Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Last Threads


I know that it is different in other parts of the country, but I feel a wee bit like we are hanging onto the last thin threads of summer here in Saskatchewan. The radio announcer actually sounded delighted when she told us this morning that it was going to be a whopping 21 degrees C on Saturday. Mind you today and for the rest of the week we are in the mid to upper mid teens in temperature, so I guess the excitement is warranted.

Sheesh. I don't like to complain, but those three whole days of summer temperatures that we had numerous weeks ago were just not enough! I heard a joke a few weeks ago:

There is this guy who dies and is in line at the Pearly Gates. He notices Satan grabbing people from the lineup and taking them over to another line. There, Satan throws some of them into the fires of Hell and tosses the others into another line. So this guy tip toes over to Satan and gently taps him on the shoulder. Satan bellows, "Whaaaaaat???!!!" The man says, "Excuse me, Mr. Satan, sir, I was just wondering why it is that some go into the fire and some do not?" Satan replies, "Those ones are ready for the fire. The others are too damn wet....they are from Saskatchewan!"

It has been wet here. So much so that our potatoes and tomatoes have developed Blight, which is a fungus that eats the plants and rots the fruit. So we picked the potatoes that we could and the tomatoes that we could and bagged the rest and put them into the garbage so the Blight doesn't spread. What a waste of time and energy in planting and nourishing a vegetable garden. At least the flowers are not too damaged. We can, that way, have some time to appreciate some of the beauty of nature, even if we have to do it with our rain coats and parkas on!

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Need for Speed


I find that Go Karting is a perfect way to release one's need for speed. In fact, I think that I now have both my daughters hooked on it. Considering that one of them is learning how to drive in the fall, I hope that this won't be a problem later on! I do find that when I get off the go kart and get behind the wheel of the car there is a definite adjustment period. It is lessening as I go. The first time I wanted to race everyone on the street! Now I get over it if I walk around a wee little bit and then get in to drive. I let it all go and the adrenaline rush is done by the time I leave the parking lot.

Last weekend my niece, my Love and I took her son and our daughters to the go kart track. I discovered that it is just as much fun to cheer them on as it is to race. I also had to laugh at some of their expressions in response to my cheering and hip hop moves on the bleachers. I figure that if I mortify them often enough I will then be able to feel good about paying for therapy later on in their lives!

Seriously though, it has taken 14 years for me to introduce them to speed. Have you noticed the little yellow kart in the upper right side of the photo? Ya....about 4 years old. What is that kid's parent thinking????!! I mean, I know that I am an enthusiast, but really!

I think that it is the desire for most of mankind to go farther and faster. This is in sharp contrast to the need to slow down and take it easy. The key here is to know when to do which one. I would, for example, never go kart in the evening. That would give me a rush that would keep me awake all night. I would also not just sit around "om"ing early in the morning. That is my active time. It is important to get to know your own rhythm and to adjust it where it needs adjusting. I have worked in jobs where I have needed to go like crazy in the evenings. This completely threw off my personal rhythm. I quit the jobs. When we are in relationships that demand that we perform at a time of day that we are not naturally able to, then we are compromising our personal well-being for the relationship, which will, over time, destroy the very relationship that we are wanting to preserve. Relationships are not always about the need for speed. Sometimes they are about the need to relax and enjoy. Even in passionate connections, we need to be able to relax with it a savour every moment of it, not rush through it like it is the Indy 500. Get to know your rhythm, but also get to know your partner's rhythm.....without judgement or condemnation. Respond to it with love and understanding and you will find that your relationship will grow deeper and more loving than you ever thought possible.

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Monday, August 23, 2010

Every Step You Take


Only the most sexually secure man can allow his toe nails to be painted. Enough said about that....now I just have to mention that we are not alone....by this I am not referring to all "metro sexual males", but to all people. Every step that we take and every move we make (sounding like a song from the 80's here) is observed. It is not at all like the stalker syndrome that the song seems to be depicting. It is more about the natural forces of the universe.

