THE

PHOENIX

Exploring Spirituality, Animal Rights

and the Beauty of Mother Earth

PO BOX 7064 Wattle Park Victoria 3128 Australia

Number 6 – January-March 2019
Killing Animals May Be Killing Humans
Upon recently learning more extensively about the extinction of birds, such as the
Dodo of 1681, it came to me that maybe one of the reasons behind, let us say,
natural disasters, is in direct relation to our killing of animals. Maybe too, wars
manifest as a Karmic reaction to all these senseless extinctions.

I am not referring to natural extinctions, such as that which wiped out the
dinosaurs of yesteryear, but extinctions of animals that are either the direct cause
of humans killing them (such as by hunting) or by our actions (for example,
cutting down the forest which then impacts on the climate).

Over the centuries, people have killed animals time and time again, some of
these have been for subsistence, though for many of these animals, their life had
been extinguished for sport-hunting, entertainment, cruelty or just sheer
arrogance - "I’m stronger than you; I can do with you as I like."

Witness the proliferation of disgusting hunters’ magazine that abound, where the
"Hero," that has taken a life not theirs to take in the first place, has his or her
photo displayed therein, whilst posing with one foot resting atop the carcass of
the recently-demised. Do these people honestly think that such is OK in today’s
society? Do they not get the concept of "Animal Rights," – that each individual
animal has its own inherent right? That is, the Right to Life.

‘Animal Rights are a foregone conclusion, not a privilege bestowed by humans’

 Hedgeworth Jones

I cannot help but think that these kind of people are lacking psychologically and
spiritually for such a disconnect to be manifested  I am no psychologist, so I
cannot prove this, but it is an idea that I believe has merit.

If there is any Justice in the universe, then maybe Karma is meted out through
the death of people by natural disasters or wars. How long can we go on killing
and not expect some pay-back? Life in the greater scheme of things would be
unjust if animals can be slaughtered without any recompense.

Please do not get me wrong  for I am aware of the plight that affects other folk
around the globe, such as in certain areas of Africa where people are dying due
to wars, starvation caused by famine, lack of water due to drought, political and
religious persecution, not forgetting environmental degradation.

I have heard people argue that maybe this is the reaping due their Karmic Justice.
Others have voiced the view that it is possible that the Jews suffered in WWII
(1939-1945) due to their fall-out with God (for example, read Deut. 7:6-11).

②
This is not what I am trying to say. It is abhorrent to my mind that we justify
these events under the guise of Karma or an act of God. All I am trying to
express through my own arguments, is one possible cause for the demise of
humans – often under horrific conditions – in proportion to the horrific treatment
of animals.

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Our treatment of animals has been less than
respectful – Factory farms, animal experiments, hunting, cruel entertainment, our
use of animals in fashion, the destruction of their homes, or plain wanton
cruelty!!

Do not all these events add up to one disgusting manifestation – styled HATE?
One person told me that I was too harsh on humans as most people did things
out of ignorance and tradition. And I concur that such can be true. However,
from an individual animal’s perspective, it still comes across as Hate and Greed.
Suffering is suffering in terms of experiencing it – no matter its appellation.

If we do not seriously begin to change our ways, then I think we shall see more
than just the Four Apocalyptic horses come bounding toward us, we shall behold
a mass herd of animals that apocalyptically need to appear before us that we may
eventually wake up and take heed to their message.

At the moment, we all go blindly about speaking of "Love," as a way of covering

up a multitude of Sins. We talk of "Respect," but do we extend this to our
Brothers and Sisters of the animal kingdom; to our Brothers and Sisters of other
nations and other faiths? Sadly the answer is a thunderous No! which finds its
echo worldwide, nay, it echoes throughout the entire universe.

If we truly desire a better world for animals, people of other races, of other faiths,
of other genders, then we need to step up and take action.

If we envisage a world where Love and Respect are the norm, not the exception,
then we need to start treating the world accordingly, and all that reside upon Her
 the insects, the birds, the sea creatures, animals, people and the Environment
Herself – for Mother Earth is a living entity and has Her own rights that the
comment made by Mr. Jones encapsulates.

So please, come join hands in the fight against injustice and maybe the Karmic
Lords will look down and then converse as one, saying, "Let us lighten the load that
humans have taken upon their shoulders and stop the death of humans due to the ill-
treatment of animals. Let us help in healing Mother Earth that Her Children may live
free and their lives to full measure." So Mote It Be.

Heathclyf St. James-Deville
Founder and Editor
"Thus, if we are to grant them an inferior moral status or,
indeed, no moral status whatsoever, a justification is
required and such a justification must spell out why it is
that we are entitled to treat them differently from
ourselves and what it is that their moral status entitles us
to do to them."  Robert Garner, Animals, Politics and
Morality. Manchester University: Manchester. 1993
③
JOY – Hidden in Plain Sight
Joy is something that we all desire and of which we can see to be true. It can be seen
in the antics of both children and animals. Many people talk of joy as if it were an
emotion limited to children only; forget the adult, forget the animals and the birds.

