Are you or anyone in your family a crafter? If so, these links might be useful and fun.
www.crafster.org
www.supernaturale.com
www.notmartha.org
www.theswitchboards.com
www.kiddley.com
www.detroitcraftmafia.com
www.lekkner.com
www.handmadedetroit.com
Me, I'm a crafter. I have always sewed and crocheted. These days, in addition to the phone, I produce a lovely line of tote bags. They're all made by me and just perfect for lugging along when you run errands. If you're interested in one, let me know.
Tawny
tawnyford@webtv.net
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Already there's a glitch in the plans for my aunt Big Gal's 80th birthday party this weekend. It was supposed to be in the clubhouse of the apartment complex where my one relative lives out here in the suburbs. Now it's going to be at a hall in Detroit. I know that doesn't sound like a problem, and it probably isn't to any one but me. But it went from being at a safe place to right smack in the middle of the
hood. And to top it off, the hood on a Saturday night.
I told you my Uncle David is supposed to be the keynote speaker at this event, right? Well, he found out what Big Gal's real name is so that's a good thing. But it's the only good thing so far because he still doesn'tknow what he's going to say. He says he's not going to stand up there and lie, saying things that aren't true in order to make Big Gal look good. He says God is going to have to give him the right words to say.
See the problem is, nobody likes Big Gal. Not nobody.
My grandmama used to tell my aunts and uncles and cousins to never never never eat or drink anything at Big Gal's because she and her house were filthy. My one uncle, who disobeyed my grandmama, ended up in the hospital after eating Big Gal's cooking.
Big Gal has always been a gossip too. And it doesn't matter to her if she's gossiping truth or not. For years she was telling people that when my one uncle was on the run from the feds that she took him in and hid him in her basement for three days. She put him out after three days, she said, because he wouldn't bathe and he was stinking up her house. Not true. Nobody could ever hide in her basement or anywhere her house, to this day, because she always has rats the size of small dogs and cockroaches by the trillions. And her house smells like a landfill. And I'm not lying, it really does. It's nasty.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
hood. And to top it off, the hood on a Saturday night.
I told you my Uncle David is supposed to be the keynote speaker at this event, right? Well, he found out what Big Gal's real name is so that's a good thing. But it's the only good thing so far because he still doesn'tknow what he's going to say. He says he's not going to stand up there and lie, saying things that aren't true in order to make Big Gal look good. He says God is going to have to give him the right words to say.
See the problem is, nobody likes Big Gal. Not nobody.
My grandmama used to tell my aunts and uncles and cousins to never never never eat or drink anything at Big Gal's because she and her house were filthy. My one uncle, who disobeyed my grandmama, ended up in the hospital after eating Big Gal's cooking.
Big Gal has always been a gossip too. And it doesn't matter to her if she's gossiping truth or not. For years she was telling people that when my one uncle was on the run from the feds that she took him in and hid him in her basement for three days. She put him out after three days, she said, because he wouldn't bathe and he was stinking up her house. Not true. Nobody could ever hide in her basement or anywhere her house, to this day, because she always has rats the size of small dogs and cockroaches by the trillions. And her house smells like a landfill. And I'm not lying, it really does. It's nasty.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Yesterday was a big day around here. Why? I went and purchased two new LazyBoy rocker recliners! They're the really big ones, the oversized chairs, in a very pretty shade of deep burgundy.
What prompted the purchase was the fact that LazyBoy was having a sale. Their merchandise, while of very good quality, is terribly expensive. Fifty dollars off each chair got me moving.
The only thing I'm unhappy with is that they charge a $69 delivery fee. To my way of thinking, when you're spending close to two grand. you should get free delivery. I think it's chintzy cheap on the part of the store.
The chairs should be deliverred later this week. That gives me time to clear out the two old ones. One of them has had a full life and it's going in the garbage. The other one is moving over by the window in the family room, and the chair that's already there is going to the basement.
