Reclaim Christmas #holydays #birthdayforjesus

SILENT NIGHT by SISSEL

Today is the day, December 25, 2022, Christmas day.  I awoke from my slumber and busied myself with the preparations of coffee and mimosas before my partner and I settled down to open our presents from each other and family alike.  We had a lovely breakfast of bacon and eggs, then he scurried off for a few hours of work and leisurely I read on the couch, sprawled out, with my reader glasses pouring through The Odyssey, then lightly cleaning and organizing the living room.  As I spent this day in relaxation, laying aside all thought of work until the morn of the next, my mind pondered the true meaning and history of Christmas.

In the Western culture of America, Europe, as well throughout the world, Christmas is seen as a Christian holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 

Historical and anecdotal evidence would show that the birth of Jesus, were it actually known, would not be in the middle of December, most likely sometime in late Spring or early Summer.  Yes, even the Bible does not declare a date of his birth, but does recount the story we have grown accustomed to hearing even if we have don't affiliate with Christianity.  For many a year until the 4th Century, only Easter was celebrated in reverence to the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Then, in the 4th Century, the religious leaders decreed that a special holiday be set forth in honor of their Savior's birth.  But, why in the midst of cold December?

For a myriad of centuries before this proclamation, a variety of other spiritual faiths honored their gods and traditions during the month of December, such as Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, and others. (See: Winter Solstice: The Coming Light #saturnalia #feastofjuul #dongzhi #albanarthan) What, then, was the reasoning for celebrating the birth of the Christian Savior in the midst of these already established holidays?  Take a guess, why don't you?

As the rule of the land swiftly declared Christianity the one true religion and law of the land, that dominance brought the destruction of other beliefs and peoples, leading to the Christian rulers wrapping up the original 'Pagan' holiday practices into a nice little package of Christmas with a bow to be passed down through the ages.  Did you catch that?  The Christian rulers incorporated the practices of the so-called "Pagan religious holidays" within the context of their 'Christmas' in order to sway the non-believer to be converted to their ways.  

This gives me pause to reflect, do Christians, in fact, have the right to fight against the supposed war on Christmas when it was their faith that arrested and vanquished the holy days away and declared theirs the victor?  Nay, those whose celebrations and spiritual beliefs were persecuted against and made to convert or face death have the right to declare this war, yet they do not.

Still, it was not the early Christians, and especially not Jesus himself, that declared any war on Christmas due to the belief that the secular world wishes to destroy Christianity.  This even in the times when to be outside the law of the land even in belief was persecuted unto death, hence, the whole crucifixion of Jesus thing.  Yes, even as he was being led to the slaughter, he did not cry down vengeance or scream persecution, a reflection of, you know, the whole 'turn the other cheek, lay down your lives' decree.  This appears to be quite a different way of being from the contemporary Christian fundamentalist who march in front of Planned Parenthood or boycott bakeries baking cakes for same sex marriages.  Even in the days of recent past, (is it just in the past?), when those in the South dressed in white robes violently approached a neighbor's yard burning a cross merely because they did not like the color of their skin.  None of these seem to me to match with the teachings of non-judgment and unconditional love of the one they claim to 'trust and obey'.  

No, none of this and more, reflects the true nature and teachings of Jesus, if it is believed he lived, whether he be man, God, or both.  Nor do I think those that practice such horrors in the name of Christ truly know him.   

Yet I, on the other side of deconstruction from fundamentalist Christianity, do admire the teachings of Jesus and the book that speaks of him, the Holy Bible, as a spiritual leader and a spiritual holy book.  Thus, is the crux of the need to reclaim Christmas from those who insist their religion is being persecuted because of a 'red cup', from those who march preaching bigotry pretending it to be love, who fight to remove the rights of others, who alone are causing this war with their self-righteously spewed hatred.  

Yes, our part in this battle is to reclaim Jesus, the story of his birth, and Christmas, not to lift it higher or make it seemingly better than the other December holy-days, but to allow the small babe of Jesus himself to rest in his manger bed alongside the other days.  

This is the unity of love and pure undefiled religion.  This, I believe, Jesus himself and God above would truly dig.

Evidence of Jesus' Birth Revealed | Full Episode

(It must also be shared that the story of Jesus, a miraculous birth, a sacrificial death and resurrection, is a story all too familiar found in religions previous to the usage of it in Christianity.)