"How can I find joy as an adult for when I look around me; I see nothing joyful," a friend
once said to me. I asked her to come take a walk with me in the forest nearby – she
accepted. So off we went with my wee dog tagging along, tongue hanging out as if
she were privy to some humorous canine joke.

We went to a park in the forest and there were many families out for the day;
enjoying the sun, the birds, the cool breeze coming through the trees and the faint
sound of water gently pouring over the rocks in a nearby shallow stream. It was
deep enough for the children to wade in and laugh as they felt the icy water on their
bare feet and legs. Even the old dragonflies were sharing in the Joy of the day.

At the same time, my dog, along with other canine-folk, spent a fun-filled day
running around and playing with her new-found friends. Dads were having fun
throwing a ball or stick. Even the insects and birds seemed to take advantage of the
mild summer sun. Some mothers were sitting on old blankets or rugs, sharing out
the picnic fare.

Looking at my friend, I turned to her and asked, "Do you see any joy around you now?"
She said she was beginning to appreciate the lesson of what ‘Living this life’ is all
about. My friend, with many others who follow a spiritual path, is desirous of a
better life ‘somewhere else,’ not knowing that we are on this earth for a reason and
even if we do not always know the reason, the Gods have deemed this time of our
karmic journey to be the best one for us – all things considered.

Sure there are many things to lament when we look at the negative – but what about
the positive? Take a look at the life around and we shall see joy and the good things
that life has to teach us. This doesn’t mean we shy away from the bad, just
sometimes we need to turn aside to see the other side; the good.

There is a beautiful comment on this from the Bible where the prophet Job
encourages one to "ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will
tell you; or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare
to you," the things of God; they shall reveal to you what Nature seeks to teach. (Job
12:7-8).

In The Gospel of Ramakrishna, the saintly man, Ramakrishna (1836-1886), imparts to

us his teaching to: "Think of infinite ākāśa and the bird flying there, joyfully spreading its
wings. There is the Chidākāsā, (or Space) and Ātman is the bird. The bird is not imprisoned
in a cage; it flies in the Chidākāsā. Its joy is limitless." I like to think that the bird is a
symbol not only of the Soul (the Ātman) but a symbol of Joy itself. Take time to
watch the birds for they seem to live joyfully each day.

④
When life gets us down it is our mental state that suffers and this affects us on the
physical level. Conversely, if one suffers from a physical ailment, their mood on the
mental level can be affected. As such, finding some way to tap into a state where Joy
abounds, should be something to strive for. A walk in the park, reading a good
book, listening to your favourite music, or what it is that makes YOU feel JOY; and
true heart-felt JOY at that, this is worth striving for.

The Master Jesus taught his disciples that by feeding the hungry, quenching the
thirst of those without water, welcoming the stranger or clothing the naked or
visiting with those who are in prison, they “Do this unto me (Jesus)" This is to be seen
in Matt.25:34-46. So we can see that JOY can also not only be experienced by oneself
but gifted to those less fortunate. Read The Kindness of Strangers beginning on page 9


WHAT IS SUPERSTITION?

T
HAT one man’s belief is
another man’s superstition,
and vice versa, is a truth so
manifest that it hardly needs
stating. Thus, no less a theological
authority than Dean Inge [b.1860,
Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral,
London] while lamenting that we are
all, more or less, obsessed by
superstitionshas ventured to pour
scorn upon the miracles of Lourdes.
Many persons, though ready to
attribute to holy images, sacred
relies, incense, and scapularies some
mystical significance, will class
together in their disdain all amulets,
mascots, objects of divination or
taboo, and the idols of the savage.
There is scarcely one of us who has
not his own pet superstition, or
superstitions, to which he ever
slavishly yields; whether it be of a
subtle type, or such as the avoidance
of walking under a ladder, or making
one of thirteen at table; yet we are
anxious not to advertise our
weakness, are a little ashamed of
admitting it even to ourselves.
As M. Raoul Allier [Doyen of the
Faculty of Protestant Theology at
Paris], says in The Mind of the Savage,
published 1924 by G. Bell & Sons,
that: "Doubtless, men affect to speak
of these things in jesting tones. Still,
the very man who would not fail to
smile, when advising another in
certain circumstances to touch iron,
would be greatly worried if he could
not, unperceived, do this himself and
thus secure the contact that guards
from all evil."
Even the erudite and brutally logical
Dr. Johnson (1709-1784) was assailed
by superstitious dreads.
To sneer at these fears does not help
in any measure to elucidate their
cause, to explain their universality
and persistence.

