Tag Archive | neo-Pagan

A Homily: How Do You Know You’re Healed

May17
Empowered

Empowered Healing

The Road To Recovery

Yesterday a fellow Minister asked a question that got me thinking. “How do you personally know that you have transcended a challenging or stressful situation?”

I interpret the question of transcended to mean, when do you know you have overcome the situation where real deep healing can begin and take place? What’s the point where you can forgive, let go and move on to heal yourself from within?

I think it’s different for each person. We all go through Trials, Trauma and Grief in our own way. But the healing process or phases of healing are generally the same regardless of the challenge or situation. Whatever inspires us to move through those phases can be as varied as the number of people on the planet. Real healing isn’t a moment in time, it’s a process that can take years. but it does have an end point of sorts.

I wrote an article many years ago that goes into much greater detail about this process: Dealing With Trials & Grief: Trials, Trauma & Grief (on SpringsHaven.com) in case you’re interested.

Basically the phases can be summed up as:
Shock / Acknowledgement; Denial / Acceptance; Guilt / Depression / Anger; Forgiveness; Hope / Action and Letting Go

When you’ve lived through the struggle and found yourself out the other side, that’s when the real healing begins. How long we spend in each phase of the process is up to the individual. But it can also aide or slow down the overall healing if we rush through or dwell too long in one healing phase. Continue reading →

Merry Beltaine and Samhain

May1
Merry Bealtaine!

May Day Bouquet

It’s May Day! 

Here in the northern hemisphere it’s May Day, the official start of spring. A time to celebrate the return of the Sun and the warm days of summer. To prepare for the growing season and the celebration of the return of life.

Known as the Festival of Fire, Beltaine honors both the union of male and female, and the return of the Sun God, Bel. By the Solar Calendar, the holiday is celebrated on May 1st. But by the Lunar Calendar it’s honored on May 6th. To learn more about this holiday, visit Beltaine: The Fire Festival.

The Old Farmers Almanac has this to say about May Day:
Ancient spring rites that related human fertility to crop fertility gave birth to most modern May Day festivities. May 1 is the traditional day to crown the May queen, dance around the maypole, perform mummers’ plays, and generally celebrate the return of spring. Although our Pilgrim fathers were horrified by these reminders of a pagan past and outlawed all such activities, the maypole dance remains an enduring event. In Great Britain, the custom of “bringing in the May” involves gathering “knots,” or branches with buds, on the eve or early morning of May 1. In England, a favorite branch is hawthorn. In Scotland and Wales, people choose the rowan, or mountain ash. In North America, we often select forsythia, lilac, or pussy willow branches to bring spring and the prospect of new life into our homes.

Making a May Day basket is also one of these fairly modern traditions that can be shared by Pagan and non-Pagan alike. One of my favorite celebration items is making a May Day bouquet. These flower filled bouquets are most often in a cone shape, hold blooming flowers of your liking and hung on the front door handle.

But what about the seasonal changes in the southern hemisphere? They’re entering into fall, not spring.  Continue reading →

Issue Ordering Readings On Spring’s Haven

Apr22

paypalSPECIAL NOTICE:     04/2015

We have been notified about an issue on our Spring’s Haven pages for ordering Services.

When you order any of our services, you’re linked to PayPal’s secure transaction site. But the ordering window is adding a Shipping and Handling charge where it hadn’t been doing so before. Nor should it be doing that at all.

We’ve contacted PayPal and reported the issue. Hopefully this error will be resolved quickly!

We apologize for the inconvenience.

© Springwolfs Hanko

© 2015 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Religious Freedom vs Rights Of Conscience

Mar31
Patriotic Wolf - Artist Unknown

Patriotic Wolf – Artist Unknown

Press Release – March 31, 2015

Everyone at Spring’s Haven and Springwolf Reflections are disappointed by the recent legislation passed in Indiana. We do not embrace nor participate in any form of exclusion or intolerance.

