Awakening

Thiel #18

Awakening, channeling, Life Reflections, Musings on Change, Thiel, transformation

It has been a few weeks since my last attempt to communicate with Thiel. It felt good to be “back in the saddle” and I did not want to exit that feeling. Where many of the other meditation/channelings took about 45 minutes, this one lasted an hour. Channeled Feb 8th 2016.

Voice- Katana

Me- Yes

Voice- We are Thiel

Me- What message do you have for me today? Today is a new moon!

Thiel- You are loved. Indeed you are love itself. Indeed it is a new moon. A beginning and an ending. We are all one and have access to all that there is. Even though we are all aspects of the One we still have access to the All and all that the All is capable of. We are not alone nor are we powerless. We are merely play-acting and it suites the needs of the many to do this. If all were warriors on the same team in the Dream then who would we learn anything from? We are being who we are meant to be at any moment of the day or night. It is not for us to wish to be different for we have agreed to play the part we have chosen. To be content in that is the outcome of all our experiences. We may be advocates of change or the ones that resist the change but we are all going toward the same goal no matter how it looks on the outside of the circumstance. When a virus invades the body it is because it was allowed in. There was a breach in the barrier of the body due to neglect or willfulness or some such. The “warrior” cells come to the rescue of the body to fight off the invaders. The invader virus knows no other way to be than to attack a willing host. The body knows no other way to be than to attack an invader. If the body can be built up and strengthened then the invader virus can be pushed out. No, it is not destroyed, it is merely waiting for another chance to invade. It may mutate into a more harmless version or it may mutate into a strengthened version. It is dependent on the body to keep the barrier or to allow it in. The troubles we see in our life are the virus and the warriors are our beliefs. Our beliefs keep the barrier up or it allows a breach.

Me- How do we build our “body” so no invaders may attack?

Thiel- As in the illustration of the body and the virus, there must be a foundation of good nutrition and compassionate care. So too must there be the same for the person that has allowed troublesome circumstances to invade. Some things we agreed to before we came but our reactions to these circumstances are the real tests. If we have allowed our foundation, our beliefs, to crumble and decay with disuse or neglect then we can not complain if trials come to test the limits of that foundation. To build up your foundation you may adjust your beliefs to ones that serve you better. If you are hiding behind a fake you then how can the real you do as it needs to? Allow the real you to come out of hiding and be all you can be. You will fit more perfectly in the life that you were meant to live in this way. Just as a puzzle piece needs to be turned just so to fit in any given space so too must your life be turned to fit in your space during this lifetime. Practice your awareness of things so that when it is very important and not a drill you will be able to change “on a dime” as it were. Be mindful of your surroundings- not necessarily of danger but of love and enjoyment. Allow yourself to FEEL the chair you sit on. To FEEL the tool in your hand. To FEEL the words before they come out of your mouth. These things will build the foundation and give nutrients to your soul. This in turn will not allow the “invader” such as doubts, worries, second-guessing to enter. It takes practice and that will last a lifetime for all. Access the ALL when you are in need of extra guidance. The All is there for everyone, not just the few. Never fear, you will succeed at being. Until we meet again.

*Originally channeled Feb 8th 2016

~I met Thiel in my meditations in June of 2015 during a Gemini Full Moon while Mercury was retrograde. They indicated that they were from the 6th & 7th plane. We had 29 conversations over 3 1/2 years. Interestingly, in astrology, the 29º in any sign is considered a critical degree. One of its connotations indicates a sense of urgency. Gemini is ruled by Mercury and both are concerned with communication. It is with an urgency I share these messages with you.

Written by:

Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

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Learn Some Skilz

Awakening, Culture, How To, Musings on Change, Spirituality, transformation

Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.
~Zen Proverb

Whether you like it or not, we are all evolving. Some are doing this faster while some are slower to change and transform. As a collective, we are also evolving and becoming more of who we need to be as a species. In our next phase of development, we will become more individualized and sovereign. This doesn’t mean we will have fewer friends or families. It does mean we will not identify with a group or tribe as much as we do now.

The history of our evolution began with nomadic families moving to where the resources were. Each person was important and had a duty within the group. Our lives were short, so every person counted. We then began communities with a tribe or clan leader as we developed agriculture. People had a bit longer lives, so social structures formed. The communities grew and more complex forms of governance came along. Dynasties were formed and leaders had family ties or marriage alliances. The stronger the ruling powers, the more opportunities for corruption and gate-keeping of resources. Restrictions and permissions were enacted on those with (seemingly) less power. Eventually, the people rose up and decided to govern themselves through surrogates such as in democracies and republics. We are now entering the self-responsibility phase in our evolution.

We have come to the conclusion that we can only truly trust ourselves. We have matured as a collective, thanks in part to those who restricted us these past two years. They did not remember that darkness is where exponential growth begins. We discovered what we could do for ourselves and how we did not need supervision or permission. There was a boom in homeschooling, new sole proprietor businesses, food gardening, food prep and storage, researchers, natural healthcare, homesteading, shelter-building, and the list goes on. We became like the pioneers of old.

