The Isolation Trap

There is a trap that first responders like police officers fall into. It works like this:





First responders typically spend their days dealing with an endless round of tragedy. Every day they deal with people who stop communicating with words and start communicating with fists. All week they attend an interminable series of accidents and heartache too often caused by someone's stupidity. All month they deal with an ceaseless see of faces of people trapped in addictions which are fueled by a life of crime. You may think that the upcoming Christmas season, advertised as a time of peace and goodwill to mankind, would be an exception to this. That's not the police officer's perception. Christmas is the time of year when people who haven't seen each other for a long time get together, have a few drinks... and then remember why they haven't seen each other in a long time. For the cop, Christmas is an unending series of interventions in violent domestic squabbles. The world is a chaotic and often dangerous place.





Here's the trap: Because this is all they see in a backbreaking schedule of lengthy shifts and overtime, they sink into the perception that this is all there is out there. That, as you might imagine, is a pretty depressing place to be.





First responders aren't alone in this. On my daily walks I frequently pass people plodding to the bus stop, the store, the appointment, head down, shoulders hunched, avoiding eye contact, fearful of the world around them.





So here's what we all need to do for one another. When you pass that person in the street, say hello. When you're at the store, hold the door for the person behind you, and say hello.





That's it. Just smile and say hello.





By doing this you're reminding these people that this chaotic world doesn't just contain tragedy, that the bedlam they percieve actually has some sane inhabitants. There are good people out there, though we sometimes don't notice them. It doesn't hurt to remind others about that. Actually it makes a big difference, because it makes people feel that they have a purpose and that they are not alone. Especially at this time of the year.



For more thoughts about Yule, check out the Order of Scathach blog: http://scathachisland.blogspot.com/

In Her Service, Kerr

Ancient Soup Recipes

I just posted some ancient soup recipes on my fantasy writer blog if anyone would like to check them out: http://caennis.wordpress.com/

Pagan Religions Book Update

Lots of people have been wondering what is happening with the 4th edition of the Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca, which has been renamed Pagan Religions: A Diversity Training Manual. I got the updated manuscript with a few final questions from the editor at Acorn Publishing last Friday and got the reply back to him Monday morning. He assures me that this should be the last of the editting and that he will get down to the business of final layout. So hopefully this book will be out soon.

Bright Blessings, Kerr

Gatetway Home

Thrakos Shadowwolf wrote to me about a week long program that he is putting on for soldiers returning to civilian life called Gateway Home: A Warrior's Transitional Journey.

WHO: Former Military personnel of Pagan/Heathen/Wiccan spiritual paths who feel they have not yet successfully reintegrated into civilian life or who feel emotionally stuck in, or haunted by, their past military experiences.

WHAT: An intensive week long seminar journey through classes, workshops, and Rituals transforming the former soldier into a true Warrior with the skills and wisdom to create a personally satisfying and honorable future.

WHEN: Mon. 15 November - Sun. 21 November 2010

WHERE: 20 Acre organic mini-farm and forested nature retreat on the Cumberland Plateau. 1 hr. N of Chattanooga, 2 hr. SW of Knoxville, 2.5 hr E of Nashville, TN.

FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION GO TO: http://www.swordandcauldron.org/

SPONSORED BY: Temple of the Sword and Cauldron

SIWC: Launching My Fiction Writing

My wife and I were at the Surrey International Writer's Conference this weekend taking classes, networking, and pitching our new works of fiction. Yes! I've started writing sword and sorcery fantasy! It was a successful weekend: I had an editor and agent ask to see chapters of my new novel, which will be the first book of a trilogy. You can see my podcast from SIWC at: http://beachcombercommunications.com/2010/10/charles-ennis-an-interview-at-siwc/

Love Magick

Every so often, I get an e mail like this (name removed to respect the privacy of the sender):

"Hi.

I'm trying to find someone to help me with matters of the heart, and wondering if your willing to help me.
I've tried to find someone who works with wicca. I found your name and info on the internet and hoping that you would e mail me back and let me know if you’re willing to help me bring a lost love back into my life.
This is very important to me and many people say they can't do this kind of as they aren't strong enough.
Please tell me you can and will help me. I love this man ssoo much and want him back in my life . I will explain more when I hear back from you.
PLEASE help me, I will do almost anything to get us together again."

And my reply to this person is the same advice that I’ve given to countless people over the years:

I'm sorry to hear of your distress, and I can tell from your note that this is a very emotional issue for you. Yes, I have the power to do this: You have this power yourself, I assure you; all you need to do is to learn how to access it. Your note gives me the impression that you feel powerless. You have the power, it is yours to use. That's what we teach in the Order of Scathach.

However, I would strongly caution you against engaging in any form of magick that forces your will upon another. There is an old adage: What you bind, you're bound to. Without exception, people who do magick to make someone they are interested in love them end up with bad relationships. If this is truly love, and is meant to be, then you don't need magick to make it happen. It is magick in and of itself. If this relationship that you were in has ended, and/or isn't working, then that may be a good indication that it isn't meant to be, however strongly you feel about it at the moment. That your relationship has failed may be a very strong indication that you can do better than this, and that someone better is out there waiting for you. If you have to do magick to make someone love you, it isn't love, and it will only lead to disappointment. If you want a loving relationship and are having problems finding one, magick the universe, not a particular person. Put the intention out there and you'll get what you were looking for, probably faster than you thought. We can help you to overcome your distress, but we don't do love spells to make people love you.

In Her Service
Kerr Cuhulain
Grand MasterOrder of Scathach
www.dunscathach.com
warriorwitch @ http://twitter.com/

Repealing Canada's Witchcraft Law

My friend Greg is working on having Canada's last anti-witchcraft law repealed: This is in the Criminal Code under the fraud sections and basically describes Witchcraft as taking money for performing magic or divination. As part of his letter writing campaign, he has written to the Liberal Party of Canada's Critic of Justice as a second approach to the Minister of Justice to draw political/media attention to the issue and put pressure on the Federal Government to take action. Greg has a Facebook group for this project:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=350103684946&ref=ts All the information on this project is listed there as well as a letter that people can copy/paste to email or mail out. A lot of the information is also available through the discussion forums at www.thewicca.ca. Any assistance would be welcome.