January 2015

Dean Charlton Mag: FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH – January 2015 Edition!

Here is my From the Horse’s Mouth Magazine’s First Edition!

This first issue was released early on the 5th of December 2014 to give people, who want to, time to submit items in time for the February issue which will come out on the first of February.

And I’d also like you to subscribe to future editions. It’s free. It only takes a second. And the edition will simply be emailed to your in box on the first of every month. You subscribe quite simply by entering your email at the foot of this website.
It’s FREE to subscribe, just use the free subscribe box at the foot of the page

Are you interested in spiritual and health issues and getting your ideas published?

My name is Dean Charlton and I want to start this e magazine called: “From The Horse’s Mouth” so that it will create space for expression for me and also for anyone who wishes to contribute an article.

This free magazine first existed over twenty years ago. But I now want to bring it back to life. This time on the internet.

In each edition there will be a few recurring themes but I am hoping that, with your help, we will be able to create a magazine that is ever evolving. Anything that is not offensive is welcome. Please send to: deancharltonmag@gmail.com

ABOUT MYSELF 

I am a fifty year old male and have been ill for most of my adult life. I suffer from bi-polar, OCD and in the past I have been in intensive care because of pneumonia and have successfully beaten a cancer called Hodgkin’s disease. I also had a drink problem but have not had a drink for nearly seventeen years.

Although I am not well enough to work for a living, I am aware of how much other people have done for me, and continue to do for me, so I would like to try and put something back into society by producing this magazine.

INTERVIEW WITH BRENDA DOLORIS CONDOLL

Brenda, where were you born? In Craddock Road, Charlestown, Nevis.

Where is that? In the British Eastern Caribbean.

How long have you lived in England? Since September 1967.

What do you like about England? The education and healthcare systems.

How have you passed your time here? I first went to Park Lane College in Leeds to study secretarial studies. I then worked in solicitor’s offices before I became ill hearing voices and seeing spaceships. I then did a lot of volunteering and tried to help others e.g. I sponsor a little boy in Sierra Leone with a charity called: Action Aid.

What are your interests? I go to church to pick up my strength, like walking and like visiting other countries.

Is there anything you don’t like about England? I think there is too much immigration for such a small island.

What are your hopes for the future? I hope to grow old happy.

MY NOT VERY SERIOUS STAR SIGNS

Scorpio 24 Oct – 22 Nov 

Remember every action has a consequence so don’t do anything hurtful to anyone else – if you’re an employer ask yourself if you would be happy working for what you pay your staff.

Sagittarius 23 Nov – 21 Dec

Life seems very hard at the moment but a political change this year may make you a bit better off financially – but don’t make any plans to give up work just yet.

Capricorn 22 Dec – 20 Jan

A new project will leave you bewildered but don’t give up on it and you will eventually see the trees from the wood. Try to pass wind more discreetly.

Aquarius 21 Jan – 19 Feb 

Don’t let self-doubt affect your health and eat into your low reserves of confidence. A man of the cloth may offer you advice – but not the help you really need.

Pisces 20 Feb – 20 Mar

Hard work is required this month but don’t expect any appreciation from your employers. A girl in a red hat may try to lead you astray. Be strong!

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr

You are very fertile this month so be careful unless you want more financial responsibility. Smile even though you may feel like crying at times.

Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May

Someone with a flashy car will ask you out, but be aware that they will only take you for a ride if you let them. Don’t share your pin numbers with anyone.

Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun

Music will cheer you up but be considerate of others especially if you are tone deaf.  A good time to stop biting your nails if you need to.

Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul

Try and get involved in the café culture instead of propping up a bar listening to other drunken bores. A good time to invest money.

Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug  

With Jupiter rising it’s a good time to learn to knit so you will be able to keep warm when you can no longer afford gas and electricity. Eat plenty of roughage.

Virgo 24 Aug – 23 Sep

A man in a stripy shirt may seem like a village idiot to you, but he may in fact, have some information that will benefit you at a later date. Drink plenty of fizzy water.

Libra 24 Sep – 23 Oct 

Certain things will get on your nerves this month but you must remain calm and adopt a live and let live attitude.  It is a particularly good time to buy a bow tie.

INTERVIEW WITH DALE HIBBERT OF KAVA KAFÉ IN TODMORDEN

What made you open the café?  We couldn’t find anywhere that we wanted to drink in Todmorden; we didn’t like any of the other coffee places so we guessed other people felt the same way. Primarily we opened as a coffee shop NOT as a café – we take our coffee seriously, use very expensive beans and we thought there was a need for this kind of café – which was proved right, as we have been busy since the first day we opened.

Have you had a café before?  Yes I had a vegetarian café bar in Manchester which ran for ten years. I sold that café fifteen years ago.

How would you describe your café?  It’s a place where people can come and meet. It’s a vegetarian place where people can rest, work and meet friends. Here we have things like a book and knitting club and the café has taken over as the heart of the community.

