Fall 2011

The Heartland Spirit

A free publication of the Heartland Spiritual Alliance

Dusk Before the Dawn

A Masquerade Fundraising Event

FRIDAY , NOVEMBER 18, 2011

7PM—M IDNIGHT

BACCHANALIA

12450 NEWTON ST

OVERLAND PARK , KS 66213

$20 T ICKETS AND EVENT SCHEDULE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT :

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CONTACT : FUNDRAISING@KCHSA .ORG

2

Heartland Spiritual Alliance (HSA) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the appreciation and acceptance of a variety of

alternative religions and philosophies. HSA encourages participation in

educational programs and activities; most of which deal with the various

nature oriented or nature connected religions of the world, the similarities

within all religions, and the respectful free exchange of spiritual beliefs. We

strive to maintain a well organized, dynamic, and smooth running

organization within an atmosphere, which allows people of all religious

traditions to coexist peacefully.

Heartland Spiritual Alliance Board of Directors and Officers

Board of Directors:

Diana Arganbright

Sarah Geimer

Kaleigh Jones-Clark (Interim)

Tristan Knight

Michelle Lindeman

Dana Locke (Chairman)

Lane Locke

Officers:

President: Aislinn Firehawk (Interim)

Vice President: Dusty Silversmith

Secretary: Kettryn Jones- Clark

Treasurer: Angela Krout

In this issue

Statement of Intent ................................................................................... 4

The Power of Cauldrons in Your Everyday World ................................... 6

Spirit Circle............................................................................................... 8

Song of the Hunter .................................................................................... 9

Healthy Kitchen Witch Tips and Tricks .................................................. 10

The Core Foundations of Pagan Leadership .......................................... 12

Community Calendar of Events .............................................................. 14

Environmental View ................................................................................ 18

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Newsletter SUBMISSIONS

All contributions should be submitted electronically to the Newsletter

Committee at newsletter@kchsa.org.

Please submit your contribution along with your article's title, your

"pen"-name, pictures or public domain graphics, and a four to five sentence

by-line introducing yourself and/or your business/trade/organization.

The Heartland Spiritual Alliance reserves the right to accept or reject all

submissions at its discretion for any reason.

All copyrights remains the property of the submitter. As a non-paying

newsletter, we ask for reprint rights only. We will not grant permission for a

third party to reprint your content without your permission.

All submissions are accepted and published on the representation that the

submitter is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter. The

submitter agrees to indemnify and hold Heartland Spiritual Alliance and its

agents harmless from any and all liability, demands, or damages arising out of

the submission. Such indemnity includes the provision of a defense to any

actions or claims and the payment of costs and attorneys fees in connection

therewith.

Newsletter GUIDELINES

Choose a theme, announce it the first paragraph, and use it throughout

your article. It is important to be clear, precise, succinct, and organized..

Re-read your article and look for ways to make it more focused and easier

to read.

Use subheadings to help break up longer articles into specific topic areas.

If presenting yourself as an expert on a subject, make sure you list your

credentials in your by-line. Acknowledge your sources.

If submitting a controversial article, back it up with facts. Anticipate the

other's viewpoint and address it with respect. Avoid name-calling. Try to

provide solutions to problems rather than just complain.

Other tips: Shorter sentences are better than longer ones. Front load your point

in the first paragraph. Simplify when possible. Use and follow an outline.

Don’t overuse a word. Have someone else read it. Write from the heart!

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“We come together to promote spiritual evolution through understanding,

participation, acceptance and retrospection.” This is the statement of intent of

the current opening to HSA meetings but, what do those words mean? Doesn’t

“statement of intent” indicate some kind of magical working? When did an

HSA meeting become a magical working? Why should an HSA meeting be

treated as a magical working?

These are all valid questions and should be explored by each member, but first

we must explore the words themselves. “We come together…” The simple act

of coming together brings its own set of opportunities as well as difficulties.

Each person has a view of what is best for the organization; people may have

agendas of their own and each member may have a set of expectations, realistic

or not, that they are trying to carve out of reality. The four words of intent, the

ideas, and the ideals in the statement arm us with tools we can use to temper

those expectations, agendas and views.

