Wheel of Wonder February 24, 2013

Wheel of Wonder will be heading back to the three hour format again for a time, sometimes, if I'm very inspired I might even extend it to four!  I will always be done broadcasting by 10am PST though, to make room for Cottleston Pie, the Sunday morning children's show (Learn more about Cottleston Pie at kaosradio.org).  Imbolc has passed here in the Northern Hemisphere of our Mother Earth and the trees are beginning to bud and blossom, waking from their winter sleep. I've been invited to many healing ceremonies for the people and the Earth.  There is even a "Red Cedar Circle" in the area: an open drumming circle founded on the principles of local native, spirit medicine I have had occasion to join.
This in part is what's inspired me this week for Wheel of Wonder.  I'll speak of the Four Fold Way (check out the new link in the sidebar), with help from the writings of Dr. Angeles Arrien and other ideas of healing song, and envisioning a healthier, more sustainable earth centered economy.  I believe this is indeed the work of the twenty-first century:  to return as a people to a life consecrating, sustainable way of living on this planet, our mother, Earth.  Many people are beginning to realize this, its at the heart of the Neo-Pagan movement, the returning to the old religions movement, developing a new respect for the knowledge of the native peoples,  and even supported as a necessary change according to credible scientific inquiry.  It is part of the honor I have in sharing these ideas with you on Wheel of Wonder.  Thank you to everyone who has listened in, followed the blog, and shared your feedback with me.  Its a privilege for all of us to be in this together!
I found the picture above on the website Nature's Blessings, original artist at present, unknown. Nature's Blessings is not a bad site for info either.

Wheel of Wonder January 13, 2013

There I go again not posting for a while.  My apologies to those who have been following.  Have you heard?  We may have entered a new age of the Human experience.  It is believed to be an age of greater compassion and a greater sense of interconnectedness and perhaps seeing things from a different perspective in regards to the wisdom of our collective human past and all of the cultures and ancestry that have made us who we are today. Many believe that finally, the quick march of Industrial progress has led us to a place of potential jeopardy (Global Warming, Cancer, Pollution, Too much stress on the Earth's Ecosystems, too many people) were we HAVE to stop a moment and look back on how we've reached this point, and how we should perhaps take a new path, more Human and Nature centered, less focused on Money and GDP (which is, in its essence, just a measurement have how quickly/how often a society can acquire and resell its own natural resources, and at what profit for the few people who put that money into interest bearing accounts). 

Over the past three years of Wheel of Wonder, I've been sharing the viewpoints of the Earth spiritualist movements, indigenous beliefs, modern paganism, and new age spirituality.  In the hopes that others may not as easily see the natural world in terms of money and GDP. Another part of the effort has been to clarify the modern Pagan viewpoint, de-mystify beliefs and rituals of the sacred which are not within the mainstream Abrahamic religions, and give everyone a reason to consider "wait a minute, it sounds like these Pagans, Gurus, and Indigenous peoples are not evil or homicidal, or devil worshiping after all."  Hopefully, along the way, I shared an idea with you that could help lead you to your own spiritual truth, after you heard something on Wheel of Wonder that seemed to make sense to you.

You may also just enjoy good, mostly independent, multi-genre music.  As we continue into our fourth year, I intend to continue doing all of these things, as well as sharing the insights of science and spirituality that coincide together (at least in a qualitative, if not quantitative fashion), and new writing and interviews , not always based on the work of musicians, though Wheel of Wonder will still be a mostly music show.  Come along and join me as we continue the journey on Wheel of Wonder.

PS:  I've been double checking the links, some need updating, this year, I'll be doing that too as well as updating/resurrecting the on site playlist.

