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SAINT PATRICKS LORICA FOR PROTECTION

I bind me to-day,
God's might to direct me, God's power to protect me, God's wisdom for learning, God's eye for discerning, God's ear for my hearing, God's word for my clearing.
God's hand for my cover, God's path to pass over, God's buckler to guard me, God's army to ward me,
Against snares of the devil,
Against vice's temptation,
Against wrong inclination,
Against men who plot evil,
Anear or afar, with many or few.
Christ near, Christ here, Christ be with me, Christ beneath me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ be o'er me, Christ before me.
Christ in the left and the right,
Christ hither and thither,
Christ in the sight
Of each eye that shall seek me,
In each ear that shall hear,
In each mouth that shall speak me-
Christ not the less
In each heart I address.
I bind me to-day on the Triune - I call,
With faith in the Trinity - Unity - God over all.

hails phyllis, my friends, and i don t have a lot of them but i met a lot of people,did it by supporting me but also by not being afraid to be true to themselves and telling the truth as it is.it is something i value in people,cause it good for both parties. i have though to add that enemies and people who hurt me have enhanced my spirituality a lot too,it is just that they didn t think it would.i think that in those times of pain and sadness the darkest times of your soul are the ones that enhance your spirituality the most because they are challenging and you have to use your spirit to go through those challenges,friends are usually there to accompany you on the way or youmeet important figuresthat guide you.these people are then more than friends.

To all and Lori,
First thank you for accepting me in your group _/\_.

To Lori ,I have been on a spiritual path for 35 years now,almost
died of alcoolism and pill addiction at age 30 ,weighed 103 pounds.Joined A.A. which was my first meeting with spirituality.
Also for 12 years thought Happiness through the reprogamming of the sub-concious,I had about 4000 attendances minimum,never
charged a penny.
Then I decided to cange my path ,went into Daoism all the
time flrting with Buddhism.I moved to this small town for a job
31 years ago.Where I live there are mountains ,lakes where ever you go.4 to 5 years ago took my vows as a Buddhist,this being called Taking Refuge,and about 2 1/2 years ago ,I took the Monk's vows.I do not live in a sangha ,I am what is called a cave monk.

Hope this answers this question.I am pretty involved in the Buddhism section,also.

A simple buddhist named
loong

actually what it makes me think of is that i don t expect my friends to support me,but i hope for the truth,as dark as it can be and then i feel my spirituality enhanced. i wouldn t ask others to support me also because i d prefer them to support themselves and through this can support me. i don t believe that one that doesn t support me is my enemy. spirituality is alive,and as it is a circle of friends and as nature is cyclical,and as the wheel fortune goes up and down ,if my friends show this pattern then my spirituality is enhanced.i couldn t live with the one sidedness.a circle of friends is magical,and is just like a magic circle,where energies interact in a kind of safe place where nurturing also means being confronted to what you don t know so you can grow new leaves and nurturing can keep going like the eternal turn of the wheel.

circle of friends are magical when they are open and pure,it s a night and day thing.

Dear Burt -

We've talked in the yoga forum how some yoga groups seem to be about judging and competition. People are there to see who can hold a headstand for the longest. Maybe the groups you are interacting with are of that ilk, if they have any care at all about where your business is.

To me, that should not matter at all. What should matter is that you are compassionate, kind, and supportive of others. I suppose in that sense if I met someone whose daily job was to exploit others then I might be hesitant. But that would be the only way in which their job had an impact.

I know people who collect garbage and who are fantastic people. We all do a variety of things to earn income. To me it is not something to judge someone by - unless they are taking delight in hurting or being unsupportive of others.

Dear Loong -

It sounds like you have been through quite a lot in your life. It's wonderful that you found supportive people along the way to encourage your growth, and to help you take that next step.

It sounds like you have settled in a beautiful part of our world! That must be quite lovely.

Now we simply need to find you a like minded soul or two! I am sure they are there

Dear AncientFlaxman -

I agree completely that there are parts of our world which are fairly homogeneous. People who do not fit in are treated with a bit of suspicion. I do also think that compared with say 100 years ago that the internet and TV have helped to open some of those barriers, to help people realize that there are different religions and lifestyles and that that is all OK. We are all on this planet together and we all need to support one another.

I do have hope that we can all find open minded people wherever we settle. But I do also acknowledge that this might be challenging in some locations. There, at least there is still the internet to create a virtual community.

To Lisa Low carb

What I went through was my karma.No one helped me.Never had a teacher.Living the most beautiful part of my life now.

loong

Dear Loong -

Ah but I would counter that every person you meet is a teacher. Every person has something to help you learn

Teachers surround us!