Today I stumbled across an article about a woman known as Dion Fortune. It occurred while I was on a nearby Mac, reading my Daily Horoscope after submitting my exegesis. At the end of the reading, I noticed an article banner on Dion Fortune, and was compelled to click on it (mind you, I rarely click on ads or articles in my horoscope emails). I was immediately intrigued by the black and white photo of Miss Fortune.

According to Alan Richardson, who wrote the article Dion Fortune: Moon Priestess from which this article is inspired, Fortune was responsible for the rise of the modern “New Age” movement, and was a relatively hidden gem of the early 1900s. She was a magician who spent much time communing with spirits from other realms.

The thing that made her stand out the most was this,

“By any reckoning, power oozed from her. She had the sort of wisdom and knowledge that transformed the magical arts, and worked through to change the world at large. If she was not the most loving of souls, in the accepted sense, then she had a rare beauty that made people follow her into other dimensions.”

Her noble intentions seemed to have been based around love and service but, for every action of hers, there was an equal and opposite reaction.

For every ounce of love that Fortune put out to the world, it was met by an equal amount of the opposite by her notorious contemporary, Aleister Crowley. Fortune was the Yin to Crowley’s Yang. Despite this, she continued to project her Yin energy in a silent but powerful manner. If Crowley was the word, then Fortune was the echo. The echo was where Fortune’s love extended – in the unheard, unseen silence of the shadows.

Many people believe that love is only received by love but, for the unaware, it can instill many negative emotions like deception, murder, obsession, envy, and dishonesty (to name a few). It can also cause a person to cling onto love for fear of it ever leaving them. In the case of Fortune, her power was so immense that drastic measures had to be taken (by her successor) to prevent such calamities; her diaries and journals were destroyed in order to prevent cults from forming after her death.

Misuses of good intentions have occurred in many moments of our history: the use of Jesus Christ’s teachings to justify the killing, pillaging and raping of innocent people during the Crusades; the merciless suicide bombings of extreme Islamic jihadists; or even the White Man’s Burden to “save” indigenous peoples. It is evident that the teachings of love and compassion by our greatest teachers have been misconstrued over time (whether it was Christ’s or Prophet Muhammad’s), and is an example of how love (or devotion) can be used to manipulate or conquer for the sake of power.

I believe that those who crave love for the sake of power, manipulation, or revenge, are Self-centered in a destructive way. Service, which Fortune includes as part of her own philosophy, is one way to positively steer the ego from overpowering the Self. Although Crowley believed in catering to the “True Will” (anything but the ego’s desires), his philosophical belief (Thelema) missed the element of service (correct me if I’m wrong), which is probably why his followers were typically misguided by the allure of the supernatural. “With great power, comes great responsibility.”

The reason Fortune stands out for me is because her love was everything to everyone; she could be the healing  hand for a person in trouble (service), or the disciplining one when someone was endangering those around them (justice). Her love was like the element of fire, warming when needed, but potentially overwhelming if underestimated. At the end of the day, love and service is a universal approach to life that can exist with or without the use of occult practices. However, in Fortune’s case, her purity of spirit allowed her to use love as a powerful force for good. I suppose it is no different from any other source of power in this world; what matters most are our intentions and choices.

The following article was hard for me to publish – simply because it is so personal and brutally honest. In the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, this is my attempt to live up to my own ideals.

They say that experience is the ultimate teacher. However, how is it that some things don’t need to be directly experienced in order to be “experienced?” For example, you may not need to have feelings for, or  have intercourse with, a man, in order to know that you are not homosexual.  Another example might be drugs: you may not need to experiment with all forms of it to know that it is destructive. So how do we learn lessons without having to go through them?

When I was younger, I used to smoke marijuana because my friends did but, over time, I stopped because I realized why I was doing it. Some warned me about it being a gateway to other drugs but, fortunately for me, that never happened; I was able to see the effects of those “other” drugs (such as cocaine, heroine, and I.C.E.) on my peers, which made me a lot more resistant to trying them. As an actress from the movie Sister Act 2 once wisely said, “I don’t need to eat the doughnut to know that it’s sweet.” Therefore, if we jump a little bit, is it safe to say that you don’t need to have sex in order to know that it’s not for you?