Articles used as research:

History of Christmas

Christmas

The Christmas Story in the Bible

What's the History of Christmas? What to Know About Your Most Joyful Traditions

What is the Christmas story? The real meaning behind Christmas and why we celebrate it on 25th December

The Real Story of Christmas

Birth of Jesus - Nativity Bible Story

Saint Andrew's Day #feastofstandrew #andermas #andrewtheapostle

 

10 Reasons Scotland Celebrates St Andrew's Day

This last Wednesday, November 30, 2022, was the holiday known as Saint Andrew's Day, a day of celebration honoring the Apostle Andrew.  A good friend of mine, Chris Rome, lives in Scotland, one country where it is celebrated, so I thought it would be amusing to research and write an entry on a tradition of which he is very familiar.  Andrew himself was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, as it is written in the Bible, who gave up his lucrative career as a fisherman to 'become fishers of men' once he found the Messiah.  Because of his convictions, when asked to renounce his Savior and refusing, he was put to death similarily to Christ, however, he insisted his crucification be different as even in death he could not come close to the greatness of his Lord.  Thus, he was crucified diagonally, like an X, which was later adopted as the Scottish flag symbol, the Saltire, which is the reasoning why in Scotland this holiday is a National Flag Day.

In AD 832, the Scots and the Picts were in a battle against Angles in today's Athelstaneford, East Lothian, when the leader of their army, Óengus II, declared Andrew the patron saint of Scotland should they prevail.  On the day of their victory, it was said a X-Cross was visible in the sky, which was taken as a sign of Andrew's blessing and protection.  Thus, the Saltire was made the symbol of the Scottish Flag. 

In Scotland, Saint Andrew's Day is akin to that of Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland and is an official bank holiday.  As well it should be, because traditional celebrations include gathering together to honor Scottish history and culture through parties that extend far into the wee morning hours.  In addition, Saint Andrew's Day, November 30th, marks the beginning of the Winter Festivals followed by Hogmanay and Burns Night.  In the town of St. Andrews itself, there is a weeklong celebration.  Much of this holiday is spent with fine feasts of Scottish foods, such as haggis, consuming large quantities of Scottish drink, such as whiskey, and dancing to Scottish music. 

Finale Weekend Celebrations - St Andrew's Day Celebration

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There are, however, many other countries that celebrate St. Andrew's Day, which are Barbados, Romania, Russia, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine.  The celebrations in each of these countries varies and differs from that of Scotland.  Barbados honors the holiday as their national day of independence with their coat of arms reflecting that of Andrew's crucification.  Romania includes the ancient pre-Christian religious teachings and connects Andrew with the God Saturnalia or Saturn.  Also in Romania, as well as Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Russia, and Poland, the eve of Saint Andrew's Day is believed to be the commencement of the highest vampirical activity following until Saint George's Eve on April 22nd.  This is also believed to be the night filled with magical ability for young woman to peek into the future to see who they shall marry.  Many such ritualistic practices for this include 41 grains of wheat under the pillow before they sleep and if the dream shows the grain being stolen, their marriage is impending.  Other practices include the lighting of a candle and taking it to a fountain at midnight to see the face of their future husband, baking suitors' names into bread and whose ever rises is their future spouse, and throwing a shoe over the shoulder and if it lands near the door, the new year will bring marriage. 

St. Andrew's Day in Podillia

Articles used as reference:

Saint Andrew's Day

https://nationaltoday.com/st-andrews-day/

St Andrew's Day: When is St Andrew's Day? Who was Saint Andrew? How do people in Scotland celebrate?

Friday The 13th: The History

 

As today is Friday the 13th, the day fraught with the feeling of fear, bad luck, and horror, I thought I would take a bit of time to showcase the history behind the date and how it came to have such undertones.  To begin with, the phobia of the number 13 has the distinction of being labeled, "triskaidekaphobia" while the fear of the date, Friday the 13th, is called, "friggatriskaidekaphobia".  That being said, it is important to note that many suffer from a very real fear of the number and date which should be taken into consideration.  As I am one who struggles with an anxiety disorder and phobias, I feel the need to express my empathy towards those who suffer with such and offer a trigger warning for the below information to follow.  However, in my recovery, I have found discovering the root cause of the phobia, in this case the history behind, may help to alleviate the anxiety induced. 

The fear surrounding the number 13 has a long history wherein the anxiety about it has been passed down through the ages.  One origin comes from Christian history regarding the last supper, as many believed at that time having 13 seated at a table was bad luck possibly leading to death, and it is known that Good Friday, the crucifixation of Jesus, occurred the next day.  Perhaps, Jesus, the anarcharist that he was, residing on earth to shake up the imposed social norms, chose to have 13 at the table.  Jesus, the OG founder of the 13th Club. 

