Date: 16 Aug 87 09:05:40
From: Judy Harrow
To:   Rowan Moonstone
Subj: self-defense and banes

Re: banes 

I surely agree that we have every right to protect ourselves and our
"own folk" from attack. But I do believe that shield and mirror
workings are more efficient, effective and elegant at accomplishing
the goal of self-protection. Consider this - a mirror working is
perfect justice. If I am mistaken, either that psychic attact is being
done at all or about the perpetrator, a bane will jeapordize me
karmically and (if psychic attact truly is being done by somebody
other than the one I suspect) fail to protect me. A mirror sits there
passively, ignores any mistaken paranoia that I may occasionally get,
does nothing at all until and unless an attack happens, and then sends
the bad energy directly back to the exactly deserving person or group
in exactly the proper amount and kind. A mirror is perfect justice.
    A grounding shield is perfect mercy, taking bad energy and
dissipating it harmlessly. I think I already said this but I recently
talked one of my students into using a grounding shield where she
would have been perfectly entitled to use a mirror. The situation is
an ongoing battle between my student's lover and his former
wife. While the ex-wife did an entirely unjustifiable attack, and
would fully deserve to have it returned full force, all this would
really accomplish would be to perpetuate the craziness, hostility and
tension in the situation - and both the couple's innocent children and
my student are being hurt.  Better for all concerned to ignore justice
and drain as much of the tension as possible, to make room for the
healing that all of them need.  A grounding shield is perfect mercy.
    But banes and bindings, while they may give short term protection,
risk your own karma, are susceptible to mistake, and may, if
misdirected, even fail of their well-intended purpose. Sure you're
entitled to self-protection. This is just a lousy way to go about
it. I guess my kind of Warrior is Athena, the wise defender.
            warmly / Judy

Date: 18 Aug 87 08:37:00
From: Hugh Read
To:   Judy Harrow
Subj: Re: self-defense and banes

You have a gentle way.  For myself, I love Minerva who I feel is a
Being unto Herself.  The concept of the Grounding Shield is clear to
me...would you care to share the practice with me.  Justice has little
interest for me.  That takes care of itself in the process of time.
We are all amply repayed for our varies deeds simply by wearing this
body of ours. Healing is far more to the point.  The word Justice
makes me cringe a bit, though long ago I came to peace with Justice.
One of my more angry prayers is May he/she have perfect Jusice, NOW!
Instant karma, NOW...and I always add, and so may it be with me.  I
remember telling this to a New Age teacher a few years ago.  He turned
pale and promised me auto accidents, fire, theft and robbery if I did
that.  Well, I am still bopping along with my share in the chancier
aspects of life affirming perfect Justice for my self and every now
and then in those very rare (!) moments of anger instant Karma for me
and whoever.  I love the idea of a shield that will ground and
disperse any nasties send grovelling in my direction.  Let Healing Be
the Way!!!  Tender bliss and explosive ecstacy be yours as the days
pass softly!
===

Date: 19 Aug 87 08:16:00
From: Judy Harrow
To:   Hugh Read
Subj: shields

It's visualization either way. For the grounding shield, it is
velvety, absorbtive black (Oops, I should say that MINE is - you may
alter this to whatever will convince your Younger Self). Every so
often along it's length, for me every 2-3 yards, there is a post
somewhat like a fence post that extends deep into the ground and is
conductive like a lightening rod. Trust mother Earth to filter any
kind of energy back into simple, pure, undifferentiated energy and
recycle it to wherever it is most needed. So the shield catches
incoming energy and channels it down through the purifying rocks. I
don't know exactly how to describe physically how the shield can be
semi-permeable, allowing in the well-wishes of your friends, but, as
semi-permeable membranes exist in Nature, helping each cell maintain
its water/salt balance, so can this shield. Can you conceive of a
substance both velvet and mesh? That's how it is with me.
    On the justice end of the spectrum, my own Younger Self is a bit
of a literalist. A flat mirror will not work for me, since the angle
of incidence is complementary to the angle of reflection, which means
that bad energy is actually diverted from the sender and bounced onto
innocent parties. My mirror looks like a waffle, and is optically
designed to send stuff back exactly where it came from. It's also
semi-permeable, and that is even harder to explain. I guess Younger
Self is not altogether consistent.
    On the issue of choosing between the two modes. Justice is a
tautology. It will do no better - and no worse - than getting you back
to where you began.  It protects and maintains, but does not allow for
growth. Perhaps you've read Diana Paxon's wonderful book "Red Mare,
White Stallion." At the beginning, the women of the tribe have a
ritual opportunity to make a wish for the coming year. But the heroine
does something even better. When her turn comes, she tells the Goddess
"Mother, You choose." Had she chosen, she could not possibly have
received anything more than she was capable of imagining. Taking the
risk of not choosing was opening herself to surprise and
transformation.
    Reading that was a mind-blow for me. Since then, I have tried to
take Diana's dare as much as possible, and not limit myself to
tautology. I don't do it all the time, but I stretch toward it. The
mirror/shield question resonates with that for me.
    Minerva/Athena wears a shield and helmet, and carries a spear. My
Sister is a Warrior, but always in defense of the community and always
for justice.  Never for greed or domination. It is worthy to protect
what you have, and worthy to reach beyond.  warmly / Judy --- v1.36
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