The Power of Peace, Holding the Light

Last night, after seeing a movie, I went to Mont-Royal metro to meet with a friend for a drink. When I got onto the Orange line at Berri, there was some drama unfolding. A young guy (ball cap) and an older drunk man were hurling threats and insults at each other from across the metro car. Finally, Ball Cap had had enough and put his headphones on, drowning out the older man who was still yelling. When I got out at Mont-Royal, so did they, but another young man joined in (hoodie). The two young men crowded the older man against the wall, threatening to beat his ass, while the older man stood his ground and postured against them. When I came up to them, I could smell the alcohol coming off the older man. I got between them and told the young guys to back off, telling the older man that they weren't worth his rage. Ball Cap said he wasn't going to jail for this fool and tried to storm off. Unbelievably, Hoodie ran after him and tried to goad him into fighting the old man. When that didn't work, he ran back to the older man to insult him and tried to goad him into attacking Ball Cap. By now, we're on the escalator going up and I'm standing between the older man, Hoodie (still goading), and Ball Cap who was still yelling threats back, but still trying to put some distance between him and the older man. He reached out and snatched the old man's toque and threw it down the stairs, presumably as a distraction so that he could put more distance between them. Hoodie was telling me to mind my own business, that the older man had insulted him, and somebody needed to pay. "C'mon man, leave the old guy alone. He's old enough to be your grandfather and I guarantee you he's seen more horrible things in the last 10 years than you have seen in your lifetime!" This seemed to soften Hoodie somewhat, especially the "grandfather" bit. He pushed past us both, muttering "You're lucky that this guy [me] was here, or we would have beat your old man ass." Once we got out, the young men were gone and the old man was still raging. I tried to calm him down, but he stormed back into the metro (which I assumed was to get his hat). Once the adrenaline wore off, I ducked into alleyway and had a bit of a cry. This altercation was incredibly scary and I was convinced the entire time that fists or knives were going to come out and I'd be caught in the middle. But I could not walk away. I'm telling you all this to highlight the idea that most conflicts can be de-escalated through talk rather than more violence. With the power of words, you can appeal to people's humanity and reason to get them to back off rather than give in to ego and violence. The way of the warrior is not to pick up the sword first: it is to find solutions to conflicts in any way possible to avoid violence. Once the warrior needs to pick up the sword, he has failed in his duty and is now left with his last resort. There is power in words, there is strength in peace, and there is magic in kindness and compassion. We are coming into the darkest part of the year, so share your light with those who fear the darkness around them, but especially the darkness within them.

Star Wars Geek Creed

I believe in the almighty Force, the energy field that binds the universe together.

I believe in Luke, the greatest of the Skywalkers, he who walks between the dark and the light. He was conceived by the Dark Lord of the Sith, and born of the Queen Amidala. He suffered under Palpatine, was electrified, exiled, and found again. He projected his being to face Ben Solo. On that same day, he ascended into living Force, and is seated at the right hand of the Jedi before him. He will come again to offer wisdom to those who walk the Force in his stead.

I believe in the power of the Force, the ideals of the Republic, the reunion of friends, the forgiveness of sins, the ascension of the Skywalkers, and adventure everlasting.

May the Force be with you.
-- JD Hickey
www.johndavidhickey.ca

First Nations Declaration

This post serves as a template that you can use to make a First Nations Declaration at your Pagan events. We recommend that you read these texts before your event begins (in one or both languages, as appropriate). You can read more about the different acknowledgement statements that have been crafted per organization, per province here. These are guides, not scripts.

Find out which Nations are appropriate for your area and adapt as needed. https://www.caut.ca/content/guide-acknowledging-first-peoples-traditional-territory

English

"We begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) and the Algonquin. This has been a place which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange among nations.We give thanks to the people who have cared for this land throughout the generations, throughout all that has been and all that will be, and who have brought all of us to this moment in time."

Français  

Nous reconnaissons que la terre sur laquelle nous nous rassemblons est un territoire ancestral des Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) et des Algonquins qui n’a jamais été cédé.  Cet endroit est depuis longtemps utilisé comme un lieu de rencontre et d’échange entre nations.Nous offrons nos sincères remerciements à ceux qui ont pris soin de cette terre au travers des générations, au travers de tout ce qui fut et de tout ce qui sera et qui nous ont permis de nous rassembler aujourd’hui. 

OkCupid Rebellion

Before I kill my Okcupid account again, I've updated it with a Dating profile written from the negative zone with distortions of all the profile clichés I'm sick of seeing:

"I am a highly-frazzled peon working for a heartless corporation destined to bury me chained to my ergonomic desk chair.

I hate laughter (it rings hollow in my what's left of my shattered heart) and having fun is for losers who cannot afford Netflix and a puppy with only 6 months left to live.

I would like to tell you I'm a glass half-full kind of person, but all my glasses are cracked from gripping then too tightly in a hootch-filled rage. Consequently, all my clothes stink of cheap Scotch and poor life choices.

Unsurprisingly enough, I tend to see the worst in every situation because THERE IS SO MUCH OF IT, IT BLOTS OUT THE MOON.

My life is fab, but I need someone to validate it since I'm no longer on speaking terms with my parents (as sentenced by the court). I am looking for a partner in crime, but who is also a short-distance sprinter. This means when we are on the run from the cops, I only need to outrun you. Family and friends are important to me, if only to provide believable alibis.

I love travel, especially to countries without well-documented extradition treaties.

So if any of this sounds interesting to you, re-book an appointment with your therapist and refill your prescriptions. Telling me your troubles may rekindle my love of deep, ironic laughter, the kind that causes children to cry and milk to curdle.

Just kidding. I'm a normal guy looking for love. PM me babe! I'm a catch. "

If anyone wants to copy this to their Dating profile, please do so with my permission.