Yes, in fact, there really was a Thirteenth Club, reported to be founded by Captain William Fowler (Sorry Not Sorry, Jesus) in the late 19th century.  The club itself was founded to remove the stigma surrounding the number 13 and specifically the rule against having 13 seated at a table.  The club would gather on the 13th day of the month in room 13 of the Knickerbocker Cottage where they would dine on a thirteen course mean.  However, before the meal commenced, all would walk underneath a ladder with a banner above with the words, “Morituri te Salutamus,” Latin for “Those of us who are about to die salute you.”

The most significant reasoning for the phobia around Friday the 13th occured on October 13, 1307, with the arrest, torture, and massecre of the Order of the Knights Templar.  The Knights Templar were a devout Christian order from Jerusalem created between A.D. 1118-1119 with the express purpose of protecting European pilgrims traveling to the Holy land, with many other duties were given, such as becoming the defenders of the Holy Land crusader states, brave warriors, and, some might believe, the keepers of the secret family and offspring of Jesus himself.  (Some believe that, some do not, take that as it were.)  

Thus, through all of this, the Knights Templar were able to accrue much wealth and property, some may believe that was the artifacts proving the existence of Jesus' family and offspring and that was the reason for the persecution of the Order.  Many began turning against them, fighting back, in their quest to retain the wealth for themselves, and finally, on October 13, 1307, based on a decree set forth by King Philip IV of France, the Knights Templar, including the grand master, Jacques de Molay, were rounded up, arrested, and tortured under false charges.  They were forced confess to the false charges of heresy, homosexuality, financial corruption, devil worship, spitting upon the cross, and much more.  Even despite these confessions, many Templars were executed by being burned at the stake and de Molay was killed in 1314.  

Because of this history and superstition surrounding the date and number 13, there are recent occurrences that occurred on Friday the 13th, such as the German bombing of Buckingham Palace in September 1940 to the Bangladesh cyclone that killed over 300,000 in November 1970 to the murder of Tupac Shakur in September 1996.  

Therein lies the saga of how Friday the 13th became to be the fear inducing date that is known for today.  So, doing by reading through this, I hope that this may alleviate any fears, superstitions, and phobias that one may suffer with surrounding this date and this number.

Research for this article from:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/friday-the-13th-origins-why-the-day-is-considered-unlucky

https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/friday-the-13th

https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/the-knights-templar

 

 

The Christian Right Needs To Die!!

Wow!  Brave soul for clicking that link! I know, I know, it's quite the click bait anger making title.  But, first let me explain, I want no soul to perish in anyway.  I believe wholeheartedly that we all are brought to this plane of existence for the certain purpose of learning the lessons needed to elevate our souls to the next level in our evolution, make that mean to you what you desire.  In more non-spiritual terms, we are all on a journey towards healing and becoming better at being human, all at different levels or circumstances but basically where we need to be according to what's right for us as individuals.  

Furthermore, my purpose in this entry is not to solely call out and destroy the Christian Right. Fundamentalism, a strict adherence to the basic principles of any subject or discipline, is a disease not just for the religious, Christian or otherwise, but can infect a liberal mind as well.  Let that sink in, my liberal minded friends and family.

Most of you know by now, that at one point I considered myself part of the Christian Right, as it were, a believer of Jesus more specifically.  After the toil of my deconstruction, I hold no ill-will or anger towards my former friends still connected to that life-style.  Because of this, I have a particular understanding and compassion that I hope can not only shed some light on those on the outside, those of the more liberal persuasion, but also help awaken the right minded fundies to the ways they have gone astray.  

That's right.  I believe that a large part of the Christian right, perhaps those that would be indeed described as true "fundamentalists", the ones that appear the most vocally obstinate against progressive movements and current affairs, who seemingly take up arms against anything that doesn't fall into what they deem as 'right' and 'good', have fallen astray from the very teachings of Jesus Christ.  I do not say this with a light heart, indeed my heart is broken.  I have fond memories with people that fall into this realm, of which I once held dear and called more than friends, but family, of a sort.  In truth, I do still hold very close to my heart, which is the impetus for this blog. I also know that a good portion of those I used to walk with, who still believe in a more Evangelical Christianity, not so much fundamentalist, are more decent in their approach to sharing the gospel and in that way are more aligned with the teachings of Jesus.  

The former are those that complain wildly on social media and in the real world about the liberal agenda, who seemingly take everything as a personal affront on their beliefs, and who seem to not be able at all to see a larger worldview other than their own.  The latter are those who are active on social media and in the real world by simply choosing to love, bless, and serve.  I think this is an apparent distinction we can all agree upon.  In addition, I have heard of conservative churches that are doing their best to educate, be more open, and willing to adapt and listen to other world-views and ideas.  

