Hello everyone, and thank you for pushing this page to 4,500 views! So accordingly, this is my 50th post.
Please visit me on Etsy at my Etsy store. I provide spiritual readings using the tarot, and I tune into your spirit guidance to provide you insightful life messages.
Also I am now on Facebook! Hope to hear from you soon.
Love
Anthony
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Signs of the Times
Have you ever taken time to reflect on how society and
attitudes have changed in the last 30 years? Now that I am approaching 40, I
can begin to look back with a certain perspective on many changes evident
particularly in my own country, but I feel sure that similar changes have taken
place in the US and the UK.
Attitudes have undergone a complete revolution since the
early 1980s. One area in particular is in the realm of the nuclear threat. This
has not of course completely gone away, but I remember growing up feeling like
it could happen at any time. Russia, which was then much larger and known as
the U.S.S.R., was seen as the great enemy of the West. And they, of course, saw
us as the great enemy! For a period of over 50 years, from 1947 to 1989, the
tension between these two great power blocs was at a dangerously heightened
level. Students in American schools in the 50s and 60s were actually
trained what to do in the event of a nuclear strike – basically to crouch under their
desks and brace for impact (and a fat lot of good that would have done).
Hence the 1985 song “Russians”, by Sting, in which he directly confronts the
issue, questioning the insanity of the powers, with their fingers poised over
their respective buttons, and asking – don’t the Russians love their children
too?
Strange as it may seem to today’s Gen Y, this truly was the
situation in the early 80s. I can remember asking myself the same question – if
the Russians are people like us (and the media strove to convince us that
indeed they were not!), wouldn’t they want a peaceful solution for the sake of
their children?
This all culminated in the “false-alarm”
incident of 1983, which was itself part of a larger pattern of events
that convinced Russia that America was preparing for an actual strike. If it
were not for one man working within the Russian nuclear installation who
correctly surmised that their missile detection instruments were
malfunctioning, the unthinkable may have actually occurred at that time. Of
course now, we are much closer to Russia, with tourism a growing industry
whereas once it would have been unthinkable to travel to the Soviet bloc
country. Certain tensions, unfortunately, still exist, especially over the
Middle East.
This is one example of how things have changed over the
years. Another example, in Australia at least, is so-called multiculturalism.
The divisions between Anglo-Australian culture and the various other immigrant
cultures are much less evident these days, particularly in metropolitan areas.
It used to be that the main sources of non-Anglo immigration to Australia were
from Greece and Italy. Despite the historical kinship that exists between those
nations, most “Aussies” were pretty hard on these immigrants. This despite the
fact that most of the people were beautiful, peaceful and law-abiding citizens!
But Aussies had come up doing the hard yards of establishing a nation out of
the raw rock and desert soil of this nation, and as a result of this experience they had perhaps become hardened. Also, as a new nation forging a new path away from
the mother continent of Europe, most “Aussies” were probably sceptical of
anything European. Still, the treatment of those waves of immigrants was
thoroughly undeserved. Today, we see immigrants from all over the world – from
places as far afield as Croatia, the Sudan, Lebanon, Iran, etc. This has become
normal. And miraculously, all these cultures are somehow (for the most part)
living side by side in relative peace (knock on wood!).
Naturally there is of course a regrettable element of
conservative, intolerant “Aussies” – but I for one never really hear much about
them, and they certainly don’t get much (if any) press.
Yet another area of change is in the status of women. Now
this is a curious area of social study – after the feminist wave of the 70s and
80s, many women would say things have not improved but in fact have perhaps
backslid. (Is that a word?) Certainly there are a much higher proportion of
women in positions of management, especially in the public service where I
work. Women no longer have to prove they belong in the workforce as they once
did. Yet there are still men who feel the need to over-control their women –
and regrettably, I have discovered that this tendency still obtains within me.
This has been a rather rambling blog so I hope you will bear
with me, but lately I have heard stories of women who have left their partners
because they insist on trying to control. I myself had a meltdown recently when
I felt my partner was becoming too independent (gasp!) and some inner, wounded
part of me – inaccessible to my powers of reason! – was convinced I was being
left. It wasn’t as if she was even doing anything that threatening – it was
more that I could just sense a pattern emerging and this was reinforced by
things she had been saying lately.