Many say that the need for procreation is a perfectly normal, biological desire but what if it’s not? What if the desire for sex is socially programmed? Today, laments associate sex with fun, lust and sin. It’s no longer looked at as “serious,” beautiful, or Holy. Although I sense a shift in consciousness on this topic, it’s still something that many of us struggle with (including myself): the desire to have sex for the sake of sex alone. It’s very real and is a cause for a lot of trouble and heartache in peoples’ lives (just take a look at how many people “cheat” on their partners these days). I am guilty of this tragedy but, thankfully, it occurred once when I was a lot younger (I always prided myself on loyalty but long-distance took its toll). Luckily for me, I consume lessons like a falcon so that it may never be repeated again.

It was a hard lesson to learn but I’m grateful for the experience. As a result of that incident in the past, I vowed to remain truthful, loyal and aware, at all times. After many years, I was blessed to be given a second chance at a wonderful relationship with another. My new relationship was grounded on a foundation of respect, honesty and friendship, despite some serious bumps and crannies along the way.

At this point, my answer to the aforementioned question is simple: discipline. My journey totem teaches, “Freedom is nothing without discipline.” So, without exercising focus, perseverance, or determination, we will never develop an iron-will to withstand the tumultuous cycles of change. This may not be for everybody but, for me, it is. How do you deal with life’s lessons?

As I was growing up, I had many fears. They were alien in nature and always kept me from moving forward with my life. Eventually, overtime, and with the help of cult heroes like Richard B. Riddick (click the yellow links to see a cool feature), I outgrew my fears. I think Riddick could help you too.

Who is Riddick?

He is a Furyan, protagonist, and anti-hero of the film and game series, “Chronicles of Riddick“. Equipped with a deadly form of Kali for self-defense, Riddick cares only about his own survival, yet still manages to do good – usually indirectly (for those he has encounters with). Though he may be motivated by selfish needs, he is the last of his kind and has an iron-will attached to a strong and courageous heart, which makes him likable. As hard as he tries to detach from people, this lone wolf can never stay alone for too long.

Why do I think he is great?

Ever since I heard his low, steely voice in his first film, Pitch Black, I’ve been fascinated by his:

• independence
• determination
• silent confidence
• stealth
• adaptability
• endurance and
• most importantly, his fearlessness.

These are all traits I relate to, and I seek to develop them in myself to the best of my abilities. As a Leo born in the Year of the Tiger (a double fire sign), I feel the need to embody fearlessness and courage.

Of course, Riddick is not without his faults, yet I feel his character has a lot to teach in terms of facing one’s fears. Riddick doesn’t just face fears, though, he admires, acknowledges and then embraces them as a challenge.

Stare fear square in the face.

One scene I love (from Pitch Black) is where Riddick comes across an alien and faces it square in the face. It’s a literal representation of facing up to a common type of fear – in this case, an alien creature that lurks in the dark.

Figure1. http://www.sciflicks.com/pitch_black/images/pitch_black_16.html

Earlier I said my past fears were like aliens. I felt that they were predatory and constantly watched me from a distance. I have often felt them sniffing too close to home; that place where my shadow and heel meet. (I believe ignored issues always have a tendency to return when you least expect it or when they are least appreciated.)

Finally, I woke up to my fears’ presence and I made it my goal to confront them, by tackling them head on. By doing this, I was finally able to move forward without worrying about them lurking in the dark behind me.

Embrace the fear.

Darkness is not something to be fearful of. My character example in this article, Riddick, utilizes darkness to his advantage; it’s the one thing most people seem to fear. In his words, “Darkness is where I shine.” In a world where good and bad are relative truths, I believe it’s important to respect both light and dark for what they are. For in darkness, light can sometimes be your enemy, and not your friend.

What can we learn from Riddick?

Although I didn’t know it at the time, Riddick had a lasting impression on me. His influence taught me how to remain cool, calm, and collected in the face of fear. Now, at this point in my life, the following quote bears much more weight for me, than it did in the past,

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Only when you face your fears can you truly understand what Roosevelt was talking about.

As a final word to you all, go out, and start facing your fears as I have done through Riddick’s inspiration, because fear is no man’s friend.

I would be very interested to hear if you have confronted your fears and what helped you overcome them? Please leave your comments below.

I. The strength of the pack is the wolf.

When dealing with clients, know that you are the one helping them. That puts you in a position of power. However, don’t abuse that power by acting arrogant, snobbish, selfish or self-centered. Although you are important, there are many other freelancers in the world for clients to fish and choose from.

A good leader can dominate without patronizing or degrading others. Alpha males are strong, invaluable leaders within a pack that is neither a democracy nor a dictatorship. In the words of Cesar Millan, be “calm and assertive,” and your balanced energy will garner respect.