Air, the fixed element of objectivity, brings us the lesson of Understanding. Air

touches every side of an object, both the desirable and undesirable parts of any

thing it comes into contact with. It does not discriminate, harbor prejudice or

shy away from unpleasantness.

Fire, that irresistible element of will, brings the necessity of Participation be-

fore us. Each of us has chosen to come together; the critical first step to partici-

pation. Fire admonishes us to drive forward from that initial point lending our

will to the evolution of the whole.

Water, the mutable element of subjectivity, teaches us that by wanting

Acceptance ourselves, if we are balanced and fair-minded, we must accept oth-

ers. We must also accept that our views, agendas and expectations may not be

what is best for the evolution of the whole; one of the hardest lessons of water.

Earth, the fertile element of riposte, insures we do not lose Retrospection. Just

as the fertility of soil is dictated by the substances deposited in it, any organism

or organization, is helped or hindered by what is laid down in history.

The situations with the highest probability of success seem to have their emo-

tional subjectivity balanced with detached objectivity and the passionate will to

drive forward checked by a stalwart knowledge of the road behind. We must

remember that HSA was entrusted to us by those who came before as we will,

in time, entrust it to those who come after us. As one of her current guardians, I

am confident that if we work to build and maintain a balanced and fair mind

we can leave a stronger, healthier organization to those who come after us.

And, in planting those seeds in fertile soil now, see the trend grow exponential-

ly over time.

Statement of Intent by Jason Truman

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‘Sleepy Boy’ by Jason Truman

Jason Truman – HSA’s Chair of Sacred Experiences

Jason has been practicing magic for a little over twenty years. He is well

versed in the Egyptian pantheon and has explored many other paths for

varying amounts of time; finally settling on Kaos Magic as his “somewhat

chilly, magical home.”

Fancying himself something of an artist, he has been known to “smear

graphite on paper,” a skill that has grown over a lifetime. He has frequented

Camp Gaea in Kansas for the past fifteen years and has a long, sordid past

with cabin number S3. With good friends, Evelyn Welk and Mark Beason, they

left a lasting impression on the land in the form of Key Pass. As some of the

founding members of the House Arcanum, they have also marked camp in the

form of the House Site off of First Field.

For the past six years he has been in love with Chi Lu Chuan, a southern

long-arm, eight animals kung fu style. Most recently, he decided to throw his

lot into the cup and Chair the Sacred Experiences Committee; “my most beau-

tiful and terrifying commitment yet.” He looks down the road, both personally

and in HSA, with excitement and a budding care for the community.

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Next to the broom, cauldrons are one of the most recognizable symbols of the

witch. Their rolling, boiling, alchemical process is at the heart of the Craft—to

change and alter mere mundane elements into something more; something

magickal.

But like other elements of the Craft, cauldrons hold their own mysteries that lie

hidden beneath the surface—just out of reach of those who do not dare or care

to look. But if you look, really look, the symbol of the cauldron is everywhere

in many forms. The form and image of the cauldron is readily accessible

throughout the mundane world for your magickal needs.

Before one can find the symbols of the cauldron in everyday life, it’s important

to understand and define the properties of the cauldron so that it can be easily

seen. My experiences with the tool of the cauldron have taught me that the

cauldron represents the power of the feminine, the realms of feminine magick

and a place for the Goddess’s alchemy to take place.

When I began looking to find the cauldron in my day to day life, I was amazed

to discover how readily available it is for me. Naturally, the first place I looked

was in the kitchen. The quickest, easiest symbol is in the kitchen—the sauce

pan or soup pot. I’ve spent many pagan holidays brewing, baking, and boiling

up something to be magickally imbued with the power of the Gods and

Goddesses on those special days.

But beyond the soup pot, I discovered that basically anything you cook food in

is a form of the cauldron because of the alchemy that takes place during mixing

ingredients and heating. I would even suggest that the oven is a form of the

cauldron. Mixed ingredients go into it, but a wholly transformed, single item

comes out in return. It does not come back to us exactly how we put it in. It

becomes a new item, whole and complete; no longer the sum of all of its parts.

To me, that is part of the magick of the cauldron.