⑤
Why do we all, in varying degrees,
practically from the cradle to the
grave, believe in some occult force
embedded in the substance of things,
in luck, in the power invested in
symbols?
We are in the habit of laughing at
children and reprimanding them for
being frightened of the dark, which
terror has been accounted for as the
atavistic relic of primitive man’s
most necessary alertness against the
attacks of wild beasts in the forest or
jungle at night; as in darkness.
However, even civilised man is beset
by invisible dangers—one may, for
instance, unguardedly knock against
some unseen object, or fall into a
hole—this fear of the child, so far
from being foolish or deserving of
blame, is a misinterpreted expression
of providential wisdom. Similarly,
may not much of what is deemed by
severely rational beings as silly
superstition, prompted solely by
emotional ignorance, be in reality the
crude manifestation of some basic
truth, instinctively if vaguely
perceived? As we know absolutely
nothing of the processes of creation,
whether some common link may not
unite objects apparently quite
dissimilar, ignorant as we are of the
ultimate aim of all existence, let us
not too hastily assume that whatever
we cannot measure off by our finite
rule is therefore unworthy of our
attention, to be dismissed as the
illusion of misguided fancy.
May we not reasonably question
why, from time immemorial, certain
precious stones have been regarded
as exerting, some a beneficial, others
a baleful, influence? For example: the
garnet is said to dispel insomnia, the
amethyst to ward off intoxication, the
emerald to discover false friends; the
diamond, worn on the left arm in
contact with the skin (so the Romans
held), takes away all fear; by the
sardonyx, health, prosperity, long life,
and married happiness are assured:
it is also a sure cure for epilepsy; the
red sapphire, by darkening its ruby
glow, forewarns the wearer of
danger; while the sky-blue turquoise is
the luckiest of all stones, promoting
health and good-fortune, and
bringing true love. Is there no
ground for these lasting and wide-
spread beliefs, apart from the play of
an unreasoning imagination, and
blind credulity? To those who give
any consideration to mass-
suggestion, it will be clear that this
must, of itself, have weighty effect.
But, in addition to the response
always accorded to collective
thought, concentrated and
continuous, is it not possible that to
the objects themselves actually
pertains something of the puisant
qualities to them assigned?
The conjecture that vital energies can
be enclosed in a material thing, even
projected into it from a distance, is a
tenable and strictly logical
hypothesis. Of this the immediate
and most concrete proof is spirit
embodied in flesh. Who will dare to
deny that the same mighty and
inimitable Power which breathed life
into clay could, if willing, manifest
itself as it pleased through all things
material—animate, even stone!
⑥
We are all aware how clothes take to
themselves something of the shape of
the wearer, how to them seems to
cling a certain amount of the
personality of the owner; our attire,
as all we touch and everything with
which we come into contact, absorbs,
it may be, more of our physical and
spiritual make-up than ever we
suspect. Psychometry, indeed,
conclusively shows this to be the
case. Hence the Chinese in their
belief in feng-shui—that local luck
due to the relative positions of their
houses or villages, and the
mountains, rivers, and so forth,
associated with them—are, perhaps,
not entirely in error.
Speech and gesture are the first
extensions of the spirit, an
explorative reaching-out from its
physical confines. To quote M. Louis
Weber: "When, whether by gesture
or by word, one man calls to another
in the distance, and the latter
responds to the call, there is nothing
apparently material about the causal
connection. . . . To hit with stone or
javelin a hunted animal or enemy, is,
as it were, to extend the effort of the
arm and transmit its movement to a
tangible and visible medium. But to
call to a companion and see him run
up in answer to the call, is to set
working a very different force which
the intelligence of the savage cannot
translate in terms of matter and
movement. As this causality cannot
thus be conceived, it introduces into
the imagination a new element sui
generis which cannot be referred to
material phenomena, and this
element is the spiritual element (that
which acts without a body)."
[Le Rythme du Progrès, (1913) p. 141
Cf. The Mind of the Savage]
Here the savage appears wiser than
the psychologist, gestures and words
reaching, indubitably, a step further
from matter than mere bodily
contact; a step still higher is
telepathy: and beyond that lie
inimitable possibilities of spiritual
interaction. It seems as though the
savage could teach something of
deep psychic truths to minds
otherwise better informed, both
philosophic and scientific. Professor
Haeckel, [1834-1919] in reducing the
whole cosmos of our perceptions to
"attraction" and "repulsion . . . that
momentous element of the soul which
determines the character of the
individual," explains not a jot the
stirrings in matter of that mighty
Breath of God which permeates all
things visible and invisible; for in his
onslaught on the external verities he
displays an ignorance much greater
than that of the savage.
The fact that superstitions are more
the outcome of intuition and
emotions than of careful reasoning is
no evidence as to their falsity.
Feeling exists prior to deliberative
thought; the babe turns instinctively
to its mother for nourishment long
before its mentality has developed.
In all our reasoning, we select our
arguments, our comparisons and
similes as impulse and prejudice
prompt.
⑦
Consequently, Reason must always
be the servant of Intuition; just as
Science must ever be the handmaid
of Religion—such can never rob
Faith of its inner, unquenchable light.
Science, in discarding all that falls
outside the narrow circle of what it
appoints as its legitimate
considerations, ties its own hands; it
is time that it recognised something
of the stupendous spiritual forces
active in man, and, indeed, in all
phenomena, seen and unseen,
instead of rejecting or mutilating
every concept that does not
obligingly fit into its Procrustean
bed.
FRANK LIND, The Occult Review
of February 1930

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Rev. Richard Gilmour, D.D. Bible History: Containing the Most Remarkable Events of
the Old and New Testaments, with a Compendium of Church History (New York,
NEW YORK (NY): Benziger Brothers, 1904

The Creation of the World, be it explained in any religion, is a fascinating

account of Creator’s dealings with life as manifested upon the earth. All the
things of nature are seen – or can be interpreted – as being endowed with a
Spark of the Divine. We cannot escape the moral implications of this in
terms of our treatment of those things that exist outside of ourselves. If
Creation is taken on board as occurring at some time in the distant past,
then surely we owe it our consideration and a change in how we relate to all
the minerals, trees and plants, insects, fish, birds and all the animals that
reside around us – as too our fellow Brothers and Sisters of our own human
kingdom. We may even extend this to the Elemental Kingdom.Ed.