We strongly support the ideas and concepts set forth by our Founding Fathers and echo the sentiments of President Thomas Jefferson who felt there should be a “high wall between church and state” in the support of Civil Rights of all religions. Consequently we support Virginia’s 1776 Religious Freedom law. – Religious Freedom in Virginia.

But this cannot be confused with the modern “Rights of Conscience” laws being brought forth in State Congressional Houses today. A similar law as vetoed in Arizona last year and we admire and respect the State Governor for standing up to bigotry and discrimination.  We hope the Governor of Arkansas will do the same when a similar bill comes up for confirmation. And we implore our own state of Virginia NOT to pass HOUSE BILL NO. 1414 Offered January 14, 2015.

As a spiritual organization we respect the beliefs of others, and we open our doors to all who enter in peace and compassion, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religion or sexual identity. We welcome you with open arms and friendship. Continue reading →

The First of the 2015 Equinox Holidays

Mar20

springtimeAstronomical and Meteorological Spring or Fall

In most parts of the world, we define the seasons in two ways. By the Astronomical or Meteorological dates. Astronomical seasons refer to the position of Earth’s orbit in relation to the sun taking into account equinoxes and solstices. Meteorological seasons are instead based on the annual temperature cycle and measure the meteorological state as well as coinciding with the calendar to determine a clear transition between the seasons. ~ MetOffice-UK

The Solstices and Equinoxes are considered to be the astronomical transition points between the seasons. Because they are connected to the Sun and Moon, they were important times to early Pagans.

Of course in the old days, our ancestors didn’t have the benefit of the Naval or Royal Observatories and Satellites to mark the exact second of the Equinox. They relied on Astronomical monuments, like Stonehenge as an example to tell them when the sun was nearing an equinox.

We have the benefit of technology and hundreds of years of study to help us out today.
The March equinox happens at the same moment across the world but is converted to local time. In 2015, it falls on March 20 at 6:45 P.M. EDT, 5:45 P.M. CDT, 4:45 P.M. MDT, and 3:45 P.M. PDT, for example. ~ Farmer’s Almanac Continue reading →

Happy Friday the 13th, February 2015!

Feb13

Thirteen On Springwolf ReflectionsThe 1st Black Friday Of The Year

The number ’13’ is often referred to as the number of transition/change. It is seen as constantly being at odds with the ’12’, trying to undo the completeness of that even number. People in general are resistant to change and reluctant to take on change when times are going well. But change in inevitable and constantly moves us forward, often whither we want it to or not.

For Pagans, 13 is the perfect number. It represents good luck and moving with the flow of Divine energy. Going with the flow is an important part of Pagan perspectives. Fighting against the tide is akin to fighting against change making bad situations even worse than they already are. Where as going with the flow of change brings peace and harmony. Even if you’re flowing with the tide, you are always in control of the paddle of your ship. Guide it safely forward and you’ll reap the benefits of the opportunities that cross your path.

There are a couple of articles here on Reflections that cover Friday the 13th. for those of you interested in learning more.

We hope you enjoy the first Friday the 13th for 2015. Make it a good one and it will be good to you in return.

© Springwolfs Hanko

© 2015 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Merry Imbolg and Lammas for 2015

Feb1
Morning Light

Morning Light

The Festivals of Light and Fire

It’s that time of year again. Time we Pagans honor the change of seasons and celebrate Father Sun.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere we’re moving into the first of the Spring Festivals with Imbolg, the Festival of Light.  Father Sun begins his return to warm our hearts and extend his light in our day. This first spring holiday, is linked to the return of longer and warmer days that melt the snows and bring forth the rebirth of the world. Pagans honor Imbolc, Imbolg, Brigid’s Day or the Festival of Lights as the growing seasons returns and Mother Earth begins to bloom.

In the Southern Hemisphere we’re moving into the Fall Festivals with Lammas, the Festival of Fire. Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas is the Fire Festival that honors the Celtic hero Lugh who is often seen as the patron of the Sun.

It is the first of the Pagan Harvest Festivals and the time of year to thank the Tuatha Dé Danann (the Faeries) for their help in our gardens. Bon fire dancing is common and encouraged during this festival to bring the warm of the Sun into the world of the Humans.

