From the Edge of the Circle

In this episode, I talk a bit about how following your inspiration and passion can bring you to interesting and exciting places.  I never dreamed I would be a teacher - though I've always had aspirations of doing just that since I was fifteen years old.  Now that I'm actually teaching college classes, I'm finding a certain excitement creeping back into my life as I watch my students comprehend the material and put all of it together into their own vision of how the material can be incorporated into their own careers.  The same can hold true within one's own spritual experiences as well.  You don't have to teach correspondences or herb lore, or even ritual nuances to be a teacher.  Just showing others how you got to where you are can make just as big of an impact on helping others approach their own understanding of their Path. ---- Musical Feature:  "Oh How I Dreamed" by Wendy Rule from her album "Diety". Wendy's music can be found at her website:  http://www.wendyrule.com W

On episode 120, I talk a bit about how the outdoors is where I feel my most spiritual – even in the city.  I also bring up an exciting event at Sacred Journey Fellowship in Garland, TX (part of the DFW area for those outside of Texas) with Phaedra Bonewits.  More details are in the show and in the show notes.  Musical feature is Explorer with “Shamans of the New World”.  Lastly, I unveil one of my newer pieces of poetry. --- Musical feature:  Explorer Website: http://uilennest.net/sounds/  ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/nicovermaas#! --- Sacred Journey Fellowship Event Phaedra Bonewits will be giving a presentation on the second weekend of April at Sacred Journey Fellowship in Garland Texas.  The topic will be on utilizing “props” within ritual, as well as what to do when you have no “props” available.  Start-time is 10am with an approximate end-time of 5pm.  Cost is $50 with lunch provided.  If you mention

As many of you know, I write my own poetry and read quite a bit of it as well.  This particular art-form also colors my own perception of the world around me.  In this podcast episode, I talk a bit about how poetry provides a handhold of sorts in my everyday spiritual walk.  My musical feature for the show is the incredible Paul C. Newman, whose album “Passing Fayre” is one of the most lyrically stunning works I have heard in years!  In my opinion, this is an album you should purchase as soon as possible, and place into heavy rotation in whatever music player you utilize!  Hope you enjoy the show!  Slainte! --- Musical feature:  Paul C. Newman Website:  http://paulnewman.bandcamp.com/ CDBaby:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/paulcnewman --- Google Voice - (972)-514-7315   Email:  elfster@gmail.com Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/From-the-Edge-of-the-Circle/116817775667 Blogspot:  http://edgeofcircle.blogspot.com/ Skype

Welcome to a new year!! In this first show, I talk a bit about why so long between the last show and this first one for the year.  Then, we dive into the topic at hand -- re-energizing your own personal rituals.  I use the example of my own daily ritual that comes through my walking and how I go about keeping it from becoming a mechanical process.  The musical feature for the show is Emerlad Rose's "The Hills of America".  If you like the music, be sure to buy it at the link listed below!  Support your favorite artists!!  Finally, the return of the Spoken Word segment as well.  I read my own poem:  "Of Cotton-balls and Waterfalls". Slainte! --- Musical Feature:  Emerald Rose Website:  http://www.emeraldrose.com/ CDBaby:  http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/EmeraldRose --- Google Voice - (972)-514-7315 Email:  elfster@gmail.comFacebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/From-the-Edge-of-the-Circle/116817775667Blogspot:  http://edgeofcircle.blogspot.

I wanted to talk about a bit of what's been going on in my life.  Lots of new, interesting and exciting things taking place.  I also wanted to take some time and do the very last look at the news and politics for the show.  This is an arena I won't likely be covering again in the future.  There are many other podcasts that do this, and quite a few of them do it far better than I do.  I also discuss some of the changes (these are MINOR things folks -- nothing huge changing, other than the dropping of the news/politics segment) taking place in the podcast.  I also set the next two show topics:  (1) Keeping My Beliefs From Becoming a Mechanical Process and (2) Life as a Series of Poetic Moments.  Lastly, I wanted to thank all of you who have listened to the show over the past five (nearly!) years.  I do appreciate all the time that you've spent listening to me and all the comments you've given me.  I look forward to continuing on with the show for another five-pl

Lots going on in today's podcast!  I talk a bit about my perspective on politics - particularly the high-school popularity contest we call the American Election process.  Thanks to Renny over at "Shhh! There Are Pagans in Texas!", I debut the podcast's listener voice mail...thank you MiLady!  In response to her v-mail, I talk a bit about what I did for Samhain this year.  The topic for today's show is about the power of the Spoken Word, with some emphasis on Fiona Davidson, Ronald Hutton and Philip Carr-Gomm..  Speaking of the Spoken Word - I bring back the Spoken Word segment, with my own piece of poetry - "Of Cotton-balls and Waterfalls".  Musical piece for the show is Spiral Dance with their song "Ride the Wind". --- Podcasts Mentioned Shhh! There Are Pagans in Texas: http://therearepagansintexas.wordpress.com/ CUUPS Podcast: http://cuups.libsyn.com/ DruidCast: http://www.druidcast.libsyn.com/ --- Artists Mentioned in the Show Ronald Hutton:  http://www.bristol.ac.uk/his

I couldn't really come up with much of a topic this time around -- so I give ya'll a little update on how things are going in my life.  I touch on a handful of topics -- from my school-work to sports to a potential new "home" for me at DUUF.Google Voice - (972)-514-7315Email:  elfster@gmail.comFacebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/From-the-Edge-of-the-Circle/116817775667Blogspot:  http://edgeofcircle.blogspot.com/Skype:  tomyelf22GoogleTalk:  elfster@gmail.com