⑧
"In Cicero and Plato and other such writers I find many things acutely said and
many things that awaken fervor and desire, but in none of them do I find these
words, 'Come unto me and I will give you rest."' –Aristotle, 384-322 B.C., citing the
words of the Master Jesus, as recorded in Matt.11:28

THE TUB THUMPER – Things worth musing

upon and hearing about
THIS is to be a regular feature of each issue where Victoria shares with us her
insights on life and her thoughts on a host of subjects. This is her introduction to
The Phoenix and, I trust, the first of many articles- H.

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Recently my family fostered a little boy. As time went on and people learnt
about this event, five people went out to purchase clothes and gifts for him.
They had never met him and were unlikely to but they didn’t mind they just
wanted to help. It started me thinking about the kindness of strangers.

Collectively or as individuals, many people have given time, money and effort to
change the lives of others. But sometimes we forget such people and such
goodness.

It can appear that good things are no longer true. There seems to be more
violence and war than in any time in the past, witness the rise of terrorism
since the day when the Twin Towers came tumbling down.1

But are there really more bad things occurring than that of the past?

Technology now allows us to see and hear everything in a way that has never
been before, especially with the Internet and social media sites, so the world
seems a much smaller place. With information and news available to us 24/7,
we are more informed yet that doesn’t mean things are worse, we just know
about these issues now than we did in the past.

It would be easy to feel overwhelmed by the negative information that we are all
exposed to about our world. But take a moment to look further and you will see
that it is far from the disaster that we sometimes feel it is.

History shows us that there has always been those who care and will do all that
they can to help those less fortunate than themselves. Charities are in their
thousands and all because someone wanted to help change things and make a
difference. For instance, there are an estimated 6.1 million volunteers in
Australia, a wonderful example of the kindness of strangers. As we can see
many people are very generous and caring

1
It is not the intention of this magazine to criticize any particular group that may
feel a genuine grievance against what they may perceive as a threat or a controlling
entity, seeking to suppress them, such I leave to others far more educated in the
realm of intentional politics and/or religious persecution – Ed.

⑨
These are wonderful people who work tirelessly for the good of others. I would
like to remind us of some of these with a few examples of those people and
organizations who have done just that:

FRED HOLLOWS
Frederick Cossom Hollows, (1929 –1993) was a New Zealand-Australian
ophthalmologist who became known given his work in restoring eyesight for
countless thousands of people in Australia and overseas. It has been estimated
that more than one million people in the world can see today because of
initiatives instigated by Hollows, the most notable example being The Fred
Hollows Foundation.

Fred Hollows was a wonderful man who spent his entire career helping those
who needed it most. He is a credit to the human race.

The Fred Hollows Foundation, Locked Bag 5021, Alexandria NSW 2015
Australia

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOUP VANS

Each night these vans provide nutritious food for up to 700 people at street
meeting places, in boarding houses, squats and public housing. The several
hundred volunteers who provide this service aim to treat everyone with the
utmost respect at all times.

Br Doug Walsh is president of the St Vincent de Paul Society soup vans in

Victoria. He says the company provided by the volunteers to those in need is
just as important as the food. “The social interactions are critical for people on
the streets, where isolation and loneliness are real issues. The volunteers come
with a smiling face and open heart night after night to the streets of Melbourne.”

(source melbournecatholic.org.au)

KINDNESS CARDS

Taking the tool of human kindness one step further, giftofkindness.com have
introduced the “Kindness Card.” This card enables you to present a tangible
reminder of intentional kindness to its recipient. The purpose of the card is not
to elicit a reward or response but rather to be used in times of autonomy where
the recipient can appreciate the act. The card draws emphasis to the actual Gift
of Kindness provided and hopefully prompts the recipient to “pass it on” by way
of providing a kind act to another.

Example (just one of many)…. you pull into a drive-thru and pay for your order.
Instead of just taking your food and pulling off, give the Gift of Kindness and
pay for the person behind. Sure it may cost you $5 but the simple act will have
a profound impact on that person and in your own life. It’s easy, you tell the
cashier you want to pay for that person behind you too. You then hand the
cashier a KINDNESS CARD and ask that they give the card to the person when
they pull through to pay. This lets the recipient know and become aware of the
initiative as the card explains it.