As our consciousness and lifespan increased over the last few thousand years, we moved up the ladder according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We begin fully embracing the Esteem Level where we know who we are. We will leave behind the need for outside approval. We mastered the Love & Belonging Level where being part of the group was the ultimate in importance. We won’t leave those lessons and abilities behind, but we will embrace the new lesson of sovereignty. A sovereign state of being is to be independent of outside authority. This includes being free of the opinions of others, approval of family as well as the control of a government. It takes skill to be your own authority.

With sovereignty comes responsibility. We can’t place blame on those we no longer hold as an authority over us. If we make a mistake, we are responsible for making it right. If we made a decision that turned out to be problematic, we issue the apology and see what can be repaired or salvaged. We also can not take for granted that others will help, take up the slack or rescue us. We ask, not assume someone will be there for us. We express gratitude, not inconsiderateness in our actions with others. Etiquette and social graces, the sincere kind, will be in style.

In order for this type of society to thrive, we must offer something of value. Our possessions may fulfill a requirement for some but knowledge will have a longer-lasting benefit. Like the old saying- Give a man a fish & he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime. We all have expertise in something. Is it of enough value someone else might want to learn it? At the moment, supply-chain disruptions have caused the substitution or disappearance of some items we need. Can we make these things ourselves? Do we need instruction on how to do that? Once we fulfill our basic requirements, would we like some of the amenities? Learning any skill takes time but the more intricate in detail the greater the need for a master craftsperson.

Now is the time to take stock in what you know. Is your knowledge more mental or are you able to do things with your hands? Be honest in your assessment. Your life may depend on it. I am reminded of those Survivor TV shows where folks that are useless or unwilling to get along get voted off the island. Considering your physical and emotional talents, how long would you last? Learning basic life skills can open doors to greater capabilities and potential.

Right now there are many avenues to acquire experience and competence in an area of study. Vocational and trade schools are an obvious choice. Some companies offer internships where you learn and get paid in exchange for staying with the company long enough for them to recoup their investment. The military works this way as well as many manufacturing plants. My former grandmother worked at a sewing factory for years in the 1960s and 70s. At her retirement, she opened her own sewing business making lady\’s suits. She hired women she used to work with and taught others how to sew who had never threaded a needle.

Chances are there is someone in your life that knows how to do something you need to learn. Find them and ask for their instruction. It takes skill to be a sovereign person. We all need more folks to take on that way of life. We are heading in that direction anyway, so if you feel called, be that pioneer. I was fortunate enough in my younger life to learn to sew and cook from my mother. She knew the basics and I expanded that knowledge with practice and further instruction. I was exposed to and dabbled in farming, building trades, mechanical repair, fishing, astrology, tarot, historical research, besides the actual jobs I held over my lifetime. I am still learning but I’ve got skilz. It’s time to get yours.

Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

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Thiel #15

Awakening, channeling, Life Reflections, Spirituality, Thiel

Voice – Katana

Me – Yes?

Voice – We are Theil

Me – What message do you have for me?

Theil – You are loved. Indeed you are love itself. Consider a game. A game where all the players are limited to certain moves. The players are able to move only in certain ways and react in certain ways and be in certain ways. The game is involved but simple at the same time. You must traverse the board and move in ways that prolong the game but also bring the game to its end in a satisfying way for all the players. You may think that limits are bondage but in the limits, there is potential and satisfaction.

Me – How is there satisfaction in limits?

Thiel – Katana, limits test your mettle*. They make you think, feel, and remember who you really are.

Me – Doesn’t the remembering of who I am make me frustrated that I can not act in a limitless way?

Thiel – Only if you allow it to frustrate you. There is beauty in the limit. It stretches you and helps you become more within the confines of the game. Everything you need is already there. A pawn is as great as a King or Queen if played to its full capacity in this game.

Me – Are we living in a game?

Thiel – All of life is a game of sorts. This is why humanity is obsessed with gaming. It is in your nature to play games because it is the template of life. You create your life in a limited way because of the infinite way your being is made and the way you live outside of the game you are in now. Is it not satisfying to achieve success when you overcome great obstacles? If it was all easy and you knew yourself to be as the limitless being we all are would you have the joy in the success and achievement? To come back to limitlessness is the reward for the limited life. There is a hunger within and a yearning to be with the Source but there is also a yearning to be within the limits of the game. It is a prize that is vied for and many ask to be in the game but only those who have the potential to realize its benefits enjoy the limits set forth.

Me – Is there an ending to limits put upon us?

