Pneumatised!

MM,

I’ve been busy since last Thurday, but I managed to get in a run on Monday afternoon before teaching reiki. It felt good to run again, even though it was a tad hard since the last time I ran was in November. I’ve done some cardio at the gym on the bicycle since November, but running is slightly different. I ran half a mile to the bank, and then did a short errand. Then ran one mile home. My time was a little slow, but that’s to be expected. Hopefully, my speed will increase again.

I didn’t get into the do jang last week like I hoped, but I will tomorrow. I promised myself, and I need to be teaching more often. With everything at WCC, it’s been hard to go in and teach taekwondo regularly. Perhaps though, it would help relieve some stress and tension. Plus, I do feel bad that my taekwondo Master has been trying to get me in more often. He recently opened a do jang in Barrie. Thus, he needs more help in this do jang now. Well, at least there’s motivation for me to go. I really don’t mind teaching, but it helps to know if people appreciate it.

BB,
Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

I had a private group ritual last week. We celebrated Beltane. I was asked to Priestess it – I didn’t write it, but was happy to Priestess it. I was thinking recently that I needed to Priestess more rituals that I didn’t write to get more experience. Otherwise, I wouldn’t get enough experience if I was Priestess for only the rituals I wrote. It was an honour to be asked of course, and it should always be. We were making clay figures of things we wanted to work on in the home. I was having trouble deciding what to work on, and realistically, I just need a bigger place. I ended up making something to represent a yacht. Hey, why not aim big? Well, it looks more like a boat with a mast, but it’s the intent that counts more. I put me and my better half on it, and of course, my three kittens. Since I had some clay leftover, I also made a mini-cauldron. I need one. It would help with some ritual work. Since it was also a Beltane ritual and we were playing with what the Priest that night kept calling “essentially Play-do”, a little silliness was to be expected. Yes, we got a little silly while working on our clay. 😉

Sunday public ritual was an air related ritual. We ended having to move our ritual location because of some people playing soccer in our normal location. A pity, but it is a public park, and I was told that they appear to be the same people as last year in the park who didn’t want to be nice and move. Thus, there was no point in asking. Besides, presiding Priesthood seemed fine with moving the ritual location because we moved to a cliff area overlooking the riverbed – definitely more appropriate for working with the element air. As it was a small group that night, it was fairly easy to move everyone and to get them back down the hill afterwards. Unfortunately, anyone who showed up really late would have missed ritual. We had someone run back down to the normal location to look for any latecomers and bring them up, but we couldn’t rightly have them run back and forth all night. Moving the ritual to an alternate location was probably good for me as it requires me to get to know the park a little better. I’m finding that being outdoors as Summoner gives me a real connection with nature. I’ve participated in rituals at the park before, but even then you are surrounded by other people and you don’t quite feel alone with nature. The Summoner is often alone and that makes a difference.

BB,
Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

I went to the do jang this past Saturday for a black belt meeting. Afterwards, I practiced some patterns and the one-step sparring techniques. It’s been a while. I’ve been missing the do jang. The past two weeks have been one thing after another. Last week, I was a little tired and stressed so I was at home pretty much absorbing myself in something relaxing and amusing. In any case, I have to go in this week. Maybe I can get in the do jang later tonight (class is at 7), and I promised to go in tomorrow. Probably would be good for me. It helps with the stress.

Lately though, it seems that Monday and Tuesday are my weekend days. Sunday nights are so busy and sometimes crazy, I like to have Monday to relax. Good thing I have a flexible schedule. Nice to not have to work for someone. Then on Tuesdays, I can try to get things organized in my head again. LOL Okay, back to organizing my thoughts. Hoping, hoping to get in the do jang tonight if I can.

BB,
Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

Last chance to register for this course in May.

REIKI LEVEL ONE (SHODEN)
Two days, twelve hours
Saturday, May 5, 2007
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(one-hour lunch break at 1 p.m.)
Monday, May 7, 2007
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Please see http://www.brigidsflame.com/reikicourses.html for course description and contact information. You will need to contact me for fees and location (located near Yonge and Bloor).

Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

I ended up writing and performing the last ritual for my group. Two of our members were moving away, so I wrote a little ritual for them. It involved giving them some tokens as blessings to take with them, as well as talking about how we met them or what we remember most about them (fun!)

The ritual for the women’s group was a dedication ritual for a wonderful woman. I love watching the dedication ritual – almost want another one myself! Ah, I just have to get a hold of the ritual so I can read over the meditation again. I just think it’s a great reminder of why I got dedicated to the gods to begin with.

