.   

This type of polarity between good and evil is largely a West Asian / European ideal.  From what I have gleaned of the majority of Eastern and indigenous American religion, the idea of good and evil is more neutral akin to the way nature is neutral. 

Good and evil are subjective.  The actions of 'evil' are complex.  We do not know what life a person may be living, what strife and problems they have had to endure.  Just the slightest variation of brain neurons can change a personality.  It can make a person more prone kindness and compassion, or more prone to anger and hatred.  If a very hostile person is given a brain surgery that causes them to become docile, does that mean their spirit has change from evil to good?  Likewise, if a kind and generous person suffers brain trauma and becomes short tempered and hostile, does that mean they have gone from having a spirit of light to a spirit of darkness?  For years, ignorant people attributed mental illness to demonic possession, or to the consequences of devil worship.  Humanity is just now beginning to understand the complexities of our brain and its influence on personality and actions.  Perhaps there is no evil, but improperly developed brains and damaged society.

Within that, however, is the acknowledgement that we do have choice.  While few individuals may not have a great ability to choose their behavior, the majority of people do have that ability.  People have a responsibility to themselves and others to work hard against their own adversaries of positivity.   It is a step by step process to work and gear ourselves to focus on light, rather than get lost in the darkness of negativity.  A prince of our world may be the brain.  Should it be corrupted, it will be difficult to work for good, but not impossible. 

It is the in the dark side of humanity in which evil exists.  Darkness is within and without, just as light.  It is the individual's choice as to where he or she focuses that energy.   Should one maintain focus on negativity, it will grow, just as if one is to maintain focus on positivity, it in turn will grow.  Truly, Hell exists in the living, among people who turn away from the light of positivity and love, and focus on the darkness and shadows of hate.

The Significance of December 21, 2012

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

Tomorrow morning is the Winter Solstice.  According to John Major Jenkins, in his thesis book Maya Cosmogenesis, the sun will rise in line with the center of the Milky Way as viewed from Earth. This happens once every 25,625 years. That is what the longest cycle of the Mayan calendar is based on.

Don Miguel Ruiz has written many books reflecting what he has learned from Toltec/Mayan shamanic wisdom.  He illuminates their belief that everything in the universe is living and contains an intelligence.  This includes the planets and stars.  The Sun communicates with the Earth. 
We are currently in the end of a 17 year cycle of abundant activity of solar flares.   It is expected by scientists that the Sun will enter a 'cold' period, when very little solar flares are sent out.  If we look at this from the Toltec view, a solar flare could be a method of communication.  If flares are not going out, perhaps the Sun is in a time of listening. 

In the center of our Milky Way is a supermassive black hole.  As previously stated, our Sun will line up with our Earth and the center of the Milky Way, along with this black hole, on the day of December 21, 2012.  Considering this alignment, the Toltecs may view this as a moment of Universe Consciousness reception.  New energies are being received and to be sent out in the coming years.

Mayan mythology likened the dark line of the center of the Milky Way as a serpent of birth.  This event was calculated by their brilliant astronomers, and was important because the Sun will travel through to a new birth.

When the solstice sun rises over the ancient Mayan temple of Chichen Itza, a shadow of a serpent will rise up along the sides to the top. Most of the remaining ancient structures were originally designed to honor the solstice. A ray of light will make its rare entrance into the mound of Newgrange in Ireland. An ancient spiral cut into stone in Coloradowill be visually split by the light of the sun. Henges, like Stonehenge, have a marker stone to cast an exalted shadow, or guide a the sun's light to an open space.  The purpose of the structures of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, will have its day of fulfillment.  The solstice sunrise has been important to the people of this planet for millennia. Tomorrow's syncing with our Milky Way is very rare. Take a moment to acknowledge this important astronomical event in your own way.

Welcome to the birth of the Sun.

Who Wears the Pants?

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

I was recently invited to a Facebook event titled: "Wear Pants to Church Day". As of today, the description for the event is as follows:

" LDS Women Unite: Wear pants to church in solidarity for women's equality. If you already wear pants to church (we're talking to you men!), we invite you to show your support by wearing a purple shirt, tie, socks, or ribbon, purple being a color historically associated with the suffrage movement. This is the first act of All Enlisted, a direct action group for Mormon women to advocate for equality within our faith. 