But, it's the so-called fundamentalist viewpoint I wish to address, this way of being that needs to go by the wayside, perishing in a sea of its own ignorance once and for all.  As I said, it's not merely a disease for the Christian Fundamentalist alone, but I believe one that has infected the more liberal atheistic as well, for example. 

For the purpose of this entry, let's focus on the Christian Fundamentalist.  For those reading this that are not of this ilk and have never been part of that world view, let me start by explaining a little of the teaching that I believe has damaged the minds and hearts of these Christian souls.  If you are a beloved friend of mine that is still within the Christian right world view or are someone that I do not know but is a 'believer', as you read the below sentences, let your heart be softened so that you may have ears to hear.  In so doing, it is with the tenderness of my fullest compassion that you can grow closer to understanding the true Jesus Christ.

So, when I was attending Calvary Chapel, the common thread in most of the bible studies and services were that 'the world hates Jesus, the world hates Jesus in you'.  After hearing so much, can you imagine the end result of such, to be blunt, brainwashing? That's right, you begin to believe the world hates you.  You believe wholeheartedly that the world outside your church is evil, wicked, and that everyone that comes into your life is basically fueled by the enemy, or rather, an enemy themselves.  Does this help see why a Christian may seem so combative when addressed?  They don't feel they are being combative, they feel you are being combative.  

Furthermore, in my church days, we were encouraged not to consume anything, (ex: news, media, books, higher education), that was 'of the world', and were encouraged to consume only that which was approved by the church leadership.  This lack of being able to educate yourself made you vulnerable to the belief and control of another.  I do not mean to target or place blame on the church's leadership in anyway.  I know quite a few pastors who are good at heart and wish the best for the flock they believe they are called to serve and help guide to the teachings of Jesus.  I am merely trying to state my experience with hopes to enlighten those who have never been within a Christian fundamentalist setting as well as give a little insight to those within at present.  

So, can you imagine what my life was like when I left Calvary Chapel ten years ago? I cannot begin to explain the sense of shattered isolation and confusion I felt, the heart break, the betrayal, the sense of loss of identity, the anger of the loss of my youth, the lies I readily consumed that fell flat.  Yes, I was angry and scared, for myself, and for my friends who I believed were trapped inside what I, at the time, called a cult.  I still hold that fundamentalism in all its variety is cult-like.  Through the years of my healing after I left the church, I slowly discovered that these notions I were taught, were false.

With that, I address my Christian reader, those I know personally and those I do not.  First and foremost, dear one, the world does not hate Jesus, in fact, they think he is a pretty bang up guy, regardless of whether they see him as God, a prophet, or just a guy.  "I got no beef with Jesus," one friend said to me.  And another, "Jesus is the shit."  Please suspend your need to control the wording and belief of who Jesus is in your worldview and let that sink in.  The people 'of the world' are not out to get you and, most importantly, do not hate you!  

So, dear one, its up to you to how you take in this information and what you choose to do with it.  But, before I let you off so easily, I need you to understand one more thing.  I also believe, that according to what I learned from my bible studies back when I attended Calvary Chapels, that you have fallen astray from those teachings.  Not all of you, but a good portion, and I base this on your words and actions on social media and in real life based on the current affairs in our country, whether that be pandemic related or such issues pertaining to civil rights.  

First, the Bible teaches us to follow the law of the land, as well as the law of the Lord.  Jesus says to 'render to Caeser what is his, and to God what is his', which, yes, can be taken to be connected to taxes but I also see the value in focusing this on all aspects of national government concern.  I hear you spout off how we are called to obey the president as he was put their by God, but from what I can tell, this is only acceptable when he falls into the political category you approve of, that of, Republican.  This appears one-sided and not fully accurate to what you profess, as well as, it appears as if you are not fully surrendering yourself to God and His will.  The law of the land, in all its various forms of our government, has decreed, for your safety, to wear a mask for the protection of yourself and others, for example, but you refuse, why? 

Next, Jesus and the teachings in the Bible states to 'lay down your lives as he, Jesus, laid down his life for us', but sadly I do not see this.  It is "not about me", my friends and I would profess as young Christians.  "It's all about Jesus," we'd proclaim in worship songs and in our speech.  But, I do not see that line of thinking in your social media posts or every day life.  More and more, I see a selfish, combative person who wants to force their way, wants to play the victim while victimizing.  That, my dear friend, is in direct opposition of the teachings of Jesus Christ, whatever, the interpretations of him may be.  Can you see now why so many seem to reject to the church? Hint: it has nothing to do with Jesus!

All is not lost for you, dear Christian reader, nor for my friends on the liberal left that of themselves fall into the realm of fundamentalist thinking.  We are all on the path, as mentioned above, to healing and inner awakening.  Let us all start by looking inward, letting the light of awareness pierce our souls and hearts, bringing us to the humility that comes from truly knowing ourselves, warts and all.  With that humble honesty, we can come together, listening rather than reacting, holding space regardless of political stance and seeking the highest good for all.