See I've had those kind of LazyBoy chiars before and I love them. There's nothing more comfortable to curl up and watch tv in. Or to catch a few winks in the afternoon. Or to stretch out and speak with you.
All the decorating shows I see on tv, the first thing they do when it's a makeover for a room, they throw out the recliner because they're (they say) ugly. I always shake my head in disgust because there's nothing more comfortable than a recliner. And there's nothing more attractive than being comfortable.
Bone heads.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
What prompted the purchase was the fact that LazyBoy was having a sale. Their merchandise, while of very good quality, is terribly expensive. Fifty dollars off each chair got me moving.
The only thing I'm unhappy with is that they charge a $69 delivery fee. To my way of thinking, when you're spending close to two grand. you should get free delivery. I think it's chintzy cheap on the part of the store.
The chairs should be deliverred later this week. That gives me time to clear out the two old ones. One of them has had a full life and it's going in the garbage. The other one is moving over by the window in the family room, and the chair that's already there is going to the basement.
See I've had those kind of LazyBoy chiars before and I love them. There's nothing more comfortable to curl up and watch tv in. Or to catch a few winks in the afternoon. Or to stretch out and speak with you.
All the decorating shows I see on tv, the first thing they do when it's a makeover for a room, they throw out the recliner because they're (they say) ugly. I always shake my head in disgust because there's nothing more comfortable than a recliner. And there's nothing more attractive than being comfortable.
Bone heads.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Monday, April 16, 2007
Do you remember me telling you about my cousin that got shot by two crackheads? It happened last summer. He was taking a shower, the guys broke in, caught him without his pistol, and shot him numerous times, leaving him for dead.
While he was recuperating, my cousin swore he was going to get out of the gangster life. He was glad to be alive, he was going straight, etc.
Well, so much for turning his life around. A few weeks ago he got stabbed. I don't know all the details. Just that he was someplace he shouldn't have been, doing something he shouldn't have been doing, and some folks took offense and stabbed him up pretty good.
My cousin survived. At first, while he was recoverring from multiple stab wounds, he vowed that he'd learned his lesson. Life was too short and too prescious to keep jacking it off. He wanted to be around to watch his many, many children grow up.
And then, as the wounds healed up and he got past the horror of being shanked, well, he went back to his old life.
They say cats have nine lives. I don't know about people. But you have to wonder how many times God is going to spare this fool.
I say he shouldn't have been in the underworld to begin with. But getting shot, that should have been his wake-up call. Getting stabbed, well, now he's at two strikes. What's number three going to be? If he's lucky it'll be going to prison. If e's not, then it could be the graveyard.
Tawny
While he was recuperating, my cousin swore he was going to get out of the gangster life. He was glad to be alive, he was going straight, etc.
Well, so much for turning his life around. A few weeks ago he got stabbed. I don't know all the details. Just that he was someplace he shouldn't have been, doing something he shouldn't have been doing, and some folks took offense and stabbed him up pretty good.
My cousin survived. At first, while he was recoverring from multiple stab wounds, he vowed that he'd learned his lesson. Life was too short and too prescious to keep jacking it off. He wanted to be around to watch his many, many children grow up.
And then, as the wounds healed up and he got past the horror of being shanked, well, he went back to his old life.
They say cats have nine lives. I don't know about people. But you have to wonder how many times God is going to spare this fool.
I say he shouldn't have been in the underworld to begin with. But getting shot, that should have been his wake-up call. Getting stabbed, well, now he's at two strikes. What's number three going to be? If he's lucky it'll be going to prison. If e's not, then it could be the graveyard.
Tawny
Sunday, April 15, 2007
This coming Saturday I won't be home. My family is having an 80th birthday party for my aunt Big Gal. It's kind of a last minute, on the rush type of party. See, they never expected her to make it to 80. She's had all sorts of health problems, even had brain surgery a few years ago.
