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More snake news . I was working yesterday cleaning out the shed and throwing stuff out on the driveway. Occasionally some big huntsman spiders would run out of it . One of the locals , a kookaburra, had himself perched on a nearby branch and was swooping down to get them . One time I nearly tripped over him , I walked out and he swooped by low, his wings brushing my shins This is rather common , they get attracted by digging, work or anything that disturbs the ground . ( Local tells me he was digging a hole , kookaburra kept jumping in for worms and getting in the way , he wouldn't get out at one stage ; " I had to get the shovel under him and lift him out ! " ) Another time I wrote here about one swooping me and landing near my feet and pinning a black snake to the ground that was coming towards me that I had not seen . Good boy ! Anyway, I went out and lifted up a sheet of plastic weed suppressant and there was a long thin snake under it . Probably a green tree snake ? . Kooka was on the roof , so I called him and he looked , I had a long stick and put it next to the snakes body and flicked it onto the drive . He immediately went for it . I have seen this a few times , snakes are part of their common food ; they usually dive in and with their big beak strike it behind the head and start smashing the head into the ground and thrashing it about , sometimes rather big snakes too . Not this time , I never seen this before . Snake put up a ferocious fight , kooka couldn't seem to control it , at one stage they where rolling around on the ground, kooka on its back . I thought I saw the snake strike him . That was enough , he backed off. Snake was there glaring at kooka on one side and me on the other . Me ; "Okay you win . " I let snake get back under weed mat . Kooka looked a bit stunned and flew up onto a branch . I kept my eye on him for a while , he seemed okay . Never seen a kookaburra snake fight like that before . They usually don't loose ( this one is a red belly black snake - aggressive and highly venomous ) ;

When I was a kid, where I grew up it was free of charge -- like all other things medicine. And when you were a kid, it must have been a lot less expensive, besides with a good insurance I'm told people wind up paying no more than $18,000 of that $300,00 out of pocket (per Grok which I questioned on the subject), but an uninsured bitee got a $260,000 bill in a publicized case (per same source). It's great that your mom was treated successfully. Must have been horrible! I have a picture of a rattlesnake who spared me and my taiji practice partner when we were doing Cannon Fist in the park, jumping and stomping all over the place -- and when we stopped, we saw a sleeping rattlesnake curled up right between us. Only by a miracle of god did we manage not just to avoid waking it up but somehow not to jump smack on top of it. It was absolutely invisible in the grass so we had no idea it was right underfoot -- I just noticed it accidentally when we stopped. We called the park rangers, who then came equipped with a red plastic bucket and some snake tongs, picked it up expertly and deposited in the bucket. They told us that they would set it free in Snake Canyon somewhere in the South Bay.

The topic question is a good one. For me, the distinction is this: what is the difference between instincts and the will. And what is the will, anyway? As I understand it, the will is something that should come from one's soul. The will is not instincts, and it is not a logical conclusion, for me anyway. As a side note, there was a time a studied a bit of Kashmir Shaiva tantra, and the idea there was that there is no free will at all. I'm just repeating this without full understanding of it.

Combining Mudras with specific pranayama works very effectively. What I learnt in Tamil Siddhar Yoga practice was a sequence of chin mudra --> chinmaya mudra --> aadi mudra --> merudanda mudra in combination with specific pranayama - very effectively raises the kundalini in the sushumna while also balancing the ida-pingala nadis. Very powerful stuff, but requires patience and preparation of the spinal column (both physical and energetic) for it to work.

So, as I’ve been studying christian demonology for a few years now, I still can’t help but to think that it is an absolute waste of time. Reason why I’m planning to quit it for good. Why study demons when you can avoid “them” if you sustain a healthy and balanced way of living life? Of course, you can definitely “encounter” “demons” if you cultivate extreme opinions and identity yourself with strong worldviews, hence the karmic-educational nature of life. But why would an actual mystic —who practices under a legit organization or tradition— would spend his time studying in detail such a negative field which, by the way, actually leads to nowhere? In fact, all demons are representations of something, and the Holy Bible is on point, since there are no random demons. However, isn’t it more productive to improve your spiritual experience through “taking the correct path” instead of “avoiding the wrong paths”? (Obviously) The study of demonology, because of its very nature, tends to be sought after by teens and young adults, which is justified. But why would an adult mystic —who likely knows the allegorical implications of its study— think he would find so much answers in its study? Have they forgotten the meaning of John 1:5? ”And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not”.

