Main Menu

Front Page

News and Announcements
Ask the Elder
Meet the Council
From the Associates
Night's Beat
Art Gallery

Articles of Interest
Short Story
Interview with a Vampire
Reviews and More
The Vampire's Vestibule
Polls

Letters to the Editor
Comments from the Website
Cartoon Corner
From the Staff
Advertising

Credits
Link To Us
Friends
Past Issues
The Vampire Church
The Darkfear Network

Guestbook


Have a Comment?
Name

Email

Your Comments

Contact

VC Magazine
PO Box 11711
Norfolk, VA
23517
VCMagazine_Staff@
yahoogroups.com


Magazine Staff

Damien Daville, Producer
LA Judge, Editor


Tell a Friend

Click HERE to tell a friend about the VC Magazine.

Top Site Listings

Vote for us in the






Oblation (Meditation)

*Note* Meditations are mind and mood altering exercises, and will have more impact, and promote better visualization if the meditations are accompanied by music. It is therefore recommended that this meditation be accompanied by: *Hemi Sync - "Rain Chimes"*

Greetings.

I was thinking back on all the time I have spent within this organization, and the things I have contributed over the years, and this made me take a look deep within myself recently. To aid myself in this quest, I chose to make use of a divination tool for some clarity on how I could continue to help those who come here seeking help and advice, and I have noticed over the months that a good many of you have stated that you use and continue to make use of meditations to help you focus, and stay on track, or to assist yourselves in keeping a clear mind. With this firmly in mind, I consulted a rather specialized deck called the "Power Deck" created by a well known psychologist/mystic known as Lynn Andrews. I'm sure a lot of you out there are familiar with her writings. This deck has 45 cards, of which you choose one on a daily basis, and apply its meanings to your life in its current state.

To do this, one must look through the cards, and choose one by way of which image speaks to you personally. My choice was of an image called "Oblation", which simply means an offering. I have been asking myself of late "what have I given lately"? The answer is: not a lot. My life has recently been a tumultuous tide of events that seemed to be never-ending, and because of this, I have not been able to give as much, or as often as I might have liked. And then I began thinking, "how can I begin to give again, so that others may benefit"? The answer was simple - write. Present more writings that can be used by everyone who chooses to access them, and apply what I have written within their own lives, for their own benefit. The greatest gift one can give to others is enlightenment. In this way, the veils of ignorance are torn away, and those who choose can experience some enlightenment, and become uplifted and inspired as a result. And so, giving my time, and my writings is my offering to you all..

I would like you to firstly, find a comfortable place. Somewhere in which you can be alone, and uninterrupted. Do please take the phone off the hook, turn the cell phone off, lock the doors, maybe even light some candles, and some incense. I also suggest some mood music, or some kind of atmospheric sounds you can listen to, and focus on in the background. My suggestion for this meditation is a subliminal recording by Hemi Sync called "Rain Chimes". This is really quite excellent for achieving a meditative state, and you'll be amazed at how long you have been still, and simply listened, and allowed yourself to be transported out of the Self for awhile.

Now that you have gotten comfortable, lit your candles, incense, and hopefully put on the track as suggested above, I'd like you to focus on your breathing. Remember that breath serves more than just the obvious function - breath is life-giving, but it also moves lymph around your body, and helps in cleansing the blood vessels with rich oxygen. I want you to breathe in slowly and deeply to the count of 4, and then exhale slowly and completely to the count of 8. Do this with your eyes closed, so that your focus is within, rather than without. Breathe in, 2 - 3 - 4....and exhale, 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8..Continue to do this until you feel calm and centered. You will notice that thoughts will come to the surface. Some are there as the result of your day. Others will be much deeper. Don't focus on any of them now. Simply acknowledge their presence, and allow them to move on for now. Focus on making your mind very clear.

Remember the image included here within this meditation? Imagine being in front of the same elm tree. Are you sitting or standing in its presence? Think about why you are choosing to sit or stand. Does the presence of the tree feel sheltering to you? Or in some way, threatening? Consider this, also. Take note of the gentle rain, falling upon each leaf. Inhale the fragrances of nature. Feel the drops falling on you also, cleansing you. Washing away all doubt, all fear, all pain, both physical and emotional. Perhaps there are some issues within you that are not so easily washed away. Think about that for a moment, and then, think about how you can move within that place inside you that harbors those deep issues, and how you can move those to the outside, and become free of them. This may prove a little difficult. Take note of the reflective pool next to the tree. This pool is the mirror of the soul, and by looking within its reflective surface, it can show you the things which you need help in letting go of. Allow yourself to look within, and go as deep as you are comfortably able to go. Notice images of you rising and falling in the reflective surface of the pool.

As you think, imagine you are holding a piece of paper, and a pencil. While thoughts and images form within your mind, write them down on the paper. You can write anything you wish, and do it without fear of retribution of any kind, because no one will ever see what you have written except you and the Universe. Take as long as you need. This is your time to make that part of you become a sacrifice, an oblation. Remember to breathe deeply as you continue to write things down, and be willing to let them go - remember, you are sacrificing them, so that you may give birth to the new Self. When you are finished, fold the piece of paper up, and tie it to the elm tree. Offer it up to the Universe. This is your prayer for your Self. Allow the wind to come and carry it away to the divine. Take a few moments to sit in silence, and contemplate all that you have in this life, even if it is just the blessed gift of being alive. Realize how very fortunate you are to live in this point in time, right now.

You may even have some doubts as to how wonderful life really is. Perhaps like me, you have gone through a domino effect in which things keep happening to you, and you see no light at the end of the tunnel. But realize one thing - all things happen for a very good reason, and though some of those things may very well be unpleasant, they can also help contribute to our growth as individuals. Unpleasantries make us take note of how good life can be, and has been to us. It becomes a much needed cleansing, and helps us to move on to the next stage of what life has in store for us. Once you have realized this, you tear down the walls of ignorance, and allow enlightenment to imbue your being. Tie your offering to a branch of the tree, and do it with joy. Don't be sad at letting go. With some things, you may feel the need to grieve - try not to do it. You have already done so before, and there is no need to repeat this process. Let the wind carry away your prayers, and move you along with it. Feel the wind cleanse the whole of your being, within and without. Allow the void you may feel is now within you to be filled with joy and contentment. Allow yourself to heal. Healing is the Universe's offering to you. Feel energized and whole again.

Take this time to begin breathing deeply again, and focus your attention on waking. Move slowly back towards consciousness, feeling uplifted and energized. Know that a great weight has been lifted off your shoulders, and that you are free from those burdens. Others that you come into contact with will be uplifted by being around you without really knowing why. Think of what you can give to others to aid them in their own enlightenment. Continue to make this your offering..

Silver Rainbolt

For Questions, please contact the VC Magazine Staff at VCMagazine_Staff@yahoogroups.com

©1997-2004 Vampire Church -- All rights reserved. No use or reproduction without written consent.