Thiel – Yes. When you come back to Source for a new assignment. There are other games to play and other experiences to be had. We are never done with our lives no matter how they are lived. As your Yoda says, “We are not this crude matter.” We are not the skin you see or the heartbeat you hear. We are more than you can imagine or understand at this level but you do deep down understand and know just how limitless you really are. This is why you came here and now you are coming to the end of this particular game but the last hand has not been dealt. Some will cash out and take their pieces home but others will play on until the game changes hands again. The rules of the game allow you to ask for help, so ask as you need to. We are here and ready. Ask with your feelings not out of fear but out of expectation that the help you receive is perfect for the job at hand. It may not be as you envision but it will be for the benefit of all. This is all we have for now. Go in peace.

*Mettle – noun
1. courage; spirit
2. inherent character
3. on one’s mettle, roused to putting forth one’s best efforts

~ Pixbay Firentis / 2 images

~I met Thiel in my meditations in June of 2015 during a Gemini Full Moon while Mercury was retrograde. They indicated that they were from the 6th & 7th planes. We had 29 conversations over 3 1/2 years. Interestingly, in astrology, the 29º in any sign is considered a critical degree. One of its connotations indicates a sense of urgency. Gemini is ruled by Mercury and both are concerned with communication. It is with urgency I share these messages with you.

Written By:

Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

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Questioning Reality

Awakening, Culture, Life Questions, Research, Spirituality, Stress

Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer star in the 1944 film, Gaslight. Watch the trailer at the link to get a feel for the movie that inspired the term. The American Psychological Association defines gaslighting as \”manipulation so extreme as to induce mental illness.\” It is now defined as to \”make someone question their reality.\” There is a memorable scene in which Boyer asks Bergman where a certain painting was that used to hang on a nearby wall. She walks over to a corner and pulls the painting from behind a large object. He scolds her for hiding it and praises her for putting it back on the wall. Later you find he was the one who hid the painting multiple times and each time blamed her until she accepted what he said as truth.

My husband and I watched this movie years ago when I was still on multiple psych medications. We both looked at each other and wondered if that type of manipulation was happening to us, perhaps by each other. It was a very creepy feeling. We were so disturbed by what we watched we did an astonishing thing- we watched it again after we took a bathroom break. It was like we did not believe what we just witnessed and had to make sure we saw and heard it correctly. Thinking about it now gives me the heebie-jeebies.

While I was actively under a psychiatrist and psychologist care, I had placed all my volition in their hands. The medication I was taking along with my family history of mental illness primed me for manipulation. I don\’t blame these people for my plight. They were manipulated by the prevailing science in academia long before I came along. I willingly handed over my problems to them so that I could absolve myself of the guilt I felt at being ill. \”You can\’t help it, \” they implied. \”It\’s in your genes or brain chemistry,\” they explained. They believed these things and eventually I did too.

A chance remark or a snippet of someone\’s story briefly heard cracked the careful facade I had cultivated of being a victim of my own mind. It was enough to allow an unclouded flash of doubt that began my questioning, and later on, a spark of hope. What if I didn\’t have to be sick? What if all my trust had been misplaced? Once I began looking at possibilities instead of what appeared to be an inescapable doom, my life changed. Oh, it didn\’t happen all at once, but in painfully slow incremental adjustments. There was a lot of accumulated trauma to resolve. My family showed me one way my reality would unfold. Instead, I discovered I could transform into a completely different way of being. The whiplash effect left me pretty shook up, to say the least.

There is a funny thing about questioning what you thought was true. It is much easier to question other areas of your life after that initial taste and even to wonder about things in the public sphere. Once I accepted the new trajectory for my health, I applied my research skills to questions I had about the world around me. I didn\’t have far to look. My health and spiritual awakening happened around 2004. In 2007, I opened my eyes to politics, science, education, and history. Once seen you can\’t un-see the wider picture. At first, I was devastated and angry with what I was uncovering. My father fought in a war that didn\’t have to be fought. The taxes we paid went to pay the interest of the government\’s loans from the Federal Reserve that our country could never pay off. Mental health could be recovered and not just managed as an illness.

As my spiritual awakening took hold and matured, I allowed my anger to subside so compassion could thrive. We have all been hoodwinked. Those in charge of the media, academia, Hollywood, and the government had their marching orders. True, they did not have to follow them, but when you have always trusted those with more (perceived) authority than you it is difficult to break free. I know. That first crack in the protective shell we all encase ourselves in is sometimes too much. Some people repair the opening with denial and attacking the messenger. Others use distraction so they ignore the inconsistencies that were glimpsed. It can be a frightening time. To admit, even just in our own mind, that we might have been mistaken about certain things is challenging in these cancel-culture-prone times. Eating crow or a slice of humble pie is never on anyone\’s top 100 list of favorites.

Finding out we have been manipulated, gaslighted even, into believing things from trusted sources such as politicians, journalists, doctors, professors, our government, gurus, spiritual leaders, and parents puts us in a bit of a quandary. Who do we trust, if not them? How can we ever believe anything from anyone, if any of what we discover on our own is true? Can I even trust the sources I researched? What do I do with this information? Is everything a lie? All good questions. Some of this you may never know the answer to, at least in a quantitative form.