Now in my right mind this would not have been a problem. But
I had let myself and my self-care slide in recent times, and as a result the
inner wounded-self was festering. The abandonment complex I had carried since
before conscious memory was really acting up – and acting out. Fortunately we
have been able to smooth things over together but I am still disturbed by what
happened.
Without trying to sound too righteous about it, I really feel that the whole world’s problems stem from men
trying to control. I am sure many women reading this would agree. All the
things I have mentioned – the nuclear threat, intolerance of other peoples –
are not perpetrated by women, but by angry men. As the Goddess returns, balance
is restored among the sexes and women rise to new levels of empowerment and
independence, men are possibly feeling a little hurt and confused. We aren’t
sure what our place is anymore – having been in control for so long, having
been the ruling paradigm for several thousand years, and having soothed our
savage beasts by keeping women at our beck and call, we are possibly entering
this new age feeling a little shaken and shaky.
For myself, the answer is to take time out for me. Many men have
possibly already cottoned on to this solution! But for me certainly, taking
time out for myself at the end of each day, to pause, to reflect, and just to let
my inner voice be heard, is one small step to allowing myself to self-nurture.
Burning out my brain with distraction after distraction is not the way to go.
And after all, I do have a contemplative and spiritual side, I am interested in
positive change for the world. I guess it’s a matter of acting in accord with
what I want to see in the world!
Or as the Mahatma once said, Be the change you want to see
in the world. But to the blokes out there – take heart, gentlemen. We all want
a safer, more peaceful world to live in, and that is what is trying to come to
birth. The old ways are no longer working for us, guys. Time to relax and let the
changes in!
Be well
Anthony
Friday, September 7, 2012
Re-energising and refocusing
Ok, well as many of you may realise, there are a lot of cosmic energies flying around at the moment. It feels like the lessons of life are coming at us faster than ever before, and we are grasping those lessons quicker than ever before. Not only that, but we are (at least on some level) changing fast too.
The galactic energies that are focusing on our solar system truly are quickening our growth and evolution. Things that might simply have gone unnoticed or unchallenged in previous decades (such as advocates of post-natal child murder in the British Medical Journal, or US sabre-rattling towards Syria and Iran) are being strongly opposed and called out. I will be forever grateful to the US Congressional member from New Jersey, Chris Smith, for having the clarity of mind and a true human heart for speaking out against one particular instance of scientific insanity. You go, Chris.
And meanwhile, I really feel the tide is turning. Events have really brought home to me that there are only two forces in the manifested universe - the life-force and the death-force. Sometimes these are called Eros and Thanatos - two opposing forces that define the cosmos.
Let's face it - one cannot exist except in relation to the other. When Life was born, Death was also. Without Death, Life loses its meaning. However those of us who feel we are emissaries of Life need to realise that the Death forces are trying their hardest to assert themselves in our society at this time. Hence the two examples I cited above.
So let's keep our eyes open - while nonetheless keeping focused on what is good and worth living for. The death-forces only prevail if we give in to them, and if we forget what is wholesome and good. Keep focused on the Light in your life - we will succeed.
The galactic energies that are focusing on our solar system truly are quickening our growth and evolution. Things that might simply have gone unnoticed or unchallenged in previous decades (such as advocates of post-natal child murder in the British Medical Journal, or US sabre-rattling towards Syria and Iran) are being strongly opposed and called out. I will be forever grateful to the US Congressional member from New Jersey, Chris Smith, for having the clarity of mind and a true human heart for speaking out against one particular instance of scientific insanity. You go, Chris.
And meanwhile, I really feel the tide is turning. Events have really brought home to me that there are only two forces in the manifested universe - the life-force and the death-force. Sometimes these are called Eros and Thanatos - two opposing forces that define the cosmos.
Let's face it - one cannot exist except in relation to the other. When Life was born, Death was also. Without Death, Life loses its meaning. However those of us who feel we are emissaries of Life need to realise that the Death forces are trying their hardest to assert themselves in our society at this time. Hence the two examples I cited above.
