I pledge Mother Earth as my one country
I pledge Humanity as my one people
I pledge Life as my religion
I pledge Love as my prayer
I pledge Peace and Freedom as my birthright
And the birthright of all humanity.
My heart beats one with all my Relations. "
- Grandmother Drum pledge
from Whirling Rainbow Project
"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour,
now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth,
Create your community,
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader. This could be a good time!
"There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore and push off into the middle of the river,
keep our eyes open and our heads above the water.
And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate!
"At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
"WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR."
- Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation
Many people used to know me by Harry Smothers or J. Random Folksinger. Most people know me as Moss Bliss. My parents know me as Gerald "Moss" Bliss. I am 55 going on 35, 6', long brown hair, beard (sometimes), blue eyes, and generally am not bad looking.
I live in Asheville, NC (10 years as of Feb. 10, 2008), and have lived in Greenville SC, Camden/Bishopville SC, Sterling KS, Browns Mills NJ, Denver CO, Grand Junction CO, Colorado Springs CO, Talladega/Sylacauga AL, and Detroit MI after having been born and raised in Norwalk CA. I truly love it here in Asheville, like no place I have been before!
My Websites
...and other activities
For a complete listing of my current websites, visit Websites By Moss.
Check out my monthly articles on mental health at PaganPages.org
I am on Disability, with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and memory deficit disorder as well as a bunch of minor things. I'm doing lots of things for my health, and have been totally without psych medications since November of 2003, and I feel better than I ever have. I have replaced the drugs with some simple and inexpensive nutritional supplements (see my Mental Health page for details).
I am Owner of the ALT-therapies4bipolar Yahoogroup, a loose affiliation of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder exploring natural alternatives and adjuncts to drug therapy. (We have a new website, ALT-therapies4bipola.info, if you're interested in learning the overall details of what we're doing.) I'm involved in other groups that have shown the current basic premises of psychiatry to be a lie, and offer support to people who have been abused by this system. If you are taking psychiatric medications, you might want review what we're doing. I also have items for sale on Page 3 of the Mental Health section, and also list a couple of the many items avaiable through MadNation. Proceeds from my own sales will be used to support the Asheville Radical Mental Health Collective (a local Asheville activism group).
In early December 2003 I began studying Raja or Samkhya Yoga under my one-time guru, Rudrananda, and getting serious about Hinduism as an expression of religion. This is not exactly a new thing for me, as at my first Initiation into Wicca I was given the name of a Hindu God as my magickal name, and I have been studying the culture and religion of India off and on since, with many books, both scriptures and commentaries, finding their way into my library and my heart. I have, more recently, begun studying with Sri Virendra Qazi, who teaches Kashmir Shaivism.
Religion, or spirituality, is very important to me. (Click here to view some details of my personal spiritual journey.) I am a monist in my beliefs. (The "My Philosophy" page has been moved to the Pathways Sanctuary website.) I am not the least bit humorless; if you cannot laugh at your beliefs, you are taking things too seriously. Follow your own heart, and you will know what is right for you. Besides my degrees in Gardnerian Wicca, I also hold Doctorates of Divinity (D.D.) degrees from (1) Universal Life Church and (2) Temple of Wicca and (3) Pathways Sanctuary. You may be interested in contacting Rudrananda, who has her own page, Samkhya Wicca, describing her beliefs (many of which we share). I also have some items for sale on Hindu religion and the Sanskrit language on the "Links" page.
Besides my activities in Asheville Homeless Network, I am also involved in the Kindness Campaign. This is a national campaign founded in Colorado Springs and currently headquartered in Asheville, to teach and spread acts of kindness in the world. They have many programs at churches, schools, festivals, even baseball games. (I do not participate in the school events.)
Me doing some knitting during a Kindness Campaign meeting
My Music
My musical tastes run to Folk and Filk, with excursions beyond those boundaries. Reading tastes include SF/Fantasy fiction and non-fiction, especially on a variety of religion and spirituality subjects. I have 3 books in print, 2 containing my lyrics to s/t/o/l/e/n/ borrowed tunes displaying my wicked sense of humor and the 3rd with mostly original songs and a couple of short stories and poems. I have been taped at several science fiction conventions, pagan festivals, and on Free Radio Asheville. I have written many excellent original songs, and my songs "Raven and Crow", "Fifty Years Ago" and "All The Love In the World" draw cheers and tears everywhere I play them. Irysa RavenForest is fully responsible for providing the wonderful inspiration for the "Raven and Crow"; the love my parents have held for each other for over 50 years provides the inspiration for "Fifty Years Ago", and "Mary Ellen-or Rigby" is a whimsical look at the Beatles' Eleanor Rigby returning to life as a vampire -- set to the music of Stan Rogers' "Mary Ellen Carter". My song of forgiveness in the face of religious intolerance, "Mother, Forgive Them", was picked up on two Internet Radio Stations through Soundclick,com in 2007. "Raven and Crow", a CD of 20 of my songs, is available for $13 is available from me and my books, "Good Taste", "Needs Salt", and "1998 - A Lyrical Perspective" are available for $8 each from me: you can read a few of these lyrics online. Click on the My Lyrics link on the Menu to read some of my lyrics, hear some of my songs, or maybe even order my books.
I was a guest at two Science Fiction Conventions in 2004; the main musical guest at Revoluticon in October, 2005 and will return to Revoluticon in November 2006.
This website is in the official They Might Be Giants webring. Gotta love my Giants! TMBG has played in Asheville twice, on March 30, 2001 and September 28, 2004. I was at both concerts, LOL! You gotta see 'em! (I'm your only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really, I'm not actually your friend, but I am...)
That's about it about me. Look around the website to find even more about me -- and about things you can do to help yourself. If you have any questions, please email me!
If you would like a special font that will let you see this page the way I designed it, download Cry Uncial from 1001Fonts.com. It's free, and works with all Windows and Macs! (may not work in Firefox)
This Site is hosted by Check the website for low-priced hosting from a Pagan enterprise!
Winner of the Purple Pentacle Award May 22, 2000
Asheville has a number of monthly Meetups for Pagans and Wiccans and others of a magickal nature. However, Meetup.com has decided to charge for their service, which many of us feel is too much to ask. If you would like to connect with other pagans in the area, or set up meetups, please use the box below to join the AshevillePagans Yahoogroup. All Asheville magickal people are welcome. I intend to continue the Pagans' and Witches' Meetups at the usual time (join the AshevillePagans Yahoogroup for details).
This website is written, constructed, and professionally maintained by Moss Bliss. The original design and programming was by Laura Parks Bliss in 1997, with all testing and debugging by Moss. Moss is available to write and maintain your website, too!
Me doing some knitting during a Kindness Campaign meeting