⑩
Later in the day or week, this person will look at the card and it will remind
them that they were the recipient of a The Gift of Kindness card. The card serves
as a reminder and a vehicle to be contagious and spread positive energy.

(source http://giftofkindness.com/kindness-cards/)

What a brilliant idea. Let’s all get on board with this one.

And one more…from a person that I recently met. He shared with me the
following details about his life

I got into some trouble. I am sure you have all heard the story. Drugs, the
wrong people, and before I knew it I was in prison. When I was released I went
to a country town to live with my family. But I really wanted a job. Because of
my life I had lost everything so wanted to get my life back on track as soon as
possible, so I started putting my resume in at as many places as I could but
with my past I was doubtful that anything good could happen. I talked to my
family and they encouraged me to be open and honest and they were convinced
that most people would want to help. I did not really believe this. But I was
wrong. The first job I got was just a day here and there but it got my foot in the
door and I will be forever grateful to the wonderful man who gave me a chance.
Being a country town this man knew everyone so put in a good word for me to
someone who ran a company that employed people as drivers which is exactly
what I wanted to do. This woman also gave me a chance and to this day I still
work for her. I will never forget the strangers who helped me when I needed it
most. In the future I will always help others when I can…….

So don’t feel that you need despair, the world as we have always known it is not
lost, it’s just buried among the myriad pages of Facebook and suchlike, that
can contain a lot of the negative things of the world. The News may overwhelm;
may depress, but keep your heart centred on the positive.

Victoria Cameron-Brooks

What a terrific first article to welcome Victoria to The Phoenix. For a different
perspective, see Joy – Hidden in Plain Sight, pages 4-5

PAGANISM – GOOD OR EVIL? YOU DECIDE

Wisdom, as I perceive it, is the
greatest characteristic of the Pagan
cultures of old but sadly, such
wisdom is rarely seen today, let
alone embraced when found. There
are those who are still wise and
despite the mocking of such folk by
the so-called ‘Civilized,’ the Pagan
still has much to offer.
One of my most beloved Wiccans,
Scott Cunningham (1956-1993)
had this to say in his book, Living
Wicca (1992)
Living Wicca has been written for
those who have become enchanted
by the moon shining through the
trees; who have begun to
investigate the sublime world that

⑪
lies out beyond the fabric of daily
life, and who stand in smoke-
shrouded circles, raising aloft their
hands to greet the Goddess and
the God as the candles flicker on
the altar…for those who, through
choice or circumstance, meet with
the Silver Lady and the Horned
God alone.Introduction
In Wicca for One, as written by
Raymond Buckland, is to be found
a beautiful Self-Dedication Ritual;
the words of which truly sum-up
(at least for me) this wonderful
Path:
God and Goddess; Lord and
Lady. I am here a simple
seeker of knowledge, a lover of
life. I here dedicate myself to
you and to your service.
You are the ones I have chosen
to serve. I do this of my own
free will, with no pressure from
any other. Guard me and
guide me in all that I do, for all
that I do is in love of you and
of all life. Help me live my life
with harm to none. Help me
to acknowledge the depth and
beauty of all life, animal,
vegetable, and mineral. The
animals, birds, fish, reptiles,
and all living things are my
brothers and sisters. The trees
of the forest, the plants,
flowers, herbs and all growing
things are my brothers and
sisters. The rocks, soil, sand,
the rivers, lakes, seas, all
waters of the earth, and all
that is of the earth, are my
brothers and sisters. Make
me one with this family. Let
me guard them and work for
them as they all work for me
Lord and Lady, from this day
forth I accept all and will ever
abide by the Wiccan Rede: ‘An
it harm none, do what thou
wilt.’ I pledge myself to you,
the gods. I will always protect
you as you do me. I will
defend you against those who
speak ill of you. You are my
life and I am yours. So Mote It
Be.
The novelist, Robert Carter, writes
in his book, THE GIANT’S DANCE,
[Harper Voyager 2011] a wee bit of
wisdom that I believe we should all
reflect upon
“It is the task of all people to make
life less unfair if they can.” And
this can be extended to all life.
So as I see it, the Pagan Path, no
matter the Tradition one follows,
can help not only our immediate
world as we learn to value the life
both seen and unseen, but also the
numerous planes of existence that
we may not even consciously know
to exist.
Scott Cunningham had a
sentiment that I wholeheartedly
have taken on board for its truth is
self-evident:
[Wicca] can be a lonely path,
because so few of us follow the
Old Ways. It’s disheartening to
spend your time reverencing
nature and watching the Earth
suffocating under tons of
concrete while nobody seems
to care.
Wicca: Guide for the Solitary
Practitioner p.75
I concur that it can be a lonely
Path yet a good Path nonetheless.
⑫
To conclude this little wandering
down the Pagan Path, I quote from
the Theosophical book, To Light A
Thousand Lamps (2001) by Grace
F. Knoche, who writes:
Already the theme of our oneness
with nature has revolutionized
present-day thinking and
lifestyles. Once again we are
beginning to see ourselves as
participants in an ecosystem of
cosmic dimension. We are
discovering that we, the
observers, measurably affect not
only the object we are observing
but the entire complement of
evolving entities. Best of all, we
are realizing, though not
sufficiently as yet, that we are
one humanity, and that what you
or I do to help another benefits
all, striking a resonant chord in
the on-going symphony that
together we are composing.
Though the burden of our
inhumanities are indeed heavy,
the universe must rejoice over
the slightest movement of
compassion in the soul of even a
single human being.
I therefore ask, Is this not the goal;
the underlying reason as to why we
must not fear the Pagan, the Heathen
or the Wiccan; the Witch?
The above is based on a talk given to
the Australian branch of Theosophical
Society (Pasadena) as located in
Melbourne, Victoria, on March 2,
2013.
The Editor
The Lord and Lady have a way of
drawing one to them, be it
through Nature. It is known as
The Voice of the Wind whereby
one is Spirit-taught. This may
manifest as the wind winding its
way through the trees that stir
one’s heart to look around and
think anew, the rocks that call
forth to some deep inner part of
our Being, the sound of the
waves or the lapping of water
upon the river bank, as too other
such means related to Nature. Is
this not a beautiful occurrence
that entices one to turn back to
the Ancient Ones of Old?