So let's keep our eyes open - while nonetheless keeping focused on what is good and worth living for. The death-forces only prevail if we give in to them, and if we forget what is wholesome and good. Keep focused on the Light in your life - we will succeed.
Monday, August 20, 2012
What has happened to freedom
I don't like to post about anything to do with politics. Its a dirty, dirty business, and everyone has their opinion, each having some validity and each being arguable. That's part of the reason why I don't belong to any group, association or organisation (apart from making a monthly donation to Greenpeace - that street hawker in Hyde Park was very convincing!).
My American readers in particular will no doubt have their own sensitivities to what I am about to post. But here goes anyway.
I find the situation with Julian Assange to be a very, very upsetting reflection of the place that Western society finds itself in 2012. As regards the charges of misconduct in Sweden - is he guilty or not? I have no doubt that he was at the very least having some naughty-boy "fun" on that occasion, and as a result he has undoubtedly left himself open to accusation. As to whether there was indeed misconduct, I cannot claim to know. But what I do know, is that I have never seen so much concerted government, police and international effort to arrest a man wanted for similar charges.
I wonder - if Assange was not a self-declared whistle-blower, would the authorities be pursuing him with the same remorseless attitude? Somehow, I really don't think so.
Can I just say for the record that I do not regard the man with the hero-worship that some accord him. Because of his rather sad childhood, the man may indeed be prone to weaknesses of the flesh. I am not pronouncing judgement on him one way or the other. In fact for me, the question of his guilt or innocence has now paled into insignificance. The far more pressing issue is that the world I once cherished as a place of freedom of expression seems dangerously close to becoming a police state.
We should all consider the current events as a warning. The actions of the UK authorities to me smacks of fear - fear of reprisal from the US. And if that's the case, since when has the relationship between the UK (and by extension the rest of the English speaking world) and the US become one of fear? Are we so afraid of America, have they really become the international bully-boy?
If that is the case then all people of right mind need to speak up NOW. In fact I am shocked that in the face of the TAA scandal, MORE Americans have not spoken up. A disturbing meek complacency seems to have crept over the American people. As Assange said in his address this weekend, that revolutionary spirit that sparked the birth of America seems to have faded to be replaced by rigid dogmatism and totalitarianism - the very things that the Founding Fathers wanted to avoid.
They say absolute power corrupts absolutely, so perhaps it was inevitable that this occur to what was the most powerful nation on Earth. Therefore it won't be long before another nation is handed that mantle. If the European and European-descended nations forsake their own founding values, then perhaps the rise of China will be complete. It's ironic really - at a time when China is opening up to the free market, with all the decadence and the benefits that come with it, we in the West seem to be going the opposite way. (I wonder what those American-as-apple-pie Republicans make of this?)
What I'm trying to say is that I feel disgusted and ashamed of my own culture. It only takes a quick skim of the kind of material that Wikileaks was leaking to see how corrupt the American armed forces have become. The 2007 air attacks on Baghdad make it clear that for many in the armed forces, fighting a war has lost all honour and has become little more than a glorified computer game - with human beings (aggressors and civilians alike) little more than icons on a screen to be gunned down without remorse or discrimination. Its so very sad - 70 years ago Americans fought with honour and with pride to free the world of tyranny. Now it seems, America is on the verge of becoming that tyranny.
And my own government is little better. I have never felt the need to disown my own government - now however, I do. I am so ashamed of what we are becoming, and it now falls to the people - everyone, you and me - to start demanding better. We must start with ourselves, and work our way out to the world.
My American readers in particular will no doubt have their own sensitivities to what I am about to post. But here goes anyway.
I find the situation with Julian Assange to be a very, very upsetting reflection of the place that Western society finds itself in 2012. As regards the charges of misconduct in Sweden - is he guilty or not? I have no doubt that he was at the very least having some naughty-boy "fun" on that occasion, and as a result he has undoubtedly left himself open to accusation. As to whether there was indeed misconduct, I cannot claim to know. But what I do know, is that I have never seen so much concerted government, police and international effort to arrest a man wanted for similar charges.
