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[peculiar_notion]

I have been dealing with some very unpleasant issues lately, and I am trying to focus my energies on the positive aspects of my life. Sometimes I just don't do well, but I keep trying. I hate drama. I hate upheaval. I wish my wee boat could always be on smooth water instead of this fucking stormy sea. I had enough shipwrecks as a child to last 1,

Comments

[ladywraith]

/Love/ the new icon. Very very stunning and beautiful, such as yourself. :)

Hmm... is Saraswati the goddess of wisdom/knowledge? I seem to recall with fondness my Religious Studies prof approaching each student during an exam to give them a candy to suck on while writing, saying the candy had been blessed by Saraswati to aid us in achieving a decent mark on the exam. He had a great way about him, this prof did... I'm sad to say he passed on a few years ago, but I'm sure he's up there, lighting incense and having tea with Saraswati and several other deities just shootin' the shit, so to speak. ;)

Good for you for trying to keep things positive in the face of upheaval... funny, I'm dealing with a similar situation in my life at the moment. Well, apart from the details, I'm sure. Just the general gist of trying to keep positive through negativity and upheaval and conflict. *hugs* Hang in there, lady.

[peculiar_notion]

THAT'S HER! That's SARASWATI! I'm glad you know of her.

Thank you for the kind words, and I hope that all will be well with you. We'll just keep reminding each other of all the good things.

[ladywraith]

*grins* I had a very wonderful, well-traveled Religious Studies prof when I was in university. Though I was enrolled in the Drama programme, I was taking Religious Studies classes as my electives -- I was hoping to declare it as my minor. However, since I qualified only for a BA instead of an Honours degree, I didn't get my minor declared. :/

Too bad. I was only 3 units (one 1/2 year course) shy of a minor, too.

But anyway... no problem and things will sort themselves out in the long run. Most of what I'm concerned about is out of my control anyway, so there's no point in really spending too much excess energy worrying about it.

A very wise woman once said to me: There are things you can change and things you cannot change. Those that you cannot change aren't worth worrying about since they are just out of your control anyway. Spend your energy being concerned with changing the things that /can/ be changed, and things will all work out in the long-run.

I'll never forget her words. :) *hugs* Hang in there, hon.

[daftboy]

I should try to learn something from that quote. I spend way too much energy mulling over things that only a select few have any power to change anyway...as I'm sure you've noticed :)

[daftboy]

I don't know why things can't be boring and uneventful. It seems the less one enjoys drama, the more they find it. Then again those who seek drama seem to find their share as well. Perhaps there's just too much to go around, but there's a point where you should be immune or off-limits. You know my take on the malfunction of karma, I just wish there wasn't so much evidence to support it. There's not much that I can think to offer that's not cliche or trite but things do go both ways and despite the fact that a lot of things are out of your control, things will settle down and will eventually be forgotten. I wish there was more I can say, but I'm glad to know that you have more than just me to give you insight or try to help you see things differently and that in itself is something to be happy for. Especially since I'm often no help at all

[ladywraith]

"All rivers lead to the ocean".

You know, that's pretty much how I feel about religion, though I call myself 'pagan' and say it with different words: "Same shit, different altar." ;) Excuse the crassness of it.

I've called myself Wiccan in the past, though only to folks who know nothing about the path I follow. It's an easy label to use in order to prevent confusion. But basically, I think I'm merely spiritual... but I do give names to the divine, to my beliefs, to my practices, if only to make things easier to explain. Perhaps some would not agree with me, claiming I need to pick a religion and stick with it, but honestly, how can I limit my heart and soul that way?

Forgive me if I sound flighty or idealistic. I guess I'm just a free soul who doesn't like being put into a box. ;)

[daftboy]

Don't worry, I think there needs to be more crassness in the explanation of religion. I'm not anti-religious, but at this point in time I have no clue what I believe. I had my New Age phase as a teenager and despite some of the idiotic ideas they tried to pass off, there are still aspects of it that I would probably accept today if I were to stop and think about them. I think any religion has merit and to consider any as pure truth or pure falsehood is as disrespectful as it is true. I admire anyone who is willing to look past a single doctrine to find their own truths. That, I believe, is the entire point. Not to join a group and blindly share their beliefs.

[ladywraith]

Bingo. I just can't follow blindly. I'm not a sheep. I follow my heart and soul and follow what makes sense to me. If it doesn't make sense, I keep on moving through to seek out something that /does/ make sense. I find truths in many unexpected places... and I knew at the age of 5 that sitting in a church wasn't where I was going to find my truths when I told my mom that I didn't want to go to church and Sunday school anymore (she gave me the choice). Not saying churches are bad... but they just didn't seem the place for me. *shrugs* :)

[violetobscura]

Whatever troubles have worked their way into your life (or have resurfaced from another time) do not have the power to change who you are. Take comfort in your own resiliency, and remember that all bad things in life present a lesson to be learned. If you can take away a new coping method or a renewed sense of self from your struggles, then you have won. You don't always have to put up a strong front if you're suffering inside, and of course there is no shame in seeking solace or tending your wounds, but keeping focused on the positive is great step towards combating the turmoil in your life.

Just thinking about her gives me a sense of serenity.Kit, that's that most wonderful thing anyone has said about me in such a long time. You are very welcome for the card and music, I needed to thank you for the generosity and care gave me when I was feeling so awful a couple of weeks ago. It may not seem like much, but I've always found music to touch upon layers of emotion that words alone often cannot match

[divine_cow]

I can't wait to see the finished rose garden! In the craziness of leaving at 4 a.m. Saturday, I meant to leave truck keys on your front porch, just in case you went crazy with rock hauling. Then it rained so much that I figured there was no way you would be working outside. (I should have remembered that you actually like this weather

[peculiar_notion]

I am so thrilled with how the garden is coming along. We have decided that we need one of those round cement picnic tables to sit out amongst the rocks. It seats SIX so we could have a study group outdoors some Thursday.

Religion is also at the forefront of conversations in this household. I feel that I am becoming more aware of spiritualty (including my own), but the more I know, the more I realise that I know very little. I think the search for meaning is moving me forward in this life.

I always thought some of the Catholic saints were a bit depressing. I think the Hindu deities are much more hopeful in general. Even though some are rather stern and destructive, there is always something positive that comes from the destruction.

As far as Donnie Darko is concerned, I really thought it was more of a horror film. I did NOT know it was going to be a brooding, intense film. I'm STILL not sure I even understood it. Maybe you SHOULD watch it so you can explain it to me!

[lovemonster]

Religious studies group? I take it you study all religions not just one in particular?

*hugs* i feel for ya, love. Is hard to think good thoughts about oneself when everything around us demeans us, constantly screaming that we're not good enough, fast enough, smart enough, pretty enough, SKINNY enough. Yeah, right there with ya girl!

[peculiar_notion]

Thus far we have studied Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Hinduism. We are closing Hinduism with a trip to the Hindu temple in South Austin and a Q&A session with a Hindu Scholar. Next? We are moving on to the Gnostics.

It is an interesting group I belong to. We have several religious backgrounds represented and there is a great exchange of ideas. It is self-led, with each member tackling a topic of their own interest about the religion being studied. If there is ever a time you have a free Thursday afternoon, you are welcome to sit in on the group!

[lovemonster]

Awwwww :( I work

poop