Can you do that, dear Christian? Can you truly lay down your own self and release your preconceived notions for the highest good of another? Can you do that, dear liberal? Can you truly lay down your own self and release your preconceived notions good of another? No change will come if you cannot.  I speak for myself as well as for others, mind you, and its a daily, minutely, journey, one taken with humility and utmost self awareness.  

Join me in this journey, dear friends, the journey within for healing so that the world without may also be healed. 

Imagine

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace

Got comments on what I wrote? I bet you do.  Whether you agree or disagree, feel free to post below.  I welcome your thoughts and opinions.  I just ask for all to be civil and thoughtful in their wordings.  I will do my best to respond.  Thank you.

The Thriving Artist is a subset of Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc.  Support Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc at: www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions

Be You, Be A Hero

             Hero

Okay, so here's the deal.  Insights and messages can come from the most surprising of places, in the most unusual ways.  It's up to us to maintain an openness and willingness to receive without judgment.  That's the situation I found myself in, when contemplating the recent circumstances surrounding the state of our union, in all its variety of facets, when the above song, Hero, by Mariah Carey popped into my head.  It's a song I used to listen to in my young impressionable naive-minded youth, back in the far away past of the nineteen nineties.  Remember back then?

So, as many of my contemporaries, I was mourning the concession of Senator Bernie Sanders and the devastation that may follow in that wake for my country and the world.  Who will lead us? Who will be our revolutionary, our guide? Why didn't he stay? When will be his chance?  As I sunk deeper into these trail of thought, I began to examine the notion of a hero and, to be exact,a revolutionary.  

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

If you do a google search on the word, "hero", the first definition is: a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.  

But, what in fact does it mean to be a hero? More to the point, what makes a hero a reality in our eyes? We idolize someone like Bernie, or another political or public figure, for the attributes they seem to manifest outward, without truly knowing who they are inwardly.  What if we stopped, looked inward and found those attributes within?  What then? Why must it be someone else's responsibility to be our hero?  (I am speaking to myself more than anyone else.)

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

But then again, I ask myself at times, why me? (And, also, why  you?)  Why must I stand up to the injustices of both my personal world and the larger reality? Why must I combat the negative toxicity that threatens to disable myself and those I love, even at the risk of losing those I love as a consequence for my boldness?  

It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And that emptiness you felt
Will disappear

There is one reason that I can ascertain to inspire myself and others to live boldly and truthfully to attain their highest potential selves.  And that would be simply, its a better way.  See, taking the time, effort, and hard work to 'clean your own house' and do the adequate self care and healing is necessary for you to enact positive change for all of life, both for ourselves, those we love, and the planet.   So, after we find that peace and continue to work towards our wholeness, what then? How does this become true social and dynamic change?

For my part, it begins with allowing myself to be present and listen in order to be led towards the right decision, guided along the path towards the highest good for all.  It can be as minute as smiling at someone on the street and saying "hello", sending gifts and letters to remind them that they are loved just because, planting a garden with the express purpose of loving Mother Earth back to life and to provide sustenance for yourself and loved ones, or even greater tasks such as becoming and remaining an informed voter, being politically and socially active based on your convictions (YOURS, don't be manipulated), donate in whatever fashion of your choosing, and stay as active as possible in healthy relationships.  Above all, continue that self-care, deciding every day to love yourself and recognize that this is not merely selfish but selfless.  Being able to be fully in love with yourself allows the full healthy mindset and peace to enact change that all of us desire, regardless of the religious or political belief structure.

There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

On that note, I gotta talk about Jesus now.  If this is somewhat of a sensitive subject, for whatever the reason, you have been warned.  But, I am not addressing Jesus Christ or the biblical scriptures I share based on my past fundamental beliefs, so let that put your mind at ease.  I'm not going to try to convert you to drinking the Kool-Aid and numbing yourself to the distraction of organized religion.  (No, I'll just try to appease your fears with a Nineties Pop Song....Just Kidding!)  But, here's the thing, as I dwell deeper into my Wiccan roots (from my pre-fundie life) and also into a deeper healing, I have come to recognize and appreciate Jesus and the teachings I once read in the Bible.  This is surprising to me, yes, but also a sense of comfort.  I recognize the truths from the scriptures and that they are not singular to the Christian religion.  There are lots of different types of followers of Jesus, lots of folks who think He is 'da shit', so define wisely.  (However, if I ever slip back into the fundamentalist life-style, you all have my express permission to shoot me.)  So, that said, let's talk about Jesus, shall we? Most significantly, as a revolutionary type of guy.  

