OLD PAIRS OF SHOES – Part I
~ An Odyssey Into Attitudes and Beliefs

Attitudes and beliefs are like an old pair of shoes that may feel comfortable but are actually worn out. What keeps some people healthy, active and alert? From my perspective, it is to have an open mind without walls. Old attitudes and beliefs are walls that keep us from experiencing new and exciting opportunities.
One has only to look around our community, our country and the world to note how beliefs and attitudes determine people's lives. One of the major beliefs or attitudes is lack. One only has to listen to the words another person says. Here are a few of the old worn-out statements:
* I (we) can't afford it.
* I (we) don't have enough money.
* It costs too much.
* Money doesn't grow on trees.
* The price is out of my reach.
All one has to do is search one's memory for similar statements of beliefs.

Changing one's beliefs or attitudes is like putting on a new pair of shoes that fit beautifully once we have broken them in. One might ask how do I hold on to my new attitude or belief. This is where the power of affirmations comes in. An affirmation is not positive thinking. We can attempt to think positive all we want, however the opposite of positive is a negative. To affirm is to make the statement firm, which means that no negative can enter. It also means to maintain that it is true.

In 1979, I began reading The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity by Catherine Ponder. This book helped me to begin to unravel the attitudes and beliefs that I had once held sacred. Since that time, I have created my own affirmations and they change from time to time. Since I am writing about lack, I have affirmed that I always have plenty. A favorite affirmation of mine is, "I always have lavish increasing income for my use." I came upon the word lavish when I read in one of my many books a blurb about a U.S. physicist who as a teenager was living almost in poverty. His dream was to become a physicist and he began affirming, "I always have a steady lavish income." He went to college on a scholarship and later became a noted physicist. I do not recall his name; however, he was born in the late 1800's.

Religions can keep us in bondage to someone else's beliefs. Being a retired minister of Divine Science and having studied the Judeo-Christian bibles, I came to the understanding that much of it adopted from ancient Egyptian credos gives us profound statements such as "As a man/woman thinketh, so it is." Another statement is "It is done unto you as you believe." These two statements go hand-in-hand with quantum physics. There have been experiments showing that the results of an experiment can be altered by whoever is viewing it. It is called the Observer Effect. We are our own Observer. This passage in the Book of Job applies to each of, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." Our fears send out a frequency that brings to us the thing we fear.

I have also learned from Catherine Ponder and others that it is recommended to write an affirmation 15 times in order to get it accepted by the brain. I keep a small notebook where I will write an affirmation 15 times each time an idea comes to me. There are many ideas regarding the use of an affirmation. One is to draw a symbol or something to represent the idea of what is wanted on a card and look at it often at night upon retiring, in the morning upon arising and also during the day. Our brains have been programmed by our old outmoded beliefs and we now have to retrain the brain.

I have also learned by changing my belief and attitude, I do not think that my lavish income has to come from a certain source. My belief has since turned into a knowing. Knowing to me indicates acceptance. Our outmoded attitudes and beliefs are simply weeds in the garden of our mind. We can pluck them out at any moment and when they want to grow again, we can pluck them out. I liken this to Gandalf standing on the bridge and told the orcs, "You cannot pass." The orcs represent our unwanted thoughts, beliefs and attitudes. We can be our own Gandalf.

THE FEMALE ASPECT OF THE U.S. CAPITOL

Few citizens of the U.S. realize that our Capitol in Washington D.C. has a treasure trove of feminine statues and the feminine represented on the pediments of some government buildings. The Statue of Freedom adorns the top of the Capitol building. She stands there in all her glory overseeing the Senate and House of Representatives. She was created by Thomas Crawford and is 19 feet 6 inches tall and stands 288 feet above the east front plaza. She was placed there on December 2, 1863. I wonder if any of our government officials have taken the time to contemplate this.

Within the Capitol rotunda, the center fresco is titled The Apothesis of Washington (George) and was done by Constantine Brumidi in 1865. George Washington is portrayed as rising to heaven accompanied by the goddesses Liberty and Fame. He is surrounded by 13 females representing the original states. I learned that Apothesis means the raising of a person to the rank of a god.
Yes, honoring George Washington by raising him to the rank of a god!