' "The Church has not attempted to indicate just how long women’s or girls’ dresses shoul

d be nor whether they should wear pant suits or other types of clothing." '--LDS Church Presidency (1971)

We are feminists. We do not seek to eradicate the differences between women and men, but we do want the LDS church to acknowledge the similarities. We believe that much of the cultural, structural, and even doctrinal inequality that persists in the LDS church today stems from the church's reliance on – and enforcement of – rigid gender roles that bear no relationship to reality.

We subscribe to the Book of Mormon teaching that ' “all are alike unto God,” ' and hope that our choice to wear pants to our Sunday worship services (a choice sanctioned by our spiritual leaders over 40 years ago!) reminds our families, congregations, and leaders that we have not forgotten this gospel truth."

The comments and their subsequent threads have been a fascinating.  I have decided to share the following on the event page:

First I will preface this with allowing the knowledge that I am not a member of the LDS church.  I was born and have lived most of my life in Salt Lake City.  My in-laws are all members of the LDS church.  My life has been saturated with the culture and beliefs of this religion.  Please take a moment to read what this inside outsider has to say on this subject.

I have seen that the idea of women coming to church in pants as a form of protest for equality  is causing quite a stir among many members.  My first thought is that it is gravely unfortunate that a members' choice of clothing should be of any importance to other members.  I have read several members cite that their reasoning is respect, or that a person should dress in a manner that they would like to present themselves to their Savior.  Personally I feel that the Lord would not pay any attention to the clothing worn by a person when they are in the Presence.  Clothing and fashions are from the material world.  We are born naked.  Adam and Eve were in the Garden with God, naked and unclothed until coerced by snake in a tree.  I believe that shows that God does not judge us based off of what we wear.  Only humans judge humans based on the superficial.

That said, what purpose does it then serve to dress nicely for service?  Many psychological studies have demonstrated that what we wear can affect our mood and perception of ourselves.  If we are wearing something that we set aside for something special, which is typically a very nice garment, we will perceive the event we are attending as special.  For this purpose, it is a universally accepted habit to wear special garments for ritual worship.  Preparing for ritual with special clothing is the beginning of preparation for the proper mental state for the forthcoming rite. 

Are weekly or daily church meetings sacred enough to dress in designated clothing?  For some it is, and for some it isn't.  Some people are comfortable worshiping in their every day clothes.  Others are more comfortable dressing in special clothing, or dressing in nicer clothes than every day wear.  This may depend on an individual, a congregation, and cultural influence.

When I was young, I had many friends that tried to bring me to church with them.  I remember one day, when I was 11, a girl  told me that I could still go to church and not have to wear a dress.  She had made the assumption that I didn't go to her church because of their perceived dress code.   I found this comment to be interesting.  While it appeared a kind sentiment that they would accept me as I was, I knew in my heart it wasn't true.  If I chose to attend regular meetings, it would only be a manner of time before women and girls would start to make their judgments of my choice of clothing known by seemingly polite comments.  "You would look so pretty in a dress!" 

A separation of dress for genders is nothing new in religious cultures.  Expectations for dress varies between religions and even congregations.   I have been denied entrance to a Buddhist temple because of my clothing.  They didn't allow me in with shorts.  I have been warmly welcomed to a different Buddhist temple wearing the same form of clothes.  This demonstrates that it is not the religion doing the judging, but the people.

There is a pressure in Utah LDS culture for women to present themselves in a certain manner, especially at their church houses.  The women who created this event, and who are attending, are demonstrating their awareness of this issue.  They are also expressing their concern for they ways men and women are treated differently in their church.  It is this aspect of the protest that I believe is bothering other members the most.

The LDS church has operated on a strict difference between men and women since its beginnings.  They have different roles, and are allowed different privileges.  This has been accepted for generations.  However, a slowly growing movement for equality has been making its way through the church, coinciding with the growing movement for equality in the secular world.  As women gained equality from our government, the gains eventually translated to further gains within their church culture. I believe we are witnessing the next step in the process.