Do you think cafes are better for people than pubs? There is no alcohol and it’s a completely different atmosphere. A café is a place where people can come to relax, drink tea and coffee, meet their friends and watch the world go by. Some people like to be around other people but alone to work, read a book, write etc.

How do you think Kava café differs from other cafes? Well we are run and owned by me and my Ukrainian wife Sveta, so we have a vested interest in the café doing well and making sure our customers are happy – we are not employees waiting for the end of the shift. This is more like our home than our business as we spend more time here than we do at home – we are often here late at night cooking and preparing food. Customers pick up on this and perceive this as a homely environment and not like a chain of cafes.

Are you both vegetarian?  Yes, I’ve always been vegetarian and Sveta became one when we met, for I can’t be in a serious relationship with someone who eats meat – and live and share a kitchen with them.

Which kind of customers do you want to attract? We want to attract vegetarians and vegans and also people who eat meat most of the time but like vegetarian food sometimes.

We have a good cross-section of the community who come here to eat food in a comfortable, non-threatening atmosphere. Some people don’t realise that we’re vegetarian as we don’t force it down their throats.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?  I think we will still be here in five years though ideally we would like to find staff, have more time off and maybe open a few more Kavas elsewhere. The problem is that we can’t find anyone to prepare the food the way I do – I don’t trust handing that over – it’s taken me one and a half years to build our reputation and it could take two weeks to destroy it! It’s more important to be here with a good reputation than in four places with a poor reputation.  I take a lot of pride in what we do!

THE LIFE OF A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL

By Zena Charlton

What’s it like being a fifteen year old girl? Well it’s not easy at all! – things annoy you so much more, you don’t get on with your parents as well, and nothing ever seems to go right no matter how hard you try. All you care about is how you look, your friends, your social life and yourself basically. My family get at me all the time – we never agree about anything and they always seem to think they’re in the right, when actually I think they’re in the wrong – although they’re probably right. I never really seem to care about my education as I’m only in year ten and I feel like it doesn’t matter – but it does. Education is so hard and tiring at this age.

I just can never be bothered to get myself up out of bed at seven o’clock in the morning, get myself completely ready and go to school and work all day! – It’s such a stupid idea and the time we have to get up is ridiculous! I’d much rather stay in bed than get up for school – although I will need to concentrate at school and knuckle down to learn the things I need to know to be a lawyer.

Friends are constantly a problem and we fall out over stupid things. I never know who to spend my time with in school because once I leave school, none of them will be there for me and I will have to find new friends in college and university.

Out of all the people in my life, my parents are the most annoying people I could meet!

I am a happy fifteen year old girl – but you should be because it’s such a good age and you have friends everywhere around you! Just be happy!

WHAT IS BUDDHISM?

Buddhism is the practice of Buddha’s teachings, also called ‘Dharma’, which means ‘protection’. By practising Buddha’s teachings, living beings are permanently protected from suffering. The founder of Buddhism is Buddha Shakyamuni, who showed the manner of accomplishing the ultimate goal of living beings, the attainment of enlightenment, at Bodh Gaya in India in BC 589. At the request of the gods Indra and Brahma, Buddha then began to expound his profound teachings, or ‘turned the Wheel of Dharma’. Buddha gave eighty-four thousand teachings, and from these precious teachings Buddhism developed in this world.
Today we can see many different forms of Buddhism, such as Zen and Theravada Buddhism. All these different aspects are practices of Buddha’s teachings, and all are equally precious; they are just different presentations.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

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THE WORLD PEACE CAFÉ

By Dzogden

Ganden Kadampa Buddhist Centre and The World Peace Café is situated at the edge of a beautiful Victorian bridge, on North Bridge, Halifax.

The Buddhist Centre offers meditation classes to relax and find a peaceful mind, as well as in depth study courses on Buddhist Philosophy and logic. The ‘Peace Café’ provides delicious home cooked vegetarian food, coffees and teas and has become a social hub for those interested in the ethos promoted by this quite unique of organisations.

The charity ‘Ganden Buddhist Centre’ was formed in 1996 and is part of The New Kadampa Tradition – a Buddhist group formed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Classes began at The Red Cross Centre, Halifax and due to increased popularity moved to a residential Buddhist Centre on Warley Road where most of the forerunners of the present Centre and Café began their education and dedication to bring peace of mind to Calderdale.

So what is meditation? Meditation is a method for helping you relax, develop a sense of well-being and gain a more positive outlook on life. The meditation philosophy teaches that the more peaceful our mind is, the happier we are and we feel positive regardless of external circumstances. The following quote sums this up nicely,
“Choose your thoughts carefully. Keep what brings you peace, release what brings you suffering. And know that happiness is just a thought away”.
Classes are run regularly throughout the week. Visit www.worldpeacecafehalifax.com for details.  The classes are down to earth, relaxed and informal and consists of guided meditations a short talk and refreshments.