The party is going to be held at the clubhouse of the apartment complex where my Aunt Glo lives. It won't be a lavish affair, nothing like the one my other cousins threw for their mother, my Aunt Shug, a couple of years ago. They rented a big hall and had a sit down catered meal. This will be more like a pot luck, and that's okay, home cooked food is always good.
My favorite uncle, Uncle David, has been asked to be the speaker for the party. He always knows just the right thing to say at any occasion. This time though he's got his work cut out for him. Why? Because none of us can remember Big Gal's real name and he's embarassed to ask her children(smile).
It should be an interesting party. I can almost predict which of my cousins are going to spend their rent money for a wildly expensive dress and high heels and tons of fake hair. And the males, well, they'll all have bottles of champagne to impress everybody else with. It's so classy to see a bottle of champagne tipped up and drank like a 40 ounce beer. Not.
But I'm still looking forward to the party. I haven't seen hardly any of my relatives since Thanksgiving when they rented a hall and all had dinner together.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
The party is going to be held at the clubhouse of the apartment complex where my Aunt Glo lives. It won't be a lavish affair, nothing like the one my other cousins threw for their mother, my Aunt Shug, a couple of years ago. They rented a big hall and had a sit down catered meal. This will be more like a pot luck, and that's okay, home cooked food is always good.
My favorite uncle, Uncle David, has been asked to be the speaker for the party. He always knows just the right thing to say at any occasion. This time though he's got his work cut out for him. Why? Because none of us can remember Big Gal's real name and he's embarassed to ask her children(smile).
It should be an interesting party. I can almost predict which of my cousins are going to spend their rent money for a wildly expensive dress and high heels and tons of fake hair. And the males, well, they'll all have bottles of champagne to impress everybody else with. It's so classy to see a bottle of champagne tipped up and drank like a 40 ounce beer. Not.
But I'm still looking forward to the party. I haven't seen hardly any of my relatives since Thanksgiving when they rented a hall and all had dinner together.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Monday, April 09, 2007
My fingers are still recoverring from all that typing to enter Bo's piece in yesterday's blog entry. But I'll tel you what, it was worth it. I believe that what he wrote is important and I wanted to share it with you.
Remember, you can access his site by going to www.humankindness.org.
love, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Remember, you can access his site by going to www.humankindness.org.
love, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Sunday, April 08, 2007
In previous blog entries I've written about the good works done by Bo + Sita Lozoff of the Human Kindness Foundation (www.humankindness.org), as well as inserting a piece or two from their newsletter, A Little Good News.
Well, their Spring 2007 issue has arrived and the lead article, The Real "Secret" Is A Dark One, written by Bo Lozoff, is something that I need to share with you.
Before I begin typing it in, any typos of any kind are mine, not Bo's.
-----
The Real "Secret" Is A Dark One by Bo Lozoff
Dear Family,
In the past seven months as I've been speaking across the country, many people have approached me and asked with some degree of excitement in their voices, "Bo, have you seen The Secret yet? Oh, you'll love it! It will change the world! Let people know about this!"
So I did watch The Secret, as well as an Oprah show that featured its "teachers", and I think we all need to reflect very deeply on the message that is passing for wisdom these days. "New Age" centers, "New Thought" Churches, the Christian "prosperity" movements personified by the likes of Joel Osteen, and now Oprah's enormous fan base, are really falling off the deep end into a psuedo-spirituality that is not just a little self-indulgent, it is primarily about selfishness and materialism.
The Secret itself is a childish exaggeration of a minor energetic principle--"The Law of Attraction"--which simply means what most of our grandmothers have said to us at one time or another: "If you think negative things, your life will be negative. Keep your mind on positive things, and you'll attract more positive things and people into your life." That's pretty basic stuff, who could arge with it? It's true. Got it? Be positive!