Those who recognize February 1st as the observed holiday, will begin their rituals on January 31st. And for some places in the world, that’s already tonight.

Everyone here at Springwolf Reflections and Spring’s Haven extend our wishes to you and yours for a wonderful and joyous celebration of the warmth. Where ever you are in the world,

May Your Season Be Blessed with Abundance and Happiness

 

© Springwolfs Hanko

© 2015 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Reflection’s Third Anniversary

Feb1
Tea Time Celebration

Tea Time Celebration

The Beauty Of Three

Welcome To Springwolf Reflections – Our 1st Post
Three years ago today I started up this little blog as a way to interact with readers of my book. We had decided to move my official author site from a generic static website to a blog where I could write and share my thoughts of the day  on a more interactive basis.

In the last week of January 2012 we set that plan to work and set off on research, design and implementation of Springwolf Reflections. That work came together and we officially rolled out with the publication of our first post on February 1st, 2012.

The change from static site to blog has allowed us to share insight, inspiration, news and discussion on a broader scale than we were able to provide on Facebook. And since then we’ve expanded our social media connections to Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, and a whole bunch of other places. You can see all our social connections below.

I’ve truly enjoyed the communication with visitors. Your comments have been thoughtful, your emails insightful and your kind words have been greatly appreciated.

If you’ve followed my blog for a little while, you may know the number 4 is my lucky and favorite number. So I’m excited we have embarked on the 4th year of Reflections. I’m excited to see what this year brings and I’m looking forward to seeing what and how it unfolds.

I’m humbled by your continual support and extend a heartfelt  Thank you for visiting. I hope you like what we have to share in the coming year. And I hope you’ll continue sharing your comments, email and posts on our social media outlets.  Continue reading →

News Release – Counseling Psychology Association

Jan28
Healing Through Compassion & Affirmation

Caring and Compassion

The IMM Counseling Psychology Association

Last year the International Metaphysical Ministry (IMM) began working on the foundation of a new organization to provide counseling guidelines, expanded and up-to-the-minute continuing education to IMM Ministerial graduates. This information can be enormously helpful to the professional coach or counselor as well as to someone seeking spiritual/metaphysical assistance. Counseling services are something all Ministers in all religions provide.

The IMM’s Counseling Psychology Association officially kicked off its organization and services January 1st, 2015 for IMM Ministers and it’s University system graduates.

The Association is a professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the spiritual counseling profession. As the majority of IMM graduates engage in some form of coaching and counseling or are planning careers to do the same in the future, these guidelines help to provide a professional framework for operation and the accessibility to continue learning and sharing with other members,

We are proud to announce the certification of Spring (Dr. Vickie Carey) in this new Association and looks forward to the expanded learning, sharing of ideas, concepts and information with other members and with you. Continue reading →

In Full Disclosure – Have Faith, Not Hope!

Jan27
OMG! Face Plant!!

Face Plant!!

Giving Credit

Last year on June 8th 2014, I posted a Homily about “Have Faith, Not Hope” – A Powerful Change In Perspective. The inspiration for the article was a video I had seen of Jim Carrey’s Commencement Address at the 2014 MUM Graduation.

I truly have become very fond of that Commencement address and especially two key sections that inspire and encourage anyone. Not only the graduates he’s speaking to.

The first was related to being contained by others. Setting your own limitations by stepping outside the limitations of others. “You can’t contain the container” he said. I love that!

The second statement is one that really impacted my perspective in life about hope. He said:
“Take a chance on faith. Not religion, but faith. Not hope, but faith. I don’t believe in hope. Hope is a beggar. Hope walks through the fire and Faith leaps over it.” ~ Jim Carrey © 2014

I was really struck by that perspective. It changed a good many things in my life. But his words were not easy for me to relate to and share with others. I wanted to be able to impart this bit of wisdom with my own students. And if I couldn’t remember it and say it well, the concept would be lost in the retelling. Continue reading →