I took most of this week off in an effort to finish the final publishing details for Loki Listens Volume 1.  I think the effort went pretty well.    You can now purchase my first book for download directly to your Amazon Kindle!  I’ll have details on the print release soon.  It’s in the final approval process.  I’m also working on a release for mobile readers.  More details on that soon.  Also, please remember the book is available in eBook(PDF) format for free on the ‘Classroom’ tab at the top of this page!

As many of you know, I am a regular guest on the podcast, Something Kinda Techy.  There is a new one up now.  You can listen to all of these podcasts from here.

In personal life, I’ve had some bad dental problems this week, but I believe they are now resolved.

With all of that out of the way, I think we are ready to head into Part 2 of The Cost of Magic.  Look for it tomorrow.

Jack
I Listen.

Monday Update
February 23, 2009

Enter Kotoko
—-

Kotoko was not surprised to hear Jane’s voice. Three years ago, when Jane had disappeared, Kotoko had seen a vision of her talking to a man in a bar. And when Jane and Minus had escaped the bar, she witnessed the entire drive through her astral eye. But despite her effort and work, she had not been able to see where the truck stopped, or where Minus and Jane had actually went.

Jane filled her in on the details. Then asked her to bring things by. Kotoko agreed and said she’d be there around seven p.m. Minus had to give her directions because she still could not see the way to Minus’ house.

It was slightly past noon. The couple knew supplies were on the way, and that they would not be able to see each other for some time afterwards. They lounged the day away in bed, loving being together, and loving each other. Later they would look upon this time as the calm before the storm.

—-

Jack
I Listen.

The Cost of Magic
Section #18
Enter Kotoko

Is It Worth It?

—-

Mancini picked up the phone after a few rings. He was in his study, relaxing after a hard day of astral projection. He’d been sipping Scotch and thinking about the problem of the two lovers. On the line was a female voice he had never heard.

“Doctor Mancini?” the voice asked.

“Speaking, my dear, but please call me Victor.”

“Hi, my name is Jane. I believe Minus may have talked to you about our situation.”

“Ahh, young Jane. Yes, Minus has told me much about you, and I’ve learned much more from the Akashic life books. You are quite intriguing, did you know that?”
“Well.. um.. no. I guess not.” Jane was stumbling over her words. This man was very elegant, and she felt a little inferiority.

“Minus… He doesn’t think. He just moves. Do you know how he can always make things work with so little thought? Minus’ mind, body, and soul are all tied in deeply with the Synchronicity Stream and the Alacrity Motion. He doesn’t even need to meditate. He steps forward and obstacles move away from him. He is that in tune.

“People like me and you, on the other hand, have to work hard to get these things on our side. Before I met Minus, I was just a sad, delusional drunk. And before you met him, you knew only some simple glamors, some basic theory.

“To Minus, the things that you and I know…. Well, they don’t really matter. He can pull from those other worlds with no effort. He effects the people around him in profound ways, without trying. Sometimes the effects are not pleasant.

“Before I say more, I need to know something. Do you really love Minus? Are you ready to suffer for that love? Because it will bring you deep sorrow. This is the point where you can leave clean. Forget all the craziness, and live a normal life. Or, you can stay, and do your best to help him. What do you say Miss De la Moore?”

“Yes. I love Minus. I’ve loved him through lifetimes and had no idea. If I suffer, it will not be the first time,” Jane replied.

“Then we have much to discuss. Are you at Minus’ desk? Look for a pill compartment. It will be closed, and labeled ‘VM.’ Take one and swallow it. We will then discuss your future.”

Jane did not hesitate. She found the small pill box easily and swallowed the oddly shaped pill.

—-

Jack
I Listen.

The Cost of Magic
Section #14
Is It Worth It?

Had a job interview over the phone that I think went pretty well. Second interview is Thursday.

The Developmental Theology eBook can now be found under the ‘Classroom’ tab at the top of all pages. It is 100% free, please feel free to pass it along to your friends.

