Also known as the Celtic New Year, All Hallows Eve and Hallowmas, falls between October 1st and November 4th when the Sun is at 15 degrees Scorpio. We are more familiar with the term, Halloween and celebrate it on October 31st.

When I was growing up in central Maine, our costumes were made up from a discarded clothing box that had been collecting for decades for this very occasion and carried pillow cases for treat bags. After the sun went down we walked around town knocking on every door along the way.

Now costumes, whether scary, heavenly, fantasy, current cartoon characters or the movie rage of the day are bought in stores. No longer created from imagination, due to lack of time?, or lack of tradition, lack of God. Nor do we let our children go from door to door for fear of strangers. (for we no longer know our neighbors). Once again due to the lack of God in our lives??!! Instead we herd them to the malls. Things sure have changed.

In Celtic tradition, Samhain, being their new Year, celebrated the Beginning and Ending of all things, the Cycle of Life, (regeneration) and Death (transformation). We see evidence of the workings of this law/cycle as we watch the landscape around us. The trees come ablaze with color as they and other plants mature and throw their seeds for a new generation of growth.

This powerful time of year is also known to be the time when the gate between the physical world and the spirit world is wide open. With the merging of these two worlds, communication with the spirits of the dead whom roam freely on earth is easiest now than any other time of the year.

This is the time to pay respect to those who have gone before us. A perfect time to call on transitioned elders for guidance and any warnings there may be for the coming year.

On a personal lever, Samhain is a fire festival signifying a time for closures. To rebuild what is needed (within the personality), and to get rid of what is not needed or beneficial. So, open your inner closets people, it's time for Fall Cleaning.

World Peace Conference

WOW! What an event! Four thousand +- people converged June 28th – July 4th at the Rosicrucian English Grand Lodge in San Jose, CA. Wall to Wall Mystics, the energy was incredible!!!!! Grand Masters from the French Language Jurisdiction, Portuguese, Nordic, Spanish, Italian, German, Greek, Scandinavian, Asian, and English were there representing their large districts far and near. To name a few more, the Middle-East, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Africa, North and South America, Canada and many more. Fratres and Sorores of all colors, shapes and sizes joined energies of Peace that was sent out to encompass the whole world in which we live. So much Positive vibrations that I don’t think my feet ever touched the ground.

Lectures given by the Grand Masters were held in the Imperial & Regency Ballrooms of the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose. Titles included; "Facing the Master within", "Our relationship with the Cosmic", "Our Oneness" and "Unity".

Between lectures a walking tour of the Rosicrucian Park was available. The Park covers one complete block holding the Admin building, the Ahknaton Shire, the Egyptian Museum, Francis Bacon Auditorium, the Rose-Croix University, Research Library, the Peace Garden and of course the Grand Temple, (replica of the Grand Temple of Hathor in Dendua, Egypt).

I spent time in the Egyptian Museum and bookstore, (lots of time in the bookstore). I would have liked to have spent more time in the Research Library going over ancient books from Greece & Egypt. Yet Courtesy and consideration prevailed for 4000+- people also wanted time to look.

The Planetarium gave an awesome presentation on the "Mithraic Mysteries." An ancient culture that understood the "changing of Ages" much better than we do today.

The grounds surrounding the buildings making up the Rosicrucian Park was/is as inspiring as much as it is beautiful creating a serene and harmonious ambiance. Plants from around the world were strategically placed and labeled to follow the self-Guided Tour booklet. Bunya-Bunya trees from New Guinea, Tasmanian Tree Ferns, Dawn Redwood from China thought long to be extinct, Irish Yew trees and good old Sugar Maples.

My favorite tree was the Elephant Palm, which was not in the Guide booklet.

Statues were every where amongst the unique foliage. Two sphinxes flank the University, one containing the 15 Mystical Principles considered most important to the Rosicrucians. Two more Sphinxes are near the Planetarium. Ram-Headed sphinxes guard the Museum entrance.

A Mother & Child statue glistens in the sun entitled "Coming and Going", depicting a dying mother who ahs given birth to a child, symbolizing Life and Death, the continuous ebb and flow of the creative cosmic continuum.

These are only a few of the many statues and memorials about the Park.