Surrounding this fresco under the dome are other frescos and the two that are of the most interest to me is the one titled Science. Science shows the goddess Minerva (aka Athena) teaching Benjamin Franklin, Robert Fulton and Samuel F.B. Morse. The fresco titled Agriculture has the goddess Ceres seated on the McCormick Reaper with feminine entities.

One should wonder what goddesses have to do with the United States Capitol. My knowledge is that goddesses are usually associated with paganism. There is not one Judeo-Christian figure or symbol used to represent Liberty and its ideals! There also seems to be a number of Italian artists/scultors who portray these goddesses in the U.S. Capitol. There is nothing associated with the Catholic Church.

Outside the Capitol building, there are sculptural pediments. One, over the East entrance is titled Genius of America. Yes, genius! There are three females. This pediment was created by Luigi Perseco from 1825-1828 out of sandstone. This deteriorated and a reproduction was created by Bruno Mankowski 1959-1960.

Perisco's original design included the figures of Peace, Plenty and Hercules and these were replaced by John Quincy Adams with the figure of Hope. As it is today, the Central figure is America and she is resting her right arm on a shield inscribed with "USA" and it is supported by an altar inscribed with "July 4, 1776." America is pointing to Justice lifting scales of Justice in her left hand and in her right hand, she holds a scroll inscribed with "Constitution, 17 September 1787." On America's left is an Eagle and also the female figure of Hope who is resting her arm on an anchor. The entire pediment is 81 feet and 6 inches wide and the female figures are 9 feet tall.

Outside the Supreme Court is a large statue of a female representing Justice. She is seated and holding a small female who is blindfolded. Interesting. There is also a pediment over the entrance to the Supreme Court. In the center is a female Liberty and flanking her are males representing Law and Order. Under this pediment is engraved in stone "Equal Justice Under Law." I would think that the Supreme Court Justices and lawyers would take this to heart because women have not received equal justice nor have people of color.

Several years ago I visited Washington D.C. and viewed what I have written about above. It was an awe-inspiring experience. Not once did I see anything that pertained to the Judeo-Christian religions or Islam. Our Founding Fathers did not create these United States based on Christianity. These symbols of goddesses and females go back to ancient antiquity. They knew something that our current officials apparently do not know. Perhaps we should remind them.

WAITING FOR GANDALF

by Barbara Blue, July 6, 2009
Dedicated to Bettye Johnson

At least since the times of ancient China, fireworks displays have been used to highlight, or to give emphasis and power to was or to commemorate events. Thus, when I attended a friend's 4th of July Life Celebration, and sat overlooking a field beyond that was set up and ready for dusk to fall, my mind wandered to the early scenes of "Lord of the Rings," as Gandalf rode his pony cart full of explosive potential into the Shire. I like the way he was puffing on the ember in his pipe carrying with him the latent spark of fire, the magic still contained.

Everyone was in a celebratory mood, anticipations in the air. People, like Hobbits, are very fond of their creature comforts, and sometimes it takes a pretty big bang to get our attention, to jar our senses out of the velvet-lined boxes we create for ourselves. This was going to be one of those freeing, awesome evenings. The food was great, the wine plentiful, and the guests all happy to be there. Children had a special interest in what they knew or had been told was coming, and as the light faded, the ember glowed, the spectacle began.

Eyes grew wide as tiny rockets flashed apart into bursts of color, amazing mid-air bouquets of fire and noise. Volley after volley shot up in the air, veils of smoke forming in curtains around the spent combustion. Ooo's and Ahhh's were hurd amid the deafening waves of pops and booms, fizzles and sighs. On and on it went, with little delay and constant surprises, until everyone was on the verge of saturation. When the finale started, the best had been saved for a last glorious statement from the Wizard, and no one was disappointed.

Pleased with himself, Gandalf suckled softly, knowing with special delight what he had done. As the air cleared, he departed to his further business, contented with the day. The children felt their tiredness and did not resist going home, being tucked into their beds to sleep and dream of lights in the night sky. Fill with wonder and possibility, the Shire had been renewed. As our friend's life was reflected back to her by all the people who'd come in appreciation of her love and wisdom, she felt a surge of inspiration, a new wind to sail on into the next adventure.