However, the cauldron’s powers can also be found in another room in the

home—the bathroom. A bathtub is a type of cauldron because of the magick

that can happen there. Just ask any woman who’s soaked away the stress of her

day or soothed her sore muscles how warm water, salt, and herbs can transform

her body, her heart, and her mind. Isn’t that the nature of the magick in a

cauldron?

The Power of Cauldrons in Your Everyday World by Colleen Scherer

This article originally appeared in Circle Magazine in 2007.

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Speaking of a woman’s body, she carries a cauldron within her. Many symbols

of the cauldron reside within a woman. A woman’s womb is a symbol because

of the creative, transformative nature of her organs. Within her, life is

created, formed and released into the world. Even if she never carries a child,

the sacral (or second) chakra energy is housed in the womb of a woman. It is a

dark, moist, creative space where her ideas and creativity find the force to be

created and brought forth into the world.

As we continue to travel through the body, I found that the skull is also a

representation of the cauldron. Within its boundaries holds our brains—a

magickal organ that connects us on many different levels to the unknown and

the unseen. The skull cradles the brain where so many thoughts and ideas are

created and molded, where we meditate and join with other worlds. Scientists

still do not completely understand how our brains work. The brain is such a

complex organ with multiple energies happening simultaneously, it appears to

be magick.

One of the most powerful representations of the cauldron is the heart. In the

heartspace, emotions and energy are transformed. Mystery schools and

spiritual elders all teach that the heart is the basis for true magick and true

wisdom. Our hearts have the ability to change negative emotions and feelings

into happiness, joy, and contentment. That power is unlike any other in the

body. Best of all, all of the body symbology of the cauldron can be taken with

you every day to use and experiment with.

If looking to the world to find physical cauldrons within nature: caves, hot

springs and even the core of the earth are all natural symbols. Look at how the

core of the earth births multiple layers of rock and crystals. She transforms

simple minerals and materials into solid forms with etheric resonance within

them. I’m reminded of the lyrics, “She changes everything she touches and

everything she touches changes.”

Another real-world example is the chrysalis. We still do not understand the

process completely by which a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. The butterfly

is the ultimate symbol of transformation. The question becomes: does the

butterfly remember its existence as a caterpillar who only knew the world from

the ground? Does it only know its life as a winged creature? Does the rebirth

allow it retain memories of its former self or is it merely a past life?

The cauldron teaches us that nothing is static. Nothing is without movement.

Nothing comes out of the cauldron unchanged. It is the nature of the cauldron

to transform, to take you into the darkness to be reformed. I encourage you to

find other examples of cauldrons in your everyday life.

con’t page 9

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Spirit Circle

October 20th KC Metaphysical presents the Tarot. A high level introduction and discussion

on the cards followed by readings for donations.

November 17th Angela Krout presents an introduction to, and discussion about, Native

American mysteries and traditions.

December 15th Mark Stinson presents a Heathen Yule/presentation on the Norse traditions.

January 19th Shae Moyers presents an introduction and discussion on the Voudon traditions.

February 16th House Arcanum hosts a demystification and discussion on Kaos magic.

March 15th The Sacred Experiences Committee presents a Spring Equinox ritual. A purely

celebratory observance of the season.

April 19th (tentative)

A presentation of Mayan beliefs and how they relate to 2012 is planned.

May No spirit circle is planned in May due to Heartland Pagan Festival.

June 21st (tentative)

A presentation of Wicca by Jeff Heckathorn is planned.

Spirit Circle is a monthly educational gathering facilitated by the Heartland

Spiritual Alliance Sacred Experiences Committee. They strive to bring together

respected presenters of various backgrounds and belief systems to help share

knowledge within the community.

Spirit Circle meets 7-9 pm on the third Thursday of the Month at Aquarius

Books, 3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111.

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Gather round the bonfire bright

And tales of hunts recall

Hail the Horned God's Glory

And returning of the fall.

Glad tidings of the new year

Let the crackling bonfires bring,

As the Horned God comes in victory clad

Let happy voices ring.

Hail Cernunnos, God of Witches

Grant us strength and stealth and grace,

To bring down game for the winter

As we time of famine face

Let the Horned God shine glory

On his children one and all

And let him grant us power

All throughout the coming year.