Impressive performance. Here's another one of those animals who view snakes primarily as cat food or a cat toy, despite the danger:

Firstly, you have to understand medieval christian esoteric's view on those entities. According to that paradigm, the demons are under Christ's hold, they are already defeated and therefore subjected to Christ, and by extension, the magician - which, in a medieval context, is a priest and monk - as they act only by Christ's authority. The point of enforcing the demons to do your bidding is not only an act redemption to them, but also an emphasis on Jesus Christ's triumph over them. That's why medieval magic is built on juridical terminology: Jesus is the judge, the magician the executioneer, and the demon the prisioner. Their penance is to serve Christ's children. Personally, I do not subscribe to that idea, but well, my own view on things is something to talk about in another context.

Yes we have free will.

What does god have to do with free will? Feels like there is a deeper frustration being expressed here, which is being blamed on those that are not one-and-only-god fearing people, that free will only arises by those that blindly exercise it at the behest of their one-and-only creator in the heavens, and none else.. well except his human son... oh yeah, and that other wispy holy spiritual tart. Likely I am misinterpreting what you are saying, however, although this feels more like a reflection of internal personal feelings that one is trying to overcome by preaching them outwise. I mean no ill will in this observation, just projecting my own internal frustrations symptomatic of the same malaise and interested if this is truly what is being implied; however, feel free to "lay it on me," if what I have said is viewed as offensive. IMHLOL

A good test of free will. "What's the smartest choice made since COVID in 2020." Those who can't think of a single smart choice in the last 5 years. Got problems.

A wonderful example of someone choosing not to exercise their free will! Thank you for your noble sacrifice!

Indeed ! Its always good to define terms before a discussion . The issue is there is more than one function in the psyche that comes under the poor English language word 'will' . The same applies to 'soul', 'spirit', and many other 'spiritual terms ' . English is useless in that area .... that's why it has adopted terms from other languages ; HIndi, Pali . Also in psychology , a few instances it has even borrowed from German . We might be better served to list the types of will. Then anyone with serious inquiry might understand what some are talking about here . Well, without defining soul ..... that is one type of 'will' . I have extensive posts on it scattered about . The earliest religious concept of it seems to be recorded in the Zoroastrian Avesta and commentary under the term 'Khvarenah ' The instincts are coupled with the 'animal will' . Its a 'lower type' but of course essential . Like we have a 'hind brain ' and 'neuro somatic' (or 'reptilian consciousness ' ) . I would not describe this type as 'free will' though . . .it is highly and deeply programmed . That is .... that program come written at birth ... it is not one of those programs that are 'to be written ' ( see 'Exo-psychology' ) . Higher aspects of 'will' are probably more centered on (note : not 'in' ) the forebrain and neo-cortex and linked through the sahasrara 'gate'. Well, one of the highest forms of will; as in 'true will' and 'khvarenah' we come 'pre-loaded' with . This does not mean it will be obvious or even discovered by the individual , but also many are born 'instinctively' knowing what their true will is . A simple way of describing this 'will' is to imagine it is the particular path and purpose one chose before our incarnation. To be not on that path, will of course cause (eventually) deep spiritual purposelessness , lack of direction and meaning in life ( " What is life for , why am I here ? etc . ) alienation and depression ..... and eventually a very sick society . Conversely , when enough members of a society do it, its a better society . This was in the original teachings and they talked about a 'golden age ' where society and people became like this ; the origin of religious teachings about 'paradise' ( which actually means 'nice garden ' ; para diz . The correct term for this enlightened society is ' frashokereti ' and those so enlightened as ' sayoshant'. of course it all got turned 'religious' with an interpretation moving towards some triumphant single sayoshant' ('savior' ) coming and 'magically' creating (or through 'magical war' a new society ('New Jerusalem ' ) . All concepts that influenced further development in Judaism, Christianity and Islam . Just to be clear here I am talking about the earliest form , not the later devolved forms . Actually, all this existed before Zoroastrianism even came about . I have posts on here tracking the early development from Ice age refugia (probably Lake Baikal ) and spreading out at the end of the Ice Age ( Big Melt ) , into Central Asia where teachings then traveled west (Zoroastrianism to reform 'Pairo-tkeisha religions ) and east (into Tibet by 'Miwoche - The Central Asian Buddha , to reform Bon . I'd say sometimes we can act independently through will , but most of the time we don't -even when we think we are

When a dog is cornered by humans that are trying to capture it to put in a safe place. The dog's instinct is to fight and growl which lowers its chance of survival as the humans may decide just kill the animal if it isn't tame enough to handle. So, even if it is instinct, it doesn't mean the instinctual actions will elevate its chances of survival. A choice whether low IQ or not is still a choice. Choosing instinctual action is still a choice. The good or the evil or the action is decided by others. Since allowing evil is a sign of free will, then do you have free will if you only choose the good? Does this mean you are evil or can choose evil? Why couldn't free will be just a choice, when approaching a fork in the road, of going to the right or left path?? Free will without good or evil??