In my past studies, I came across Acts 5:33-39 which says: 

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

So, for starters, do I think Jesus is the Messiah come to save us and escort us into eternal life of harps and clouds? Not necessary nor am I sure, but I do think he represents a type of hero archetype that is present even in our lives today.  And, I feel that there have been similar hero archetypes both on a religious and political level down through history and will continue onward.  I mean, in our times, we can look at individuals such as Martin Luther King, Jr, Elizabeth Warren, and of course, the aforementioned Bernie Sanders as this archetype.  (Yeah, okay, I know that my representatives seem a little left skewed so if this doesn't fit your ideal, *insert your hero archetype here*.)   I chose these three because they represent a key ingredient here, all were passionate to enact the sort of change that would make the world a better place and the lives of the citizens better, but all were vilified in some fashion or another (some worse than other: Here's looking at you, MLK, Jr).  And, what indeed occurred as a result of the vilification?  We still remember as a nation, world, and true change has occurred and is happening even now.  

Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away, hey yeah
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time you'll find the way

Bernie conceded, he stepped down, and in a very real sense, he sacrificed himself and with that the movement of revolution, begun not by him but others before him, that he carries forward, can continue.  And, continue it will, not merely by him with his loyal followers, but by you, by me, by us standing strong together in our own individual whole selves determined to bring light and love to a very ill world.  Looking towards a leader, someone that inspires you, that you see as a hero, is not necessarily a bad thing, but do not let that weaken your own influence.  Be true to yourself, your convictions, and move forward your own hero for the world.  And, please do not let this boldness disempower another whose views may differ, but be ever willing to sit down face to face at the table, listen, find shared commonality, and healing for all.  

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you

So  now, after you have read my words, I invite you to take a few minutes and really listen to this pop song, Hero, in light of what I have written.  Your views may differ but I believe your passion is similar in desiring the positive, healthy world for ourselves and for loved ones.  And, be a hero and remember, you don't necessarily need a cape to do it, only if you want too.  

Hey, hey, you like what you read and have some thoughts, comment below.  Not like what you read, but you still want to express yourself, comment below.  

The Thriving Artist is a subset of Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc, a film and media production company working to bring about artistic endeavors that inspire change and help heal.  Want to lend your support? Head over to: www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions

Easter. And We All Shine On!

This week I sat in a coffee shop writing.  I sat at the window looking out onto the patio.  A man on the patio was reading his Bible, enjoying the sunshine and the morning coffee. I laughed at him, no, let me explain, I didn't laugh at him directly.

I laughed at the life-style of which he is in, the life-style I used to prescribe to, try to conform myself towards.  A year ago or more, I might have packed up my computer and moved to another table so as not to see him, his activity bringing up flashbacks from that spiritually oppressive time of my life.  Even further back, I would have left the coffee shop entirely, unable to explain the uncontrollable shaking consuming me.

But instead on that day last week, I laughed.  As I recalled the controlling ways the church turned the loving words of God and Jesus into methods of dominating and submission, I laughed at all the absurd ways they did just that.  Instead of feeling that cold feeling of suffocation overwhelm me at the memory, instead of feeling the heartbreak over the friends I'd lost still in that life-style, I laughed. It's all rather absurd when you think about it.  And, after all, laughter is the best medicine, right?

A few days before this coffee shop encounter, a woman I work with, a teacher, had casually mentioned that Easter was first a pagan holiday, not primarily Christian.  It resonated within me as I reflect on how this last year I'm starting to embrace the earlier spiritual aspects of my younger self.

Then, Good Friday comes around.  A friend on Facebook requests assistance with what book to study in the Bible.  Without much thought, I answer him with what I recall being taught.  "Start in the New Testament and read a chapter a day," I post.  And truly, I was not bitter or sarcastic.

That night, at dinner, I talk to my boyfriend, Michael, about the Good Friday and Easter weekend packages of years passed.  I tell him about how on Good Friday we'd do our best to whip ourselves into some emotional feeling of contrition, remorse, while inwardly we felt nothing or at best, the opposite.  Instead of just attending the Good Friday service and allowing whatever was taught to hit us as it would, we had to fit ourselves into the mood of everyone else, conform so as not to lose points with the leadership and other attendees.  Then, come Sunday morning, high on coffee and jelly bean sugars, we'd praise Jesus with "He Is Risen" and you best hide any feelings of depression and unhappiness behind strained smiles of forced mirth.

I say to my boyfriend, "Was our faith genuine?" Yes, it was.  "Was the emotion genuine?" Most likely not.