Song of the Hunter by Michael (aka Elfin)

The Power of Cauldrons in Your Everyday World con’t from page 7

Magick happens within, not without. Although using a physical tool is handy,

magick takes place inside of you and you really don’t need any tools. The

world has provided us with many forms of cauldrons to use in our daily lives.

We have only to see them and use them. That is the greater magick behind the

cauldron.

Colleen Scherer is a writer, magickal practitioner and teacher, a Seichim Rei-

ki Master/Teacher and faery oracle reader. She has been following an eclec-

tic magickal path since 2001.

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Healthy Kitchen Witch Tips and Tricks by Sherree Ross

Each person’s soul is nourished by all aspects of life: relationships, career,

hobbies, physical activity, spirituality, etc. The physical body is nourished by

the food eaten. When the soul is happy, singing it’s own music, food choices

tend to be healthier and contain the nutrients the body needs to flourish and

support the soul. When the soul gets unbalanced, stressed, thrown off course,

or even overtired, the body seeks to help the soul try to be happy and often

compensates by craving foods that keep the body going and overstimulated.

Caffeine, sugar, and salt become best friends to the body in times of stress.

They all dehydrate the body making it more tired and over-stimulated,

sluggish, and less energized. If thirst sets in, the body has already reached the

state of dehydration.

One small change a day can go a long way in helping the body to feel better.

Instead of that second or third cup of java or that next forty-four ounce soda,

or fifteen ounce bottle of juice (1/4 cup sugar with no fiber), why not try a

glass of spring water or sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime?

Coconut water has natural electrolytes without all the sugar of most energy

drinks. How about a cup of herbal tea? Hibiscus with it’s beautiful red color,

and vitamin C is uplifting. Mint tea helps calm the stomach and nerves.

Jasmine tea, aromatic and sweet, sooths the soul. Happy Hydrating!

Sherree Ross is a Certified Health Coach, a living foods chef, a Seichim

Reiki and a Karuna® Reiki Master/Teacher, an Emotional Freedom

Technique Practitioner (holding Certificates of Completion for EFT-CC and

EFT-ADV) and a trained herbalist. Helping people with food allergies

(especially going gluten-free and dairy-free) reclaim their health, she offers

nutritional classes, healthy cooking classes, weight loss classes, pantry makeo-

vers and grocery store tours. Sherree@SherreerRoss.com or

www.SherreeRoss.com

Heartland Spiritual Alliance a proud sponsor of

www.witchvox.com

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HEARTLAND PAGAN FESTIVAL

May 24 - May 28,

2012

Gaea Retreat Center

McLouth, KS

http://www.kchsa.org

“Dawning of a New Day”

Honored Guests include Kerr Cuhulain,

Christopher Penczak, Barbara Criswell,

Flannigan’s Right Hook and more.

The 27th Anniversary

of One of the Largest Pagan

Festivals in the United States

Rituals · Vision Quest · Bonfires

Distinguished Speakers · Concerts

Workshops · Mystical Merchants

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The Core Foundations of Pagan Leadership by Raven Spirit

Recently, I received an invitation to speak at the “Pagan Leadership

Conference” hosted by Elysium Coven. I will be candid: I had a wide range of

thoughts go through my mind when approached, the first being, “What do I

have to say that anyone would be interested in hearing?” I am not an Elder;

would not claim the title if someone gave it to me; and I certainly do not

consider myself a Leader by any means, though some would disagree.

For a number of years I was very open and out in the community. I started

“Pagans’ Night Out” (PNO) with the help of Pat Chambers and Selene Rati.

Shortly thereafter “Kansas City Pagan Pride Day” (KCPPD) was created. In

the 10-plus years I “ran” the event, we (or rather YOU), raised very close to

$20,000.00 for local charities in the Kansas City area. Now I say I “ran” the

event but I was just a figurehead and simply promoted it a lot. During the ten

years I was involved quite a few people actually helped run it. The passing of

the torch to the community occurred when the event was turned over to the

“Witches’ Meetup” to organize.

But I am getting a bit off topic.

What makes up a Pagan Leader? I used to think being a Pagan Leader was a

person who was out in the forefront of the Pagan Movement, being the activist

for the rights of all Pagans. Please do not misunderstand me, those people are

also needed. Case in point: if not for the Pagan Leaders fighting the Veterans

Administration (VA) and The White House I would not have the option to lay

at rest in a VA cemetery under the pentagram symbol. Through their hard

work, I now can.