All we truly have is ourselves. In discovering who we are and not who we have been programmed to be, we can find answers that allow us to grow as new data is found. Truth is a moving target, in that respect. At one time, arsenic was thought to be a healthy addition to one\’s beauty regimen. Today\’s truth discounts yesterday\’s surety. Believe without the expectation that what you know now will be true tomorrow. Find what is true for you at the moment, what you can live with right now. Be open to what comes next. Embrace a bit of mystery and allow yourself to be unsure. Remember that the ultimate truth is as elusive as the last four digits of pi.

~ Pixbay geralt / 23730 images

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Theil #14

Awakening, channeling, Life Reflections, Spirituality, Thiel

Voice– Katana

Me– Yes

Voice– I am Thiel

Me– What message do you have for me?

Thiel– You are loved. Indeed you are love itself. Consider the stars. Their movement and their aspect. They reveal patterns and places deep within to examine. They can guide your way or hinder your path. The new energy of the stars reveals the depth of our being. We are more than stardust and silt*. We are the brightness of the light and the warmth of the day and the shine that reveals our unique aspects. All of life has this characteristic whether we see it or not is up to us to search for it and know it exists. The way of your world is to not see, not look, and not know but those who do see and look and know are the ones who will find. Allow yourself to be as it is meant to be. Look up and see the patterns and aspects. Examine the world beyond your understanding and know that you can understand if you but will it to be so.

As Ed Harper (a local social worker and folk band artist) explained to shine your light and see to the end of the headlights is enough to stay in the movement of the now time that you measure. Your way will be shown in increments with a destination somewhat beyond your comprehension but not so much that you can not imagine it. Even your imaginings will not be able to fully see the beauty of the final place. But it will sustain you until you are ready for a fuller picture. Do not be discouraged with the journey or the process. It is all being revealed as you are ready to accept it and integrate it. Walk before running and you will not stumble. We will be here when you are ready for us again. Rest and renew yourself.

*Silt- earthy matter, fine sand, or the like carried by moving or running water and deposited as a sediment.

~I met Thiel in my meditations in June of 2015 during a Gemini Full Moon while Mercury was retrograde. They indicated that they were from the 6th & 7th plane. We had 29 conversations over 3 1/2 years. Interestingly, in astrology, the 29º in any sign is considered a critical degree. One of its connotations indicates a sense of urgency. Gemini is ruled by Mercury and both are concerned with communication. It is with urgency I share these messages with you.

Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

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Change is a ‘Comin’

Awakening, Culture, Life Questions, Metaphysical Girl, Musings on Change, News, Research, suicide, transformation

“While living in South Florida, Dad’s family lived in relative luxury compared to many in the (early)1970s. They had an automatic indoor washer, an indoor toilet, a small cottage they rented out in the back yard, and the convenience of town living. Here (an East Tennessee 10-acre farm, mid-70s), there was no indoor toilet for nearly a year and limited bathing facilities, no insulation in the attic or walls with only an oil furnace for the cold Tennessee winters, and an outdoor wringer washer with no access to hot water. Grandpa sold his home to a preacher, who told everyone that Florida would sink into the ocean. He sold all their furniture, appliances, and whatever else someone would buy to lighten their load for the move. The land, of course,
was sold to the preacher so his flock “wouldn’t have the burden of selling it”
before the catastrophe happened.”
~Metaphysical Girl: How I Recovered My Mental Health

My parents lived through various weather events in the United States during their 75+ years on this earth. Florida is known for its hurricanes, electrical storms, along with its hot and humid days much of the year. East Tennessee has been subjected to tornadoes, large hailstones, flash flooding, snow, and ice storms, as well as humidity rivaling a tropical rain forest. Over the years, these events would lessen in intensity or increase in damage depending on various factors. The change could occur due to upper-atmosphere disturbances, solar cycles, lessening of the magnetic field, melting arctic ice, or volcanic eruptions along with other causes.

The planet we live on now is almost nothing like it was a million years ago. It has also changed a significant amount in the past year. This change is nothing new. The current Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects, CIMP6, tracks multiple variables to produce its climate forecast models. Clashes between theories and how to read the data are inevitable. An increasing amount of scientists are discovering that there are more variables to consider but the official sanctioned papers take precedence in many scientific journals. A different view with scientific research to back up its claims is at Suspicious Observers.

Earth\’s magnetic shield held stable for several thousand years. Since the mid-1800s, that shield is weakening at a much faster rate each year. It has lessened by 10% as of the year 2000 over the last 150 years. The last 20 years have seen an even faster decline. As the magnetics of the planet decrease, more cosmic rays are able to hit the earth. This activity can cause weather events along with health issues for people. This bombardment of solar frequencies is part of the reason why we are having so many climate-related occurrences. Our weather patterns have drifted to areas not prepared for this level of adjustment. In years past, the Sahara was green and lush. Now it is more of a wasteland where only the hardy and adaptable survive. Science Magazine published an article last February regarding the most recent magnetic shift- Ancient kauri trees capture last collapse of Earth’s magnetic field.