We, as humans, seem to think that when we are alone we are actually alone. I know that I am not alone in my back yard, even if I am the only "person" there. I have the fairy realm beings and the plant kingdom and the animal kingdom there with me all the time. My yard and garden have a consciousness that far exceeds just people. I try to step gently upon it all and leave as little a carbon print as possible in general. I have a huge respect for nature. That is why I am so fortunate to be able to have my postage stamp piece of it to live in and for which to care. I feel honored that the yard and garden respond so well to my care and that they give back to me so much in terms of food, beauty and serenity.

For those of you who are just awakening, or who have been awakened for some time and are just living in an apartments or some place that is a little removed from nature, I encourage you to get out into a park and sit, walk, and commune. Take your lunch out there because the food always tastes better with the fresh air. Walk barefoot in the grass, even if it is wet with rain or dew, and thoroughly enjoy the sensuality of it. The experience will ground you, uplift you, nourish you and feed your soul.

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Easy to Love


Someone once said to me that it is "easy to say we love and harder to demonstrate it every day". I agree entirely. Sometimes we don't realize that we are not demonstrating love. Sometimes we take love for granted. I have been in loveless relationships and, let me tell you, it is hell. But when we allow ourselves to open our hearts to receive love, we also allow ourselves to open our hearts to express love.

One of the best ways of doing this that I have found is to be around children. I cannot ever remember a time that I have not shown affection to a child. I may have had a horrible day, but as soon as I see a child, mine or anyone else's, my heart opens up and I want to squish and kiss them. Children need affection and physical contact. I am not talking about sexual contact. I am talking about hugs and kisses and cuddles. My child walks buy and I want to hug her. Someone else's child walks buy and I have to stroke their hair. I guess I am a touchy feely person after all. This is in stark contrast to the non-affectionate family in which I grew up. Public displays of affection were frowned upon on a daily basis, except with my mother, but even then she was, shall I say, limited in how and when. I am glad that I am not like that. Kids know I love them. It doesn't matter what age or gender, they simply know because I am hugging them, kissing them, cuddling them. And they lap that up. Too many kids these days are starving for affection and physical contact. No wonder we end up with young adults who get into all sorts of scenarios that are unhealthy because of a lack of physical affection in their formative years and beyond! Those who have healthy loving relationships don't tend to get so screwed up! It is simple.

I sometimes find it insane that society has put limitations of affection in places like schools. Kids in day cares and kindergarten are scolded if they hug or kiss another child. WTF????!!!!! That is retarded! I have a perfect recipe for the creation of a sex addict.....STARVE THEM OF AFFECTION AS A CHILD! Nope, I am not a sex addict, so let's not go there. I am saying that it is human nature to want physical affection. When we starve a child of physical affection we create an extreme imbalance in later years and it usually comes out in some sexual addiction. The sexual addiction is different that a personal "kink", so to speak. The addiction will consume you. The kink will pleasure you.

So hug your kids, for the love of God! Show them you love them. Don't just say it, SHOW it. Don't worry about how old he or she is, just demonstrate your love and it will all be okay.

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Magic and Technology


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C. Clarke.

As a friend of mine once said, "Science is the magic that we do understand and magic is the science that we don't yet understand." I find it amazing how people get so hung up on "technology" and "science" when what they are actually looking for is what is familiar. If something is in their comfort zone, then it is completely okay for anyone to use it or do it. Imagine what people would have thought in the 1940's if they saw folks crossing the street and talking to themselves as they chatted on their cell phones, or driving down the street talking to themselves on their bluetooths. Oh, and try even just warming something up in the microwave. What about what people would have thought of even the care instruction labels on the inside of clothing back in the dark ages! Those would have been sufficient evidence for someone to be burned as a witch!