ONLY A DOG
Greeley, Colo.—Despairing of ever again seeing their little house dog, which
had been missing for several days, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bowers drove out to
Linn Grove Cemetery to place flowers on the grave of their baby, who died a
few months ago. There on the tiny mound they found the dog asleep and
almost exhausted from grief and hunger. —News Dispatch.

Yet it was "only a dog" keeping the love vigil under the stars in Linn Grove
Cemetery.

The Bowers family, no doubt, had been criticized for keeping it around the
house. Indignant highbrows, quite possibly, had written letters to the
Greeley papers to protest that there were "too many worthless curs in this
town." There was nothing inviting about it, perhaps, to look at. It barked at
the milkman and made life a burden for the iceman.

⑬
Occasionally it chased the neighbor's cat up a tree, and when it found
nobody to annoy, and the baby was asleep, it amused itself by scratching its
ears—in public. Members of the women's clubs wondered "what the Bowers
family meant" by lavishing affection on such a dog.

But the Bowers baby and the Bowers dog didn't mind what the highbrows
said or what the club women thought. They rolled on the floor together, and
the baby roughed the dog's wool, pulled its ears and twisted its tail. If the
iceman or the milkman had tried that familiarity there would have been
trouble. But the iceman and the milkman and the club women and the
highbrows, who hate dogs, couldn't understand the loyalty that bound the
Bowers dog to the Bowers baby. It was "only a dog" to them.

And when the Bowers baby died there was sympathy for all the family.
Neighbors called to offer condolence and to do all they could to heal the
sorely wounded hearts. Nobody, however, thought of the baby's playfellow,
the Bowers dog. No one gave a thought to him as he wandered through the
house alone looking for the companion that had roughed his wool and
pulled his ears; listening for the voice that had commanded him to
obedience, even though it had talked in baby prattle.

No one paid attention to the wistful, wondering look in the eyes of the
Bowers dog as he went from one to another, seeking in dumb, dog-fashion,
an explanation of the mystery of mysteries that had robbed him of his
playmate. He was only a dog.

When the Bowers baby was taken from the house by strange hands—they
never would have touched the baby in other days, with the dog standing
guardand the silent, solemn procession left the Bowers home for that sad
journey to Linn Grove Cemetery, nobody bestowed so much as a look upon
the Bowers dog. Why should they? He was only a dog.

And the procession from Linn Grove Cemetery wended home again. The
Bowers family and the relatives and the sympathizing friends and the
minister. The little Bowers baby was left there in a new made grave—but not
alone. When the last human friend had left the little mound there came a
watchman to keep vigil, a watchman prompted by a love and loyalty that
passes human ken. It was the Bowers dog.

In his way the dog had solved the mystery. They found him there, three days
later, exhausted, the dispatch reads, "from grief and hunger," but faithful
still, keeping' watch over the dead.

Let the scientists tell us that, being only a dog, he could not have been
moved by a sense of affection—and let scientists go hang.

For there is the Bowers dog

As Reported in the Kansas City Star, (see The Editorial, a book by L.N. Flint,
published in 1920 pp.167-169)

⑭
Please note that this is not the Bowers Dog but was a Scotch Terrier who
shared his life with my favourite author, Wilkie Collins (1824-1889). His dog
answered to the name of ‘Tommie’. Collins wrote the brilliant and highly
recommended 1860 novel, The Woman in White.

The butterfly’s ethereal winged beauty

has appeared to many a poet fitly
symbolic of the human soul –
Chambers’ Encyclopædia, of 1923

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

2019 IS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES

January 28 International Day of Holocaust Victims

February 1 World Interfaith Harmony Day
February 20 World Day for Social Justice

⑮
March 3 World Wildlife Day
March 8 International Women’s Day (Men observe November 19)
March 21 World Forestry Day
March 22 World Water Day

MARCH 3 WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).as UN
World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and
plants. The text was agreed upon back in 1973 and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered
in force. Text in PDF format - https://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.php

World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied
forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits
that conservation provides to people. At the same time, the day reminds us of the
urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, which has wide-ranging
economic, environmental and social impacts.

