Growth of business for Mountain Breeze sees new web domain - Mountain Breeze Massage and Aromatherapy Idaho Falls Idaho

Growth of business for Mountain Breeze sees new web domain - Mountain Breeze Massage and Aromatherapy Idaho Falls Idaho

Wow, in less than six months we actually outgrew our domain on the web. Free site hosting is great, to start-up, but limits what we can do for our customers, specifically in our online store and forum submission and bandwidth, so we were faceing a delema! Lucky for us, our loyal customers and the run of new clients, brought in the business for us to be able to 'jump up' and purchase our new domain!

That's right folks, idahomassage.webs.com will now be mountainbreeze.net !

Don't worry, the transition should be smooth and all traffic requests are to be automatically forwarded to the new domain address. And we plan on a big run through our listings to be able to manually inout the new domain addy everywhere we can so than none of you great people get lost in the shuffle.

We will keep the look and feel of the website the same as we have all grown accustomed to it and are familiar with how it looks and feels. The placement of store items will be the biggest change and the most frequently updated, but we want fresh material every now and agin, so keep visiting our website for these things as well.

Thanks once again to our customers, new and old, who have helped us so much over the years to continue to grow and allow us to continue to serve you in your massage and aromatherapy needs

A WORLD OF WORDS...

  In one of my well taught classes, I cover the trap that mankind has laid out so wonderfully, that of language and more precisely, words. Words have many meanings now, especially in the English language, but at one time, many many years ago, this was not so. A word held a solid image in one's mind and was easily conveyed into the mind of others. We developed multiple uses and definitions of simple words as well as developed multiple words that held similar meanings. This should not have developed into a entrapping situation, right? But it has, and to add to this confusion, we decided about ten years ago, to become 'politically correct'. Which limited free form expression by removing certain words which held definite meanings to substitute other words that were similar in content yet defines objects differently in context.
  Thus, in my studies of History (yes a long love of mine) I developed a study of words (etymology for you technical types) and discovered a lot about my own language (that being English) and just how far our words have evolved and have been redefined. In ritual and spell work, I teach my students the importance of vocabulary and how it affects our imagery, our vibrations, and our outcomes.  There are three basic types of speech in spell work or in ritual, and each has its designated place and use.
  First, and most common, is modern word; that native language of yours, which ever that may be. Modern tongue is what You know best, and understand easiest, and can convey many things and images to others most frequently. It has evolved though and has lost a bit of it's clarity at times, and in ritual and spell work, it is best not to let any inside your circle to become confused.
  Second is the ancient tongue; the old languages of our ancestors handed down to provoke certain images and definite thought processes by a cultural or educated link into our vocabulary. Certain names. places or things can clearly be understood and not mistaken by using the ancient tongue, and the imagery pulls from our sub conscience and our history and shared imagination.
  Third would be arcane speak;  this would be the 'root' language(s) of our ancestors, simple vocabulary deep in imagery and definite definition of action, place, people and things. That which is arcane is of two houses. The first being well understood by any who hear it, the second being the utter confusion by the listener. So one must use this type carefully in group work, and be well educated in it even for personal work.
  Next is the importance of vibration of sound, resonance of word. Being versed in the Bardic training and understanding the science of vibration and density, our words have to not only convey exacting imagery, but allow us to resonate that physically in our workings. I utilize much song-spell in my works, the act of song rhythmic verse and chants, while building energy and directing imagery. The notes, the words, the rhythm, all tie together to create a specific level of vibration in the physical, and can be felt by all involved.

  Now why am I going through all this? Because our words are so important to us, in mundane life and our spiritual paths. The unspoken word is sometimes much more effective than what is said, and words cannot be inhaled back into the mouth of the speaker once spoken. And the written word, the drawing out of sounds to create a picture for the mind, is also ever more important today. (yes I come from a traditional 'verbal' or 'oral' tradition, Druidry) But what are we 'drawing' out for our generation in our writings? What have we taught our children, our students, or even shared with our mentors by our works?
  Again I will mention the importance of Tradition, yet I do not want anyone to follow a 'tradition' that they do not understand nor can apply, or even adapt, for that would be useless to the reason of the tradition. But here, tradition plays the biggest part. Through or cultural and spiritual history, our traditions were given birth. Through our languages, sciences, and cultural interactions, our imagination and imagery was developed. A good example: EVERY CULTURE IN THE WORLD RECOGNIZES A SACRED TREE IN ITS SPIRITUAL HISTORY, every culture also recognizes what a Dragon is, AND, the most recognizable symbol on the planet today is.... the McDonald's Golden Arches!
  It is our responsibility to not only be guarded of our words, but how we express our imagery to others by their use and definition. A good way to gauge what you say and how you speak, look to the books you read and the certain words you choose when describing things. Build your vocabulary in the mundane world by the same guidelines of your magical speaking and your spiritual language. This will help you when working with others in your spell work or in ritual.
  With a world of words to choose from, and these little bits of information, I bet you will never see any conversation ever the same way....