I will now address the issue that appears to be the most divisive, and avoided, subject in the comment threads I have read.  That issue is the priesthood.  I would just like to share my experience with blessings.  The first time I ever experienced the power of a blessing I was  attending a Young Womens' camp.  One of the girls had a terribly painful migraine.  A man was called from the neighboring Young Mens' camp to come give a blessing.  Everyone stood in a circle around the girl while the man laid his hands over her and performed his blessing.  The power of Supreme Love was extreme and beautiful.

Since then, I have experienced this same essence many times in my life.  It may surprise some members of the LDS church that this experience came not only from the spiritual strength of men, but also of women.  I have attended religious rituals that were essentially the same set up as the first LDS blessing I experienced.  I have experienced Reiki and Wiccan blessings, which enact similar physical and spiritual manners.  These were sometimes performed by men, but more often my experiences have been done by women.   These moments shared the power of Supreme Love just as strongly and as real as the blessing done by the man in the LDS camp. 

Women are just as spiritually powerful as men.  Their spirits do not lack in anything from a man's spirit.  The light of God's love is within everyone and can be activated by anyone with pure love and intent.

I will finish with what I believe to be a stunningly beautiful testament to the equality of the soul, regardless of gender, which is reflected by clothing. 

The practitioners of Islam are well known for the women being required to dress in an extremely modest manner.  The extremities of this vary from culture to culture.  Women commonly cover up their heads as a sign of respect.  (As an aside: some Muslim women protest this cultural symbol of respect, the head scarf, by not wearing it; just like these LDS women will be protesting the wearing of dresses or skirts by wearing pants) There is a moment in a Muslim's life when this gender enforced modestly is pushed aside.   It is the duty of every devout Muslim to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime.  This is the pilgrimage to Mecca performed during the last month of the year.  During this pilgrimage everyone wears a white robe.  Men, and most women, shave their heads. No one can judge if you are rich or poor, and the physical differences between man and woman become faint.  This is to humbly demonstrate that we are equal in the eyes of God.  Millions of people attend the Hajj in unison yearly.  It is a wonderful testament of ultimate spiritual equality.

The LDS church is an ever-unfolding church that has its growing pains just as any other church.  It is not up to me to dictate what should happen in their religion.  I just wanted to write this in order to illuminate some perceptions and hope that the reader can take away something positive from what may have been gleaned.

Personal Paranormal Experience, part 2: Something In the Dark

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)
I think everyone will have ghostly experiences in their lifetime. Some are not very dramatic and will easily get passed on with excuses. Others are indisputably paranormal. In this three part series, I will reveal to you what things have convinced me there is another form of existence beyond the human realm.

I first read about lucid dreaming when I was 13.  The idea of being in some control of my dreams intrigued me so much that I put it into practice.  I got to a point where I could retain some conscious awareness that I was dreaming, and therefore experience it for an entertaining value.  I didn't always do this, but most of the time I was successful.  If a dream wasn't going the way I liked, I would change it.  If it got real bad, I'd tell myself to wake up.  Simple lucid dreaming experience.

A couple of years into this, at age 15, my dreams gave me a new experience.  Something I wish I could forget.  I was asleep, doing my thing with lucid dreaming, when at a moment I felt that I wasn't alone.   My conscious part of myself was alarmed.  I looked around my dream and found something in my dream, watching me.  It was a dark and very ominous being.  It had such a heavy feeling of dread that the sense emanated through everything around it.  There was no mistaking that it was not a part of my standard dream. It was separate from me. It was watching me.  After some work, I forced myself awake. 

The being of dread was like a silhouette of a tall man.  There was nothing distinct about its shape.  Just blackness.  A blackness that no light could pass through or illuminate. The only other feature was the eyes.  They were a glowing gold.  The light seemed to be coming from within.

The next night I experienced the same thing.  This thing invaded my dream.  I would be minding my own business, sleeping and dreaming, when again my consciousness felt the presence, and found the source of my terror.  This shadow being was no good.  I experienced this for several nights in a row, until one night when I was just refusing to fall asleep.

I didn't want another visitation.  I was too afraid to fall asleep.  This thing would not leave me alone and I felt that if I could break the chain of sleep for even one night, it would lose interest and go away.  So I stayed up, reading in my room. 

Then I felt it.