But, still looking back there were times of sweetness even despite all the production that went into the Good Friday and Easter weekend package.  The Bible and its profound sweetness did hit me and did leave a lasting effect.

For when all is said and done, I bear no ill will or dislike to the Bible.  After reading other spiritual texts this last year, I have come to the understanding that it is one of the World's Spiritual Texts and should be honored as so.  ( A side note of import: This is my personal discovery and is not something I need to or will enforce on others spiritual paths.  I have had enough doctrinal viewpoints enforced upon me thus I won't do it to another. We all have our paths to spiritual and self-discovery, my path is not to dictate yours nor is yours mine.  Nor will enforcing one's views on another cause them to follow.)  Thus, when I saw this man at the coffee shop reading his Bible or my friend posting his request on Facebook, I can respond with love at that fond memory.  I recall mornings spent at coffee shops, my bible open, pouring through the words reaching down deep into my heart, penetrating and cleansing my soul, the sunlight hitting my face, the coffee warm to the taste.  I read other spiritual texts now with similar profundity.  I treasure those memories myself spent in personal bible study as a strong undertaking of my spiritual journey.  I will not condemn anyone else's personal study and reflection of that Holy Book despite my harsh experiences with the church and the organized religion of Christianity.

I forgive and in that forgiveness, I let go.  By letting go, I recall only the good memories, the sweet memories of deep Bible reflection and healing from it, sweet friendships over coffee, pizza, and other goodies, long, heartfelt prayers and good laughs.

Happy Easter and happy spring to all.  And, no matter where you are or what you believe, may blessings and love fall upon you.

Instant Karma

People Are Gay, Get Over It!

Okay, so I'm throwing my two cents over this whole 'businesses not catering to homosexual couples based on their religious beliefs' thing.

Because that's just what it is, in my view, a belief based on a conservatively minded, legalistic religion.  Exactly what Jesus spoke against when he pointed his fingers at the Pharisees, remember?

What did he call his followers to do instead?

To love, To practice nonjudgment, To serve.

So, how is banning certain lifestyles from our establishment following this creed? Furthermore, how is it lining itself with the society in which we live in, which aligns itself with the government, thevery government taxes are paid to by ourselves and our businesses, as Jesus commanded, "Render to Caesar what is due", so therefore choosing to disallow individuals from our businesses based on life-style choices goes against several of Jesus' commandments and, in fact, has a foundation more on our own righteousness than that of actual service or obedience.

He desired for us to follow his example, to love, to serve; how does one's reasoning that to deny service is, in fact, "hating the sin, loving the sinner" and not a cover-up for judgmental behavior?

Where do we draw the line? When are we going to stop casting stones and examine our own behaviors, sins, shortcomings, or what have you? When can we stop trying to change, convert, save, or rather pluck the stick from the others' eyes and pull the log out of our own? 

Conservative, evangelical Christianity has gotten too much about sin-sniffing and judgmental behavior than about following the path Christ laid out for us, that of grace and service, about making a difference by the expression of our lives.  This is one of the main reasons I stepped away from that belief system, besides the fact that it didn't really connect with all of that I believed.  

Furthermore, it appears as if Fundamentals are increasingly hibernating in their own little safe world of bible studies, church services, and other related Christian events, afraid to venture out into the big, bad, scary, scary world because anything can happen out there where I might end up in trouble.

Wait, there's the problem.  The emphasis is on "Me" or "I", how can I protect or service myself? Not others, not the world that Jesus and other great Spiritual teachers came to love and serve, who taught us to serve.  

Choosing to refuse service based on lifestyle is a form of judgment and in a sense taking the position of God and saying "I know what's right", when in fact, we don't.  We never do.  Freedom of speech and religion is one thing and I believe all our guaranteed, including you the business owner refusing to give service, but at others' cost of their freedoms?  Based on Jesus' words, we  have a moral obligations not only to follow his leading but to align ourselves with the laws of the land in which we live.  If you want to go against this based on your beliefs, go live in a Muslim country where you are free to discriminate based on lifestyle, orientation, even gender? Of course, you as a Christian would probably be discriminated against as well.  'What, me?' you say.  Yeah, truly, unless you changed your religious views.

It is because of this that I choose to look passed the outward appearance, lifestyle choices of those that come into my life, regardless of religious belief or sexual orientation, and seek to see what's going on the inside.  I know and can admit that I am far from perfect and in truth find myself casting the stones of judgment from time to time, like it or not.  But, I'm accountable enough with myself to admit it and try to change it.  How do I do this? By choosing to apply love and grace in every situation good or bad, by seeking to know why a person behaves the way they do, makes the choices they do, in short, looking passed my snap judgments and striving for understanding and relationships.