MARCH 21 WORLD FORESTRY DAY

Forests cover one third of the Earth's land mass, performing vital functions around
the world. Around 1.6 billion people - including more than 2,000 indigenous
cultures - depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter.
Forests are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than
80% of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. Yet despite all of
these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation
continues at an alarming rate, with 13 million hectares of forest being destroyed
annually. Deforestation accounts for 15% to 20% of the global greenhouse gas
emissions that contribute to climate change.

The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise

awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty
eradication, environmental sustainability and food security. Sustainable
management of all types of forests are at the heart of unlocking challenges of
conflict-affected, developing and developed countries, for the benefit of current and
future generations. This global celebration of forests provides a platform to raise
awareness of the importance of all types of woodlands and trees, and celebrate the
ways in which they sustain and protect us.

March 21 is celebrated by Pagans as Ostara, marking the beginning of Spring – Ed.

MARCH 22 WORLD WATER DAY (See article below)

World Water Day, on 22 March every year, is about focusing attention on the
importance of water.WATER AND
Last year was ITS
the 25 IMPORTANCE
th anniversary of this event.

Water demand

 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
 By 2050, the world’s population will have grown by an estimated 2 billion
people and global water demand could be up to 30% higher than today.

⑯
Agriculture currently accounts for 70% of global water withdrawals, mostly for
irrigation – a figure which rises in areas of high water stress and population
density. Industry takes 20% of the total, dominated by energy and
manufacturing. The remaining 10% goes to domestic use – the proportion used
for drinking water is much less than 1%.

Water availability

 Today, around 1.9 billion people live in potentially severely water-scarce

areas. By 2050, this could increase to around 3 billion people.

Water quality

 An estimated 1.8 billion people use an unimproved source of drinking water

with no protection against contamination from human faeces.
 Globally, over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into
the environment without being treated or reused.

Climate and environment

 The number of people at risk from floods is projected to rise from 1.2 billion
today to around 1.6 billion in 2050 – nearly 20% of the world’s population.
 Today, around 1.8 billion people are affected by land degradation and
desertification. At least 65% of forested land is in a degraded state.
 An estimated 64-71% of natural wetlands have been lost since 1900 as a
result of human activity.
 Soil erosion from croplands carries away 25 to 40 billion tonnes of topsoil
every year, significantly reducing crop yields and the soil’s ability to regulate
water, carbon and nutrients. The runoff, containing large amounts of
nitrogen and phosphorous, is also a major contributor to water pollution.

Water is an extremely important part of our world and all life is dependent on
its availability to survive.

Freshwater ecosystems support more than 125,000 species, from fish to

aquatic mammals. They also provide a myriad of ecosystem services, including
helping to regulate the temperature of the land and sea, creating clouds and
affecting the weather, transporting nutrients and minerals, and providing water
for drinking, recreation, farms and energy generation

An allied day is World Toilet Day, observed on November 19. Today, 4.5
billion people live without a safe toilet and 892 million people still practise open
defecation – this means human faeces, on a massive scale, is not being
captured or treated. This day attempts to highlight these concerns for us.
Again, these are issues that need urgent attention.

This is a really important health and environmental concern that is often looked
over and I therefore give my full support to World Toilet Day.

Further details to be highlighted in Issue 9 (October-December)

⑰
 POTENTIAL WRITERS
PLEASE REQUEST OUR WRITER’S
GUIDELINES IF YOU’D LIKE TO
The Master Magician SUPPORT THIS
CONTRIBUTING AN
PROJECT BY
ARTICLE...OR
By John Caldwell-Johnston TWO...OR THREE...

Little Brother, if you desire to
become a Master-Magician, as I
know you do, remember that the
Master-Magician works always
with Nature, that he is best
pleased when his magical
operations are as silent, as
omnipresent, as irresistible as the
rising tide. To create a bouquet of
roses from the ether of space is
easy; to turn the hearts of men to
Justice and Peace and Truth,
which is my work and your work,
is behold no easy task!
Who marks the springing of a
flower? Who notes the seeding of a
good thought in the human heart?
Yet the season of flowers comes
and, lo! the fields are multicolored
to the dawn. So is the coming of
God's Kingdom on the earth.
These things are well known to
you. Yet, perhaps, you do not
know them as well as they should
be known.
The true things are ever old. The
old things are ever true. What can
be older than the twin saying,
"Respect thy neigbbor. Respect
thyself"? Nevertheless within this
saying you find your whole duty;
and wheresoever you may go, high
or low, within the manifestation of
God, which is His universe, you
will never see, you will never hear
tell of any Being who has been able
to exceed this saying.
All men are Magicians but not all
are Master-Magicians. He who
becomes a Master-Magician must
hold himself bound by his very
power to do service to all. There
are those who have won great
mastery of magic for their own
ends and who use their powers to
enslave others to their will. Such
are not my servants.
World Theosophy, July 1932
2019 is Chinese Year of the Pig

What role does spirituality play in a discussion on animals?

