dalai lama

Wednesday Webshare: Online Tarot, Buddhism, and Corpses

If you do divination online, or are considering it, Donyae Coles on Spiral Nature talks about the pros and cons. I agree with most of them. If I were to add anything, it’s that online readings are sometimes harder to make boundaries for. In person when a client leaves my space, it’s over essentially. Online the client can email me weeks or months later to ask more questions about the reading (not get a new reading, but ask so many questions it takes up more time than the initial reading). Even though face-to-face clients could contact me again for such things, they never do, they always book a full session.
Though there are concerns about whether or not a tarot reader is fraudulent or not, and Fiona gives a good voice to the concerns, and problems with them. She brings up something I struggle with; within the dice mo system I practice it’s not uncommon for the result to give some ritual that is to be performed. Usually I explain to the client how to do a simplified non-Buddhist version of such a ritual. Sometimes they can’t, or don’t want to, and I feel weird saying “Yeah, the divination says you need this tantric ritual performed, if you don’t know anyone who can do it, I can.”

Have a beautiful, and non-traditional rendition of the Seven Line Prayer of Guru Rinpoche.
Speaking of non-traditional things in Buddhism. For the first time Buddhist Nuns in the Vajrayana tradition are becoming Geshes. (Which is a higher degree essentially a doctorate/phd) This is a big step for the tradition. I can only say so much as a Western feminist, but there have been historical power imbalances in the tradition that this will help address. (Also, ignore the fact the article calls Kundun a living god.)

As my primary practice is chöd I have to be very familiar with the process of decay and the details of the body. I know this isn’t the only tradition that benefits from understanding different ways the body is broken down after death (hell, it’s not even the only tradition I’m a part of that requires that), so here is a video of some flesh eating beetles stripping down a snake corpse. Beautiful and fascinating.
We all know Christianity was figuratively built on paganism, but also literally. A 2000 year old pagan basilica under Rome has just been opened to the public. I would love to spend time there, it’s been undisturbed for much of its history, I wonder what the walls would say…and as a sorcerer that’s not necessarily a figure of speech.
Whether you’re new to the game, or old crown when it comes to magick, there are common mistakes we all can make, or have made. Here is a list of seven of the biggest. (I’ve made four of them, and am still dealing with one of them)
Sorry for the shorter share list than usual, it’s not lack of interesting posts, but a very busy month has led me to reading less online.

Posted by kalagni in blueflamemagick

Kundun



On Friday I woke up to an interesting encounter with one of my Yidams, and in a moment of peaceful clarity I decided to skip my courses that day and instead go see the Dalai Lama. When I went to buy my ticket I got one of the last five available, so my Yidam woke me up just in time it seems.
Originally I had decided not to see the Dalai Lama. I was unable (unwilling) to afford tickets to his Dharma teaching, where as the event I ended up going to was His Holiness as a public speaker on world peace and human rights. While he is in good health for the most part, he is still 75 so I realized I should see him now, as I may not have the chance later. Especially as he is still unsure if there will be a 15th Dalai Lama, or what the role may look like for the next incarnation.
I understand now why he is called Kundun, Presence. Even in a crowd of 15,000 people, you couldn’t help but notice him. Such a huge little man, a figure just radiating compassion, joy, and attention. He spoke on World Peace and Human Rights, and while nothing new regarding that came up for me, it really was a pleasure to hear him speak.
I’m not here to wax adoringly about Kundun. While his peace talk wasn’t my ideal circumstance to encounter him, I went for it, and enjoyed it greatly. I passed up studying Old English poetry, to hear this great man speak. It just reminded me that sometimes the best experiences are when you step out of your routine. As a person and as a magickian I have to remember to do the unexpected. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, the only way to know is to experiment and try –and that is the path of the magickian.
Also, if you ever have the chance, go see this man speak. He is worth it.

Posted by kalagni in blueflamemagick