Uriel's Gifts
Videocasts of a special sort, including spiritual calisthenics for people who are willing to think. Mass For The Shut-out is an omni-denominational celebration of The Divine. The Sabbat School Class offers quick lessons in what (we think) some other teachers might have missed. |
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02/16/2010 February 20, 2010 - Mass For The Shut-Out In Honor of Tempest Smith Tempest Kayne Smith died on February 20, 2001. She had been the victim of religious harassment and bullying. It was after her diary was discovered that people learned the extent and severity of the bullying she was put through. Sticks and stones might break our bones, but those are wounds which can heal. The wounds caused by words are not so easy to heal, and sometimes it seems that they just don't heal. I won't criticize Tempest for how she died or anything about her death. I have enough memories of my own life at age twelve to know better than to "Monday morning quarterback". In the United States of America, people claim that there is religious freedom. It didn't work that way for her - and the last I heard, Lincoln Park, Michigan is within the United States. And we've heard enough about bullying, including a recent case in Seattle in which police refused to help a young woman who knew she was in danger, and then so-called security guards stood around and watched as she was beaten. Tempest Smith's classmates, the ones who should have been her friends, wrote many apologies which were on display at her funeral. I see her as a martyr. I also see her as a patron for religious freedom and for victims of bullying. Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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02/06/2010 The Sabbat School Class, Lesson 8: Thinking about Tempest Smith Day coming Tempest Smith Day is February 20th. Tempest Kayne Smith was intelligent and creative. She played the flute, wrote poetry, and sometimes showed an intelligence and sensitivity beyond that normally associated with someone her age. She died on February 20, 2001. She died by her own hand, after the harassment, taunts and teasing by her classmates had become such torment that she could take no more. They harassed her because she was a Wiccan. She was a Wiccan by her own choice. After she passed, a diary was found in which she wrote about the daily torments. Crowds of her classmates singing "Jesus loves you" at her were among the few that I can describe here and retain my "general audiences" rating. And this was in a school in the United States, where schoolteachers talk about how the United States has religious freedom. It somehow did not work that way for Tempest Smith. And so, we commemorate her. And think of the others like her whom we might not know about. And so that we can resolve that it not happen again. Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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01/16/2010 February 2, 2010 - Mass For The Shut-Out - Imbolc Celebration! It's time to celebrate Imbolc! Inbolc is one of the least-known but most-worthwhile celebrations in the cycle of the year, especially because of the fact that it is a fulfillment of the promise made at Samhain. Remember Samhain? At that time, there was a death but also the promise that an ending by definition means a new beginning, and that new beginning was promised to us! At Yule, what we see as the sun beginning its return journey is marked appropriately in many spiritual paths by the celebration of the birth of a divine child. For a child born at Yule, we could see Imbolc as the naming done in some paths, or the Briss in the Jewish tradition. In the mundane world, Imbolc's coming is announced by the first plants sticking their fresh sprouts through the snow, and the animals who were cared for over the winter giving birth. Above all, it is another fulfillment of the promise made by The Divine, on the way to the complete fulfillment shared by Ostara and Beltaine. Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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01/03/2010 The Sabbat School Class, Lesson 7: Where We Meet! And this time, you'll be given sone "homework" which can begins some discovery for you! We just finished Yule, and Imbolc is about a month away. While there are many times when it is appropriate to step back and look at the full perspective, we find ourselves at a time when it is especially appropriate. Yule is still alive in our memory, Imbolc is coming, and if you look, you can see Ostara and Beltane on your horizon. Anyone who has gone beyond even pre-dedicant training as a Wiccan or Pagan will be able to relate those Sabbats to the cycle of life, so that's a no-brainer. But let's take it a step further. How do those Sabbats relate to rites of passage of other spiritual paths? You'll see, and then there'll be an opportunity to see for yourself! Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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12/19/2009 December 21, 2009: Mass For The Shut-Out - Celebrating Yule! It is time to celebrate Yule! Yule is indeed just possibly the most primary and basic of all of the Sabbats, and almost every spiritual path has a celebration at the time of the Winter Solstice which has the basic theme of a new birth, and especially a divine birth. Even Hannukah can be seen that way, if you understand it as the re-opening and re-consecration of the Temple at Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon. In fact, there indeed is a re-birth after what some had thought was a death. And that's the original idea. Yule was when the sun stopped its rertreat away from us and began its return journey and with it the promise of another spring and summer. And I see the birth at Yule as being Samhain's gift. It's much the same was as what a seed does in order to become a tree. And so, there is new life, and a new promise. And that's what Yule is giving us. The beginning of the fulfillment of the promise made at Samhain. Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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12/14/2009 The Sabbat School Class, Lesson 6: A Yule Gift - Something You Can Actually Do! This lesson is one that you might see as being a Yule gift. One of the most often-asked questions where spiritual matters are concerned is the basic question of what can you do. People spend a major part of their lives searching for something to do about whatever concerns them, and here is an offering for you which might help. Between the spiritually walking wounded, those who have come to realize that what they were taught doesn't seem to work anymore, and those who simply want to see if there is anything more, there are enough people to fill many churches and keep many clergy very busy. The problem is helping them find the answers which they seek, and everyone's answers are unique to that person. To borrow from the jargon of systems analysts and MBA's, what's needed is to "think outside of the box". And that's what we're discussing here. Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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11/29/2009 November 27, 2009: Mass For The Shut-Out - Betwixt Samhain and Yule Samhain is over, Yule is coming, and there is a special lesson which applies now Actually, it applies anytime but especially now. At Samhain, there was an end, but also a beginning. And anyone who has been a parent will remember that the time between discovering that you're going to be parents and the arrival of the child is filled with preparations for that child's arrival. And why not now as well? Add to that, one of the most empowering of any scriptures, the Gospel of Thomas. No wonder it didn't make it into the list of books accepted by mainstream Christianity - it's too empowering for most of them to handle! And look where it says to look! Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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11/14/2009 The Sabbat School Class, Lesson 5: Things To Do With Bread And Wine And here, perhaps, you'll find some answers as to what I'm doing in Mass For The Shut-Out, and more importantly, how you can apply them in what you do spiritually. The roots go beyond Crowley's Gnostic Mass, The Mass, Passover Seder, or Cakes and Ale. One of the most ancient references is in the Old Testament, in Genesis when Melchizidek, who was both a king and a priest, met Abram (not Abraham yet) and greeted him with bread and wine. And that tells us that bread and wine must have been a well-established custom by that time, which we would know as the Bronze Age. It's also worth noting that in so many of the rites based on bread and wine, the Pagan/Wiccan aspects are there for anyone with the knowledge of where to look and the wisdom to know what to acknowledge. Anyone want to guess why a Roman Catholic priest makes the sign of the cross over the chalice? Might it harken back to the days when a Norse Vitki or Ghodi (or Vitka or Ghoda) would make the sign of Thor's Hammer over a similar vessel (or a drinking horn, for that matter)? So much to explore, and so much to learn. And you can put it all to use for your own benefit, too! Enjoy this exploration! Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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10/28/2009 October 31, 2009: Mass For The Shut-Out - It's Samhain! It's Samhain, and we are celebrating, both here and on "The Secrets In Plain Sight!" Samahin is special, for many reasons. One is that it the celebration of beginnings and endings. The other is that this is when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. Between those basics, there's a lot we can do! And yes, there's something in it for you! Direct Download This Episode |
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10/17/2009 The Sabbat School Class, Lesson 4: Looking Forward To Samhain 2009 For me, Samhain is perhaps the most significant of the Sabbats, even if it is not considered to be a "minor Sabbat" in that it is not one of the four solstice/equinox points. This is the Celtic New Year, and also, according to tradition, the time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. And, there is more. Let's see how to make this Samhain special for you, personally. Direct Download This Episode |
