Aggressive Evolution

OK I just been mulling this concept over in my mind for the last hour, and I find it rather fascinating so I will try to write it down and share it with you all.

OK we as a species have become one of, if not, the most successful species on this planet to date, and yet we are constantly hounded by such concepts as trying to balance our existence with that of the planet, to not abuse her, to reduce our population to a stable level, to not use up the fossil fuels, to come up with ways of reducing waste, of recycling, etc.  I can underatand these ideas and even support them as far as is practicable in my own lifestyle.

However many people seem to regard the human race as something totally seperate from all the other species on the planet, there is us and then there is nature.  We build town and cities and roads and yet we are encrouching on nature, destroying her.

As one of my favourite authors once pointed out, the beaver is part of nature and yet it cuts down trees, builds dams and alters the course of rivers and streams to suit itself, often changing the environment around it.  The praire dog builds huge underground cities, numbering into the hundreds of thousands and yet this is still part of nature.

Personally I think it is arrogant of us to assume that we are not part of nature, that we are somehow above it.  We are this planet, evolving and adapting, we are its experiment.  In the film ‘Independence Day’ the alien species is compared to a swarm of locust, travelling from planet to planet, stripping it of resources and yet locusts are part of nature and follow their own patterns, which the planet adapts too.  Locust have been around for a very long time and I doubt they will die off any time soon and yet we are not over run with them and they have not stripped our planet bare.

As a species I believe that we have evolved far enough that we are the first species on this planet that can now either adapt its environment to suit itself or even adapt itself to any environment.  We can even live in a tin can in the vacuum of space, and probably even thrive there, and I think that is and has to be our next step in our evolution.

If we are to be compared to the Locust then I think it is part of our evolutionary step to move beyond the confines of this planet, to, in a sense, strip it bare of its resources, so much so that we have to ‘hurl ourselves out into the void’ to find other resources, the moon, the asteroids, the other planets, and even other star systems.  If we do not then we have to follow a path that will allow us to strike a balance with this planet, to live in harmony, to regulate our activities and our population, and down that road lives an evolutionary dead end.  We will be stepped on by some other species, either from this planet or from another, one that is more aggressive in its evolution than us (The locust to our Dodo).  Dinosaurs once ruled this planet and something happened to them, the smaller species managed to adapt, but changed the direction of thier evolution from hunter/killers to what has not become a small budgie in a cage that stresses out at the slightest thing and starts pulling its feathers out.

So we have to continue evolving, aggressively until this planet cannot hold us and then burst out into the universe.

But ultimately, what can I, or even we do about this.  Nothing, nothing at all.  As one voice in the dark, as one candle lit against the coming storm, I am not that arrogant to assume that I could have an impact on the species and its evolution, only time can be the final judge of what we become, and I will be dust a long time before then….

G (feeling very philisophical)

feeling the earth calling

Last Sunday I nipped over the border to Glastonbury with my son and spent the day generally being a pagan dad.

However since then my thoughts have been calling me back to my old familiar places mainly my pagan/shamanic beliefs. The last few days I have been itching to get back up Kilvey hill and spend some time sitting and chilling on my own. So today I went and spent about 3 hours wandering around the trails on the hill. I found the time very surreal (but then I usually do). I first walked up the trail with the intention of looking for some fallen branches to make some wands and/or runes from. The hill did not fail and offered me two lovely branches. I then sat by the pond and watched the water ripple and the insects fly about.

While there I spent some time working with auras, trying to sense the aura around my hands (something I tend to be dubious about) and found I could sense the heat radiating from my hands from a fair distance apart, perhaps my mind works better sensing heat than pressure as I doubt I could actually feel the heat from the other hand from over 8 inches away, anyway something to think about and work on more in time.

Moving further up the hill I eventually sat at King Arthur’s throne and spent some time using a drumming mp3 track to slip into some journey work, however I was too scatterbrained for it today. I then visited the green man Bel and offered him some fruit and the same at the stone circle where I also put out my medicine wheel and lite a candle.

There are so many locations up on Kilvey hill that I find are special both to myself and to many other pagans. If I were to ever leave this area, I think I would miss living under the shadow of Kilvey hill the most.

Love
Shaman G

Its a bit dusty around here, lol

My goodness – (wipes the dust off the window pane) Nobody has been around this old place for a while have they…..