A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN

The following was given to me in celebration of my many years of wisdom. This was written by Mark Leyner, a husband, father, son and a brother as well as the author of 8 books and a co-writer of the movie "War, Inc. When he was asked what he knows for sure, he said the following:

"This sage knowledge of and ability to abide the inherently fugitive nature of happiness somehow accounts for the extraordinary beauty of women as they age.

"In their most casual offhand sisterly moments, women are capable of discussing sex in such uninhibited detail that it would cause a horde of arousing cossacks to cringe.

"Women are for all intents and purposes indomitable. It really requires an almost unimaginable confluence of crushing, cataclysmic forces to vanquish a woman.

"Women have a very specific kind of courage that enables them to fling themselves into the open sea, whether it's a new life for themselves, another person's life, or even what might appear to be a kind of madness."

Leyner says, "One last thing he knows with a certitude that exceeds anything, is that men's final thoughts in their waking days and in their lives are of women...ardent, wistful thoughts of wives and lovers and daughters and mothers."

EMERGING WOMAN

Emerging Woman from Shadows of History

A Workshop with Bettye Johnson
Saturday, June 13 2009 from 9:30 a.m. ~ 2:30 p.m.
Olympia Center,
222 Olympia St., NW
Olympia WA 98501

Bettye has long been an advocate for the status of women and is bringing together a dynamic workshop using her experiences as a Federal Women's Program Coordinator for a government district of 5 offices, a holistic health center program coordinator, an ordained minister of Divine Science, a wife and mother and now a self-published author of four books, two of which are award winning Independent Publishers Book Awards.

Bettye will lead the participants through:
~ Why the female power was subjugated to male power.
~ Moving out of the Shadow into the 21st Century.
~ Reweaving the past into the future.
~ Creating your personal Life Map.
~ Balancing your unique personal power.

Cost is $50.00 and there is pre-registration on-line using Paypal by going to http://www.magdalenescrolls.com and clicking on Bookstore.
Or, sending a cashier's check or money order to:
Bettye Johnson
P.O. Box 97
Rainier, WA 98576
Cash at the door and please bring a sack lunch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I AM WOMAN

I am woman.
I am awakened to my greatness.
No longer do I hold anger, hatred or condemnation.
No longer do I hold jealousy, envy or greed.
I give up sickness and blame.
I am woman.
I am awakened to my power.
I have always been powerful.
I have always been genius.
I am a Keeper of Wisdom.
I am woman.
copyright Bettye Johnson
excerpt from Mary Magdalene, Her Legacy

A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

The Great Depression of 1929 was taking its toll with so many people unemployed people, which were mostly men who were the breadwinners for their families. I was three years old and with my family, living in Dallas, Texas. My father had been out of work and finally secured one of delivering blocks of ice. Few people at this time had electric refrigerators. Most of the people had what we called iceboxes. The ice deliveryman would load up his truck with 25 or 50 lb blocks of ice and drive to houses on his route where with a leather pad on one shoulder, he would take large tongs and grip the ice block between the points and hoist the ice up on his shoulder. He would then deliver it to the house and place the ice in the icebox. This year my father had injured his back while delivering ice and was laid up for for a long period of time.

My family and I were fortunate because we had relatives in Dallas who supplemented our income until my father could find another job. There was no welfare during those days. There were ‘poorhouses’ for the destitute people who were primarily the elderly and disabled. Those who could physically labor were forced to do so on ‘poorhouse’ farms. This gradually faded away after the Social Security Act of
1935. I also learned later that my mother’s family who were in better financial situations also sent money or clothes.

My sister and I were secure in the love of our Dallas grandparents, aunts and uncles. We were the only children on my father’s side of the family and they doted on us. My grandmother worked as a seamstress in downtown Dallas and my grandfather was on a small state pension due to an injury he received while working for the Texas Highway Department. One aunt and uncle who were not married lived at home. To make ends meet, two rooms were rented. This meant my adult aunt, uncle and grandparents all slept on a ‘sleeping porch’ that was an addition to the house.
Another aunt had married and she was a shrewd businesswoman. Her husband had a garage where he repaired automobiles and always smelled of oil and grease. Aunt Jewel invested their money in apartment houses and usually had a nice income coming in. She was the mainstay of the family during these hard times.