Hi, In my spiritual journey and road to self discovery I realized that taoism is the only religion my soul truely resonated with. After spending about a year now meditating reading the tao te ching and just becoming a better person I realized i wanted to connect with others who vibrated on the same frequency as me, and i ended up here! I’m excited to hear others ideas and have meaningful conversations peace prevails!

Sure, I am not expecting to get deep or good without a live teacher. But think I would enjoy it and benefit from it still. I will also be learning Yang style in a weekly in person class and expect that to help. lot.

Problematic because you are trying to work out what is going on the real material 'now ' by looking at a presupposition that has never and does not exist ( IE. time travel ) Of course you have free will ! Ever been on a diet or a strict training regime ... and MADE yourself do things , even felt an internal struggle between yourself ... sometimes 'you' win, sometimes 'you' loose . I will go further ; who is loosing and who is winning ? Is it your free will to stay with an abuse partner , especially when you realize its come about due to your conditioning, perhaps from family . In this case , what is motivating the decision ? I think its obvious that in some cases we do have it and other cases we don't have it and in some cases its both mixed together . Different parts of us have different wills . the 'lazy part' might try to subvert your need (or will ) to train and win or loose . And that polarity is one of the simplest in us . To think of an overall all the time free will, we would have to imagine we are one single 'self' and close our eyes to the many indicators that is not so ... and go on being confused and wondering about things . The key is , who or what is going to control regulate and administer all those 'selves' . One function in the psyche is there for that purpose , however many just assume this function is 'themselves' . No, its a part of the system of selves and needs to rule its kingdom ... wisely ! Even then , it needs to deal with a tsunami of other influences ( aside from your free will and intent ) . One of the important things in magick is one needs to have the vision to see how far one can expand within the sphere of one's potential ... and to have the wisdom that when you 'but up against ' the extent of that potential , to try to force beyond that is illusory .... eg. by trying to develop impossible skills .... or trying to figure out things by imagining the impossible ... what good does that do you ?

Yet a major idea of following a religion is to give up your free will and follow their teachings . And a major part of the anti-religious movement ( eg. 'The Enlightenment ' ) absolutely encouraged the idea of free will and deciding your own destiny . But that history snippet is obviously at odds with your 'facts ' . .