My apologises to all those avid fans of my blog I have been somewhat remiss in my duties, but that is what life (and World of Warcraft) does to us.  We move on, we change our priorities, we experience madness, joy, love and hate.  We are pulled down and raised up and then when the seas of our live start to calm, and our emotional stomachs ease then we take time to look at our lives and revisit old haunts.

Sometimes this is useful as it can help us to reset our own internal compass, focus us back on our path in life.

So from sunset last night to sunset tonight it is the celtic festival of Imbolc, the festival of New Beginnings.  But does everything have to be new, or can we also use it to dust out the rooms of our life and put a new shine on them, see whats worth keeping and what might need to be thrown out…..

Oh and I refuse to talk about my weight until it gets back down to what it should be, oops I just did talk about it, damn, lol…..

G

A somewhat dusty and battered kilveyshaman

a brief walk

Yesterday I needed to be at my brothers house for when he showed up with my car (supposedly fixed).  Of course it rained.  So I headed towards the bus stop thinking about whether to get on the bus or walk straight passed.  The bus made the decision for me as it drove passed before I even got there, and me thinking ‘15 minutes to the next one’, so I carried on with my trusty feet, walking between the drips of rain.

End result – 20 minutes of exilarating exercise, 20 minutes of silence, 20 minutes of being a little closer to nature, oh and I saved £2 on the bus fare too.

As the American Express advert says ‘Priceless’

Pagan G signing off for now

‘nanoo nanoo’

Pagan yearnings and awakening senses

Well as most of you might already know I took the the gang (Gaynor, Ieuan, Alex and Carys) to South West England on Tuesday just gone.  The purpose was two fold, first and foremost was a s a day out for the lot of us, the classic family day trip.  the second reason was for me to seek out some of the pagan sites around Britain.

I know I did not do it justice, trying to visit so many places in one go, but at least I now know where these places are and the fact that they are not that far away really.

Our first stop was Avebury, which honestly has a far nicer and more serene stone circle that the one at Stonehenge, and it is more accessible too.  We walked around the site trying to walk the complete circle around the village and after a fair old walk and me sliding down the chalk bank twice, covering my trousers in Avebury mud, I found a stone and stood there for a while centering myself and sensing the stone and who had been there before me.  The most apparent sensation I had was one of agelessness of time standing still for these ancient stones and everyone that had touched them being almost like incidental insects, which over time eventually leave a mark.  Some of the missing stones and markers made me sad, to know that this circle was far greater and more complex when it was first created and over time locals and others just stripped it for its stone.

After leaving Avebury we went to Woodhenge and walked around and sat and pondered amongst the concrete markers.  Oddly enough I found a moment of tranquility at Woodenge, sitting on the grass, drawing myself into the depths of the earth around me.

Stonehenge did nothing for me, perhaps it was the tourists , or maybe it was the big fence and the almost commercial nature of the place.  I want to go back, desperately, so I can change my impression of the place and create a more spiritual one, so I have decided that I will go back there for the Winter Solstice, with or without friends, but I will go back.   From what I gather Winter Solstice is the quieter of the two festivals and will hopefully be a smoother induction for me into the pagan community at large.

Then there was Glastonbury……Wow what a wonderfully slow and lethargic place.  Time has no meaning there and this has a huge appeal to me.  I suspect the shop keepers are actually all 300 years old just that they are so stress free and chilled to have never actually aged.  Oddly enough, as much as I found Glastonbury to be a very spiritual place, I found the Tor to be different.  The walk up, even the steep climb in places, was an ordeal and I could sense how deep and meaningful it can be for people, especially if they had walked the route of the original labyrinth, however I feel that the tower at the top, the attempt by the early Christian church to take over this hugely pagan site in an attempt to convert the heathens, ruins this place, almost dissipating its energies.

As I said at the beginning I would love to visit all of these places again at some future point, but perhaps spending a day (or two) in each one.

Today now I visited the Pontardawe Folk festival and spent the afternoon walking around a muddy field in the rain going from stall to stall.  And the oddest of things happened.  I started sensing stuff again.  The odd look here and there, a tingling sensation, my supposed third eye (if it every fully wakes) and  that slow , connected walk with the earth.  I do not know why I went, I did not buy anything, and my new trainers are muddy and so are my trousers, but still, for some reason, I felt the journey worthwhile.

