Leila Raven

56, Female

Chilliwack, BC

Canada

Profile Information:

Gender, any & all.
cis-woman femme
About Myself & My Interests...


I am one who lives true to my own authentic self out of a place of compassionate love and respect for all.

I live an alternative lifestyle in many ways, not just in terms of my spirituality. My spirituality is but one part, albeit the guiding part, of me living authentically to self and others. I follow no particular belief system and have no affiliation to any path or group or way of being.

I look at the world of the spiritual, the numinous, through as many different perceptual lenses as possible. Cognisant that each is but a metaphorical interpretation of something much greater that transcends human definition and classification.

For me I believe the nature of infinite reality is something that cannot be fully known through our finite minds, whether scientific or spiritual, all are simply theories. For me reality and spirituality is understood through the totality of simply being, we are one with all. However truths and wisdoms can be found in the metaphorical representations of all theories and belief systems.

So in a sense, I'm pantheistic and pandenominational. I believe in the divinity of all things, and that all belief systems are valid representations. We each perceive unique personal truths.




In terms of living authentically. I also love true to my spiritual nature. This for me means I'm pansexual (bisexual only includes two genders, pan is the prefix for 'all'). My romantic loves are not based on gender identity, the external house of flesh, but on the quality of the spirit. The packaging doesn't matter to me. All are beautiful.

I also live a polyamorous non-monogamous lifestyle. Just as I don't limit my love based on gender, I also don't limit it to a number of romantic partners. Each love is different and unique and love shared is love multiplied.

I live in a family of four adults, two women, two men, without children and with a lot of pets and a big garden. I also practice tantra, sacred sexuality, BDSM and power exchange. For me sex is a sacred bonding and a deep expression of love, I see nothing wrong with casual sex but it's not personally for me, I reserve sex for my long term loving relationships.


I have been on disability since 2000. I am diagnosed with CFS/CFIDS/ME/FM all chronic pain and fatigue disorders of the body and autoimmune system with no known cause. My body has been deteriorating over the last few years, I look completely healthy however I have no stamina, and am currently bed bound and using a wheel chair for most of my mobility. I can get up and walk, but very little.

I do believe my physical 'illness' and change is tied into spiritual transformation of self. I feel this is meant to happen.
My main challenges are pain and weakness. Which means sometimes I am unable to type and
be online.
I manage symptoms and health as best I can, and am at peace and feel happy with what I am learning in the process.

Thankfully while I was able, I enjoyed studying and working, I have a BFA in studio arts, a BA in psychology and an MA in counselling psychology. When I originally went on disability I was diagnosed with major depression as I was suicidal. I was working at that time as a home support supervisor, managing a staff of 60-70 workers providing support for a clientèle of 300-350 elderly, disabled, and medically fragile individuals in the community. This was not only very rewarding, but well paid union work and left me thankfully with a good disability pension. This along with my loving family taking very good care of me, means I am blessed in that all my needs are met.

I have no fear over any state my body wishes to go through including physical death, for change is inevitable in the physical, and death is just what we call that trans-formative moment.

What is, is what is meant to be. I live in love. I live in the now. I'm more self aware, self fulfilled, and happier than I have ever known.


I'm a passionate person who is predominantly interested in other people. Everything to do with people and loving people. I am interested in love, human psychology, culture, spirituality, philosophy, the arts, and anything that relates to exploring the nature of self and others.

I am a Lover and I am Love, through and through. I have always identified with love, and as a child one of my 'guides'/'imaginary friends' was Venus the goddess of beauty and love. It took a few years for me to understand what she meant when she would say that she was me, and I her. The reality is... we are all avatars of Love, All Gods and Goddesses.


My motto has always been:
Live in Love


My Teachers & Influences, What was it about them that influenced me?