But to frame this as The Scret, as the "greatest power in the universe", to open the film with suspense-movie scenes of scholars and monks throughout history desperately trying to hide this "secret" for future generations while they are being pursued by armies and assassins; to claim that every great man from Jesus to Thomas Edison knew this specific "Secret" and now you and I are finally going to be let in on it, oh, pleeease!! It's a minor part of life; nothing profound about it. Both teams in the Superbowl should "think positive" and visualize winning, but only one is going to win, because being positive is not everything!
The way we think factors into our lives along with many other realities such as our past karma, genetic and acquired strengths and weaknesses, the needs of our family or socety, the politics of the age we live in, our willingness to work hard, and of course, God's plan for us.
And maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I thought God was the greatest power in the Universe. I thought the best things in life were free. I thouht we're supposed to dedicate our lives to the greatest good. I thoght God gave us a Peace that worldly riches can never give. Not so in The Secret. This film and a lot of the pop-spirituality I see these days has become so self-centered that the religion it most clearly exemplifies is Satanism. I'm not being sarcastic. It's true.
I know the word "Satanism" conjures up images of children and sacrificing animals, but the actual Church of Satan has never endorsed that stuff. In fact, two of the "Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth" are:
Do not harm little children.
Do not kill animals unless attacked or for your food.
So suspend your media images of Satanism. The biggest difference between Satanism and other religions is simpe: Classic religions put God at the center, and Satanism puts the self at the center. The Great Religions share a theme of unselfishness. Satan's theme is selfishness. The Great Faiths say we are here to love our neighbor and serve God's creation. Satanism says we are here to please ourselves, and creation is here to serve us--exactly what is emphasized in The Secret. All of you who have seen The Secret and have jumped on the bandwagon about how wonderful it is, pleae take this comparison seriously. You are unknowingly leaning toward Satanism.
Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, wrote: Satanism is the only religion which srves to encourage and enhance one's individual preferences. Since Satanism is essentially a religion of the self, it holds that the individual and his personal needs come first.
Now read an exhange on Oprah between Lisa Nichols, one of The Secret "Teachers", and an audience member:
Nichols: So, you serve everyone else, don't you?
Audience member: You got that right!
Nichols: So, make 2007 the year that you show up in the now for YOU!
(thunderous applause) Now repeat after me: I choose today, to give myself, the best life ever!
Audience member: (repeats it,to cheers and applause)
Honestly, that would qualify as a nice Satanic initiation.
The following (in CAPS) are principles of the Church of Satan, followed by teachings from The Secret:
SATANISTS DO NOT WORSHIP A LIVING DEITY.
The Secret makes it clear that the Law of Attraction (not God) is the most powerful force in the Universe, and this force is amoral and "scientific". One man in the film says he wants lots of women, three or four a week, and is shown how to attract them into his life, and he succeeds. When he decides he wants one lasting relationship, he changes his thoughts and again attracts what he wants. No higher or lower desires, just whatever we want. If here is any object of worship implied in The Secret, it is personal success. Big houses, lots of money, fame, glory. There is no greater God to worship, no sanctity in serving the poor, the unfortunate, the sick. Just have a good time. That's the lure of Satanism.
MAJOR EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL....RATHER THAN ON A GOD OR GODDESS.
One so-called "metaphysician" of The Secret, Joe Vitale, tells us "The universe is merely your CATALOG". You just "shop" for whatever income, product, person or experience that you may want by thinking and visualizing constantly of it. Cut out pictures of a car, a house, whatever you want, and post them on a "vision board". Do rituals to affirm that you will receive them. Satanists do a lot of this kind of
stuff. They call it Ritual Magic. Please don't do this.
SATANIST BELIEVE THAT "NO REDEEMER LIVETH"--THAT EACH PERSON IS THEIR OWN REDEEMER< FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIRECTION OF THEIR OWN LIFE.
Just to make sure we know there is no need for God in this new thelogy, Neale Donald Walsch, of "Conversations With God", appears in The Secret to tell us there is no such thing as God's Will for you--You are entirely in charge of whatever you want to do. That's exactly what Anton LaVey says! No God to surrender to, no God of Love, no God to guide us or to humble ourselves before.