However, I want to get to the root of my feelings on this subject. What is a

Pagan Leader, at its very core, when we strip it all down, remove the fancy

glitter, hang the robes back up in the closet, and turn on the TV? What is the

core of Pagan Leadership? Where does it all come from? It is simply the three

foundations of spirituality: the Hearth as Altar; Work as Worship; and Service

as Sacrament.

The Hearth as Altar

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more sacred than your home. It is your

escape and sanctuary from the day-to-day grind. In his book, Folklore by the

Fireside, Alessandro Falassi discusses how, at the end of the day, families

would gather around the hearth and share stories; not only of the Gods and

Ancestors, but the things going on in their lives right then. Have we

13

become too busy with mundane life that we have forgotten this? I don’t

mean give it lip service. What I mean is (for example) if the kids have good

grades then light a candle on your altar and thank the Ancestors for the guid-

ance and protection of our children.

I know times are tight. I know the economy sucks - it has for a while. Would

you let your altar, dedicated to the Gods, become tattered and shoddy? No!

Then why do we do it to our homes? There have been times we will go to every

pagan event, festival, gathering, circle, et cetera, just to leave our homes and

“temples” with a stack of bills and maybe even no water, lights, or heat. Where

are our priorities? Part of making our Hearth our Altar is taking a bit of pride in

the place we live. It shows we have pride in our families and ourselves.

Work as Worship

Work your faith. You do not have to go around with a million bumper stickers

on your car to prove your faith. In fact, who cares what your faith is? Who

cares what my faith is? The only ones it matters to are the Gods and yourself.

Personally, it matters to my coven as well, because I swore an oath not to re-

veal the tradition to anyone outside of Circle. But more than anything, your

actions matter. You can think “All Pagan, All Day” and then charge your action

with the thought and send it on its way. The mundane are not freaked out; you

did your work; everyone is happy. It is a win/win situation.

Before you comment, I am not talking about Paganism having to go back in the

shadows, and burning times returning. No, I am talking about power with and

not power over - working with mundane society and not shoving or forcing our

spirituality down their throats. Gods know we hate it when someone hands us a

Tract, or tries to tell us about Jesus, so why would we want to do something

similar?

Service as a Sacrament

This goes hand-in-hand with Work as Worship. Let us look at this a bit deeper.

In Robert A. Heinlein’s book, Stranger in a Strange Land, we learn of the con-

cept “Thou art God” (multiple). If we hold this to be true, our thoughts and the

things we put energy into have power and take on form. This is part of our God

-self taking shape, so really our work is holy. But wait a minute…if I have a

part of this God-nature in me, and you have some in you (because “Thou art

God”), then what I am doing to and for you is directly for the Gods. Treat peo-

ple with a bit of kindness and not like the world is out to get you. If we are

Gods, we should act like it. I do not mean having a big old chip on your shoul-

der and an “I am I better then you” attitude, but more with an attitude of, “How

can I help you? What can I do to make your day easier?” In time we will look

at the person and not the action, and find out who we are really helping - the

other person or ourselves?

con’t page 14

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To sum up my view of a Pagan Leader: it is someone who takes pride and

responsibility in themselves and their surroundings; works and walks their

faith (instead of just talking about it); and sees God not only in themselves but

in others.

Wait another minute… since it’s just a label, what if we removed the word

Pagan from Pagan Leader? We would have someone who was proud,

responsible, stood up for what he/she felt was right, and regarded others as

important, too.

That sounds like something to strive for.

Works Cited

Falassi, Alessandro. Folklore by the Fireside. Austin: University of Texas

Press 1980. Print.

Heinlein, Robert A. Stranger in a Strange Land. New York: Berkley Medallion

Books 1961. Print.

Duane "Raven Spirit" Marshall served on the HSA Board for 2 years, was a

committee head for 10 as well as serving as a Pagan Pride Inc Board Member

and was the Founder of KCPPD. Currently, Duane is a Third Degree Priest in

the Georgian Tradition.

