I am happy and proud to be what I consider a true American. When I was in school, we sang the national anthem. What always stuck with me was the last part, "Land of the free and home of the brave." Throughout my life I have sought the truth, in spite of my ego and threat of "eternal death," my mind and soul have not given up through the darkness and pain to seek that which is true for me..

What does it mean to be free? This can be a real head trip! And it was for me for many years. I have tried in my own way to be free. And I have to be a brave son of a bitch to set my sights on freedom and not let go!

I'll give it to you for free, today on Independence Day ... (it took me many years) ...

"In order to be free ... I must face all my own deepest fears! And I have to be Brave to do that!"

I think it was Jesus who is quoted as having said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." And after decades of seeking the ultimate truth, I finally had to discover that if I wanted the truth, I must first know and own "my own truth." Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is within..

I know my Pagan friends may wonder when I quote Jesus. I know by Baptist relatives may wonder that I call myself a Pagan. For me it doesn't matter; for me, personally, that is. I have followed the word of Jesus all my life. In childhood, when I was getting all kinds of mixed messages and being confused in the worst ways, he was my mentor, my teacher and my male role-model. It took a real warrior, and not a wussie man, to drive the money changers out of the temple.. It took a man with balls to live a life that said, "I have no enemies!" and always seek a win / win scenario based on what's real. It took a magician like Jesus to create a sacred space in conflict in order for people to experience a better reality based on their own healing and stepping out of the box into the, for them, unknown..

Jesus loved women and modern christianity is based more on the words of Paul than of Jesus. Whenever I have conflict with dogmatic traditionalists I simply open my heart, give them "tough love" and quote the words of Jesus the way I'm willing to live and die, for my honest to myself interpretation of them, and they usually back off..

As a witch, a magick man, I create a sacred circle around my body and carry it with me everywhere. When I meet a disturbed brother, or sister, I strive to extend that circle and create a safe space to transform that conflict into truth and healing, a safe space for that person to step into being who they really are. I'm a rainbow warrior. I'm a survivor. Yes, cockroach is also one of my totems. And I have a responsibility to use what I'm privileged to have both learned and survived to make both passive and active differences in the way I live my every day life..

I am a practioner of Mundane Magick. I try to face and dance with all the energies with awareness and respect and seek a win / win scenario in the daily activities of life. These are the good 'ol days. This is the adventure I signed up for..

The problem is with others, not myself. I have my own relationship with and understanding of Jesus. I have sought information all my life. If I would print here what I really believe and know about his life time and who he really was then, some people might want to burn me at the stake. But I am free because I'm willing to face my own truth and live by it and be willing to die for it..

I don't have to preach to others. What I have to do is simply live my truth as an example for others..

It's hard not to preach, ha ha ! I'm the seventh son. I'm seventh in a line of preachers on both sides of the family. And it took me a long time to realize that I didn't have convince anybody else in words.. I only had to convince myself!

All I can tell you is that we live in a common, collective denial.. Anytime I followed my heart and stepped off that cliff into the unknown, I always slapped my forehead with my hand afterwards and said, "Wow! Why didn't I do that a long time ago?!"

Your personal power is in your denial. So are your demons. If you are willing to search for your own truth, take the light of your spirit, which is your eternal heritage, and examine your own darkness. You will discover diamonds and precious gems that are your own personal power..

Whether you seek this power through your darkness or not, you are still responsible for the power that you are giving away for free. Are you complaining about certain people or groups misusing power in America.. LOOK WITHIN! Are you responsible for your own power? Are you practicing these national issues in your own life and being responsible for them in the way you live your own life?

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.." ~Benjamin Franklin

So ... in any case ... so as not to preach too much today ... *laugh out loud* ...

I choose love over fear..

And I have defined all those important, but elusive words: love, brave, real, responsibility, truth, freedom, god, goddess, devil, etc., for myself..

I have survived adventures of seeking that truth. I have kept the oath that I made before birth to "walk the sword less path." I have never physically hurt someone with these hands in my 61 years. I was emotionally abusive to those women who tried for a time to be my significant other, until the truth led me to recognize my own patterns and find emotional healing. Jesus and Odin and Aphrodite and others held my hand and guarded and guided my pure heart through the abuse and the darkness..

Someone told me, "True innocence is not naive. True innocence has been through the shit and still follows the commitment to harm none.. That's about my Rede.

I didn't know if I was a real man. I had never hurt anybody. It was the bikers, outlaws, vets, ex-cons, naturalists, mountain men and hermits ... ha ha ! usually combinations of the above ... out on the road into the unknown along the way who validated my manhood, because I was authentic..

Think of bravery and the cost in blood by our ancestors to make a land of the free. And think of those young people with their lives on the line today and all who have both killed and died because they believe, too..



I wish you all the same happiness and freedom of thought that I experience today! Thank you for being who you are!

May you have true independence and share it with me!



Happy Independence Day!

I'm headed off to see our downhome little parade in Mendocino village, and some of the friends in the outlying area that I don't see too often.. If I'm not too late already from preaching, lol!

Love, light and gratitude,
Kelton

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me
What you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
And if you dare to dream of
Meeting your hearts desire.

It doesn't interest me
How old you are.
I want to know if you will risk
Looking like a fool for love, for
Your dream, for the adventure
Of being alive.

It doesn't interest me
What planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know
If you have touched the center of your own
Sorrow,
If you have been opened
By lifes betrayals;
Or if you have become
Shriveled and closed
From fear of further pain!

I want to know if you can sit with pain -
Mine or your own -
Without moving to hide it or
Fade it or
Fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy -
Mine or your own -
If you can dance with wildness
And let ecstasy fill to the tips
Of your fingers and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful,
Realistic,
Or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me
If the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know
If you can disappoint another to be true to
Yourself:
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal,
And not betray your own soul.

It doesnt interest me
Who you know or how you came to be here.
I want to know
If you will stand in the center of the
fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me
Where or what or with whom you have
Studied.
I want to know
What sustains you from within
When all else falls away.
I want to know
If you can be alone with yourself; and if you truly
Love the company you keep
In the empty moments.

I just followed the link here from Earth Doc. I've got to go work now, but I'll update and be active soon. Brightest blessings!