more on chocolate: "How Were the Levels of Lead and Cadmium Tested? Consumer Reports tested 28 different brands of chocolate bars (typically 1.5 to 3.5 ounces), from small lesser-known brands like Alter Eco and Hu to corporate giants like Ghirardelli, Lindt, Trader Joe’s and Hershey’s. Now, all of the chocolates contained some level of lead or cadmium. However, 23 of the bars raised the alarm bell: if someone were to consume just one ounce a day, they would exceed the maximum allowable dose levels (MADL) for lead and cadmium, as defined by California’s Prop 65 as 0.5 micrograms and 4.1 micrograms, respectively. California’s MADL regulations are the most protective in the country and currently, there are no federal limits for how much lead or cadmium a food can contain. Which Brands Are Affected? The following brands contained the highest levels of lead, cadmium or both, as expressed in a percentage of the MADL supplied in 1 ounce of the dark chocolate. Top 5 Highest in Lead Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate (265%) Chocolove Extremely Dark Chocolate 88% Cocoa (240%) Hu Organic Simple Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (210%) Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao (192%) Endangered Species Bold and Silky Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (181%) Top 5 Highest in Cadmium Pascha Organic Very Dark Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao (253%) Alter Eco Organic Dark Chocolate Classic Blackout 85% Cacao (204%) Beyond Good Organic Pure Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa (138%) Scharffen Berger Extra Dark Chocolate 82% Cacao (136%) Equal Exchange Organic Extra Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao (120%) Top 5 Highest in Lead and Cadmium Trader Joe’s the Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate 85% Cacao (127% lead, 229% cadmium) Theo Organic Extra Dark Pure Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (140% lead, 189% cadmium) Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (143% lead, 181% cadmium) Theo Organic Pure Dark 70% Cocoa (120% lead, 142% cadmium) Lily’s Extremely Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (143% lead, 101% cadmium) How Dangerous Is It to Eat These Brands? Significant exposure to lead can damage the brain and nervous system, as well as slow development and growth in children. Significant exposure to cadmium can lead to lung cancer, birth defects and harm to the reproductive system. The key word here, though, is “significant,” and experts seem to agree that while it’s wise to be mindful of these metal levels, it is not necessary to remove chocolate from your diet altogether. The National Confectioner’s Association (NCA) explained:”Chocolate and cocoa are safe to eat and can be enjoyed as treats as they have been for centuries. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) guidelines cited in the Consumer Reports study are not food safety standards.” They go on to explain that through their own prior Prop 65 settlement, they have proven that cadmium and lead are present in chocolate due to the soil the beans are grown in and that levels from Consumer Reports are “well below the limits established” by the NCA, according to spokesperson Christopher Gindlesberger. In an interview with NPR, Johns Hopkins toxicologist Andrew Stolbach affirms that the MADLs cited by Consumer Reports are “very conservative.” This is to account for those at higher risk, due to old age or preexisting conditions. He concludes, “The safety levels for lead and cadmium are set to be very protective, and going above them by a modest amount isn’t something to be concerned about.” Which Brands Are Safer to Eat? If you’d like to be extra cautious, Consumer Reports highlighted the following brands as safer dark chocolate options, based on their low lead and cadmium levels. Mast Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa (14% lead, 40% cadmium) Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao (36% lead, 39% cadmium) Taza Chocolate Organic Deliciously Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (33% lead, 74% cadmium) Valhrona Abinao Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao (63% lead, 73% cadmium) Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight 72% Cacao (61% lead, 96% cadmium) What Else Can I Do? Additionally, to ensure any heavy metals you may consume are less likely to be absorbed, Strombach recommends eating a balanced diet rich in calcium and iron. These minerals have been proven to fight lead poisoning. In short, it is definitely possible to continue eating dark chocolate, but is worth considering which brands you consume, ensuring you are eating reasonable portion sizes and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle overall. Happy snacking!"

Surprised there isn't more of a DIY anti venom movement. Anti venom isn't that hard to make: Was 1st made with early 1900s era tech.

From a scientific perspective, absolutely not. It has been shown repeatedly in studies that our thoughts are not the determiner of our actions - our muscles begin to move to pick up a cup LONG before we have the idea or thought to do so. Regular meditators can discover this for themselves. This is not a universe where autonomous "people" decide the next course of action. So, what then? What about looking at this pragmatically? My teacher likes to say, "We are not in charge of the world... what we ARE in charge of is how we RESPOND". If you think about this moment and all of the things happening in your house, your town, your state or province, your country, your world, your galaxy, etc., etc. your actions seemingly have very little impact on what is happening. What is happening was theoretically determined at the moment the singularity of the "big bang" happened and the first new particle hit the second, just as the trajectory of balls on a billiard table are determined the moment the cue balls meets whichever balls it first encounters. Having said that, YOU are on that table. Causes and conditions from the beginning of time have determined what might happen next. No big bang, no apple pie... but also, no YOU present in this moment. Clearly, there is a presence where you are, a part of what unfolds. What, then, is our relationshop, to what is happening? He is saying a lot more than he appears to be here. He is saying (paraphrasing here): "The circumstances of this moment determine what the next will be like. So... how are things going? What is most obviously going to happen next? What are YOU likely to do as part of that unfolding? Covering that, what is YOUR SINCERE, GENUINE INTENTION IN THIS MOMENT and how will that impact what happens next, since you are utterly INSEPARABLE from all other moving parts in this moment? Choose wisely! What does that mean? Choose love, choose kindness, choose compassion... how the next moment plays out LITERALLY depends on how you, an inseparable part of the universe, present your intentions in THIS moment. In this moment you are reading the last paragraph of this text. This text is now part of what happens next. Perhaps you will dismiss it as bullshit and say it doesn't matter. Perhaps you will do your own research to see what science says is real. Maybe, you will decide that working to be kind in the world is worth trying. Ask yourself, what do the conditions of this moment predict for the next moment?