Christmas of 1932 was upon us. We were given a tree and we had some beautiful ornaments that had belonged to my mother’s mother. The tree sparkled and I know I felt secure and excited that Christmas morning would be the time to wake up and run into the living room to see what Santa Claus had left. Then this would be followed by the unwrapping of presents. Later we would drive over to my grandparents’ home for Christmas dinner.

This Christmas morning Santa had left my sister and me each a china tea party set. When we opened the presents, we found we each had received another china tea party set. Of course my sister and I felt very fortunate to have received two sets! Then Mother suggested that Gloria and I take the extra sets next door where a family poorer than we were lived. They had two little girls almost the same ages and Gloria and me.

We learned that the family had to wait until Christmas Eve to get a leftover tree and when we took our gifts to them, we saw there were no gifts. I can even now remember standing and gazing at their tree. They had made balls out of cotton and strung popcorn around the tree. In my childlike wonder, it was the most beautiful tree I had ever seen.

I learned at this early age the reward of a random act of kindness. My gift was and is the memory of that beautiful tree. This is not the Christmas season; however it is always a season for Random Acts of Kindness. Each of us in our own way can reach out and do a random act of kindness. We can even do it for our self.

When was the last time you treated yourself with kindness? Did you forgive your neighbor? Did you forgive a parent, a relative, a co-worker, an employer for deeds you thought were detrimental to you? Forgiveness cleanses the past and is a kindness to one's self. Why not make every day a Random Act of Kindness beginning with self?

REGARDING MARGARET STARBIRD

Today I received a comment posted on the Guestbook of my website www.magdalenescrolls.com. The one who posted the comment asked if I had read the books of Starbird and saying that she lived in Washington State. The guest commenter went on to ask why don't I get together with Starbird - or something to that effect.

This brought up a memory reaching back to 2005. I had just published the first edition of Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls. I listed Starbird's book "Woman With the Alabaster Jar" in my bibliography. I met another author who suggested that she, Starbird and myself create a documentary regarding our views and research on Mary Magdalene. Each of us had different approaches. Starbird was approached and thought it was a good idea, however after asking her publisher, Inner Traditions, she declined following the dictates of her publisher.

Yes, I knew Starbird lived in Washington State and I admire her for what she has written. The commenter wrote that Starbird was a student of divinity. I am a retired ordained minister of Divine Science and for those of you not familiar with Divine Science, it was founded by three women in the early part of the last century. There were a number of great teachers and books that were spawned by Divine Science, i.e. Dr. Joseph Murphy who authored The Power of the Subconscious Mind to name one.

I have done extensive research on the background of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, and also the Bible. I have also written articles on my research and my research uncovered a different history than what the traditional so-called authorities found. I submitted my 2nd edition of Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls to The Writers Digest competition and although I was not a winner, I was a winner - the reason being that the judge gave me a hi-5 in all five categories and had this to say in answer to questions posed:

What did you like best about this book?
"Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls is a tantalizing story depicting the discovery of ancient scrolls about Mary Magdalene and Jesus. Though it covers some of the same ground as the Da Vinci Code, the writing is infinitely better and far more believable. The heroines in the story are more realistic and the adventures described in a truer voice along with a possible time-line--something very much lacking in Dan Brown's tale. Whether the reader choose to believe what is revealed in story form or not, the book is entertaining from beginning to end."
How can the author improve this book?
"No suggestions--the author knows how to write and tell a compelling and convincing story. Hopefully the promotion for this book will be enough to make those who read the Da Vinci Code want to read the Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls."

Having received awards for Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls and Mary Magdalene, Her Legacy, I don't know if having been part of a documentary with Margaret Starbird would have benefited me. On the other hand, the book could have been made into a movie or a mini-tv series. However, I am not ruling it out as anything is possible.