Another "Teacher", Father Hicks tells us we entirely create our own reality. That exceeds even Anton LaVey's view. I guess our young men and women dying in Iraq, and all the Iraqi victims of this crazy war, are just creating their deaths with negative thoughts? Along with all those hungry kids in India, millions dying of AIDS in Africa? Nothing more complex about Life than to "ask, believe, receive"? How dare you be so arrogant, Ms. Hicks? How dare you!
But The Secret did not rise in a vacuum. The Secret is just the latest descent of pop-spirituality into a materialistic, self-centered new theology truly similar to Satanism, that seems to be taking hold in many churches, spiritual centers and households. It's a theology of "Me First"; a theology of entitlement ("I deserve everything good in life and I should not have to struggle for it"); a theolgy of disconnection from our influence on others and their influence on us; a theology where modesty and sacrifice are seen as unhealthy and pride and vanity are seen as essential.
Most of all, it is a theology of "prosperity and abundance" where lip service is paid to words like peace and joy, but the bottom line is GETTING RICH, no two ways about it. In fact, even gratitude and forgiveness are explained merely as strategies to attract more success into your life. It's always about you. I'm sorry, that's just not deep religion.
An neither is it responsible politics. At a time when the world is at war over oil, clean air and clean water are fading memories, and Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth begs us to take seriously the jeopardy our planet is in, this new theology says not a word about living more simply or about wanting less consumer wealth. It does exactly the opposite, and encourages us to think and get rich. This theology of the self cuts us off from any sense of responsibility for ecology or conservation. None of that is our problem, it is just "scaricity consciousness". These "teachers" actually say with a tone of scientific authority "The universe has plenty of resources for
everyone to have everything they want!"
Well, maybe the universe has unlimited resources, but the Earth clearly does NOT. Many species are already extinct, rainforests already damaged beyond repair, icecaps already melting, from our relentless consumption of resources. It is more than immature; it is viciously irresponisble to entice us to want more luxury and wealth instead of enouraging deeper happiness from living more sustainably and simply.
One of The Secrets "master" teachers, Jack Canfield, shows off photos of his $4 1/2 million-dollar house, his "wife to die for", and his exotic vacations. That's a "master"?! A rich guy who brags about his life? How much petroleum does it take to sustain Canfield's mansion? How many little kids around the world work like slaves to produce the products such a household consumes? How many maids and gardeners take take care of his estate? Why doesn't he tell them The Secret so they can get rich? It's all just so sad.....
The biggest sorrow about this new theolog is not just that it echoes Satanism, but that it robs us of the greatness of our Spiritual Adventure. If life is just a catalog of our petty worldy desires, then where is higher consciousness? Where is holiness? Where is the "dark night of the soul" and our subsequent transformation? Is there truly no spiritual journey? Just a shopping spree to get the stupid external
props that we think will make us happy?
Do use the "Law of Attraction" in your daily life---pray first thing every day to be less selfish, to love thy neighbor, to be humble, to keep God in mind all day, to have constant faith in Life's ultimate Goodness. We can use a hammer to build a house or to beat someone to death. The "Law of Attraction" is just a hammer. Please don't use it to beat God to death in this weird age when the tiny egoic self's wordly
desires become your god. This is no "Secret" at all. It is the classic road to hell.
---------
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Well, their Spring 2007 issue has arrived and the lead article, The Real "Secret" Is A Dark One, written by Bo Lozoff, is something that I need to share with you.
Before I begin typing it in, any typos of any kind are mine, not Bo's.
-----
The Real "Secret" Is A Dark One by Bo Lozoff
Dear Family,
In the past seven months as I've been speaking across the country, many people have approached me and asked with some degree of excitement in their voices, "Bo, have you seen The Secret yet? Oh, you'll love it! It will change the world! Let people know about this!"
