Editorial

DO NOT GO WHERE THE PATH MAY LEAD,
GO INSTEAD WHERE THERE IS NO PATH AND LEAVE A TRAIL.--EMERSON

TEMPLE OF THE BLUE MONKEY

Around last Thursday or Friday, give or take a few thousand years ago, somewhere in the Himalayas, twelve high priests lived and worked in a magnificent temple. Allegedly dedicated to medicine and Spiritual Teaching, this "D.D. or Dedicated Dozen" harbored one pervading fear.--that the twelve conscripted acolytes with their inherent magical abilities, would supersede them and destroy their cushy life style. After many sleepless nights, bless their gold embroidered jock straps, a solution was finally reached which would cause them to remain subservient acolytes for all time.

First of all the priests placed a hideous lapis lazuli statue of a monkey in the court yard. Each morning after prayers, they would lecture the acolytes about the greatness they were scheduled to achieve. BUT!! They must never attempt to heal anyone until they were ordained. Prior to this, they must never think of a Blue Monkey. If they did they must confess it during
evening prayers. Not doing so would inhibit, if not entirely destroy their Spiritual Evolvement.

Thus, began the legend of the Blue Monkey. Who, allegedly was once an acolyte but was turned to stone because he lied about thinking the forbidden thought and healed an injured hunter.

Life controlled by fear is never happy and always difficult.- even more so for the acolytes. There was no laughter, joy, music, not even an occasional game of poker. There was only study after menial chores were completed. All of them wanted to run away. No one dared because doing so would cause their families to lose benefits and social position. They would
be homeless, reduced to poverty, forced to wander the countryside begging for food.

At this point in our story I must digress a bit. The "Dedicated Dozen" heard that sex on a regular basis was synonymous with the fabled elixir of youth. Being dedicated first and foremost to healing; the High Priests felt compelled to investigate by installing thirty concubines in a secrete wing of the Temple. --which the acolytes discovered and took
advantage of right away.

I wonder if this is what Oscar Wilde meant when he wrote "sometimes it requires great courage to give into temptation". The Big Guys seemed to have forgotten that everything is remembered by someone and nothing could possibly be kept a secret with twelve young and very bored minds about. 

The concubines were not allowed to mention their visitors.-- not even to another High Priest. So one could see how this rule only made their services more accessible for the acolytes who weren't about to tell on anyone.--ergo, surreptitious pleasure for everyone.

Life proceeded as usual for several years. The priests were amazed at the change in the acolytes. A few days ago they were invidious. Now, it didn't seem to matter if they were scrubbing the marble floors or mucking out the stable. It was as if their minds were separated from their bodies.--drugged and floating about, in some euphoric world of their own. The Priests assumed they were dreaming of the day they would be ordained and need not fear thinking of a Blue Monkey.

Then one day, while the High Priests were away at some sort of conference, a courier delivered the message that there had been a disastrous flood in the valley below. The survivors were in need of immediate help. Why did this cry for help only exacerbate the fear which still controlled, in fact, paralyzed the young men?-- so much that in some ways they actually
began to resemble what they feared the most.--being turned to stone. It's simple, we tend to accept things as fact when things are a certain way because they have been the same certain way for a long time. We become emotional over changes and emotion clouds our judgment.

Only one mentioned the possibility of saving lives and declared he was going. When Some of the others tried to restrain him; he escaped, hid in the concubines secret quarters and apprised them of the situation. They helped him gather what supplies he could carry and watched with glee as he made a familiar and very obscene gesture (the same one we often use today in
heavy traffic.) to the statue of the Blue Monkey and began the trek down the mountain side.

Arriving in the village, he looked over his shoulder and saw that the concubines had followed him. He grinned thinking "I hope their comforting helps these victims as much as it did me."

Within a few days, a medical hospice and a kitchen were organized. Clean drinking water was found, medicinal potions were prepared, and everything was well under control. Two other brothers had joined him and together they managed to save most of the village.

Meanwhile, back at the temple, the Priests returned. Hearing that the three acolytes disobeyed and tended the sick they began the process of evicting and banishing their families from the valley. It didn't matter.  Parents and siblings had already evacuated the allocated homes during the flood.

SO HAVE NO FEAR OF THEIR FEAR
AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED. 1st Peter 3:14

Because they did release another's fear, the three acolytes did wander the countryside with their families. But, not as beggars. Their ever growing entourage was welcome wherever they traveled. They all lived better than the priests ever dreamed possible. What's more, they didn't even mind that they were not and never would be ordained. So the tale of the Blue Monkey was told to all who would listen as a means of knowing one's own truth. Once this happens imposed fear can't stay, it is impotent, with no choice but to leave as did the High Priests in the Temple never to be heard of again. The remaining acolytes went to different temples.

The concubines stayed for a while, took in boarders using part of the Temple as a kind of luxurious bed and breakfast. Later, they opened something akin to one of our charm schools.

Now the temple is overgrown with huge vines and bushes. Wild monkeys inhabit parts of it. All that is left of the statue are pits and pieces of Lapis lazuli scattered everywhere. The story really is not anachronistic. If anything at all it is very congruent with current mores. It was as if the door to a prison were opened, the chance to live one's own reality offered, yet most 
were afraid to walk through that door.

If we wish to enhance our professional success we must first seek to enhance our personal life. Most of us have several "Blue Monkeys" still hopping around inside our heads. The strange part is that with a prison of any type, most people fear change and cannot be motivated to leave. It's only when we learn to know our own truth, live our own reality, and follow
our personal spirit without hesitation that we know freedom and happiness.

But how do we start? Where is the guidance? I hear this several times a day as my clients from all walks of life call me for psychic readings regarding situations which may or may not enhance their present life. After the reading I always recommend start by loving yourself. Keep a small mirror and note pad handy. Several times a day look at yourself and say "I love
you." Then, write down what comes up in your mine. When I first did this I burst into tears. Do this for thirty days and you will notice the Blue Monkeys are gone. Keep it up and your life can only improve. B.T.W. This technique is not mine. I learned it from Louise Hay.--a magnificent lady who was not afraid to walk through that door. If you want to get rid of the Blue Monkeys in your life, I would love to hear from you. My number is 903-896-1019. We can always do a reading and get things started. Thanks for letting me share my nonsense with you.

In the light of a thousand suns,
Rachel

SAN ANTONIO HOSE

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR

CATFISH AND PANTYHOSE