Life has been my biggest teacher. It has thrown some incredibly challenging lessons at me some times. I like to think life is hardest on those students it feels has the ability to do that hard work and learn those most challenging of life's lessons.
So if life is treating you harshly at times, remember, it is because you have the strength to walk that path, and to stay focused on what can be learnt at those moments.

All are teachers and every moment holds a multitude of lessons. Ultimately, what one learns depends on what one chooses to listen to. The more teachers and perspectives one can find in life, the broader the scope of the knowledge to be found.

Authors and/or Books I appreciate:

Authors - Joseph Campbell, Carl Sagan, Umberto Echo, Leo Buscalglia, Tolkien, Jack Chalker, Laural K. Hamilton, Anne Rice, Koontz, Stephen King, Clive Barker, Pat Califia, Anais Nin, Henry Miller, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Pearl S. Buck, Franz Bardon, Franz Kafka, Nietzsche, Yukio Mishima, William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert Heinlein, Stephen King, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, RAW - Robert Anton Wilson, Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, Lewis Carroll, Hermann Hesse, Aldous Huxley, Eliphas Levi, Aleister Crowley, Shakti Gawain, Douglas Adams, John Steinbeck, William Golding, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, William Gibson, J.K. Rowling, Lao Tzu, Anne Frank, Kahlil Gibran, Arthur Golden, Shel Silverstein, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre,William Blake, Walt Whitman, Samuel Beckett, Rudyard Kipling, the Dalai Lama, Dr. Seuss, Sun Tzu, Stephen R. Donaldson, Noam Chomsky, Richard Bach, Hermes Trismegistus.Francis Barrett, Simon Magus, Starhawk.

Self Portraits

The photos below are self portraits from 2008 onward. Mostly head shots, as I'm predominantly bed bound and most are shot on my built in laptop camera. For me photography is a strong creative expression of my thoughts and ideas, so these are not so much just representations of my self, but of different concepts I've explored.

Your pictures and fotos in a slideshow on MySpace, eBay, Facebook or your website!view all pictures of this slideshow

Comment Wall:

  • RobertO DurantE

    Leila, Thank you for your invitation to this great and honest site in love and light to all. I am grateful to be part of your friends and have you as a friend to in the up coming new mother Earth, we all are one and vibrating with the source, our creator of creation of us as God and Goddess.

  • Thank You for having me i look forward to being a part of the community!
  • Ernie Hopkins

    Hey Katt, just wanted to say thanks for welcoming me on the site and all you contribute to it. I have had the privilege of reading/viewing several of your pieces, hats off! I hope this physical issue you are going through will complete allowing you back greater than your original energy and drive! Luv ya!!
  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    re: "just the chick who layed the ethereal temple brick"

    Band: Gong

    Album: You

    Song: Master Builder

    <singing...>

    <voice one> Master Builder, tell me how you build a temple...

    <voice two> Tools and Moonstones, you don't really need them you know...

    <voice one> Master Builder, tell me what the temple's made of...

    <voice two> Deep inside you...

    <chorus, emphatic> you can build an invisble temple in your own imagination if you will.

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Magickal indeed!

    What is not Magickal?

    Is there a door prize for the 666th member?  She just joined yesterday.

    <smile>

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    We let our horns show today, Trolls emerged... Lovely beings really, just reactively responding to defend their cultural indoctrinations...

    C'este la vie...

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Dear Leila,

    Perhaps we should share some of our views on 'polorization' we neglected to remember what our behavior might engender in this regard in order to allow our free spirits to let our hair down, as it were, and perhaps show off the horns below our haloes...

    Polarization is a brain-washing tool in the hands of experts such as those who are behind many of the viral videos posted here and elsewhere.

    Polarization ocurrs when people with rigidly held opions are triggered by whatever memes appear particularly friendly or hostile to themselves.

    Polarization is valuable to the masters of media; skillfully applied, messages can target specific communities of people and rally them, incite them into flash mobs.

    When we attract trolls to ourselves we use their triggers to discover them.