The Core Foundations of Pagan Leadership con’t from page 13

Community Calendar of Events

Sat, Nov 12, Psychic Development Series - Module Two: On The Path - Prac-

tical Tools of Integrating the Mundane and The Spiritual w/Rev. Shae Moyers,

$33.33, 1-4pm, Crescent Springs; 7317 W. 80th St., Overland Park, KS 66204,

Kat, 913-341-2044, crescentsprings@dynx.net, www.crescentsprings.net

Sun, Nov 13, Heartland Spiritual Alliance, Monthly Meeting, 2-5pm, Aquarius

Books, 3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-813-8167,

info@kchsa.org, www.kchsa.org

Wed, Nov 16, Spiritual Pathworking w/Aislinn $5, 7:30pm, Amethyst Dreams,

4301 Main Street, Suite #10,KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-231-1919,

aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Thurs, Nov 17, Heartland Spiritual Alliance, Spirit Circle, 7-9pm, Aquarius

con’t page 15

15

Books, 3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111, Jason, ritual@kchsa.org,

www.kchsa.org

Fri, Nov 18, Heartland Spiritual Alliance, Masquerade Ball, Dusk Before the

Dawn, $20, 7pm-12am, Bacchanalia, 12450 Newton St, Overland Park, KS

66213, fundraising@kchsa.org, www.kchsa.org

Sat, Nov 19, Journey With Your Spirit Guides/Totem Animals w/Aislinn thru

Communiversity, 2pm, Amethyst Dreams, 4301 Main Street, Suite #10,

KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-231-1919, aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Sat, Nov 19, Unlocking Your Immune Potential: Exploring Natural Approach-

es to the Cold and Flu Season, Dr. Mark Green, ND, 2-3pm, Aquarius Books,

3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111, 816-931-6303, www.aquariusbooks.com

Sat, Nov 19 Manifesting Your Hopes and Dreams, Zane Matthews, 6-8pm,

Aquarius Books, 3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111, 816-931-6303,

www.aquariusbooks.com

Sat, Nov 19, KC Metaphysical Fair, 10am - 8pm, $6, Holiday Inn, 8787

Reeder ,Overland Park, KS, Sylvia/Gigi, kcmetaphysical@gmail.com,

www.facebook.com/kcmetaphysical, www.kcmetaphysical.com

Sun, Nov 20, KC Metaphysical Fair, 10am-6pm, $6, Holiday Inn, 8787 Reed-

er, Overland Park, KS, Sylvia/Gigi, kcmetaphysical@gmail.com,

www.facebook.com/kcmetaphysical, www.kcmetaphysical.com

Mon, Nov 21, Green Party, Monthly Meeting, 7-9pm, Aquarius Books, 3936

Broadway, KCMO 64111, 816-931-6303, www.aquariusbooks.com

Tues, Nov 22 –Dec 6, Yoga Tuesdays-Gentle Flow Hatha Yoga w/Mimi

Mateos, $30/3sessions, $60/6 sessions, drop-ins, $12, 6:15pm -7:15pm, Cres-

cent Springs, 7317 W. 80th St., Overland Park, KS, 66204, Kat, 913-341-2044,

crescentsprings@dynx.net, www.crescentsprings.net

Tues, Nov 22, Ananda Nidra: Tantric Meditation for the 21st Century, Johnson

and Michaels, 7-9pm, Aquarius Books, 3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111, 816-

931-6303, www.aquariusbooks.com

Wed, Nov 23, Spiritual Pathworking w/Aislinn $5, 7:30pm, Amethyst Dreams,

4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-231-1919,

aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com con’t page 16

Community Calendar of Events con’t from page 14

16

Community Calendar of Events con’t from page 15

Wed, Nov 23, Witches Meet Up, 7-9pm, Aquarius Books, 3936 Broadway,

KCMO 64111, 816-931-6303, www.aquariusbooks.com

Sun, Nov 27, Journey Around the Medicine Wheel w/Aislinn thru Communi-

versity, 12pm, Amethyst Dreams, 4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111,

Aislinn, 816-231-1919, aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Wed, Nov 30, Gluten-Free, The Good-to-Go-Grains, Sherree Ross, 6:30-9pm

$55, The Culinary Center of Kansas City, 7920 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park,

