December 7, 2024 by Zeal4living - 1 Comment

A Year of Growth, Family, and Meaningful Moments: My 2024 Journey

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

As I look back on 2024, I’m struck by the rich vista of experiences that have woven together to create a year of profound personal growth, family connections, and unexpected adventures. This year has been a beautiful blend of professional achievements, spiritual exploration, and cherished moments with loved ones.

Family: The Heartbeat of My Year

Family has been the constant rhythm underlying every significant moment of 2024. From the very start, we kicked off the year at our beloved beach house in the southernmost point of Africa, setting a tone of togetherness and relaxation. Throughout the year, I treasured numerous precious moments: celebrating birthdays with my children and grandchildren, sharing coffee catch-ups, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
A particularly touching highlight was welcoming our kitten Shiva in June, bringing warmth and cuddles into our home during the middle of winter. Watching my grandchildren explore the world – whether at the World of Birds with monkeys climbing about, attending a first netball day, or sharing art experiences like introducing my granddaughter to watercolors – filled my heart with joy and wonder.

Professional and Personal Growth

This year presented remarkable opportunities for professional and personal development. In April, I was privileged to contribute to an international forum in Brazil developing guidelines for Artificial Intelligence implementation. This experience was not just professional but deeply personal, allowing me to explore spiritual and religious spaces in a new country.
Back home, I continued to engage with technology and governance, participating in fascinating meetings like the IT forum for provincial legislators and an intriguing AI roundtable discussion.
Our national elections resulted in a historic shift in our national political landscape, resulting in a Government of National Unity, was a moment of significant reflection and hope.

Spiritual and Personal Exploration

2024 was also a year of deep spiritual growth and scholarly pursuit in the realm of runic traditions. A significant milestone was the publication of FUTHORKH, the first journal of the Knights of Runes. In March, I was thrilled to receive this inaugural edition, which featured several of my own contributions. These included a comprehensive write-up on the purpose of the Knights of Runes, a profound reinterpretation of the first 80 verses of the Havamal, and an original rune poem that reflected my deep connection to these ancient symbolic traditions.
My spiritual journey continued to unfold with various meaningful experiences. I marked a significant personal milestone by getting a tattoo of an Armanen rune row encircling a dragon, symbolizing my initiation into Norse mysteries. My Rosicrucian journey continued with meaningful experiences, including presenting a meditation presentation at the Cape Town Pronaos conclave.
In October, I added to my scholarly collection by acquiring Gorsleben’s Edda, a treasured text that further deepened my exploration of runic wisdom and Norse spiritual traditions. This book represents more than just a purchase – it’s a gateway to deeper understanding and continued spiritual growth.
I made deliberate efforts to connect with myself and nature. A day of solitary meditation at the Meulwater botanical gardens and an art project focusing on the four elements were powerful moments of self-discovery and introspection.

Adventures and Family Trips

Our road trips and outings were filled with excitement and discovery. A memorable two-week, 3000+ km journey to visit my mother was a highlight. Driving the 4×4 Gladiator route, enjoying a safari in Pilanesberg National Park, and spending time with my sisters created lasting memories.

Moments of Joy and Anticipation

The year was punctuated by moments of pure joy – like the exciting news of my stepson and his wife’s pregnancy, and the anticipation of a gender reveal in December. Family celebrations at restaurants, beach house retreats, and our first camping trip in years at Vloedbos resort were simple yet profound moments of connection.

Reflection

As I write this, looking forward to ending the year at our cherished Cape Agulhas beach house, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. 2024 has been a testament to the beauty of family, the excitement of personal growth, and the joy of unexpected adventures.
Every challenge was balanced by moments of beauty, every professional engagement complemented by deep personal connections. It’s been a year of living fully, loving deeply, and embracing every experience with an open heart.

September 10, 2024 by Zeal4living - 0 comments

Exploring the 3rd miracle of light’s transformative power!

What are you doing this evening?

So, every Tuesday night, I do this thing where I tap into this super powerful energy called ‘Transformation: the 3rd miracle of light’ I use it with a special symbol called TYR. As someone who works with runes, I think this combo is the best for growing and evolving as a person. Let’s talk about why it’s so cool.
You know how plants turn sunlight into energy? Or how our bodies make vitamin D from the sun? That’s what I mean by ‘miracle of light.’ It’s this amazing power that can change things.