You may wonder why a person who encourages folks in their emotional well-being would bother writing about climate, especially in a way that is not the accepted view. I research everything that impacts mental health. Years ago I came across an Australian study that tracked suicide statistics. The researchers conducted their investigation over several decades. They found that the eleven-year solar cycle coincided with the rise and fall in the number of suicides. I had never considered natural outside forces, such as the sun, to influence a person’s health in this way. I knew about getting your Vitamin D and experiencing a lighter mood with the application of sunlight. Discovering cycles of events in space was new and intriguing. I ordered the Weatherman’s Guide to the Sun from the Suspicious Observers site as it listed the scientific papers and conclusions of researchers in health-related adverse effects of our Sun.

Besides behavioral changes, heart attacks, strokes, and neurological issues can be triggered by sunspots, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and cosmic ray influx. Adaption is our ticket to riding the climate wave of activity. If we are aware that certain events can happen, we can prepare mentally and physically. The official corporate climate modeling insists that we humans are the major cause of our planet warming beyond acceptability. More non-corporate scientists are delivering research indicating a Grand Solar Minimum in our future where the planet goes through a substantial cooling period. The two climate camps won’t collaborate and allow a better-educated guess for our future.

In my eclectic research, I also found that all the planets in our solar system along with many long-time studied stars and cosmic phenomena are changing at the same time our earth is going through its transformation. Unless the climate scientists are willing to admit humans are on these other planets, we can assume different reasons for the shift are to blame. There is so much we do not know about our universe, the galaxy, our solar system, the planet, and ourselves. What makes us so sure of our conclusions and so stubborn in adjusting our thinking?

We need to prepare. No matter if we get cooler or warmer, adaptability is key. If the climate scientists can\’t come to an agreement, we may have to just pick a side and go with that plan. For myself, after reviewing the evidence and listening to my own intuition, I am choosing the Grand Solar Minimum theory. I am taking some of the climate warming advice and reducing my footprint in regards to wasteful practices. I am also augmenting my skills so that I can prepare for the cold. Being self-sustaining is my goal. I feel sure there are others taking this road and perhaps we can join together. A community of individuals with various skill sets would be a handy thing to be part of, no matter what we face. Think about how you want to tackle the future and begin preparation. If not for yourself, then consider your expertise and pass it on.

~To read more about my family, check out Metaphysical Girl: How I Recovered my Mental Health. Available for Order Now! Smashwords, Apple, Gardeners, Odilo, Kobo and Barnes & Noble

Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

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Theil #13

Awakening, channeling, Life Reflections, Spirituality, Thiel

Voice- Katana

Me– Yes

Voice– I am Thiel

Me- What message do you have for me?

Thiel– You are loved. Indeed you are love itself. These messages I give to you are not just for you but for the greater world and all that inhabit it. You are a part of this world and a messenger of sorts to those in our sphere. This sphere will widen and expand as you are known by more and more. This is a good thing and not to be feared by you. You were meant to be a part of the global task force and you have been given instructions to carry out. Part of this is to put these messages on your website and speak of them to others. Do not be afraid of what they may say or think. Seeds cast wide take root in places not considered.

Now for the message for today. Look at your palm and study the lines. This is the imprint of all things. There are hills and valleys along with dips and furrows. Life is like your palm. Familiar but alien. Never noticed until dirty or hurting. Lives can be fortunate or unlucky but it is not considered until there is something to make you pay attention. Your palm remains- in service always doing its job without complaint. Look at it anew and have gratitude for it as you go about your day. It feels appreciation and it feels your disdain. Give it love and attention in the form of water, lotion, inspection, and warmth. It provides years of service. Talent is held in your hand along with destruction. Cultivate that which you desire to have in your life and it will flourish- the good and the bad as it is perceived. Be aware of what you desire and what you give energy to. For your hands will obey and you will live with the outcome. Be at peace with this and consider it.

~I met Thiel in my meditations in June of 2015 during a Gemini Full Moon while Mercury was retrograde. They indicated that they were from the 6th & 7th plane. We had 29 conversations over 3 1/2 years. Interestingly, in astrology, the 29º in any sign is considered a critical degree. One of its connotations indicates a sense of urgency. Gemini is ruled by Mercury and both are concerned with communication. It is with urgency I share these messages with you.

Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

Theil #13 Read More »

I Have Questions

Awakening, Censorship, Culture, Life Questions, Research, Spirituality

I admit to being a “go along to get along” person for much of my young life on into early adulthood. I had questions back then but did not desire to stir the pot and put myself in the light of my family\’s attention. Now that I have dumped much of my childhood trauma and baggage, I find my voice has taken wings thanks to my love of writing and the internet. I am now compelled to speak my questions in the public square, which at this time is social media and my personal blog.