Prophecies and Nightmares

I went to bed early...too early it seems. As my mind slowed down from it's normal 'break-neck' pace, I laid restless, trying to focus on some bit of interest to settle my thoughts before sleep came and dreams began. That was my first mistake. I was setting myself up for things yet to come. But I lay there and drifted off to sleep...


It was day, late afternoon so the sun would have me believe. I sat in my chair in front of my workbench like so many other times. I was working on a mask, one of black cloth, leather, clay and feathers. A ravens head, to fit half the face, with golden eyes of some material that I could see through. It was...remarkable! Life size (for a man) and detailed, a real work of wearable art. I sat admiring it, reveling it it's likeness of the creature that it was.


"Shadar." the gentle voice crept into my ears, "Shadar, Druid!"


I knew it came from the mask, yet I tried not to look at it. I wanted so badly that the voice, soft yet like rough gravel on the ear, would be coming from somewhere, anywhere, else.


" Hear me Druid, and know me once more!", it cried out. " You are not yet here, nor asleep even. You lay in my doorway, between now and forever. Your time is soon that you will seek me, and serve me, and behold your future is here, walking the gateways."


Now it is dark, the light only dimly shimmers in short flashes of pale blues and grays. Only a gimps here and there of archways, of arbors, of gated cave openings. I feel damp, yet not cold, and look at myself in a passing reflective mist... I am not old, yet not as young as I know myself to be. My hair all but wisps of what it once was, long though and ghostly white. My beard just a straggle of long gray and white, over skin transparent showing a luminous skull. My eyes sharp and gray, brightly shining in deep set sockets. Gods I am a sight! But I am not afraid of my image, only for what it represents.


I look out into the darkness. " Raven! Raven!", I shout. " Hear me bird! I did not choose this path! This is not my way, this is not how I will be! I am not death, nor do I walk as His companion! I will not serve this gateway as keeper nor guide."


"But my Druid, you have been so kind as to teach others of the gateway that now you WILL become a keeper of it's ways. It is not my choice, though you would be on my lists of names IF I had made one. It is the Goddess who wants you. You who know her well, to show others how to find her arms after they have left your world. So here you WILL walk, and be guide to those who are lost." His voice echos through the darkness, from every direction, and from none. The voice pains my ears and I cringe from it praying he speaks no more.


"Please Raven, I am a teacher, an historian, and a believer in the Ways, but I do not want to be a gate keeper. Not even for Her! I want Her embrace so that I may return anew." Knowing my plea would only bring on that cold laughter even before I said it. And laugh it did, if you could call that cold cackle-cry of the blackest of birds a laugh!I screamed in agony from the laughter, tears rolling down my all but invisible cheeks. Not from fear nor sadness, but from the pain of the coldness it its terrible cry of laughter!


" Hush! Hush now my hard gambit!", this voice was soft and commanding. A woman's voice, yet more powerful, more...everything. "See now what you have done, and disturbed him deeply, his night will be long now, and his thoughts troubled at your visions."


I opened my eyes, stinging from the wash of tears held back for years. She stood there, shrouded in the blackest of black, yet glowing at the same time. I knew at once it was Danu who came to my aide, and standing not to far behind, watching me intently, was Hern, son and lover, hunter and king here. I trembled as She approached me, yet tried to still myself under Hern's watchful gaze. I knew that my safety was not guaranteed by Her being here and defending me, for here was the 'world between' and I was subject to be kept here by a whim of the Goddess, or worse, as prey for the Hunt! I let fear dissolve into something deeper, my love, my respect, my honor of the Gods that were there.


"You see my child, Ravens play nasty games when allowed to, but harmless to you and your kind. You have been a child of mine, so your dreams sometimes are not yours, even when you might think they are." Her voice calmed me even more. "You named yourself as a walker between the worlds, and you have visited here more than most, yet you allowed yourself to be a plaything for such an old bird!" She laughed now, but not too kindly.


And suddenly, without any indication...I lay there awake.

The Heart of Dagger (Guardians Gate)
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Goals of Giving, and Forgiving: an excerpt from 'One Man's Philosophy' by Shadar