The 3rd miracle of light is to Transform

TYR, this rune, is like a symbol for being brave, making sacrifices, and being fair. It’s about having that warrior spirit and pushing through tough times. It’s like the Norse god who gave up his hand to help others. TYR shows that we can change and grow.
Tuesdays are perfect for this because Mars, the planet of action and energy, rules the day. It’s all about being brave, determined, and ready for change. When I combine TYR on a Tuesday, with transformation, I feel like I can face anything and come out stronger.
Tonight, I’m gonna meditate on TYR, sing its song, and try something new. I’m gonna dive into these new AI tools that can handle a ton of data. It’s a small step, but it’s a big deal for me because it’s about using technology to improve my skills and stay relevant in this fast-paced world.
I hope you’ll try this too! Whether you’re into runes or just want to grow as a person, this energy can be really powerful. Let me know what you think in the comments!”

October 30, 2023 by Zeal4living - 0 comments

Rune Alchemy

The practice of the runes are also a form of spiritual alchemy. After picking up the runes Odin’s words are: “I begin to increase be wise, grow and feel well”.

When we form a postures a chemical change is already taking place. Accentuated by Galdr or the intonations of different sounds, the energy flows through the body to stimulate the chemistry of the body. Rune postures are not a mere positions; it is a process of inner alchemy triggered by the runes individually but further exemplified when done in sequence.

Consistent practice shapes and strengthens us mentally and physically to express an inner strength and integrity that fortifies the soul of man.

Starting with the physical body as a vehicle of the energy transformation that causes the transmutation of coarse energy to a refined more poor energy that feeds and strengthens the inner man. During the process memories and associations first fixed in the body and then spun into mental energy. This transformative process brings a sense of calm and peace. Self-control and emotional balance is the outcome of the alchemical process that is most visible; and testimony of the inner change taking place as refined energy is absorbed by the soul.

The higher awareness or master-within then manifest itself as a tangible and super intelligent force that can provide counsel and guidance even in mundane matters. However its highest aim is the process of individualisation leading to integration into a pool of higher collective consciousness.

October 29, 2023 by Zeal4living - 0 comments

What is spirituality?

Spirituality is a personal subjective unified experience of an overarching reality, which transcends the objective sense experience and rational reasoning of a material world, that provides the individual with a sense of living a meaningful and purposeful life.

Personal: Spirituality is a personal experience, meaning that it is unique to each individual. There is no one right way to be spiritual.

Subjective: Spirituality is a subjective experience, meaning that it is based on individual feelings and perceptions. There is no objective way to measure spirituality.

Unified: Spirituality is a unified experience, meaning that it connects all aspects of an individual’s life, including their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Overarching reality: Spirituality is concerned with an overarching reality that transcends the material world. This reality may be referred to as God, the universe, or something else entirely.

Transcendence of objective sense experience and rational reasoning: Spirituality goes beyond what can be perceived through the senses and reasoned about intellectually.

Sense of living a meaningful and purposeful life: Spirituality provides individuals with a sense of meaning and purpose in life. It helps them to understand their place in the world and to live a life that is aligned with their values.

October 25, 2023 by Zeal4living - 0 comments

Going deeper

My focus last night was on the runes, and I’m more aware than ever of the need to incorporate their wisdom into my life as guiding principles to live by. I’m taking a new look at my own interpretation, discovering what the runes means to me and how I can apply those insights into my life.

I have a desire to have a 9-day retreat to focus on the runes and deepening my connection with them. I’m going deeper to connect with the inner Runemaster and to understand what meaning each rune embodies. I’m taking every possible opportunity to bring my life and constitution in line with natural and spiritual law.

When I was young, my questions for knowledge were driven by a desire to master life. As I matured, it became an attempt to produce some legacy that could be left behind. Now, it is just a process of discovering more before time catches up with me and the hope to glimpse more of this extraordinary world beyond normal perception.

I value life and the window of opportunity to deep-dive into esoteric knowledge gained by awareness and experience. The challenge is to bring something of it back into the actual realm of existence. We can bring order and joy into life so that we are no longer victims of entropy, but can find order and peace within the cycle of life.