Traveling on the Way-Back Machine, my questions were about the dichotomy of human nature. My inner world consisted of the stories I read beginning with fairy-tales. Why was Little Red Riding Hood allowed to travel alone through a deep black forest to visit her grandmother when I couldn\’t leave our yard? Why didn\’t the wolf of Three Little Pigs fame just go looking for easier prey? Was it his ego that wouldn\’t accept defeat even in the face of hunger? My thirst for explanations encompassed young adult fiction when childish anthropomorphic literary devices became passé.

As I matured and took interest in current events, my queries did not cease. My knowledge of how history is presented caused my investigative nature to compare and contrast what I was hearing and reading in present-day news. It seemed that there were always those who examined data bestowed by the powers-that-be in any given century. Some of these inquiring minds brought about major shifts in cultural thinking. It was quite common for these intrepid souls to be vilified and even killed for their radical inspections of prevailing wisdom. Yet, many of these ideas have taken root as time and technology advanced.

Akhenaton, the heretic Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, lived during the height of Egypt\’s imperial glory. He was believed to be the first person to promote a monotheistic religion called Atenism. Akhenaton\’s Sun God, Aten, took precedent over the polytheistic worship that much of the world accepted as correct. This shift in culture also affected the economy. Many people at the time made their living using the multiple gods\’ images and sacred properties in their goods and services. The Pharaoh preferred home life to foreign affairs, so as a consequence, the Egyptian Empire dwindled. When Akhenaton died, the priests and generals were determined to bring back normalcy to the kingdom. They re-instated the polytheistic worship the people preferred and acted as regent to the 8 yr old Tutankaumun, son of the heretic pharaoh. They then destroyed Akhenaton\’s name and likeness in many of the public places it was found, breaking with tradition in revering some previous leaders. Whatever the personal reason Akhenaton changed Egyptian life, he was found guilty in the public square of questioning the ruling narrative. Many years later, monotheism returned to Egypt and much of the world.

The German theologian, Martin Luther was the catalyst for the Protestant reformation in the 16th century. The Catholic Church was the law of the land almost since its inception in 30 AD and certainly by 590 CE when lands were consolidated to become the Papal States assuring the church\’s power. Luther questioned the doctrine of good works to obtain salvation. He believed that it was a gift from God and the only condition was to accept the gift. His other belief in an egalitarian body of believers was in contrast to the church hierarchical structure that kept the “laity” from accessing God on their own. Martin Luther translated the Bible into everyday language which further diminished the power long held by the priests. He basically upended the entire Christian spiritual structure. This, in turn, also re-ordered the governmental authority since local magistrates obtained their right to govern by church sanction. Luther was excommunicated, refused the order to retract his statements, and died an ill man. But his questioning began a disseminated structure of authority and governance that prevails to this day.

Michael Luther King, Jr., better known as Martin Luther King, Jr. was a highly educated Baptist preacher like his father and grandfather before him. King, much the same as the man he renamed himself after, had questions. While Martin Luther struggled with the hierarchical system in the catholic church, MLK, Jr., attacked the ranked order in the condition of men due to skin color. His activism caused people to examine their beliefs regarding race. His eloquent speaking style and compelling commentary gained notoriety for himself and the issues he passionately defended. As a member of the executive committee of the NAACP, he was placed in charge of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration; the Alabama bus boycott. Taking operational techniques from Mahatma Gandhi, his inspirational leadership helped produce the 1964 Civil Rights Act that ended segregation, banned employment discrimination, and was passed by the 88th congress of the United States. After 11 years of being a Civil Rights leader, MLK, Jr. had many accolades presented to him, including the Nobel Peace Prize. King was assassinated in 1968 the day before he was to lead a protest march in Memphis, Tennessee. MLK, Jr. questioned the prevailing authority to gain respect and dignity for black people.

We are moving away from a centralized authority. By questioning the belief that one race of humans is better than another we boost individual empowerment. In allowing access to all persons the ability to commune with their personal spiritual guide and discern those instructions on an intimate level, we advance in our own sacred mission on this planet. Discovering unity of spirit while also bringing our individual gifts, we benefit as a whole and attain peace within.

Just like those before me who have challenged the ruling class, be they military leaders, medical doctors, scientists of all stripes, religious scholars, or state-sanctioned experts, I will not be universally admired. My opinions and insightful analysis have garnered me the distinction of being permanently suspended from Twitter. I have also noticed that some of my blog articles get suppressed more than other posts in the algorithms. Questions I ask are partially for my own understanding but also to elucidate the contradictory nature of events both in my personal past and the worldwide current situations.

Asking for episodes and items to be investigated is a way to gain clarity and trust when the questioner is taken seriously. If the betterment of mankind is the true goal in any undertaking, would it not be to the advantage of the collective to have as much data from as many sources as possible to alleviate the concern, apprehension, and skepticism of the masses? It seems to me that flexing our critical-thinking skills would give us practice for all those important decisions we make throughout our lives. The only genuine cost would be time. Is that not a small price to pay for improved confidence?