The heavy weight of dread was the first thing that caught my attention.  I reluctantly looked in the direction of the source.  Across to the other corner of my room was the dark shadow and the glowing eyes.  My internal alarm spiked.  I grabbed my blankets, covered myself with them, and went into a tight fetal position.  Looking back I'm not entirely sure why I didn't run out of my room.  Perhaps it was because that would have taken me physically closer to it, perhaps it is because I didn't want me to follow me out and pester my family.  Rather I hid in the bed like a small child  This thing terrified me.

While I hid I felt it watching me.  Just standing there, filling me with fear, the same as it did while it was in my dreams.  I closed my eyes so tight and prayed for sleep.  I felt that sleep would at least put me in a level playing field.  This thing did not belong in my physical space.

Eventually I escaped into sleep. 

It never came back.

I didn't tell people about this experience for years as I feared this dark thing would sense I was talking about it and come back.  I searched for answers as to what this being was.  A simple 'demon' answer just wasn't good enough for me.  I finally got to a point where I could tell a few people about it.  A good friend of mine who was a Druid high priest said he felt it was a psychic vampire, and he told me it couldn't physically harm me, it was just trying to keep me from my potential.  Still not certain this was it, I continued my research.  I have come across stories of shadow people, but most aren't described quite like this.  I did once come across a girl telling the same type of experience on a discussion forum, and she was the same age I was when I experienced it.  I have gotten more comfortable sharing the story, but I still feel some uneasiness.  Sharing this story is a big step for me.  Perhaps it could help someone else out who has also experienced a visitation from a being like this. 

Personal Paranormal Experience, part1: Being of Light

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)
I think everyone will have ghostly experiences in their lifetime. Some are not very dramatic and will easily get passed on with excuses. Others are indisputably paranormal. In this three part series, I will reveal to you what things have convinced me there is another form of existence beyond the human realm.

My first experience isn't actually with a ghost. I'm not sure if my second one was either (read it to see what I mean). However, it is paranormal in nature, and it firmly sets in my stronghold in an afterlife.

 I was 14. Something bright woke me from my sleep. I looked at the foot of my bed to see a figure that was strongly illuminated. In most circumstances a light that bright would cause me to close my eyes and look away. However, this light didn't cause any strife to my vision. It was welcoming. In the light was a figure, dressed in light blue, and with golden hair. I could not tell you with certainty if it was male. I felt so comfortable, surrounded by love, and a yearning to hold it. So I jumped up and gave it a hug.

I don't know the amount of time I spent with this being. Time didn't exist. It conversed with me. It wasn't in the normal way that you and I talk, which is with our mouths. It was as though I heard it in my head and understood it with my heart. I could feel a slight pulling connection from the center of my head and the center of my heart with this being. I cannot remember the specifics of our conversation. I am certain that I am not meant to remember that.  My memory of my experience is dominated with the sense of the conversation, not the words.

There was only one thing I was allowed to remember. At the end of our conversation, it said, "Everything will be OK." This message was ambiguous. It referred to my life, and to everything in existence. After saying this, he gently touched my head, which I responded to by laying back down to sleep. When I awoke in the morning I felt an odd sense of being drained, as though I had been crying all night. However, what was in the place of the feeling of being drained was a very strong feeling of love. It is difficult to convey exactly how I felt, but this is the best I can come up with.

The message played over and over in my head "Everything will be OK." I keep that message with me. It is comforting.

This message is also for you.

In the beginning

(Transferred from the blog Spirit Facet)

When it comes to religion, I was raised on a clean slate. My parents never talked with me about religious ideals. I was on my own.

When I was a child I found this extremely difficult, especially since I grew up in a state where 80% of the population belongs to one church. Religion is very surfaced in the culture of Utah. The first thing people asked me when first meeting me was "What ward do you belong in?" (A ward is a designated congregation in the LDS church). The parents of my peers would use me and my family as an example of people who will not get the rewards promised to them by God. The people of this culture related with others upon their religious affiliation. This forced me to try to find some sort of religious identity at a very young age.

I have always had a love within me of God, regardless of how people used God as an excuse to judge me. I remember solemnly revering Jesus on Christmas Eve, though in my family it was simply a secular holiday. The Mormon view of God was my only outside influence for the earliest part of my life.

I was fascinated by Greek mythology when we read the stories in elementary school. It is so much a part of me that the only tattoo I have is of Medusa. I would consider this my first introduction of religious thought other than Christian.

