rex

Devotion, gratitude, awareness, surrender.

Funny you should say that - one of the Scarlet Imprint books in my possession has a seductive beguiling quality that demands respect.

Good questions with no staight answer. Just on a purely intuitive level there must be significant overlap, with each having their specialisms. Druidry was an oral wisdom culture wiped out by the Romans, so who can say for certain what their beliefs and practices were? Shamanism has so many expressions, tied to culture, time and place that it is difficult to say that it is one thing. The only common denominator I can see is working to live in harmony with the natural and spirit worlds. So in this sense is it worth being too particular over general labels? Celtic Christianity venerated nature and was a harmonious blend of the pagan with the Christian. John Michael Greer (http://galabes.blogspot.co.uk) and Caitlin & John Matthews (http://www.hallowquest.org.uk) might be worth a look. R.J.Stewart too (http://rjstewart.org) as well as Orion Foxwood (http://www.orionfoxwood.com).

I once had an uninvited and unwelcome encounter everytime I read what was on face value just an innocuous secondhand book on stone circles; once was a coincidence, twice wasn't and I didn't hold on to the book long enough to find out about a third time, though I reckon this may have been down to something being deliberately attached to it by a previous owner. Since then I'm always been a bit circumspect about buying used esoteric books. Some books can possess a distinct energy and I instinctively regard and treat them accordingly. Catalyst is a good word as it implies input and interaction on the reader's part in a process. Indeed!

Does anyone give any credence to the belief that owning certain books will automatically attract the attention of entities? No direct summoning required, mere possession of the article will invite them into your life.

Xing Yi Nei Gong course just released : Deluxe Progam Standard Program The set was created by Wang Ji Wu who wrote this: http://everydayhealthtcm.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/at-age-of-100-xing-yi-master-wang-ji-wu.html Not sure if they're the same exercises as found in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Xing-Nei-Gong-Maintenance-Development/dp/0865681740

