Michael Lane, aka Chae Saville, has been arrested for murdering Las Vegas resident, Ginger Candela. Lane, who had been dating the 44yo woman, told homicide investigators that he was assisting Candela to achieve a state of deepened meditation by purposely compressing her carotid arteries when he decided to kill her. He hit her over the head with a frying pan.

The official police report goes into gruesome detail of Lane's killing actions, his attempt to conceal her body, and also his taking funds from her checking account and making purchases with her credit card. Her body was discovered in the garage area of her home on November 30th. Lane was initially picked up in Ventura California under a warrant that was issued for his arrest. He was transported to the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas on December 11th.

Lane is a self-proclaimed motivational speaker who promotes meditation and spiritual healing. That fact that this senseless killing was done under the umbrella of trust during an assisted trance-inducing meditation is especially sickening.

It has been known for centuries that it is possible to influence consciousness by techniques which involve breathing. The procedures that have been used for this purpose by various ancient and non-Western cultures cover a very wide range from drastic interferences with breathing to subtle and sophisticated exercises of various spiritual traditions. Thus the original form of baptism practiced by the Essenes involved forced submersion of the initiate under water for an extended period of time. This resulted in a powerful experience of death and rebirth. In some other groups, the neophytes were half-choked by smoke, by strangulation, or compression of the carotid arteries. (Source: Theory and Practice of Holotropic Breathwork)

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Pardon me for not being wordless AGAIN this week. My husband and I, who are now empty nesters, have our own tree trimming tradition. Decorating the tree is a bit different now from when our three kids were living at home. Putting our tree up is a three to four day project. The first two days I don't get involved. It is my husband who handles dragging the tree and the stored boxes of decorations down from the attic. On the second day he assembles the tree and places the strings of lights. He is very meticulous how he does this. He's a Virgo, just so you understand it is his nature to be persnickety and likes to have the lights strung "just right." On the third day it is my turn to place the ribbon garland (thus the photo) on the lighted tree. The final step will be to hang the ornaments on our tree together as a couple. Trimming the tree in stages is a process that we didn't have the leisure time to do before my husband was retired and the kids were rambling about the house.

This morning while I was walking circles around the tree placing the garland on the branches I was gifted with some precious time of reflection. Some tasks, such as garlanding a tree, are perfect for allowing the mind to reflect on things. As I was circling the tree and gently untwisting the curled ribbon from its cardboard roll and weaving it in and around the tree, I allowed my mind to wander. I envisioned the garland as a life making its way along a winding pathway and finding its way through natural twists and turns. Life is like garland, twisted at times and other times we feel as if we are going in circles. But... if you stop now and again and take a moment to around to look at the path you have traveled to see how far you come, well, it can be pretty amazing.

What is Wordless Wednesday?

More Wordless Wednesday photos at About.com and the Wordless Wednesday Home Blog

garland photo (c) Phylameana lila Desy

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Just because you see your neighbor sitting in the pew in front of you every Sunday morning doesn't mean she is necessarily a devout follower of your church's doctrine. Recent survey results provided by The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life indicate that many Americans are mixing and matching their beliefs. They are sampling a variety of spiritual practices, blending Christianity with Eastern philosophies and New Age ideas.

The United States, undeniably, is a predominantly Christian faith country. Yet, 24% of the American public (22% of them Christians) answered that they believed in reincarnation. A belief in ghosts (29% Americans/29% Christians) and astrology (25% Americans/23% Christians) was also acknowledged. 23% of the public feel that yoga is a spiritual experience, and 26% believe that spiritual energies are in trees, mountains, crystals, etc.

Count me in among the 24% of Americans who believe in reincarnation. But, that doesn't mean that I am driven to know who I was in the past or dream about the possibility of being someone else in a future incarnation. I'm focused on making my current lifetime the very best one possible. I also believe in the importance of staying present in the Now! Still, the subject of reincarnation is interesting! Who were you in a past life?

This survey was conducted in August 2009. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life seeks to promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. It studies public opinion, demographics and other important aspects of religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world. (read full report)

Rob Melnychuk / Getty Images

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Talking with rocks comes natural to me. When walking along a beach or creek a rock will speak to you if it wants your attention. At least that is how it feels whenever I get the urge to pick one up. Sometimes a particular rock will even make its way into my pocket. It is as if it has invited itself into my life through the mystery of rock attraction.

Why Paint a Rock?

I've never been fond of painted rocks. Rocks, to me, are beautiful in their natural state. The same with painted sea shells. I can't make sense of spray painting a perfectly beautiful shell so that it shimmers gold or silver? So artificial!

However, I am experiencing an odd urge to paint a rock ever since I read Ilene Dube's article Teaching a Stone to Talk, featuring psychoanalyst/artist Rhoda Kassof-Isaac's fascinating painted rock faces. Rhoda has put hundreds of faces on rocks. I didn't know I could ever be inspired to consider painting a rock. But, I just might try painting a face on a rock... but only if a rock asks me to. It could possibly even deepen my conversation with rocks if I did. Who knows? Do you have a painted rock you consider to be an amulet? I'm collecting amulet stories and photos if you'd like to share yours.

Rhoda's painted rocks are exhibited at Gallery14.

painted heart on rock / Ron Levine / Getty Images

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