I wonder - if Assange was not a self-declared whistle-blower, would the authorities be pursuing him with the same remorseless attitude? Somehow, I really don't think so.
Can I just say for the record that I do not regard the man with the hero-worship that some accord him. Because of his rather sad childhood, the man may indeed be prone to weaknesses of the flesh. I am not pronouncing judgement on him one way or the other. In fact for me, the question of his guilt or innocence has now paled into insignificance. The far more pressing issue is that the world I once cherished as a place of freedom of expression seems dangerously close to becoming a police state.
We should all consider the current events as a warning. The actions of the UK authorities to me smacks of fear - fear of reprisal from the US. And if that's the case, since when has the relationship between the UK (and by extension the rest of the English speaking world) and the US become one of fear? Are we so afraid of America, have they really become the international bully-boy?
If that is the case then all people of right mind need to speak up NOW. In fact I am shocked that in the face of the TAA scandal, MORE Americans have not spoken up. A disturbing meek complacency seems to have crept over the American people. As Assange said in his address this weekend, that revolutionary spirit that sparked the birth of America seems to have faded to be replaced by rigid dogmatism and totalitarianism - the very things that the Founding Fathers wanted to avoid.
They say absolute power corrupts absolutely, so perhaps it was inevitable that this occur to what was the most powerful nation on Earth. Therefore it won't be long before another nation is handed that mantle. If the European and European-descended nations forsake their own founding values, then perhaps the rise of China will be complete. It's ironic really - at a time when China is opening up to the free market, with all the decadence and the benefits that come with it, we in the West seem to be going the opposite way. (I wonder what those American-as-apple-pie Republicans make of this?)
What I'm trying to say is that I feel disgusted and ashamed of my own culture. It only takes a quick skim of the kind of material that Wikileaks was leaking to see how corrupt the American armed forces have become. The 2007 air attacks on Baghdad make it clear that for many in the armed forces, fighting a war has lost all honour and has become little more than a glorified computer game - with human beings (aggressors and civilians alike) little more than icons on a screen to be gunned down without remorse or discrimination. Its so very sad - 70 years ago Americans fought with honour and with pride to free the world of tyranny. Now it seems, America is on the verge of becoming that tyranny.
And my own government is little better. I have never felt the need to disown my own government - now however, I do. I am so ashamed of what we are becoming, and it now falls to the people - everyone, you and me - to start demanding better. We must start with ourselves, and work our way out to the world.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Children in spirit - pre-birth
As many long time readers would be aware, I have a little boy Jack who is 2 1/4 years old. I have to say though that Susan and I were aware of him for many years prior to that.
Our relationship has been through several distinct phases, and during the time that we spent in the city of Newcastle (in regional New South Wales) we met a psychic woman called Ardis. We know that we have spent time with this woman in a Native American setting, as we connected with her straight away and during that time I was experiencing surfacing memories of my past life (lives) there. Ardis was the first time we realised we had a child around us.
She told us there was a little boy around us in spirit (this was back in 2001 or thereabouts - Jack was born 2010). At the time I thought it might be a soul from one of my mother's miscarriages that had chosen to be around me, but we both now realise and agree that it was Jack. Did he also have a brief sojourn with my own mother? I'm not clear on that point, but what I do know is that Jack is one amazing soul!
Before Jack was born Susan and I would do tarot readings to see what messages the incoming soul had for us. Jack kept coming up very strongly as the Magician.
The message I got was that here was a very intelligent, very creative being who was coming through with a mission! I also perceived that he had not had many lives on this Earth - maybe only 1 or 2 at the most. Nevertheless I got that he was a very experienced soul in other star civilisations, all across the galaxy in fact, but that his resume was incomplete because he needed greater depth of experience with us on Earth!
And as many of us know only too well, Planet Earth is the place of the greatest learning, the toughest lessons, but also potentially the greatest joy, celebration at being alive and unique and individual. Only on Earth do we achieve such a level of definition, precision and skill. And this Magician card clearly told me that this was the reason he was coming here.