First off let me say that I love this place and consider it a haven of valuable discussion and have often have spent far too much time here than is good for me over the years (writing this post included). I like the ethos of eclecticism, egalitarianism and civility. (http://thedaobums.com/topic/31825-thetaobums-three-foundations-eclectic-egalitarian-civil/?p=480483). I do apologise that I am a source of discord for bringing up moderating issues, so if I am no longer welcome here, so be it, but with my recent actions I do owe Soaring Crane a reply and am owed a right of reply. Please excuse the lack of formatted quotes as the original threads are locked. Just to be clear Soaring Crane, I wish you well and bear no personal animosity towards you (this goes for the moderating team too), but I am Mighty Pissed Off. From the start it was a given that the locked thread was't really going to be re-opened but I was making the point that you made it quite clear that: Soaring Crane : "And that is the final word. Thread locked." [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37686-what-happened-to-the-extinguishing-the-sex-drive-thread/?p=610823] (After the delivery of your broadside with no right of reply granted. Hit and Run also comes to mind.) Then surpise is expressed in another thread that the actions were found vexatious and you re-opened discussion inviting me to be more reflective: Soaring Crane said: "Maybe some day you'll need someone to go to bat for you here and the person to do it will be one of us (or whatever the mod team is on that day)." [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37708-vexatious-moderating/?p=610980] You and others were certainly not batting for me in the original thread.I submit that it was only because some members were batting for the moderating issues raised that you re-opened the discussion that was previously cut short - otherwise you would have preferred me to quietly withdraw. I fail to see how the progression of my posts in the original thread can be construed to be baseless attacks of increasing intensity, demanding that personal issues be revisited and the thread restored regardless of the personal cost to the op.They quoted no one's post in particular, and were responding to was perceived to be the successive train of unconvincing, contradictory, nonchalant,and rather dispiriting replies of the presiding moderators who seemed to be wilfully conflating personal issues with moderating issues to direct attention away from actions that they could not comfortably justify. The last post made it clear that there was no interest in personal issues and that the spotlight was on the moderation methods. The progression of the posts: Rex said "This was an interesting thread. Will it ever be released from where it has been consigned?" [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37686-what-happened-to-the-extinguishing-the-sex-drive-thread/?p=610581] "Thanks for the explanation, the reason is understandable but the method totalitarian. Given the level of interest and effort required for people to respond an announcement with a reason would have been welcome. Couldn't there have been the possibility of expunging the thread of all of the original poster's entries, including quotations in responses, and just leaving the thread to answer a general non-personalised question?" [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37686-what-happened-to-the-extinguishing-the-sex-drive-thread/?p=610625] "A wry observation - members posts are sacrosanct and cannot be edited by the mods but they can be made to quietly disappear without so much as a 'by your leave'." [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37686-what-happened-to-the-extinguishing-the-sex-drive-thread/?p=610714] "It's not really about why the posts were removed; it's about how they were removed and the casual disregard of the moderators towards ordinary posters revealed in the process." [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37686-what-happened-to-the-extinguishing-the-sex-drive-thread/?p=610728] When you stepped in to lock the thread you made a point of responding specifically to my post, rather then the general cohort of bums that were expressing similar concerns, summarily discounted the attempt to clarify that it was not about individuals but process, and proceeded to release a tirade of thinly veiled invective at me: Soaring Crane "Not really. That thread was started by someone who was/is obviously going through a very rough period. The whole purpose of that thread was to help someone in need. And now you're all given a chance to actually help that person by granting a little peace and quiet, and what do you do? You cling to some silly lines of text you posted in the internet. Many of you are clearly far more interested in projecting your views and beliefs on other people than you are in actually helping those who need it. It's shameful behavior from individuals who should, given the amount of wisdom and insight they purport to embody, act a bit more respectfully to someone who has real problems. Think about it. If your posts were so profound and valuable, you would remember what you wrote and not need to have a record of it here to remind you and the rest of us of your wisdom. And there's nothing stopping any of you from simply starting up a new conversation based loosely or strictly on what went on in Flo's thread. edit: I want to make explicitly clear that my feelings on this have absolutely nothing to do with Flo's status as a moderator. If anything, I'd probably use even sterner language if it were a regular member. And that is the final word. Thread locked. [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37686-what-happened-to-the-extinguishing-the-sex-drive-thread/?p=610823] There's quite nothing like a faintly implied bit of verbal/written intimidation/menace with this section of your post: "If anything, I'd probably use even sterner language if it were a regular member." You could argue that you were addressing everyone that expressed concerns; but even after another explanation of my postion (http://thedaobums.com/topic/37699-question/?p=610931) you have demonstrated, in the latest locked thread, that you still don't get it, and are still holding me personally responsible for things I did not demand or make a specific issue over. In addition you are the one constantly bringing up the painful reminders that I have strived to keep out of the discussion from the start: Soaring Crane "Can you appreciate the level of desperation a person has to feel in order to even start a thread like that? What's more important to you? A couple paragraphs of text that you wrote once in the internet, or a person's well-being?" [http://thedaobums.com/topic/37708-vexatious-moderating/?p=610980] I appreciate that moderation is a thankless and difficult task and expressed support for the moderators a few years ago when questions of moderator behaviour arose: http://thedaobums.com/topic/16353-free-speech-and-moderator-action/?p=224337 I do however regret to say that it is not only posters who abuse the spirit of the taobums but also, in this rare instance, certain sections of the moderating team too. But then this isn't taobums anymore is it? It's daobums and this seems to make a difference.