I believe that it plays a major part but sadly it seems to not register high on
the scale for many claiming to follow a Spiritual path. We are constantly
being bombarded with the notion that as humans we are somehow ‘more
worthy and blessed’ than those of other life forms. Pets may be respected
and prayed over when they die; a tear possibly shed for a farm animal or the
infrequent visit by one of nature’s wild critters that has touched our heart.
But who truly cries over the demise of a rodent, or a pigeon or a fly or a
cockroach; not many I’d hasten to guess. But these all have their own
unique journey – physical and spiritual – to embark upon in their journey
back to Spirit. So yes, we must forever keep talking about the animals and
how we can assist them. In turn, we too grow in spiritual enlightenment.
Saying this though, I believe we need to develop our empathy for the
animals and not simply to gain ‘points’ in relation to our own Spiritual
enlightenment.

⑱
 Does humanity have an ethical "responsibility" for the animal
kingdom?

Given my reasons above, it goes without saying. There is no moot point

when it comes to our ethical responsibility; pray, we need to accept this
responsibility and not attempt to deflect it from our attention and our life
style. Again, there is much lip-service in the realm of Spirituality: both
New-Age and Old, with many a follower maybe not deliberately harming an
animal, but to turn aside from the cruelty that does occur, such does not
honour our responsibility. Many people want to live a life; a spiritual life,
that is full of Peace and Love – this is a worthy goal. But we cannot truly
attain this Peace and Love by ‘purchase,’ but by reaching out to all around
us and helping to ‘make life less unfair’ if we can, words found in The Giant’s
Dance (2005) by Robert Carter. We must as a part of our own journey
through life, include all the myriad life forms that abound within this
profound piece of wisdom. What a truly insightful observation by Carter.

On a more personal level, I do not think we can be true stewards of Peace

and Love on the Spiritual Path while all that exists, (and I include here the
mineral, flora, and elemental kingdoms) within our awareness is not at
Peace nor when animals (in this instance) are not the recipients of our Love.

Heathclyff

Our Book Review is being held over until next issue. However, two books worth the
reading are 1. Acts of kindness by Hanoch and Meladee McCarty and 2. Chicken Soup for
the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness: 101 Stories of Compassion and Paying it Forward, as
written by Amy Newmark. Both highly recommended by The Phoenix.
⑲
WHITE, represented by the diamond or silver, is the emblem of light,
religious purity, innocence, virginity, faith, joy and life. The Master Jesus
wore white (others say violet; maybe both) after the resurrection. In the
Judge it indicates integrity, etc.
RED, the ruby, signifies fire, divine love, the Holy Spirit, heat or the creative
power, and royalty. It is considered a lucky colour in many countries. It is
the colour that was chosen by the great god Thor, for he sent red bolts of
lightning through the black clouds to show his power over the imps of
darkness. In a bad sense red signifies blood, war, hatred, punishment. Red
and black combined are the colours of the devil. In Shetland, red is called
the colour of lightning and also the colour of love. Hence the red-winged
ladybird and the red-billed, red-legged stork are sacred to the goddess of
Love.
BLUE, the sapphire, expresses heaven, truth, constancy, hope, fidelity.
YELLOW OR GOLD, symbol of the sun; of the goodness of God, of
faithfulness. In Egypt, the colour symbolized that death is the end of all
human hope, because this is the colour of the leaves as they fall in Autumn.
In a negative sense yellow signifies inconstancy, jealousy, deceit. In this
sense it is applied to the traitor Judas, who is generally habited in dirty
yellow.
GREEN, the emerald, is the colour of spring; of hope, particularly hope of
immortality, and of victory, as the colour of the palm and the laurel. In a
negative sense it represents jealousy. The Scots believe this to be a fatal
colour and should thus never be worn, whereas the Irish have taken it for
their national colour, thinking it lucky.
VIOLET, the amethyst, signifies love and truth, or passion and suffering.
Hence it is the colour often worn by the martyrs. The Madonna wore this
colour after the Crucifixion and the Saviour after the Resurrection.
GREY, the colour of ashes, signifies mourning, humility, innocence accused.
BLACK expresses the earth, darkness, wickedness, negation, death. On the
Nile black was lucky in sacrifice. At one time, this colour represented Good
Friday. It stands for Saturn and is the colour associated with the Indian god,
ShaniDev, dispenser of karmic rewards and punishments.
WHITE AND BLACK together signify purity of life, and mourning or
humiliation.

The Divine Flame

If you let yourselves go into the light of the spirit and the power of the heavens, you
will feel the warmth, like a glowing fire in your heart. This is the source of all
physical healing. This is the Great White Light that was used in the temples of the
holy mysteries. This Great White Light is the secret of creation. It is the power
which alone can control and overcome all darkness on earth. You can keep the
flame burning once it has been lighted. Think of millions of flames lighting the
earth. You may be only one little one, but keep the light of your flame burning!

White Eagle, the Spirit Guide of Grace Cooke, 1892-1979

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