I read about these great heroes with enthusiasm but also with an equal amount of trepidation. My anxiety stems from an inner feeling of kinship with these and a great many other change-making, iconoclastic personages. I have no idea if my questioning and investigation will have the impact of a pharaoh, theologian, or civil rights activist. I only know that I must put forth my discoveries. If the information I bring to light helps one person lead a better life, what more can I ask?

~To read how I questioned mainstream psychiatry and healed from mental illness, check out Metaphysical Girl: How I Recovered my Mental Health. Available Now!
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Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

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A Diamond of the First Water

Awakening, Culture, Life Reflections, Metaphysical Girl, Musings on Change, Research, Spirituality

I have never been fond of diamonds. I enjoy color. Give me sapphires, emeralds, opals, and rubies! These gems make my eyes light up. My second marriage produced a husband determined to put a diamond on my hand. I acquiesced, though my heart wasn\’t in it. I chose a ring where the engagement and wedding bands intertwined with a small diamond in the center and four tiny diamonds placed above and below the twisting gold. He worried it wasn\’t big enough. I worried I would catch it on my sweaters. The ring design was a compromise and the marriage has lasted thirty-one years this month.

I enjoy learning how things are made. I have always wondered about the process of making toothpicks after seeing a Warner Brothers cartoon where they whittled a full grown tree down to a single pick, then placed it in a box with others done the same way. My husband and I try to take the \”behind the scenes\” tours at various locations to know how things are done. Being on my grandmother\’s farm gave me a first-hand view of food production- plant and animal. For years I sewed my own clothing and did that for a living a couple of times in my life. Invention and innovation thrill me to no end.

After my mental health transformation, I was determined to never shy-away from things I didn\’t like. My distaste of diamonds became one of my investigations so that I could understand my aversion to that harmless little rock. In my curiosity, I found an unexpected lesson and epiphany. My exploration of this stone led me to understand myself and others in a fascinating new way.

Start with carbon dioxide (CO2) and bury it underground about 100 miles. Apply heat through various means to about 2200°F. Next, add a dash of pressure at 725,000 lbs/sq inch. Allow this concoction to develop for several millions to billions of years. Finally, rush this new substance to the surface using a handy volcano or conveniently falling asteroid to cool and harden. By doing all this, you might get a diamond worthy of a bridal hand. Actually, the exact formula is still a mystery. Diamond formation depends on a perfect storm of circumstances. The key processes appear to be:

  • Begin with the carbon- the building block of all life on planet earth
  • Turn up the heat to clear away the dross and useless bits of muck
  • When it is as pure as it can be, apply tremendous pressure
  • Do this for however long it takes for the finished product
  • After all this inner work, it bursts into the world to allow its light to shine

Of course there is some refinement to be done, but this process doesn\’t have to take near as long. It is also under the control of the person handling the newly formed stone.

Many hands are needed to bring a gem of quality into the world. The rough uncut diamond needs to be mapped and marked to determine how large and what shape is best for a specific stone. Once the crystal is ready to be worked, the cutters, brillianteers and polishers have the finished product in their mind. They begin to create the facets that will bring out the best qualities of the diamond. The polishing brings out the fire within the stone so that when it is subjected to light it will have depth and character. This is a tedious process taking several weeks, but necessary for the final result. You can watch this condensed procedure on this >7-minute video.

The Gemological Institute of America describes the anatomy of a round brilliant, like those pictured above, this way:

“In the standard round brilliant, there are 57 or 58 facets. The table facet, usually the largest
facet on the diamond, helps gather light from above and either reflects it back to the observer
or directs it into the diamond’s interior. The crown facets, consisting of 8 bezels, 8 stars, and 16 upper halves, gather and disperse light to create brightness, fire, and a scintillating pattern of light and dark. The pavilion facets, consisting of 16 lower halves, 8 mains, and an optional culet, reflect the light back through the crown to the viewer’s eye.
All of these facets work together creating each diamond’s unique appearance.”

The 4 Cs- color, clarity, cut and carat is how diamonds are graded. A stone that is colorless, with no inclusions or blemishes, cut in an attractive way and has adequate carat or weight is a diamond to be sought after in the world of fine gems. Magnification and subjection to fluorescent light are how to determine these characteristics. The grade of a stone is how it is valued and determines the price one pays for the jewel in question. To the naked eye, less expensive jewelry can be equal to the shine and brilliance of their more pricey counterparts.

I was struck by the descriptions and explanations in the diamond-making process. Each of us in our everyday lives goes through a similar development of birth, challenges, breaking, questioning, refinement, discovery, and the finale. It takes a while for the right geographic location, generation, parents, the woman\’s cycle and the couple\’s inclination to produce you in baby form, ready for programming. From there, you are tested and challenged until you have broken free from your original thought processes. Questions arise and getting your life in some semblance of order while still being pliable, is needed. Your refining and cleansing are instituted so you discover who you are and why you are here. Finally, you burst forth into the world and shine a light only you carry.