    It is far better that any troll attack ourselves, than any other person, they cannot hurt us, they can only hurt themselves.  By attracting trolls to attack us we spare a less well skilled person the pain of their hostilities.

    We always respond with gentle, loving words, if we make a mistake we are happy to own up to it.

    Trolls are valuable people, they collect the disatisfactions of many like minded-people who are too inhibited to vent what they feel; trolls express those collective feelings, they channel the currents of the collective consciousness of humanity, but particularly their peers.

    When we act as a lightening rod to draw a troll's anger we give them a chance to vent, a catharsis they often need but may have difficulty experiencing because of their rigid hearts and minds.

    Trolls are motivated to seek catharsis by venting, we provide a safe target, at no expense to ourselves.

    Quite the opposite really, we find trolls refreshing.

    We always learn and grow with them.

    We will try not to bait them overmuch, we have apologized to Valkyrie for the upset on her thread.

    Peace

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Do you sometime share the powerful bodies of black leopards, panthers, and perhaps, particularly, jaguars, and other large tree-favoring felines, perhaps as we have?

     

    We love the prowling through the jungle canopies seeking our prey below; stalking, estimating, leaping...

     

    Blessed be...

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Hi Lie La, la, la...

    Gotta get the 'lay-la' deprogrammed...

    Um the following should be a new discussion: Much Ado About Love...

    Then this one should be in a set with several others we will publish, nested in a group of discussions within Much Ado... About Love – Testing Love, Avoid a Pitfall that Ruins Relationships

     

    Here is an example of what we are shooting for:

    Nevermind, you are talking to us now, you just told us to create a group and put the topics there... we will see if we understand how to do this, thanks...

    Um how do we start over?

    We'll try that, thanks...

     

    Enjoy!

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    It is our way as well dear Leila,

    Each person understands their own language best, we can adopt their cultures and beliefs to embrace their ideas and get them to share more...

     

    <smile>

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Dear sister Leila, we can serve you best in no official capacity, however in pursuit of our own best interests our work will certainly support your own interests and Temple Illuminatus well.

    We will eagerly fill the potent voids in many empty discussion areas, we could use a little training though, we fumble about so on our own at times...

     

    Enjoy!

     

  • SunKat

    Photobucket It's good to be here! I tend to be a bit shy on a new site but I will eventually dive in and check it all out.

    ~xo~

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Thank you Leila, the new logo may be an improvement, we can't tell one way or another.  We like the colors and the hearts within hearts theme...

    Two of the hardest questions for us are 'what do you like' or 'what do you prefer', another difficult one is 'what do you want'.

    We tend to panic in stores with too many choices. 
    We very much like the eye and pyramid default logo in discussion forums and blogs.  We presume this was the previous group logo.

    We will need to think about a 'branding logo' for our discussions, until then, the defaults are fine with us.  It may simply be we do not care to spend the time on some of these details until we settle in a bit better.

    We are tempted to say that if you can make our work seem to sizzle and pop to draw more readers then by all means go for it, however, we are slightly um autistic, or rather, our behaviour and reactions sometimes strongly resemble an autistic child's...

    Change can be very, very upsetting for us at times, particularly our little boy who does so much of our work for us.  We may need the consistencies of the default icons to help him feel safe and secure, to help him feel more at home.

    We love our default home page!

    Tina has often wondered if we aren't a highly functioning Apsberger's Syndrome autisitic, but we think we have determined that this only describes us some of the time, and is not accurate so much as a 'best match' in her experiences for the ways we behave very oddly or obstinately at times.

     

    Blessed be...

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    We accept all sweet Leila, if it disturbs our little boy then perhaps he needs to be disturbed, if he is too disturbed we will let you know, he prolly would not have noticed if you had not pointed the change out...

    We like to nest in the midst of our work, clutter everywhere, this drives Tina mad, but we thrive on it and beg her to leave our studio be... That our studio is a corner of our living room leaves a lot to be desired from her point of view, like a strong backhoe perhaps...