Maybe this week has been a shakedown of my pagan life, waking me up again and giving me a sense of purpose once more.  I fully intend to explore the whole pagan scene with more passion and immerse myself more fully.  No more toe dipping for me

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Easter Monday on Kilvey Hill

Well yesterday I went up Kilvey hill with my son Ieuan.  Overall I feel that we both had an enjoyable 4 1/2 hours walking around, down, up, along, through and under most of the things on the hill.  To be  honest I doubt there was a part of the public area of the hill we did not walk over.
Here is a pictorial representation of the journey for you all to appreciate.

these first four photos are of a place locally known as Martin’s pond.  I feel the way the sun catches the very first photo makes it a great picture.

This is part of the way up the hill along part of the well known mountain bike track

A quick glimpse of the aerials at the top of Kilvey, showing us both that there is still a fair walk to go.

A few photos of the view from the top of the hill, something everyone in Swansea should at least look at once in their lives.

 

  
This one photo of my son was taken from the top of a mound that was once a windmill on the hill.

Then the journey back down the hill started, first visiting the great throne

 

And then the legendary ‘Green Man’ of Kilvey Hill.  When I looked upon this statue for the first time in ages I actually gasped in pleasant surprise when I saw the wonderful condition that the statue was in.  I am sure that Pete would be smiling.

Then it was down to the Viking boat, which unfortunately has not faired so well, with most of the boat destroyed, except for the figurehead

Then it was a quick double back to the stone circle, which still brings a smile to my face every time I visit it.
  
 

Heading on our final stretch down the hill towards the Archway we bumped into the totem pole, an object that I rarely get a chance to see.

And then finally finishing at the archway, which is regarded by some as the entrance to the hill.

I hope you all enjoyed this pictorial journey as much as I and Ieuan enjoyed the real thing.

Loving you all
G & I

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A review of my life for 2007, mmmm….

http://kilveyshaman.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/my-stars-for-the-year-ahead/

Last year I put up my stars for the year of 2007.  Well I think its time to review it all and see if it came true or not.

Being the ultimate caregiver to those you love, you thrive in your relationships this year. Your understanding and compassion are an inspiration to others, and your optimism is contagious.

OK I think I can agree with the above statement, I have built up a few relationships over the last year and have been offering a lot of support to friends (but that is always a two way street). 

This year brings opportunities to explore new horizons through travel and/or spiritual studies. This is a wonderful time for you to build more resources in your life. You will feel confident and satisfied with how you spend your time and money.

OK, once again, I agree, I have grown more spiritually, learnt how to use the resources in my life more effectively and proud of how well I have spent and budgetted my finances and time. 

You love the comforts that luxury brings, and will enjoy decorating your home with fascinating art objects. Developing your own musical and artistic talents brings you pleasure. Gardening and/or interior design may interest you as well.

Sorry, Not even close

You realize your need to regroup and recharge your emotional energy this year. As you explore new activities, you approach the practical necessities of daily existence with a quiet joy and a gentle humility. Give yourself some of that energy when it comes to health issues and you’ll discover the perfect fitness regime.

Almost spot on this bit 

Your outer life goes much better when you involve yourself in more creative playtime.

With so much joy and harmony coming to you this year, you’ll find that it bubbles over into your career as well.

Work has certainly been interesting and fun, and a lot easier than it has been over the last few years to be honest 

Your generous heart will attract many fun, sociable people into your life, and you’ll enjoy a year full of getting out and doing things

And as far as getting out and doing things, yep, spot on again

Now ain’t that interesting……………..

Another turn of the wheel – another new beginning

Well Christmas is out of the way and so are the new year festivities.  Now I can sit down and take stock of my life.

Today I weighted myself and am 308 lb.  So I put on 4lb over the christmas period, not too bad considering everything.  As of today I am refocusing and starting my exercises and healthy eating plans (not diet, lol).

I am also starting a new job today, so it will be very interesting on how that will impact om my personal and social life.  I also need to refocus on several other areas of my life too, essentially my emotional (love) and spiritual (pagan) life.