KS, 66204, 913-341-4455, www.kcculinary.com

Wed, Nov 30, Spiritual Pathworking w/Aislinn $5, 7:30pm, Amethyst Dreams,

4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-231-1919,

aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Thurs, Dec 1, Higher Self Alignment Temple, Rev. Kat Lyman; $15, 6:30-

8:30pm, Crescent Springs, 7317 W. 80th St., Overland Park, KS 66204, Kat,

913-341-2044, crescentsprings@dynx.net; www.crescentsprings.net

Thurs, Dec 1, Chocolate Bliss, Sherree Ross, 7-8:30pm, North Kansas City

Library, 2251 Howell St., North Kansas City, Missouri 64116 , 816-221-3360,

www.northkclibrary.org/node/245

Thurs, Dec 1, EFT: Pain Management w/Rita Reno thru Communiversity, $5,

7:30pm, Amethyst Dreams, 4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO, Aislinn, 816

-231-1919, aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Sat, Dec 3, Holly Holly Holly Days Sale, 10am-6pm, Cristo Rey School, 211

W Linwood, KCMO, 64111, www.facebook.com/hollyhollyhollydays

Sun, Dec 4, Holly Holly Holly Days Sale, 10am-5pm, Cristo Rey School, 211

W Linwood, KCMO, 64111, www.facebook.com/hollyhollyhollydays

Wed, Dec 7, Spiritual Pathworking w/Aislinn $5, 7:30pm, Amethyst Dreams,

4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-231-1919,

aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Sat, Dec 10, Psychic Development Series- Module Three, w/Rev Shae Moyers,

$33.33, 1-4pm, Crescent Springs, 7317 W. 80th St., Overland Park, KS

66204, Kat, 913-341-2044, crescentsprings@dynx.net,

www.crescentsprings.net con’t page 17

17

Community Calendar of Events con’t from page 16

Sun, Dec 11, Heartland Spiritual Alliance Monthly Meeting, 2-5pm, Aquarius

Books, 3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-813-8167,

info@kchsa.org, www.kchsa.org

Wed, Dec 14, Spiritual Pathworking w/Aislinn $5, 7:30pm, Amethyst Dreams,

4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-231-1919,

aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Thurs, Dec 15, Heartland Spiritual Alliance, Spirit Circle, 7-9pm Aquarius

Books, 3936 Broadway, KCMO 64111, Jason, ritual@kchsa.org,

www.kchsa.org

Sat, Dec 17, The KC Tarot & Oracle Meetup, 10am-12pm, Donation, Crescent

Springs, 7317 W. 80th St., Overland Park, KS 66204, Kat, 913-341-2044,

crescentsprings@dynx.net; www.crescentsprings.net & www.meetup.com/

kctarotoraclemeetup/

Sun, Dec 18, Castle and Cross Celtic Concert, 2-4pm, Aquarius Books, 3936

Broadway, KCMO 64111, 816-931-6303, www.aquariusbooks.com

Sat, Dec 17, Journey Into the Stones Part I w/Aislinn thru Communiversity,

2pm, Amethyst Dreams, 4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111, Aislinn,

816-231-1919, aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Sun, Dec 18, Journey into the Stones Part II w/Aislinn thru Communiversity,

12pm, Amethyst Dreams, 4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111, Aislinn,

816-231-1919, aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Sun, Dec 18, Luna Lushede Open Yule Ritual, $Donation$, 5pm,

www.lunalushede.org

Mon, Dec 19, Green Party Monthly Meeting, 7-9pm,Aquarius Books, 3936

Broadway, KCMO 64111, 816-931-6303, www.aquariusbooks.com

Wed, Dec 21, Spiritual Pathworking w/Aislinn $5, 7:30pm, Amethyst Dreams,

4301 Main Street, Suite #10, KCMO 64111, Aislinn, 816-231-1919,

aislinnfirehawk@gmail.com

Wed, Dec 28, Witches Meet Up, 7-9pm, Aquarius Books, 3936 Broadway,

KCMO 64111, 816-931-6303, www.aquariusbooks.com

18

I was surprised recently when I performed a basic Internet search under the

term “environmentalism” and immediately found numerous sites vehemently

and passionately opposed to what I had always considered to be a common

sense and moral duty of man. One website says that environmentalism is

“fundamentally an attack on the ideals of Western civilization. Opposed to

science, technology, and economic development, environmentalism holds that

the non-human has value but the human does not.” Another declares, “Now

observe that in all the propaganda of the ecologists—amidst all their appeals to

nature and pleas for ‘harmony with nature’—there is no discussion of man's

needs and the requirements of his survival. Man is treated as if he were an

unnatural phenomenon.”