Public ritual on April 22 was the “Ceremony of the Magical Eucharist” by the OTA as mentioned in my previous post. The ritual format was significantly different than Wiccan rituals, but some aspects were the same. If you know your history of Wicca, you will recall that Gerald Gardner based many of his rituals on the Golden Dawn and other ceremonial magical traditions. The bare essentials of opening, purifying, consecrating, and then closing ritual space was done. This was done using the OTA methods, which are based on the Solomonic and Golden Dawn Tradition. The following ritual outline, which the OTA calls a “ritual precis”, was handed out that night to inform people of what to expect (I’ve highlighted in bold the main part of the ritual):

Preliminary Preparations
OTA Standard Temple opening on the Outer Plane:

• Proclamation and Traditional Questions
• Qabalistic Cross Ritual
• Lighting of the Quarters
• Rite of Preparation
• Rite of Purification and Consecration
• Lesser Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram

Declaration
Statement of Ritual Intention
Celebration of the Magical Eucharist
OTA Standard Temple Closing on the Outer Plane
Declaration

I note that they had a specific method and order in which they perform each section of the ritual. The “Qabalistic Cross Ritual” and the “Lighting of the Quarters” was particularly interesting. The ceremony of that alone is worth researching into. The “Rite of Purification and Consecration” was fairly close to the Wiccan standard purification and consecration. Involves essentially bringing the elemental tools around the circle intending that the sacred space be purified. Consecration was done after that in the east quarter. The “Lesser Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram” comes from the Golden Dawn, and a comparison with the Golden Dawn could be made. The main part of the ritual included sharing the wine in the chalice. Overall, it was quite interesting to watch. It reminds me that I have to get a copy of the Golden Dawn book published by Llewellyn.

Public Beltane was this past Sunday (although Beltane is officially today, May 1st). It being one of the more popular sabbats (the most popular undoubtedly being Samhain) attracted more people to come to the ritual in the park. It was a good crowd. Unfortunately, Beltane is also the sabbat where afterwards people tend to get a little more silly, a little more rowdy, and occasionally a little easier to upset. What’s a party if you don’t have to stop an argument/fight from happening? Ah well, that’s what the Summoner is for, and that’s what I had to do. Glad I had some help though. It’s hard to stop a bull charging (not literally, of course) much less hold one down. I suppose I’m not surprised that happened. My whole Sunday was a really bad day – things kept going wrong right from when I woke up. I decided I must have a Beltane curse because I’ve never had a great one. I think I must avoid Beltane at all costs unless I absolutely have to be there. It must be a side effect of having a patron goddess who is associated with Samhain (the sabbat directly opposite to Beltane). Beltane is just not her time, and she must have been flying around all night (it was a beautiful night, waxing moon out) screeching and wrecking havoc. *chuckle* I think she’s calmed down now though.

Anyway, that was my first full night as Summoner in the park. It’s always Beltane that’s the first night out (unless it rains, and then you’re a lucky Summoner). Hopefully, the rest of the rituals in the park will be much easier. It really is only on Beltane that people stay around to celebrate after the ritual (though technically the celebration is part of the Beltane ritual). Okay, knocking on wood with my fingers crossed. Only two sabbats left that will be out in the park and the rest are regular ritual nights. In another month or so, I will have to start looking for the next Summoner to succeed me. *sigh* The final decision lies with Priesthood, but I still have to provide a list of candidates.

BB,
Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

This is an update to let people know of the change in date for the Reiki Two course. Please see the information below:

LEVEL TWO (OKUDEN)
Saturday, June 9, 2007
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(one-hour lunch break at 1 p.m.)
Saturday, June 16, 2007
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(one-hour lunch break at 1 p.m.)

The Level One course dates remain the same as stated in my previous post. For course descriptions and other related services, see “Reiki Courses and Other Services” on my website. Contact information can be found there.

Cassandrah
Reiki Shihan/Teacher
Brigid’s Flame

Public ritual on the 8th was about organ donation. If you plan to be an organ donor upon your death, you should discuss this with you family members so they understand your wish. Otherwise, the law states that the family decides what to do with your remains.

Public ritual on the 15th was a ritual about the community again. This time we made a community chain. Everyone was given a link in the chain and then were required to attach it to another link until every piece was linked together. A rather lovely ritual.

This week we’re having guest Priesthood perform a ritual. It will be the “Ceremony of the Magical Eucharist” by the Order of the Temple of Archallem (OTA). “Eucharist” means “gratitude” and “thanksgiving”, so I’m guessing that is the theme of the ritual. It will be interesting to compare this ritual with what we normally do in Wicca. I will have to take mental notes.

BB,
Cassandrah

Monday, April 9, 2007

I ran to the gym.

