Incense Exchange

Incense Exchange

I received a box today containing an "incense exchange" I'd contributed towards a couple of months ago. This is where Vicki Bloom of "Mother's Hearth" in the US collects samples from a load of people who make incense, and re-distributes out a whole set to each of us. That way, we get to sample what many other people are making.

As well as that, I took the opportunity to order some new stock for myself, and many other commercial samples of incense ranging from japanese sticks to heavy wood resins! For everything from gentle meditation to deep shamanic trance!

My incense for the Exchange was a loose incense which I called "Desert Campfire". The recipie is below, and my notes for the incense. The Nard oil was extremely expensive (about £7 GBP Sterling for a small phial) but worth it for adding a sharp intense scent inbetween the other warmer aromas.

Resins: Hojary, Frankincense, Olibanum

Wood: Aloes Wood (Agarci)

Powder: Sandalwood (red)

Oil: Nard (Spikenard)

Because it has a rough sandy texture, and I've left it coarse, it reminded me of gritty sand out in a desert of the Middle East. Imagine arriving at an Oasis late at night, pitching tent, watering your Camel and scattering a certain Magick Sand on the campfire; and it carrying this rough scent that brings to mind 'sacred journeying'. The Nard reminds us of the Garden of Eden or our Spiritual Home however that is envisaged, the Resins carry the essence of Divinity. The Aloes Wood is indicative of the Magical and Sacred Union intimated by the Song of Solomon, and the Sandalwood is our meditation to attain that Union. We dream that night of all our travels and where they have lead us to Understanding, awakening deeply refreshed and with Wisdom in our Sight.

Summer Lane after the Rain

Everything is green and sunny today, despite the rain and flooding elsewhere. I've had to go up the lane and cut back branches and everything else straggling across the lane. There's grass to cut and plants to revive after the winds and rain. Good to take a Taoistic view of gardening - it's a flow without cease, not something you 'do' and 'attain'!

Too Many Networks!

Well, it's been a while from Blogger, as I've been investigating - or being invited to join - a multitude of other social networking systems. These are where you can now also find me:

http://www.myspace.com/farawaycentre

http://www.facebook.com

Although I'm going to keep family, domestic, and suchlike here on Blogger.

Marcus.

The Far Away Centre

The Far Away Centre is open for business! I've always had the idea of using cutting-edge techniques to teach esotericism (theory and practice) in a comprehensive and well-delivered manner. So I've founded the Far Away Centre as a nascent venture on that path; offering short courses in all manner of wonderful things, including retreats here at the cottage, for those wanting to understand beyond Buffy and Charmed. I've approached WitchFest to see if they'd like me to deliver a couple of talks in Wales and the Croydon Fests this year!

Hypnotherapy Foundation Course

Well, I've just finished running the first weekend module of my NLP Magick Hypnotherapy Foundation course, with a small class here in Keswick. As far as I can tell it went excellently; the venue was fine, the lunches were excellent, and the content was jam-packed with stuff.

The main thing I learnt myself - amongst a stack of stuff - was to separate out some of the NLP terminology and introduce it with explainations where I am using it. I've got so used to - over the years - applying NLP in Hypnotherapy, I feel that NLP is my common language, and Hypnotherapy my 'learnt' language; so I tend to explain 'simply' by default using NLP, assuming, like, *everyone* knows their representation systems, etc.!

So, it gave me the idea of running more NLP 1-day Beginner Experiences. Coming Soon!!!

Homely Christmas

HAPPY SOLSTICE AHEAD TO ALL

MAY THE LIGHT CONTINUE TO SHINE IN THE DARKNESS

Winter Solstice

Well, the last post was when Ricky went to University, and that seems an age ago already, despite only three or four months clock-time having passed. A lot has changed - I'm now about to leave my f/t career of 15 years to start practising Hypnotherapy and NLP Training Courses in the New Year of 2007. I'm offering a course in the Western Esoteric Tradition on another formative website, and planning to complete my MA and start my PhD this coming year!

Whoot!

What else? Well, Ricky is settling into Uni, and Brina is getting her MA at the Lancaster University Awards Ceremony today! She's now officially *more* cleverer than I am. Grrrrr!

New Toy for today: A Metronome (not a small mythical creature on the Parisian Underground, that's a Metro Gnome) for speech exercises for the Hypnotherapy course I'm writing.

New Book: Too many to mention. Really. Trying to read Lisey's Story by Stephen King but not getting time as I have to complete an essay on Swedenborg and Boheme's Theosophies in the next two weeks!

New Music: Liking Evansecence muchly! Particularly 'Lithium' which is a soaring song!

Games: Errrr .... Everquest 2, although Brina is also officially levels higher than me now.

TV: Battlestar Galactica series 3. Was flicking through channels on the TV, and saw an old episode of Star Trek (TNG) and then watched the first episode of Battlestar series 3, and the first few minutes were *worlds* apart from 'old' Science Fiction! Incredible images, direction, gritty detail, reflections on terrorism, fundamentalism, religion, duty, sex, woah!

Domestics: We have a leaky roof and it's not stopped raining for two months.

Ricky, Jesse and Brina (and Patrick the Bear in Jesses arms) at York. 

A Family Initiation

We've just got back from taking Ricky to University at York. This has been the most emotional event in our family for quite some time, and despite having worked towards it for the last two years, in no way was I prepared for how quickly it came, and how deep it went. We just got a text from Ricky to say how "ace" his new flatmates were, and that he was OK. That meant so much, as when we left, there were plenty of tears - a mixture of sadness, excitment, and a recognition by the whole family (Ricky's girlfriend, who was with us also) that this was a "big thing". I smiled when, a few miles later on the drive home, I saw a big red road sign, reading "Changed Priorities Ahead". God's Signs are always in Humour.