So I did watch The Secret, as well as an Oprah show that featured its "teachers", and I think we all need to reflect very deeply on the message that is passing for wisdom these days. "New Age" centers, "New Thought" Churches, the Christian "prosperity" movements personified by the likes of Joel Osteen, and now Oprah's enormous fan base, are really falling off the deep end into a psuedo-spirituality that is not just a little self-indulgent, it is primarily about selfishness and materialism.
The Secret itself is a childish exaggeration of a minor energetic principle--"The Law of Attraction"--which simply means what most of our grandmothers have said to us at one time or another: "If you think negative things, your life will be negative. Keep your mind on positive things, and you'll attract more positive things and people into your life." That's pretty basic stuff, who could arge with it? It's true. Got it? Be positive!
But to frame this as The Scret, as the "greatest power in the universe", to open the film with suspense-movie scenes of scholars and monks throughout history desperately trying to hide this "secret" for future generations while they are being pursued by armies and assassins; to claim that every great man from Jesus to Thomas Edison knew this specific "Secret" and now you and I are finally going to be let in on it, oh, pleeease!! It's a minor part of life; nothing profound about it. Both teams in the Superbowl should "think positive" and visualize winning, but only one is going to win, because being positive is not everything!
The way we think factors into our lives along with many other realities such as our past karma, genetic and acquired strengths and weaknesses, the needs of our family or socety, the politics of the age we live in, our willingness to work hard, and of course, God's plan for us.
And maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I thought God was the greatest power in the Universe. I thought the best things in life were free. I thouht we're supposed to dedicate our lives to the greatest good. I thoght God gave us a Peace that worldly riches can never give. Not so in The Secret. This film and a lot of the pop-spirituality I see these days has become so self-centered that the religion it most clearly exemplifies is Satanism. I'm not being sarcastic. It's true.
I know the word "Satanism" conjures up images of children and sacrificing animals, but the actual Church of Satan has never endorsed that stuff. In fact, two of the "Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth" are:
Do not harm little children.
Do not kill animals unless attacked or for your food.
So suspend your media images of Satanism. The biggest difference between Satanism and other religions is simpe: Classic religions put God at the center, and Satanism puts the self at the center. The Great Religions share a theme of unselfishness. Satan's theme is selfishness. The Great Faiths say we are here to love our neighbor and serve God's creation. Satanism says we are here to please ourselves, and creation is here to serve us--exactly what is emphasized in The Secret. All of you who have seen The Secret and have jumped on the bandwagon about how wonderful it is, pleae take this comparison seriously. You are unknowingly leaning toward Satanism.
Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, wrote: Satanism is the only religion which srves to encourage and enhance one's individual preferences. Since Satanism is essentially a religion of the self, it holds that the individual and his personal needs come first.
Now read an exhange on Oprah between Lisa Nichols, one of The Secret "Teachers", and an audience member:
Nichols: So, you serve everyone else, don't you?
Audience member: You got that right!
Nichols: So, make 2007 the year that you show up in the now for YOU!
(thunderous applause) Now repeat after me: I choose today, to give myself, the best life ever!
Audience member: (repeats it,to cheers and applause)
Honestly, that would qualify as a nice Satanic initiation.
The following (in CAPS) are principles of the Church of Satan, followed by teachings from The Secret:
SATANISTS DO NOT WORSHIP A LIVING DEITY.
The Secret makes it clear that the Law of Attraction (not God) is the most powerful force in the Universe, and this force is amoral and "scientific". One man in the film says he wants lots of women, three or four a week, and is shown how to attract them into his life, and he succeeds. When he decides he wants one lasting relationship, he changes his thoughts and again attracts what he wants. No higher or lower desires, just whatever we want. If here is any object of worship implied in The Secret, it is personal success. Big houses, lots of money, fame, glory. There is no greater God to worship, no sanctity in serving the poor, the unfortunate, the sick. Just have a good time. That's the lure of Satanism.