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10/05/2009 October 4, 2009: Mass For The Shut-Out - A Special Dedication To Uriel The Archangel Uriel is special to me, for a number of reasons. One is that she represents the fulfillment of so much of what I was seeking when I first came here. And hence the name of this place in cyberspace. And today, we dedicate a statue to the Archangel Uriel. Watch, and you'll see why. Direct Download This Episode |
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09/27/2009 The Sabbat School Class, Lesson 3: Priesthood Is A State Of Being! If you can imagine how difficult it would be to keep a fish comfortable, healthy and happy out of water, then you can imagine the intensity of a call to priesthood. That's why I'm known to say that priesthood is a state of being. Those who think of it was a job are missing the point. Here, I re-visit an essay I published a few years ago, and I discover that the only changes I would make if I were to write it today are updating a couple of details in light of some historical developments among those still in the path I felt forced to leave. Direct Download This Episode |
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09/06/2009 September 5, 2009: Mass For The Shut-Out - A dedication and a celebration I was invited to join the House of Independent Bishops, and of course I accepted. And what is a Wiccan doing among a bunch of bishops? Quite a lot, actually! The title "High Priest" is sufficient to be considered to be the equivalent of a bishop, and it also means that I can begin to build my omni-denominational ministry in that direction. In addition to naming The Virtual Mission Chapel Of The Archangel Uriel as a cathedral (even if the "cathedra" is a folding chair), there also can be The Diocese Of The Archangel Uriel, which has no borders and also has no denominations. A tavern, where the spiritually thirsty may drink. A diner, where the spiritually starving may be fed. A hospital, where the spiritually wounded are healed. That's what this is all about. Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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08/24/2009 The Sabbat School Class, Lesson 2 - One Of The Most Basic Of Basics And what would be the most basic of basics that you or I would need to know? Perhaps a step so basic that some forget to even acknowledge it. True, it is mentioned in every primer, and even some other paths will give it some sort of recognition, but few make it a principle. Perhaps it seems so basic. But those things which seem so obvious are often overlooked because of the presumption that being obvious would mean that it would be recognized on a regular basis. In the Universal Gnostic Fellowship, it is codified as The Law Of One, and I'd like to take a moment to offer it to you as a way to keep doors open. You might be surprised at how much of a help it can be. Blessed Be! Direct Download This Episode |
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07/16/2009 July 16, 2009 - Mass For The Shut-out Taking a moment between Litha and Lammas to look at where we are, where we have been, and where we are going. As we've said before, a Sabbat is never really "over" until the Wheel of the Year turns to that Sabbat of the next year. Direct Download This Episode |
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06/18/2009 The Sabbat School Class - Lesson 1 - How Much Should A Magickal Tool Cost? How Much Should It Cost? This is a question which every newcomer asks in one way or another. Expensive tools can be attractive, but are they any more effective? And why? Direct Download This Episode |
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05/03/2009 Beltaine 2009 - Mass For The Shut-Out Beltaine is the feats of the God coming of age, according to our ancient Celt ancestors. Let's celebrate and let's learn the lessons which Beltaine has to teach us! Direct Download This Episode |
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04/07/2009 Ostara 2009 - Mass For The Shut-Out Ostara is the celebration of new life at the end of winter. Come, let us join in this celebration of new life! Direct Download This Episode |
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02/20/2008 February 20, 2009 - Mass For The Shut-out in honor of Tempest Smith Tempest Kayne Smith died on February 20, 2001. She died at the age of twelve years old. She died as a direct result of the religious harassment she received from her school-mates. This did not happen in some third-world country, but in Lincoln Park, Michigan USA. This Eucharist is offered in her honor in hopes of the day when freedom of religion actually includes all religions. Direct Download This Episode |
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02/06/2010 Promo #1 - The "commercial" for Uriel's Gifts Welcome to religious programming for the rest of us! And that's exactly the intention for Uriel's Gifts, as it was (and remains) for The Secrets In Plain Sight. And I hope this says what it's about! Direct Download This Episode |