AletheiaRivers

I'm glad you posted this Monica. I emailed you so many times I thought for sure I must be driving you nuts. That's why I stopped.

PS I used to really really like Wayne Dyer. Now I just sorta like him. I got a bit turned off when (it seemed to me) he started to focus more on getting what you want and less on spiritual ideas and God. It started to feel like "prosperity gospel" which makes my stomach turn. Many pagan authors are the same way, which is why I like Phyllis Curott.

When I used to "practice magic" it was understood that just because you affirm, envision, call forth or otherwise attempt to manifest your desires doesn't mean that it will happen. It's understood that (except for "high magic") it's not our will being done, but God/dess's. Phyllis Curott focuses on this point A LOT. Like I said, she is more spiritual in her approach and not so "gimme gimme" oriented (as some pop wiccan authors are). For me - magic, ritual, incantations, meditation, prayer - are ways to help ME connect to the Divine. There are other magical traditions that believe you can force God/dess or nature or whatever to bend to your will. High Magic traditions are more of this mindset (like Golden Dawn) and other hermetic lineages. I don't care for them much.

I asked my husband, but he doesn't know either, so I'll ask - "Could you 'splain Lucy? I don't get it." I'd highly recommend the book Witch Crafting (Click) by Phyllis Curott. I don't believe she's Wiccan, but I'm not sure. I do find her approach quite unique.

He can call it prayer if he wants. He could even call it Ralph if he wants. Personally, I'd call it magic (and I do).

My prayers are pretty informal. I usually pray before falling asleep at night and they are rather chat-like in nature. I pray for wisdom, understanding, insight. I open myself to dreams and often pray for hints to come to me in that form. I don't think so. If anything I think it might be more meaningful outside of supernatural theism in that I don't expect things from prayer that I did when I was of that mindset. I don't treat God like a waiter anymore. Um, yup, otherwise you're having a conversation with yourself. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Seriously, I do tarot readings on myself where I believe that is what I'm doing - talking to myself, delving into my subconcious. I don't call it prayer though. Meditation maybe?

I rarely post there, although I do read from time to time. Most of my posts are on the Progressive Christian forum. I actually stopped posting there because I can't stand the interface. Supposedly they are updating the board software to something similar as TCPC this year.

At the very top of the screen you'll see "My Controls." Click on it to go into your control panel. Once you are in, you'll see options on the left of the page to add a signature, or post an avatar, or put in details about yourself. You can upload a picture from your puter for an "avatar," (mine is 'Mnemosyne') or you can pick from among the generic (and cheesy) ones that the board offers you.

I find this board so much EASIER than bnet. The formatting tools are right there when you reply. No need to know HTML. The one thing I find that many do, like in your post above, is to hit "Reply" rather than "Add reply." The former quotes everything, the latter quotes nothing. I'd rather cut and paste what I want rather than have the entire post I'm responding to show up in my reply. The one thing I wish the board had was WYSIWYG editing. In your control panel you can set it to send you emails when you get a reply to a thread you are subscribed to. You can sub or unsub from threads. I like avatars too, though not many on this board use them. It's way different than bnet, but imo, much easier.

Hey Dave. It's great to have you here. I'm enjoying your input very much so far.

Thanks Dave. I'll check it out as well.

Good grief. My husband's name is Dave. How many of you are there?

I use AletheiaRivers all over the web. I like using the same name. It's like a footprint; clues to follow.

Dang it! I meant Crossan. I had Crossan's face pictured in my mind when I wrote the reply. I don't know why I said Spong. Argh!

You and flowperson.

LOL! The first time I read that I thought it said "The Gentile Weapon." Oy!

Would I recognize your handle from the Christian to Christian debate board? If you don't want to say what it is, I totally understand.

I've read just about everything from Borg. I haven't read anything from Spong. I think I'll give this book a try.

Way too cool! Just call me the yin/yang gyre kid.

Wow! You'll fit in with our eclectic group just fine. Unitutheran. LOL. Welcome to TCPC.

Seriously, I like them. I do.

I was surprised to read in The Idiot's Guide that Plotinus was anti-gnostic. I guess it's a fine line between neo-platonism and gnosticism that Plotinus just didn't want to cross. As an aside, while I was at B&N the other night, I had them search to see if there was an Idiot's or Dummies guide to Plato. No such luck. They had many good books on Plato, but I'd like something light (and easy) which is why I like the Stupid People books.

I'd never thought of that gnostic passage in that way before. (Actually, I've never thought of that passage in any way before. ) Jung was deeply influenced by gnosticism, so it's not such a stretch. Cool stuff. Keep the insights coming guys.

I think Thomas Moore (whom I'm quoting so much lately), a former Catholic monk, has the insight that he does into the soul, not only because of Jungian psychology, but because of his studies into eastern spirituality (zen).