Thank you for your gracious and clear reply Soaring Crane. Crikey 4:11 am? I thought it was more like 3:11 am UK time, but I had to attend to a few things before posting again, and then wasn't sure if this thread would've been locked, or I'd had been banned or suspended on return. Please don't feel responsible in any way for how I felt; It was not like I was curled up in a ball or anything, though your expression of concern, regret and offer to extend future support if needed is much appreciated and gratefully accepted. After all, by raising the question I did enter the arena willingly, so have to accept the consequences of how the posts were received - it was just extremely irksome to be confronted with ad hominem and group think. I know it's a cliche but what we saw in the whole affair was a failure to communicate. The irony is that the need to protect the orginal poster was never under scrutiny, and on being informed of this overiding objective, the removal of the thread and loss of posts was never an issue. I just tried to bring up a point of procedure - can't the community be informed that a thread has been removed? That's all. But the atmosphere became highly charged and this moderation question intersected with a parallel moderation issue involving the same person and faeces and fan came together, which in turn raised further moderation issues, if not eyebrows. I'm sure we'll all welcome Sean's moderation guidelines review when it comes as recent events show the need for it. edit:tpyos

Are you going to re-open the thread you lockd so we can continue there?

Yes vexatious. Soaring Crane this needs to be taken to another so as not to have another conflation.

Well since discussion of the locked sex drive thread has bled into this thread and there are clearly snide oblique references to me I shall like to make the following statements: 1) I do not mind that the thread was removed - especially given the reason, which I did state; 2) I do not mind that my paltry contributions were lost; 3) I did mind that there was no announcement that the thread was being removed, that no announcement was seen as necessary and pointed out how this reflected on moderating standards; 4) I do mind that moderator standards and tactics exhibited were emotive and vexatious; 5) I do regret that the debate on a shift in moderatoring standards was conflated with a posters personal issues; 6) I apologise to Flo for not having the mindfulness to see 5) above and start a new thread instead.

This was an interesting thread. Will it ever be released from where it has been consigned? Edit: tpoys

It's not really about why the posts were removed; it's about how they were removed and the casual disregard of the moderators towards ordinary posters revealed in the process.

A wry observation - members posts are sacrosanct and cannot be edited by the mods but they can be made to quietly disappear without so much as a 'by your leave'.

Thanks for the explanation, the reason is understandable but the method totalitarian. Given the level of interest and effort required for people to respond an announcement with a reason would have been welcome. Couldn't there have been the possibility of expunging the thread of all of the original poster's entries, including quotations in responses, and just leaving the thread to answer a general non-personalised question?

Attachment is one of the Three Poisons that helps to keep the Wheel of Samsara turning. In the Mahayana there's a teaching spoken by Manjushri called "Parting from the Four Attachments" which goes: “If you are attached to this life, you are not a true spiritual practitioner. If you are attached to samsara, you do not have renunciation. If you are attached to your own self-interest, you have no bodhichitta. If there is grasping, you do not have the View.” There're lots of commentaries on it on the web. Anger and other emotional poisons are treated differently by the different Buddhist yanas/vehicles. The posions are either eradicated, neutralised with an anitidote or transformed. Here's an explanation: Quote taken from here. Edit: tpyos

Women's mysteries will contextualise the dignity, power and essential sacredness of female sexuality and give perspective on how the creative force of the libido can express itself through various forms of eros. Nice wikipedia article on eros here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros_%28concept%29, the first paragraph says it all in a nutshell. Here's an example (not recommendation) of women exploring the sacred feminine: http://www.aditidevi.com/newonlinepujabloodofthegoddess.html

There may be some help within goddess/women's mysteries.

Presently I see emptiness as limitless potential and the non-inherent existence of phenomena arising through interdependence and karma.

The first two Excellences aren't Vajrayana so you don't have to worry about getting embroiled in something you can't get out of. If you do follow the inner pull your experience of the First or Second Excellences will help you make a final decision. Follow your heart : )

Herme<neu>tica New Approaches to the Text and Interpretation of the Corpus Hermeticum These conference papers may be of interest: http://www.princeton.edu/~hellenic/Hermeneutica/

Discussion with someone who's been doing the Abramelin work: http://headforred.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/ropocalypse-now-with-special-guest_18.html

Speaking personally I don't know of a specific technique for this, rather it results from a cumulative effect of stillness of mind and body during a practice session.

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