For Contemplation

When shall I love Thee, O infinite goodness! if not when I receive this sacred pledge of Thy love? Yes, O my God, I do love Thee, above all things, with my whole heart and soul. But, alas! how imperfect is my love! O Holy Ghost! Thou eternal love of the Father and the Son, come and fill my soul with Thy presence; kindle in it the pure fire of Thy love; elngithen it, purify it, adorn and beautify it; for "I seek Him whom my soul loveth."

(from a catholic prayer)

Between the Great Commandments and the Ten Commandments, there is an ocean to cross and a boat to steer.

The Great Commandments are like wind, filling sails and giving movement. But the rigging is complicated and reaching a destination requires a knowledgeable hand at the helm. The Ten Commandments, these are like a map from when the world was smaller: marking 'here be dragons' and the world's edge, beyond which there is only a perilous fall. Between departure point and these ultimate boundaries all else is unknown void.

There is a myriad of detail to confront on the voyage. For the most part, good and bad come part and parcel, and realization of the commandments from theory requires fine discernment. When at sea, you are at sea -- all can look the same in every direction. How, then, to make your way? How to take your measure?

The following sayings are bits of advice that, I think, can help us find our bearings. Sometimes they can turn the wildness of the oceans into the calmness of a stream, and form the stepping stones across.

Stand alone if you must.

Make the decisions that others won’t.

Be vulnerable, not impervious.

Know your worth.

Give praise to others.

Be gracious.

Be bold.

Be yourself.

Never assume maliciousness for what stupidity can explain.

Accept people for who they are, work with their limitations.
Do not make it necessary for others to lie to you.

Let go of your regrets.

Put your money where your mouth is.

We can't go around measuring our goodness by what we don't do, by what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude...We've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create, and who we include.

(Pere Henri from the movie Chocolat)

Nature is cruel and kind. And no less beautiful or good because of this.

Life progresses in a continuous stream, not by discrete events.

Knowledge is carried in the hands, as well as the head.

Forgiving someone does not mean forgetting. It does not mean pretending they are perfect or allowing them into a position where they can hurt you again. It does not mean that what happened was acceptable. Forgiveness does not require you to be any less vigilant or any more unsafe.

Forgiveness simply means moving on. It means that you've chosen
to no longer let a grievance hold you back.

There are no "shoulds."

Sometimes it’s not that people won’t do as they should,
but that they can’t.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean others can.

Life owes you nothing.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

An act of obligation has more merit than a thing freely done.

Love and do what you will.

(St. Augustine)

What a Witch Is
The Makings of a Witch
Three Assignments for the Novice Witch
Maxims for the Witch
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