Since then I have read many religious and spiritual writings, been held captive to shows about religion, fascinated by what was historical and current mythology, seeking to know the common strain and to understand the core of those around me. I have learned so much, and continue to have my eyes opened further than I ever expected.

I now realize what I perceived as a difficulty has actually been a great gift. My path has been completely of my own choosing, without any force to go down another road. This clean slate from my family is a gift for which I am grateful. 

My current beliefs are from various sources and eclectic.  They are strong in their foundation, though I am ever curious.  I like to learn spiritual truths within the world's religions.  I find that learning about religious beliefs and practices grows my understanding of both humanity and 'Universal Spirit'.  I also have witnessed that each belief contains parts of the whole of what the Great Spirit is, hence every religion is a Spirit facet.

For years I have wanted to write down what thoughts race through my head. This is that outlet. I also want to share with you experiences of different faiths and paths that I come across. I seek never to convert, only to share what has been shared with me. I hope through this you will gain more to grow in the light of Supreme Love.

Blessed be your eternal Self,
Heather

Goodby Norma Jean

(Transferred from the old blog The Egan Initiative)

My Grandmother Norma Jean Barnes was laid to rest yesterday. I would like to share some of my fondest memories of her.

We didn't get to visit with Grandma too often while growing up. My family lives all over the US. Grandma Jean and Grandpa Larry lived in the Texas side of Texarkana. My earliest memory of her involves being in Wendover at the age of 3 before my sister was born. The memory is vague, though I sure remember the sounds and lights of the casino.

Years later when I was 12 we had a small family reunion of sorts at our house. The funnest part of the trip was when Grandma took us to the Sports Park for go cart racing. She kicked all of our butts! It is still funny in my mind to see her whipping around the corners. She had mentioned wanting to go bungee jumping but that never quite happened. ;)

For Thanksgiving in 2001 we all got together in Texarkana. She worked so hard at putting together a TON of food...so much we had a large buffet that could have easily fed the whole block. She made 28 pies! That made it almost 2 for each of us. Recently my sister was telling me how during Thanksgiving dinner she flashed everybody. I happened to miss this, though a few days after Thanksgiving she flashed me telling me that is what I have to look forward to when I get older, ha ha. She loved calling me & herself Dallas Cheerleaders because of our 'shape'. She told me her favorite photo of me was an image I got for my 21st birthday in which my face was imposed on a pro cheerleaders body.

She enjoyed music and dancing. While the whole family went bowling on that 2001 trip, she and I would dance on the walkway. I loved how she encouraged a fun and unique spirit.

Ryan and I stopped by to visit Grandma & Grandpa on our move from Utah to Florida in 2004. She loved cats and had the opportunity to meet my dear cat Morrissey. When Morrissey passed away just a few weeks later, she greatly helped me through it. Her last few years were plagued by pain & surgery after surgery. I am glad she no longer has to go through all of that and can be happy and at peace. I'm sure she is up there enjoying the company of Morrissey and my other recently passed cat Sneekers, whom she adored.

I enjoyed our conversations and her quirkiness. I will miss that.


Peace and love to you, Grandma Jean. We had some great times.

Farewell LOST

(Transferred from the old blog The Egan Initiative)

I am still emotional after watching the LOST series finale last night. I can best grasp it is from a combination of the actual events of the show, and that there will be no more. It is a period of mourning and of satisfaction...the last episode hit home that investing myself into this show has been more than worth it.

Anyone with some idea of the stories in Lost would immediately recognize that we are fans by the title of our blog, a reference to the Dharma initiative, a group of scientists that were on the Island in the 1970's.
I have found this to be no ordinary television series. I have witnessed LOST to be a perfect work of art, in the sense that the masterpiece it is allows each viewer to bring themselves into it for their own interpretation. They kept true with this theme from beginning to the end.

There was always the sense of wanting to know the answers to the questions posed by the show. For many of the episodes of the 6 seasons, each answer given only lead to more questions. As the show came to an end, many questions got some form of resolution. However, some of this resolution was gained by paying attention to the show all along. The show itself has become a mosaic on answers and questions, mimicking life in its existence. LOST is a mirror to humanity and spirituality. The end was a stunning and beautiful tribute to the conclusion of the answer that we may not know why or how, but that we exist, we live, we struggle, and we love.