     

    <smile>

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Oddly enough, it's not so dark once we learn to open our hearts...
  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Ummm...

    Has anyone mentioned what happens when you flip the first character of the temple brick upside down?  We seem to remember things working that way in ancient Egypt with Maat and Ahmen Ra....

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    We've been known to be a good Mason...
  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Bring on the Tea Party! ...we are ready for them... 

    <smile>

     

    Blessed be...

     

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    <blushes>

    You are so very loveable too...

  • Grigori Rho Gharveyn

    Thank you Leila,

    We must strive not to be too naughty for Easter... Just naughty enough...

  • Leila Raven

  • RobertO DurantE

    Leila, thank you for passing by and for your sweet comment................

  • SunKat

    Photobucket
    You have a wonderful site here my friend ~*
    Thanks for always coming by my tiny one -- we do enjoy you and your contributions!
    Have a beautiful weekend..

  • L. Love

    Thanks for the welcome Leila and hope you are having a good day honey :)
  • L. Love

    Well the weekend is almost upon us Leila.  Hope you have a restful and peaceful one honey.

  • RobertO DurantE

    Just passing by sending you some love, NamastE

  • L. Love

  • L. Love

    Oh you are very welcome honey :) Hope you are having a wonderful day :)
  • L. Love

    Thanks Leila :) Will do. Hope all is well with you honey :)
  • L. Love

  • SunKat

    I just wanted to say hello~*

  • L. Love

    Hey Leila, I thought Tinkerbell was cute!  Didn't mean any offence by it to anyone!  Just love fairies and thought it was a nice picture to post is all.

    If you have had any complaints, I won't send it again though hon...no problem.

  • L. Love

    Ok thanks Leila...thanks for letting me know.
  • L. Love

  • L. Love

    Thank you for joining the group Leila :)  Look forward to learning and sharing together.  Hope you are keeping well dearest and thinking of you...HUGS
  • L. Love

  • RobertO DurantE

    Thank you Leila for your sweet comment, wish you a great week end filled with love.......

  • SunKat

     

    Thank you for the gorgeous comment..

    Have A Beautiful Weekend Leila ~*


  • RobertO DurantE

    Leila, I am more for the 90, it was for me like re born again, maybe you could enjoy my style, and if not just turn off the button and accept my apologies for posting as comment..

    http://soundcloud.com/nexus2012/raining-day

    and aceept this rose for a great week end filled with love and music

  • L. Love

    Hey Leila.  Hope you are doing ok honey.  Just stopping by to send some love and wish you a restful and happy weekend. HUGS

  • L. Love

    Hey beautiful Leila...thank you for all your hard work in creating this beautiful space :)  be well dearest :)

  • Robin Ritter

    I so love all you wrote, you are so special to go thru so much and yet find nothing but love, that is all there is....I too have been enduring much pain. I can relate and feel so blessed by your beautiful soul. Blessings new friend. I am thankful to be here and share our paths.
    ♥ ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬♥ ♥ ♥▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ ♥
    (¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)ℒℴ​ ѵℯ(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)
    `•.¸.•` `•.¸.•` `•.¸.•``•.¸.•`★☜♡☞`•.¸.•``•.¸.​•` `•.¸.•` `•.¸.•
    ♥ ♥ True friendship is seen through the heart not through eyes! ♥ ♥ "(¯`*•.¸,¤°´`°¤,¸.•*´¯) PeAcE
    ╔Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨♥ •.¸¸.•´¯`•.♥ .•´¯`•.¸¸.• HeALiNg
    ║║╔═╦╦╦═╗ •.¸¸.•´¯`•.♥ BlEsSiNgS
    ║╚╣║║║║╩╣ ♪♫•.¸¸ RaInBoWs.•´¯`•.♥ •´¯`•.¸¸.•♪♫♪ CaRiNg
    ╚═╩═╩═╩Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ....☮*´¨♥ღ PeAcE✿ღℓ σ √ ε ღ✿ GoOdWiLl To AlL(✿◠‿◠)❀ ♫❤ ☼ ☾*´☮¨ CoMpAsSiOn ♥•♪♫ KiNdNeSs☆✿ܓღ✿ WoRLd PeAce ƸӜƷ ☸ڿڰۣ— ƸӜƷ ♥➷♥• HoNeStY☾*´ LoVe☮☆✿ܓ ♥ღ xXx ~
    Hope ur week is going great so far....