II. The strength of the wolf is the pack.

We are interdependent beings, meaning we all thrive on each others’ efforts – directly or indirectly. In a pack, a wolf will not survive well without the help of his companions (for hunts). The same can be applied to freelancers. If a project seems too big to handle, look at outsourcing to other fellow freelancers. This will not only help to complete a project on time, but it will also help to build relationships.

We must not forget those around us, even if we are working for ourselves.

III. Boundaries, Limits and Rules

This is a no-brainer. We all know that, in the wild, animals obey territorial rules, limitations and boundaries. We can apply this to freelance work by educating our clients on what is expected when working together. We can also set boundaries by laying out contracts or terms of agreements, or we could simply post a Production Process for Clients page on our websites. Either way, be sure to lay down the rules and boundaries before starting on any project.

IV. Know your role

The reasons why wolves work so well together is because each of them have a purpose – and they all know their roles within the pack. Although we could argue that freelancers are “lone wolves” when dealing with clients, we will often find ourselves creating small, temporary packs for particular jobs. So it would be best to come into theses relationship with a “pack mentality,” evaluating each others’ roles and sticking to them throughout the duration of the project. This will, in turn, cause less headaches and promote more balance between us and the clients.

“Most training faults are caused by the handler, not the dog.”

- http://bit.ly/4Yxniv

This principle can be applied to the problems in our lives as well. When an ‘incident’ occurs, most people’s initial reaction is to blame someone else (or in this example, your dog). Although events can be directly seen as another person or animal’s fault, you can bring power back to yourself by accepting responsibility for part or all of it. What this does is allow you to accept that everything is of your own choosing, even if it doesn’t seem that way.

Project positive energy.

So, when a dog doesn’t listen to you, it’s probably an indication to start listening to yourself - for your energy may be communicating something that is unworthy of your dog’s attention. Simply put, your dog’s overall temperament is a mirror of the energy you give out. If you give negative energy, you receive negative energy. If you project positive, receive positive.

Law of Attraction

The beauty of life is that experiences are brought to us to help us learn valuable lessons – even ones that go against our choosing. Although this may be confusing, it’s not really if you consider that maybe the world around us attracts what we truly want, not just what we say we want. This is known as the Law of Attraction.

Don’t worry, be happy.

Pure happiness is certainly a wishful goal, but in a world that is filled with ‘relatives,’ we may only be able to experience happiness through unhappiness. (I firmly believe that it doesn’t have to be like this but, for now, it is so.) However, dogs help force you to take charge of your mindset, and the thoughts you project. The old adage, “Don’t worry, be happy,” is something you should definitely keep in mind when being with your dog. You might even want to play the song on your iPod if that helps.

Once you can read the signs of your canine companion, new avenues of happiness will begin to open up in your life. You will inevitably learn how to listen beyond mere words.

Learn to hear your dog, not just listen.

Once you begin listening, Mother Nature will continue communicating with you – for She has never stopped – opening you up to your Self, while simultaneously opening your awareness to the world around you. All the answers to the Universe are right there within you.

Mother Nature – God – Allah – Krishna, whatever you wish to call the Divine (if you choose to believe in it), is here to help communicate the truth back to your Self. There’s a reason why our canine companions are called, “Man’s Best Friend.” Learn to listen to them, for they are one of our greatest, and most accessible, teachers.

Do you have a dog? If so, what have your experiences been like?

“Know thy Self, and thou shalt know, the Universe and God.“

I believe that there is no set path to any given destination; we can always take the road less taken. However, what’s important is that we have a general guide of where we’re headed, if not we’re just walking around aimlessly. If you want to begin mastering your Self, then my suggestion is that you first start using affirmations. I will not tell you what to do but simply show, by providing you with a few of my own affirmations, which I hope you will apply in your own way or style:

• Embue  all the qualities of my role models into what I do, in my own way, and then better.
• Use the teachings of my animal spirits or guides (everyone has one, so it’s up to you to find out which is yours).
• Connect with the spirit of Self to allow my intuition to flow through.
• When the time comes, be a well-balanced and consistent father.
• Be a Master of Self – slowly disciplining my thoughts, emotions and energy.
• Balance.
• “Learn to do by doing.” Share my wisdom, and learn while doing so.
• Blend all of my talents and interests (in web design, animation, games, writing, social media, spirituality, metaphysics,  and education).

And there you have it – a list of affirmations you could possibly use for yourself. The road to self-discovery is a hard one, but one that must be taken if you wish to start taming the life you live. This seeps into everything we do – even web design and animation, which is a current focus of mine (professionally). As KRS-One once said, “Know thy Self, and thou shalt know, the Universe and God.”

If you could add some affirmations to the list, what would they be?