So my agenda (at least for today) is to eat healthy, exercise and later today to light a candle and chill.  I will worry about my love life another day, lol

See you all soon

Gareth, the refocussing Shaman

the spirit world, psycometry and tamsin

Certainly an odd title if ever there was one, lets be honest about it.

Well, for the first time ever I have done two things that I have never done before, one, I went to a ’spiritual’ open circle session in Mayhill and second, I met tamsin for the first time.  Thats the short story, now for the long version.

I showed up at the community centre all clueless as I tend too, not knowing where to go or who to talk too.  I stood outside the room for a few moments thinking that it was perhaps a previous session just ending before the spiritual stuff started and that I was the first one there.  Eventually I managed to pluck up the courage to step into the room and talk to someone, all the while frantically scanning the room for tamsin, my only memory, a photo on her blog from a long time ago, which I could barely remember.  Fortunately she waved too me and called me over (thank goodness, otherwise I would still be standing there now).  After brief introductions all round between myself, shirley and tamsin we settled down for the evening events, me looking all reserved and intelligent whilst being totally clueless and if anything a little bit nervous of the evenings activities.

The first hour was a session on psycometry, which I felt a bit more comfortable with as I have had this done before by my friend Anna, and at least understood the concept, and could possibly give it a try myself sometime as its more a form of divination and psychic reading.  A lady who I never met picked up my ring from the tray and attempted to describe stuff, and too be honest she was not too bad, and raised my eyebrow, expecially when talking about my car, hmmmmm, she a lovely car, full of character and bird droppings.  The second half was more to do with talking for and with people who had passed one, and it seemed the first person to stand up and say something decided to pick on little old me.  This really spun me out inside as I was trying desperately to make everything the woman said (Lily) to fit in some way without giving anything away at the same time.  Nonetheless she hit home with a few things and it has certainly given me enough reason to make me re-evaluate and question some of my previous assumptions about such things.

Overall the even was an interesting one and one that has and will make me think for some days too come.

Meeting tamsin I was a little bit nervous to be truthful, not knowing what to expect, but as she said, we are already friends and know many things about each other.  Its just that we never met, and now we have.

From a totally shamanic point of view, a shaman stands between two worlds, that of the real world and that of the spirit world, depending on which type of shaman it would tend to focus you on whether the spirit was an animal or a person.  It certainly would seem odd if, as a shaman, I choose to ignore or feel uncomfortable about the spirit world, instead staying within my own safely constructed universe.  I know for a fact that some shamans have spirits guides to help them, native american shaman spirits guiding the living shaman as it were and still teaching him things.  But I have ALWAYS been uncomfortable with this area, and probably will be still, something I obviously need to read up a lot more on (or just start watching all that weird spiritual stuff on the telly.

Well folks thats all for now, will talk again soon

P.S. The one person I would want to meet the most out of all those that have passed on would be my Grandfather, to thank him for his poetry and tell him what I did with it all, so that he could be proud

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full shaman emersion therapy

Just been messing around with an idea in my head this weekend, specifically this morning, but I always tend to know when I am about to do something different or write something really interesting and I have had a feeling the last day or two which usually manifests itself either in some creativity or some pagan revelation.  The question, as always, is what do I do with it after.

So what exactly am I on about…..

 Well, all the way through my shamanic journey i have refused to travel down certain paths, namely the ones which put names to the powers that exist in the universe.  I have always been weary of giving a specific name to a power, thereby making it a deity (god or goddes), think of it as the last vestages of a christian upbringing, where I would regard what I do now as worshiping the evil.

So I have been thinking whether it is now time to give my beliefs a name, to nail my feet firmly on one path, forever cutting myself off from any other options.

So the next question is, exactly what are my beliefs, who or what do I worship.  Shall I go walk along the path more natural, or a path that embraces technology, do I worship the god or the goddess, or both or neither.  Which doctrine do I chose to follow or do I write my own (whilst being inspired by visions and ectasy).  Indeed there are a lot of questions that I need to find the answers too, and it will not be a simple matter of pointing a blind finger at a book of names to determine my faith.

I read earlier today of how one individual was inspired by apersonal experience when she met the snow queen for the very first time.  This is indeed a wonderful and magical moment for this person, but, alas I have no such moments with which to guide my choices at present.  Perhaps one will come soon, who knows……

So for now, I will wander this world, in the real, spiritual and cyber realms until such time as I find my true path.