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Occasionally I wandered in where I was not wanted and gave truthful answers.
Sometimes I even did it deliberately. A little disruption now can prevent disaster later.

A Pict Song

When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would always say to me 'look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'
— Fred Rogers
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Absolutely mythical

This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C1325529963/E20071009133622

Dualism and modern mythology

From some reason as I write this, I've got the tune to Robert Palmer's Simply Irresistible running through my head with new lyrics.

When it comes to modern Pagan philosophers, Isaac Bonewits was one of my earliest influences. His writings on the distortions created by dualistic assumptions were some of the best I had ever read. It was one of those "ton of brick" moments, I was struggling with my identity as a Pagan despite being raised Christian. And Bonewits is absolutely right.

Except when it comes to his own politics.

It's common. Those EITHER/OR blinders are a lot more widespread than we comfortably admit. Especially when it comes to ourselves.

My own blinders include prejudices against "fluffy bunnies" and until quite recently otherkin. Part of that was because I didn't make the effort to dig deeper, but mainly because the "noisiest" examples aren't necessarily the people you'd want around you. There are exceptions, but they are difficult to find.

I absolutely love Wren's Nest, I consider it one of the the best Pagan news sources around. But it doesn't take long before a commenter trots out the anti-Christian bit on almost any thread.

One of my hard won life lessons that I am willing to share is very simple. When you see two and only two alternatives, start looking for the third.

In most situations, either/or choices don't work.

A dualistic mind set is one of those REALLY BAD™ ideas.

It doesn't matter if it's Christian vs. Pagan, Democrat vs. Republican, or Freemasons vs. the Elks.

I made that last one up. And that is my point. The myths we choose to talk about and live are the memes that shape our lives, regardless of their "truth."

I want to talk about one of the best known myths of our time, and how it illustrates the Third Way that overcomes dualism. I'm talking about the Star Wars films.

Specifically, I want to concentrate on the differences between the pre-Empire Galactic Republic and the Galactic Empire on the large scale, and between Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker on the small scale.

From the original films, we know that the Galactic Empire is EVIL BAD in capital letters. They destroy entire planets. They make their stormtroopers wear dorky armor that doesn't seem to deflect much blaster fire. They squeeze the economies of their member planets. They send secret operatives to ferret out dissent.

From the prequel films, we know that the Republic are the good guys. They have a democratic tradition which prevents justice and can be manipulated behind the scenes. They make their cloned stormtroopers wear dorky armor that doesn't seem to prevent much blaster fire. They squeeze the economies of their member planets. And they send secret operatives to ferret out dissent.

The Empire has the Death Star, but the Republic is incapable of defending one of it's members from the advances of another. Is it evil to destroy life with the push of a button or with the procedural vote?

Be careful, that is one of those either/or choices I warned you about.

So let's look at how Anakin Skywalker fared under the Galactic Republic.

Time after time, he's told that he has to deny his passions, his connections to other people. It's not pure, it's not the Way of the Jedi. At first, he's even denied the Jedi training. The mighty Jedi Council sits on high, dispassionately evaluating everything and totally blind to the Sith.

The one Jedi Master who thinks outside the box well enough to help Anakin come to terms with his feelings is dead by the end of the first prequel film.

Despite promises of freedom and justice, Anakin's mother remains a slave and is killed without the protection of the Republic. Anakin's visions torment him with visions of his beloved dying in despair. The Jedi Council won't make him a Master, despite his obvious gifts and abilities.

To Anakin, the Republic betrayed him long before he took up the path of a Sith Lord.

Luke Skywalker fared even worse under the Galactic Empire. His guardians were killed by stormtroopers. He knew that Darth Vader had "killed" his father. He watched as Vader sliced his mentor in half. If anyone had a reason for revenge, it was Luke.

As Luke progressed in his training, his teachers stress that he must disassociate his feelings from his actions. Time after time, he is told that only a fully trained Jedi could hope to face Vader and the Emperor.

Yet there was an x-factor, something totally unexpected. Even before Luke knew Leia was his sister, there was a connection that grew only stronger the more time they spent together. Luke could feel how his sister felt about Han Solo, the charming rogue who only became a hero because his friends were in danger.

Anakin didn't have a Han Solo. Luke did.

That's why Luke knew his father could be redeemed. He had already seen Han redeemed.

I'd like to say that the clues were there. Red Flight became Rogue Flight. Han's military and practical experience showed up on Hoth and in the deference that the Rebels gave Han and Chewie. More than anything else, more than the pronouncements of Yoda or the promises of Ben Kenobi, Luke knew that he could count on Han to pull him out of a disaster.

"That's two you owe me, junior."

It was the connection to Leia that let Luke survive his first encounter with Vader. It was Han's willing sacrifice that let Leia, Chewie, Lando, and the droids escape.

Because, you see, even though the good guys won and the Emperor was destroyed, it wasn't done by the way of the Jedi.

It was a man who had mastered the way of the Jedi but chose a path of compassion.

Luke Skywalker looked for the third way beyond either/or. That's what let him win.

That's the real myth of Star Wars. Not good versus evil.

The Sith could only exist because the Jedi were incomplete. And the Sith were doomed because they were the flip side and just as incomplete.

The only lasting solution was to find another way not in the assumptions of either "side." And the man who made it possible wasn't a Jedi, but a good man who chose to be better out of friendship and love.

So how does this relate to us?

Maybe it doesn't. Maybe it is enough to know that there are usually more than two answers. Maybe it is enough to know that sometimes our expectations shape our answers more than any truth.