MAJOR EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL....RATHER THAN ON A GOD OR GODDESS.
One so-called "metaphysician" of The Secret, Joe Vitale, tells us "The universe is merely your CATALOG". You just "shop" for whatever income, product, person or experience that you may want by thinking and visualizing constantly of it. Cut out pictures of a car, a house, whatever you want, and post them on a "vision board". Do rituals to affirm that you will receive them. Satanists do a lot of this kind of
stuff. They call it Ritual Magic. Please don't do this.
SATANIST BELIEVE THAT "NO REDEEMER LIVETH"--THAT EACH PERSON IS THEIR OWN REDEEMER< FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIRECTION OF THEIR OWN LIFE.
Just to make sure we know there is no need for God in this new thelogy, Neale Donald Walsch, of "Conversations With God", appears in The Secret to tell us there is no such thing as God's Will for you--You are entirely in charge of whatever you want to do. That's exactly what Anton LaVey says! No God to surrender to, no God of Love, no God to guide us or to humble ourselves before.
Another "Teacher", Father Hicks tells us we entirely create our own reality. That exceeds even Anton LaVey's view. I guess our young men and women dying in Iraq, and all the Iraqi victims of this crazy war, are just creating their deaths with negative thoughts? Along with all those hungry kids in India, millions dying of AIDS in Africa? Nothing more complex about Life than to "ask, believe, receive"? How dare you be so arrogant, Ms. Hicks? How dare you!
But The Secret did not rise in a vacuum. The Secret is just the latest descent of pop-spirituality into a materialistic, self-centered new theology truly similar to Satanism, that seems to be taking hold in many churches, spiritual centers and households. It's a theology of "Me First"; a theology of entitlement ("I deserve everything good in life and I should not have to struggle for it"); a theolgy of disconnection from our influence on others and their influence on us; a theology where modesty and sacrifice are seen as unhealthy and pride and vanity are seen as essential.
Most of all, it is a theology of "prosperity and abundance" where lip service is paid to words like peace and joy, but the bottom line is GETTING RICH, no two ways about it. In fact, even gratitude and forgiveness are explained merely as strategies to attract more success into your life. It's always about you. I'm sorry, that's just not deep religion.
An neither is it responsible politics. At a time when the world is at war over oil, clean air and clean water are fading memories, and Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth begs us to take seriously the jeopardy our planet is in, this new theology says not a word about living more simply or about wanting less consumer wealth. It does exactly the opposite, and encourages us to think and get rich. This theology of the self cuts us off from any sense of responsibility for ecology or conservation. None of that is our problem, it is just "scaricity consciousness". These "teachers" actually say with a tone of scientific authority "The universe has plenty of resources for
everyone to have everything they want!"
Well, maybe the universe has unlimited resources, but the Earth clearly does NOT. Many species are already extinct, rainforests already damaged beyond repair, icecaps already melting, from our relentless consumption of resources. It is more than immature; it is viciously irresponisble to entice us to want more luxury and wealth instead of enouraging deeper happiness from living more sustainably and simply.
One of The Secrets "master" teachers, Jack Canfield, shows off photos of his $4 1/2 million-dollar house, his "wife to die for", and his exotic vacations. That's a "master"?! A rich guy who brags about his life? How much petroleum does it take to sustain Canfield's mansion? How many little kids around the world work like slaves to produce the products such a household consumes? How many maids and gardeners take take care of his estate? Why doesn't he tell them The Secret so they can get rich? It's all just so sad.....
The biggest sorrow about this new theolog is not just that it echoes Satanism, but that it robs us of the greatness of our Spiritual Adventure. If life is just a catalog of our petty worldy desires, then where is higher consciousness? Where is holiness? Where is the "dark night of the soul" and our subsequent transformation? Is there truly no spiritual journey? Just a shopping spree to get the stupid external
props that we think will make us happy?