Technology is there to help create convenience in our society. It is also beginning to finally be used to create healing. Yet the fact that it is "commonplace" does not negate the miracle that it is, for example, to someone from a third world country. We think that we have it made because of all the technological conveniences that we have. But what if, for example, there was a global disaster and suddenly all electricity was wiped out? Where would we be without lights and heat? We would also be without water because the water doesn't just come out of a tap when we turn it on, it also has to be processed through the water treatment plant which....wait for it.....here it comes.....is RUN WITH ELECTRICITY! Well, that would be okay because we could light candles. My question is, with what do we light them? Most people utilize butane lighters instead of wooden matches. Are your lighters full and stocked up? Are your wooden matches? Where do you think you would get them if they weren't and there was no electricity? The corner store? Nope. In a jungle in a third world country they would not even notice that the electricity is gone. It is not a part of the daily magic. They are much more self-sufficient than we are.

So technology can been seen as magic. But what about when magic can be seen as technology? I grow some herbs in my garden. These herbs can be used to heal. How I use them and what I use them for could be considered "folk remedies" or "magic". Some would "poo hoo" all of that, but it is this technology upon which the synthetic drugs that are promoted in commercials are based. What about when dream walking is used by someone to help someone else to heal? This would be definitely considered magical, yet it is some of this technology that is the basis of covert military operations. How better to control your political enemies than to mess with their minds?

I prefer to keep all the magic on a positive note and utilize it for the highest good of all, and according to the free will of all. That way no harm is done and healing can happen. There are some who make up all sorts of reasons and excuses as to why they can bend the rules this one time. I think that before one acts one needs to definitely contemplate all the ramifications and find the action that will match with the positive outcome, not just match one's personal desires.

So I guess that my invitation to all who practice magic in the traditional sense or in the technological sense is this...think long and hard before you act. And always remember the fact that the world is filled with insta-karma!

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Dragonfly Medicine


"Medicine" is a term we shamans use for anything that connects us closer in our relationship with Spirit. Some of those things include plants, stones, animals, birds and insects. This golden dragonfly was nestled on one of the leaves of my sunflowers in my garden.

I always feel honoured when Dragonfly is around. First because I know that they eat the multitudes of mosquitoes that swarm anyone as soon as the back door is opened. But I have also always, since I can remember, had a special relationship with Dragonfly. I love what it feels like whenever one lands on me. The other day there was a HUGE one that landed on my leg! I was wearing shorts and when it landed I immediately stopped what I was doing (drilling lattice work onto my garage wall) and just watched it, silently welcoming it into my energy field. It was indigo and purple in color and about 4-5 inches in length. Suddenly it saw something that looked like lunch and off it went.

Dragonflies remind me to not get too caught up in the illusions around me. Sometimes those illusions are of my own making but most often they come in the unspoken expectations of others. So often we bend ourselves to meet the needs of those around us when what we really need to do is honour our own paths and see to it that our own needs become fulfilled. We can't always be expected to serve those around us, especially when they need to learn to fend for themselves. People have a habit that I don't like much. That is the habit of convincing others or tricking others or manipulating others into doing what they themselves are perfectly capable of doing if they weren't so flippin' lazy! All sorts of illusions come into play when they play these games. Dragonfly always helps me to see clearly through all of these illusions. Thank you Dragonfly!

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Portal Portraits


What the heck is a "Portal Portrait"???? Well, now that you ask, it is a new form of shamanic art that I am creating. Actually, the concept is eons old. But the fact that I have mastered it is new! You may remember my writing about the Spirit Energy Portraits. These are different. You may notice that there is a crow/raven in this one. Portal portraits don't always have spirit animals in them. In fact, it is kind of rare to have that. They do have elemental representations, such as the sand in the foreground. But most importantly, they have within them an energetic portal that is designed to consciously take a person on a journey to where they most need to be for their deepest healing.
Even people who are not into that stuff are finding that they are transported to a different place when they view a portal portrait. So anyone can use them and it is for the highest good of all in their healing journey. I find that the same portrait can take me different places at different times, depending upon what it is that I need at that moment. So cool! Now people are beginning to order some to be done for themselves and I absolutely love doing them. Doesn't it just ROCK when you get to do what you love to do!

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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