In the Regency period of England, women in the upper echelons of society were graded much like diamonds. Breeding or family heritage, along with looks, training in household management, and intact virtue were the qualities sought. A Diamond of the First Water was every man\’s dream. First Water would refer to the clarity of a diamond. The closer the stone resembled still water, the better. It would be without blemishes (external flaws) and inclusions (internal defects). Women were considered Diamonds if these criteria were met. How often are similar attributes desired in those seeking relationships even now? Dating Apps insist you list them for prospective candidates to sift through.

As I have mentioned in previous posts on this blog, humans are here to discover, explore and remember themselves as they journey through life. We are facets of the Source of All, the Creator, God or the Universe. We are already of the exact color, clarity, cut and carat we are supposed to be. We need only discover this through our ramblings here on earth. We are all Diamonds. We need only discover our clarity and claim the First Water we are destined to be.

~Pixbay antonio_rh / 8 images

~Learn how Catherine discovered herself in Metaphysical Girl: How I Recovered my Mental Health. Available for Pre-Order Now! Publish Date- December 26th, 2021 at Smashwords, Apple, Gardeners, Odilo, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble

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Wooden Nickels

Awakening, Culture, Financial, Life Reflections, Research, transformation

“Don’t take any wooden nickels!\” That was the saying years ago that meant be cautious in your interactions, business dealings, and purchases. A wooden nickel was a token or scrip that was redeemable for specific items depending on who issued it. In the early days of American expansion, companies would issue paper scrip or tokens as part of their payout of wages to employees. These substitutes for real money could be used at the Company Store to purchase needed items. In those out-of-the-way businesses, it was difficult to get to a town where you could purchase personal provisions. Companies helped their workers by providing goods, but many times the items had a heavy mark-up. Sixteen Tons is a song, sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1956, about how life was for coal miners and gives an example of how a company store worked.

Using something other than authorized money such as the Dollar, Yen, Pound, Euro, or another state-issued currency was not an uncommon occurrence. During the American Civil War, The Great Depression, and many other times of economic distress token forms of money were distributed locally so that commerce could continue. It is much like a way to barter for goods and services using a local item that everyone in that location agrees will act like money. S&H Green Stamps, store coupons, punch cards, and even those buy-one-get-one sales are a form of currency locally accepted for discounts or items.

In our digital era, is it any wonder that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become the new Wooden Nickel? Skeptics might claim the right to be cautious, but more intrepid souls have embraced this form of scrip. Precious metals, which have been the currency for centuries, are another form of wealth that many folks are securing to diversify their investment portfolios. The recent uptick in our inflated government-issued money has made many people look elsewhere for financial security.

Since 1945, the United States and Saudi Arabia made an agreement that created the Petrodollar. Oil was the new asset that backed our money system. Previously, the U.S. had gold and silver reserves that bankrolled the American buck. Until recently, the U.S. ability to keep its financial standing with the world, who pegged their currencies to the dollar, has gone unchallenged. That may have changed in recent months. The Gateway Pundit reports-

“For the last 50 years, the petrodollar was in place.  Big oil made its transactions in USD.  Then a couple of days ago, Russia and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement that likely went beyond the military and defense cooperation it claims.  The agreement likely removes the two countries from their relationship with the dollar.” ~ Joe Hoft

If this information is correct, it would mean that our petro-backed currency is now worthless since other currencies are being accepted in payment of our long-held assets. World nations would not need our dollars to purchase goods as in the past. Countries had to exchange their currency for dollars in order to pay for oil. The exchange rate could leave them in a similar condition to the coal miners in the song- owing more than they gained.

On December 23rd, 1913, the Fed was born when President Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law. Even though the Fed had no reserves nor was it part of the government since it is a private corporation, it became the entity that doled out the money in the form of a loan to the U.S. America lost its ability to provide sovereign money to its citizens. Now every dollar issued was less than its original worth due to the interest that had to be paid to the Fed on the loan. Slowly, the inability to pay back the interest was kicked down the road as the debt ceiling was raised for various reasons during each administration from that time in 1913 until our present time. The purchasing power of our beloved dollar has fallen to historic levels and we are paying the price (pardon the pun) for that lack of insight, common sense, and good stewardship.

It seems that if our dollar is no longer the World Reserve Currency, then it would make sense to get out of the petro-dollar money-pit. Investing in assets that hold and possibly increase in value would be advised, though I am not a financial consultant. From my research, if the dollar becomes no better than a wooden nickel used locally in a limited fashion, finding other means to acquire goods and services would be a logical next step.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO9VRtrTJwc

~~ Find out how Catherine curbed her manic spending in Metaphysical Girl: How I Recovered my Mental Health. Available for Pre-Order Now! Publish Date- December 26th, 2021 at Smashwords, Apple, Gardeners, Odilo, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble

Cathy Denton

Catherine Denton is a Metaphysician living in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Check out her musing on family, life, health, and various metaphysical topics.

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