Studying concepts of ethics and morals, I realized that many of these come from much higher standards and idealistic goals that we hope to achieve at some point either as individuals or as a species. The two that hit me the most as 'high' ambition ethics would be;
Giving- To freely open oneself to freely giving, without hesitation, without expectation. To be able to provide that which is needed without recompense or terms of any repayment in action, material or deed. To honestly give with humility and humbelness not requiring recognition and thanks.
Forgiving - To truely forgive any and all grievence, hurt, mistake or wrong doing by others unto yourself and others. Forgiving without required penence or repayment. To accept all faults and wrongs as done and be open to recieve new things including forgivness. To be able to forgive, not only others, but yourself, for acts that fall short of expectation and desire.
I have done my best to live under the Laws of Hospitality as was custom of the Celtic peoples. To give freely to all who come, to treat honestly all who ask, and to provide for those who are in need. Sometimes I fall short in these, some times I excell in these. And I am not talking about material needs and the availability of things to give, but in the Spirit, the emotional and the mental aspects of things needed and or asked of. I once took an Oath of Hospitality, also of one of Poverty (not to remain poor, but to agree to provide for community before myself) to help me focus my live and Spirit toward these goals, of Giving and Forgiving and Hospitality.
I have discovered that is had been my Ego, my selfishness, and my feeelings (being hurt) that has held me back or made me fall short. Also it has been these same concepts that has allowed me to excell in being able to follow Hospitality, to Give and to Forgive. So through observation and much soul searching, I see that I do carry expectations, apply conditions, and allow my selfish feelings to alter and control my ability to Give, and Forgive honestly.
Is it my feelings? My ego? Should I remove my feelings? Without my feelings I could no longer empathise with others feelings. I would not know how to react in our society which depends much on feelings. I could not work personal nor natural magical acts, nor show proper honor to my Gods. Without ego I could no longer defend my personal needs, and I would no longer strive for my personal wants or goals, and my goal is to improve myself. Mental disipline, ego and or self control goes a long way, but only so far.
I know this is a life long work of improvement, trial and error, and growth. Without experiance and the chance to grow, and fail, I cannot gain a foothold along the path to Give and Forgive as I believe I should be. So I will continue to grow, to experiance, to learn how to do this, and other things.
So, Forgive me for my failings, and Give me encouragement.
I honor your Gods, and drink at you well,
I bring an undefended heart to our meeting place.
I openly negotiate in honor and am not subject to dissappointment.
Namaste, and 'escalandes du Touta n Diea' ( welcome in my Tribe and my Gods)

Tradition?

Tradition?

...and why to we keep our heads covered? I'll tell you... I don't know. But it is Tradition!....
Yeah, still my favorite play/musical/movie, and all due to Tradition. No I'm not saying it is cool to do something out of tradtions sake and not know why. If you do so, and hold to that tradtional thing, then maybe you do so to honor the whole of the tradtion without know the details of each traditional thing involved. Deep hugh?
Tradition, what a wonderful thing, it carries the concepts, ideas, beliefs, and unity of a culture forward into time. Without traditions we could not 'see' each culture in the crowd. Tradition feeds and will eventually breed diversity! And it should. Diversity is change within and because of tradition, and evolution of tradition and a birth of new traditions, as each culture, religion, society creates it's own tradition.
Embrace diversity, but not at the expence of dissolving tradition. These is no honor in the new traditions to come if we cannot see nor understand why we do what we do compared to why we did it differently. Tradition usually works, at least for the time needed to transend time into the generation(s) that come after the inception of a tradition. Change within traditions are there to help keep it alive, not kill it. New traditions come and go, as do older ones, but at what costs? It is our history that shows us our path into our future. You don't believe me? Fine, walk into the wilderness without ever learning about what to eat, the ways of the preditors, how to find water and if it is safe to drink. We learn all these from history, someone learned it, recorded it, and shared it. You are not born with that information, only the instinct to survive in the wilderness, not How to.
History gives us many traditions to come from, and a lot of the 'new' or Neo-Pagans find no harm in adapting, changing and combining traditions to suite them. At least some give honor to the original traditions by keeping it's history alive. I change, I adapt, but I am still seen and knnown as a traditionalist. I know the history, the reasons why the details of my tradition, each facet, each detail, and teach that so it will not be lost. Does it all still apply today? Yes, however in different conceptual applications and with modern or more politacaly correct expressions.
With out the founders of traditions, with out the histories of our cultures, religions, sciences, and governments, we whould have to make this up as we go and hope to survive it's ramifications and reactions of others. It's wakling into the wilderness as a babe, and being eaten by the bear! We know because some one, at some time, honored someone's history/experiance/knowledge and culture/tradition/religion and taught us! Tradition is more than how we do things or why we do things, but how we believe and what we believe. Its the 'proper way' to act/react to situations. It's the language we speak, the menue we all order form in our day to day life. It is 'normal' for us, or if it not seen as the normal way, then it might be from someone else's tradition.
EXAMPLE: Why do resturants place a glass of water on the tabble, before asking for your order?
No, had nothing to do with whetting your dry mouth or washing down the traveling dust. King Henery once toured his countryside, and upon entering a tavern ordered a drink. It was watered down! He declared that from then on, all taverns, inns, and gathering houses were to offer the water to the patrons, and serve the drink undiluted.
That not only became a law then, but a tradition that most resturants still observe today!
Many traditions survive it's original cultures and or religions. They do so by adapting or being adopted. They are altered a bit now and then, and ressurected time and agin. This is the way of the history of all cultures, and the survival of them. From clan, to tribe, to region, to state, to country. We all declare some sort of cultural nationality. The same holds true in religious beliefs and traditions, and can be spread as far as we can travel to as many as we can teach. Tradition allows us to contact and commune on a cultural level with ancestors and others of that tradition sometimes with out words but by the action of observing or keeping a traditional custom. The depths of traditions go as deep as the thing that gives it birth. And to stay alive, it remains not a 'thing' but a 'reason' of that which birthed it.
Embrace Diversity, Honor Tradition, change will come, when it is time.

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