I feel so blessed to have been able to join such people in this massive undertaking – World Peace. We all talk about Peace. We put bumper stickers on our cars saying, “God Bless America”, which makes me wonder why we our leaving the rest of the World out of the Blessing. Why don’t we have bumper stickers that say “God Bless the World”?

Question: If 4000+- people from around the World can get together in Harmony and Peace, why can’t we get along in smaller scales? In our homes, neighborhoods, towns, cities, States, with other countries.

Contribution to Peace

I contribute to Peace when I strive to express the best of myself in my contacts with others.
I contribute to Peace when I use my intelligence and my abilities to serve the Good.
I contribute to Peace when I feel compassion toward all those who suffer. I contribute to Peace when I look upon all as my brothers and sisters regardless of race, culture or religion.
I contribute to Peace when I rejoice over the happiness of others and pray for their well-being.
I contribute to Peace when I listen with tolerance to opinions that differ from mine or even oppose them.
I contribute to Peace when I resort to dialogue rather than force to settle any conflict.
I contribute to Peace when I respect Nature and preserve it for generations to come.
I contribute to Peace when I do not seek to impose my conception of God upon others.
I contribute to Peace when I make Peace the foundation of my ideals and philosophy. So Mote it Be!

Author Unknown (taken from the World Peace Conference Bulletin)

On the Road to “Find Out”

Have you ever gotten an urge or a feeling you were supposed to be doing something and you didn’t know what it was? The more you ignored the urge the stronger it got? Happens to me more often than not. When I ignore the urge, (since it is not telling me what it wants), usually things start “not going so well”.

I had just gotten back from Maine and knew, at least for now, that Maine wasn’t where I was going. Though the part of my heart that holds my son, daughter in-law and grandson was left there when I returned. While in Maine I had high hopes I would get a sign telling me, “It is now time for you to return”. But the “warm fuzzy” feeling of acknowledgement was not there. So I returned to Florida a little heavy hearted. Still the urge to get moving was there, stronger than ever, but with no answers to what or to where.

Then I flew to San Jose, CA to the Rosicrucian, AMORC (Ancient Mystical Order of the Rosae Crucis), World Peace Convention. After a week of classes and being with others of like mind, I returned home with a fully energized spirit and fed Soul. Yet again, no answer to the inner urge to get moving was given.

After a while, when totally frustrated cause nothing seemed to be working out to be beneficial, I throw up my hands saying. “Okay God, what do you want me to do cause I just ain’t getting it.” Before I knew it all my things are in boxes, packed on a truck and heading down “the Road to Find Out”.

To Where? That part was still unclear. All I knew was that everything I had become familiar with, friends, family, church, spiritual advisors, and study partners, and herbal co-spiriters were in my rear view mirror.

“The Road to Find Out” is a very interesting Road. It takes you to places you’ve never been or knew existed.

I found wide-open spaces once off the coast. Doesn’t matter if one is on the north, south, east or west coast, once away from it there is living space. After leaving the cities limits there is cleaner air to breathe. And with that Breath a new perception of the day.

“On the Road to Find Out” there are people I’d never met, yet once I had, I found they were just like me. Each one on their own special road.

“On the Road to Find Out” God brings you to places and people that need you. In one sate we stopped and helped a dog to transition across after he had been critically injured by a passing truck or car. In another state we bandaged up a man at a rest stop that had been hit on his motorcycle He traveled with us the rest of the day. In another state help was brought to me, water for the dog and even a bone or two.

“On the Road to Find Out” no matter where one goes one can always find food and medicine that God has provided for us. Pick a plant here pick a plant there and before you know it – supper is in the pot over an open fire.

“On the Road to Find Out” there is a Silence, a Profound Peace that can not be found on any other road. For on this road God does all the driving. So you can sit back an bask in all His/Her Glory.

“On the Road to Find Out” beauty is everywhere, from the rolling fields of wheat to the towering majesty of Mt. Shasta. Not to leave out the awe inspiring devastation of a two mile circular area of lava with one Joshua Tree growing in the center.

“On the Road to Find Out” there are many things to learn and experience. Not all “Roads to Find Out” are paved with asphalt. Some wind in and around books, some come from or through other people. Where is your “Road to Find Out”? Are you on it? Or are you standing on the side watching it go by?

Rev. Rhonda LaPierre

for questions, please e-mail - reverendwitch@hotmail.com

Creative Oddities