    123tagged.Com

    123Tagged.com - More Thursday Comments
    http://youtu.be/4PWzW4t0ns0
    I am trying to ease the tears of my dragon, lol.
    I lost my pet, her sister went about a month ago, so sad to see our pets go...
    A Host of Angels
    ‎"There is a special angel who wraps us in her wings. She loves us and guides us through life's unexpected things."
    ~ Levende Waters
    "...wraps us in her wings...."
    Or his wings. I believe Angels can be either gender, depending on what's needed in any given situation. Either way, they are always there to help and guide us when life throws us a curveball. We just have to ask, they are always there to guide, comfort, and help us. They love us unconditionally.
  • Robin Ritter

    ""☻/ღ˚ •。* ˚ ˚✰˚˚♥♥♥*。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ♥♥♥ *˚ .ღ 。
    /▌*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚... Just sprinkling a little ~*LOVE*~ And Prayers - Love to You - God Bless!♥ ... ˚ ✰*♥♥♥/ \ ˚. ♥♥♥ *˛ ˚ * ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ 。✰˚* ˚ ♥♥♥ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥♥♥
    ♥♥♥May Your Day be Filled with a Smile ♥♥♥
    ♥♥♥Blessings of Love, Peace and Joy! ♥♥♥

    http://youtu.be/qOh4Kz0QMBE
    "Just because you think your way is right, doesn't mean all people must follow your way. ♥ ~"

    123tagged.Com

    123Tagged.com - More Fantasy Comments
    Each time, you Remember the Truth,
    of who you are .
    You bring more Light into the World.
    (Unknown)
    Dragon Comments & Graphics
    ~Magickal Graphics~
    ♥ ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬♥ ♥ ♥▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ ♥
    (¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)ℒℴ​ ѵℯ(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)(¯`v´¯)
    `•.¸.•` `•.¸.•` `•.¸.•``•.¸.•`★☜♡☞`•.¸.•``•.¸.​•` `•.¸.•` `•.¸.•
    ♥ ♥ True friendship is seen through the heart not through eyes! ♥ ♥ "(¯`*•.¸,¤°´`°¤,¸.•*´¯) PeAcE
    ╔Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨♥ •.¸¸.•´¯`•.♥ .•´¯`•.¸¸.• HeALiNg
    ...║║╔═╦╦╦═╗ •.¸¸.•´¯`•.♥ BlEsSiNgS
    ║╚╣║║║║╩╣ ♪♫•.¸¸ RaInBoWs.•´¯`•.♥ •´¯`•.¸¸.•♪♫♪ CaRiNg
    ╚═╩═╩═╩Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ....☮*´¨♥ღ PeAcE✿ღℓ σ √ ε ღ✿ GoOdWiLl To AlL(✿◠‿◠)❀ ♫❤ ☼ ☾*´☮¨ CoMpAsSiOn ♥•♪♫ KiNdNeSs☆✿ܓღ✿ WoRLd PeAce ƸӜƷ ☸ڿڰۣ— ƸӜƷ ♥➷♥• HoNeStY☾*´ LoVe☮☆✿ܓ ♥ღ xXx ~"
    MEDICINES MAY BE NECESSARY.FLOWERS LIFT THE HEART.BUT YOUR SMILE IS THE BEST RESTORATIVE OF ALL.:-)
    sacred spirit - Yeha Noha
    http://youtu.be/XPd9be8R5bA