Do use the "Law of Attraction" in your daily life---pray first thing every day to be less selfish, to love thy neighbor, to be humble, to keep God in mind all day, to have constant faith in Life's ultimate Goodness. We can use a hammer to build a house or to beat someone to death. The "Law of Attraction" is just a hammer. Please don't use it to beat God to death in this weird age when the tiny egoic self's wordly
desires become your god. This is no "Secret" at all. It is the classic road to hell.
---------
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, April 05, 2007
I've been thinking a lot about that article in the Metro Times I was telling you about, what are you afraid of. I'm still not coming up with anything that I'm afraid of.
But when I was a child I was afraid of the dark. Had to have a nightlight on in my bedroom. Or the light in the hallway had to be on until I fell asleep. I also had to have my closet door shut tight, as well as all of the drawers in my dressers. And I was real careful when I got into bed, making sure that the monster that I was convinced lived underneath my bed, didn't grab hold of my ankle and drag me under there with him.
I was afraid of my father too. It's not like he beat me or anything, I can only remember him hittng me a couple of times, and it was across the face. One time he pulled over to the side of the road while he was driving, leaned over to the back seat and slapped me hard across my face. My offense? I had a 'revelation' and foolishly shared it with him.
But I still can't figure out what I'm afraid of now. I guess I'm not afraid of anything here on earth. I mean, what's the worst thing that can happen to you? You die. And we were born to die, so...........
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
But when I was a child I was afraid of the dark. Had to have a nightlight on in my bedroom. Or the light in the hallway had to be on until I fell asleep. I also had to have my closet door shut tight, as well as all of the drawers in my dressers. And I was real careful when I got into bed, making sure that the monster that I was convinced lived underneath my bed, didn't grab hold of my ankle and drag me under there with him.
I was afraid of my father too. It's not like he beat me or anything, I can only remember him hittng me a couple of times, and it was across the face. One time he pulled over to the side of the road while he was driving, leaned over to the back seat and slapped me hard across my face. My offense? I had a 'revelation' and foolishly shared it with him.
But I still can't figure out what I'm afraid of now. I guess I'm not afraid of anything here on earth. I mean, what's the worst thing that can happen to you? You die. And we were born to die, so...........
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Have you seen the movie, Children of Men? I rented it from Blockbusterand watched it over the weekend. I liked it. It's one of those moviesthat you have to pay attention to. No day dreaming, no leaving it playing while you grab something to eat. Just sit yourself down and watch it.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Monday, April 02, 2007
Last week's issue of the Metro Times (www.metrotimes.com), the freeweekly alternative paper of the metro Detroit area, had an interestingcover/lead story---What Are You Afraid Of? You just might want to take alook at it. It got me to thinking and wonderring about my fears. I worry about a lot of things, but I don't think I am necessarily afraidof the things I worry about.
Like, I worry about the wierd sounds I hear in the dropped (ceilingtile) ceiling in my family room. I think it's probably some littlecritter that some way/some how found it's way in there.
I worry about what'll happen if/when the phone stops ringing.I worry about what's going to happen to our country and our people if those damn wars in Iraq and Afghanistan don't end NOW.
I worry about all of the people who are losing their homes through forelosure. And losing their jobs.
I worry about an endless list of things, but I'm not afraid of them. I'm not real sure what I'm afraid of. Do you know what you're afraid of?
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Like, I worry about the wierd sounds I hear in the dropped (ceilingtile) ceiling in my family room. I think it's probably some littlecritter that some way/some how found it's way in there.
I worry about what'll happen if/when the phone stops ringing.I worry about what's going to happen to our country and our people if those damn wars in Iraq and Afghanistan don't end NOW.
I worry about all of the people who are losing their homes through forelosure. And losing their jobs.
I worry about an endless list of things, but I'm not afraid of them. I'm not real sure what I'm afraid of. Do you know what you're afraid of?
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
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