For today's episode, VG Lovecraft provides his perspective on Pagan Leadership from an earlier episode.  I also talk about how my diabetes has affected my real life and my daily Spiritual walk. Featured music is "Moonset and Sunrise" by Wendy Rule from her incredible album "Guided by Venus".  http://www.wendyrule.com Email:  elfster@gmail.com Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/From-the-Edge-of-the-Circle/116817775667 Blogspot:  http://edgeofcircle.blogspot.com/ Skype:  tomyelf22 GoogleTalk:  elfster@gmail.com --- Balancing Between Worlds -- http://balancingbetweenworlds.blogspot.com/

Well, I get to eat a little crow on this episode on the topic of Pagan Leadership.  This came about from a discussion that I was having with John Beckett and David Pollard (CUUPS Podcast) at the North Texas Pagan Pride Day on the aspect of Pagan community and Leadership.  So, since I'm chewing down some cooked crow, I figured I'd ask for some BBQ sauce to help it go down.  :)  Plus, I discuss a bit of the fun at the event, where I got to hang out with the aforementioned individuals, as well as Ren and Rose from Shhh! There Are Pagans in Texas! podcast.  And believe me folks...these two ladies are a lot of fun in their show, and in person!  I haven't laughed and cut-up that much in several months!  We'll be back to the regular format, complete with music, spoken word segments, and listener feedback with Episode 114.  B*B  --TommyPodcastsShhh!  There are Pagans in Texas! -- http://therearepagansintexas.wordpress.com/CUUPS Podcast -- http://cuups.libsyn.com/Blogs

With the recent passing of Isaac Bonewits, I thought it would be an appropriate time to explore a listener question that has been in the Email queue for close to seven weeks:  "What do you think of the aging (and passing on) of the current Pagan leadership?"  The question has always been one I have been reticent to tackle, especially since I don't view myself as being any form of "leader" within the community - despite the commentary I've gotten from listeners over the last four-and-a-half years.  This podcast addresses some of my reluctance to view myself in that particular light, and some of my own perspective on the direction I think that can be applied to Pagan Leadership going forward.  Email:  elfster@gmail.com  Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/From-the-Edge-of-the-Circle/116817775667

A small addendum segment concerning inner journaling, which was a portion I had forgotten from the Walking and Belief episodes.  Also, some of my views on the news of the past few days.  Music is "Prometheus" from Wndy Rule's album "Zero".  Email:  elfster@gmail.com   Podcasts: Shhh!  There are Pagans in Texas! -- http://therearepagansintexas.wordpress.com/ CUUPS Podcast -- http://cuups.libsyn.com/   Music Wendy Rule -- http://wendyrule.com  

Let's talk about community again -- except let's widen it out to a larger perspective.  Inspired by some of the commentary in DruidCast Episode 40, I thought I would take a step back to the beginnings of this podcast and explore some of the conceptual aspects of community.  Also for those of you in or near the DFW area, remember that the North Texas Pagan Pride Day is coming up (www.dfwppd.org) - and I plan to be there in whatever capacity...as a volunteer or just as a guest roaming around.  Looking forward to seeing a lot of other folks out there in the heat on 9/11/2010.Email:  elfster@gmail.comSome of the websites that I talk about in the show include:North Texas Pagan Pride Day -- 9/11/2010 -- http://www.dfwppd.orgWitches Voice -- http://www.witchvox.comThe Wild Hunt -- http://www.wildhunt.org/blogDruidCast -- http://druidcast.libsyn.orgPagan Space -- http://paganspace.netShhh! There are Pagans in Texas!! -- http://therearepagainsintexas.wordpress.comFinally, a huge thank you to all th

Part 4 of the 4-part series on equating a daily walk/run with one's own Spiritual Walk.  I focus on the cool-down phase of the process.  Email:  elfster@gmail.com

Continuing the talk about equating a daily walk to that of one's Spiritual Path.  Today, I discuss the phenomenon known as "The Runner's Wall" and equate how it relates to one's spiritual Path.  Email:  elfster@gmail.com

This is the second show of the four part series on comparing a daily walk with one's Spiritual Walk.  In this show, I talk about looking around and observing the aspects of one's walk -- not just for beauty, but also for protecting one's self from potential harm.  Email:  elfster@gmail.com

This is the first of a four-part set of mini-casts on comparing my daily walk to that of one's Spiritual Walk.  The first show is on preparing for the daily walk, as well as explaining a little about the overall concept.  Email:  elfster@gmail.com

Taking a look at the start of one's journey on a spiritual path -- and why it doesn't matter what anyone else may think of it.  Musical feature is the Rhythm Devil's "The Center".  Email:  elfster@gmail.com

The show started as one without a topic and slowly morphed into a perpsective on finding inspiration.  I also talk a bit about current American politics, grounding and centering, and where I'm headed with my degree program.  Music is "Artemis" by Wendy Rule.  My email is:  elfster@gmail.com

I received a lot of Emails on the topic of "Persecution Fever" and I spend the entire show reading and commenting on them.  I also spend the first bit of the show on a rather charged political rant.  Email:  elfster@gmail.com

Taking a look at the magick of music, with a special look towards the Grateful Dead.  Also, I have a specific point about "Persecution Fever" which will be the topic for Episode 103.  Music is "Tir-Nan-Nog" by Laura Powers.  Email:  elfster@gmail.com