Jack's astrology chart shows that he also has a very sensitive side - understandable for a soul that has spent millions of years in much more refined environments than the Earth! But he has a toughness too that enables him to "hit the ground runnning" so to speak. Jack's mission is so important to him that despite his lack of experience here he already seems very highly adapted and "in tune" with the way things are here - no mean feat considering how difficult it can be for us sensitives to adapt to Earth life. So well done Jackie!
Do any of you have stories to share like this? I would love to hear them in the comments! Blessings and be well
Anthony
Our relationship has been through several distinct phases, and during the time that we spent in the city of Newcastle (in regional New South Wales) we met a psychic woman called Ardis. We know that we have spent time with this woman in a Native American setting, as we connected with her straight away and during that time I was experiencing surfacing memories of my past life (lives) there. Ardis was the first time we realised we had a child around us.
She told us there was a little boy around us in spirit (this was back in 2001 or thereabouts - Jack was born 2010). At the time I thought it might be a soul from one of my mother's miscarriages that had chosen to be around me, but we both now realise and agree that it was Jack. Did he also have a brief sojourn with my own mother? I'm not clear on that point, but what I do know is that Jack is one amazing soul!
Before Jack was born Susan and I would do tarot readings to see what messages the incoming soul had for us. Jack kept coming up very strongly as the Magician.
And as many of us know only too well, Planet Earth is the place of the greatest learning, the toughest lessons, but also potentially the greatest joy, celebration at being alive and unique and individual. Only on Earth do we achieve such a level of definition, precision and skill. And this Magician card clearly told me that this was the reason he was coming here.
Jack's astrology chart shows that he also has a very sensitive side - understandable for a soul that has spent millions of years in much more refined environments than the Earth! But he has a toughness too that enables him to "hit the ground runnning" so to speak. Jack's mission is so important to him that despite his lack of experience here he already seems very highly adapted and "in tune" with the way things are here - no mean feat considering how difficult it can be for us sensitives to adapt to Earth life. So well done Jackie!
Do any of you have stories to share like this? I would love to hear them in the comments! Blessings and be well
Anthony
Monday, July 30, 2012
Thank you!
Hello everyone
Not a lot to say at the moment, although a lot is definitely happening under the surface! But the reason for this post, is that I have noticed my blog views are going up and up lately and I just wanted to send a thank you to all my readers.
I really enjoy writing this blog, and I'm excited to know that you are reading it! So thank you, and I hope you keep enjoying what I post.
Blessings
Anthony
Not a lot to say at the moment, although a lot is definitely happening under the surface! But the reason for this post, is that I have noticed my blog views are going up and up lately and I just wanted to send a thank you to all my readers.
I really enjoy writing this blog, and I'm excited to know that you are reading it! So thank you, and I hope you keep enjoying what I post.
Blessings
Anthony
Monday, July 9, 2012
Journey thru life's rinse cycle...!
Hasn't life been a doozy lately...! I can see from other people's blogs that many of us are feeling it to some degree, but speaking just for myself I definitely feel like I've been through a very strong dynamic lately and I am now possibly emerging out the other side.
These last couple of months have been so intense! I've had a real peak of questioning of self, of painful self-examination. I've had physical symptoms, relating to stomach pains and difficulties ahem in the bathroom.I've had some intense dreams at night. And then this past weekend I feel I reached a culmination of everything so far this year.
I was laying out on the balcony enjoying a warm winter day, when I had a realisation. (I seem to get a lot of these on the balcony!!) All the pain and intensity and erratic behaviour I'd been experiencing had been the death throes of a part of myself - a part of myself that is poisonous, that is negative, that in fact thrives on negativity and tries to get me to do more negative stuff so it can feed itself more. The author Eckhart Tolle calls this inner entity, the "pain body".
It seems that we all have a "pain body", whether we know it or not, and its that part of our psyche that is primitive, primal and unrefined. I guess it could be classed as the "survival" part of us, the part that wants to preserve itself no matter what the cost. Or it could simply be like the Star Trek Next Generation episode "Skin of Evil", in which a gooey, tar-like substance which is a residue of all the evil in a society threatens the Enterprise crew.