I get to go see the eye doctor for new glasses on Saturday. woo. Can you tell I’m excited? :p

I feel a bit like the blind leading the naked today. I’ve got Tom Waits on the jukebox, and a head that is moving too slowly for much creativity. But who knows.

I do have some pretty cool stuff coming up this week, just for you. The Cost of Magic is just about to get really interesting. Basic Ideology will continue in the efforts to help you think outside of the box. Also, check out the new Granadas tab above. It contains post from my tumblr account, Tear Gas and Hand Grenades.

Jack.
You guys and gals know I listen, right?

Monday Update
January 12, 2009

We stood in the forest, as the rain fell in sheets. Odin grabbed me firmly by the arm. “They still do not live by the basics! Why do you continue to teach further?”

“All-Father, I cannot make the people listen. I can only give them the light to see the way. I am but a torch in the darkness. I cannot be more.”

“You can be more, and you are more! You have sacrificed yourself on Yggdrasil! Pluck an eye, and give it to my Ravens, and we are one. But I understand. There is a reason the people do not listen. You are trying to break at that core. I see. Let us hope you can. Let us hope together that Fenrir does not have to be raised.”

Odin turned and walked away fro me, in the pouring rain.

**

So, today we are going to take ideology a little further. We are going to talk about the nature of ideology itself. You see, much like the shamanic ideas I talked about in the Developmental Theology series, ideology varies from person to person. It is individual. You decide what is real and what is not. You decide what can happen and what cannot. This makes things very interesting.

Having read that, you may wonder why I would even try to teach a class on ideology, if it is something that each person decides on their own. Well, that reason would be to help you fully develop an ideology that is still individual, but is in a healthy agreement with what we need as a functional world. I don’t think there are many people that could look at our world as a whole, and call it functional, or healthy. We have to change things. And we have to do it fast.

How can we change the world? By changing ourselves. If we become more healthy and responsible people, the world gains. So, to do that, we must first try to understand the mind. The hardest thing man has ever faced. And the way we are going to do that is by learning about ideas, and how to develop them into a working ideology.

We’ve talked about examining our thoughts and actions. We’ve seen that even Saint Augustine believed that if rational thought contradicted scripture, it was normal and reasonable. It is important to pay attention to our thoughts and actions and examine the why. It is also important to not be tied down by books or teachings.

Now we have talked about the importance of the individual, even on the global level.

Remember, each man must find his own path.

Jack.
I Listen.

Basic Ideology 101

Battle #3
Odin Appears and Individuality is Examined.

Here’s a quote from the site:

“Officials in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are now seeking public comment on the agency’s proposal to accept Wyoming’s disastrous wolf management plan and to give Idaho and Wyoming vast new powers to kill wolves — even while these magnificent animals remain listed under the Endangered Species Act.”

Here’s what’s happening. The government wants to take these wolves off of the endangered species list. This could work, assuming these states would put a plan into effect that would insure the current wild population would remain healthy and continue to grow.

But, listen to this statement and tell me if you think this is what’s going to happen.

“In January, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said that once the wolves are de-listed, his state would kill all but 100 of the wolves, making the decades-long efforts to strengthen wolf populations in vain.”

Governor Otter has made it clear: These animals will not be protected!

So, if you have any kind of human heart, I think it’s easy to see how much wolves mean to the human race. Wolves are a powerful archetype that still affects the conciousness of every man, woman, and child. Wolves are one of the last creatures in the world that represent true freedom. It’s going to take a lot of people to help keep these animals from going extinct. I don’t think that people can handle a world without wolves.

If you want to help, click the link below and sign the petition.

Help Save the Wolves.

-Loki.

Liven up, people.

(Statements in italics have been taken from The Petition Site.)

The first, easiest, and cheapest way is to tell your friends.

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Add me to your blog roll.
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Everything is appreciated. Every comment. Every link-to. Every email I receive. The smallest donation. If you read my blog on a regular basis, just let me know you are there. It makes me feel like what I am doing is worth the time.

-Jack