COMPLETE LIST OF WEIGHT TRAINING EXERCISES:
Machine/apparatus Exercises:
Pull-ups/chin-ups
-overhand (palms facing front)
-underhand (palms facing back) (I did the biceps curls and the seated row before doing this one, the biceps were already suitably worked out!)
-parallel (palms facing towards each other)
Dips (same apparatus as for the chin-ups)
Weighted squat machine
Leg press
Hamstring flexor/seated leg curls
Hamstring flexor (lying down)
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Seated row
Seated chest press
Lateral pull-downs
Pectoral fly (sometimes done using free weights)
Reverse pectoral fly (not sure exactly what this is called, it works the rhomboids in between the scapulae/shoulder blades)
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift/press
Back extensor
Bicep curls (usually done using free weights now)
Tricep extensor (the dips do a good job of working the triceps, plus a special kind of push-up that I learned from taekwondo)
Leg lifts (I hate the new apparatus for this; might start doing these on a bench or the floor instead)

Free weights:
Two additional shoulder exercises
– lift weight in front using shoulder muscles
– bending at waist lift weight out to the side using muscles along the scapulae (this is the same as the machine that works in reverse of the pectoral fly)
– wrist strengthening

Other exercises:
Pushups
Situps
Cycling
Elliptical

After I left the gym, I picked up some household stuff and then ran home. It’s always so much harder running with a few extra pounds to carry.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

I went to the do jang. It was a good class. We did some relay exercises mixed with kicking drills. These are good anaerobic exercise mixed with some cardio. After the class, we did sit-ups, side sit-ups, back ups (lie on the stomach, hold arms out over head, keeping lower body on floor, lift the top half of the body off the floor, this works the back muscles) and leg lifts.

I went to the gym after the do jang.

COMPLETE LIST OF WEIGHT TRAINING EXERCISES:
Machine/apparatus Exercises:
Pull-ups/chin-ups
-overhand (palms facing front)
-underhand (palms facing back)
-parallel (palms facing towards each other)
Dips (same apparatus as for the chin-ups)
Weighted squat machine
Leg press
Hamstring flexor/seated leg curls
Hamstring flexor (lying down)
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Seated row
Seated chest press
Lateral pull-downs
Pectoral fly (sometimes done using free weights)
Reverse pectoral fly (not sure exactly what this is called, it works the rhomboids in between the scapulae/shoulder blades)
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift/press
Back extensor (did a similar exercise in taekwondo class that helps strengthen the back muscles)
Bicep curls (usually done using free weights now)
Tricep extensor (the dips do a good job of working the triceps, plus a special kind of push-up that I learned from taekwondo)
Leg lifts (I hate the new apparatus for this; might start doing these on a bench or the floor instead)

Free weights:
Two additional shoulder exercises
– lift weight in front using shoulder muscles
– bending at waist lift weight out to the side using muscles along the scapulae (this is the same as the machine that works in reverse of the pectoral fly)
– wrist strengthening
dead lift
clean and press/clean and jerk

Other exercises:
Pushups
Situps
Cycling
Elliptical

I also tried out a machine that allows you to do the a twisting exercise with weights. This works out the obliques (your side muscles) and supposedly the obliques are a set of muscles that contribute to overall practical body functionality.

Now, for those who have seen 300 and are wondering how the actors got into shape, check out this article at Gym Jones.

Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

On occasion, I like to browse the used book stores to see what I can find. Yesterday, I picked up Tae Kwon Do: The Korean Martial Art by Richard Chun.

Originally published in 1976, just when taekwondo was becoming a popular sport, this book remains to this day a comprehensive manual of taekwondo. The only thing missing are the newer colour belt patterns (called “taeguk”) and the black belt patterns, but there are plenty of Kukkiwon sanctioned books containing those.

Some people may think that a book published over thirty years ago would be outdated for a martial art. In fact, not at all. This book was written as an attempt to retain the original training and teaching of taekwondo before it became “just a sport” (as some naysayers like to describe it) with flashy kicks. (There is nothing wrong with the sport aspect of taekwondo, it still builds fast reflexes, and I respect many of the competitors; however, the danger is the martial art may diminish into only a sport and we lose much of what should be taught still.)

As a colour belt, I was privileged to have studied at a school that retained much of the original training and teaching of taekwondo (kicking and hand strikes). While flipping through this book (which is all I’ve had time to do so far), I was astounded at how many of the techniques and exercises I was familiar with. I was also happy to discover other things that I was never taught.

Taekwondo is the “art of kicking and punching”, which lately has been diminished to the art of kicking with the occasional hand blocks. This book shows that there is much more to taekwondo besides the kicks. There is a chapter dedicated to “hand, arm, and head attacking techniques”, followed by “blocking techniques” (which also includes a knee block), then “kicking techniques”. There is also a chapter on “advanced positions and combinations”, and of course “sparring techniques”. Additionally, the book includes “self-defense techniques”, which includes sections on falls, throws, and ground defense. As mentioned, the forms in the book are the old palgwe patterns, which is great in my opinion. I’ve been wanting a good book on the old patterns, now I have it.

This book is a must-have for taekwondo students. It is especially important for those students who are interested in learning the full art of taekwondo. For those who think taekwondo is all about the kicks, get a copy of this book (available on amazon.com) – it will prove you wrong.

Richard Chun was an 8th dan when he wrote this book. He is a 9th dan Grandmaster now, and is still teaching taekwondo in the United States.