And maybe it is enough knowing that only two answers mirror each other.

Posted: Tue - October 9, 2007 at 01:36 PM

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Do you believe

doesn't touch tomorrow's promise

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Sometimes the sad songs do help

Looking at portrayal of Pagans in horror films

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“Circles”

Moonlight is sculpture; sunlight is painting.
— Nathaniel Hawthorne
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“The Christians and the Pagans”

Good men don’t need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many.
Doctor Who, A Good Man Goes to War
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“Joy to the World”

A pagan take on a still another holiday classic.

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“Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful!”

I like the composition and how it suggests a magickal landscape.

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“Away from the Harvest”

A pagan take on a still another holiday classic.

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“Moon of Silver”

“ ”OF COURSE the Puritans banned Christmas.”

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“Silent Night”

A man who truly touched lives

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“All Hail Ye, Simple Pagans”

That which is known but not told.
— NeoWayland
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“The Holly and the Ivy” (pagan version)

The desert is natural; when you are out there, you can get in tune with your environment, something you lose when you live in the city.
— Robyn Davidson
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License to thrill

This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C1982366546/E20081203160533

Rattling the windows, singing in anticipation

Sometimes I shouldn't play the music too loud...

Jim Steinman is a songmaker, there's no other word for it. He's probably best known for collaborating with Meatloaf, and stars above that man could write.

He is a literate lyricist, and when his songs hit, they hit hard. I still remember my reaction to Making Love out of Nothing at All. Yes, I know I am dating myself, but just because I was one screwed up teen doesn't mean I was passionless.

He wrote a great number called Original Sin, which Taylor Dayne sang for the film The Shadow, a film that almost was. It had all the pieces, but didn't have them put together right. Anyway, this song was the sole reason I sprung for the six bucks when I saw the sound track album in the bargain bin at Wal Mart. When I am really down, it sometimes helps. When I drive at night and I play it, I have to use the cruise control or I go too fast.

Yes, I identify too closely with this song sometimes.

All I wanted was a piece of the night
I never gotta equal share
When the stars are all outside
And the moon is down
The natives are so restless tonight
All I needed was a spot in the light
Never had to get so dark
The natives are so restless tonight

All I needed was a spot in the light…
I’ve been looking for an original sin
One with a twist and a bit of a spin
And since I’ve done all the old ones
Till they’ve all been done in
Now I’m just looking
And I’m gone with the wind
Endlessly searching for an original sin…


But today I cranked it just because I could. And because my voice was good enough today to sing along and rattle the windows.

I'll never be a first rank singer. But I can be enthusiastic.

I’m applying for a license to thrill…
Going out on the edge…
Moving in for the kill
And there’ll be hell to pay someday…
Put it all on the bill…
Cause we’ll always be paying
And paying until…
We're beyond expiration…
With a license to thrill…


I'm meeting someone in a couple hours.

And why am I talking about this on a Pagan blog? Because sometimes raising energy works best the old way, one of the very original ways I'd say. The snake up through each of the chakras. Although those aren't the terms I used when I learned the techniques.

Truthfully I can't think of too much else Pagan related right now. I need an emotional kick in the pants and the lady always chooses.

Original Sin by Jim Steinman
Posted: Wed - December 3, 2008 at 04:05 PM

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❝One Tin Solider❞

Listen children to a story
That was written long ago
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley folk below

On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath a stone
And the valley people swore
They'd have it for their very own

Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of Heaven
You can justify it in the end

There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the Judgment Day
On the bloody morning after who
One tin soldier rides away

So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill
Asking for the buried treasure
Tons of gold for which they'd kill

Came an answer from the kingdom
With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain
An' all the riches buried there

Now the valley cried in anger
"Mount your horses, draw your sword"
And they killed the mountain people
So they won their just reward

Now they stood beside the treasure
On the mountain dark and red
Turn the stone and which beneath it
"Peace on Earth" was all it said

Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of Heaven
You can justify it in the end

There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the Judgment Day
On the bloody morning after who
One tin soldier rides away

Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of Heaven
You can justify it in the end

There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the Judgment Day
On the bloody morning after who
One tin soldier rides away
words and music by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter

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I'm going to have to take some time.

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Special harvest

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
— George Carlin
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Clean

It's the last bright moon before Summergate, the Lady Moon is entering the Court of Stars and I am ready.

For what I am not sure.

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The last few days you may have seen some site issues.

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Every home should have a fireplace

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Riding the music

Rainy day musings

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Kissed by the Lady Moon - updated

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.
— John Muir
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Do Be Do Be Do

From classic philosophy to classic virtue, Paganism's best hope depends on what we choose to put out in the World - updated

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Lost in the story

You should find it easier to navigate the site

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Gods make you stretch

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Feelings

tek NO paa gan TEK no PAA gan

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Depression and the Modern Pagan

“”The

Sort of progress, still not sure if I am going to do it

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Just like clockwork

Fundamental principles

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A sun worshiper welcomes summer

"all of that sunshine,
all of that sweet golden sunshine,
that thrills me and fills me and…"

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Greenwood Beltaine - updated

Contemplating modern paganism and my own faith

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Before Our Worlds Touch

It's not quite... ancestor worship

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Here’s the secret to being a pagan

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Sunfell Tech Mage Rede Nine Words Serve The Tech Mage Best Keep What Works Fix What’s Broke Ditch The Rest

A narrow slice of life, but now and again pondering American neopaganism, modern adult pagans & the World.

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