I figured as well that most of my peers kids are generally only 4-14 years old; I seem to be the first of my "age" to be sending a son away. My peergroup talk about primary school grades, the difficulties of sex education, and stuff that now seems ancient to us. I then get to wonder if they realise - as I didn't - how big stuff gets later. I don't think we're ever equipped except in hindsight. Truth maybe brief, as Eco said (although I recently found the biblical quote he modified that from), and the rest merely commentary, but I think Wisdom is the Truth Lived, and is forever, where there is a Life to be Lived.

There is a hollow in my heart now, where a boy used to be. I tell myself it hurts because the love is still there, holding the shape of love without the physical presence to which it was once attached. And this makes it harder, it makes it more mystifying, more precious, and yes, more wonderful. I can't wait to see how much he changes, learns, and becomes the young man we've been seeing more of, recently.

I know he'll be fine; I'm sure we can sort the finances out, which are pretty demanding. I'm sure he and his girlfriend will adjust, and that he'll eat OK! Brina's been preparing for this moment for years, and told me to listen to "Kite" by U2. I did and I cried and laughed and cried and laughed and felt my heart open to possibilities again, for the whole family. I just have to be wise enough and deserve what I've been given in these people.

Mood : Deep. Awed. Excited. New. Scared. Smiley. Loving.

Yahoo Avatar

I should have been working but instead I did this -- CLICK HERE.

Sheesh, the Internet has sucked my mind dry.

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining!

Microsoft recently launched a quest through their 'At Work' Newsletter to find the worst Business Presentation Disasters. I submitted a few of my own. Guess what?! Mine were chosen for *two* of the Top Ten! So, at Number 8 and Number 10 of this list:

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/atwork/work/presentationdisasters.mspx

I have my toe-curlingly embarassing moments at work. Having said that, there's a little prize, so I may get two prizes (and a good story to tell at later presentations!) for my moments of shame! I've actually asked them if I can have a digital projector, but I'll probably get a $5 dollar voucher of "Windows Vista" when it comes out ...

It's a pity it was a 'business' context competition, as I could have used the Wiccan event I once went to where some guy in a false-American accent entered the circle at an 'open style' calling of the Gods moment and yelled 'YO DUDES, YOU ARE INVOKED!' I could only think it was good they weren't, otherwise his Ass would have been hit by lightning ...

And finally for the Summer's updates, here's Axel and me up the mountain of initiation. The guy who doesn't do part-time modelling would be me, then, on the left, trying to do something witty whilst Axel has 'Perfect Models' on his tee-shirt. LOL. It was actually a perfect walk, with me on auto-lecture mode whilst Brina managed to interject at a few points with the names of the surrounding mountains! 

Axel also took this one at the Lake. I was stood right there, with my own camera, and I didn't get this shot ... what's that about then? Huh?! LOL. 

Axel took this great shot of Castlerigg - we were there very early in the morning for a good meditation. 

I know they're supposed to only be 'fluffies' but you can tell they're both as hungover as hell, can't you?! They asked not to be disturbed until mid-afternoon, and to be honest, most of us went back to bed for a couple of hours at some point during the day! 

The Morning After the Night before. One of the Angels left their wings behind. 

Ricky and his 'Clown' face. Apparently all clowns have to design their own unique design. There's an educational fact for you today! 

A really nice picture of Ricky's girlfriend, who was wandering around with a sweet pair of wings for the most of the party, and had matching hair to Ricky's current 'Flame' look! 

Axel. From Europe. First visit to England so we told him the whole country was like the Lake District and it was *always* this sunny. 

I decided it was time to come out of the closet. And Darhling, just *look* what I found *in* the closet! LOL. Actually, most people commented this was closer to the real me than my suit&tie version. Hmmmmm. 

A fey Fairy and a green Nyiad. It appears that Nyiads, in our experiment, get drunk a lot faster than Fairies, in case you needed to know. 

Ricky blowing Fire! As his girlfriend yelled, "Be careful," I was yelling, "Ignore her, it's dead exciting!" (until I realised his clown facepaint might be flammable ... eeeek!) 

Some Enchanted Evening

As soon as we moved into this cottage I knew that it would be the ideal settng for a summer party! I think it's the Pagoda that did it, and the sheer amount of greenery surrounding the place. So we embarked on collecting party stuff, fancy dress and inviting friends, to coincide with the visit of a friend from Belgium. And of course the weather was stunning all week, so when everyone arrived, it meant we could sit outside until 4am in T-shirts and shorts (or Jesters Costumes!) in a very European manner!

Unfortunately not all our friends could make it - quite a few were at Festivals, or in Scotland, Wales or in one case travelling around Europe. So we're having a Samhain Party in October with a Witchy Feel ...

Summiting the Old Man! 

On the way up to Coniston Old Man. The mountain had a very friendly feel. This sign of mining added even more character; particularly the old Telegraph Pole and the Taoist-like wooden strut for the winches! 

My Dad (c) and Joan (r) with Brina (l) when we met them in Derbyshire. They travel around in a camper called 'Nelly II' and I swear he has Romany blood. Perhaps I've inherited it as I've moved about 19+ times in my life! 

I made some shelves! I did dammit! And no-one was hurt and I didn't even shout at anyone. 

Our Shrine for Beltane. 

The Cottage in May; without the Honeysuckle out on the Pagoda. 

Beltane at the Cottage

This is a May Catchup Post!

Well, we're sorta moved in now, and getting on with shelves, the garden, and generally settling in. These photos include some shelves - I'm so useless at D.I.Y. (I call it G.S.E. or 'Get Someone Else') that as I cut this wood myself, and drilled it and hammered it and screwed those nails with the curly bits on them ('screws' I think they're called) as well, I think it deserves a picture!