First of all, please allow me to dispel what is apparently a common myth.

Every living organism is interrelated. Everything. We cannot understand one

part without looking at the other parts. Everything we do affects something and

someone else. Since humans constitute “living organisms” then yes, we are in

the same boat, my friends. When we talk of environmentalism, we are

essentially talking about ourselves. Auto exhaust affects the air that flows

through my lungs. Contamination affects the water I drink. Chemicals used in

factory farming affect the food I eat. A thinning ozone layer results in cancer

on my skin. In areas of overpopulation, violence increases, etc. The list goes on

and on. It is clear to me that a healthy environment allows me to continue

maintaining the kind of lifestyle I have become accustomed to living. This is

my requirement for survival; this is man’s requirement for survival. As a

human, I value my health. So the claims of the anti-environmentalist are in-

comprehensible to me. They do not make any sense. How is this an attack on

man? Environmentalism is common sense. It works for us, not against us.

con’t page 19

Blast from the Past

The Heartland Spirit has been in publication for over ten years. Many of the

articles written in the past hold relevance for this day and for our new

generation of readers. To that end, this section will occasionally appear with a

previously printed article from The Heartland Spirit.

Environmental View Answering Mother Earth

by D. Sanders

This article originally appeared in The Heartland Spirit August 2003

19

Many of us also look to the Earth as being our Mother and our home. We find

a deeply spiritual connection with Mother Earth and all things of nature. When

we contemplate the idea of interconnectedness, we start to realize that to treat

all things of nature with respect is to ultimately treat ourselves with respect.

There is much for us to learn in this regard. The first step, I think, is to start

being conscious of all our regular daily actions. We are a culture of

post-industrialist mass consumerism. We still hold on to a “frontier mentality,”

the grand American notion of limitless resources, and the freedom to take and

use them however we want to. We are constantly bombarded with advertising

media that promise immediate gratification. We have been taught that

material objects can fill our ever increasing spiritual emptiness.

We consume goods and culture, though they cannot possibly give us true

pleasure, insight, or wisdom. Mother Earth is calling out and we should answer

her. We should listen to what she has to say and act according to what will be

ultimately more beneficial to all of us in the long run. Do not think of it in

terms of some boring obligation that you have to do for the cause of some far

away abstract idea. Think of it in terms of what gifts you can give to yourself.

There is a Buddhist saying that goes, “Don’t sacrifice your own welfare for

that of another, no matter how great. Realizing your own true welfare, be intent

on just that.” (from Dhammapada 166). Do not think of it in terms of the

non-human having more value than the human. Do what is right and most

Environmental View Answering Mother Earth

con’t from page 18

HSA Membership

If you are 18+ and would like to become a member of

HSA and help promote the practice of, and tolerance

Towards, alternative spiritual paths, please visit our

website at www.kchsa.org to submit a membership

application.

Membership in HSA is $20.00 per year, and the

membership year extends from July 1st to June 30th of

each year.

20

We’re on the Web!

www.kchsa.org P.O. Box 270198

Kansas City, MO 64127

Heartland Spiritual

Alliance

Phone: 816-813-8167

E-mail: info@kchsa.org

Have a business or service you’d like to advertise in

The Heartland Spirit?

Send an email with a .jpg or .gif of the finished artwork to

newsletter@kchsa.org with your name, phone number, the

number of issues in which you’d like to advertise AND

Mail your check with a memo of ‘NEWSLETTER AD’ to

HSA, P.O. Box 270198, KCMO, 64127

The Heartland Spirit Advertising Rates:

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Winter Newsletter Deadline for ads: December 15, 2011

Editor’s Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in The Heartland Spirit are strictly those of the

authors of each individual article and do not necessarily represent the positions of The Heartland

Spiritual Alliance’s Board of Directors, its Officers, or Membership.