What I'm trying to say is that I could feel this thing within me really subside, and if not die off completely then certainly lose a lot of its power. Lately I have been pursuing a life long aim of improving myself, purifying my mind, my body, and my behaviours. Its not that I follow any particular or rigorous course of action - its simply something I have grown my awareness of over many years and its something I guess I've always aimed out deep down. But lately especially I have been letting go of a lot of negative patterns - addictions, negative thoughts and the like - and I guess depriving my "pain body" of the energy it needs to stay active.
And so it seems that lately my pain body was reacting to my efforts with greater intensity - like a final blast of negativity (erratic behaviours, outbursts, selfishness etc) as a desperate attempt to keep the negative cycles going. But as I lay there on the balcony I felt these energies finally subside, like a dimmer switch was turned right down. Phew! About time too.
I am really encouraged in my self-work to see that I am getting these results. No question about it, personal improvement is not a path for the faint-hearted. I feel like I've been challenged on every front by this process - physically, mentally, emotionally. Your whole being gets challenged when you decide you want to grow, to improve, and it takes guts and perseverance to get through it. But if you keep your faith through it all, and stay willing to be corrected (and God knows I have been pretty intensely stubborn at times, serving the pain body without realising it!) and stay willing to return to a loving perspective, you can make it.
I guess its a detox program for the soul!! I want to wish everyone else who may be on a similar path all the good fortune in the world. Remember to watch and listen for guidance that wants to come through, and as always
Blessed be!
Anthony
These last couple of months have been so intense! I've had a real peak of questioning of self, of painful self-examination. I've had physical symptoms, relating to stomach pains and difficulties ahem in the bathroom.I've had some intense dreams at night. And then this past weekend I feel I reached a culmination of everything so far this year.
I was laying out on the balcony enjoying a warm winter day, when I had a realisation. (I seem to get a lot of these on the balcony!!) All the pain and intensity and erratic behaviour I'd been experiencing had been the death throes of a part of myself - a part of myself that is poisonous, that is negative, that in fact thrives on negativity and tries to get me to do more negative stuff so it can feed itself more. The author Eckhart Tolle calls this inner entity, the "pain body".
It seems that we all have a "pain body", whether we know it or not, and its that part of our psyche that is primitive, primal and unrefined. I guess it could be classed as the "survival" part of us, the part that wants to preserve itself no matter what the cost. Or it could simply be like the Star Trek Next Generation episode "Skin of Evil", in which a gooey, tar-like substance which is a residue of all the evil in a society threatens the Enterprise crew.
What I'm trying to say is that I could feel this thing within me really subside, and if not die off completely then certainly lose a lot of its power. Lately I have been pursuing a life long aim of improving myself, purifying my mind, my body, and my behaviours. Its not that I follow any particular or rigorous course of action - its simply something I have grown my awareness of over many years and its something I guess I've always aimed out deep down. But lately especially I have been letting go of a lot of negative patterns - addictions, negative thoughts and the like - and I guess depriving my "pain body" of the energy it needs to stay active.
And so it seems that lately my pain body was reacting to my efforts with greater intensity - like a final blast of negativity (erratic behaviours, outbursts, selfishness etc) as a desperate attempt to keep the negative cycles going. But as I lay there on the balcony I felt these energies finally subside, like a dimmer switch was turned right down. Phew! About time too.
I am really encouraged in my self-work to see that I am getting these results. No question about it, personal improvement is not a path for the faint-hearted. I feel like I've been challenged on every front by this process - physically, mentally, emotionally. Your whole being gets challenged when you decide you want to grow, to improve, and it takes guts and perseverance to get through it. But if you keep your faith through it all, and stay willing to be corrected (and God knows I have been pretty intensely stubborn at times, serving the pain body without realising it!) and stay willing to return to a loving perspective, you can make it.
I guess its a detox program for the soul!! I want to wish everyone else who may be on a similar path all the good fortune in the world. Remember to watch and listen for guidance that wants to come through, and as always
Blessed be!
Anthony
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