LOST has become what I believe to be the greatest mythological story of our time. It holds up to Homer's Odyssey, the Hindu Vedas, the tales of the Torah and New Biblical Testament. It merged together ancient tales with modern viewpoints, some easily recognized as Biblical, Hindu, Atlantean, and Egyptian; references of modern science, philosophy, books, movies; along with ideas as mysterious as the Island itself. Since childhood I have been an avid reader of myths, legends, and religious beliefs from around the world. The writers of Lost incorporated so many of these into their tale, which I know is the primary reason why I got so deep into this series. I admit I did not have interest in the show for the first season as it was marketed as a drama version of "Survivor", then word of mouth came out that it was nothing like people expected. When Kenna was a newborn and would wake up in the middle of the night, I needed something to help me stay awake along side her. I rented the first season of Lost and was instantly hooked. The quality of the acting, writing, and directing matched those of outstanding movies. I soon had any family and friend I could get to watch it sit down with me and enjoy the show, piecing it together and trying to come up with the answers before they were revealed (if they ever were revealed)

In the course of the next few years we were introduced to characters in such a deep level that many of us fans felt like they were a part of us, that we knew them. Some of them we identified with, some we loved, others we loved to hate. The show was so well executed that the surprises given were rarely if ever predictable. Like life itself, it took us for a ride...some enjoyed it for the whole turn, others deciding to get off halfway through.... and I can say that the ride payed off in a way I could have only hoped. I will greatly miss our Lost nights, but I am so happy to have been able to be a part of this and experience this story in a way that only modern technology could bring it to us.

I am in awe of the culmination of the message of the show, of eternity, love, free will, and fate. LOST is a gift of which I will be forever grateful.

God Speed....

(Transferred from the old blog The Egan Initiative)

I live in a pretty quiet neighborhood, but occasionally we are graced with an awe inspiring sound that few in this world are lucky enough to experience.

8 minutes ago I stood in my backyard and faced east in anticipation of the sight that would come before the sound. First I heard the dogs around the neighborhood start to bark, then I saw the bright light through the trees, racing up to the sky at a speed that cannot help but make you pause. When this flame in the sky had reached about halfway up in my view, a rumble started to come from its direction. It continued to get louder, vibrating the windows of my house and the blood in my veins. Today the air was clear enough and the wind just right to carry the sound to the point you could hear the flames of the Shuttle crackle. Soon the vibrating roar surrounded the air around me and my peacefully sleeping newborn. I watched with a feeling of pride for the good side of humanity as the flame got distant, then sparked as the booster rockets separated from the main part of the shuttle. As the image of the shuttle disappeared it left behind a large line of smoke, brightly illuminated by the sun. The rumble soon faded away, and I came inside the home to watch the shuttle Atlantis live on the television, to get a view of it entering space at over 4000 miles per hour.

I feel very privileged to live so close to something so amazing. It is by no accident that I do; when I was young we would come visit my grandparents here in Brevard county and I always felt I wanted to live here.

My shuttle experiences have not always been spectacular, as the first shuttle launch I witnessed was the tragic launch of the Challenger in January 1986. I remember it very well, stepping out to the patio of my grandfather's condo on that cold day to watch it go up. As it was going up in the air, my grandfather said something was wrong, that it should be going towards the moon, and as he pointed the direction it should be going a large puff of smoke filled the air. The shuttle was no longer making its journey upwards. I had not fully understood the gravity of the situation being that I was 5, but the feeling and images of that day have haunted my memories.

However, my memories are now filled with the many launches I have witnessed since moving to Florida in August of 2005. Each launch has been astounding, and have all been different in their own way. In my opinion nothing can top a night launch, when the shuttle lights up the sky like a sunrise. It is like the sun making a quick appearance in the east, just long enough to say hello, illuminating the blue in the sky. A fantastic sight.

We have only 6 more launches scheduled for our shuttle program. I think it is unfortunate it is being canceled before its replacement, the Ares rockets, are ready to begin. As it stands now, there will be at least a 3 year gap between the programs. I will miss seeing the shuttles go up in the sky, but I am very glad to have been lucky enough to be present during the launches I have seen.

Midnight Sun: Shuttle launch viewed from our backyard, August 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm