What Matters Most?

[feranaja]

As we careen from the frenzy of the Christmas rush to the quiet, introspective times that deep winter will bring, many of us turn our minds to contemplation, to "resolutions" and to looking forward. In this spirit I am moved to ask myself, and you, what really matters most? When we talk about resolutions we often look at addressing aspects of our own lives that may be deficient or unaddressed...and the underlying thought is this: what matters most to you?

In other words, if I "resolve" to make sure I spend more time on writing, playing guitar, painting, I'm suggesting that I value my creative side deeply and need to make more time for it.

Some of the things I personally value deeply - my friends, two and four legged, my contemplative time, to name two biggies - I already do make a lot of time for. Others -such as staying well physically - I sort of grumblingly submit to - after all if you're not well physically, how on earth can you accomplish anything? I'd always rather paint, read, or train with a dog than do Pilates but hell - you dance to the music, you pay the Piper...no?


What matters most to me at this point in my life is living is such a way as to embody, and truly LIVE my spiritual beliefs. this - for me - entails phasing out all products of cruelty, and making time for prayer, working through my own inner demons as best I can, caring for my loved ones..and learning in an ongoing fashion; from nature, the divine (however it chooses to speak to me) and all my relations, human and nonhuman, the gifts are so wondrous if only we can allow ourselves to recieve them.

What matters most to me is - authenticity, love, and living what I claim to believe. In that spirit, I intend 2007 to be a year of growing awareness, commitment to change (environmental, especially) to finishing my book and to learning how to celebrate time as a gift instead of seeing it as my enemy, always thwarting me at every turn.

This means making time to jam with other musicians, to pain,t to read and to celebrate these moments given...as a gift from time.

I also hope to cook more, nurture my little group, and go hang with NuHad more often, as well as my many friends I dont see enough because - well, because I'm a friggin recluse, lol.

WHat about you>? What do you hope to emphasize in the coming year?

Seasons greetings, AF...
fera

[Kuroyagi]

Im aiming for becoming more mundane and realistic next year: Im too much in the clouds. I want to: start smoking again, getting some job and working (well, "maybe", but one needs those experiences), write less poetry and spend more time on the internet (cool, huh?)...and very important: meet more people for fun alone.

This may sound strange but it depends on where you start from...generally speaking I completely agree with your "love and authenticity". Also I must learn to cope more with others opinions and not be too judgemental, less impressionable and much much less resentful (thats very difficult to me)...even if I think something (like some very average opinion) is utterly stupid and deluded I must restrain myself more and be more tolerant (meaning also caring less...meaning also being more normal)...I have to be more realistic and materialistic...(if this sounds arrogant I want to be told!)

Good spell! Thanks for giving me the opportunity. I wish you the best with your "resolutions". :)

[m1thr0s]

eesh...2007 is going to be a pivotal year for me I think. I almost don't even want to think about it just because there is so much to be done. I think mainly I am going to be putting a lot more time into the Institute, getting Body of Light classes going and working on structuring coursework around Mutational Alchemy etc. Also health issues and personal living situation all needs to be revamped in a big way...probably at least one real book needs to come out in 2007 as well...much to do...

m1thr0s

[feranaja]

Kuroyagi you cracked me up - more time on the Internet? Start smoking? I think I love you, lol...that was refreshing and very funny. Why not watch more tv and increase junk food consumption while youre at it? I get tired of trying to be good, lets have some fun...

m1thr0s - dont worry about 2007, I have a feeling you'll be nagged and prodded incessantly until your health issues improve and you finish that book...I mean what are friends for if we dont push a little when its needed?
<insert fiendish grin here...mwa ha ha ha, and you thought I was such a nice girl>

Anyone else? Maybe we need a thread for Anti-resolutions, or how we all plan to misbehave this year??
fera

[Zifiriskenoxa]

Actualization of my world destruction plans ^_^ some personal self pleasing along the way would be nice. wouldnt you love to love that

[Kain]

Hmm...2007. Probably a pivotal year for me as well as it seems...

What matters most is my contemplation and personal practice time as I am in a "full growth" period as far as my personal practices are concerned. A very serious doorstep of sorts being currently crossed. I have given this much thought and most of the conditions of my daily life have been consciously and extensively modified throughout 2006 to directly provide for and further this aim (either by deeply redefining their particulars or cutting them off altogether). A lot of relations with people that weren't worth interraction with (according to my personal standards for what I wish to achieve, which are very high). Others that I wanted to see a lot less. A general re-organization of my weekly schedule and time. I'm pretty much embarking on a clean slate currently, assuming the appropriate position (asana) for the pursuit and resolution of a wholy redefined personal agenda and this year will prove instrumental in many ways. Urban Monasticism is closer to becoming a reality for me (at least as far as current choices can take me), and I also intend to think a lot more realistically on Monasticism proper. Travels may also take place for this...

So I guess, in short, what matters most is personal development and the fascilitation of the best possible life conditions to allow it to flurish. I need to attend to this issue optimally, not just substantially, or so my realization denotes.

Kain

[hitman777]

Well, I'm going to put my nose to the grindstone, and get my mundane life together. I'm going to go back and do things I should've done a long time ago. Basically get my life together, and take every step necessary to having a good starting off point.
Magically, I'm going to force myself along an initiatory system I've been dragging my feet on.
Oh, and I'm going to get back into working out daily.

hitman

[Logos]

Go back to school for cognitive science and get a 4.0 grade point average my first semester, which will start in the Fall.

v/s/s/v

[MythMath]

Kain,

Would the way of life of Urban Monasticism
allow you to continue to be active here at AF...?

Would it allow you to fly over
and join us at Burning Man...? :rolleyes:
___________________

[Kain]

Would the way of life of Urban Monasticism
allow you to continue to be active here at AF...?As far as it's "Urban", this wouldn't be a problem. This is actually the only place I intend to hang out or invest time in apart from keep contact with 4-5 other people in total.
Would it allow you to fly over
and join us at Burning Man...? :rolleyes: Well, you guys have to fill me in on the particulars of that I suppose. I recall talk about it being a festival conducted somewhere in the US, although that's all I know. I was doing research for India and Tibet, probably around summer, although I guess it's too early to say anything as I haven't even checked ticket prices...

Kain

[Anibis]

Well, I plan to really throw down in 2007. Like Kain and M1thr0s, I feel poised. The last ten years or so of training, education, and practice have led me to a point where I am in a position to really give something back, and lay down some serious projects. In particular there is a solo show I will be touring in the Summer, two books, at least one of which I intend to have ready for publication in 2007, and a play which I will launch in May... This is the year for me to go fully 'pro' as it were... I'm pretty excited. Power to all of your Work...
-Ibisis
P.S. there is a real possibility if I tour out to B.C., that I would come down the West Coast of the States, and make my way to Nevada for the big burn...

[Kain]

... I'm pretty excited. Power to all of your Work...Same to you my friend...awareness of Purpose is rare...

Kain

[Okazaki Castle]

what matters most to you?


Sex, not love: being good at it, becoming better at it, having lots of it, making my partners better at it (they being good to start with) and getting more of it. Same as usual really in temrs of values and desires... but I intend to focus on it more practically in 2007 because I will have more money with which to do so. The connection? Women are expensive :laugh: Yes, even if they're not whores they all want things like comforts, security, dinners, shiny things, etc...

WHat about you>? What do you hope to emphasize in the coming year?


Sex (as already covered), pussy, close connections with friends, money, cash, gold bars, houses, property, cafes of my own, being given control of the illuminati hierarchies' assets, moving to cyprus more permanently, oh and smoking more ganga...

I just bound my two pentagrams to Earth element today, after having them doing Fire element since 2003: one of them is killing the Bush-Cheney entire command structure, the other one is doing all the rest I want. The consciousness or High Magick stuff being in place now, I moved it over to Earth for 2007 and following, till I feel another elemental change is called for. How Earth element sorts all that out for me is her problem: I've got a certain history thru timie and logic/choice gates which necessitates certain motions on her part. So she's got to figure it out and do it cuz I sure as hell ain't working any more on this time. 'sides, I never do Earth element, my attitude is always get the rest in place and then say 'Get in line you GAIA bitch'...

all the best,
Oaz / Seb.

[silentjohn]

cafes of my own

Kenshin Coffee™ (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=112155736)


You know, Iieba is a great barista... :cool:

[feranaja]

Interesting responses people! Last year I was n this big rollercoaster of business goals - a lot of media work and so on - but when Luke died I was jolted back into the perception that my career is not actually the be-all and end-all of my life. I spent the last year of his precious life in a frenzy of work and self promotion - with good cause too, I might add, I'm not beating myself up as the saying goes - but I wish so deeply I'd taken a bit more downtime. As I work through sorrow and try to achieve balance I know I need creative time - if I won a lottery I'd be back at university, studying religion and art - and I MISS playing bass...so I'm also downsizing I guess to make room for my creativity, for contemplative time, and to just "be".

A book that helpd me put all this into perspective is called One Year to Live by Stephen Levine. If you only ahd one year to live, what would you do? he concludes, quite resonably I think, that we should try to live that way all the time. This forced me into a close examination fo the tension between my material needs - like most of us, I need money, lol - and the deeper callings of the soul (art, spiritual study, time with nature and my dogs and friends)...It's such a juggling act (right Ibis?) BUt, it can be done...looks like most of us here are trying to walk this line, too...
fera

[Anibis]

It's such a juggling act (right Ibis?) BUt, it can be done...looks like most of us here are trying to walk this line, too...
fera

That it is, but it can be done indeed... My main focus has been to pull together a career which resonates with my spiritual practices... It's happening... slowly, but surely...
Success to you;

-Ibisis-

[feranaja]

That it is, but it can be done indeed... My main focus has been to pull together a career which resonates with my spiritual practices... It's happening... slowly, but surely...
Success to you;

-Ibisis-

Thank you - thats exactly how I started doing what I do; I love dogs, I KNOW dogs, I grew up working with my veterinarian father, and Ive studied nutrition and herbalism for over 20 years. It all came together first, in TTouch- and then expanded... its spiritual for me on so many levels.

But then, the rapidly spinning wheel of business life started to take over the gentler, more spiritually focused aspects and this is what I'm re-connecting with now...to be able to succeed and make enough to buy my land, keep my animals in veterinary care and good quality food - and still, not drive myself so so hard...its a challenge..

All the best on your own path too, and everyone here..I do think "slowly" is the key word here, we tend to rush so much, don't we...
fera

[Talkingfox]

I can really identify with the folks who posted addressing the need for a harmonious spiritual/professional life.

Whew...a rough one that, given the climate of contemporary society at large. That's my focus this year. Again.

I'm also going to allow more time to make music...a thing that has been sorely lacking in the last few years.

I will prioritize my tasks better. Does it really matter if I have dust bunnies in the grand scheme of things? (I'm a Virgo if that explains it)

The biggie of the year for me is to learn to function at the speed and focus that I do under a deadline without having to have the added pressure of one. Caffeine and adrenaline, anyone? :eek:

[Kain]

The biggie of the year for me is to learn to function at the speed and focus that I do under a deadline without having to have the added pressure of one. Caffeine and adrenaline, anyone? :eek:Heh, that's how my life has been for years...funny, from a point onward, you don't even notice it. I feel like I'm racing with time every minute that goes by... :o_O:

Still, it pays off, that I guarantee. Success is certain for the fields you deeply prioritize, to an extent at least, and Perseverance Furthers as the I Ching says...

Kain

[Talkingfox]

I'm mostly there too Kain...but my goal is to have it on MY terms, not one imposed by someone else.

I produce like crazy anyways, but my best work seems to come under those external deadlines. I need to change that in a big way.

[Kain]

I'm mostly there too Kain...but my goal is to have it on MY terms, not one imposed by someone else.

I produce like crazy anyways, but my best work seems to come under those external deadlines. I need to change that in a big way.I see and very much understand the situation you describe Talkingfox...maintaining that production rate and quality of work while changing the terms pertaining to the deal itself is the difficult thing to achieve, and also the best really.

Kain

[feranaja]

I've been reading a lot lately about the Benedictine Order - the Rule of St. Benedict, and how his monks and nuns all work within an understanding that there is plenty of time every day for work, study, prayer and so on...it totally intrigues me because I NEVER have enough time and I should have...to meditate, work, and do so in a measured, stressfree way, what an ideal. Is it doable?

Although I'm not going to covert to Catholicism I admire this orderly way of life and I want to change my relationship to time., to experience life as a gift, to be able to garden, paint, read and still have success in my very demanding career. You can add my name to the list fo people who suddenly goes berserk and worls for a week straight to get things done that oculd have been tackled more methodically over many weeks, but I need that pot of coffee and internal/external pressure.

Any practical ideas? Is it all just as simple as discipline?
fera

[Lucian]

what matters most to you?
WHat about you>? What do you hope to emphasize in the coming year?

This year is going to be a year of turning points for me, as well. Many, many changes will be made. It's going to be intense and filled with darkness - but a good kind of darkness. My kind.

I am not living as the person I really am. I'm not living up to my full potential. So that is my greatest goal for 2007. Learning to live and be who I really am.

This includes things like self empowerment and working to be more self reliant, more disciplined study of the Left-Hand Path and practical application of its principles - especially antinomianism. I'm also going to finally dedicate more time to working magic, rather than just reading about it.

Money will become more important to me this year - which means I'll find a better job, probably move into my own apartment, buy healthier foods, wear nicer clothes, and take better care of myself in general. And - this is going to sound odd - but I'm going to let myself be pretty. No more resenting it and trying to downplay it. I'm going to be kinder with myself in that respect. I need to be more comfortable with me.

I was once a very artistic person, and I'm going to get back to that. I'm going to start writing stories again, and painting. I'm even going to let people read what I write. *gasp!*

By doing all of this I will be making my family very happy, and that is also important to me.

At some point in 2007 I might even take a huge leap and move to Seattle, Washington. I have a friend there who is a fantastic cook, has an adorable dalmation dog, and someone told me it rains a lot in Seattle. I like the rain.

It will be quite the year.

[feranaja]

Money will become more important to me this year - which means I'll find a better job, probably move into my own apartment, buy healthier foods, wear nicer clothes, and take better care of myself in general. And - this is going to sound odd - but I'm going to let myself be pretty. No more resenting it and trying to downplay it. I'm going to be kinder with myself in that respect. I need to be more comfortable with me.

I was once a very artistic person, and I'm going to get back to that. I'm going to start writing stories again, and painting. I'm even going to let people read what I write. *gasp!*




Lucian, I am SO happy to hear this. We live in a culture that often vilifies the Venusian woman,at the same time it pressures every woman to be that - its unfair and sets up a false conflict between women who should be friends and sisters. And lets not forget that Her qualities are so great. When a woman is beautiful she can be hit on too much, seen as vain or disliked by jeaous types - it takes guts to be who you are if that includes the Venusian! Your real friends will see your external beauty as a mirror of your soul - and love you for it. The rest have issues to work out. Be powerful! I love that you said this.

And I look forward to your wriitngs - never let ANYONE suggest that because you're a Venusian woman you can't be brilliant, artistic, deep - that's one way the Greyfaces get to us! You go girl!

You know I believe Venus resides in all women, but it's a matter of A) calling and B) choice how we respond. I would love to go shopping with you, then have lunch and sit around talking about art amd magick while the stunned observers thought we were going on about our manicures. To hell with stereotypes! TF, Yset - Naomi Tisha Sybille - you ladies in on this? An AF power lunch?

And if you move in with a dalmation? I'm here for you.:laugh:

A great, balanced and empowered list of goals. I'll be here to nag if you backslide.
fera

[Talkingfox]

L

To hell with stereotypes! TF, Yset - Naomi Tisha Sybille - you ladies in on this? An AF power lunch?


All over that!

[Kain]

I've been reading a lot lately about the Benedictine Order - the Rule of St. Benedict, and how his monks and nuns all work within an understanding that there is plenty of time every day for work, study, prayer and so on...it totally intrigues me because I NEVER have enough time and I should have...to meditate, work, and do so in a measured, stressfree way, what an ideal. Is it doable?

Although I'm not going to covert to Catholicism I admire this orderly way of life and I want to change my relationship to time., to experience life as a gift, to be able to garden, paint, read and still have success in my very demanding career. You can add my name to the list fo people who suddenly goes berserk and worls for a week straight to get things done that oculd have been tackled more methodically over many weeks, but I need that pot of coffee and internal/external pressure.

Any practical ideas? Is it all just as simple as discipline?
feraWell fera, I'd say that, from my point of view at least, it is about 80-90% discipline and conscious prioritizing and 20-10% external factors. This is due to the fact that most people's long term aspirations and daily choices when met with practical descisions differ so greatly. The truth however, is that those goals, keeping outside of this argument those few cases where daily survival depends upon certain choices, are in fact a lot closer to accomplishment than we often have ourselves believe, them being a lot less "dreams" but rather things we'd "like" to do but in fact simply do not *choose* to do in most cases.

Such a lifestyle is indeed doable I think as long as you stay sharp and attend to your original priorities without letting daily life choices getting to you, in fact having even the most trivial and simple of daily choices lead you in some way closer to the accomplishment of that aim, never losing conscious track of it. It can be hard, especially at first, although it comes down to seriousness of purpose and perseverance in the end I think. It also presupposes a certain retraction from the "manifest" aspect of life, as one cannot expect to be able to track both extensive carreer decisions and personal inner development to their very fullest simultaneously, at least not in many cases. So a conscious compartmentalization should take place at each individual's case, dividing the two compartments in the most beneficial ratio possible for one's situation and aspirations. It goes without saying, that such a compartmentalization should be then followed "religiously" in daily life, it being the practical map and time/decision organizer for the fascilitation of that person's said aspirations.

Kain

[feranaja]

What a party that would be...you know it just bugs me the way societal "mores" tell us we HAVE to be sexy...then feminism tells us we cant be - blah! We're much more diverse than that - I'm so into choices instead of pressures.
and conformity
My own mother was a stunner who looked like Liz Taylor and was pressured into ending her possibly briilliant musical career to bag a husband. Now my generation and moreso, Lucian's are all supposed to be guilty about being Venusian (a bigger word for me than pretty etc) and if a woman IS conventionally sexy, she has to be a Paris Hilton idiot type? Meh...we can have it all and on our own terms too.

Ok sermon over I'm going back to dogs...fera

[Radiant Star]

Maybe we need a thread for Anti-resolutions, or how we all plan to misbehave this year?

Yeah, that is exactly where my mind was going...
... and with that in mind, I think I am looking forward to 2007 after all :mlaugh:

[Lucian]

Lucian, I am SO happy to hear this. We live in a culture that often vilifies the Venusian woman,at the same time it pressures every woman to be that - its unfair and sets up a false conflict between women who should be friends and sisters.

There does seem to be a weird sort of lust/hate thing going on in this society. I've even come across men who absolutely despise beautiful women because of all these hideous assumptions they make about their personalities.

Obviously a beautiful woman can't have much for a personality and just wants to rob men of all assets.:rolleyes:


And if you move in with a dalmation? I'm here for you.:laugh:

Molly's so funny. She's this dainty, demure little thing, and there is no questioning that she is the true love of Kevin's life and the lady of the house. It's pretty cute. They're a good couple. lol

[Ratatosk]

the Rule of St. Benedict, and how his monks and nuns all work within an understanding that there is plenty of time every day for work, study, prayer and so on...Wow - it sounds like maybe they really have it together - or they have discovered the secret I am looking for - how to operate on 3-4 hours of sleep without damaging my health and/or sanity.

Trust me, as soon as I figure it out I will have at least enough time in the day to post a how-to. http://www.evardsson.com/sqicons/sqlaugh.gif

With that said my New Year's Resolution is not to make any resolutions!

DOH! I guess I already blew that one!http://www.evardsson.com/sqicons/sqhuh.gif

[feranaja]

lol...I like a lot about the benedictines, I just cant accept JC as my saviour. I like the whole monastic disciplinary thing a lot, I've been reading Cloister Walk and its fascinating stuff, I'd like to apply it to my own spiritual path; the daily meditations, yoga etc plus work plus community activities (Im a hermit). BUt - thats sounding a lot like more self improvement and THIS year, I'd like to resolve simply to have a better time. I self improve compulsivley as it is; I resolve to eat more Thai food, try to sleep more, DANCE, and run up huge phone bills on a regualr basis. I might even start another rock band.
hehehehe...

[Talkingfox]

I resolve to behave myself.....yuppers, I'm gonna behave EXACTLY like myself.