Wheel of Wonder December 23, 2012

The Winter Solstice has come and gone again, and the wheel keeps on turning, now we can spin into a brighter era, a brand new year.  I had always had a hunch(which I've posted about before) that the great change at the end of the last 5000 year cycle would be a change in how Humans interact with each other, not necessarily how we experience matter in this third dimensional existence.  The experience of matter, dualism, and transdimensional awareness is still to come.
 Perhaps if, as they say, our physical relationship, on this Earth, to the energy waves (for want of a better term) of the Milky Way Galaxy are in more direct correlation (astronomical position) to our planet, will those subtle changes in Gaia's energy field (and our subconscious, or spiritually awakened sense of it) instill us with a stronger sense of connection to the rest of existence?  To the rest of Humanity?  Because now we are experiencing a different relationship to energies beyond Earth, will our perspective change towards cooperation and oneness?  Perhaps that would be enough to do the great work of the 21st century; Changing our societal structures from models of domination by the few (and usually very rich) to models of cooperation.  the model of the new Earth Community.  If so, then we as Humans are destined to advance as a species.  Some say that this is inevitable.  This gives us cause for hope!
Misty Musings, from the Maritime Coast.
The idea of a time of greater light (and perhaps magic and spirituality) has always been a theme that is woven through many cultures for the time after the Winter Solstice, so that's what I chose to speak about this week on Wheel of Wonder.  If you had wondered what music would be chosen for such a theme check it out on spinitron.com sidebar click: KAOS look for Wheel of Wonder.
 May this new age bring you great Joy and Light!  Ascend in Beauty.

The picture above is of an Alpine Guesthouse located in a National Park in Canada.  It is not my intention to advertise for them, but it is a beautiful place.

Wheel of Wonder December 16, 2012

"Earth my body, Water my blood....."

--Element Chant by Spiral Rhythm

Its interesting to note that throughout human history, great cultural changes have often been preceded by natural disasters.  The biblical flood that was believed to have changed the biodiversity of the animal kingdom, Vesuvius that changed the entire concept of Humans relationship to nature.  In modern times: Hurricane Katrina, which shone a bright light on how classicist the United States Government can be, on how the government will rush to protect the rich before the poor.  The aftermath of Katrina also stimulated cross ethnic, cross class, and cross cultural cooperation among many humans, who all pulled together to help those they could who had been devastated by the storm.

But even in the case of Natural Disasters, think about this:  If a virus infects you and is threatening your body, does your nose run?  Do you cough?  In the case of a very high fever can you lose brain cells?  If you were to put your body on the size scale of the Earth, wouldn't these be natural disasters to whatever bacteria ("life") are living on or in your body?  When these symptoms pass, do you feel better?  Are you a "Healthier Ecosystem?"  I think so."Earth my Body, Water my blood..."

Other times, do you change your mind, your health, your lifestyle without becoming sick first?  If so, then no natural disasters have occurred within your ecosystem, but a cultural change has occurred within your mind.

Some of the channeled information I've come across (and as I've said about channeled information before, whichever way it is that you view channeling, listen and see if there is any wisdom in what is being said by the Channels, or "Mediums" then decide if it contains good advise or observations, if it does? Consider it.) in this time of transition, we are seeing cultural changes occur, without natural disasters always occurring at the same time.  For example:  the US election (twice) of an administration that has shown its intention to take things in a different direction than has been known in the past, a more fair and equitable direction (though this administration does have a ways to go yet, in this regard).  Just so with the "Slow Food Movement" and the increased reliance on the local economies (which serve to strengthen that economy within its area).

  In  Gaia Theory the Earth is considered to be a large interconnected, living  ecosystem always adjusting to keep itself in balance to support life.  This is why some species die, and others live or are "discovered" (perhaps born?)  Some information from a channel to Gaia gives the impression that is part of why natural disasters occur too. I  know of some groups who get together specifically to join in rituals of healing for Mother Earth, people who believe that by taking in, and processing some of the "excess energy" of Mother Earth, just like a lightning rod, they help decrease the chance of natural disasters occurring here on Earth. Could Humans be evolving into a more cooperative species, a more spiritual, a more hopeful one?  If so, then perhaps not as many natural disasters need occur to shock people out of their complacency.  What if from such an enlightened perspective, we can help bring on a transition within the human psyche, from a less competitive, winner takes all mentality to one of greater cooperation and life affirming values?  What if we can do this without any one's village or city being destroyed?   These are the ideas I'll be exploring this week on Wheel of Wonder, with help from some wisdom believed to be shared through channels of more advanced entities, some of the writings of YES! Magazine and great independent music.  "Earth my Body, Water my Blood, Air my Breath, and Fire my Spirit!  I am born of the elements!"

The picture above "Earth Spirit"  was created by Engelszorn, this piece and others can be found on DeviantART

Wheel of Wonder November 24, 2012

As we begin the new Celtic year, while drawing to a close on the Roman Calendar year, many people are finding themselves dreaming, thinking, or perhaps worrying about "the end of the millenia", in the sense of the expected "shift of reality" on the Winter Solstice of this year.  These ideas are woven into some New Age thinking and into the ending of the Mayan calendar, some seem to carry a certain nervousness about it.  . "The end of the world as we know it" does not inherently mean apocalypse, the death of humanity and such concerns as these, some look at it as more of the end of the old ways of being towards each other (the world as we know it) and our place in the natural order of things; Dominator or Co-Creator.  Whichever way one looks at it, it is an opportunity to reflect on what seems to work and what is no longer working in the structure of Human Civilization.
I've been recently re-reading David Korten's work on  "Empire (the dominator structure; few in charge, many beneath them)" and "Earth Community (the co-creator structure, collaboration for the good of the majority)"  Many believe its time to shift from the former structure, to the latter.  So this week I'll be speaking a bit about "Earth Community" (Korten, "The Great Turning" copyright 2006, People-Centered Development Program). Korten suggests human cooperation is like a forest ecosystem in some respects, this imagery will be with us this week on Wheel of Wonder.  As will new and independent, earth friendly music.  Your invited on the journey!

The picture to the right is called "Cascade Pass" and is by Ed Farrel taken in Washington State, USA

Wheel of Wonder November 4 2012

Some celebrations are designed to honor the dead, and thank them for the knowledge they brought to the living.  In the Spirit of the Day of the Dead, I am thinking about the knowledge of the underworld and the walking of the Labyrinth this week.  Both of these have been symbolic, in many Shamanic cultures, of death of the old way of thinking, to be reborn into the new.
  Some ecstatic experiences, like the channelling of spirits in voodoo, or talking to mediums to settle things with your family and your ancestors, relate directly to contacting that place of awareness where one can communicate with the dead.  Ever sat around a Ouija board trying to talk to spirits?  That is also an attempt to achieve this.

    It is no coincidence that the underworld (not the fiery brimstone one, that seems to me like some religion's idea of scaring folks into obedience) is a recurring theme in the legends of death and rebirth, just like the seed you harvest from the plant that is buried and "returns" from the underworld to serve its life supporting purpose,  the underworld journeys of Shamans, Heroes, and wise ones , like the labyrinth, represent going inside, through your fears, to achieve new knowledge.  These are some of the universal symbols that can be found in nearly all cultures.  In modern neo-pagan beliefs, Earth is considered the element that represents the wisdom of the ancestors, it is the element of the caves, and often of Winter(the death of life before rebirth).

This week I'm going to be mindful of taking a musical journey through the underworld, the labyrinth, reaching the center and returning, to find the true self.  I'm inviting you to listen in on this journey.

The picture to the right is of a place called Deer Cave, in Malaysia, picture by David Darling

Wheel of Wonder October 28, 2012

Samhain again, so soon?  Once again we've reached the end of the Celtic Year, and the spirits and the energies of the season are thought to be at their strongest for divining and communing, and remembering too.  The Ancestors are watching, some will say.  Halloween however has only very recently in the course of Human History developed its reputation for being "Scary and Evil."  These days perhaps, at least in the Western World, that may just be part of the strategy for selling candy, costumes and movies!
  This week on Wheel of Wonder we'll speak about the true origins of Halloween, which I call Samhain and perhaps, once again tap in to the Taibhsear Tales I've shared with you in the past.
  We will also have an Interview with Jon and Melissa, the creative team behind Eleusyve productions' modern music interpretations of Alistair Crowley's Rites of Eleusis poems. Along the lines of the belief in connecting with Spirits and becoming  tuned in to Planetary energies Crowley wrote these ritual poems, with some info borrowed from the Hermetic order and a great deal of inspiration from  the Kabbalah tree of life.  This shows Crowley to also be capable of almost Bardic inspiration.  Eleusyve productions offers a more modern interpretation of these works and will be performing the "Rite of Sol" Rock Musical in Seattle, WA between November 2nd and 10th.
Happy Samhain and join me on the dawn of the Full Hunter's moon, this week on Wheel of Wonder!
  The Picture to the right came from a great blog called amayodruid.blogspot.com and I believe it was created by a man named Silent Owl, good blog, check it out here.