 I believe Jesus, as well as other spiritual leaders, wanted that from all of us.  So, don't get hung up on lifestyle choices or orientation! Get over it and love, serve, transform!

Medical Bills for Katy!

Jackie's SRS

Give a Pizz'a your heart!

The Fire of Refinement: Conformed to His Likeness

Have you, of lately, had your spiritual thirst quenched by the Lord's springs of goodness?  Has your soul found satiation with the richness of his sustenance?

I strive each morning to fill myself up with the Spirit of the Most Holy so that as I go about my day, I can pursue that of which will bring me peace in my daily routine and struggles, all the while giving him honor in my diligence to serve him in small ways.  In this spiritual filling, I can choose to pour out that water of life upon the thirsty souls and hearts of those I come across in my walk.

Blessed am I to trust, for in hard times and trials is when my heart will be refined.  Lately, the words, restoration, repentance, and refinement, pop up in my daily studies of scripture and prayer; my thoughts on this is that I shall soon, and presently, go through a period of spiritual cleansing, freeing my heart from pride, anger, selfishness, in short, my ego.  Through this divine healing, I shall rest in the presence of the Holy One, in knowing that I shall be made into the likeness of Christ, something pure, a diamond.

Refinement, for me, is the process of learning to trust and obey, as he walks me through hardships and leads me faithfully through uncharted territories. 

I need not fear the purification that shall come for, yes, I  have struggled and gone through darkness of the soul, mind, and heart in recent time, where, at times, I could not see or feel God's presence, yet He was there in the midst of my despair.  In time, he brought me out of the pit and set my feet on stable ground.

So, the momentary afflictions that He will toss my way are only that, temporary.  In these moments, I can truly trust that He is with me and has, for himself, suffered far greater troubles on my behalf.  I pray that I will have the grace of God, the strength afforded to me because of the cross, to abide, trust, and watch and pray.

Today, let us all confess our transgressions so that we can know true forgiveness and find healing, truly coming to know the freedom we are all meant to have, in Christ.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear

The Girl Who Waited: Amy Pond

Ah, yes, you may be tired of my goings-on about the spiritual connections to Doctor Who, but humor me once more.

Today's edition is about waiting and I turn our attention to "the girl who waited", or as we know her Amy Pond, played by the actress, Karen Gillam. 

The Doctor first arrived in Amy's life, due to her calling out to a 'savior', based on her fears of the crack in her wall.  What that may signify, you decide, but I think our general fears of life's trials and even, perhaps, our eternal destiny.

He came into her life, observed the crack and the danger therein, and then vanished from her life for a period of 12 years (about).  During that time, she waited, first willingly, and then with a growing resentment.  When he returned (him thinking it was only the 5 minutes he promised), she tested him and eventually found him worthy of the wait because of his awareness of his role of her 'savior'.  Don't we often test the Lord's promises and always find them true?

The point of this, say, rambling is to trust in the Lord's promises of salvation, not just eternally, but for our present tribulations and those to come.  He will return both now and in the ages to come, to redeem, to save, and to live eternally.

And yet, in our present difficulties, we can wait upon his promises, that he will return and that, yes, he is 'an ever present help' in time of troubles.

So, we can say with Amy: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry."

Wait upon the Lord, for He is waiting for you to turn to him.  This day, choose whom you shall follow, for as for me, I shall follow the Lord.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear

Why can't the flesh just die, MAN?!?!?

Yet another post referring the spiritual connotations of Doctor Who:

So, the last season with Matt Smith, they introduce the production of "the Flesh", an invention of man to produce "fleshly" robots that can take our place in work situations, while we sit back and relax....hmm, letting our flesh take over our hearts, wills, minds while they have free-will over our lives?  The flesh holds all the memories, feelings, thoughts, etc of the regular human!

And, inevitably, the humans treat the flesh as second-class or lower than second-class, casting them aside when a version doesn't work properly or whatnot, which leads to anger and a rising up...the flesh rearing its ugly head!

In some fashion, the Doctor is cloned into a fleshly version, so there is the real version and the "fleshly" version.  (For viewers, the coolest part is when the flesh of the Doctor forms and he goes through his entire history of past doctors..."You want some jelliebellies?)

So, as I said, the flesh rises up and threatens to destroy not only the scientists who have been working on this project, but the whole earth...and once again, the Doctor has to save the world he loves (For God so loved the world...)

And here's the thing:  His fleshly self sacrifices himself, as in, he takes on the likeness of sinful flesh...

So, the message of the day, through the power of our "Great Physician" we can overcome the nature of our wickedness, our flesh, and move on to all that is awaiting us....the great adventure in the sky!

He who has ears to hear, let him hear