The World Peace Café offers fresh, healthy vegetarian food. All the meals, including sandwiches, cakes, coffees and teas are 100% vegetarian or vegan, fresh and made by hand, so you can be sure that the food provided is good for your health.                                                                                            The café offers evening meals one Friday out of each month. Commonly known as ‘Food for Thought’ the evening includes a relaxing meditation followed by a delicious three-course vegetarian meal.

The Peace Café is mainly run by volunteers who have joined for a variety of reasons. If you would like to volunteer please contact them via their website above. The café is also happy to liaise with local support services and provide volunteering opportunities for those with special needs.

LETTERS PAGE

Hello Dean
I wish you well with your magazine venture. You have the right sort of curiosity which will enable you to obtain the best and most interesting information from your interviews.
Whilst I don’t share your almost vegan diet I do understand it and your complete abhorrence at the killing which takes place to feed our hunger for meat and fish.
You are a caring person and I benefit from your friendship.
Best wishes and God Bless
Michael Blackburn

CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALISM

By Sheri Wardell

The Greater World Christian Spiritualist Association was established in London in the 1920’s and has built a network of Sanctuaries along with 180 affiliated establishments across the UK and abroad.  The Greater World acquired a base in Leeds in 1935, so has been situated on Clarendon Road, Leeds, for nearly 80 years and during that time has served the community of Leeds as a rescue centre for abandoned women and children until those services were taken over by statutory authorities.  The property at Clarendon Road developed its Sanctuary and developed educational programmes in spiritual matters and spiritual healing.

The great idea of Christian Spiritualism is to love and serve according to the example of Jesus.  Christian Spiritualism does not perceive the Christian faith as pious sentiment, but as love in action.  It illustrates the value and effectiveness of a free community of men and men inspired by common idea.  The philosophy is a great challenge, yet offers such comfort to those who have studied its truths.   It is a vital and practical religion, and has an inspiring influence on human nature, enabling it to blend more closely with the Divine.

Christian Spiritualism does not invite anyone to turn their back on the religion of their choice, but leaves its doors open to all investigators and seekers of spiritual truths. It is not an experimental religion, but a faith based on morality and God’s spiritual truth.

One of its aims is to bring about true friendship amongst God’s people and a close communion between God and man.  Its influence is being felt by many souls who desire closer spiritual fellowship. Such desire is fed by Divine Grace which strengthens faith, supplies courage and enables every seeker to realise the beauty of God’s glory.  Any interpretation of God’s truth does not appeal to the mind, soften the heart and strengthen one’s faith cannot establish confidence.

God’s word is the means of communication and He will manifest Himself in His own way and by His own methods.

The significance of worship is reverence, faith, love, repentance, the heart and mind must be attuned to the working of the Divine Spirit.

God our Creator sends his Ministering Angels to guide and comfort us as in the days of the Patriarchs.  Through them we commune with God in the spirit of faith, love and truth.

What is truth?  It is the outflow of goodness.  Goodness is derived from God the Source of all goodness, and the beauty of goodness is to make God’s Will our will by endeavouring to live up to the Divine standard of purity and love.

The Greater World Sanctuary offers divine services on Sundays at 3.00 pm and 6.30 pm, Mondays and Wednesdays at 2.30 p.m. with evening Service on Wednesday at 6.30 pm.  Spiritual Healing Services take place on Sundays after Divine Service (approximately 4.15 pm onwards) and on Tuesdays at 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm.  A warm and loving welcome is extended to all those who wish to join our Divine and Healing Services, and prayer groups.  Holy Communion Services take place on the first Sunday of the month are available to all those who love the Lord Jesus the Christ.   The Sanctuary can be contacted on 0113 2456623.

John 14 v 15-21 extract.  “The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  He who will love Me and will be loved by My Father and I too will love him and show Myself to him

INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA JOHNSON

Tell me Jessica, what do you do for a living? I’m a Community Occupational Therapist.

What does the job entail? I go and see disabled people in their home and recommend equipment and adaptations to help them to be safer and more independent.

Do you have clients have clients of all ages? Over eighteen.

What do you like about your job? I like meeting different people who have different attitudes to life. I also like having a certain amount of freedom although you are quite limited how much time you can spend on each person as you have to see a certain number of people per month.

Do you offer a free service? The equipment is free but adaptations like stair lifts and ramps are means tested.

How long have you done your job? I’ve been in OT for nearly twenty years and have done Community OT for ten to fifteen years.

How do you become an Occupational Therapist? You have to do a three year degree in Occupational Therapy.

What do you do when you’re not at work? I’m busy with family and household commitments. When I do have spare time, I like to socialise with friends and family and I do like to be alone walking, shopping and going to cafes.

Where do you think you will be in five years’ time? I don’t know. I hope I will be less stressed – I’ve got twin five year olds and I’m hoping they’ll be a bit more independent and so I’ll have a bit more freedom. I may go to evening classes.